Category: Saturday Sports Slam

Keller has Rough Outing as Bucs Drop Finally of Series to Padres 8-3

Machado homers, Padres earn split with Pirates in 8-3 win
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Manny Machado hit his third home run of the season, Eric Hosmer added two hits and two RBIs and the San Diego Padres jumped on the Pittsburgh Pirates early in an 8-3 win. Machado took Mitch Keller (1-2) deep with a two-run shot down the left-field line during San Diego’s four-run first. Hosmer added a two-run single in the second. San Diego finished a seven-game eastern road trip 5-2. Keller struggled, giving up seven runs in 3 1/3 innings, a step back after pitching well in a victory over the Cubs last weekend.

Giroux, Couturier score in shootout as Flyers edge Pens

Giroux, Couturier score in shootout as Flyers edge Pens
By DAN SCIFO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier scored in the shootout and the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1. Giroux and Couturier were the lone shooters for Philadelphia, as Jake Guentzel scored for Pittsburgh, but Carter Hart stopped Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang to seal the win. Jakub Voracek scored his eighth of the season in regulation for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game skid. The Flyers won for just the ninth time in their past 25 games. Hart stopped 31 shots for his first win in eight starts.

Polanco hits early HR Spoils Musgrove’s return, Pirates beat Padres 5-1

Polanco hits early HR off Musgrove, Pirates beat Padres 5-1
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gregory Polanco homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres 5-1, beating Joe Musgrove in his first start since throwing the first no-hitter in franchise history. Polanco hit a solo shot into the right-field stands in the second inning. That ended a 32-inning scoreless streak by Musgrove that dated to last season when he was still with the Pirates. Musgrove allowed only one run in four innings but was lifted after his pitch count reached to 81. He threw 112 pitches in the no-hitter last Friday against Texas. Johnny Vander Meer remains the only pitcher in MLB history to pitch back-to-back no-hitters, performing the feat for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938.

Man accuses NFL’s Aaron Donald of assault at Pittsburgh club

Man accuses NFL’s Aaron Donald of assault at Pittsburgh club
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A lawyer is telling Pittsburgh police that Los Angeles Rams player Aaron Donald and others assaulted his 26-year-old client at a nightclub last weekend, causing multiple injuries. Attorney Todd Hollis said Wednesday that De’Vincent Spriggs required 16 stitches. Spriggs suffered a broken orbital bone in his head, a broken nose and a sprained or broken arm at a bar around 3 a.m. Sunday. Hollis says a misunderstanding that Spriggs bumped into Donald precipitated the alleged assault. Hollis released a photo that showed Spriggs with facial injuries and swelling. Donald played college football at the University of Pittsburgh. The Rams said they were looking into the matter.

Darvish dominates, Myers powers Padres past Pirates 6-2

Darvish dominates, Myers powers Padres past Pirates 6-2
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Yu Darvish allowed three hits over seven dominant innings, Wil Myers drove in five runs and the San Diego Padres extended their strong start with a 6-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Darvish struck out six and walked one in a crisp performance as the Padres won their fourth straight. The four-time All-Star was efficient in his first win with San Diego, throwing 95 pitches and permitting just one runner past second base. Myers hit a two-run homer in the sixth to put the Padres in front to stay. He added a two-run single in the seventh. Phil Evans had an RBI double but Pittsburgh’s modest two-game winning streak ended.

Kings trade Jeff Carter to Penguins for pair of draft picks

Kings trade Jeff Carter to Penguins for pair of draft picks
By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Kings traded forward Jeff Carter to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a pair of conditional draft picks. Kings vice president and general manager Rob Blake says the franchise will have a conditional third-round selection in the 2022 NHL draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2023 draft. Pittsburgh GM Ron Hextall spent seven seasons with the Kings as assistant general manager. That includes when they won their first Stanley Cup in 2012.

Matsuyama becomes first Japanese in Masters green jacket

Matsuyama becomes first Japanese in Masters green jacket
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama is the first Japanese player in a green jacket. The 29-year-old won the Masters despite a few nervous moments. He led by as many as six on the back nine. He was only two ahead going to the 16th hole. And then Xander Schauffele made it easy for him by hitting into the water and the gallery and making a triple bogey on the 16th hole. Matsuyama takes his place among the elite in golf. The victory comes 10 years after the Japanese star was low amateur in the Masters as a teenager.

Brubaker pitches, hits Pirates to 7-1 win over slumping Cubs

Brubaker pitches, hits Pirates to 7-1 win over slumping Cubs
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — JT Brubaker pitched into the sixth inning and had the first three RBIs of his career to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Chicago Cubs 7-1. Brubaker allowed one run and four hits in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and one walk. His two-run single down the right-field line capped a three-run second inning and gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead. Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds had the third four-hit game of his career. Trevor Williams  was hit hard in his return to Pittsburgh, where he spent the first five seasons of his career before being released in November.

Josh Berry gets 1st career Xfinity victory at Martinsville

Josh Berry gets 1st career Xfinity victory at Martinsville
By HANK KURZ Jr. AP Sports Writer
MARTINSVILLE, Va. (AP) — Josh Berry passed Ty Gibbs with 28 laps to go and pulled away for his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in a rain-delayed race at Martinsville Speedway. Berry gave himself enough cushion after getting by Gibbs to withstand challenges by Noah Gragson and Daniel Hemric. Berry was making just his 13th career start spread over five seasons and eight years. He became the second driver to gain his first victory at Martinsville, joining Brett Bodine, who did it in 1985. Gragson, Berry’s teammate, finished second.