Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead. Lose Fifth Straight Game

Cruz’s walk-off single lifts Twins past Pirates 5-4
By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Nelson Cruz’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Minnesota Twins a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates for their fourth straight win. Cruz knocked in two runs to raise his season total to 14 RBIs. He drove a pitch from Pirates reliever and former Twins draft pick Nick Burdi over the head of center fielder Cole Tucker with runners at second and third and one out to knock in Jorge Polanco. The Pirates have lost five straight games.

Keselowski lands extension with Penske after 3rd victory

Keselowski lands extension with Penske after 3rd victory
By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Brad Keselowski finally got a contract extension from Team Penske. It was announced a day after NASCAR’s 2012 champion won his third race of the season. Keselowski has been open in his desire to remain with the organization where he gave Roger Penske his first NASCAR championship. The 10-week shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic prolonged extension talks. Terms were not released but a person with familiarity of the contract said the extension is for 2021. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team did not disclose details. Keselowski’s deal was announced as NASCAR prepares to race twice this weekend at Michigan International Speedway, his home track.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson tests positive for COVID-19

Eagles coach Doug Pederson tests positive for COVID-19
By ROB MAADDI AP Pro Football Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson has tested positive for COVID-19. The Eagles released a statement Sunday night saying Pederson hasn’t experienced any symptoms, is feeling well and under self-quarantine. The team also said any person who was in close contact with Pederson has been notified and will be tested daily. Per NFL protocols, Pederson must wait at least five days and have consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart during that five-day span before he can return to the team’s practice facility.  arch.

Bucs Get Swept by the Cubs

Báez’s single in 11th gives Cubs 2-1 win over Pirates
By JOHN JACKSON Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Javier Báez singled through a drawn-in infield in the bottom of the 11th, scoring David Bote from third base and giving the Chicago Cubs a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bote, who made the last out in the 10th, started the inning on second base as mandated by Major League Baseball’s extra-inning rule for the pandemic-shortened season. He advanced to third on a deep fly to right by Anthony Rizzo and jogged home on Baez’s first career game-ending hit against Cody Ponce. Jeremy Jeffress worked a scoreless 11th for the win. The game was delayed 64 minutes by rain before the bottom of the ninth.

Keselowski wins in New Hampshire for 3d win since shutdown

Keselowski wins in New Hampshire for 3d win since shutdown
By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer
LOUDON, N.H. (AP) — Brad Keselowski won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway for his third victory of the NASCAR season and the 33rd win of his career. Keselowski swapped stage wins with Denny Hamlin and took the checkered flag 1.647 seconds ahead of Hamlin on Sunday. After the victory, Keselowski grabbed a U.S. flag and spun his car around in front of a masked and socially distanced crowd of several thousand. Martin Truex Jr. was third after working his way back from the rear of the field because of a penalty for a runaway tire in the pits. Joey Logano was fourth and Kevin Harvick was fifth.

Darvish shines as Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3

Darvish shines as Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates 6-3
By JAY COHEN AP Sports Writer
CHICAGO (AP) — Yu Darvish pitched six shutout innings and Jason Heyward drove in two runs, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Darvish allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked one, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in his first start last weekend against Milwaukee. The Cubs are counting on the Japanese right-hander to help anchor their rotation after he finished strong last year. Chicago also got a solo home run from Jason Kipnis in its fourth win in five games. Jarrod Dyson had an RBI single for Pittsburgh.

Antonio Brown suspended 8 games by NFL

Antonio Brown suspended 8 games by NFL
NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has suspended wide receiver Antonio Brown for the first eight regular-season games of the 2020 season. Brown does not have a contract with any team. He was suspended Friday under the league’s personal conduct policy. Brown played one game last season for the Patriots before being released. He can be signed by any team and would be eligible to participate in all of his club’s preseason activities. The suspension would take effect when teams make their final cuts on Sept. 5.

Heartbreak of lost football season felt across Division III

Heartbreak of lost football season felt across Division III
By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer
The coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation or postponement of more than 1,800 football games across all three NCAA divisions. More than 1,000 of those are in Division III. Emmett Forde is a star linebacker at Hobart College in Geneva, New York. If the season is not played in the spring, Forde and other seniors in Division III will have to decide if they can afford to return for a fifth season. There are no athletic scholarships in Division III. The full price to attend Hobart is $72,000 a year.

Woodruff dominates as Brewers silence punchless Pirates 3-0

Woodruff dominates as Brewers silence punchless Pirates 3-0
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff allowed one hit and struck out 10 while working into the seventh inning as the Brewers beat the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates 3-0. Woodruff retired 19 of 21 batters, including 17 straight at one point. Ben Gamel hit a two-run home run for the Brewers and Keston Hiura added a solo shot. Phil Evans’ infield single in the first served as Pittsburgh’s lone hit. The Pirates are hitting a major-league worst .171 as a team. Relievers David Phelps, Devin Williams and Josh Hader finished the one-hitter for the Brewers.

Frazier hits go-ahead homer in 8th, Pirates edge Brewers 8-6

Frazier hits go-ahead homer in 8th, Pirates edge Brewers 8-6
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 8-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. A day after blowing a four-run lead in the ninth in what became an 11-inning loss, Pittsburgh delivered a bit of payback thanks to a shaky performance by the Milwaukee bullpen. Cole Tucker went 2 for 4 for the Pirates.