SUNDAY SPORTS

GLENEAGLES, Scotland (AP) – Europe has put itself in great position to win the Ryder Cup for the eighth time in 10 tries.

The Europeans took 3 1/2 of a possible four points in foursomes play at Gleneagles, Scotland, on Saturday to grab a 10-6 lead through two days of play. Europe needs to claim just four of 12 points in Sunday’s singles play to retain the Cup.

The Americans pulled within 6 1/2 to 5 1/2 by winning two matches and halving another in the Saturday morning fourballs matches. But Jordan Spieth (speeth) and Patrick Reed prevented Europe from sweeping the foursomes, one day after the Europeans took 3 1/2 of a possible four points in the event. Saturday’s biggest foursomes rout belonged to Victor Dubuisson and Graeme McDowell, who whipped Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler, 5 and 4.

The most impressive performance of the day came from Europeans Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson in the first fourballs match. They carded 10 straight birdies and 12 of 16 holes to complete a 3 and 2 win over Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar. The Americans dropped the match despite nine birdies.

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson benched Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley for both sessions Saturday, even though both wanted to play. Mickelson and Bradley rallied to take down Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia in the opening session of fourballs matches on Friday, but they lost badly in foursomes. Mickelson will play only three matches this week, his fewest since going 3-0 as a rookie at Oak Hill in 1995.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders returned home from Edmonton Saturday morning following their 24-0 loss to the Eskimos in Edmonton the night before.  The loss dropped the Riders to 9-4 and into a second place tie with Edmonton in the CFL’s West Division.

Rider coach Corey Chamblin said the Eskimos were the better team on Friday and got the better of them on the field and in the coaching department.  The Riders used back-up quarterbacks Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege in the loss, but neither were able to put points on the board in the absence of starter Darian Durant.

Chamblin said they are evaluating the quarterback position and when asked if they’re investigating the option of adding a veteran pivot, he said “I don’t know what options are out there”.

The Riders host the Calgary Stampeders in the first of their two game season series Friday evening at Mosaic Stadium.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are on the verge of sweeping the A-L East champion Orioles in the final series of the season. J.A. Happ pitched into the seventh inning and Jose Reyes drove in two runs to lift Toronto over Baltimore 4-2 at Rogers Centre. Wei-Yin Chen took the loss for the Orioles, who made three errors in all.

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Paul Konerko got more than he bargained from the Chicago White Sox on his way to retirement. The team unveiled a bronze statue and announced Konerko’s Number 14 will be retired next season. Chicago also presented him his grand slam ball from the 2005 World Series.

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Toronto native Will Johnson broke his right fibula and tibia in the first minute of Portland’s 3-2 loss to Toronto FC. The Timbers captain was hurt when he went shin-on-shin in a 50-50 challenge with TFC fullback Mark Bloom. Michael Bradley scored in the 89th minute to complete Toronto FC’s three-goal, second-half comeback.

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Elsewhere in Major League Soccer, the Vancouver Whitecaps have the fifth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with four games to play after edging Real Salt Lake 2-1. And in Columbus, Ethan Finlay and Federico Higuain scored as the Crew blanked the Montreal Impact 2-nil.

(Canadian Press)