Stricker edges Clark, Marino in playoff

Steve Stricker birdied the second hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Tim Clark and Steve Marino and win the PGA Tour’s Crowne Plaza Invitational on Sunday at Fort Worth.

“This means a lot,” he said afterward, his voice cracking and the gallery chanting his last name. “It’s tough to win out there. Feel fortunate any time you get a chance to.”

Clark came in having won the most money ($12.7 million) without winning a tournament in PGA Tour history. His 0-for-183 skid seemed likely to end when he held a two-stroke lead with five holes to play.

But he couldn’t keep it up. His next tee shot landed in the rough, as did his drive on No. 18. He took bogeys on both holes, coming up short on his par putt on the final hole to force the playoff.

Mark McNulty won the Principal Charity Classic at West Des Moines, Iowa, for his seventh Champions Tour victory, beating Fred Funk with a 30-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a playoff.

The 55-year-old McNulty closed with a five-under 66 to match Funk (66) and second-round leader Nick Price (68) at 10-under 203.

McNulty and Funk birdied the second extra hole to eliminate Price.

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BASEBALL

Indians put Sizemore on DL

The Cleveland Indians put All-Star outfielder Grady Sizemore on the 15-day disabled list because of left elbow inflammation and called up utility player Chris Gimenez from triple-A Columbus.

Sizemore had struggled at the plate and not played much in the field recently because of the injury. He is batting only .223.

The two-time Gold Glove center fielder had played in the field only three times in his last 12 appearances.

“The first couple of days, it looked like Grady was getting better, then it leveled off. We didn’t want to push it and hurt it even more,” Manager Eric Wedge said.

Wedge said that an MRI exam showed no structural damage and that Sizemore would not swing a bat or do any throwing for two weeks.

Kansas City Royals catcher John Buck was still in a hospital a day after he injured his lower back while preparing to bat against the Chicago White Sox.

Buck was put on the 15-day disabled list, and catcher Brayan Pena was recalled from triple-A Omaha to take his roster spot.

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ETC.

Stars demote Hull, Jackson

Brett Hull and Les Jackson are out as co-general managers of the Dallas Stars, and in their place is another former star player, Joe Nieuwendyk.

Nieuwendyk had been the special assistant to the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“These moves are all about helping this club take the proverbial ‘next step,’ ” team owner Tom Hicks said. “Joe is a leader and has been a winner in everything he has done.”

Nieuwendyk and Hull were teammates on the Stars teams that won the Stanley Cup in 1999 and returned to the finals in 2000.

Hull and Jackson spent the last 1 1/2 seasons running the front office. The Stars reached the Western Conference finals months after they took over but didn’t even make the playoffs this season.

They are remaining on the payroll in “positions that focus on their respective strengths,” according to a news release.

Denis Menchov won the 100th edition of the Giro d’Italia despite falling in the final half-mile.

The Russian lost control on rain-slicked cobblestones and slid for about 10 yards. He got right back up and ran ahead to his bike, but then opted to take a spare bike provided by his team car.

Menchov finished the race with a 41-second advantage over Danilo Di Luca, and Franco Pellizotti was third overall, 1:59 back. Lance Armstrong finished 12th overall, 15:59 behind Menchov.

Danielle Lawrie hit a grand slam and made it hold up with a five-hitter as Washington beat Georgia, 9-3, at Oklahoma City, to earn a spot in the finals of the women’s college softball World Series.

The Huskies (49-12) will face top-seeded Florida (63-3) in the best-of-three championship series beginning tonight. Florida eliminated Alabama with a 6-5 victory Sunday.