Happy Fourth of July! … Joey “Jaws” Chestnut looks to defend his championship in the Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island today (ESPN News, noon). … Hickory native J.T. Poston won the John Deere Classic by three shots at 21-under par. … Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag in the NASCAR Cup race in Plymouth, Wisconsin, on Sunday. … Birmingham defeated Philadelphia, 33-30, for the USFL championship Sunday in Canton, Ohio. … Eric Hosmer had the go-ahead single in a 4-run ninth inning for San Diego in a 4-1 win over the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. … Houston pitchers combined for 20 strikeouts, including 13 by starter Framber Valdez, in a 4-2 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Sunday as the Astros walked off on a 2-run homer in the ninth by Jeremy Pena, his second round tripper of the game. … The Carolina Mudcats completed a 6-game homestand with the Fayetteville oodpeckers with their fifth win of the series, 4-3, on Sunday. … The Woodpeckers host the Down East Wood Ducks this evening at 6:05 p.m. with free T-Shirts to the first 1,000 fans.