Finally pain-free, Roethlisberger ready to sling it

Finally pain-free, Roethlisberger ready to sling it
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says his surgically repaired right elbow feels better than it has in years. Roethlisberger missed most of the 2019 season after tearing three flexor tendons in his right elbow in Week 2 against Seattle. The 38-year-old says the elbow had been bothering him for quite some time but now he is able to throw pain-free. While the team is trying to keep Roethlisberger on a “pitch count” as he prepares for his 17th season, he’s taken on a heavier workload this camp than he has in previous years.

Bucs Sweep Double Header from Cards win Game Two 2-0

Pirates earn doubleheader sweep over Cardinals
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Erik Gonzalez and Adam Frazier singled in runs, rookie Cody Ponce earned his first big league victory and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 for a doubleheader sweep. Cole Tucker drove in the go-ahead run in extra innings in the Pirates’ 4-3 win in the opener. Ponce was used as a reliever in his first two appearances this season and made his first major league start. He went 5 2/3 innings, holding the Cardinals scoreless and scattering five hits. Nick Turley pitched the seventh to record his first save in the majors. Prior to this year, Turley hadn’t appeared in affiliated ball since 2017 due to elbow injuries.

Bucs take Game 1: Tucker sparks Pirates in 4-3 win over Cardinals

Tucker sparks Pirates in 4-3 win over Cardinals
By WARREN MAYES Associated Press
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cole Tucker drove in the go-ahead run and also scored in extra innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 in a doubleheader opener. The seven-inning game went to extras tied at one, and Tucker scored automatic runner Jarrod Dyson with a single off John Gant. Pittsburgh added two more runs with two outs on an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds and an error by third baseman Brad Miller. Chad Kuhl delivered six innings of one-run ball for Pittsburgh, Chris Stratton pitched a scoreless seventh and Richard Rodriguez allowed two runs but got his second save by pitching the eighth.

White Sox hit 4 more homers, rip Pirates 10-3

White Sox hit 4 more homers, rip Pirates 10-3
MATT CARLSON Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu hit his seventh homer in five games, Dallas Keuchel pitched six dominant innings, and the surging Chicago White Sox pounded the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-3 for their ninth win in 10 games. Abreu’s 12th home run was Chicago’s fourth of the game and broke it open. Eloy Jiménez, Danny Mendick and Edwin Encarnacion also homered for Chicago, which leads the AL with 60 home runs. Keuchel (5-2) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven in his third straight win. Trevor Williams (1-5) took the loss and Jacob Stallings had a two-run single and Erik González hit a solo homer for Pittsburgh.

Roethlisberger’s return makes Steelers major factor in 2020

Roethlisberger’s return makes Steelers major factor in 2020
By The Associated Press undefined
The Pittsburgh Steelers believe the return of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will put them in contention for a return to the postseason. The Steelers missed the playoffs for the second straight year in 2019 after Roethlisberger exited at halftime of Week 2 with a right elbow injury. Roethlisberger has drawn raves from teammates during training camp and says he’s as motivated as ever. The defense that nearly carried Pittsburgh to the playoffs while leading the league in sacks and turnovers remains largely intact, giving the Steelers optimism they can unseat defending AFC North champion Baltimore.

Watt’s Up; Steelers LB TJ Watt stepping into spotlight

Watt’s Up; Steelers LB TJ Watt stepping into spotlight
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker TJ Watt is stepping out of the shadow cast by older brother JJ. The youngest member of the Watt family in the NFL spent a portion of the offseason co-starring in commercials and TV shows with JJ and middle brother Derek. TJ Watt says he’s dipping his toe in celebrity following his second Pro Bowl selection in three seasons. Watt says it’s good for him to get out of his comfort zone but stresses he wants to be known as a football player first.

A no-fan no-hitter: Giolito gem leads White Sox over Pirates

A no-fan no-hitter: Giolito gem leads White Sox over Pirates
By SCOTT HELD Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Lucas Giolito pitched the first no-hitter of the pandemic-delayed major league season, striking out 13 and permitting just one runner in leading the Chicago White Sox over the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0. With the seats at Guaranteed Rate Field empty, the hollers of his teammates echoed around the ballpark after right fielder Adam Engel caught Erik Gonzalez’s slicing drive toward the line for the final out. An All-Star last year, the 26-year-old Giolito matched his career high for strikeouts set in his previous start against Detroit. Only a four-pitch walk to Gonzalez leading off the fourth inning got in Giolito’s way of perfection.

Harvick dominates at Dover for 7th Cup victory of the season

Harvick dominates at Dover for 7th Cup victory of the season
By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Kevin Harvick regained the NASCAR Cup Series victory lead with his seventh, dominating Sunday at Dover International Speedway. A day after Denny Hamlin opened with doubleheader weekend with his sixth win to match Harvick, the Stewart-Haas racing driver one-upped his closest rival to claim NASCAR’s regular-season title. Harvick has 56 career Cup victories to tied Kyle Busch for ninth on the career list. Harvick swept the stages in the No. 4 Ford and won for the third time in seven races. He gave Ford its 700th Cup victory. Martin Truex Jr. was second and Jimmie Johnson, Dover’s career winner with 11, was third. Johnson’s No. 48 team gambled on a late two-tire pit stop that gave the seven-time champion a late surge.

Bucs Win Third Straight, Polanco’s Late Homerun Lifts Pirates To Sweep of Brew Crew

Polanco’s home run lifts Pirates to sweep of Brewers
JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Slumping Gregory Polanco’s bat showed signs of life for a second straight day as his two-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers and a three-game series sweep. Polanco connected off David Phelps for his fourth homer of the season and finished 2 for 3 with a walk. It was Polanco’s second two-hit game in as many days, lifting his batting average from .085 to .151. The Pirates nearly doubled their season win total in one weekend. They entered the series with a 4-17 record, worst in the major leagues.

Takuma Sato wins his second Indianapolis 500

Takuma Sato has won his second Indianapolis 500 after Spencer Pigot crashed heavily exiting Turn 4, bringing out the caution with five laps remaining and forcing what had been a thrilling race to end under caution.

After dominating most of the race, Scott Dixon had been chasing Sato for about 15 laps and was starting to bite into a gap that had emerged in lapped traffic. But the race ended when Pigot spun into the outside wall, then crossed back across the track and slammed into the safety tires that guard the entrance to pit lane.

Pigot exited the car but was helped onto a stretcher. His car was left in pieces across the front stretch.

Dixon pulled up alongside Sato with Graham Rahal, his teammate, on the other side to finish third.