Simpson has lead
at Quail Hollow
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The cheers Webb Simpson heard Saturday at Quail Hollow were all for him.
Simpson, who lives about a mile from the course, emerged from a crowded leaderboard with a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. He finished with a 3-under 69 for a one-shot lead in the Wells Fargo Championship.
Ryan Moore (68) and D.A. Points (69) were one shot behind, though nothing was settled on a steamy afternoon except for Simpson atop the leaderboard and a lot of his neighbors loving it.
Lehman, Funk share lead in Houston
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Fred Funk shot a 3-under 69 in sweltering heat for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Lehman in the Champions Tour’s Insperity Championship.
Lehman followed his opening 65 with a 70 to match Funk at 9-under 135 on The Tournament Course.
Logano beats Busch at finish of Nationwide race
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Joey Logano nipped Kyle Busch at the finish line Saturday to win the Nationwide Series race at Talladega Superspeedway to give Toyota its 200th win in NASCAR.
The race was marred by a late accident that sent Eric McClure to an Alabama hospital by helicopter, but NASCAR officials said he was awake and speaking to medical personnel.
Padres closer Street placed on 15-day DL
SAN DIEGO — Padres closer Huston Street was placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strain near his pitching shoulder.
The team said Street has a strained right lat.
He left Friday night’s game against Miami after issuing a two-out walk in the 10th inning and was scheduled for an MRI exam Saturday.
The right-hander said he didn’t think it was a major injury.
In his first season with the Padres, Street has four saves and a 0.93 ERA in 10 appearances.
Marlins demote Bell from closer’s role
SAN DIEGO — One day after Heath Bell blew a save for the fourth time this season, the Miami Marlins demoted him from the closer role.
Manager Ozzie Guillen, who hinted at the move in recent days, said Saturday he couldn’t wait any longer for the struggling Bell to correct his problems.
Bell, who signed a $27 million, three-year contract with Miami in the offseason, was not surprised by the decision and said he understood it.
Bell is 0-3 with an 11.42 ERA in 11 games. The right-hander has allowed 15 hits in 8 2/3 innings with 10 walks and only six strikeouts.
Seppi, Paire reach Serbia Open final
BELGRADE, Serbia — Italy’s Andreas Seppi and France’s Benoit Paire won semifinal matches Saturday and will play for the Serbia Open title.
Seppi, seeded second, rallied past fourth-seeded David Nalbandian 2-6, 6-2, 7-5. Paire upset top-seeded Pablo Andujar of Spain 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach his first final on the ATP Tour.
Estonia’s Kanepi
wins Estoril Open
OEIRAS, Portugal — Kaia Kanepi of Estonia won the Estoril Open on Saturday, saving two match points to beat Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 3-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4.
Among the men, defending champ Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina and Richard Gasquet of France won semifinals and will play for the title Sunday in this clay-court tuneup for the French Open.
Cilic, Kohlschreiber to meet in final
MUNICH — Third-seeded Marin Cilic beat German veteran Tommy Haas in straight sets on Saturday to reach the final of the BMW Open, where he will face 2007 winner Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Cilic, the 2010 finalist, dropped just five points from his own serve as the 23-year-old Croat defeated Haas 6-3, 6-4.
The fourth-seeded Kohlschreiber defeated second-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4.
Errani wins
Budapest final
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Top-seeded Sara Errani of Italy won her third WTA title this year by defeating Elena Vesnina of Russia 7-5, 6-4 Saturday in the Budapest Grand Prix final.
By wire sources
