Sports briefs for September 20, 2004

Monday, Sept. 20, 2004 | 10:16 a.m.

Police seeking help in ballpark stabbing

Police are asking for help as they investigate the fatal stabbing of a San Francisco Giants fan outside SBC Park the night Barry Bonds hit his 700th home run.

The stabbing of the 21-year-old man was the first such attack against a fan near the stadium since it opened for the 2000 season, police spokeswoman Maria Oropeza said.

Witnesses told police the attack occurred after Friday night's game as the man and a group of friends were walking from the stadium to their car in a nearby parking lot. The man apparently bumped into a parked car, prompting three men inside to get out.

In the ensuing confrontation, one man from the car stabbed Timothy Griffith of Redwood City several times. A 24-year-old friend of his was beaten unconscious but was later released from a hospital after being treated for his injuries.

The men in the car sped off.

"It's obviously an extremely senseless crime," Oropeza said Sunday. "These poor guys were going to a game and they accidentally bump into a vehicle, and then the unfortunate thing is we have one victim dead."

Family and friends set up a memorial for Griffith outside the ballpark.

Safin finally wins

Marat Safin won his first title in two years, beating Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (4), 7-5 Sunday in an all-Russian final in the China Open in Beijing.

Streak ends

Ana Guevara won the 400-meter race at the World Athletics Final at Monte Carlo, Monaco, ending Olympic champion Tonique Williams-Darling's unbeaten streak and avenging a loss at the Athens Games.

Champ keeps title

Japan's Katsushige Kawashima scored a unanimous decision against Mexico's Raul Juarez today in Tokyo to retain the WBC super flyweight title. Kawashima dominated the 12-round bout at Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium, knocking down Juarez in the second, sixth and seventh rounds.

UNLV loses to No. 7

The UNLV women's team lost 3-0 at No. 7-ranked Tennessee. The Rebels fell to 4-2-1. They return home Friday to play San Diego at 7 p.m.