SPORTS digest

Gonzalez lifts Scrappers to win

AUBURN, N.Y.

Down to their last out, Joab Gonzalez hit a two-run homer to help the Mahoning Valley Scrappers rally for Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the Auburn Doubledays.

Johnathan Rodriguez also hit a two-run homer for the Scrappers (22-20).

Gregori Vasquez (1-0) was the winning pitcher in relief, tossing three shutout innings. He struck out five and walked none.

Liberty Hall of Fame date announced

Liberty

The Liberty Sports Hall of Fame banquet will be Sept. 28 at the high school.

Inductees the 2019 Sports Hall of Fame class are: Brittney (Humphrey) Johnson, track and field; Dave Fleischer, baseball; Russell Hake, baseball; Gary Casey, baseball; Praveen Perni, tennis; and Greg Harrison, basketball.

Dinner tickets cost $30. Program ads and ticket purchase information may be obtained by emailing lhshalloffame@yahoo.com.

Sharon Speedway to host DIRTcar Series

Hartford

The Super DIRTcar Series for the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Big-Block Modifieds will return to Sharon Speedway on Tuesday for the first time in two years.

Also racing will be the RUSH Sprint Cars. Race time is 7 p.m.

Grandstand tickets cost $20 for those 14 and older. Children 13 and younger are admitted for free.

Reserved tickets are on sale and may be purchased by visiting SharonSpeedway.com.

Colombian cyclist keeps yellow jersey

VAL THORENS, France

Perpetuating the tradition of great Colombian climbers, Egan Bernal left his mark on the Tour de France in the mountains. But unlike his flashy predecessors, he is also poised to win cycling’s biggest race.

At just 22.

Bernal kept the yellow jersey Saturday after the last Alpine stage, and barring a crash or a last-minute health issue he will become the first Colombian to win the Tour when it ends on Paris’ Champs-Elysees with a largely processional stage today. Bernal also will become the youngest post-World War II winner of the Tour.

Twins acquire reliever Romo from Marlins

MIAMI

Veteran reliever Sergio Romo is right back in a pennant race.

The AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins acquired the 36-year-old righty from Miami on Saturday night, hoping to boost their beleaguered bullpen for the stretch.

It’s kind of hard to explain because I’m super excited,” Romo said after the Marlins’ 9-2 loss to Arizona. “They’re in a really, really good position to make a playoff push. That’s exciting. It’s super fun baseball to play.”

The Twins got Romo, minor league pitcher Chris Vallimont and a player to be named for minor league first baseman Lewin Diaz.

Romo was 2-0 with 17 saves and a 3.58 ERA in 38 games this season. The righty had an 0.61 ERA in his last 15 appearances for the Marlins.

The trade was announced Saturday night. The deadline for making deals to have players eligible for the postseason is Wednesday.

Tax captures Jim Dandy Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.

Say this about Tax — he’s a lot better than he showed in the Kentucky Derby.

Tax took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off a late charge by favored Tacitus to win the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

The Grade II test for 3-year-olds at 11/8 miles featured two of the top horses from the Triple Crown — Tacitus and Preakness winner War of Will — but Tax, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, took advantage of a tough start by jockey Jose Ortiz aboard Tacitus — the horse’s nose nearly scraped the dirt after a stumble out of the gate — to win by three-quarters of a length.

Staff/wire report