Category: Sports

Ford announces switch to Mustang beginning at Daytona in ’19

Ford announces switch to Mustang beginning at Daytona in ’19
By The Associated Press
Ford is bringing its Mustang to NASCAR’s top series for the first time.
The American automaker said Tuesday the Mustang will replace the Fusion in the Monster Energy Cup Series beginning next February at Daytona International Speedway. NASCAR team owner Roger Penkse slipped earlier this year, divulging that Ford would have a new body in 2019.
This will be Ford’s fourth Cup model in NASCAR’s modern era (since 1972), following the Thunderbird, the Taurus and the Fusion.
Mustang has competed in the second-tier Xfinity Series since 2011, winning championships in all but one season.
Mustang is still going through initial testing and will be formally submitted to NASCAR for approval this summer. A public unveiling of the finished product will follow.
Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports, says “we’re combining America’s favorite sports car with America’s top stock car racing series.” He adds that the “Mustang is a perfect fit for our racing heritage today and tomorrow.”
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More AP auto racing: www.racing.ap.org

Pirates pound the Rockies 10-2 to end two game slide!!!

Pirates avoid sweep, pound Rockies 10-2
By WILL GRAVES, AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sean Rodriguez hit a two-run home run that backed Chad Kuhl and helped the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 10-2 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.
Josh Bell drove in three runs and David Freese added a two-run double as Pittsburgh improved to 8-0 in day games. Adam Frazier had three of Pittsburgh’s 13 hits and backup catcher Elias Diaz added two hits.
Kyle Freeland (0-3) cruised through the first three innings but ran into trouble in the fourth. Freese worked a two-out walk off and Rodriguez followed with a shot that scraped over the wall in left field for his second home run of the season. Max Moroff added an RBI-double two batters later to put the Pirates up 3-1.
Freeland was pulled in favor of Scott Oberg after giving up singles to Adam Frazier and Jordy Mercer starting the fifth. Oberg couldn’t get out of the jam, surrendering an RBI single to Bell. Freese followed with a double to the gap in left-center.
Freeland was charged with five runs, six hits and two walks in four-plus innings.
Kuhl (2-1) surrendered Chris Iannetta’s solo home run in the third but otherwise kept Colorado’s struggling offense in check. Kuhl struck out four and walked three while giving up four hits. The NL Central-leading Pirates are the only team in the majors to have their starter work at least five innings in every game this season.
Colorado went 5-2 on a swing through Washington and Pittsburgh, thanks in large part to their pitching. The offense has struggled while third baseman Nolan Arenado served a five-game suspension for his role in a brawl with San Diego earlier this month.
Colorado entered last in the NL in batting (.215) and didn’t improve against Kuhl and two relievers.
The Rockies had just two extra base hits on Wednesday, or one more than newly acquired Pittsburgh reliever Enny Romero, who doubled in the eighth in his second big league at-bat. Romero also pitched two scoreless innings in his first appearance since being claimed off waivers from Washington last weekend.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: RF Carlos Gonzalez was replaced by Gerardo Parra in the fifth. There was no immediate word on why Gonzalez was removed. He made a sliding catch in a sinking liner by Pittsburgh’s Starling Marte leading off the bottom of the fourth.
Pirates: RHP Joe Musgrove is expected to throw 25-30 pitches during a bullpen session on Thursday as he works his way back from a strained right shoulder. If Musgrove gets through the session without an issues, he may throw another session over the weekend then do a simulated game before the team considers sending him out for rehab starts in the minors.
UP NEXT
Rockies: Begin a six-game homestand on Friday when the Chicago Cubs visit Coors Field. Jon Gray (1-3, 6.23 ERA) takes on Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 3.71).
Pirates: Head to Philadelphia for a four-game series with the Phillies starting Thursday. Jameson Taillon (2-0, 0.89) faces Jake Arrieta (1-0, 3.38).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

BREAKING: Wrestling Legend Bruno Sammartino Dies at 82

Considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, Bruno Sammartino died earlier today in Pittsburgh at the age of 82. Sammartino was one of the pioneer names in the Worldwide Wrestling Federation (now the WWE), and won multiple titles culminating into entering the WWE Hall of Fame in 2013. Sammartino had been a Pittsburgh resident since the 1960s.

Pro Sports Scores & Schedule: April 18, 2018

NHL

Tuesday’s Scores
Washington 3, Columbus 2 (2OT)
[Blue Jackets lead series 2-1]
Winnipeg 2, Minnesota 0
[Jets lead series 3-1]
Vegas 1, Los Angeles 0
[Golden Knights win series 4-0]

7:00pm
Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
[Penguins lead series 2-1]

7:30pm
Tampa Bay at New Jersey
[Lightning lead series 2-1]

10:00pm
Nashville at Colorado
[Predators lead series 2-1]

10:30pm
Anaheim at San Jose
[Sharks lead series 3-0]

MLB

Tuesday’s Scores
Colorado 2, Pittsburgh 0
Cleveland 6, Minnesota 1
Miami 9, NY Yankees 1
Toronto 11, Kansas City 3
Toronto 5, Kansas City 4 (F/10)
Detroit 4, Baltimore 2
Texas 7, Tampa Bay 2
Washington 5, NY Mets 2
Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 1 (F/10)
St. Louis 5, Chi. Cubs 3
Milwaukee 2, Cincinnati 0
Oakland 10, Chi. White Sox 2
Houston 4, Seattle 1
Arizona 1, San Francisco 0
Boston 10, LA Angels 1
LA Dodgers 7, San Diego 3 (F/12)

12:35pm
Colorado at Pittsburgh

1:10pm
Texas at Tampa Bay
Baltimore at Detroit

1:40pm
Cincinnati at Milwaukee

3:35pm
Chi. White Sox at Oakland

4:07pm
Kansas City at Toronto

7:00pm
Cleveland vs. Minnesota (at San Juan, PR)

7:10pm
Washington at NY Mets

7:35pm
Philadelphia at Atlanta

9:40pm
San Francisco at Arizona

10:07pm
Boston at LA Angels

10:10pm
LA Dodgers at San Diego
Houston at Seattle

PPD
St. Louis at Chi. Cubs

NBA

Tuesday’s Scores
Boston 120, Milwaukee 106
[Celtics lead series 2-0]
Toronto 130, Washington 119
[Raptors lead series 2-0]
New Orleans 111, Portland 102
[Pelicans lead series 2-0]

7:00pm
Indiana at Cleveland
[Pacers lead series 1-0]

8:00pm
Utah at Oklahoma City
[Thunder lead series 1-0]

9:30pm
Minnesota at Houston
[Rockets lead series 1-0]

Bucs drop 2nd straight losing 2-0 to the Rockies!!

Rockies’ Bettis, 3-relievers shut out Bucs at snowy PNC Park
By JOHN PERROTTO, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chad Bettis pitched into the eighth inning and combined with three relievers on a five-hitter, and the Colorado Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 on a snowy Tuesday night.
Bettis allowed five hits in 7 1/3 innings, striking out three and walking two. Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee got the ball to Wade Davis, who pitched a perfect ninth for his NL-leading eighth save.
The Rockies improved to 5-1 on their seven-game trip to Washington and Pittsburgh and are 9-4 on the road overall.
The announced attendance was 8,869, but there appeared to be fewer than 2,000 fans at PNC Park. The Pirates offered ticket vouchers for games later in the season to fans who came through the turnstiles.
Trevor Williams (3-1) pitched six innings in short sleeves despite the 34 degree temperature at first pitch. He gave up two runs on four hits and has allowed five runs total in four starts this season.
Bettis has pitched at least five innings and given up two runs or fewer in each of his four starts this season. He has a 1.47 ERA in his past six starts, including his final two outings of 2017.
The Rockies opened the scoring in the first inning when Gerardo Parra drew a one-out walk, advanced to third on Charlie Blackmon’s single and scored on Carlos Gonzalez’s forceout grounder. Blackmon has eight RBIs in his last four games.
Rookie Ryan McMahon, who entered hitting .074, singled in a run in the fourth to make it 2-0.
The Pirates did not get a runner past first base until Jordy Mercer led off the eighth inning with a double. After Mercer moved to third on pinch-hitter Adam Frazier’s groundout, Bettis was replaced by Shaw.
Sean Rodriguez bounced to McMahon, the third baseman, who threw out Mercer at home. McGee then came on and induced Gregory Polanco to hit an inning-ending pop out.
Mercer had two hits as the Pirates lost consecutive games for the first time this season.
Corey Dickerson popped out for the final out, ending his 11-game hitting streak.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: 2B Josh Harrison (broken left pinky) rejoined the team a day after being placed on the disabled list. Harrison has broken the same finger two seasons in a row when hit by pitches. “The odds of that have to be infinity-to-1,” Harrison said. … RHP Joe Musgrove (strained right shoulder) is scheduled to throw off the mound Thursday for the first time since going on the DL. He is scheduled to throw three bullpens before beginning a rehab assignment in the minor leagues.
UP NEXT
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-2, 4.50 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Chad Kuhl (1-1, 5.74) on Wednesday. Freeland is 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in two career starts. Kuhl has lost both career starts against Colorado with a 5.73 ERA.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Bucs’ Josh Harrison out six weeks!!!

Josh Harrison will be out approximately six weeks, the Pirates announced on Monday, after he was diagnosed with a fracture to the fifth metacarpal of his left hand.

Harrison was hit by a pitch on Sunday while leading off the third inning for the Pirates and left the game. Adam Frazier was inserted to pinch-run for Harrison. The Pirates won Sunday’s series finale, 7-3.

The Bucs’ second baseman was stung by a Jose Urena fastball clocked at 96 mph by Statcast.

“I’m pretty frustrated,” Harrison said after the game. “It definitely [stinks] being hit. Guys throw hard. I just wanted to take precautionary measures, ice it and get back to Pitt and see our doctors.

Pirates’ Harrison to undergo further evaluation on hand after being hit by pitch yesterday!!!

Pirates’ Harrison to undergo further evaluation on hand
MIAMI (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison will undergo further evaluation Monday after leaving their game at Miami when he was hit on the left hand by a 96-mph fastball from Jose Urena.
Tests are planned when the team returns home.
“I’ve got to get back to Pittsburgh to see the doctors,” Harrison said. “There’s a little bit of pain.”
The Pirates’ leadoff hitter, Harrison is batting .263 with one homer and five RBIs. He came into the game Sunday leading the team with 12 runs.
Harrison missed the final month of the 2017 season after being hit by a pitch on the same hand. He was hit 23 times last year to rank second in the majors.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Former Pittsburgh Steeler James Harrison Announces his retirement!!!

BREAKING NEWS:     Longtime Steelers linebacker James Harrison retires
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison is taking a second crack at retirement.
The five-time Pro Bowler and 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year announced on Instagram early Monday that he is stepping away from the game following a 15-year career.
Harrison, who turns 40 next month, posted a collage of pictures of his two sons and noted he’s “missed way too much for way too long … and I’m done.”
Harrison played nearly his entire career with the Steelers and the 84.5 sacks he collected while wearing black-and-gold are a franchise record. He spent the 2013 season in Cincinnati and signed with New England late last season, appearing in all three playoff games for the Patriots, including their Super Bowl loss to Philadelphia.
This is the second time Harrison has called it quits. He retired briefly in September 2014 only to be lured back to the Steelers. He remained productive into his late 30s, registering at least five sacks from 2014-16.
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Crosby scores goal, leads Penguins to 5-1 Game 3 over Flyers!!! Pens take 2-1 Series lead!!!

Crosby scores goal, leads Penguins to 5-1 Game 3 over Flyers
By DAN GELSTON, AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists and Matt Murray stopped 26 shots to help the Pittsburgh Penguins silence a raucous Philadelphia crowd and beat the Flyers 5-1 on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Two of the so-called fiercest rivals in the NHL have provided three lopsided games: Pittsburgh’s 7-0 win in Game 1 and Philadelphia’s 5-1 victory in Game 2 could about qualify as nail-bitters in this series.
Game 3 is Wednesday night in Philadelphia.
Crosby scored his fourth goal of the series in the first period, and Derick Brassard, Evgeni Malkin and Brian Dumoulin scored in the second to make it 4-0. Malkin and Dumoulin scored 5 seconds apart.
Justin Schultz made it 5-1 in the third on Pittsburgh’s third power-play goal of the game.
Brian Elliott, yanked in Game 1, had another rough outing and might need to borrow fellow Wells Fargo Center tenant Joel Embiid’s black mask to have a better look at the puck.
The Flyers haven’t won a playoff series since 2012 and pulled out all the theatrical stops in their return to the postseason after a one-year absence. Light-up bracelets flickered in the darkened arena and another packed house roared “Crosby sucks! Crosby sucks!”
Here’s the thing Philly fans haven’t realized, he really doesn’t — and especially not against the Flyers.
Crosby, who has 93 points in 63 career regular-season games against Philly, shut up the orange-and-black die-hards with a wraparound goal off a turnover midway through the first.
Crosby had a hat trick in Game 1 and the three-time Stanley Cup champion showed no sign of easing up.
Flyers fans even stuck photos of the hated Crosby inside the urinals throughout the arena that had to guarantee they were more on target with their shots than anyone on the home team’s roster.
The Flyers ran a video package full of bloody fights, big goals and memorable moments between the teams through the years with a “Bitter Rivals” caption. The Penguins could have just looked in their reflection from the 2016 and 2017 Cups and shrugged off the idea the Flyers are in their league.
Brassard scored on the power play just 2:48 into the second. Then came back-to-back stunning goals that put the icing on the urinal cake: Malkin scored on a one-timer and Dumoulin off the faceoff beat Elliott through the five-hole for a 4-0 lead. Crosby had both assists, naturally.
At that point, each team had 12 shots.
The Flyers, who played more like the team that lost 10 straight games over November-December, had no shot at pulling off the comeback. Travis Sanheim scored late in the third for the Flyers’ lone goal.
Notes: Flyers great Bobby Clarke was at the game. So was former Flyers captain Peter Forsberg. … Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons was in the house. The Sixers have won 17 straight games. Fans started chanting “Trust the Process!” as the game turned into a rout. … Philadelphia’s 22 wins at home during the regular season were the fewest of any team in the NHL playoffs.
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More NHL hockey: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey

Larson leads at Bristol; race postponed to Monday

Larson leads at Bristol; race postponed to Monday
By STEVE REED, AP Sports Writer
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Kyle Larson will have to wait another day to try to capture his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season.
The race at Bristol Motor Speedway was postponed until Monday because of heavy rain with Larson out in front. Racing was halted three times Sunday due to wet weather.
Action is scheduled to resume Monday at 1 p.m.
Larson led 74 laps when the race was halted on lap 204, just 46 laps from it becoming official. NASCAR hopes to complete all remaining 296 laps, although the forecast calls for more rain and possibly snow.
Larson seemed to have found his groove on the track before the third and final red flag came out. NASCAR waited about an hour before officially postponing the race with a forecast of steady rain for the remainder of Sunday night.
“It’s hard to get a rhythm with all the rain and stuff and then getting out of your car and getting back in,” Larson said.
Larson liked the speed of his car, but said the track was slick.
“There is only a little line there on the bottom that has got some grip,” said Larson, who normally likes to run on the high side of the Bristol track. “If you get out of it, it’s slick. If you get below it, it’s slick. So, it’s been fun, but it’s kind of hard to guess where you need to position your car there for a little while.”
Some drivers won’t have to worry about coming back Monday.
Ryan Blaney was dominant early in the No. 12 Ford, leading 99 laps of the first 119 laps before getting caught up in wreck that left his car in shambles.
It happened on turn three when Chris Buescher and Trevor Bayne, who were fighting to stay on the lead lap, got tangled up in front of Blaney, leaving him nowhere to maneuver.
His car was taken behind the wall, ending his day.
“By the time I got away from the car right in front of me they were already turned right up the race track and I was already going to the top,” of the track,” Blaney said. “I kind of saw them spinning low and I thought that top was going to be OK and then they slid back up and got us. That stinks. I thought we had a good car and nothing to show for it.”
Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher, Harrison Rhodes and Ross Chastain also are out of the race.
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More AP auto racing: https://racing.ap.org