SPORTS digest

Schlabach, Stafford lift Bears over Scrappers

GRANVILLE, W.Va.

Deon Stafford singled three times, and Ike Schlabach allowed just two hits over five innings as the West Virginia Black Bears defeated the Mahoning Valley Scrappers 4-0 on Sunday.

Schlabach (5-4) picked up the win after he struck out three and walked two.

In the bottom of the fourth, West Virginia took the lead on a ground out by Tristan Gray that scored Stafford. The Black Bears then added two runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth. In the seventh, Stafford and Dylan Busby hit RBI singles, while Sandy Santos hit an RBI single in the eighth.

Randy Valladares (2-2) went 11/3 innings, allowing one run and two hits in the New York-Penn League game. He also struck out one and walked one. Matt Seelinger pitched two scoreless innings for his fourth save of the season.

The Scrappers (31-25) were blanked for the fifth time this season, while the Black Bears (34-24) recorded their fourth shutout of the year.

The teams meet again tonight at 7:05.

Muguruza, Dimitrov get first Cincy titles

MASON

Garbine Muguruza cradled her smiling face in both hands and closed her eyes, taking it all in. The Wimbledon champion had added another title to her breakthrough summer — this one at the expense of a player who can’t quite get to No. 1.

Muguruza defeated Simona Halep 6-1, 6-0 for her first Western & Southern Open title on Sunday, needing only 56 minutes to extend her run of success. She also denied Halep yet another chance to move up to No. 1 in the WTA rankings.

On the men’s side, seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov beat Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 7-5 for his first ATP Masters title, emerging from a bracket decimated by injuries to top players.

Muguruza won her first title in the U.S. and her second of the year, along with Wimbledon. In three tournaments since, the Spaniard has at least reached the quarterfinals. Now it’s on to New York for the U.S. Open, where she’s got a history of disappointment.

When it ended, Muguruza congratulated Halep and walked around the court with her smiling face cradled in both hands. Then she put her hands over her heart and reached toward the applauding crowd.

Chelsea recovers from opening-round loss

LONDON

Marcos Alonso’s double reignited Chelsea’s title defense by securing a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris blundered to enable the champions to recover from its opening weekend loss.

It was a gloomy start to Tottenham’s temporary residency at Wembley Stadium after going unbeaten throughout its final season at White Hart Lane before it was demolished to make way for a new venue.

Tottenham had been well placed to salvage a draw when Alonso’s first-half free kick was canceled out by Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi inadvertently heading the ball into his own net in the 82nd minute just after coming off the bench.

But within six minutes Chelsea was back in front and Batshuayi’s blushes were spared. Lloris threw the ball out to Victor Wanyama and Pedro Rodriguez disposed the Tottenham midfielder. The ball was then thread through for Alonso, whose shot squirmed under the normally reliable Lloris in the Tottenham goal.

Last season’s top two now have a win apiece after Tottenham opened the season with a victory over Newcastle last Sunday. Chelsea was left demoralized after it opened its title defense by losing at home to Burnley.

Canfield-Louisville tickets on sale at CHS

CANFIELD

Tickets for Canfield’s season-opening football game Friday at Louisville will be on sale this week in the Canfield High School athletic office.

Student tickets are $4 and adult tickets are $6. Call 330-533-5341 for more information.

Staff and wire reports