Three weeks of solid finishes have elevated him to 17th in points

A victory in California's wine country would make Ambrose the reigning champ on both road courses that host Sprint Cup events. The fifth-year driver prevailed at Watkins Glen, N.Y., last season for his first win in NASCAR's top series.

Although his road savvy often gives him a competitive edge, Ambrose shrugs off the notion he's a road-racing specialist. Three weeks of solid finishes have elevated him to 17th in points, and wins at Sonoma and Watkins Glen could place him in the wild-card picture for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. To make his first postseason appearance, Ambrose knows he has to excel on ovals as well.

"I apply myself the same every week," Ambrose said. "The pressure is not much different, it's just the weight of expectation I guess this weekend and for Watkins Glen as well, the expectation of success is what we have to balance out. I can't change the way I drive. I've got to keep doing my best out there. If I do my job well and the team does, we know we'll be a contender for the race win."

Before the match there was fighting between fans from both countrie

Before the match there was fighting between fans from both countries, leaving 15 injured and more than 140 detained by the police as thousands of Russian supporters marched to celebrate the Russia Day national holiday. Dzagoev darted past defender Lukasz Piszczek in the 37th minute and deflected a curling free kick by Andrei Arshavin past goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton with his shoulder. But Poland was rewarded for its attacking style in the 57th when Blaszczykowski cut in from the right and sent a searing left-footed drive into the far corner of the goal. “I think we deserve praise because all of us put a lot into this match,” Blaszczykowski said. “The tactics we set up before the match we carried out 100 percent.” The result left Russia at the top of Group A with four points but also kept alive Poland’s chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals. The Czech Republic is in second place with three points after its 2-1 win against Greece. “We’re still in the tournament, so with this point a win in our final match puts us into the knockout stage,” Blaszczykowski said. At least 15 people were injured in fighting between fans. Polish police also fired rubber bullets and tear gas at a group of young Poles who attacked them with glass bottles. The march to the stadium by thousands of Russian fans was seen as a provocation by many Poles, who have long had tense relations with Russia. Russia’s attack, which had flourished in an opening 4-1 win over the Czechs, was largely muzzled by a well-organized Polish defense. At the other end, Robert Lewandowski was a constant threat. “When we went 1-0 up, I thought we’d get more space like we did against the Czech Republic, but that didn’t happen,” Russia Coach Dick Advocaat said. “We lost the ball too fast when we were going forward and they could counter. We left the field too open.” After scattered fighting in Warsaw before the match, the police fired rubber bullets at a group of fans who attacked them with bottles and stones near an outdoor fan zone where about 75,000 people were watching the game on huge video screens.

Reid, the Nevada Democrat who was a boxing judge himself in his earlier days

A former amateur boxer, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had a few thoughts on the disputed outcome of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight in Las Vegas. Reid, the Nevada Democrat who was a boxing judge himself in his earlier days -- "an inexact science," he called it Tuesday -- welcomed an investigation into Saturday's bout at the MGM Grand. Fans have protested the judges' split decision that made Bradley the winner, and there have been calls for the Nevada attorney general to investigate. "I feel confident there's been nothing untoward," Reid said Tuesday. "But if an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation." Reid has often been ringside for the big fights -- and once ran into ethical questions for accepting credentials to observe the events -- but missed the weekend match to celebrate his wife's birthday. "One of my very good friends was one of the judges for this fight. And from all the reports that I've seen by people on the outside who saw the fight, who attempted to be fair and judge the fight, Pacquiao won the fight," Reid went on. "Now, I understand how upset everybody is. The person that's handled this better than anyone else is Pacquiao. He has said, 'It's a fight, and I lost.' But he'll fight again." Reid suggested it might be time to make another push with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on their stalled bipartisan bill for a national boxing commission.

Gomez, whose father is Spanish

He had forced a save in the second minute, but he skied a header over the crossbar in the 57th minute. For long stretches, Germany's short passing and possession style seemed to lack energy and purpose. But Gomez scored in the decisive moment, and in the end that was all that mattered.

Still, many had expected Klose to start such an important match. After all, he had 63 goals in 116 previous international appearances. And Gomez had started only intermittently for Die Mannschaft. But Klose badly injured a thigh in March while playing for Lazio of Italy's Serie A, and his convalescence has been extended.

"It was a hard road for me," Gomez, whose father is Spanish and whose mother is German, said about being the usual understudy to Klose. "I am very happy that the coach had confidence in me. With the goal, I could pay something back. The ball was deflected and landed exactly on the front of my head. It wasn't that difficult."