Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Wisdom’s 3-run blast out of Wrigley leads Cubs past Rockies
UNDATED (AP) — Patrick Wisdom cracked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the fifth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday.
Wisdom launched a 1-1 slider from Austin Gomber over the left-field bleachers and onto Waveland Avenue for his 21st home run. Wisdom entered the year with four homers in 48 games over three seasons with the Cardinals, Rangers and Cubs.
David Bote and Austin Romine also homered for Chicago, which won its second straight at Wrigley Field after a team-record 13-game home losing streak. C.J. Cron hit his team-leading 22nd homer for the Rockies.
MLB-NEWS
2022 Season will be Molina’s last
UNDATED (AP) — Yadier Molina’s 19th season will be his last. The 39-year-old St. Louis Cardinals catcher made the announcement a day after signing a one-year contract for the 2022 season.
The 10-time All Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner has spent his entire career in the Cardinals organization since the team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2000 MLB draft.
Molina this season joined Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench as the only catchers in major league history to record 2,000 hits and play in 2,000 games with one team. His 18 seasons catching for the Cardinals are the most by any catcher with the same team.
The $10 million deal Molina signed Tuesday represents a $1 million raise. It includes a hotel suite on road trips and a full no-trade provision, even though he has the right to block trades as a 10-year veteran who has been with his club for five seasons.
In other MLB news:
— Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has been activated from the disabled list after missing more than two months with a strained left quadriceps. Bregman was playing third and batting sixth in the lineup as the Astros wrapped up a series against the Kansas City Royals after splitting the first two games. The 27-year-old hasn’t played since he was injured running to first base on June 16.
— Mets ace Jacob deGrom played catch at Citi Field on Wednesday after an MRI showed improvement with the right forearm tightness that has sidelined him since July 7. Meanwhile, Noah Syndergaard will begin a minor league rehab assignment with High-A Brooklyn on Thursday. It was the first time deGrom played catch since being shut down from throwing entirely four weeks ago. DeGrom was transferred to the 60-day injured list last weekend and isn’t eligible to return until Sept. 13. He is 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA in 15 starts this year.
NFL-NEWS
Only vaccinated personnel in locker rooms on NFL game days
UNDATED (AP) — The NFL is mandating that only fully vaccinated personnel, with a maximum of 50 people, will have access to locker rooms while players are present on game days.
In a memo sent to the 32 teams and obtained by The Associated Press, the policy becomes effective immediately. The personnel covered by the policy includes coaches, athletic trainers, equipment staffers, one general manager, one team security representative, three club communications media workers and one clubhouse support staffer.
Players are not required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but the NFL has reported that more than 90% of them are.
In other NFL news:
— The Los Angeles Rams have acquired running back Sony Michel from the New England Patriots for undisclosed 2022 draft picks. Michel brings some help to a Rams offense that was running low on healthy options with the regular season fast approaching. He was drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2018 and entered the preseason at a pivotal point of his injury-plagued career. New England declined to pick up his fifth-year option in May, clearing the way for him to become a free agent.
— Green Bay Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess has gone on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring in a joint practice with the New York Jets last week. The move ends the season for Funchess. He hasn’t played a regular-season game since September 2019. Funchess caught a total of 21 touchdown passes over his first four NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers. He joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2019 but fractured his collarbone in the opening week of that season. He signed with Green Bay in 2020 but opted out of last season.
— Veteran tight end Kyle Rudolph is finally getting on the field with the New York Giants. The Giants have announced that Rudolph has passed his physical and was taken off the physically unable to perform/active list. He will practice on a limited basis this week. Rudolph had offseason foot surgery and had been unable to practice since training camp started. One of the team’s biggest acquisitions in free agency, it is uncertain whether the former Minnesota Viking will be ready for the season opener on Sept. 12 at home against Denver.
— The Buffalo Bills have signed receiver Steven Sims to address an injury- and coronavirus-depleted position. Sims spent his first two NFL seasons in Washington. He had 61 catches for 575 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 28 career games. Cole Beasley and Gabriel Davis must spend five days in self-quarantine after being placed on the COVID-19/Reserve list on Tuesday.
— Trevor Lawrence will start Jacksonville’s season opener at Houston on Sept. 12. Coach Urban Meyer gave Lawrence the nod over third-year pro Gardner Minshew after two preseason games and a month of training camp. Lawrence, the top pick in the 2021 NFL draft, and Minshew, a two-year starter in Jacksonville, split first-team repetitions during camp.
— The Denver Broncos are going with Teddy Bridgewater over Drew Lock as their starting quarterback. Coach Vic Fangio informed his team of the decision Wednesday morning, a day after saying the quarterback competition was too close to call. Bridgewater was acquired from Carolina for a sixth-round draft pick in April.
— Tight end Luke Willson said he’s stepping away from football one day after re-signing with the Seattle Seahawks. In a lengthy statement on social media, Willson says he realized it was time to move on after being back in the building and participating in practice with the Seahawks. Willson said he spent time in the hospital during the offseason due to a pericardial effusion. He said the hospitalization changed his perspective on his life.
NBA-GRIZZLIES-ROCKIES TRADE
T-wolves seal deal with Grizzlies for ace defender Beverley
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves have finalized their acquisition of ace defender Patrick Beverley. They’re sending 2019 first-round draft pick Jarrett Culver and backup forward Juancho Hernangómez to the Memphis Grizzlies.
The trade was agreed to in principle last week after the Grizzlies got the 33-year-old Beverley from the Los Angeles Clippers. Beverley came with veteran guard Rajon Rondo and young center Daniel Oturu in a swap for versatile guard Eric Bledsoe. The 6-foot-1 Beverley will bring feistiness and experience to a Timberwolves team short on both attributes. He has three NBA All-Defensive team selections on his resume.
Beverley is in the final year of his contract, set to make about $14.3 million.
TENNIS-US OPEN-SERENA WILLIAMS OUT
Serena Williams pulls out of US Open, citing torn hamstring
UNDATED (AP) — Serena Williams has added herself to the list of big-name withdrawals from the U.S. Open. She pulled out of the year’s last Grand Slam tournament because of a torn hamstring.
Williams announced her decision in a social media post. She hasn’t competed since injuring her right leg during her first-round match at Wimbledon in late June.
The American joins Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in sitting out the competition in Flushing Meadows. Williams owns 23 Grand Slam titles. The American turns 40 next month. The draw for the U.S. Open is Thursday. Play begins next Monday.
