Update on the latest sports
APMLB-SCHEDULE
Dark Knight returns: Harvey, Orioles lose to Mets 7-1
UNDATED (AP) — Matt Harvey was greeted warmly by Mets fans in his return to Citi Field and harshly by New York’s hitters. Harvey pitched against his former team for the first time and allowed Kevin Pillar’s (pee-LAHRZ’) two-run triple in a three-run second inning that carried the Mets to their seventh straight win, 7-1 over the Baltimore Orioles.
Harvey gave up a season-high seven runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings, and his ERA rose from 3.60 to 4.81 as the Orioles lost for the fifth time in six games. Taijuan Walker lowered his ERA to 2.00, allowing one run and four hits in seven innings.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez combined to drive in four runs in the 10th inning as Cincinnati’s bullpen threw 5 1/3 hitless innings, and the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1. Winker singled off reliever Duane Underwood Jr. (1-2) to lead off the 10th, scoring designated runner Nick Senzel. Nick Castellanos singled and Mike Moustakas walked ahead of Suárez, who drove a pitch into the left-center gap for a three-run double. Lucas Sims worked two perfect innings with four strikeouts to earn the win. The Cincinnati bullpen struck out nine without allowing a hit in relief of Sonny Gray.
MLB-NEWS
Virus-depleted Padres add Myers to IL before doubleheader
UNDATED (AP) — The virus-depleted San Diego Padres have made a series of moves to bolster a lineup that is missing outfielder Wil Myers and shortstop Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES’) Jr. after they tested positive for the coronavirus.
Myers was added to the injured list Wednesday before a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Joining him was first baseman Eric Hosmer, who is out for contact tracing. To take their place, the Padres recalled infielder/outfielder Brian O’Grady from Triple-A El Paso and selected the contract of outfielder Patrick Kivlehan.
In other MLB news:
— The Toronto Blue Jays are moving north and adding fully vaccinated seating sections to Sahlen Field in Buffalo, increasing the ballpark’s seating capacity to 35% for the first eight games in June. That’s in line with the latest guidelines from New York state. The Blue Jays will play several home games in Buffalo due to restrictions in cross-border travel between the U.S. and Canada because of COVID-19. Blue Jays tickets go on sale in eight days and tickets for the minor league Bisons go on sale Tuesday. Face coverings will be required for all fans aged two and older.
— The Houston Astros are providing furnished apartments to minor league players at all levels for the 2022 season, believed to be the first big league club to do so. The Astros say players with the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters, Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks, High-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers, Low-A Asheville Tourists and the franchise’s Gulf Coast League team were offered housing ahead of last week’s opening day. Housing has been among the greatest difficulties facing minor league players, many of whom will make as little as $10,000 this season despite pay raises introduced for 2021.
NBA-NEWS
Celtics without Walker, Smart to face reeling Cavaliers
UNDATED (AP) — The Boston Celtics, who are missing All-Star Jaylen Brown because of a serious wrist injury, will also be without Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart Wednesday night when they play the reeling Cavaliers. The Celtics said Walker will sit out as he continues to manage a left knee injury, and Smart is down with a bruised right calf. Walker hasn’t been playing back-to-back games all season.
Boston is currently in the No. 7 spot in the Eastern Conference standings and is trying to avoid the play-in tournament, which will involve teams 7-10. Cleveland has lost 11 straight.
In other NBA news:
— James Harden could return for the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night after missing more than a month with a strained right hamstring. The Nets are listing Harden as probable to play in their home game against the San Antonio Spurs. It would be the All-Star guard’s first game since April 5, when he aggravated the injury in a game against the New York Knicks. He has since missed 18 games. Brooklyn has had its superstar trio of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the court together for only seven games.
NHL-NEWS
New York Rangers fire coach Dave Quinn, 3 assistants
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Rangers have fired coach David Quinn and three assistant coaches after missing the playoffs with one of the NHL’s up-and-coming young teams.
The move Wednesday is the first major one from new general manager Chris Drury, who took over last week after the organization fired popular president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton. Drury said the Rangers will begin our search for a new head coach immediately.
Assistant coaches Jacques Martin, David Oliver, Greg Brown were also fired. Goaltending coach Benoit Allaire was retained.
The Rangers made the expanded playoffs in the 2019-20 COVID season but were swept in the play-in round by the Carolina Hurricanes in three games.
In other NHL news:
— Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams disputes there is a disconnect between the team and Jack Eichel (EYE’-kul) on how to treat a herniated disk that has sidelined the captain since March. Adams says both sides have been in constant communication in regard to the injury and had agreed to wait until early June to determine how to proceed. Adams says Eichel has not requested a trade.
— The expansion Seattle Kraken signed the first player in franchise history today after agreeing to terms with free agent center Luke Henman on a three-year entry level contract. The 21-year-old currently plays for the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Québec Major Junior Hockey League. He will complete the season with the Armada before joining Seattle for its rookie training camp later this year. Henman had a team-high 43 points in 32 games for the Armada this season, including 16 goals and 27 assists. He has scored six goals in eight playoff games this season.
— The NHL has partnerships with several sportsbooks in the U.S. But the sport that prides itself on secrecy won’t be giving up details about starting lineups any time soon. Betting operators would love to know who’s playing, including who is starting in goal. But that information is still going to be disclosed only a few minutes before games begin.
NFL-2021 SCHEDULE
Bucs to kick off season vs Cowboys
UNDATED (AP) — Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin their quest to repeat as Super Bowl champions when they kick off the 2021 season against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, Sept. 9.
The season will open on the same field where the Buccaneers became the first team to win a Super Bowl at home.
The game could see the return of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 5 of last season. The Cowboys have missed the playoffs the past two seasons.
Other highlights from opening weekend include Matthew Stafford playing his first game for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night against the Chicago Bears with SoFi Stadium welcoming fans for the first time.
Most teams are expected to be at full capacity following a season played before limited crowds because of COVID-19.
The Las Vegas Raiders host the Baltimore Ravens in the first Monday night game.
The NFL also announced it will return to London in October for its first games in the city since the outbreak of the coronavirus. The Atlanta Falcons will play the New York Jets on Oct. 10, and the Jacksonville Jaguars face the Miami Dolphins a week later. The NFL says it is ready to return to London following a successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in Britain.
The full NFL schedule will be released Wednesday night.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-MILWAUKEE-BALDWIN JR
Top-five recruit Baldwin Jr. to play for father at Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Patrick Baldwin Jr., one of the nation’s top recruits in his class, says he will play college basketball for his father at Milwaukee.
The 6-foot-9 forward is rated as the nation’s No. 4 senior prospect according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. An ankle injury caused him to miss most of his senior season at Hamilton High School in Sussex, Wisconsin.
Baldwin chose the Horizon League program over Duke and Georgetown. He announced his decision Wednesday at a news conference at his high school. His decision is a victory for his father, who has posted a 47-70 record in four seasons as Milwaukee’s coach. The Panthers went 10-12 this past season and lost in the Horizon League Tournament semifinals.
NCAA-HOME RUN RECORD
Nevada’s Bosetti homers in NCAA-record 9th straight game
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s Tyler Bosetti has homered in nine consecutive games, breaking an NCAA Division I record that stood for 30 years.
Bosetti homered to right-center field in his first at-bat Tuesday against Arizona State. It was the 11th homer in 10 games for the senior third baseman, who was at a loss to explain the feat.
Georgia Tech’s Andy Bruce homered in eight straight games in 1991 and Duke’s Ryan Jackson matched the feat three years later.
