Backing up at Michigan
BROOKLYN, Mich. (AP) --Sprint Cup points leader Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start at the back of the pack in Sunday's NASCAR race at Michigan International Speedway.
Johnson qualified third but says his team discovered an issue before Saturday's practice and decided to change the engine instead of risking a crash.
Earnhardt, who qualified 22nd, rubbed against the wall in Saturday's practice and will have to go to a backup car. Earnhardt won at Michigan International Speedway in June to snap a four-year losing streak,

Allgaier wins in Montreal
MONTREAL (AP) -- Justin Allgaier bumped past Jacques Villeneuve (zhahk VIHL'-ih-noov) on the final lap during a green-white-checkered finish and won the Nationwide race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (zheel VIHL'-eh-noov), depriving the French Canadian of his first victory at any level in NASCAR.
Sam Hornish Jr. finished second, and Villeneuve was third, giving Dodge two in the top three. Elliott Sadler and Ron Fellows rounded out the top five.

Dodgers play long ball in Atlanta...Cueto at sweet 16
(AP) -- The L.A. Dodgers broke out their home run bats in their 6-2 rout of Atlanta. The Dodgers hit four homers, including a pair by Hanley Ramirez. The Dodgers only got four hits -- all home runs.
Three of those homers came on a four-pitch span in the second inning off loser Ben Sheets. Ramirez, James Loney and Luis Cruz hit consecutive homers off Sheets.
Aaron Harang improved to 9-7 with the win.

In the rest of the NL:

-- San Francisco retained its half-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West by ralling past San Diego 8-7. Joaquin Arias homered and drove in three.
-- Ike Davis clubbed a two-run home run in the seventh inning for all the scoring in the New York Mets' 2-0 victory over Washington. Jonathon Niese (nees) outdueled Edwin Jackson and combined with two relievers on the five-hit shutout.
-- Johnny Cueto (KWAY'-toh) is the first pitcher in the National League to reach the 16-win plateau, and second in the major leagues behind Tampa Bay's David Price. The Reds ace gave up three hits and two runs in a 5-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs in the opener of a day-night doubleheader, improving to 16-6 on the season. Cueto is 11-0 in 13 day-game starts. The Cubs won the nightcap, 9-7.
-- Yadier Molina (YAH'-dee-eer moh-LEE'-nah) had three hits and two RBIs in his return to the lineup, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. St. Louis bounced back from Friday night's 2-1 loss in the series opener and pulled within a game of Pittsburgh for the second NL wild-card spot.
-- Philadelphia edged Milwaukee 4-3. Cole Hamels won his 14th game. Jonathan Papelbon earned his 26th save.
-- Aaron Hill hit a three-run homer in a nine-run fifth inning, Chris Young had four hits and the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Houston Astros 12-4.
-- Giancarlo Stanton homered for the sixth straight game at Coors Field and the Miami Marlins held off the Colorado Rockies 6-5.

In the AL:

-- Jon Lester shut down the Yankees' offense for seven innings, Adrian Gonzalez provided an early lead with a two-run homer and the Boston Red Sox beat New York 4-1 for just their fourth win in their last 11 games. Lester is 7-10.
-- A Nelson Cruz two-run homer in the fifth inning lifted the visiting Texas Rangers past the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1. Joe Nathan converted his team-record 22nd straight save opportunity. It's the Jays' 15th loss in their last 20 games.
-- Chris Davis hit a three-run homer and the Baltimore Orioles snapped the Detroit Tigers' four-game winning streak, 3-2.
-- Kansas City routed Chicago 9-4. Mike Moustakas hit a three-run shot. The only bright spot for the White Sox was the 400th career home run by Adam Dunn, who leads the majors with 35. He's the 50th major leaguer to reach 400 homers.

Mattingly paying the piper
ATLANTA (AP) -- Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been suspended for two games, beginning with Saturday night's contest against the Braves in Atlanta.
Mattingly was also given an undisclosed fine "for excessive arguing" with home plate umpire Angel Campos in Thursday's 10-6 loss in Pittsburgh. Mattingly and outfielder Matt Kemp were ejected from the game.
No suspension or fine was announced for Kemp.
Dodgers bench coach Trey Hillman is filling in for Mattingly.

USC brushes off sanctions to be No. 1 in AP Top 25
NEW YORK (AP) -- After serving NCAA sanctions that kept them out of bowl games the past two seasons, Southern California's football team is No. 1 in the AP's preseason poll.
Alabama and LSU are a close second and third, with Oklahoma and Oregon rounding out the top five.
The Trojans received 25 of a possible 60 first-place votes from a media panel while defending national champion Alabama had 17 first-place votes and LSU got 16.
USC earns the top spot in the preseason poll for the first time in five years and seventh time overall.

Cardinals lose valuable offensive lineman...Saints offseason acquisition out
UNDATED (AP) -- Arizona Cardinals left tackle Levi Brown has a torn right triceps and probably will not play this season.
In other NFL injuries:
-- Saints linebacker Chris Chamberlain says he tore his left ACL during Friday night's exhibition game against Jacksonville and is out for the season.
-- Bears backup safety Brandon Hardin was taken from the field on a cart because of a neck injury early in the third quarter Saturday night in a preseason game against the Washington Redskins.

Ibaka gets new deal
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- NBA blocks leader Serge Ibaka (ih-BAH'-kuh) has agreed to a multi-year contract extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Ibaka's signing could be pivotal in the future of the franchise, which already has All-Stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook locked into expensive, long-term contracts. This summer is the first time Ibaka and Sixth Man of the Year James Harden are eligible for extensions to their rookie contracts, and the small-market team could be in a crunch to bring both back beyond next season.

Garcia has narrow lead
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) -- Sergio Garcia will take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Wyndham Championship. The Spaniard shot a 4-under-par 66 to get to 14-under after 54 holes.
Bud Cauley matched Garcia's score and is tied for second place with Tim Clark, who carded a 67.
Second-round leader Jimmy Walker followed up Friday's 62 with a 1-over 71 and is three shots back.

Still on top
NORTH PLAINS, Ore. (AP) -- Japan's Mika Miyazato (MEE'-kuh mee-uh-ZAH'-toh) shot a 4-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Tour's Safeway Classic
South Korea's So Yeon Ryu, the Toledo Classic winner last week, was second after a 68. Cristie Kerr and Inbee Park shot 70 to reach 8 under.

Huston alone at the top
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (AP) -- First-round co-leader John Huston (HYOO'-stuhn) holds a one-stroke advantage over Brad Faxon with 18 holes to play at this week's Champions Tour event.
Huston carded a 5-under-par 67 to get to minus-12 after 36 holes of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open. Faxon signed for a 66.
Peter Senior and Willie Wood are three off the pace.

Two heavyweight play for the title in Cincinnati
MASON, Ohio (AP) -- Top-ranked Roger Federer beat Swiss countryman Stanislas Wawrinka (vah-VINK'-ah) 7-6, 6-3 in the Western & Southern Open semifinals and will take on Novak Djokovic (NOH'-vak JOH'-kuh-vich) in the finale.
The Serb gained a measure of revenge for a loss to Juan Martin del Potro (wahn mar-TEEN' dehl POHT'-roh) in the bronze medal match of the London Olympics by beating the Argentine 6-3, 6-2.
Federer and Djokovic have split their previous six finals matchups. Federer leads their career series 15-12.
On the women's side, China's Li Na (lee nah) upset Venus Williams 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the final. Li is trying for her first title of the year. Li plays Angelique Kerber in the finals.