Reuters Sports News Summary
Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.
United States beat Puerto Rico to win WBC title
The United States won their first World Baseball Classic title with an 8-0 victory over Puerto Rico at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday. For Puerto Rico, who had arrived at the one-game final with a perfect 7-0 record, the defeat in the final of the fourth edition of the international tournament launched in 2006, marked their second consecutive runner-up finish.
USA Hockey postpones training camp amid wage dispute
USA Hockey said on Wednesday it had put preparations for the upcoming world championships on hold amid a wage dispute with the U.S. women's team who have threatened to boycott the event. The women's team were originally scheduled to begin a seven-day training camp on Wednesday in Traverse City, Michigan, and play an exhibition game against Finland on Saturday but USA Hockey said neither would happen.
Soccer: Brazil replace Gabriel Jesus with Firmino for Uruguay clash
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino will replace Gabriel Jesus in the Brazil team to play Uruguay in Thursday's crunch World Cup qualifier, coach Tite said on Wednesday. Firmino will replace the injured Manchester City striker to win his 13th cap in Montevideo, where the Brazilians will be looking for an eighth straight win under Tite to all but book a spot in next year's finals in Russia.
Athletics: Jamaica's Spencer denies evading drug test
Reigning Commonwealth Games 400 meters hurdles champion Kaliese Spencer denied on Wednesday that she "refused or evaded a drug test" and plans to legally challenge the assertion by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission. Spencer's denial came less than 24 hours after Jamaican athletics officials said they were notified by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission of rule violations by Spencer and 2011 World Championship relay bronze medalist Riker Hylton.
Johnson rolls, McIlroy and Spieth stumble at Match Play
World number one Dustin Johnson rolled and Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth stumbled, while Jason Day left to be with his ailing mother in Wednesday's opening day of the WGC-Dell Match Play in Austin, Texas. Johnson won the first three holes and was 5-up after nine holes and steamrolled Webb Simpson 5&3.
United States edge Japan 2-1 to reach first WBC final
The United States tagged on an eighth-inning run to edge out Japan 2-1 at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday to advance to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final for a first time. Adam Jones provided the decisive play when he broke a keenly-contested 1-1 tie with a ground ball out to third base that scored Brandon Crawford and eliminated two-time WBC champions Japan at the semi-final stage.
National Football League roundup
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell claims he has heard the average fan's discontent about the pace of the game and intends to do something about it. In an email addressed to the fans on Wednesday, Goodell wrote that the NFL will make a series of changes that will help improve "the flow and pace of the game, and commercialization and the number of necessary disruptions to the game on the field."
Soccer: Germany's Podolski crowns farewell with stunning winner over England
Germany's Lukas Podolski capped his international swansong with a sensational goal to give the world champions a 1-0 victory over England in a friendly on Wednesday. Podolski, who captained the team for the first time, could not have hoped for a more fitting finale to his 13-year Germany career, as he thundered in the winner in the 69th minute to take his goal tally to 49 in 130 international matches.
New British Cycling performance chief pledges swift progress
British Cycling's incoming performance director promised rapid action in areas including leadership and governance on Wednesday, but said the body did not require wholesale change. Stephen Park, who steps down as manager of Britain's successful Olympic sailing team after one final regatta next week, said he will take on board lessons from both external and internal reviews, but the overall program was not broken.
Soccer: Scotland frustrated by Canada in 1-1 friendly draw
Scotland were held to a 1-1 home draw against Canada in a friendly on Wednesday as Gordon Strachan's struggling side warmed up for this weekend's World Cup qualifier against Slovenia with another frustrating display. Only a spattering of fans were inside Easter Road, the home of Edinburgh side Hibernian, to watch a flat encounter punctuated by few chances for either side.
