New father Reynolds homers as Pirates top Cubs 6-2

New father Reynolds homers as Pirates top Cubs 6-2
PITTSBURGH (AP) — First-time father Bryan Reynolds hit a three-run homer in his return from paternity leave to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago Cubs 6-2. Reynolds, who along with wife Blair welcomed son Reese on Monday, sent a drive off Alec Mills into the seats in right field in the third inning for his third home run of the season to help Pittsburgh snap a four-game losing streak. Reynolds also doubled leading off the second and celebrated by pretending to rock a baby to sleep.

Baez and Hendricks lead Cubs over Pirates.

Baez and Hendricks lead Cubs over Pirates.
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Javier Baez hit a three-run home run and Kyle Hendricks pitched one-run ball over six innings to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Baez connected in the fourth inning to put Chicago in front 3-1. The blast carried 443 feet to the back set of bleachers in left-center field and came one pitch after Nick Tropeano relieved starter Joe Musgrove. Hendricks (4-4) scattered six hits to go with six strikeouts and two walks. He had been winless in his previous three starts.

Happ spoils Hayes’ debut, leads Cubs past Pirates 8-7

Happ spoils Hayes’ debut, leads Cubs past Pirates 8-7
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ singled home Nico Hoerner in the top of the 11th to lead the Chicago Cubs to an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Happ, who led off the game with a home run, went 3 for 6 with two RBIs as Chicago spoiled the major league debut of Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Hayes, the son of longtime major league infielder Charlie Hayes, hit a game-tying home run in the eighth and added an RBI double. Kris Bryant added two hits for the Cubs in his return from the injured list.

Pitt to rely on dominant defense to gain traction in ACC

Pitt to rely on dominant defense to gain traction in ACC
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Panthers are still eyeing respect coming off their third eight-win season of head coach Pat Narduzzi’s five-year tenure. Even though Pitt returns most of the starters on a defense that was among the best in the country last season, the Panthers failed to receive a single vote in the preseason poll. Narduzzi says he hopes the lack of recognition puts a chip on his players’ shoulders. If Pitt wants to take another step toward the top of the ACC, the offense will need to make significant progress after finishing near the bottom of the country in scoring in 2019.

No Contract Extension For Dupree Heading Into 2020 Steelers Season

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree is betting on himself once again. Dupree and the Steelers failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension during the offseason, meaning Dupree will likely become a free agent next spring. The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Dupree in March after he had a career-high 11 1/2 sacks in 2019. Dupree says he’s eager to prove his production last season wasn’t a fluke. He added that it’s “bittersweet” that his time with the Steelers is nearing an end but remains confident he will find the right landing spot in 2021.

Arcia’s pinch hit in 8th lifts Brewers over Pirates 6-5

Arcia’s pinch hit in 8th lifts Brewers over Pirates 6-5
By RICH ROVITO Associated Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Orlando Arcia’s pinch-hit single with two outs in the eighth inning drove in the tiebreaking run as the Milwaukee Brewers slipped past the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Monday night. Ben Gamel led off the eighth with a double and scored on Arcia’s hit as the Brewers took three of four in the series. Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save in his first appearance since walking five of the six batters he faced while trying to close out Saturday night’s game. Hader has yet to give up a hit this season.

NFL reveals more in-game social and racial justice plans

NFL reveals more in-game social and racial justice plans
NEW YORK (AP) — NFL end zones will be inscribed this season with two slogans: “It Takes All Of Us” on one end line, “End Racism” on the other. As part of its social justice awareness initiatives, the NFL also will allow similar visuals on helmets and caps. Previously announced were decals on the back of helmets, or patches on team caps, displaying names or phrases to honor victims of racism and/or police brutality. Now, a T-shirt designed by NFL Players Association executive committee member Michael Thomas, a safety with the Houston Texans, can be worn in warmups.

Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78

Coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown dead at 78
By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) — The college basketball coaching great John Thompson of Georgetown has died. His death was announced in a family statement Monday. No details were disclosed. Thompson was an imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship. One of the most celebrated and polarizing figures in his sport, Thompson took over a moribund Georgetown program in the 1970s and molded it into a perennial contender, culminating with a national title team anchored by Patrick Ewing in 1984. At 6-foot-10, with an ever-present white towel slung over his shoulder, Thompson literally and figuratively towered over the Hoyas for decades. He quit coaching in 1999. John Thompson was 78.

Bell, Polanco homer off Woodruff as Pirates beat Brewers 5-1

Bell, Polanco homer off Woodruff as Pirates beat Brewers 5-1
By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco homered off Brandon Woodruff and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1. Bell broke a 1-all tie in the fourth with a towering, two-run blast that hit an SUV parked well above the wall in right-center as part of a promotion. The Pirates stayed in front the rest of the way to hand Woodruff a rare loss at Miller Park. The right-hander entered Sunday having gone 10-0 with a 2.89 ERA in 16 home starts over the past two seasons. He struck out seven but allowed four runs, four hits and three walks in five innings.

Byron wins to reach Cup Series playoffs, knocks out Johnson

Byron wins to reach Cup Series playoffs, knocks out Johnson
By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — William Byron snaked his way through a smoky crash late Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway and narrowly avoided another melee a few laps later. Those moves got him to victory lane for the first time in his young NASCAR Cup Series career and back in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. They also helped knock out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson, a seven-time series champion whose final season won’t end with another title. Byron won in overtime and locked up one of the three postseason berths available going into the finale. Clint Bowyer and Matt DiBenedetto secured the other two.