Update on the latest sports
APMLB SCHEDULE-REDS-CUBS
Bote homers, Alzolay dodges jams as Cubs beat Reds 1-0
UNDATED (AP) — David Bote homered, Adbert Alzolay wriggled out of several jams while pitching into the sixth inning and the surging Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 1-0.
Bote connected leading off the fifth against a debuting Vladimir Gutiérrez. Alzolay wriggled out of several jams on a chilly, soggy and windy afternoon. And the Cubs won for the 10th time in 12 games even though they managed just three hits. Alzolay threw 103 pitches in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander gave up five hits, struck out six and walked three after issuing none in his previous three starts.
In action elsewhere:
— Tonight’s series opener between the Milwaukee Brewers and Washington Nationals was postponed because of inclement weather. The game will be made up Saturday as part of a split doubleheader. Both games will be seven innings and each team will be able to add a player to the roster for each game. The Nationals will use Jon Lester and Patrick Corbin as starting pitchers for the doubleheader. Brett Anderson and Freddy Peralta will pitch for Milwaukee.
—Tonight’s scheduled game between the Colorado Rockies and Pirates in Pittsburgh was postponed because of rain. The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday. The Pirates will enter the doubleheader on a six-game losing streak. The Rockies have lost three straight.
MLB NEWS-ANGELS-TEMPE-SPRING TRAINING
Los Angeles Angels extend spring stay in Tempe through 2035
UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels will keep their spring training home in Tempe, Arizona, until at least 2035 after reaching a deal for an extensive renovation of Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Tempe officials also unveiled plans for more than $50 million in comprehensive upgrades to the city-owned stadium, which is the oldest in the Cactus League. The first phase of renovations will include a three-story building on the third base side housing a new locker room for the Angels along with suites, team offices and a team store. The projected $20.9 million cost will be nearly split between the city and the team.
In other MLB news:
—Indians outfielder Jordan Luplow was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left ankle. Luplow has been dealing with an ankle issue since training camp, and continued soreness and swelling over the past few days forced the Indians to make the move before opening a three-game series against Toronto.
NBA-NEWS
Bucks lose DiVincenzo for season with ankle injury
UNDATED (AP) — Donte DiVincenzo’s season is over. Tests showed Friday that the Milwaukee guard tore a ligament in his left ankle during Game 3 of the Bucks’ NBA playoff series against the Miami Heat.
The Bucks lead the Miami Heat 3-0 in their Eastern Conference first-round series, with Game 4 set for Saturday.
DiVincenzo had appeared in 69 games for Milwaukee this season, all of them starts including the three playoff matchups. His regular-season averages of 10.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists were all the best of his three-year career.
In other NBA news:
¬_The New York Yankees reinstated slugger Giancarlo Stanton from the injured list prior to their game at Detroit. Stanton had been out because of a strained left quadriceps. He is slated to bat second as the designated hitter against the Tigers. Stanton hasn’t played since May 13. He’s hit .282 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs in his first 33 games this season.
— The New York Knicks will sell tickets only to fully vaccinated fans if they reach the second round of the playoffs. The Knicks announced Friday that Game 5 of their first-round series against Atlanta has already sold out, with more than 16,000 fans expected on Wednesday. More than 90% of those in attendance for the first two games of the series were fully vaccinated. Fans in fully vaccinated sections are not required to social distance or wear masks when seated.
—The Cavaliers intend to keep Kevin Love around. The five-time All-Star forward was limited to 25 games by injuries this past season, when the young Cavs went 22-50 and failed to be competitive. Love was never fully healthy and then led to some frustration, which reached a boiling point when he had an on-court meltdown against Toronto. The regrettable moment may have hurt Love’s standing with fans, but general manager Koby Altman said it didn’t affect his relationships with teammates.
—Cody Riley has entered his name in the NBA draft after helping UCLA to the Final Four. The redshirt junior forward averaged career highs of 10 points and 5.4 rebounds while starting all 31 games for the Bruins this season. In six NCAA Tournament games, Riley averaged nine points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocks. UCLA lost to eventual runner-up Gonzaga in the national semifinals.
— Basketball great Michael Jordan and Nike’s Jordan Brand are giving $1 million to Morehouse College in Atlanta to boost journalism and sports-related studies. The gift announced Friday will help enrich the school’s journalism and sports program that was originally launched with a donation from director and actor Spike Lee.
INDY 500
Party Time: Indy 500 is biggest sporting event of pandemic
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis 500 will open its gates to 135,000 spectators on Sunday for the largest sporting event since the start of the pandemic.
It’s about 40% of the capacity at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and leaves 100,000 empty seats in the permanent grandstands. But it’s a welcome development, coming nine months after the race ran without fans for the first time in its 105-year history.
Scott Dixon will start from the pole alongside two of IndyCar’s rising stars. Colton Herta is a 21-year-old budding American star and Rinus Veekay at 20 is IndyCar’s most recent winner. The race includes nine former Indy 500 winners but a changing of the guard toward younger drivers has made a new winner a real possibility.
Actor Milo Ventimiglia (vehn-tih-MEE’-lee-uh) will serve as the honorary starter.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-JAPAN
Japan extends virus emergency with safe Olympics at stake
TOKYO (AP) — Japan has extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas for 20 more days, with infections still not slowing as it prepares to host the Olympics in just over 50 days. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga says the decision was made because cases remain high and medical systems in Osaka, the hardest-hit area in western Japan, are still overburdened.
The Olympics are scheduled to start July 23 after a one-year postponement due to the pandemic, and worries about new variants and Japan’s slow vaccination rollout have triggered calls from the public, medical experts and even a sponsor to cancel the games.
The president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee hinted Friday that fans may be barred from venues when the games open. Seiko Hashimoto said that “after the state of emergency is lifted we will assess.” Fans from abroad were ruled out months ago.
TEXAS-COMPENSATING ATHLETES
Texas lawmakers approve college athlete compensation bill
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas lawmakers have approved letting college athletes earn money with endorsements and sponsorship deals. Friday’s Senate vote sends the bill to Gov. Greg Abbott to consider signing into law.
Texas has five schools — Texas, Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech in the Big 12, and Texas A&M in the Southeastern Conference — in the so-called Power Five conferences. Supporters of the measure say those schools need the bill to compete for top-level recruits.
Several states have already approved measures that allow athletes to earn money off their name, image and likeness. The Texas version would take effect July 1.
Congress is also considering federal measures, and the NCAA is considering whether to change its bylaws. The NCAA has warned that a patchwork of state laws would create confusion.
