According to reports, Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez will have cardiac ablation surgery for an irregular heartbeat. The club gave no immediate word about when Martinez will have the procedure. Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona had a similar procedure in July. Martinez, 38, missed two weeks after he was taken to the hospital in June after suffering from a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, and cold sweats. Martinez, who played for the Red Sox in 2009 and 2010, is hitting .255 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 107 games. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said Martinez, who is under contract for 2018 at $18 million, told him he expects to play next season.
Tigers’ Cabrera, Wilson have bans cut
Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera and reliever Alex Wilson started serving their suspensions after they were reduced by one game by Major League Baseball. Cabrera will now miss six games and Wilson three for their actions in a fight-filled home game against the Yankees on Aug. 24 . . . According to MLB.com, Francona said righthander Danny Salazar, who has been on the disabled list since Aug. 22 with inflammation in his right elbow, is expected to start Tuesday against the White Sox.
GOLF
Lewis takes 3-stroke lead in Portland
Hoping to make a big donation to hurricane relief in her hometown and win for the first time since June 2014, Stacy Lewis took a three-stroke lead in the LPGA Cambia Portland Classic in Oregon. From The Woodlands in the Houston area, Lewis has pledged to give her earnings — first place is worth $195,000 — to relief efforts. Moriya Jutanugarn was second after a 66. In Gee Chun was another stroke back after a 69 . . . Englishman Lee Slattery shot 5-under 67 for a 12-under 204 overall after three rounds of the European Tour’s Czech Masters in Vysoky Ujezd, Czech Republic, taking a two-shot lead over Haydn Porteous of South Africa. Porteous also shot 67 for 10-under 206, while Sweden’s Pontus Widegren (69) is two shots further back . . . Scott McCarron eagled the par-5 18th for a 6-under 64 and a two-stroke lead in the PGA Tour Champions’ Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary. First-round leader Kevin Sutherland was tied for second at Canyon Meadows with Miguel Angel Jimenez . . . Ryan Armour shot a 6-under 65 for the third-round lead in the opening stage of the Web.com Tour Finals, the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship, in Columbus, Ohio. Armour had a 12-under 201 for a one-stroke lead over Keith Mitchell.
AUTO RACING
Hamlin wins Xfinity race at Darlington
Pole sitter Denny Hamlin found himself behind Joey Logano heading into the final turn before sliding around one last time to win the NASCAR Xfinity Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Kevin Harvick, who won the first two stages, was third after leading 54 laps . . . Kevin Harvick won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. Harvick had a fast lap of 177.730 miles per hour in the final qualifying round, holding off Martin Truex Jr. . . . Alexander Rossi took the IndyCar pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International with a track-record time of 1 minute, 22.4639 seconds . . . Lewis Hamilton topped Max Verstappen to win the pole for Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix in Monza. It is Hamilton’s 69th career pole, breaking Michael Schumacher’s F1 record.
MISCELLANY
Hill strikes early as Pride top Breakers
Rachel Hill scored twice in the first 15 minutes to propel the Orlando Pride to a 4-2 National Women’s Soccer League victory over the visiting Boston Breakers. Boston’s Rosie White and Julie King found the back of the net in the second half, while Abby Smith made three saves . . . In MLS play, Bastian Schweinsteiger scored in the second half and the Chicago Fire held off the host Montreal Impact, 1-0 . . . Kayla McBride had 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists to lead the San Antonio Stars to a 75-71 WNBA win over the host Indiana Pacers . . . Polish cyclist Rafal Majka won the mountainous 14th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, finishing the 108.7-mile trek from Ecija to Sierra de La Pandera, Spain, in 4 hours, 42 minutes, 10 seconds. Miguel Angel Lopez was 27 seconds behind. Vincenzo Nibali was third to cut Chris Froome’s overall lead over the Italian to 55 seconds . . . Ridden by Florent Geroux, Gun Runner ran 1⅛ miles in 1:47.43 to capture the $750,000 Woodward Stakes by 10¼ lengths over Rally Cry at Saratoga for his third straight victory.
