MOTOR SPORTS

Bell earns Xfinity title shot — Christopher Bell led 101 of the 200 laps, claimed both stages and won the NASCAR Xfinity race at Texas on Saturday night to secure one of the four spots to race for the series championship. Bell led four times, going ahead to stay with 30 laps remaining at the 11⁄2-mile track. He went on to win by more than 51⁄2 seconds ahead of runner-up Ross Chastain, who is not in playoff contention. Three championship-contending spots for the Nov. 16 finale at Homestead will be up grabs and determined next weekend at Phoenix. Bell entered Texas as the points leader, followed by Cole Custer, Tyler Reddick and Justin Allgaier — and that order was unchanged. It was the eighth win this season for Bell, and his 16th in 72 career starts in the series. With his two stage wins at Texas, Bell has 20 this season. That is 12 more than Custer’s total that is the second-most in the series. Austin Cindric finished third, three spots ahead of Allgaier. Custer was eighth.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Masvidal wins big at UFC 244 — President Donald Trump was on his feet as Jorge Masvidal defeated a bloodied Nate Diaz via a TKO before the fourth round of the UFC 244 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday night. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wrapped a crudely named, made-for-PPV baddest man in MMA title belt around Masvidal’s waist as nearly 20,000 fans howled in protest of the quick finish. Masvidal dominated the first three rounds and opened cuts above Diaz’s eyes that turned his face into a crimson mask. The assigned doctor stopped the fight just before the fourth round. Both fighters felt the bout should continue. Masvidal charged at Diaz once the initial bell rang before he pulled up and smiled, a nod to his UFC-record five-second KO of Ben Askren in his last fight. Trump and his adult sons stood as Masvidal took quick control and pounded on Diaz. Diaz had a gash open over his right eye, his face bloodied as he lay on his back trying to kick away Diaz.

BASEBALL

Nationals celebrate World Series win with parade — “Baby Shark” blared over loudspeakers and a wave of red washed across this politically blue capital Saturday as Nationals fans lined the city’s version of the Canyon of Heroes to rejoice in Washington’s first World Series victory since 1924. The Nationals were expected to get a hero’s welcome home from tens of thousands of people in a city that had thirsted for a baseball champion for nearly a century. The Nationals gave them that by winning in seven games over the Houston Astros; the clincher came on the road Wednesday night. The crowd along the route was deeply packed, more people were streaming in and there were red streamers, hand towels and signs that said “Fight Finished.” President Donald Trump has invited the Nationals to the White House on Monday, though some players do not plan to attend.

Jansen stays with Dodgers — Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has decided not to opt out of his contract with the team. The National League West champions declined a $13 million option on 31-year-old infielder Jedd Gyorko, who gets a $1 million buyout. Jansen, a 32-year-old right-hander, agreed to an $80 million, five-year contract in January 2017 and could have terminated the deal this weekend and become a free agent. His contract calls for salaries of $18 million next year and $20 million in 2021. Jansen was an All-Star every year from 2016 to 2018, but his ERA has risen from 1.32 in 2017 to 3.01 in 2018 to a career-high 3.71 this year while his strikeouts have dropped from 109 to 82 to 80.

RUGBY

South Africa claims 3rd World Cup title — South Africa won the Rugby World Cup for a record-tying third time Saturday, using its power at the set piece to seize control before scoring two clinical late tries through its wingers in a 32-12 victory over England. It is three from three in finals for the Springboks, after previous wins in 1995 and 2007. It ensured the Springboks became the first team to lose a game and rebound to win the World Cup, having lost to two-time defending champion New Zealand in the group stage last month. England was outplayed in every aspect in a flat display in Yokohama, a week after delivering possibly the greatest performance in its history to overwhelm the All Blacks in the semifinals.

— Bulletin wire reports