SOCCER

Pulisic out for two U.S. friendlies — Christian Pulisic, the most important figure in the U.S. men’s national team’s rebuilding efforts, will miss high-end friendlies against Brazil and Mexico because of a leg injury. Pulisic, 19, was not among the 24 players named Sunday by interim coach Dave Sarachan for training camp in the New York metro area ahead of matches against Neymar and the third-ranked Brazilians on Friday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and the archrival Mexicans on Sept. 11 in Nashville, Tennessee. Assuming he returns to full strength, the attacker would rejoin the national team for friendlies this fall against Colombia, Peru, England and Italy.

Cycling

King wins Stage 9 of Vuelta — American rider Benjamin King won the mountainous ninth stage of the Spanish Vuelta, finishing atop the beyond-category La Covatilla on Sunday, while Simon Yates took over the race lead. King stayed ahead of chaser Bauke Mollema on a long breakaway to win the 125-mile leg in 5½ hours, starting in Talavera de la Reina that crested three categorized passes before the final uphill push. King also won the fourth stage for his first Grand Tour stage win at age 29. Yates of Michelton-Scott was the ninth rider to finish. Monday is the first of two rest days in the three-week race.

BASEBALL

MLB says scouting cards OK for pitchers — Major League Baseball has told teams that it is OK for pitchers to carry the kind of scouting cards that umpire Joe West confiscated from Philadelphia reliever Austin Davis this weekend. Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said he had been informed the cards were legal. They are, provided they do not delay games, MLB advised clubs in clarifying the policy.

— From wire reports