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AUTO RACING • McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday in Monza, and Formula One leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari finished third to extend his overall lead. Hamilton put speculation about his future and a possible switch to Mercedes behind him to claim his first victory at Monza and the 20th of his career.
Hamilton moved past defending champion Sebastian Vettel to take second place in the drivers' standings, 37 points behind Alonso. Vettel had to retire because of a mechanical problem when wisps of white smoke started to emerge from his car with six laps to go. Mexico's Sergio Perez was second on Sunday, 4.3 seconds behind Hamilton after starting 12th.
Raptors advance to championship series
Baseball • The host Ogden Raptors defeated the Grand Junction Rockies 11-9 on Sunday to win their Pioneer League playoff series 2-1. The Raptors' 14-hit offensive barrage included solo home runs by Eric Smith, Jose Capellan and Bladimir Franco.
Reliever Travis Jones earned the win, working 11⁄3 scoreless innings.
The Raptors' five-run rally in the fourth inning included Franco's homer, two run-scoring walks and a run-scoring error.
The Raptors will face the Missoula Osprey in the Pioneer League championship series beginning Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. at Missoula. The Raptors will host Game 2 at 7 p.m. Thursday and Game 3, if necessary, on Friday.
Contador claims Spanish Vuelta title
CYCLING • Alberto Contador won his second Spanish Vuelta title on Sunday in Madrid, just over a month after his doping ban ended. The Spanish cyclist navigated the straightforward and largely processional final leg into and around Madrid with ease to edge out Spanish compatriots Alejandro Valverde and Joaquin Rodriguez in the 21-stage race.
Valverde finished 1 minute, 16 seconds behind. Rodriguez was 1:38 back after having led the 67th edition of the Spanish classic for 13 stages. Contador won the Tour de France in 2007 and '09, but had his 2010 title stripped because of a positive drug test.
From wire reports