Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Pirates Win Two Straight for First Time this Season

Offense breaks out as Pirates rip Brewers 12-5
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier and Jacob Stallings homered and drove in three runs apiece as the Pittsburgh Pirates slammed the Milwaukee Brewers 12-5. Struggling outfielder Gregory Polanco added a home run and a double for his first two-hit game in 15 months. Colin Moran doubled three times for Pittsburgh. Erik Gonzalez hit a two-run double in the seventh as the Pirates batted around against Milwaukee’s suddenly vulnerable bullpen. Pittsburgh’s nine extra-base hits were a season high and its run total matched the most surrendered by the Brewers this year.

Hamlin holds off JGR teammate Truex for 1st Dover victory

Hamlin holds off JGR teammate Truex for 1st Dover victory
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del (AP) — Denny Hamlin zipped past teammate Martin Truex Jr. with less than 10 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Hamlin matched Kevin Harvick for the season victory lead with six, matching his total from last season and closing within two of his career high set in 2010. Hamlin chased down Truex, his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, and held on in the first of two Cup races this weekend at Dover.  Hamlin won for the first time at Dover in 29 career races. He was told by crew chief Chris Gabehart to save the No. 11 Toyota from a burnout because the car is needed again Sunday.

Allgaier holds off Cindric to win Xfinity race at Dover

Allgaier holds off Cindric to win Xfinity race at Dover
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del (AP) — Justin Allgaier held of a streaking Austin Cindric to win his first Xfinity Series race of the season Saturday at Dover International Speedway. Cindric had been the driver to beat. He came into Dover with a staggering five wins in the last six races. Allgaier won a combined eight races from 2017-2019 but had gone 20 races since his last victory. His win earned him a spot in the Xfinity Series playoffs. Cindric was second for his seventh straight two-top finish.

Kuhl earns first win in 2 years as Pirates top Brewers 7-2

Kuhl earns first win in 2 years as Pirates top Brewers 7-2
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Kuhl allowed one run in five innings to pick up his first win in more than two years as the Pittsburgh Pirates rolled by the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2. Kuhl (1-1) gave up a long solo home run to Ben Gamel in the second but otherwise kept the Brewers at bay to pick up his first victory since June 15, 2018. Kuhl, who missed the second half of 2018 and all of 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, walked three and struck out just one as the Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak.

Brain games; Steelers want LB Bush to take mental leap

Brain games; Steelers want LB Bush to take mental leap
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers liked what they saw from inside linebacker Devin Bush in 2019. They believe they need to see him do more than just chase down opposing ballcarriers in Year 2. The Steelers are giving Bush more responsibility in terms of helping set up the defense between plays. Head coach Mike Tomlin says he wants to see Bush make “dramatic improvement” in terms of being a communicator. Bush led the team in tackles last season but says he is more comfortable with the defense now and feels the game is slowing down for him.

P.I.A.A. Board clears fall school sports to begin

Pennsylvania board clears fall school sports to begin
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press
The governing body for Pennsylvania interscholastic sports decided Friday to move forward with the fall season, rejecting the governor’s recommendation that all youth sports be postponed until 2021 to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The board of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association voted 25-5 to allow high school football, soccer, tennis, field hockey and other fall sports to go on as planned. The PIAA had delayed the start of fall sports by two weeks after Gov. Tom Wolf on Aug. 6 urged that scholastic and recreational youth sports be put off until January, citing the coronavirus pandemic. The PIAA has said it was blindsided and “tremendously disappointed” by the Wolf administration’s recommendation, which is not binding.

Bieber strikes out 11 as streaking Indians shut out Pirates

Bieber strikes out 11 as streaking Indians shut out Pirates
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Unbeaten Shane Bieber racked up 11 more strikeouts and combined with four relievers on a seven-hitter Thursday night as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 to win their sixth in a row and sweep the three-game series. The right-hander scattered six hits and did not walk a batter in six innings before being lifted after his pitch count reached 99. Beiber raised his season strikeout total to a major league-best 65 in 40 2/3 innings, an average of 14.4 per nine innings. Oliver Perez, Nick Wittgren, James Karinchak and Brad Hand finished the shutout.

Civale’s complete-game gem lifts Indians past Pirates 6-1

Civale’s complete-game gem lifts Indians past Pirates 6-1
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cleveland’s Aaron Civale struck out six and didn’t issue a walk while picking up the first complete game of his young career as the Indians pushed their winning streak to five with a 6-1 win over Pittsburgh. Civale allowed just five hits and narrowly missed a shutout when Pittsburgh pushed across a run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. Carlos Santana hit his second three-run home run in as many games for the Indians. Domingo Santana added a bases-clearing triple as the Indians improved to a season-best six games over .500.

Aliquippa School Board approves contracts for girls and boys Basketball Coaches

Story by Beaver County News Correspondent Sandy Giordano


(Aliquippa, Pa.) Girls basketball coach, Dwight “BO’  Lindsey’s  3 year contract was approved at last night’s meeting.  His salary is set at $4,500 per season.  Any season is subject to completion and further subject to pro-rated  of salary in the event of a shortened season.

Nick Lackovich head, boys basketball coach  will  earn $8,500 per season  and has the same stipulations in his contract as Lindsey’s . The 2 men   said they were very happy to receive the opportunity to coach  in their home district.

Collisions…or COVID-19? Pitt Relieved After Scare

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pitt football program is breathing a sigh of relief after dealing with a COVID-19 scare. Several players reported symptoms consistent with the novel coronavirus after the first day of padded practice. Head coach Pat Narduzzi ordered the affected players to contact the team’s trainer and canceled practice. The symptoms turned out to be a false alarm. The issues were the result of practicing, not COVID-19, and the Panthers returned to practice the following day after everyone involved tested negative. Narduzzi says he’s concerned about what happens when the university begins holding in-person classes later this month.