. Bumgarner has 207 strikeouts, most in a season by a San Francisco left-hander. I

LONDON - Elena Baltacha, a former top-50 professional tennis player who had been fighting liver cancer since retiring from the game, died Sunday. She was 30. The former British No. 1 died peacefully surrounded by family and friends, the Womens Tennis Association said on its website. The Kyiv-born Baltacha, who represented Britain at the 2012 London Olympics, was diagnosed with the illness in January, two months after retiring from tennis and only weeks after she married her long-time coach Nino Severino. "We are heartbroken beyond words at the loss of our beautiful, talented and determined Bally," Severino said in a statement. "She was an amazing person and she touched so many people with her inspirational spirit, her warmth and her kindness." Baltacha was born into a sporting family. Father Sergei played football for Dynamo Kyiv and English club Ipswich, and won a bronze medal for the Soviet Union at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Mother Olga represented the Soviet Union in the pentathlon. After being diagnosed with a chronic liver condition aged 19, Baltacha dealt with illness throughout her career, receiving medication and regular blood tests. "Elenas journey was never an easy one and yet she consistently showed her strength, good humour and indomitable spirit," WTA chairman Stacey Allaster said. Her best ranking was 49th in 2010, and she reached the third round at Grand Slam tournaments three times — at Wimbledon in 2002, and at the Australian Open in 2005 and 2010. Ankle problems eventually forced her to retire in November, and she had hoped to use her experience to develop the next generation of British players. "We have lost a shining light from the heart of British tennis - a true role model, a great competitor and a wonderful friend," former Fed Cup coach Iain Bates said. "We have so many special memories to cherish, but this leaves a gaping hole for everybody in both British and womens tennis, and words simply cannot express how saddened we are by this news." Baltacha had already planned a tennis charity event in June, "Rally for Bally," to raise money for a cancer hospital and her tennis academy. It will go ahead in her memory, with competitors including childhood friend Andy Murray, Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman. "Bally was such a caring human being, always putting others before herself, and a warm, fun person," the WTAs Allaster said. "A shining example of her commitment to looking out for the welfare of others is the Elena Baltacha Academy of Tennis, which she established so that children from disadvantaged backgrounds could learn to play the game she loved so dearly." 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Cory Schneider Jersey . LaQuinton Ross scored 17 of his 20 points in the first half, hitting his first four 3-pointers, to send No. SAN FRANCISCO -- Madison Bumgarner pitched himself into the San Francisco record book, took a share of the major league lead for wins and, most important to the soft-spoken southpaw, moved his team one step closer in an NL West race that could go down to the wire. Bumgarner struck out eight on the way to his 18th victory, and the Giants moved within one game of NL West-leading Los Angeles by beating the Dodgers 9-0 on Friday night. "Its not hard to get up for the Dodgers series, especially the circumstances were in," Bumgarner said. "The offence did an unbelievable job and kept scoring runs." Pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa splashed a three-run homer into McCovey Cove, and Brandon Crawford hit a two-run drive in the fifth to help Bumgarner win his fifth straight start. Buster Posey and Crawford hit RBI doubles in the first as the Giants jumped on Hyun-Jin Ryu (14-7). The Dodgers left-hander exited after only one inning because of irritation in his pitching shoulder. He said its similar to the problem he dealt with in May that landed him on the disabled list, raising doubt whether he will pitch again this season. Ryu will be re-examined Saturday in the Bay Area. "Im staying positive. I felt this before in the past, so hopefully it will be the same time that it took to recover from that," Ryu said through a translator. "I think it was a week or two." San Francisco, which leads the NL wild-card race, is one game back of Los Angeles for the first time since Aug. 4. The Giants have won a season-best 10 straight home games after handing the Dodgers their fifth shutout loss. This group has its swagger back at home. "Its as good as it can be. Its been that way for a while now," Bumgarner said. "Weve got a lot of guys who have been here and done this before." Bumgarner (18-9) reached 200 strikeouts for the first time in his career when he fanned Scott Van Slyke in the second. The lefty is tied with Dodgers Sunday starter Clayton Kershaw, Cincinnatis Johnny Cueto and the Cardinals Adam Wainwright for most wins in the majors. Los Angeles lined up its top starters for this series, while Giants manager Bruce Bochy opted to keep his pitchers on their regular schedule because thinggs have been working well so far in September.dddddddddddd "Its for first place. Were a game behind them," Crawford said. "We know the stakes." The Dodgers had the best road record in baseball and swept the Giants in three games at AT&T Park from July 25-27 -- outscoring San Francisco 17-4. "Its live theatre every night, we just dont know the ending here," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before the game. Posey hit an RBI double in the first that sent the orange towel-twirling fans into a frenzy. Hunter Pence followed with a run-scoring single, then Joaquin Arias added an RBI single. San Franciscos home winning streak is its longest since an 11-game run from July 7-25, 2003, which is the best in the 15-year history of AT&T Park. The shutout matched the Giants largest at home against the Dodgers since moving to San Francisco in 1958. The Giants also beat Los Angeles 9-0 on June 25, 1968. Bumgarner needs two wins over his final three starts to become the Giants first 20-game winner since John Burkett (22) and Bill Swift (21) in 1993. Bumgarner has 207 strikeouts, most in a season by a San Francisco left-hander. Ishikawas second career pinch-hit homer was the 102nd into the water and 67th by a San Francisco hitter. "Its a big series," Bochy said. "Any time you can jump ahead, its huge for the club." TRAINERS ROOM Dodgers: LHP Paco Rodriguez, on the disabled list since Aug. 4 with strained muscle below his pitching shoulder, threw a simulated game that went well. If he bounces back fine, Mattingly said a decision could be made as soon as Saturday about activating Rodriguez. Giants: 1B Brandon Belt took batting practice a day after being medically cleared from a concussion. ... OF-1B Michael Morse missed his 10th straight game with a strained left oblique. He took some pregame swings but still needs at least a couple of days. UP NEXT Dodgers: RHP Zack Greinke (14-8, 2.73 ERA) puts his unbeaten mark against NL West opponents this season on the line in the middle game of the series. He is 9-0 in 12 starts vs. the division. Giants: RHP Tim Hudson (9-10, 3.12) makes his 16th career start against the Dodgers and second this season, trying to end a two-start skid. ' ' '