Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Leading Off: Pictures of the Week

Thomas Lovelock/SI

Ben Curtis admires his shot on the 17th hole during the second round of the British Open golf championship at Royal St George's in Sandwich, England. Darren Clarke ended up winning the event.

Fernando Bustamante/AP

The "Bulls to the sea" festival in Denia, Spain, lived up to its name as the aggressive animal leaped into the Mediterranean Sea along with celebrants of the festival. The popular celebration in the small town on the Eastern part of the country ends with the Bulls being brought back to land on boats.

Carlos Gonzalez/Minneapolis Star Tribune/MCT/Landov

Minnesota Twins infielder Alex Casilla gets tagged out by Kansas City Royals catcher Brayan Pena in a bang-bang play. Casilla was attempting to score from third on a sacrifice fly.

Jim Cole/AP

Much to the fans delight, Kyle Busch does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series New England 200 race on Saturday. The race, which took place at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H.,was close throughout, before Busch pulled away at the end for his 100 victory in the sport.

Andrew Carpenean/US Presswire

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Shaun Marcum makes a diving, off-balance throw to first base to nail Colorado Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler in one of the best defensive plays of the week.

Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Japanese players rejoice amid streams of confetti after their dramatic penalty kick victory against the U.S. in the Women's World Cup final. The Japanese came back against the U.S. twice, including a goal with just over three minutes left in extra time to send the game to penalty kicks.

Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo cries after her team's penalty shootout loss against Japan in the Women's World Cup final Sunday. Solo was one of the most publicized players throughout the tournament.

Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

U.S. star goalkeeper Hope Solo walks off the confetti-soaked field in disbelief after her squad lost the World Cup final soccer match against Japan.

Marco Garcia/AP

Brian Viloria of Hawaii and Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico had an epic 12-round match for the WBO flyweight title on Saturday. Viloria, seen striking Miranda in the 3rd round, eventually won.

John Biever/SI

Standout Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista makes a tough sliding catch in the All-Star game. The power-hitting American League outfielder went 1-2 in the game but his team lost 5-1.

Uwe Anspach/EPA

German equestrian Hans-Dieter Dreher and his horse Magnus Romeo leap over a hurdle during the CHIO show jumping for the North Rhine-Westphalia Prize in Aachen, Germany. Dreher finished in second place.

Kyodo/Landov

Ozeki Kaio throws down Toyonoshima at the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament. Kaio ended up pinning Toyonoshima and matched former yokozuna Chiyonofuji for the most career wins, with 1,045.

Mike Cassese/Reuters

New York Yankee catcher Russell Martin's face meets some camera after chasing a foul ball in a game against the Blue Jays.

Bobby Yip/Reuters

U.S. swimmers David Boudia and Nick McCrory plunge in during the preliminary round of the 10m platform synchro diving event at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai.

Petr David Josek/AP

Spanish rider Dani Pedrosa, right, and Australian Casey Stoner sped around a corner at the Grand Prix of Germany MotoGP motorcycle race at the Sachsenring circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany. Pedrosa won the race while Stoner finished third.

Wally Santana/AP

An adorable long-haired Dachshund scampers through a race course at the 2011 Taipei Pet Show. The show was held inside the Nangang Exhibition Hall in Taipei, Taiwan.

Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/Icon SMI

Thor Hushovd of Norway raises his arms in triumph after winning Stage 13 of the Tour de France from Pau to Lourdes. The famed race finishes July 24.

Frank Franklin/AP

The New York Mets lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 7-2 on July 15 but their fans we're treated to a memorable fireworks show after the game. The Citi Field fireworks are known as some of the best in baseball.