Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Rays take 2 of 3 at Fenway
UNDATED (AP) — Tack on another game to the Tampa Bay Rays’ lead in the AL East as they won the rubber match of their three-game set with the second-place Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Wander Franco hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning to spark the Rays’ 8-1 win over the Bosox. Mike Zunino added a three-run homer in the eighth to ensure Tampa Bay leaves Boston with a five-game division lead.
Kevin Kiermaier went 3 for 3 with a walk and scored twice for the Rays, who rebounded from a blowout loss a night earlier.
Drew Rasmussen threw four strong innings in a spot start for Tampa Bay.
In Thursday’s other major league action:
— The Athletics easily picked up their seventh straight win as Mitch Moreland homered twice in a 17-0 dismantling of the Indians. Matt Canha (KAN’-ah) and Starling Marte each drove in three runs, while teammate Matt Chapman walked five times to fall one shy of the big league record. Chris Bassitt scattered three hits over six innings for his AL-leading 12th win, helping Oakland move a season-high 18 games over .500.
— The Mariners picked up a 3-1 victory over the Rangers behind Marco Gonzales, who struck out nine in a two-hitter. Gonzales allowed Charlie Culberson’s homer in the second inning, followed by Jason Martin’s single before facing the minimum over the final seven innings. J.P. Crawford and Jake Fraley homered for Seattle.
— Luis Urias (oo-REE’-uhs) and Manny Pina (PEEN’-yah) were the catalysts as the Brewers clobbered the Cubs, 17-4. Urias tied a major league record with five extra-base hits, including three doubles and home runs in the seventh and ninth innings. Pina provided six RBIs with a grand slam and a two-run homer to help the NL Central leaders complete a four-game sweep.
— The Phillies avoided a three-game sweep as Bryce Harper hit a first-inning homer and scored on an RBI single by Ronald Torreyes (toh-RAY’-ehs) in leading a 2-1 win over the Dodgers. Philadelphia has gone 23-13 while Harper has batted .328 with eight homers, 23 RBIs and 28 runs scored over his last 36 games. Ian Kennedy escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting Billy McKinney to hit a game-ending fly ball.
— The Mets are within a half-game of the NL East-leading Phillies after sweeping two from the Nationals, 4-1 and 5-4. Brandon Nimmo drove in four runs in the opener to support Marcus Stroman, who struck out eight while allowing a run and just three hits over 5 1/3 innings. New York blew a 4-1 lead in the last inning of the nightcap before Pete Alonso won it with a walk-off homer.
— Paul DeJong (deh-YUHNG’) and Lars Nootbaar homered in the fourth inning before the Cardinals hung on to beat the Pirates, 7-6 for a three-game sweep. St. Louis received seven innings of three-run ball from its bullpen after starter Wade LeBlanc exited with left elbow pain. Colin Moran homered twice for the Pirates, who have been outscored 50-18 during an eight-game losing streak.
— The Tigers were 6-4 winners over the Orioles as Renato Núñez homered in his return to Baltimore. Winning pitcher Matt Manning allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings for Detroit. Tigers designated hitter Miguel Cabrera sat out the game a night after belting his 499th career home run.
MLB-NEWS
Cubs release Arrieta
UNDATED (AP) — Right-hander Jake Arrieta has been released by the Cubs.
Arrieta won a Cy Young Award and helped the Cubs capture a drought-busting World Series championship in his first stint with the club. But he struggled in his second go-round. Arrieta was 5-11 with a 6.88 in 20 starts this season.
The Cubs also placed catcher Willson Contreras on the 10-day injured list because of sprained right knee.
Elsewhere around the majors:
— Orioles slugger Chris Davis has announced his retirement. Davis ends a career in which he became one of baseball’s most prodigious home run hitters before his production declined amid injury problems.
— The Brewers have reinstated All-Star closer Josh Hader from the COVID-19 reserve list. Hader joined several Brewers on the COVID-19 list on Aug. 2 after he tested positive.
NFL-NEWS
Jets rookie WR Moore leaves practice with quad issue
UNDATED (AP) — New York Jets rookie wide receiver Elijah Moore has a quadriceps injury and is expected to have an MRI. Coach Robert Saleh says depending on how the tests come back, Moore could miss the team’s preseason opener Saturday night against the Giants. Moore has been one of the standouts of training camp for the Jets, who drafted the former Mississippi star in the second round with the 34th overall pick.
Also around NFL training camps:
— Ravens coach John Harbaugh says rookie receiver Rashod Bateman is set to undergo groin surgery and should be back sometime in September. Bateman was drafted in the first round by the Ravens. Baltimore is trying to boost its passing game after finishing last in that department a season ago.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-NEWS
Pac-12 says forfeits possible for COVID-19 issues
UNDATED (AP) — Pac-12 teams that cannot play because of COVID-19 issues will likely be forced to forfeit games this season.
The conference announced it is reinstituting its forfeiture policy after it modified its rules last season because of the pandemic.
Last season, a game that could not be played because of COVID-19 problems with either team was canceled and deemed no contest.
In other college football news:
— Florida cornerback and projected starter Jaydon Hill will miss the season after tearing the ACL in his left knee. Hill started five games last season and had been slotted to play opposite Kaiir Elam, who tied for the Southeastern Conference lead with 13 pass defenses in 2020. The Gators ranked 100th out of 127 in pass defense last season, one reason why head coach Dan Mullen calls the injury a “massive disappointment.”
NBA-NEWS
Leonard re-signs with Clippers
UNDATED (AP) — Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard is staying put, although his return to the Los Angeles Clippers’ lineup is uncertain.
The Clippers have re-signed their free-agent superstar, one week after he opted out of his $36 million option for the upcoming season. Leonard has averaged 26 points, 6.8 rebounds and five assists in his first two seasons with his hometown team.
He suffered a partially torn right ACL during the playoffs and missed the Clippers’ first Western Conference finals appearance. Leonard had surgery on his knee a month ago. His status for the upcoming season is unknown, and it’s possible he could miss a good portion of it while rehabbing.
— The Denver Nuggets have added to their outside arsenal by signing veteran forward Jeff Green to a two-year, $10 million contract.
Green shot a career-best 41.2% from 3-point range for the star-studded Nets last season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 68 games. The Nuggets are Green’s 11th team in 14 NBA seasons.
NHL-NEWS
Jets ink Copp
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms with forward Andrew Copp on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. Copp had 15 goals and 39 points in 55 games for the Jets last season, adding two assists in eight playoff games.
LPGA-WOMEN’S SCOTTISH OPEN
Thomson is pace-setter at Scottish Open
FIFE, Scotland (AP) — Michele Thomson shot a 7-under 65 at Dumbarnie Links to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.
Thompson rebounded from an opening bogey with an eagle on No. 2. She birdied seven of her final 11 holes.
U.S. Women’s Open champion champion Yuka Saso, Jasmine Suwannapura and Anne van Dam were second at 67.
COLLEGE ATHLETICS-KANSAS-MASSAGE THERAPIST
Kansas massage therapist guilty of sex crimes
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A jury has found a massage therapist guilty of sex crimes against five people, including three female soccer players at the University of Kansas.
The Lawrence Journal-World reported Lawrence massage therapist Shawn P. O’Brien received guilty verdict on all eight counts Thursday. Three of the charges accuse O’Brien of indecent liberties with a child under the age of 14 for fondling a girl who was either 9 or 10 on three occasions between 2013 and 2015.
OLYMPICS-UJAH-DOPING
British silver medalist suspended, Britain could lose medal
LONDON (AP) — British 4×100-meter relay silver medalist Chijindu Ujah has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for an alleged doping violation at the Tokyo Olympics.
Ujah was part of a British quartet who finished second to Italy in a close race. If found guilty, Ujah and the British team could be stripped of the silver medal.
BELARUS RUNNER
Belarus sprinter feels safe, looks to future in Poland
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Belarusian Olympic sprinter says she feels safe after finding refuge in Poland to avoid punishment at home for criticizing her team officials at the Tokyo Games.
Krystsina Tsimanouskaya now hopes to focus on how to keep up her world-class sprinting career. In an interview with The Associated Press in Warsaw, she recalls the harrowing moments when she sought police help at the Tokyo airport and the sense of instant relief after being put under protection.
The 24-year-old runner says she has already asked Polish officials to help her resume training. Tsimanouskaya and her husband, who followed her to Poland on a humanitarian visa, are looking toward a future of freedom, not just for them but for all people in Belarus.
