The Philadelphia Phillies won the opening game of the World Series 6-1 over the host New York Yankees on Wednesday due largely to the incredible pitching of Cliff Lee.

“To me he sets the tone by his rhythm, getting the ball back, and he knows what he’s going to do and he knows what he’s going to throw,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. “I like the way he pitches. I like everything about how he goes about it.”

The Phillies, who won last year’s World Series, brought their game, which didn’t seem to phase Yankees captain Derek Jeter. “We’ve just got to win a game, it’s nothing more complicated than that,” Jeter said.

Game Two of the best-of-seven series will be in New York on Thursday with the Phillies starting Pedro Martinez against A.J. Burnett of the Yankees.

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has released wide receiver Braylon Edwards off on his former team. Mangini sent Edwards, a former first-round pick whose troubles have matched his immense talent to the New York Jets on Wednesday for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices.

Braylon Edwards has 10 receptions for 139 yards but was held to no catches for the first time in his career in the winless Browns’ 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. His best season came in 2007, when he had 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Detroit’s 19-game losing streak is history as the Lions got their first win in over 21 months with a 19-14 triumph over the Washington Redskins at Ford Field.

The last time Detroit won a game was a 25-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on December 23, 2007. The team then dropped their next game at Green Bay and suffered through a humiliating 0-16 season last year, the first-ever winless campaign since the NFL went to a 16-game format. Detroit opened the 2009 season with a 45-27 loss at New Orleans and a 27-13 defeat to Minnesota last week at home.

Juan Martin del Potro took down the five-time defending champion Roger Federer to capture the US Open title this week.

The Argentine player kept the pressure on the player many hail as the greatest in tennis history, one he had never beaten in six prior attempts, to complete a dramatic 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 upset after four hours and six minutes.

“A dream came true,” said a tearful Del Potro. “I don’t have words to explain how I feel.”

No. 1 Roger Federer has won his 38th straight match at the U.S. Open, moving into the quarterfinals with a victory over No. 14 Tommy Robredo.

Federer, in search of his sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows, split the first 10 games against his Spanish opponent Monday, then won 14 of the next 18 for a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory. He was off the court in 1 hour, 48 minutes.

His next match will come against No. 12 Robin Soderling, whom he beat in straight sets earlier this year in the French Open final to complete his career Grand Slam.

Oregon has suspended running back LeGarrette Blount for the remainder of the season for punching Boise State linebacker Byron Hout on Thursday, right after losing to Boise. A replay of the incident showed Hout taunting Blount as the teams converged onto the field. As a Broncos assistant coach moved to separate Hout from Blount, the Oregon senior threw a right cross that connected with Hout’s right jaw.

“Under no circumstance is fighting acceptable,” the NCAA said in a statement Friday. “If it occurs before or during a game, the officials enforce the rules. If it occurs after a game, institutions and conferences decide how to address the situation. We trust our members to handle these situations appropriately. Sportsmanship is everyone’s responsibility, including student-athletes, coaches, officials, institutions and fans.

In a statement prior to Blount’s suspension, Oregon president Richard Lariviere called the player’s behavior “reprehensible.”

Eric Bruntlett became the second player in major league history to get the final three outs on his own, accomplishing the feat Sunday to preserve the Philadelphia Phillies’ 9-7 victory over the New York Mets.

“I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t know what to do,” Bruntlett said. “The ninth inning was wild. The whole game it seemed was strange.”

It was an incredible ending to an awesome game that included an inside-the-park homer after the ball got stuck under the outfield wall.

Bruntlett turned the 15th unassisted triple play in big league history—the second that ended a game. Detroit Tigers first baseman Johnny Neun also turned the trick on May 31, 1927, completing a 1-0 victory over Cleveland, according to STATS LLC.

The Chicago Cubs will have a new owner, and it’s who everyone expected it to be back in January.

Tribune Co. said Friday that it signed an agreement to sell the iconic franchise to the Ricketts family. The family is paying about $800 million to acquire a 95 percent interest in a package of assets: the team, Wrigley Field and Tribune Co.’s 25 percent stake in Comcast SportsNet Chicago, which broadcasts many Cubs games on cable television.

The agreement values the franchise and related assets at $845 million, less than the Rickett’s winning bid in January of $900 million. Tribune Co. will retain a 5 percent ownership stake in the joint venture.

“Our family is thrilled to have reached an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Chicago Cubs, one of the most storied franchises in sports,” Joe Ricketts, a billionaire who founded the Omaha-based online brokerage TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., said in a statement. “The Cubs have the greatest fans in the world, and we count our family among them. We look forward to closing the transaction so that we can begin leading the Cubs to a World Series title.”

Brett Favre, the 39-year-old quarterback, has agreed to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

“I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be,” Favre said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “You’re 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don’t have to do that much and I agree with that.

“If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too.”

The Vikings will pay Favre $12 million this year and $13 million next season, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The contract does not contain performance bonuses.

Because Favre is a vested veteran, the $12 million is guaranteed for this season if he is on the opening day roster. This also applies to the $13 million 2010 deal. This year, $6 million is guaranteed for skill and injury, meaning that if he is bad during the next few weeks, the Vikings can’t get out for less than $6 million.

Looking to add a new dimension to their offense, the Philadelphia Eagles gave the disgraced quarterback a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Vick wasn’t brought in to compete with five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb for a starting job, but the two could end up on the field together.

The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million with the second-year option worth $5.2 million, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Vick can also earn an additional $3 million in incentives over the two years of the contract, sources told ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli.