Sports briefs: U.S. boat wins Race 8 of America's Cup

Sailing • Emirates Team New Zealand nearly capsized in Race 8 of the America's Cup, allowing defending champion Oracle Team USA to sail away to a 52-second victory Saturday on windy San Francisco Bay.

In the most heart-stopping moment of the regatta, the Kiwis' 131-foot wing sail didn't pop to the correct side, apparently because of a lack of pressure in the hydraulic system, as the crew tried to tack on the American boat to keep its slight lead.

The 72-foot catamaran began to tip over, with its starboard hull rising high into the air. The boat appeared to come within a few degrees of going over before the crew got the wing to pop and the boat splashed down.

It was just the second victory of the series for the American syndicate, which has now erased the two-point penalty it was assessed in the biggest cheating scandal in the 162-year-history of the America's Cup.

Jets place Sanchez on short-term IR

NFL • Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was placed on short-term injured reserve, meaning he will not be able to play for the next eight weeks.

Sanchez injured his right shoulder in the team's third preseason game against the Giants. He has opted to try to rehabilitate the injury rather than have season-ending surgery.

The exact nature of the injury has not been announced, but some published reports say it is a partially torn labrum.

Canada nears berth in Davis Cup final

Tennis • Canada is now in a remarkable spot — one victory from the Davis Cup final.

The Canadians beat Serbia in a five-set doubles match Saturday for a 2-1 lead in Belgrade, Serbia. Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil outlasted Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-7 (6), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8.

The winner of the best-of-five semifinal will play for the title in November against the Czech Republic, which defeated Argentina in the other semifinal Saturday.

Horner closes in on Spanish Vuelta win

CYcling • Christopher Horner, an American cyclist who turns 42 next month, closed in on the biggest victory of his career by building his lead in the next-to-last stage of the Spanish Vuelta in Alto de L'Angliru, Spain. Horner, who rides for RadioShack-Leopard, increased his lead from three to 37 seconds over Italy's Vincenzo Nibali after the 20th stage. Horner shook off the Giro d'Italia winner on the final surge up the foggy peak to end the grueling, 88-mile mountainous ride. Horner took second place Saturday, 26 seconds after winner Kenny Elissonde of France.

From wire reports