SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2017 SPORTS Vinales pole at Aragon Yanks’ Frazier says expanded Ausmus will not return as MotoGP, Rossi third netting should go up this year Detroit Tigers manager ALCANIZ: Maverick Vinales took pole position at the Aragon MotoGP yes- TORONTO: After speaking with the family of the young girl hit in DETROIT: The Detroit Tigers announced Friday the contract of manager terday, ahead of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi. Rossi impressed with the face by his foul ball, the New York Yankees’ Todd Frazier said Brad Ausmus will not be extended beyond the 2017 season. Ausmus, 48, the third fastest time just three weeks after he needed teams should move quickly to expand protective netting at major and his coaching staff will remain in their current positions through the surgery after breaking two bones in his right leg league ballparks. “I think 2018, that’s too late,” Frazier said Friday. “It end of the season, according to general manager Al Avila. while riding an off-road motorcycle. The nine-time should be up sooner than that.” Frazier spoke Thursday to the father The Tigers entered Friday’s games in fourth place in the world champion only missed one race because of the girl struck by his 105 mph foul ball in Wednesday’s game American League Central with a 62-91 record, and of the injury. The 22-year-old Vinales pushed his against Minnesota at Yankee Stadium. The girl remains hospitalized. will finish with their fewest wins in a season under Yamaha to the fastest lap of 1 minute, 47.635 sec- Frazier said her father told him she is “OK.” “He told me not to stress Ausmus. “As we transition the ballclub in a new onds for his fifth pole of the season. Defending over it. We understand how upset you were. It’s nobody’s fault and direction, I feel it’s best we have a new approach champion Marc Marquez will start today’s race from just one of those freak accidents,” Frazier said before Friday’s game and a fresh start with the manager position,” Avila fifth on the grid after he crashed his Honda in the ses- against Toronto. “I think they’re going to do more tests the next cou- said in a statement. “Brad has done an admirable job sion. Andrea Dovizioso could only manage the sev- ple days and then, hopefully, she can get out of there.” Frazier and under, at times, difficult circumstances, especially this enth best time. Marquez and Dovizioso are tied on 199 other players from the Yankees and Twins kneeled in prayer after season, and we appreciate his professionalism and points heading into the 14th race of the 18-event sea- the girl was hit. Frazier said Thursday’s five-minute chat won’t be the dedication to the Tigers the past four years. “Our search son. Vinales is third with 183 points. —AP final time he is in touch with the family. —AP for a new manager is underway.” —Reuters GOLF Thomas tied for lead as $10m comes into view ATLANTA: With two swings, Justin Thomas tion on the back nine and kept in the game showed that every shot counts in the FedEx with some crucial par putts. He had to set- Cup, even at the season-ending Tour tle for a 70 and headed straight for the Championship. Thomas had six players practice area. ahead of him Friday when he smashed a 335-yard drive down the bottom of the hill EASIEST ONE on the par-5 18th hole at East Lake, and Twenty players from the 30-man field then a 5-iron that settled 6 feet below the were under par, meaning they were sepa- cup for a closing eagle. rated by just six shots with 36 holes ahead Just like that, Thomas had a 4-under 66 of them. “It’s the easiest one to win because and a share of the lead with Paul Casey and there’s only 30 guys,” said Kevin Kisner, who Webb Simpson and was back in control - a shot another 68 and was three behind. “But loose term the way this tournament is then I look up there and everyone is 6 shaping up going into the week - of his under, and it doesn’t look so easy.” Thomas chase for the $10 million bonus. made birdies with a wedge in his hand, “It’s nice to have everything in my own failed to save par from a bunker on the fifth hands and know that if I just take care of hole, and then turned a mediocre round what I need to do, then it’s over,” Thomas into a solid one with that 5-iron into the said. It’s not over yet, not even close. Casey 18th for birdie. stumbled with some errant tee shots into He already can state his case as the best the troublesome rough for back-to-back player on the PGA Tour this year, with five bogeys in a 67 that slowed his momentum. victories and his first major at the PGA Simpson paid for a wild drive on No. 13 Championship. Thomas outlasted Spieth with a double bogey and made nothing and Marc Leishman to win at the TPC pars coming in for a 67. Boston three weeks ago, and now he’s tied They joined Thomas at 7-under 133. As for the lead going into the weekend at East one of the top five seeds, Thomas only has Lake. Much like Spieth in 2015 when he to win the Tour Championship to capture ended his best season with the FedEx Cup, the FedEx Cup. Even a third-place finish Thomas would love to have the perfect TUCSON: Quarterback Tyler Huntley #1 of the Utah Utes scrambles with the football against the Arizona Wildcats during the firsthalf of the col- might be enough to take home golf’s rich- ending. “I want to win any week,” he said, lege football game at Arizona Stadium on Friday in Tucson, Arizona. — AFP est bonus depending on who wins. “but it definitely would be a nice cap.” But that list is plenty deep after two Casey and Simpson are enduring long sweltering days at East Lake. Jon Rahm, the droughts. Casey last won at the KLM Open No. 5 seed who also has a clear path to the in 2014, while Simpson last won four years No. 23 Utah recovers late top prize, played bogey-free for a 67. He ago in Las Vegas. Both overcame a few was one shot behind, along with Patrick stumbles on the back nine to share the Reed (65), Justin Rose (66) and Gary lead. Casey seems to have done everything Woodland (67), all of them trying to win for but win the last three years, with six top-5 fumble to hold off Arizona the first time this year. finishes in the last eight FedEx Cup playoff Dustin Johnson, the No. 3 seed, has events. “It would cap off a very good sea- been sputtering along. He failed to birdie son, make a very good season a great sea- TUCSON: When Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley A targeting penalty on Utah safety Marquise a week off before returning to conference play. either of the two par 5s, managed only a 69 son,” he said. “Yeah, it would be a lot of sat- went down with a shoulder injury in the second Blair against Dawkins led to Taylor’s 7-yard Arizona: The Wildcats were in the game most of and still was only four shots behind. “I just isfaction in that. Hopefully, ask me again quarter, the Utes had an experienced and reli- touchdown run that made it a three-point game the way but were undone by the avalanche of want to get within striking distance,” today and I can give you the full explana- able alternative ready. Troy Williams, a senior again, 20-17, with 4:38 still to go in the third. turnovers. Johnson said. “If I can get it within three, I tion. Right now, I’m too busy just trying to who started 13 games last season, came on and Blair was ejected and also must sit out the first The Utes have next weekend off before would be happy.” focus on trying to string together four guided the No. 23 Utes to a 30-24 victory over half of Utah’s Sept. 7 game against Stanford. playing their conference home opener He was four behind, so it doesn’t require great rounds of golf. It’s amazing how this Arizona on Friday night in the Pac-12 opener for The Utes stayed unbeaten but lost their Stanford. Arizona: The Wildcats also have a much math to figure out he’s not far away. golf course just bunches and you can’t both schools. “We’re in a good place quarter- sophomore starting quarterback. Fortunately bye next weekend. They return to play Oct. 7 Jordan Spieth was lucky to still be just four seem to get away. “Guys are right there, back-wise,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. for them, they have an experienced backup and at Colorado. — AP shots behind. The No. 1 seed in the FedEx sort of biting at your heels,” he said. “So it’s “Obviously we want Tyler back as soon as possi- Cup missed five straight greens in regula- going to be a tough one.” —AP ble, but Troy won nine games for us last year, and he was ready.” Not that was easy.