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Martin Truex Jr. appeared to be positioned for his first win since 2007 until Jamie McMurray smashed the wall on the front straightaway, bringing out a caution with three laps to go.
The leaders went to pit road, and Hamlin's crew got him back on the track first, just ahead of Truex. While Truex struggled to get up to speed on the restart, Hamlin pulled away with Gordon right on his bumper. The four-time Cup champion desperately needed a win to improve his chances of getting into the Chase, but couldn't get by Hamlin on the final lap.
Hamlin took the series victory lead with four, putting him in position to top the standings when the 12-drive Chase starts.
Oosthuizen leads at Deutsche Bank; McGirt tied for 32nd
NORTON, Mass. — Louis Oosthuizen ran off a flawless string of six straight birdies Sunday to race by Rory McIlroy and take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship.
McIlroy played well. So did Tiger Woods. It just didn't look like it compared with Oosthuizen, the South African with one of the sweetest swings in golf who had an 8-under 63.
His birdie streak included four putts of at least 20 feet, and he shot 29 on the front nine of the TPC Boston. His sixth straight birdie on the 10th hole, a tap-in, put him at 8 under through 10 holes.
McIlroy rallied for a 67 and will play in the final group with Oosthuizen on Labor Day.
Woods had a 68 and was six shots behind.
Fairmont native William McGirt, who entered Sunday's third round tied for 38th, moved up the leaderboard with a 2-under-69 to sit in a tie for 32nd place.
McGirt sunk birdies on hole Nos. 1, 7, 12, 15 and 18. His only blemishes on the day came from a double-bogey on No. 3 and a bogey on 11.
McGirt is 3 under as he heads into today's final round. He tees off at 11 a.m.
Jones' HR in 9th caps big rally, Braves top Phillies
ATLANTA — Chipper Jones hit a three-run homer off Jonathan Papelbon with two outs in the ninth inning, capping a five-run rally that sent the Atlanta Braves over the Philadelphia Phillies 8-7 on Sunday.
The Phillies led 7-3 entering the ninth and seemed set to complete a three-game sweep.
Instead, the Braves boosted their wild-card position, coming back against Jeremy Horst and Papelbon (3-6).
Reed Johnson singled off Horst with one out for his third hit and Paul Janish walked. Papelbon struck out pinch hitter Lyle Overbay before walking Michael Bourn to load the bases.
Martin Prado's grounder skipped past third baseman Kevin Frandsen for a two-run double before Jones hit his 14th home run deep into the right-field seats.
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