Alex Cobb had his bid for a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the ninth inning, but the right-hander pitched a gem of a complete game to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday.
Spencer Steer ended Cobb’s chase for history with a double to right field that scored Nick Senzel, who had walked with one out in the ninth and advanced to second on defensive indifference.
Cobb struck out the next batter, Elly De La Cruz, to end his fourth career complete game and earn his first win since July 5. The right-hander struck out eight while throwing a career-high 131 pitches.
Entering the ninth inning, the only base-runner Cobb had allowed was Senzel, who reached on an error in the third inning. The official scorer had initially ruled the play a hit but later reversed his decision.
Cobb’s performance came at a crucial time for the Giants (69-63), who pulled two games ahead of the Reds (68-66) in the race for the final wild card spot in the NL.
Catcher Patrick Bailey paced the San Francsico offence with a two-run homer in the third inning. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Leadoff man Austin Slater reached base three times and scored twice.
Steele gets 15th win, Cubs halt Brewers’ streak
Justin Steele struck out eight in six effective innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 1-0 win and help end the Milwaukee Brewers’ winning streak at nine games.
Steele (15-3) worked around six hits—all singles—and a walk to become the second pitcher in the majors to reach 15 wins this season. Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider got his 15th win on Friday.
Steele, a first-time All-Star this season, is 6-0 over his last eight starts and dropped his season ERA to 2.69.
After suffering a 6-2 loss Monday in the series opener, Tuesday’s win moved the Cubs (70-62) back to within four games of the Brewers (74-58) in the NL Central.
Chicago were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position and plated their only run on a first-inning groundout by Cody Bellinger.
Corbin Burnes allowed one run and eight hits in seven strong innings for the Brewers but was saddled with the loss.
Mariners lose to lowly A’s as AL West race tightens
Seth Brown and Shea Langeliers went deep, and the MLB-worst Oakland Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1, knocking the M’s out of sole possession of first place in the AL West.
Seattle had won 12 of their previous 13 games and entered the night with a one-game division lead. The loss dropped the Mariners (75-57) into a tie atop the division with the Texas Rangers (75-57), who beat the New York Mets 2-1 on Tuesday, and the Houston Astros (76-58), who took down the Boston Red Sox 6-2.
The Mariners were without star outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who was scratched with a pinched nerve in his left foot. Pitcher George Kirby was also scratched from his start due to illness and was replaced by Luke Weaver.
Seattle batters managed just four hits but drew six walks. The Mariners were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
Carlos Alcaraz had mixed emotions after being gifted a route into the second round of the US Open because his opponent retired injured.
Dominik Koepfer rolled his ankle in the opening game of the match and needed a medical time out to have it heavily bandaged.
He valiantly carried on, at one point telling the chair umpire: “I’m trying not to retire after 20 minutes because of freaking 20,000 people in the stadium.”
But the 29-year-old was clearly in a lot of pain and called it a night with Alcaraz leading 6-2 3-2.
Defending champion Alcaraz said: “Obviously I want to play battles. I want to play the full matches. This is not the best way to win a match.
“But obviously, playing the night session, I’m happy to come back early, have some rest. Well, a little bit more than I expect before starting the match.
“It’s going to be better for me to recover into the next round.”
Alcaraz’s new sleeveless look drew more comparisons with his fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal and his US Open victory in 2019.
“I was thinking about Rafa when he wore that. He won that US Open, right?” added the 20-year-old.
“I love to wear that sometimes in some specific tournaments. Here in the US Open, I was supposed to play last year. This year it’s a good, good outfit, so I love it.”
Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 champion, dropped just two games as he rolled over 34-year-old Hungarian Attila Balazs.
Alexander Zverev, the runner-up in 2020, is also through to the second round with a straight-sets win over Australian Aleksandar Vukic.
All six British players reached the second round at the US Open on a spectacular day for British tennis.
Andy Murray made it through after beating fiery Frenchman Corentin Moutet in straight sets.
The Scot was joined in round two by Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage, making at a magnificent seven after Lily Miyazaki’s win on Monday.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is through after Dominik Koepfer retired injured in the second set, while Venus Williams’ 24th US Open ended abruptly with a 6-1 6-1 defeat by Greet Minnen.
Here, the PA news agency looks back at day two at Flushing Meadows.
Pic of the day
Any chance Dominik Koepfer had of beating Carlos Alcaraz ended when he suffered an ankle injury.
Match of the day
Grigor Dimitrov, the 19th seed, came from two sets down and saved three match points, including two in a final-set tie-break, to beat Alex Molcan in a four-and-a-half hour marathon. His reward? A second-round meeting with Murray.
Stat of the dayQuote of the dayBungle of the day
A VAR system to check for incidents such as a double-bounce or hindrance has been introduced this year. But when it was used for the first time, when Moutet challenged a double-bounce call, it did not work properly and proved inconclusive, rather embarrassingly for organisers. Yellow card, surely?
Fallen seeds
Men: Karen Khachanov (11), Tallon Griekspoor (24), Ugo Humbert (29).
Women: Caroline Garcia (7), Donna Vekic (21).
Who’s up next?
Britain’s Lily Miyazaki faces a tough second-round assignment against the 15th seed and current Olympic champion Belinda Bencic of Switzerland.
Venus Williams’ 24th US Open was brought to an abrupt end inside Arthur Ashe Stadium on Tuesday night.
The two-time winner, handed a wild card at the age of 43, was beaten 6-1 6-1 in the first round by Belgian Greet Minnen.
The American said: “I have to give credit to my opponent, there wasn’t a shot she couldn’t make.
“I don’t think I played badly, it was just one of those days where I was unlucky.
“I was really happy to be here. I love playing here and I really gave it my all today.”
Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur had to overcome breathing difficulties to battle past Columbia’s Camila Osorio.
The Tunisian had her blood pressure checked at one point before securing a 7-5 7-6 (4) victory.
France’s Caroline Garcia, seeded seven, suffered a shock exit, 6-4 6-1, to world number 114 Wang Yafan of China.
Canadian Laylah Fernandez, the runner-up to Emma Raducanu two years ago, lost in three sets to Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The old adage "sharing is caring" is something that many Jamaicans truly abide by and embodies.
Bert Tomlinson, Founder and CEO of Bert’s Auto Parts is no different and so he felt it only fitting that they demonstrate good corporate social responsibility with one simple act of kindness that has now created an endless ripple.
From assisting to build a house for former national football star Miguel Blair in 2021, to launching the Bert’s Auto Parts Foundation which presents grants and scholarships to outstanding PEP students, Tomlinson's philanthropic efforts, much like his business, is now soaring to new heights.
Through his latest initiative, a 5K Run, Bert’s Auto Parts Foundation is intent on raising funds to benefit the Food for the Poor Housing Project. The Run scheduled for October 1 at Emancipation Park, is seeking to raise approximately US$49,000 (about $8 million Jamaica) to build 10 houses.
Under the theme “Build with Bert’s” Waynette Strachan, marketing manager at Bert’s Auto Parts, explained that the inaugural 5K represents a committed effort to make a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and families in need.
"We saw the profound impact of one mission that we did with Food for the Poor and so we thought to ourselves that while we establish our foundation in our 35th year, we want to multiply that impact to help families in need through Food for the Poor houses,” Strachan told journalists during a launch at their Molynes Road base on Tuesday.
“So, people would know us for auto parts and our celebrating 35 years is possible because of the support of our customers and so it's our way of giving back to Jamaica. It is because of the support of our customers why Bert's is where it is at today and so we feel like it's only right that we serve our country through our corporate philanthropic effort which you are seeing now. So, we have always been doing this, we just didn't highlight it and so what you are seeing now is merely press being added to what we are doing.
“We intend to spread the love across Jamaica, we don't have any locations for the houses as yet, but our able partner Food for the Poor will assist because we want to ensure that it benefits those who need it the most,” she added.
Despite building over 36,000 houses for Jamaicans in need over the years, Food for the Poor’s Executive Director, Craig Moss-Solomon said there is always room for much more, which is why he welcomes Bert’s effort to add another 10 to the count.
The event is targeting a at least 3,000 participants. Registration is open at Runningeventsja.com and the fee is $2,000.
“When Bert’s came back and said they want to do a 5K to raise money for 10 houses, it's 10 lives that we will be able to change and make their living conditions more comfortable. That is what we plan to do, change lives, so I am really happy that we are teaming up with Bert on this and we hope Jamaica will come out and support because it is for a great cause,” Moss-Solomon reasoned.
“I believe they will hit the target of 10, but I would be more than humble if it surpasses the 10 houses, I would love for that to happen. So, our message to Jamaica is just to come out and support and help us build back the love for Jamaica and build with Bert's,” he noted.
Andy Murray won his 200th grand slam match with a three-set victory over fiery Frenchman Corentin Moutet at the US Open.
The two-time Wimbledon champion, a winner here in 2012, overcame an unorthodox and awkward opponent 6-2 7-5 6-3 to become the eighth male player in the Open era to reach the double-century.
It may have been a straight-sets win but, typically with Murray, there was plenty of drama and even a VAR controversy, the first of its kind at Flushing Meadows.
Murray, who came into the event having recovered from an abdominal tear, dominated the first set but a flat passage of play saw him fall a break down in the second as Moutet, all slices and drop shots, began to impose himself.
However, Murray had a let-off when Moutet double-faulted on set point, and then a lucky net cord helped the Scot break back.
Murray was back in full irritant mode and it got to Moutet, who smashed his racket on the floor, twice, as the second set got away from him.
Moutet suffered a nasty fall on the baseline, landing on his racket hand, but was able to continue and saved four break points in his next service game.
But Murray struck at the next opportunity and served out for victory – following a video replay check for a double-bounce which, embarrassingly for organisers who introduced it this year, proved inconclusive – in just under three hours.
“He’s one of the most skilful players on the tour, with so many ways to disrupt you, and he always causes a little bit of chaos,” said the 36-year-old.
“I hope it was entertaining, there were some fun points, so I’m happy to get through in straight sets.
“It was a long one, but the way we play it was probably always going to be like that. Three hours is a lot shorter than some of my matches!”
Andy Murray has become the eighth man to register 200 grand slam victories in the Open era.
The 36-year-old reached the milestone following his latest win over France’s Corentin Moutet in the US Open first round.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at Murray’s career record at tennis’s biggest tournaments.
Elite club
Murray has joined an illustrious list by reaching 200 grand slam wins, headed by his three main career rivals in Roger Federer (369), Novak Djokovic (355) and Rafael Nadal (314).
That trio are more than 80 wins clear of anyone else, with Jimmy Connors in fourth (233), ahead of Andre Agassi (224) and Murray’s coach Ivan Lendl (222).
The Scot is just three wins behind Pete Sampras (203) in seventh and will move above the 14-time major champion with a run to the quarter-finals at the US Open.
Tim Henman is his closest challenger among British players, with 98 grand slam victories.
Home comforts
Murray has been most successful on the grass courts of Wimbledon, with 61 wins out of 74 matches yielding two titles.
He has consistently risen to the occasion on home soil, reaching 10 successive SW19 quarter-finals between 2008 and 2017, and has often spoken about how he enjoys the support of the crowd.
However, the 36-year-old also thrives when playing the role of pantomime villain and has a remarkable record of 18 victories from 19 matches against homegrown players in the Australian, French and US Opens.
Overall, he has 49 victories in New York – the scene of his first major triumph in 2012 – to go with 51 in Melbourne (where he is a five-time runner-up) and 39 at Roland Garros.
Near misses
Murray’s career record at grand slams suggests that he should have more than three titles to his name.
He has a winning record at each stage of major tournaments apart from the final, where he has won three and lost eight of his 11 matches.
Murray has had the privilege and misfortune of playing in a golden era of men’s tennis, with all but one of his finals having been played against Federer or Djokovic.
In total, he has won five and lost 20 of his grand slam meetings with the ‘Big Three’, with eight defeats coming against Djokovic, seven versus Nadal and five at the hands of Federer.
This compares with 195 wins and 34 losses against his remaining 137 opponents.
Stan Wawrinka, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Fernando Verdasco and Roberto Bautista Agut are the only other players to have beaten Murray more than once at grand slam level.
The Scot’s best record is against Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who he has faced five times without defeat.
Injury nightmare
Murray would almost certainly have passed 250 grand slam wins had it not been for a career threatening hip injury.
Shortly after turning 30, Murray – ranked number one in the world at the time – lost to Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon 2017 and proceeded to sit out the next four grand slams while recovering from surgery.
He had won at least 12 grand slam matches every year in the previous decade, but has managed only 12 in total since the start of 2018.
By comparison, Djokovic – who is just a week younger than Murray – has won 118 matches and lifted 11 titles in the same period.
Despite injury curtailing his prime years, the Scot has continued to show his indomitable fighting spirit.
Eight of his 23 major matches since 2018 have gone to five sets, with Murray emerging victorious on five of those occasions.
Two of his deciding-set wins came back-to-back at this year’s Australian Open, when he followed up a four-hour 49-minute victory over Matteo Berrettini with a staggering comeback from two sets down against Thanasi Kokkinakis in a match that finished at 4am local time.
Tuesday's deadline has come and gone, and Johnathan Taylor is still with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts were unable to work out a deal for the disgruntled running back, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Media, and ended up placing him on the physically unable to perform list, which makes him ineligible for at least the first four games of the 2023 NFL season.
A trade could still be arranged prior to the NFL's trade deadline of October 31, but Taylor still can't play in the season's first four weeks, even if he is dealt to a new team.
Indianapolis opens the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 10, and the earliest Taylor could play is in Week 5.
The Miami Dolphins were reportedly the team most serious in making a deal for Taylor, but ultimately the Colts didn't feel any trade offers were of fair value.
The Colts granted the 24-year-old permission to seek a trade just over a week ago as the team and the 2021 NFL rushing champion remained locked in an ongoing contract dispute.
Taylor, the runner-up for the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, is entering the final season of his rookie deal and is scheduled to earn $4.3 million in 2023.
The fourth-year pro ran for a franchise-record 1,811 yards in 2021, but was slowed by injuries last year and was put on the PUP list earlier this summer as he recovers from ankle surgery that ended his 2022 campaign in December.
Ankle issues limited Taylor to 11 games last season, which he finished with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per attempt.
Taylor averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his sensational 2021 season in which he also tied for the NFL lead with 20 total touchdowns while playing in all 17 games.
Since entering the NFL as a second-round pick of the Colts in 2020, Taylor's 33 rushing touchdowns are tied for second in the NFL and his 3,841 rushing yards are the fourth most of any player, trailing only Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook and Nick Chubb.
Cameron Norrie turned to defending champion Carlos Alcaraz to help him into the second round at the US Open.
The British number one practised with the world number one on Monday before dismantling Alexander Shevchenko of Russia 6-3 6-2 6-2.
It was just the sort of performance Norrie needed after losing his previous three matches on the hard courts.
And the 16th seed credited Spanish superstar Alcaraz for his improved display.
“We had a really good practice and I think it really set the tone yesterday and I was able to put it into my match today,” he said.
“He’s always enjoying the practice and bringing a lot of flair and excitement to the practice court.
“It was not an easy match. Shevchenko has had a good year so far. I know his game quite well, I’d practiced with him a few times.
“I was able to play longer points and win some of the tough games. It was a nice match to play in the first round to get a lot of rhythm.”
Norrie will face qualifier Yu Hsiou Hsu, the world number 237, in round two after his surprise win over Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Sports stars and clubs across the world continue to provide an insight into their lives on social media.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the best examples from August 29.
FootballHarry Kane got into the spirit ahead of Oktoberfest.
Manchester City took their silverware on tour.
An important lesson for a young Kevin Nolan.
TennisPetra Kvitova was pleased.
Formula OneWhat an achievement from Michael Schumacher 19 years ago.
Max Verstappen was pleased with his fixed Hungarian Grand Prix trophy after Lando Norris accidentally smashed it.
Mini mullet for a young Valtteri Bottas.
James Hunt was remembered.
Is Logan Sargeant still waiting for a lift?
Rugby unionWales put some miles in on the bike.
South Africa were preparing to begin their defence of the World Cup.
Katie Boulter says she is feeling the love in New York after securing a first-career win at the US Open.
The British number one certainly looked at home on a packed Court Six at Flushing Meadows as she raced past France’s Diane Parry 6-4 6-0.
Boulter hit 31 winners and illustrated her confidence on the big stage by saving a break point as she served for the match, before finishing Parry off with a 106mph ace.
“I felt the love out there today, which was really, really nice,” said the 27-year-old.
“It was such a good atmosphere. What I love about it the most is those front courts where they have all the matches going along all the time.
“It’s a challenge for me to focus and stay in the moment, and not hear all the other courts going on, which is what I did unbelievably well today.
“The fans got me over the line. I don’t know if they were British, American. I think they were everything, which was super nice.
“There were a lot of GB flags, which made me feel very at home, which was very nice.
“I did appreciate it out there. You know, it’s when you hear, like, little kids screaming your name, that’s when it pushes you. It makes you think for a second, ‘hey, this is where I want to be and these are the matches that I want to play’.”
The ever-popular Sir Busker could return to action in the Superior Mile at Haydock in early September.
Trained by William Knight in Newmarket, the gelding is an admirable campaigner who reached new heights this time last year when winning the York Stakes and then running a massive race at the same track to come home third in the Juddmonte International.
He then went to ply his trade in the Middle East as spring approached this term, but an eye infection turned a brief stay into a longer one as he required surgery to save his vision.
The procedure was a success and he returned to work earlier in the campaign, just missing out on his aim of returning to the Ebor meeting again to contest the Strensall Stakes.
An alternative target has been pencilled into his diary by owner Kennet Valley Syndicates, however, with the Group Three Superior Mile on the agenda for the seven-year-old.
Sam Hoskins, racing manager to the group, said: “He’s great, he had a bad eye infection out in Dubai and that’s why we haven’t seen him this summer.
“He nearly got to the Strensall at York last week, but he just blew up in a piece of work a week before and William Knight just said he didn’t want to rush him to get there.
“He is nearly ready to go, he could run in the Superior Mile which is the Group Three at Haydock on Sprint Cup Day – September 9.
“I’m sure he’d probably come on for the run a bit, but it’ll be great to see him back on the course.
“He owes us absolutely nothing, we’ll have to see how we get on this autumn, but he’s been showing his usual zest for life. Hopefully he can run a nice race there and we can start to make plans for the future.”
British number one Katie Boulter roared to a first-round win at the US Open with a commanding victory over Diane Parry.
The 27-year-old hit 31 winners in a hugely impressive, efficient display to win 6-4 6-0 in an hour and 22 minutes.
Boulter illustrated her confidence on the big stage by saving a break point as she served for the match, before finishing Frenchwoman Parry off with a 106mph ace.
“It was tight in the first set and I just tried to stay with her, but at the end I played some great tennis which is good for me going into the second round,” she said.
“It’s so good for me.
“This is where it really counts and I’m happy to get through and keep pushing.”
The Buffalo Bills were hopeful Von Miller would be healthy enough to suit up in Week 1.
Turns out, the earliest he'll play is Week 5.
The Bills are keeping the three-time All Pro on the PUP list ahead of Tuesday's deadline, meaning he's ineligible for at least the first four games of the 2023 NFL season.
Miller, 34, has been working his way back from a torn ACL suffered in Week 12 of the 2022 season, and it had been reported last week that the Bills weren't ruling out the eight-time Pro Bowler returning for the September 11 season opener against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football.
He's been training with the team throughout training camp, though has yet to partake in a fully-padded practice and the Bills ultimately decided to give him more time to recover from the surgery he underwent last December.
The earliest he could possibly begin his 12th NFL season is Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 8 in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Miller, who signed a six-year, $120million contract with the Bills in March 2022 after helping the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl, finished his first season with the Bills tied with Greg Rousseau for the team lead with eight sacks despite playing in just 11 games. His 48 quarterback pressures were one fewer than Rousseau's for the team lead, and his pressure-rate of 20.8 was highest on Buffalo.
The league's active leader with 123.5 sacks, Miller has recorded eight consecutive seasons of eight or more sacks - the longest active streak in the NFL.
With Miller out, the Bills will rely on Leonard Floyd, who signed with the team over the summer, and Rousseau to generate a pass rush.
Justin Thomas has admitted he is “very, very fortunate” to be given a wild card for this year’s Ryder Cup in Rome.
Thomas failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs on the PGA Tour and admitted it had been “humiliating and embarrassing” to card a second round of 81 in the US Open in June.
The two-time major winner also shot an opening 82 in the Open at Royal Liverpool and finished 15th in qualifying, behind both Cameron Young and Keegan Bradley and just one place above the in-form Lucas Glover.
However, United States captain Zach Johnson hailed Thomas as the “heart and soul” of American teams after selecting the former world number one along with Sam Burns, Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka, Collin Morikawa and Jordan Spieth to face Europe at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club next month.
The wild cards join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele on Johnson’s team, who will attempt to win on European soil for the first time since 1993.
“I have had a lot of sleepless nights thinking about what could happen and wanting to be on the team, wondering if I was or I wasn’t, and then I just came to the realisation that it was out of my hands and I couldn’t do anything about it,” Thomas said.
“After getting the call yesterday (Monday) from Zach I couldn’t sleep because I was so excited. It’s cool to be part of this team.
“You can want something too bad. I’m sure all of us have tried to win golf tournaments too much and have tried to force the issue, and there were potentially times this season I did.
“I’m very, very fortunate to be here and Zach has been very vocal and made it sound great that we are all equal on this team. I feel I’m just as important as everybody else and my team-mates have voiced that the same way.”
Johnson had earlier been fulsome in his praise of Thomas, who won four points from five matches on a losing side in Paris in 2018, including victory over Rory McIlroy in the opening match of the singles.
“Justin Thomas is one of the most talented players on the PGA Tour in my opinion,” Johnson said.
“He has been, without question, the heart and soul of US Ryder Cup teams, our emotional leader.
“Overall (he has) a fantastic Ryder Cup record. His passion for the Ryder Cup is very evident. In my mind he is born for this and you just don’t leave JT at home.”
Johnson admitted the topic of selecting LIV Golf players such as Dustin Johnson – who went 5-0 at Whistling Straits two years ago – and Bryson DeChambeau did come up, but that Koepka had been the only one to “seize the opportunity” of playing well in the majors.
Koepka only slipped out of the automatic qualifying places in the final event, having finished second in the Masters and winning his fifth major title in the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
“A five-time major champion, he is built in my mind for the biggest of stages and there’s no bigger stage than the Ryder Cup,” Johnson said.
“It was a pretty easy pick, a very natural fit. He basically earned his way onto the team. Brooks is great in the team room.”
Johnson’s selections came a month after one of his vice-captains, former Masters champion Fred Couples, said on his own radio show that Homa, Spieth and Young would be given wild cards if they remained outside the automatic places.
Homa subsequently qualified and Spieth was duly selected but Young, who finished just 61 points behind Spieth in the standings, was left out.
“Cam, phenomenal player, a better person, he was nothing but class,” Johnson said of calling Young with the bad news.
“I know what was said (by Couples), but I think that was a while back, it was kind of in jest.”
Regional is set to be stepped up in trip for the Betfair Sprint Cup after running with credit in the Nunthorpe at York last week.
Having won a handicap on the Knavesmire in May before successfully stepping up in class in the Listed Achilles Stakes at Haydock the following month, the five-year-old was kept fresh for a tilt at Group One glory by trainer Ed Bethell.
He was beaten only two and a half lengths into fifth place, and Bethell is now keen to bid for another top-level prize over an extra furlong.
He said: “He ran a really good race. I was really happy with how he got on and he wasn’t beaten far.
“The complexion of the race changed when the winner went off like a scalded cat and fair play to the winner, he kept going and it was a fair performance.
“We’re pretty quick and we jumped well, but we just weren’t as quick as the winner into our stride. If you took him out of it, the complexion of the race would probably have changed dramatically, but it’s a horse race, he set a relentless gallop and won fair and square.
“It looked as if we need to step up to six furlongs maybe at that level. He just got run off his feet the whole way, but on the whole I’m delighted with how he ran and I think we’re possibly going to target the Sprint Cup at Haydock.
“Hopefully it stays dry and we’ll see how we get on.”
United States captain Zach Johnson has selected Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns and Rickie Fowler as his wild cards for the 44th Ryder Cup in Rome.
Thomas failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup play-offs and admitted it had been “humiliating and embarrassing” to card a second round of 81 in the US Open in June.
The two-time major winner also shot an opening 82 in the Open at Royal Liverpool, but has still been selected by Johnson ahead of the likes of Keegan Bradley and Cameron Young.
The wild cards join automatic qualifiers Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele on Johnson’s team, which will attempt to win on European soil for the first time since 1993.
“Justin Thomas is one of the most talented players on the PGA Tour in my opinion,” Johnson said.
“He has been, without question, the heart and soul of US Ryder Cup teams, our emotional leader.
“Overall (he has) a fantastic Ryder Cup record. His passion for the Ryder Cup is very evident. In my mind he is born for this and you just don’t leave JT at home.”
Koepka, who is the only LIV Golf League player to make the team, slipped out of the automatic qualifying places in the final event, having finished second in the Masters and won the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
“A five-time major champion, he is built in my mind for the biggest of stages and there’s no bigger stage than the Ryder Cup,” Johnson said.
Wordsworth will be pointed towards the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket having recently joined David Pipe ahead of dual-purpose duties.
He finished second at Royal Ascot, third in the Irish Derby and also runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris when at his peak as a three-year-old, with the son of Galileo also going close in the Sagaro Stakes and Curragh Cup when tried in staying contests by former trainer Aidan O’Brien last year.
Since leaving Ballydoyle, Wordsworth has appeared twice for Irish handler Josh Halley, finishing fourth in His Majesty’s Plate at Down Royal before rattling the crossbar when jumping hurdles for the first time at Ballinrobe.
He has now switched to Pond House with further endeavours over timber on the agenda for the winter, but before that he will line-up in the Newmarket marathon on October 14 for which he is a general 20-1 chance and where Pipe will bid to replicate his father, Martin, who won the race in both 2000 and 2002.
“He ran over hurdles the other day in Ireland and finished second and he’s only just recently arrived,” said the trainer.
“He has an entry in the Cesarewitch and that will be the plan.
“He is rated very highly and a nice addition to the team. He’ll be a dual-purpose horse for us and it’s nice to have him on board.”
Claressa Shields believes Savannah Marshall's move into mixed martial arts is good for women's sport and wishes her rival well, despite the "love-hate" relationship between the duo.
Unified middleweight champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Shields, one of the biggest names in women's boxing, made her MMA debut in 2021 after signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where she has a 1-1 record.
British boxer Marshall, Shields' long-term rival who beat the American as an amateur in 2012 before losing by unanimous decision when they met last year, signed with the PFL last week.
Marshall then declared her intention to face Shields in her new discipline, saying: "It doesn't look like a rematch in the ring is coming off, so I've had to chase her into another sport."
There has been no love lost between the fighters in the past, with Shields calling Marshall "delusional" and "disrespectful" after the Brit called for a rematch earlier this year.
While Shields initially had misgivings over Marshall's MMA switch, she believes the move will benefit the sport and even claims to have offered her rival tips to aid her transition.
"Any time I fight Savannah Marshall is a good time for me," Shields told Stats Perform. "Whether it's in boxing for the rematch or in MMA. I mean, if she wanted to go the track and race, I am down for it!
"The satisfaction of beating her makes me very happy. I have a love-hate relationship with Savannah. I love that she's a competitor. I love that we had our experiences together.
"She keeps mentioning the amateur loss, but it was, what, 11 years ago? Other than that, I think it was very clever and very inspiring for her to come and sign with the PFL.
"When I heard about it, [I thought], 'man, she is just obsessed with me'. But [then] I asked her, 'why are you here?'
"She was like, 'I want to fight you in a cage, and I want to be bigger in boxing too. I want to build my brand'.
"Hearing her say those things… It's like, now you're on the same mental that I'm on, because I've been doing this and I've been saying this.
"We both agree that women's boxing is big but it's not as big as women's MMA and we get paid more in MMA, [with] equal TV time, equal fight time, equal promotion.
"There's just way more eyes on us and we can get the bang for our buck. So, the fact that she came over here, I thought it was a good move.
"We can still do our fight in boxing for the rematch, and we can still fight in the cage. When we're done, they're going to writing like documentaries and stuff about our beef!
"But I don't have beef with her right now. I will save that for when she's my opponent again. Right now, I just wish her well. I even gave her some tips. Boxing and MMA, they are like apples and oranges. I just gave her a few tips on what I think she should do."
Asked about the development of women's sport in recent years, Shields hailed the progress already made but called for more female representation across sport's governing bodies.
"Well women's sports right now are being viewed more than ever in today's time," She added. "I think we need the CEOs, the CFOs, the people in charge to just be equal and whatever you want to do, do it for the women. It's not that hard.
"But people saying, 'the women need to do this or do that'… We're already doing everything that we're doing. It is the same as the men.
"It's really about the people in charge making those financial decisions with their budgets and just being fair. We are working our way up there.
"I'm a fan of the Olympics because I went and I just liked to see how women are represented on track and field, represented in boxing, represented in MMA, represented in soccer.
"We are putting in our time, and Coco Gauff just won the [Cincinnati Open] trophy in tennis. Women's sports right now are really on an up and up and it's going to get better."
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