Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Giants rally to beat Rockies, stretch division lead
UNDATED (AP) — The San Francisco Giants have increased their lead in the NL West to two games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants are 40 games over .500 after putting together a four-run ninth in a 7-4 victory at Colorado. The Rockies led 4-3 until Lamonte Wade Jr. lined a two-run single and scored on Evan Longoria’s two-run double.
Brandon Crawford homered and Brandon Belt had three hits for the NL West leaders, who are the first major league team with 90 wins.
Tyler Rogers helped San Francisco get its fourth straight victory, working a scoreless eighth to move to 6-1.
The Cardinals did the Giants a favor by beating the Dodgers, 5-4. Yadier (YAH’-dee-ehr) Molina homered and winning pitcher Adam Wainwright came within two outs of a complete game.
Tyler O’Neill added a solo home run in the eighth inning as the Cardinals snapped a four-game losing streak.
Givoanny Gallegos (gy-AY’-gohs) recorded the final two outs in the ninth inning with the potential winning run at the plate for his fifth save.
Checking out the rest of Wednesday’s major league slate:
— Bryan De La Cruz had three hits, including a game-winning single that lifted the Marlins past the Mets, 2-1. Miami starter Sandy Alcantara (al-KAN’-tah-rah) struck out a career-best 14 and allowed one run in nine innings. The right-hander gave up four hits and threw a career-high 114 pitches.
— The Red Sox knocked off the Rays, 2-1 as Hunter Renfroe belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning and threw out Joey Wendle trying for a triple from right field for the final out of the ninth. Boston avoided a three-game sweep in a game that was scoreless entering the eighth inning. Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi (eh-VAHL’-dee) struck out eight while limiting the AL East leaders to three hits over seven innings.
— The Mariners avoided a three-game sweep by scoring four times in the ninth inning of an 8-5 win over the Astros. José Marmolejos (mahr-moh-LAY’-hohs) hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two out in the ninth before J.P. Crawford slammed a two-run homer. The Mariners trailed most of the game before tying it at 4 on a two-run double by Jarred Kelenic with two out in the seventh.
— Joe Ryan carried a perfect game into the seventh inning of his second big league appearance to lead the Twins to a 3-0 shutout of the Indians. Ryan retired his first 19 batters before Amed Rosario lined a single, Cleveland’s only hit of the night. Ryan struck out four over seven innings, throwing 61 strikes in 85 pitches.
— The Tigers were 5-1 winners over the Pirates as Miguel Cabrera and Robbie Grossman each had four hits. Cabrera was 4 for 4 with a double and three RBIs to help Detroit avoid a sweep. Grossman was 4 for 5 and scored three runs.
— Jose Trevino drove in three runs and Nathaniel Lowe had three hits as the Rangers beat the Diamondbacks, 8-5. Arizona’s Luke Weaver retired his first nine batters before Texas broke through with three runs while sending nine to the plate in the fourth. The Rangers’ fourth straight win ties a season high.
BASEBALL-NEWS
Derek, Walker, Simmons, Miller inducted
UNDATED (AP) — Derek Jeter and the rest of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 finally had their day at Cooperstown.
The former New York Yankees shortstop and captain received raucous applause from a crowd that included NBA luminaries Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing, along with several of Jeter’s former teammates.
Larry Walker was the second Canadian to be inducted at Cooperstown, joining former pitcher Ferguson Jenkins. Walker was a slugger for the Expos, Rockies and Cardinals.
Former catcher Ted Simmons also was enshrined as was union boss Marvin Miller.
The 2020 Class had to wait an extra year for induction due to the pandemic.
In other baseball news:
— White Sox left fielder Eloy (EE’-loy) Jiménez is day to day with a severely bruised right knee. He was hit by a foul ball while sitting in the dugout during Tuesday’s game at Oakland.
TENNIS-FRENCH OPEN
Djokovic-Berrettini in progress
NEW YORK (AP) — Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch) will have to come from behind for the third straight match to keep his Grand Slam hopes alive.
Sixth seed Matteo Berrettini won the first set 7-5 in their U.S. Open quarterfinal, a back-and-forth set that lasted 1 hour, 17 minutes.
Djokovic has lost the first set eight times in his 25-match winning streak in the majors.
It’s the third straight Grand Slam tournament in which the two are meeting. Djokovic beat Berrettini in the quarterfinals of the French Open in June, then came back after dropping the first set to top the Italian again at the All England Club in July.
Meanwhile, Olympic gold medalist Alexander Zverev has made it back to the semifinals a year after finishing as the U.S. Open runner-up. The 24-year-old from Germany saved a set point in the opener and wound up beating unseeded Lloyd Harris 7-6, 6-3, 6-4. Zverev will take a 16-match winning streak into his contest against the winner of the Djokovic-Berrettini match.
On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu (rah-doo-KA’-noo) has become the second teenager in two days to reach the semifinals. The 18-year-old qualifier from Britain upset Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic (BEN’-chich) 6-3, 6-4. Raducanu joins Leylah Fernandez of Canada, who earned her semifinal spot a day after her 19th birthday.
NFL-NEWS
Vikings sign RT Brian O’Neill to contract extension
UNDATED (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed right tackle Brian O’Neill to a contract extension, securing their most reliable blocker for the long term.
O’Neill was drafted in the second round out of Pittsburgh in 2018 and would have been eligible for free agency next year. He cracked the lineup as a rookie and has started 42 games in his first three seasons.
In other NFL news:
— Curtis Samuel’s chances of playing in Washington’s season opener took a hit Wednesday when the wide receiver appeared to tweak a groin injury that has been bothering him for months. Samuel was supposed to practice for the second time in three days after missing all of camp with the groin injury and a stint on the NFL’s COVID-19 list.
— The Ravens have signed Le’Veon (LEH’-vee-ahn) Bell to their practice squad, adding another backfield option in the aftermath of J.K. Dobbins’ season-ending injury. Bell was cut early last season by the New York Jets, then rushed for 328 yards in 11 games with Kansas City.
— The Texans will be without kicker Kaʻimi Fairbairn when they open the season against the Jaguars on Sunday. Fairbairn missed the final preseason game Aug. 28 against Tampa Bay with what the team called a minor pulled muscle in his leg.
NHL-NEWS
Pens to open season without Crosby
UNDATED (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins will open the upcoming season without their captain.
Sidney Crosby has undergone surgery to address a lingering issue with one of his wrists. General manager Ron Hextall said Crosby would need a minimum of six weeks to recover, which would keep him out of the lineup until at least October 20.
In other NHL news:
— The Flames signed defenseman Connor Mackey and forward Brad Richardson. The 36-year-old Richardson has 107 goals and 139 assists in 825 regular-season games over 16 seasons with five teams, all in the Western Conference.
GOLF-NEWS
Stricker fills out US team with 4 more Ryder Cup rookies
UNDATED (AP) — Steve Stricker has filled out his U.S. Ryder Cup team with six captain’s picks.
The list does not include Patrick Reed, who has a 7-3-2 record.
Stricker added Tony Finau (FEE’-now), Xander Schauffele (ZAN’-dur SHOW’-flee), Jordan Spieth (speeth) and Harris English. That was expected. They were next in line in the standings.
He also added Daniel Berger and Scottie Scheffler. That gives the Americans six rookies, the most for a Ryder Cup since 2008.
In other golf news:
— The British Open is heading back to Royal Portrush. The R&A says the world’s oldest major championship will return to the Northern Irish venue in 2025 after a successful staging of the British Open there in 2019.
BEIJING OLYMPICS-BROADCASTER PRESSURE
Broadcasters urged to cancel plans to cover Beijing Olympics
TOKYO (AP) — Some of the world’s largest broadcasters, including NBC, are being asked by human rights groups to cancel plans to cover the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing.
The request comes in an open letter from rights groups representing minorities in China including Uyghurs (WEE’-gurz), Tibetans, Hong Kong residents and others.
NBC has paid $7.75 billion for the rights to the next six Olympics. Those payments are estimated to account for about 40% of the International Olympic Committee’s income.
