Category: Sports

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.

Healthy Penguins wary of upstart Canadiens as playoffs begin

Healthy Penguins wary of upstart Canadiens as playoffs begin
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
The Pittsburgh Penguins are healthy but wary heading into a playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens were the last team to qualify for the play-in tournament and feature a roster that’s long on youth and short on experience. Pittsburgh will have All-Star forward Jake Guentzel back after undergoing shoulder surgery on New Year’s Eve. The Penguins also have depth in goal with two-time Stanley Cup winner Matt Murray and All-Star Tristan Jarry. Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby is also expected to play after missing time during training camp with an undisclosed injury.

Steelers sign RB Wendell Smallwood to 1-year deal

Steelers sign RB Wendell Smallwood to 1-year deal
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed running back Wendell Smallwood to a one-year deal, giving the backfield a bit of experienced depth heading into training camp. Smallwood joins a group that includes James Conner, Benny Snell Jr., Jaylen Samuels and rookie Anthony McFarland. The 26-year-old Smallwood played for Philadelphia for 2016-18 after being taken in the fifth round of the 2016 draft out of West Virginia. His rookie season included running for 79 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. His rushing total in that game remains a career high.

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name

Indianapolis Indians minor league team to discuss name
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Indians baseball team say they will form a committee to consider changing the team’s longtime name. Team officials say the name is derived from Indiana, which translates to “land of the Indians,” and the city name, which translates to “city of Indians.” It has been used since 1902. The team is the Triple A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is the most recent sports franchise with a Native American name to consider a change amid criticism that the names are insensitive or racist.

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend
By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball has temporarily suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday because of their worsening coronavirus outbreak. And the three remaining games in this week’s New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies series also were postponed because of virus worries. In a statement Tuesday, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and plan for a resumption of play early next week. The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games through Thursday were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

Bucs Blow Four Run Lead in the Ninth. Lose in 11 Innings

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Eric Sogard doubled home Brock Holt in the 11th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied for a rain-delayed 6-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Brewers trailed by four entering the ninth but took advantage of another shaky performance by the Pittsburgh bullpen to force extra innings. Ryan Braun’s two-out, two-run double off Kyle Crick drew Milwaukee even. Sogard led off the 11th with a liner down the left-field line, allowing Holt to score easily from second as the automatic runner. Colin Moran hit two home runs for the Pirates.