Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Garver homers twice, Twins connect 6 times to blast Indians
UNDATED (AP) — Byron Buxton homered leading off the first and got five hits, Mitch Garver homered twice and Minnesota hitters connected six times in a 10-2 romp over the Cleveland Indians.
Buxton went 5 for 5 with his homer, two doubles and two singles. He homered on Logan Allen’s second pitch and Josh Donaldson and Jorge Polanco also homered in the first as the Twins ended a four-game losing streak. J.A. Happ took advantage of the run support and allowed two runs in seven innings. Williams Astudiollo also connected as Minnesota won for just the second time in 10 games. Amed Rosario homered for Cleveland.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Jesús Aguilar homered for the fifth time in his last six games to lead the Miami Marlins to a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Aguilar’s tiebreaking three-run shot off Eric Yardley with two outs in the fourth inning put Miami ahead for good as the Marlins won the three-game series in Milwaukee. The Brewers are 9-3 on the road but just 5-7 at home this season. Miami’s Sandy Alcantara struck out four and gave up five hits and two runs in seven innings. Kolten Wong hit a two-run homer for the Brewers.
MLB-BLUE JAYS-SPRINGER
Springer to make Blue Jays debut tonight
DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) —George Springer is set to make an impact with the Toronto Blue Jays and is in the lineup as the designated hitter when the Blue Jays host Washington tonight. Springer’s starting season with the Jays was sidelined by a pair of muscle strains.
Springer was the World Series MVP when Houston won its first title in 2017.
He signed a team-record $150 million, six-year deal with the Blue Jays this offseason but missed time in spring training, first because of a strained oblique and later because of a right quadriceps strain.
Springer said he was “sick and tired of being on the IL.”
NFL-NEWS
Panthers trade Teddy Bridgewater to Broncos
UNDATED (AP) — Drew Lock now has competition for his starting quarterback job in Denver. The Broncos’ new general manager George Paton has acquired veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Paton has said since he succeeded John Elway that he wanted to bring in competition for Lock, who is 8-10 in his two years Denver’s starter. Paton might also draft a quarterback in the first round Thursday night. The Broncos have the ninth overall pick and have had their eyes on several of the quarterbacks in this draft class.
In other NFL news:
— A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that receiver Antonio Brown has agreed to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year contract that could be worth up to $6.5 million, including incentives. The person says the agreement includes a $2 million signing bonus and a little more than $3 million guaranteed. The Bucs were already assured of returning all 22 starters from their Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Bringing back Brown ensures Tom Brady will pursue an eighth Super Bowl ring with the entire “band” of offensive playmakers assembled around the 43-year-old quarterback last season.
— The Indianapolis Colts exercised the fifth-year option on Quenton Nelson’s rookie contract. The Colts’ first-round selection in the 2018 draft has started all 48 regular-season games and three postseason games at left guard. He’s been voted an All-Pro in all three seasons — the first offensive lineman and the fifth player since the 1970 merger to be so honored. The others were Barry Sanders, Keith Jackson, Lawrence Taylor and Earl Campbell.
— The New York Giants picked up the fifth-year option on the rookie contract for running back Saquon Barkley. The 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year is recovering from a torn right ACL in Week 2 of last season. Barkley, the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2018, ran for 1,307 yards that season and caught 91 passes for 721 yards. He had 15 touchdowns combined rushing and receiving. Barkley had 1,441 yards from scrimmage in 2019, but missed three games because of a high ankle sprain.
— The Detroit Lions exercised the fifth-year contract option on Pro Bowl offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. Ragnow is entering his fourth NFL season after being drafted in the first round out of Arkansas. He’s started all 45 games he’s appeared in and he earned his first Pro Bowl berth last season. Detroit also waived tight end Hunter Bryant with a non-football injury designation.
NBA-LOVE-APOLOGY
Love apologizes for on-court tantrum
CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love has apologized for his on-court tantrum Monday in a game against Toronto.
In a Zoom call, the five-time All-Star said his behavior was out of line and out of character — but that it had nothing to do with any frustration toward his teammates or coaches.
In the third quarter Monday night, a frustrated Love angrily tapped the ball back into play on an inbounds pass. It was grabbed by the Raptors, who made a 3-pointer and went on to win 112-96.
Love said he didn’t know how bad his actions looked until after the game.
He spoke following Cleveland’s shootaround Wednesday before facing the Orlando Magic. He didn’t take any questions from reporters after speaking passionately for 13 minutes about the incident, his frustration in dealing with an injury this season and his continued struggle with mental health.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
— The NBA has fined Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. $50,000 for violating the league’s health and safety rules. Porter and teammate Sterling Brown visited a strip club in Miami last week. That is against the NBA safety protocols. Brown was assaulted outside the club and needed medical attention afterward. The Rockets host Brown’s former team, the Milwaukee Bucks, on Thursday night.
NHL-NEWS
Malkin practices, nearing return from injury
UNDATED (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin is nearing his return from a lower-body injury that’s kept him out since mid-March.
Malkin skated alongside his teammates Wednesday for the first time since being injured. He wore a white “no contact” jersey during the skate, but coach Mike Sullivan said the Russian star was a full participant and will travel with the Penguins when they begin a four-game road trip on Thursday in Washington.
Malkin hasn’t played since March 16. The Penguins have thrived in his absence, going 14-5-2 to move into second place in the East Division behind the Capitals.
In other NHL news:
— The Montreal Canadiens say forward Jonathan Drouin (DROO’-an) is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team for personal reasons. The Canadiens announced on their Twitter feed that Drouin will be placed on long-term injured reserve by the club. Drouin has 23 points in 44 games this season. He has missed Montreal’s past three games with a non-COVID related illness.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS
Atlanta to allow full capacity at 2 stadiums
ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta’s two biggest outdoor pro sports stadiums will both allow 100% capacity at events beginning next month.
The Braves say they will return to normal capacity at 41,084-sea Truist Park beginning May 7, when they face the Philadelphia Phillies to begin their third homestand of the season.
Officials also say Mercedes-Benz Stadium will return to 100% capacity beginning May 15 when Atlanta United hosts a Major League Soccer match against CF Montreal. Mercedes-Benz Stadium is a retractable-roof venue that can hold more than 70,000 fans.
Face coverings will continue to be required at both stadiums.
WEST VIRGINIA-TRANSGENDER ATHLETES
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia’s governor has signed a bill that bans transgender athletes from competing in female sports in middle and high schools and colleges. The bill was among 38 signed by the Republican governor on Wednesday.
It had narrowly passed the state Senate, which had added the college component, before being overwhelmingly approved in the House of Delegates. Justice said earlier this week that he would proudly sign the transgender bill despite warnings from some lawmakers that the NCAA could retaliate and decide not to hold college tournaments in the state.
The American Civil Liberties Union’s West Virginia chapter says it regrets that the governor signed the bill.
