Brady plays half in Patriots’ lossEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — With a four-game suspension for his role in the “Deflategate” scandal beginning in just a few days, Tom Brady had an NFL going-away party Thursday night, playing the first half in the New England Patriots’ preseason finale against the New York Giants.Brady completed 16 of 26 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown and an interception as the Patriots (3-1) missed out a perfect preseason in a 17-9 loss to the Giants (2-2).

U.S. Open louder with heavy rainsNEW YORK — When heavy rain began pelting the closed roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Andy Murray couldn’t pick up the usual sounds of a tennis match.Most importantly, he said, the thwack of a ball coming off his opponent’s racket strings — or his own, for that matter — was completely indiscernible during a 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 second-round victory over Marcel Granollers at the U.S. Open on Thursday.Because of the wet weather, action around the grounds was limited until the early evening — but matches kept coming under the roof in Ashe, including Serena Williams’ 6-3, 6-3 victory over American wild-card entry Vania King at night.Men advancing included 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro, No. 3 Stan Wawrinka, No. 6 Kei Nishikori, No. 8 Dominic Thiem, No. 14 Nick Kyrgios and No. 22 Grigor Dimitrov, but No. 16 Feliciano Lopez lost.Williams’ older sister, seven-time major champion Venus, beat Julia Goerges 6-2, 6-3.

Mets’ Walker opts for back surgeryNEW YORK — Mets second baseman Neil Walker will miss the rest of the season because of surgery for a herniated disk in his back, the latest in a series of severe injuries to strike the defending NL champions this year.Walker made the announcement before the wild-card contenders played Miami.Had he continued to play, he estimated he would’ve been at “60 percent.” Or, as New York manager Terry Collins said Walker told him Wednesday night, “Not sure I can help.”Minus Walker, the Mets will use Wilmer Flores and Kelly Johnson at second base.

Choi shoots 66, leads LPGA eventCAMBRIDGE, Ontario — Chella Choi ended up on top of the LPGA Manulife Classic leaderboard at windy Whistle Bear when Belen Mozo unraveled with a closing triple bogey.Choi shot a 6-under 66, finishing with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.Mozo was 7 under before running into trouble on the par-4 18th. The Spaniard finished with a 68.