Giants found similar winning formula to win again

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Giants' championship formula is a familiar one, just with new faces all over the diamond two years later: stellar starting pitching backed by a shut-down bullpen, a late-season surge and a manager making all the right moves.

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BASKETBALL

Game On Dude made early favorite for Breeders' Cup

San Francisco gets ready for Giants' parade

Oakland Raiders earn day off after 2nd straight win at midseason point

McIlroy beats Woods in China exhibition

A's exercise Balfour contract option, decline Stephen Drew

One Giant Series sweep

DETROIT (AP) - Finally pressed in the World Series, the San Francisco Giants finished off a most unexpected and stunning sweep.

Panda pounds his way to Series MVP

DETROIT (AP) - Pablo Sandoval not only has baseball's neatest nickname, Kung Fu Panda has a World Series MVP award to go along with it.

Thousands gather at City Hall to celebrate

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - They came from all corners of the region and screamed louder with each strike and every out in the bottom of the 10th inning as the San Francisco Giants closed in on a second championship in three years Sunday.

Thunder sweep of Bakersfield with OT goal

STOCKTON – Tony DeHart's blast from the high slot with six seconds left in sudden death overtime lifted the Stockton Thunder (4-1-1, 9 points) to a 3-2 victory over the Bakersfield Condors before 5,062 fans at Stockton Arena on Sunday.

Wondolowski ties MLS goal mark in Earthquakes’ tie

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Chris Wondolowski tied the MLS single-season record with his 27th goal and the San Jose Earthquakes wrapped up the regular season with a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers on Saturday night.

Sports news briefs

TENNIS • SERENA WILLIAMS WINS WTA TITLE, ENDS YEAR NO. 3: ISTANBUL (AP) - Her year filled with titles and trophies over, Serena Williams can at last admit it: This was a title she had her eye on. Not that any more evidence of her all-consuming, powerful game was needed, but Williams gave it anyway. She dismissed Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3 Sunday to win the WTA Championships for the third time and finish the year ...

Oakland Raiders take advantage of struggling Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Take your pick of problems and the Kansas City Chiefs probably have them.

49ers face Arizona in defensive contest

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - The NFC West takes over Monday night football, and this season at least that means defense.

49ers thrilled to have Super Bowl come to town

SANTA CLARA - Only a Colin Kaepernick deep ball away from the San Francisco 49ers' practice field, Levi's Stadium is taking shape in a hurry.

Stockton pushed to the brink with loss to Reading

STOCKTON – Yannick Tifu's two unanswered goals helped send the Stockton Thunder to a 3-1 loss to the Reading Royals in Game 3 of the Kelly Cup Finals in front of 4,379 fans at Stockton Arena on Tuesday.

Sharks tie series with win over Kings

SAN JOSE (AP) - Brent Burns helped San Jose jump off to a fast start with his second goal of the postseason and the Sharks tied their second-round series against Los Angeles at two games with a 2-1 victory over the Kings in Game 4 on Tuesday night.

Spurs blow late lead, beat Grizzlies 93-89 in OT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - When Tony Parker started running low on masterful plays, Tim Duncan was there to take over and lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Sandoval’s HR lifts Giants past Nationals

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning after Gregor Blanco's tying triple in the ninth, and the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Washington Nationals 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Straily, Cespedes push A’s past Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Oakland rookie right-hander Dan Straily was well aware of the ace pitcher and the powerful lineup he was facing.

Affeldt has grown to love open-minded Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - When Jeremy Affeldt came to the Bay Area as an opposing player, he refused to leave his hotel room aside from going to and from the ballpark. He was admittedly homophobic.

Veteran DB Charles Woodson returns to Raiders

ALAMEDA (AP) - Charles Woodson is coming back home to Oakland.

Sharks look to tie series with Kings in Game 4

SAN JOSE (AP) - For all that the San Jose Sharks accomplished with their overtime victory over Los Angeles in Game 3, they know it will mean very little if they don't back that win up with another at home against the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings.

Warriors GM: ‘Sense of desperation has passed’

OAKLAND (AP) - The turnaround has taken place. The total transformation might not be far away.

Smith, Colon lead Athletics past Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - Bartolo Colon celebrated his 40th birthday a few days early with something he's enjoyed quite a few times over the years: a win over the Texas Rangers.

Giants’ Vogelsong wins at last but injures hand

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Ryan Vogelsong felt the best he had in months, then it all ended on one painful swing.

Bosh aiming to be impactful against Pacers

MIAMI (AP) - This is the matchup Chris Bosh wanted in the Eastern Conference finals.

Magic try to follow Howard trade with lottery luck

NEW YORK (AP) - Pat Williams is pretty good at being lucky, and he's got a hunch.

Castroneves, Franchitti chase 4th Indy 500 win

NEW YORK (AP) - Helio Castroneves figures plenty of today's fans have never seen a driver win the Indianapolis 500 for a record-tying fourth time.