Update on the latest sports
APOLYMPICS
With Simone Biles out, ROC wins women’s team gymnastics
TOKYO (AP) — Katie Ledecky no longer enjoys the dominance that led to five gold medals and two world records during the previous two Olympics.
Ledecky has been surpassed by Australian Ariarne (ar-ee-AHR’-nah) Titmus so far at the Tokyo Games, finishing fifth in the women’s 200M freestyle. It’s the second time Ledecky has finished behind Titmus during a medal event this week.
Titmus set an Olympic record of 1 minute, 53.50 seconds to make it 2-for-2 against the American star, following up a thrilling victory in the 400 free. Ledecky wasn’t even close in the 200, making the first flip in seventh place and never getting higher than fifth before finishing nearly two seconds off the pace.
Also at the Tokyo Games:
— US gymnast Simone Biles says she will regroup Wednesday before deciding whether to defend her Olympic title in the all-around gymnastics final on Thursday. Biles withdrew from Tuesday’s team final, after deciding following a shaky vault that she wasn’t in the right headspace to compete. Biles said later that she didn’t want to go into any of the events second-guessing herself.
— New U.S. beach volleyball partners Jake Gibb and Tri Bourne beat Switzerland 21-19, 23-21 to improve to 2-0 in the round-robin. They have one more match remaining, against Qatar on Friday night. The two victories should be enough to get Gibb and Bourne in the knockout round.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT
Big 12′s Texas, Oklahoma make request to join powerhouse SEC
UNDATED (AP) — Texas and Oklahoma have made a request to join the powerhouse Southeastern Conference.
A day after the Big 12 schools notified the league that they would not be extending an agreement that binds conference members to 2025, the schools publicly stated for the first time they want to join the SEC.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says his league will consider the request in the “near future.”
The SEC would grow to 16 teams with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma, half of which have won at least one national championship in football since 1980.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Brewers bash Bucs
UNDATED (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers’ charge to the National League Central title continues despite their current COVID-19 situation.
Omar Narvaez (nahr-VY’-ehz) homered and had four RBIs as the Brewers ripped the Pirates, 9-0. Narvaez went deep to spark a three-run first before he added a two-run single that helped Milwaukee take a 8-0 lead by the second inning.
Brett Anderson yielded three hits while striking out three and walking one over six innings as the Brewers improved to a major league-best 38-19 since May 22.
The Brew Crew began the day with a seven-game division lead over Cincinnati.
Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (YEH’-lihch) has tested positive for the coronavirus and is showing mild symptoms.
President of baseball operations David Stearns says Yelich and Jace (jays) Peterson have been place on the COVID-19 injured list, adding that Peterson was sidelined due to contact tracing and hasn’t tested positive.
Stearns says Yelich has been vaccinated against the virus and will miss at least 10 days from the date of his positive test, while Peterson will sit out at least seven days.
In Tuesday’s other major league action:
— Austin Riley launched a grand slam and a two-run homer to finish with a career-best six RBIs in the Braves’ 12-5 dismantling of the Mets. Ozzie Albies and Abraham Almonte each belted a two-run homer and Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double for Atlanta, one day after the two teams combined for just three runs in a doubleheader.
— The Mets’ lead in the NL East remains 3 1/2 games over Philadelphia after Josh Bell and Juan Soto slammed three-run homers in the Nationals’ 6-4 win at Philadelphia. Brad Hand notched his 21st save after blowing leads in the ninth inning of his previous two outings.
— The Cardinals doubled up the Indians, 4-2 as Paul DeJong (deh-YUHNG’) slammed a go-ahead, two-run homer and Adam Wainwright pitched seven innings of two-run ball. DeJong homered off Bryan Shaw with two out in the seventh, giving St. Louis a 3-2 advantage.
— Sandy León crushed a three-run homer and Sandy Alcantara (al-KAHN’-tah-rah) pitched into the seventh in guiding the Marlins past the Orioles, 7-3. Lewin Diaz and Brian Anderson added solo shots in Miami’s third straight win.
— The Red Sox and Blue Jays were rained out in Boston, creating a day-night doubleheader Wednesday at Fenway Park.
MLB-NEWS
Nationals’ Strasburg to have season-ending neck surgery
UNDATED (AP) — Nationals All-Star shortstop Trea Turner left Tuesday’s game against the Phillies in the first inning after testing positive for COVID-19. Turner singled and scored before heading directly up the Nationals tunnel toward the clubhouse. It was later announced in the press box that he had tested positive, ending speculation that he was lifted for a possible pending trade or due to injury.
In other major league news:
— The Astros have landed right-handed relievers Kendall Graveman and Rafael Montero from the Mariners for infielder Abraham Toro and reliever Joe Smith. The move bolsters a Houston bullpen that has struggled at times and has an ERA above 4.00 this season. Graveman is 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 10 saves in 30 appearances this year.
— Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Stephen Strasburg will have season-ending neck surgery on Wednesday, ending another frustrating year for Washington’s 2019 World Series hero. The three-time All-Star right-hander felt discomfort after a 27-pitch bullpen session last week and saw a specialist on Monday. Strasburg made just five starts this season, going 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA.
— Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave was extended by 10 days through Aug. 6 by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The extension comes as the sport’s investigators continue to check into allegations of sexual misconduct against the Dodgers pitcher. Bauer was placed on seven days’ paid leave on July 2 under the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy adopted by MLB and the players’ union in 2015.
— Yankees All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge and backup catcher Kyle Higashioka have been reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list. Both went on the IL July 16. Judge started Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay.
NFL-NEWS
Rodgers arrives in Green Bay for start of training camp
UNDATED — Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was seen arriving at Lambeau Field this morning, a day after NFL Network and ESPN reported the reigning MVP was closing in on a deal that would keep him with the Packers this season. Rodgers didn’t participate in organized team activities this spring and skipped the Packers’ mandatory minicamp. His future with the Packers had seemed tenuous after ESPN reported in the hours leading up to the NFL draft that he didn’t want to return to Green Bay.
In other NFL news:
— Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis says the team will be in new hands by this time next year. Ellis says the trust that runs the team will either select Pat Bowlen’s 31-year-old daughter Brittany Bowlen or sell the franchise altogether.
— Ron Rivera opened Washington’s training camp expressing frustration about a lack of vaccinations among players. Rivera says he believes Washington is now over 50% of players fully vaccinated. Only five NFL teams are at less than 70% of players who have either received one vaccination shot or both.
— All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard has joined the rest of the Miami Dolphins reporting for training camp after he sat out mandatory minicamp. Howard wants to renegotiate the $75.25 million, five-year extension he signed two years ago and there had been speculation he might hold out. Howard had 10 interceptions last year, the most in the NFL since 2007.
—First-round pick Rashawn Slater signed his contract with the Chargers as players reported for training camp. The 13th overall pick in the draft in April is expected to be the Chargers’ left tackle for the season opener.
— Patrick Mahomes has become part of MLS club Sporting Kansas City’s ownership group. Mahomes also is a part owner of baseball’s Kansas City Royals and his fiancée, Brittany Matthews, is a co-owner of the women’s soccer club Kansas City NWSL.
NHL-NEWS
Capitals re-sign Alex Ovechkin to $47.5M, 5-year contract
UNDATED (AP) — Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin has re-signed with the only NHL team he has ever played for, inking a five-year, $47.5 million deal. The superstar Russian who captained the Capitals to their only Stanley Cup championship in franchise history three years ago is now under contract through the 2025-26 season. The 35-year-old Ovechkin is 164 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record and needs to average 33 goals over the length of his new contract to break the mark.
In other NHL activity:
— The Golden Knights have traded reigning Vezina (VEH’-zih-nuh) Trophy-winning goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Blackhawks. The return of a minor leaguer Mikael Hakkarainen indicates it was a salary dump. Fleury counts $7 million against the salary cap next season.
— Among other goalie moves around the NHL, Vancouver’s Braden Holtby and San Jose’s Martin Jones will become free agents after going on buyout waivers.
— The league says bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to former Bruins forward Willie O’Ree has passed the U.S. Senate. O’Ree was the first Black player to compete in the NHL and played pro hockey for 22 seasons.
FOOTBALL PLAYER DEATH-GEORGIA
Georgia 15-year-old collapses, dies after football practice
MACON, Ga. (AP) — A 15-year-old high school football player died after collapsing at the first day of practice amid 97-degree temperatures in middle Georgia.
Bibb County school district officials say Joshua Ivory of Macon’s Southwest High School went into distress Monday, leading coaches to call an ambulance. He later died at a hospital. No cause of death has been announced and an autopsy is planned.
