ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Braves clinched their second straight NL East title as Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 41st homer in a 6-0 win over San Francisco on Friday night that eliminated the Giants from postseason contention in Bruce Bochy's last year as San Francisco manager.

Acuna scored four runs to back Mike Foltynewicz (8-5), who allowed three hits in eight innings. Atlanta's 19th division title tied the New York Yankees for the most since Major League Baseball split into divisions for the 1969 season.

Atlanta's win ensured it will finish ahead of second-place Washington and will start the NL Division Series at home on Oct. 3, most likely against the NL Central champion.

Braves players ran onto the infield to celebrate as soon as Acuna caught Alex Dickerson's game-ending flyout.

Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev won their Laver Cup doubles match as Team Europe lead Team World 3-1 after day one of the event in Geneva, Switzerland.

Federer and Zverev beat Jack Sock and Denis Shapovalov 6-3 7-5.

Shapovalov also lost to Dominic Thiem while Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas beat American Taylor Fritz.

Sock had earlier beaten Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-1 7-6 to secure Team World's only point of the opening day.

Shapovalov and Sock converted just one of 16 break points, failing to take any of six set points in one game off Zverev's serve during the crucial second set.

After Zverev held serve to level the set at 5-5, a double fault from Shapovalov in the next game gave the Team Europe pair a crucial break.

Federer served out the next game to secure victory and move further ahead in the all-time Laver Cup standings with 13 points.

Speaking in front of his home crowd, Swiss world number three Federer said: "All of us tennis players travel around the world for 10, 11 months of the year.

"There's no place like playing at home, so this is a very special night for me."

Austrian world number five Thiem saved three match points against Canada's Shapovalov in the opening singles match of the competition before going on to win 6-4 5-7 13-11 courtesy of a super tie-break.

Tsitsipas also needed a super tie-break to overcome fellow tournament debutant Fritz 6-2 1-6 10-7.

That put Europe back in front after American Sock became the first Team World player ever to win an opening-day singles match with victory over Fognini.

Two points per match are on offer on day two of the three-day tournament, with the first team to reach 13 points declared the winner.

The Laver Cup is into its third year but this is the first time the tournament is an officially sanctioned ATP Tour event.

The previous tournaments, in Prague and Chicago, took place on an exhibition basis.

England will contest the 2020 World Cup without doctor Phil Riley as part of their backroom staff after he resigned in the build-up to the tournament.

Riley, who became team doctor almost 12 months ago, left for "personal reasons" according to the Rugby Football Union.

His final game was England's World Cup warm-up game against Italy.

Eddie Jones' side start their campaign against Tonga on Sunday, with Rob Young brought in to replace Riley for what is his second spell in the role.

Young previously worked under Jones from 2017-18 before stepping down himself, also for personal reasons, to create the vacancy for Riley.

More than 25 personnel have left in the wake of Jones taking charge four years ago, many of them signing non-disclosure agreements that are strictly enforced by the RFU.

RICHMOND, Va. – Austin Cindric will start his pursuit of the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship from the pole position after topping qualifying on Friday afternoon at Richmond Raceway.

Cindric turned a lap of 22.708 seconds (118.901 mph) around the three-quarter-mile D-shaped oval to earn the pole with his No. 22 MoneyLion Ford.

He’ll look to deliver Team Penske a victory during the Go Bowling 250 under the lights and advance his way into the second round of the playoffs right away, but Cindric did have a nervous moment on his money lap.

The son of Team Penske president Tim Cindric just scraped the outside wall exiting turn two on his second lap, dusting off the right-rear quarter panel of his Mustang before reining it in on the other end.

“Man, on these short tracks you just have to get every hundredth (of a second), but I guess hindsight being 20/20, if we had known we had the pole by a tenth and some change … maybe we take it a touch easier,” Cindric chuckled. “But this is great, to get on the pole in the first round and the first race of the playoffs. It’s awesome. We’ve got MoneyLion on pole and hopefully we can stay there the whole race.”

Justin Allgaier will join Cindric on the front row, after a time of 22.826 seconds (118.286 mph) with the No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro out of the JR Motorsports stable.

Regular-season champion Tyler Reddick was third, just in front of Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe.

Harrison Burton qualified sixth-quick, best among the non-playoff drivers, while playoff contenders Justin Haley and Noah Gragson followed in seventh and eighth, respectively.

Another driver hoping to crash the party, Gray Gaulding, slotted in ninth ahead of Michael Annett.

The Go Bowling 250 goes green at 7:30 p.m. ET, live on NBCSN, the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90.

QUALIFYING RESULTS: NASCAR Xfinity Series; Richmond Raceway; Sept. 20, 2019

1. #22 – Austin Cindric, 22.708 seconds (118.901 mph)
2. #7 – Justin Allgaier, 22.826 seconds (118.286 mph)
3. #2 – Tyler Reddick, 22.863 seconds (118.095 mph)
4. #20 – Christopher Bell, 22.961 seconds (117.591 mph)
5. #98 – Chase Briscoe, 22.973 seconds (117.529 mph)
6. #18 – Harrison Burton, 22.975 seconds (117.519 mph)
7. #11 – Justin Haley, 23.037 seconds (117.203 mph)
8. #9 – Noah Gragson, 23.042 seconds (117.177 mph)
9. #08 – Gray Gaulding, 23.088 seconds (116.944 mph)
10. #1 – Michael Annett, 23.095 seconds (116.908 mph)
11. #19 – Brandon Jones, 23.107 seconds (116.848 mph)
12. #00 – Cole Custer, 23.111 seconds (116.827 mph)
13. #39 – Ryan Sieg, 23.116 (116.802 mph)
14. #51 – Jeremy Clements, 23.121 seconds (116.777 mph)
15. #8 – Zane Smith, 23.136 seconds (116.701 mph)
16. #21 – Joe Graf Jr., 23.166 seconds (116.550 mph)
17. #89 – Landon Cassill, 23.189 seconds (116.435 mph)
18. #07 – Ray Black II, 23.310 seconds (115.830 mph)
19. #01 – Ryan Repko, 23.456 seconds (115.109 mph)
20. #61 – Chad Finchum, 23.492 seconds (114.933 mph)
21. #4 – Stephen Leicht, 23.522 seconds (114.786 mph)
22. #86 – Brandon Brown, 23.525 seconds (114.772 mph)
23. #99 – Matt Mills, 23.629 seconds (114.266 mph)
24. #74 – Tyler Matthews, 23.638 seconds (114.223 mph)
25. #17 – Joe Nemechek, 23.652 seconds (114.155 mph)
26. #90 – Dillon Bassett, 23.660 seconds (114.117 mph)
27. #5 – Vinnie Miller, 23.667 seconds (114.083 mph)
28. #36 – Josh Williams, 23.685 seconds (113.996 mph)
29. #52 – David Starr, 23.810 seconds (113.398 mph)
30. #35 – Joey Gase, 23.863 seconds (113.146 mph)
31. #66 – Mike Marlar, 23.883 seconds (113.051 mph)
32. #0 – Garrett Smithley, 23.906 seconds (112.942 mph)
33. #15 – B.J. McLeod, 23.919 seconds (112.881 mph)
34. #78 – J.J. Yeley, 23.942 seconds, (112.773 mph)
35. #93 – Hermie Sadler, 24.361 seconds (110.833 mph)
36. #38 – C.J. McLaughlin, 24.394 seconds (110.683 mph)
37. #13 – Stan Mullis, 25.289 seconds (106.766 mph)
38. #23 – John Hunter Nemechek, NT (0.000 mph)

For the second Friday in a row, Scottie Scheffeler finds himself near the top of a PGA Tour leaderboard.

After sharing the lead through two rounds last week at the Greenbrier, Scheffler at 10 under par sits two off the pace set by Ben An heading into the weekend at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

A college standout while at the University of Texas, the 23-year-old now finds himself a fully exempt rookie on the PGA Tour following a pair of wins earlier this year on the Korn Ferry Tour. Scheffler topped that circuit's Finals and overall points list to secure his priority status.

Coming off a tie for seventh last week in West Virginia in his first official start as a member, Scheffler hopes to prove a quick study when it comes to contending on Tour.

"Yeah, it's always nice getting that experience." he said. "I played in the last group on Saturday last week. Didn't have my best stuff on the weekend, but it was definitely good experience. Hung in there pretty well to finish top 10, so it was still a solid week overall."

His best stuff is pretty good — he signed for 62 in the second round last week — and so too, apparently, is his less-than-best. Scheffler opened with five birdies and a bogey in his first six holes Friday en route to a 66. He then said after the round that his "swing didn't feel too great today," but that he "got it around."

In his last four starts, from the start of the Korn Ferry Finals though last week's PGA Tour opener, Scheffler has finished first, T-11, T-7, T-7.

Technically, it's a fresh start, a new campaign on a new tour, but the former Longhorn is picking up right where he left off.

"Yeah, it's fun being out here," he said. "Game feels like it's in good shape, so it's nice getting off to a good start to the season.

"It's still very early — only six rounds in. I'm in good position this weekend; see what happens."

Making his professional debut this week, 17-year-old Akshay Bhatia missed the cut Friday at the Sanderson Farms Championship.

Rounds of 70-74 left Bhatia even par for the week, two off the projected cut line of 2 under par.

Bhatia announced earlier this year his intent to forego college and head straight to the play-for-pay ranks.

A member of the victorious U.S. Walker Cup team two weeks ago in his final event as an amateur, Bhatia was in the field this week at the Country Club of Jackson as a sponsor's exemption.

Speaking after his second round, Bhatia said he felt plenty comfortable in his first 36 holes as a pro. His only laments were that he didn't drive the ball better or take advantage of the par 5s.

Asked to grade his performance, he gave himself a "C," but was nonetheless optimistic about his pro prospects.

"Every time you play in a stage bigger than what you're used to, it's going to help you," he said. "I'll talk to my parents and manager and we'll get through it.

"Next week is a new week. I have another opportunity. Like I said, if I do what I need to do and drive it a little better, I can certainly perform out here. I know I can."

Bhatia has sponsor's exemptions into next week's Safeway Open in Napa and the following week's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open outside Las Vegas.

Thereafter, it'll be off to the second stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in Brooksville, Florida, in November.

"Like I said, I know I can compete out here. I shot under par in my first go-around as a pro," he said. "Just got to do what I need to do and say it with a smile."

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's football federation and Liga MX are set to crack down on the controversial goalkeeper chant that FIFA has ruled anti-gay, with clubs set to play behind closed doors if the chant continues and the FMF fearful of not making Qatar 2022 if it occurs regularly during World Cup qualifying.

The chant used by some fans at Mexico national team and Liga MX games -- as well as in other Latin American countries -- is aimed towards opposition goalkeepers as they are running up to take goal kicks. The Mexican federation has been fined on multiple occasions by FIFA because of it.

- World Cup 2022 qualifying: All you need to know

Liga MX president Enrique Bonilla said in a news conference on Friday that starting from Week 15 of the current 2019 Apertura season, the referee will be able to temporarily stop games if the chant is heard, take players back to the locker room for five to 10 minutes if it continues and force clubs to play their next home game behind closed doors if it doesn't stop.

During Weeks 11 through 14 of the season, there will be a series of informative and educational warnings about what will happen in the future if the goalkeeper chant, or any other discriminatory behavior, is heard inside the stadium.

"We're not in an emergency situation, but if we don't resolve it, we will have problems and we don't want that," Bonilla said. "That's why Liga MX and FMF will work in a proactive way."

The Mexican federation will join Liga MX's efforts to stamp out the chant, starting with the Oct. 15 CONCACAF Nations League match against Panama at Estadio Azteca.

This is the GK chant rule, per press release (sent after conference). This same procedure will be used for both Mexican national team and Liga MX games. For #eltrieng games it'll start to be enforced from the Oct. 15 game vs. Panama. In #ligamxeng from week 15 of the Apertura. pic.twitter.com/Nb7WBuMifI

— Tom Marshall (@mexicoworldcup) September 20, 2019

FIFA's "three-step procedure" will be implemented for national teams from the start of men's World Cup qualifying for Qatar 2022, with the referees able to first stop the match, then suspend it and eventually abandon it if the behavior continues. FIFA informed associations of the anti-discrimination measures on June 7.

"If we don't resolve this problem before the World Cup qualifiers for Qatar 2022, we'd be putting ourselves at risk of being punished by point deductions and in the worst-case scenario missing out on the World Cup," federation president Yon de Luisa said. "But we are convinced, as an industry, that we can't miss out on a competition, especially a World Cup, for something off the field."

The chant was largely stopped at the 2018 World Cup in Russia following an educational campaign by the Mexican federation and players. Fans caught shouting the chant were warned they would have their Fan IDs confiscated, which would have prevented them from entering the stadiums in Russia.

Liga MX's "three-step procedure" differs slightly to that of FIFA. Liga MX isn't going to suspend games but instead will play the subsequent home match for the offending team behind closed doors.

Bonilla stressed that it isn't only the term used in the goalkeeper chant that will need to be curbed, but "any expression against diversity."

FIFA has recommended the Fare network's Global Guide to Discriminatory Practices in Football as a "useful aid to identifying discriminatory behavior." It defines the goalkeeper chant as "a homophobic chant usually directed at the opposition goalkeeper when he is taking a goal kick."

The governing body "urges" all associations, leagues, clubs and disciplinary bodies to adopt its Anti-Discrimination Monitoring system, according to what a FIFA spokesperson told ESPN last June.

Kansas is expected to receive a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged recruiting violations that surfaced during a federal criminal trial last year, according to the Kansas City Star.

The latest development was expected after NCAA executive vice president Stan Wilcox said earlier this summer that at least six schools would receive notices of allegations, which are expected to include Level I allegations -- the most serious under NCAA rules.

It is unclear whether Jayhawks coach Bill Self will be charged with a coach control violation, which could result in his suspension for as long as one season.

Self, 56, has guided Kansas to at least a share of 14 consecutive Big 12 regular-season titles, three NCAA Final Four appearances and the 2008 NCAA championship. He was president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2017-18.

Earlier this month, former Adidas consultant T.J. Gassnola was sentenced to probation and fined for his role in pay-for-play schemes to steer recruits to Kansas and other Adidas-sponsored schools.

During closing arguments in a federal criminal case in New York in October, an attorney for former Adidas executive James Gatto told a jury that his client approved a $20,000 payment to current Kansas player Silvio De Sousa's guardian only after Self and Jayhawks assistant Kurtis Townsend requested the payment through Gassnola.

"The evidence, I submit, shows that Kansas' head coach knew of and asked for a payment to be made to Silvio De Sousa's handler," attorney Michael Schachter told the jury. "More than that, Coach Self requested just the kind of help that Mr. Gassnola arranged as a condition for Coach Self to permit Adidas to continue their sponsorship agreement with the University of Kansas."

Gatto, former Adidas consultant Merl Code and aspiring business manager Christian Dawkins were found guilty on felony charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Gatto, Code and Dawkins were accused of paying money from Adidas to the families of recruits to ensure they signed with Adidas-sponsored schools, and then with the sneaker company and certain financial planners and agents once they turned pro.

Gatto was accused of working with Gassnola to facilitate $90,000 from Adidas to former Jayhawks recruit Billy Preston's mother and agreeing to pay $20,000 to Fenny Falmagne, De Sousa's guardian, to help him "get out from under" a pay-for-play scheme to attend Maryland, which is sponsored by Under Armour.

On Sept. 19, 2017, three days before Kansas announced a 14-year, $196 million contract extension with Adidas, Gassnola texted Self and thanked him for helping the sponsorship deal get done.

Self responded: "I'm happy with Adidas. Just got to get a couple real guys."

Gassnola replied: "In my mind, it's KU, bill self. Everyone else fall into line. Too [expletive] bad. That's what's right for Adidas basketball. And I know I am RIGHT. The more you win, have lottery pics [sic] and you happy. That's how it should work in my mind." Self responded: "That's how ur works. At UNC and Duke." Gassnola replied at Kentucky as well.

"I promise you I got this," Gassnola wrote. "I have never let you down. Except Dyondre lol. We will get it right."

When Schachter asked Gassnola if "Dyondre" was a reference to former Arizona player Deandre Ayton, Gassnola replied, "It is."

Gassnola, a former youth basketball director from Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in April 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in the alleged pay-for-play schemes. He testified during the October trial as part of his cooperation agreement with federal prosecutors.

During testimony at the trial, text messages between Gassnola, Self and Townsend presented by defense attorneys indicated the coaches were at least aware of Gassnola's involvement in the Jayhawks' recruitment of De Sousa, a native of Angola.

On Aug. 9, 2017, Townsend texted Gassnola and wrote, "Coach Self just talked to Fenny let me know how it goes."

A few hours later, Gassnola texted Self: "Hall of Fame. When you have 5 minutes and your [sic] alone call me."

Later that night, after Self hadn't responded, Gassnola texted him again: "I talked with Fenny."

"We good?" Self asked.

"Always," Gassnola replied. "That's [sic] was light work. Ball is in his court now."

According to cellphone records introduced into evidence, Gassnola and Self had a 5-minute, 6-second phone call later that night. Gassnola testified that he didn't recall what the men talked about. His phone was not being monitored via FBI wiretaps at the time.

"Coach Self and Coach Townsend asked for Adidas' help in making this payment to Fenny," Schachter told the jury in October. "And then Coach Self wanted to know if Adidas told Fenny that the payment would be made, and then the ball is in his court."

On Aug. 26, 2017, Townsend forwarded Gassnola a text message that he said he'd received from Falmagne: "Coach has been on the phone with Angola. We are good to go. We will commit tomorrow."

De Sousa, who attended IMG Academy, committed to Kansas four days later. Self called Gatto the next day, but their conversation wasn't recorded by FBI wiretaps because of a technical issue, according to federal prosecutors.

The NCAA suspended De Sousa for two seasons; he won an appeal and is eligible to play in 2019-20.

Also during the October trial, one of Code's attorneys, Mark Moore, attempted to introduce wiretap recordings, in which Code and Townsend discussed what it would take for top recruit Zion Williamson to sign with the Jayhawks. Williamson played one season at Duke and was the No. 1 pick by the New Orleans Pelicans in June's NBA draft.

According to a transcript of the call, which Moore read in court, Townsend told Code, "Hey, but between me and you, you know, [Williamson's stepfather Lee Anderson] asked about some stuff. You know? And I said, 'Well, we'll talk about that after you decide.'

"And then Mr. Code says: 'I know what he's asking for,'" Moore continued. "... 'He's asking for opportunities from an occupational prospective. He's asking for money in the pocket. And he's asking for housing for him and the family.'

"And they go on to talk. And Mr. Townsend says: 'So I've got to just try to work and figure out a way. Because if that's what it takes to get him for 10 months, we're going to have to do it some way.'"

Kansas would be the second school to receive an NCAA notice of allegations in the wake of the federal government's investigation into bribes and other corruption in college basketball. In July, the NCAA charged NC State with two Level I violations, including a failure-to-monitor charge against former coach Mark Gottfried, who has since been hired at Cal State Northridge.

Former Wolfpack assistant Orlando Early also is accused of helping facilitate a $40,000 payment from Gassnola to former NC State star player Dennis Smith Jr.'s family in October 2015.

Sources have told ESPN that the NCAA is actively investigating Arizona, Auburn, Creighton, Louisville, LSU and USC.

Vince Carter, the NBA's oldest player, will return for a record 22nd season, the Atlanta Hawks announced on Friday.

The Hawks are bringing the 42-year-old, eight-time All-Star back for a second season. Last season, he averaged 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds in 76 games and 17 minutes per game for the rebuilding Hawks.

If Carter sticks with the team through the new year, he will be the first player in NBA history to appear in a game in four different decades, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

Carter announced in August that 2019-2020 will be his final season.

The Hawks are Carter's eighth team. The one-time Rookie of the Year and 2000 Slam Dunk champ has scored 25,430 total points over seasons with the Toronto Raptors, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings.

Over 1,481 games, Carter has career averages of 17.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.7 minutes.