ORANGE, Calif. -- ?? The father of former NASCAR driver Robby Gordon strangled his wife then shot himself in their Southern California home, police said Thursday.The deaths of Robert Gordon, 68, and Sharon Gordon, 57, were an apparent murder-suicide, Orange police Lt. Fred Lopez said a day after the bodies were found. No further details on the motive or circumstances were released.The couple were the father and stepmother of ex-NASCAR star Robby Gordon, who fought back tears and expressed disbelief Thursday outside the home on a Southern California hillside where he grew up and developed his love of racing.Im so sad, and I cant believe it, the racing star said outside the house. I grew up on this property my whole life.Robby Gordon recalled how his father, a racer known as Baja Bob in the motorsports community, instilled in him a love for competition and motorsports in the Orange County neighborhood, where many residents own horses and dirt riding trails line the suburban streets.Gordon said he previously lived in two different houses on the property, and had given his father the home 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles where police discovered the bodies Wednesday after receiving a 911 call from a neighbor making a welfare check at the request of relatives.Robby Gordon told the Orange County Register that family members had become concerned when his father missed a doctors appointment.The younger Gordon currently races in an off-road series he created in 2013 called Speed Energy Formula Off-Road, following the path of his father.The elder Gordon started out in horse racing at the local track in Los Alamitos, California, before getting into auto racing.He taught me at a young age that one horsepower wasnt going to be enough -- go do something different, Gordon recalled his father saying. And I was fortunate enough to do something different.Residents in the upscale neighborhood shared stories about the couples friendly ways -- swapping jokes with neighbors, gifting tickets to racing events and delivering feed personally to local equestrians.I can still see them walking hand in hand, walking their dogs down the street, said John Reina, who lives across the street. To kind of wrap your head around this tragedy is very hard to do.Robby Gordon said he would speak about the deaths in more detail once authorities conclude their investigation.The truth will come out, what went down there, he said.Racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted that he was praying for the Gordon family. Hope they find strength and support, he said.Heartbreaking news this morning. Thinking of the Gordon family and friends, NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson said on Twitter.Gordon, 47, has raced on numerous racing circuits, from NASCAR to IndyCar to Champ Car and IROC.Known for his aggressive style, he earned three wins in parts of 19 seasons in what is now the NASCAR Sprint Cup. He was a full-time driver early last decade and finished a career-high 16th in the points standings in 2003 driving for Richard Childress Racing. Gordon last raced in the Sprint Cup in 2012.Gordon is one of only four drivers, joining John Andretti, Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch, to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. He nearly won the 1999 Indy 500 before running out of fuel in the closing laps.Gordon said an event featuring his off-road racing team scheduled for this weekend in Orange County will go on as planned.Gordons sister, Beccy, is married to 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay. The driver tweeted Wednesday that his wife had given birth to a boy. Hunter-Reay would appear as scheduled in a weekend race in Sonoma County, Gordon said.---Associated Press writers Christopher Weber and Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles and AP freelance writer Mike Cranston in Chicago contributed to this report. Robert Parish Celtics Jersey . President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest was fired Friday after 12 years with the Marlins. The move came as the team neared the end of its third consecutive last-place season in the NL East. Bill Russell Celtics Jersey . They were putting most of their energy into a record-setting offensive display. http://www.celticssale.com/customized/ .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Danny Ainge Jersey . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Robert Williams Jersey . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. TORONTO -- David Ortiz hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Hanley Ramirez also connected, and the Boston Red Sox outslugged Toronto 11-8 Sunday, reclaiming a two-game lead over the Blue Jays in the AL East.Ortiz put Boston up 10-8 with a drive off Joaquin Benoit. It was his 41st career home run at Rogers Centre, his highest total at any road stadium.With his 535th career homer, Ortiz moved past Jimmie Foxx into sole possession of 18th place on baseballs career list. He also increased his RBI total to 110, the most by a player age 40 or above since Dave Winfield had 108 for Toronto in 1992.Edwin Encarnacion homered twice and Troy Tulowitzki hit his third career grand slam for the Blue Jays, who are tied with Baltimore for the wild-card lead. Bo Schultz (0-1) got the loss.Robbie Ross Jr. (3-2) got two outs for the win. Craig Kimbrel, the ninth Boston pitcher, worked the ninth for his 25th save.CUBS 9, ASTROS 5HOUSTON -- Jorge Soler and Addison Russell homered to lead Chicago past Houston, moving the Cubs closer to clinching the NL Central.Soler hit a solo home run as part of Chicagos four-run third, and Russell hit a two-run shot -- his 20th of the season -- in the fourth as the Cubs built a 9-0 lead.Chicago extended its lead in the NL Central to 16 games over St. Louis.Houston fell 9 1/2 games behind Texas in the AL West and 3 1/2 back of Toronto and Baltimore in the wild-card race.Jake Arrieta (17-6) allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.Jose Altuve, Yulieski Gurriel and Evan Gattis hit solo homers for the Astros. Mike Fiers (10-7) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.ORIOLES 3, TIGERS 1DETROIT -- Chris Tillman pitched six impressive innings in his return from the disabled list, leading the Orioles to the win.Michael Bourn and Jonathan Schoop homered off Justin Verlander (14-8) as Baltimore moved into a tie with Toronto for second in the AL East and the top spot in the wild-card standings. The Orioles begin a three-game series with the division-leading Red Sox on Monday night.Detroit fell two games behind the wild cards. The Yankees are also two back of the Orioles and Blue Jays.Tillman (16-5) allowed a run and four hits after being activated before the game. He hadnt pitched since Aug. 20 because of right shoulder bursitis.Three relievers finished for the Orioles, with Zach Britton pitching the ninth for his 41st save in 41 chances.GIANTS 5, DIAMONDBACKS 3PHOENIX -- Matt Moore struck out 11 in seven innings and Hunter Pence hit a key two-run double, helping San Francisco to the series sweep.The Giants pulled within three games of NL West-leading Los Angeles, which lost 3-0 at Miami. San Francisco leads the wild-card standings.Moore (10-11) gave up two runs and eight hits. Hunter Strickland got four outs for his third save of the season.The Giants swept a road series from Arizona for the second time this season and sent the Diamondbacks to their sixth straight loss.Arizona ace Zack Greinke (12-6) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings.RAYS 4, YANKEES 2NEW YORK -- Corey Dickerson hit a two-run homer, Matt Andriese won for the first time since June and the Rays stopped the Yankees seven-game winning streak.Logan Forsythe and Brad Miller also went deep for the last-place Rays, who had lost three straight and six of seven. Andriese (7-7) pitched five innings of one-run ball and Alex Colome got three quick outs for his 32nd save.Chase Headley homered and Brett Gardner had an RBI single among his three hits for the Yankees, who are two games back of Toronto and Baltimore for the top spot in the wild-card standings.Rookie right-hander Luis Cessa (4-1) gave up all three Rays homers in 5 2/3 innings.ROYALS 2, WHITE SOX 0CHICAGO -- Ian Kennedy and three relievers combined on a two-hitter, helping the Royals beat Chris Sale and the White Sox.Kendrys Morales homered on Sales first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth. The Royals are four games behind Baltimore and Detroit for the top spot in the AL wild-card standings.Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eatons leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. Wade Davis worked the ninth for his 24th save.Sale (15-8) struck out 12 in eight innings while becoming the first White Sox pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons.METS 10, BRAVES 3ATLANTA -- Yoenis Cespedes hit a grand slam for New York, and Seth Lugo won his fourth straight start.The Mets have won seven of eight and are 16-5 since Aug. 20. They moved back into position for the second NL wild card, a half-game ahead of the Cardinals.Lugo (4-2) allowed two runs in seven innings. The rookie is 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA in five career starts. He joined the rotationn on Aug.dddddddddddd19.Cespedes drove in the games first five runs off Williams Perez (2-3), who struck out two in 2 2/3 innings. Perez left the game with right triceps impingement.BREWERS 2, CARDINALS 1ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Braun hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning, and the Brewers dropped the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race.The Cardinals are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild card.Braun connected against Kevin Siegrist (5-3) for his 27th homer.St. Louis had tied it in the eighth when Matt Carpenter doubled and scored on Stephen Piscottys sacrifice fly off Tyler Thornburg (6-5).MARLINS 3, DODGERS 0MIAMI -- Jose Urena pitched 8 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, leading Miami to the win.Christian Yelich had two hits and drove in a run for the Marlins, who have won three of four. Justin Bour also drove in a run.Urena (4-6) retired the first 14 batters he faced. He struck out four and walked none while throwing 71 of 108 pitches for strikes.The 24-year-old Urena was lifted after giving up a base hit to Josh Reddick. A.J. Ramos got the final out for his 34th save in 37 chances.Los Angeles right-hander Kenta Maeda (14-9) allowed three runs, two earned, and eight hits in six innings.NATIONALS 3, PHILLIES 2WASHINGTON -- Gio Gonzalez pitched seven sharp innings for NL East-leading Washington, and Anthony Rendon doubled home the tiebreaking run.Gonzalez (11-9) gave up one run and four hits, bouncing back nicely from a rough outing against Atlanta in his last start.It was 1-all when Bryce Harper drew a leadoff walk from Adam Morgan (2-10) to open the seventh. Rendon then doubled to the wall in left-center off reliever Edubray Ramos and later scored on a passed ball by catcher A.J. Ellis.Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 41st save.Tommy Joseph hit a tying homer for the Phillies in the seventh. Freddy Galvis homered in the eighth.INDIANS 7, TWINS 1MINNEAPOLIS -- Cleveland ace Corey Kluber struck out 10 in seven innings, and Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer.Kluber (16-9) gave up an unearned run and four hits while passing the 200-strikeout mark for the third straight season. Roberto Perez added two hits, including a triple, and drove in a run for the Indians, who increased their lead in the AL Central to seven games over Detroit.Jose Berrios (2-6) lasted just 2 2/3 innings for the Twins, who committed four errors and managed just five hits.REDS 8, PIRATES 0PITTSBURGH -- Tyler Holt and Brandon Phillips had three hits apiece, leading Brandon Finnegan and the Reds to the victory.Holt drove in three runs and Phillips scored three times as last-place Cincinnati (60-82) closed the four-game set with three straight wins. Pittsburgh (69-72) has dropped 11 of 13 to fall off the pace in the NL wild-card race.Finnegan (9-10) struck out seven in five innings, but allowed five hits and walked five. Jumbo Diaz then pitched two innings and Ross Ohlendorf and Wandy Peralta each got three outs, completing a seven-hitter.Pittsburghs Ryan Vogelsong (3-5) was charged with six runs and seven hits in four innings.ANGELS 3, RANGERS 2ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Andrelton Simmons hit two solo home runs, sending Jered Weaver and the Angels to the win.Simmons began the day with only one homer this season. Yunel Escobar hit a leadoff drive in the first inning for the Angels.Adrian Beltre homered twice for the AL West-leading Rangers. It was his fourth multihomer game of the season and the 31st of his career.Weaver (11-11) gave up two runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high eight. Andrew Bailey pitched a perfect ninth to earn his third save.Texas right-hander Colby Lewis (6-2) gave up all three homers in 5 1/3 innings.MARINERS 3, ATHLETICS 2OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ketel Marte hit a tiebreaking single in the ninth inning, helping Seattle to its fifth straight win.The Mariners are 3 1/2 games back in the AL wild-card race.Marte had three hits for Seattle, and Mike Zunino homered and doubled.Zunino doubled off Ryan Madson (5-5) to begin the ninth and pinch runner Ben Gamel moved up on a single by Leonys Martin. Marte followed with his go-ahead single.Steve Cishek (3-6) pitched a scoreless eighth. Edwin Diaz closed for his 15th save.ROCKIES 3, PADRES 2, 10 INNINGSSAN DIEGO -- Mark Reynolds homered leading off the 10th inning and the Rockies salvaged a split of a four-game series.Charlie Blackmon also homered for the Rockies, his 25th, and hit an RBI single.Reynolds homer was the 250th of his career and 13th of the season. It came on a 2-2 pitch from Kevin Quackenbush (7-6).Jake McGee (2-3) pitched the ninth for the win. Adam Ottavino pitched the 10th for his fourth save. ' ' '
