MLB
All-Star Trevor Bauer helped the Cleveland Indians end the Pittsburgh Pirates' 11-game winning streak.
Bauer struck out 10 while limiting the Bucs to two hits over seven innings of the Indians' 4-0 shutout victory. Brad Hand fanned three of the four batters he faced for his 25th save of the season and first since being acquired from the Padres.
Edwin Encarnacion opened the scoring with a two-run single in the third inning. Yonder Alonso added a two-run homer in the eighth to help Cleveland salvage the finale of the three-game series.
Pittsburgh managed just three hits and wasted a good outing by Jameson Taillon, who allowed two runs over seven frames.
Checking out Wednesday's other major league action:
Kevin Kiermaier and C.J. Cron homered in the sixth inning as the Rays downed the Yankees, 3-2. Sergio Romo relieved in the eighth inning, shifted to third base when Jonny Venters replaced him in the ninth, then struck out Brett Gardner to end the game with two on. The Yankees are 5 ½ games behind the AL East-leading Red Sox. New York hosts the Royals Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
The Rockies celebrated a 3-2 win over the Astros following Charlie Blackmon's walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth. Jose Altuve's RBI double in the second inning was Houston's only hit off Jon Gray and the Colorado bullpen. Carlos Gonzalez also homered for the Rockies, who pulled within 1 ½ games of the NL West-leading Dodgers and trimmed the Astros' lead in the AL West to five games over the Mariners.
One day after erasing a 10-2 lead, the Athletics wiped out the Rangers' 5-1 lead in a 6-5 victory at Texas. Khris Davis provided the game-winning homer for the second straight night, a two-out, two-run blast in the ninth. Davis also hit a three-run blast in the seventh and had five RBIs as the Athletics won for the 26th time in their last 33 games.
Seattle is 27-13 in one-run games after Jean Segura supplied a tiebreaking, RBI single in the eighth inning of a 3-2 victory over the Giants. Segura had two RBIs and Ryon Healy homered as the Mariners gained a split of the two-game series. Winning pitcher Alex Colome worked the eighth inning and Edwin Diaz struck out the side in the ninth for his league-best 38th save in 41 chances.
Carlos Santana delivered a bases-loaded triple that capped the Phillies' five-run fifth in a 7-3 downing of the Dodgers. Scott Kingery and Rhys Hoskins hit solo homers to back Jake Arrieta, who gave up two earned runs and five hits over six innings. The outcome gives Philadelphia a 1 ½-game lead over Atlanta in the NL East.
Nick Ahmed's throwing error in the eighth inning allowed the Cubs to score the tiebreaking run in a 2-1 verdict over the Diamondbacks. Jon Lester bounced back from his worst start of the season by limiting Arizona to a run and four hits while striking out seven over six-plus innings. The loss keeps the DBacks a half-game behind the NL West-leading Dodgers.
The Cubs now lead the NL Central by 2 ½ games following the Brewers' 7-3 loss to the Nationals. Bryce Harper's three-run blast put Washington ahead 6-0 in the fifth inning. Juan Soto also homered, Daniel Murphy lined a two-run single and Tanner Roark struck out 11 over eight shutout innings for his first win in eight starts since June 6.
Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart hit two-run homers and Adam Duvall added a solo shot as the Reds whipped the Cardinals, 7-3. Barnhart finished with two RBIs and Scooter Gennett had three hits for Cincinnati, which took the rubber match of the three-game set. Paul DeJong and Yadier Molina hit solo shots in the Cardinals' eighth loss in 12 games.
Mitch Garver and Robbie Grossman delivered two-run doubles while the Twins exploded for six runs in the 11th inning of a 12-6 win at Toronto. Max Kepler was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in the tiebreaking run. The Twins won their third in a row to remain 7 ½ games behind the AL Central-leading Indians.
Mike Trout has 28 home runs this year after slamming two more to lead the Angels' 11-3 laugher against the White Sox. Trout was 3-for-4 with a solo shot, a three-run blast, four RBIs and three runs scored to highlight the Halos' 14-hit attack. Shohei Ohtani smacked a two-run homer and Albert Pujols added a solo shot to help Los Angeles win for just the second time in seven games.
Jose Iglesias smacked a three-run homer in a four-run fourth that was the difference in the Tigers' 8-4 win at Kansas City. Matthew Boyd entered the game 4-9 before holding the Royals to two runs over six innings. Mike Moustakas doubled home a run and had two hits what might have been his final home game for the Royals.
Jose Bautista belted a two-run homer to put the Mets ahead 6-2 in the sixth inning of a 6-4 victory over the Padres. Amed Rosario singled home a pair to cap New York's four-run fifth after San Diego carried a 2-0 lead into the inning. San Diego native Corey Oswalt allowed two runs and just three hits in five innings to pick up his first major league victory and help the Mets win a series for the first time in two months. The Mets head to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
The Red Sox were leading 5-0 in the second inning when their game with the Orioles was postponed by rain. The game will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Aug. 11. Boston hosts the Twins Thursday at 7:10 p.m.
Also in the majors:
Nathan Eovaldi is now part of the Red Sox's pitching staff. The AL East leaders have acquired the right-handed starter from the Rays for minor league lefty Jalen Beeks. Eovaldi underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2016 and had another elbow procedure last winter before making his season debut on May 30. He is 3-4 with a 4.26 ERA in 10 starts this year. Eovaldi can become a free agent after this season.
Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will undergo season-ending surgeries to remove calcifications in both of his heels. Cespedes is expected to have the first surgery this week, and Mets executive John Ricco says the second would take place in about two to three months. The Mets hope that the outfielder can return in eight to 10 months, though the recovery may take longer.
Pirates’ outfielder Starling Marte left Wednesday's game at Cleveland with a bruised left hand after being hit by a pitch in the first inning. A Pirates spokesman said the preliminary diagnosis was discomfort and Marte will be re-examined when the club returns home following the game. Marte's career-high hitting streak remained intact at 17 games because he did not have an at-bat or sacrifice fly.
Andre Ethier is retiring after a 12-year career spent entirely with the Dodgers. The two-time All-Star batted .285 with 162 homers and 687 RBIs in 1,455 games. His last major league at-bat was a pinch-hit RBI single in Game 7 of last year's World Series against the Astros.
NFL
The Buffalo Bills have signed rookie quarterback Josh Allen to a four-year contract one day before their training camp opens.
The seventh pick in this year's NFL draft is the team's heir-apparent under center after the Bills traded up five spots to select the Wyoming product. He spent all but the final week of the Bills spring minicamps serving as the third-string quarterback while free-agent addition A.J. McCarron and returning backup Nathan Peterman split time with the starters.
In other NFL news:
Julio Jones has agreed to report to Falcons training camp on time after accepting general manager Thomas Dimitroff's commitment to renegotiate his contract in 2019. The wide receiver pressed the Falcons to redo his deal — even though he still has three years remaining on a $71.3 million contract that included $47 million in guaranteed money. The Falcons balked at Jones' demands, which led to him skipping offseason workouts as well as a mandatory minicamp.
Cleveland has signed rookie cornerback Denzel Ward to a four-year, $29 million package. The fourth player taken in this year's draft is expected to start this season. His signing comes one day after the Browns inked first overall pick and former Oklahoma quarterback, Baker Mayfield.
Browns general manager John Dorsey says the club has discussed signing former Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant while they await the return of Josh Gordon. Bryant is a three-time Pro Bowler who was released by the Cowboys in April. Gordon is missing the start of training camp as part of his treatment to battle drug and alcohol addictions.
The Giants signed pass-rushing linebacker Connor Barwin as veterans reported to camp. While terms were not disclosed, the deal was believed to be worth $5 million over two years.
Rams safety Lamarcus Joyner will begin training camp on the non-football injury list. The club didn't disclose any details of the injury. Joyner made 49 tackles and returned one of his career-high nine interceptions for a touchdown.
Jets cornerback Rashard Robinson has been suspended for the first four games of the regular season by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Robinson was arrested and charged with drug possession and carelessly driving in Morris County, New Jersey, last December. Police accused Robinson of having marijuana-laced candy in his car.
Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones has doubled down on insisting that his players stand for the national anthem, saying he wouldn't support anyone who chose to stay in the locker room. Jones said, "Our policy is that you stand at the anthem, toe on the line." The league and the players' union agreed last week to suspend the rule approved by owners this spring that gave players the option of staying in the locker room while allowing teams to discipline players who took a knee or sat during the anthem.
NHL
The Vancouver Canucks and president of hockey operations Trevor Linden have "amicably" agreed to part ways.
The team says Linden is leaving the organization to "pursue different endeavors." Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini said on Twitter that general manager Jim Benning is slated to take over hockey operations.
In other NHL news:
The Wild have agreed to terms with left wing Jason Zucker on a five-year, $27.5 million contract. The 26-year-old had 33 goals and 31 assists in 82 games while leading the team with seven game-winning goals and 54 takeaways last season, all career highs.
Jarome Iginla will officially announce his NHL retirement Monday in Calgary.
The 41-year-old winger didn't play in the NHL this past season and finishes his career with 625 goals and 1,300 points over a 20-year career. Iginla led the Flames to the Stanley Cup final in 2004, when Calgary lost in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
HORSE RACING
Triple Crown winner Justify has been retired from racing because of fluid in his left front ankle.
Trainer Bob Baffert and Justify's owners said caution over the horse's ankle condition made it impossible to tell if he'd be healthy enough to race by the fall.
Baffert said Justify wasn't responding quickly enough to treatment to be able to race in the next few months, so the decision was made to retire him.
Justify won all six career starts, becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to capture the Kentucky Derby after not racing as a 2-year-old. He won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 13th Triple Crown winner.
GYMNASTICS
Larry Nassar's court-appointed appellate attorneys say the disgraced former sports doctor was assaulted within hours of being placed in the general population at the federal prison in Arizona.
The former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor is serving a 60-year sentence for child pornography possession. Nassar's attorneys partly blamed the May prison attack on the rhetoric of the judge during that sentencing hearing.
In motions filed Tuesday, Nassar's attorneys did not specify the nature or severity of the attack at the Tucson prison. The attorneys are seeking to have Nassar resentenced in the first of two cases in which he pleaded guilty to molesting women and girls who sought treatment.
TENNIS
Serena Williams has complained on social media that it's "test Serena" time again as she once more hit out at the frequency with which she is selected for anti-doping tests.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion took to Twitter on Tuesday night after she received another visit from a tester.
Williams tweeted: "Out of all the players it's been proven I'm the one getting tested the most." She added, "Discrimination? I think so. At least I'll be keeping the sport clean."
In a second message, the 36-year-old American added: "But I'm ready to do whatever it takes to have a clean sport so bring it on. I'm excited."
Williams has complained before at being drug-tested more than other American tennis players this year.
MARTIAL ARTS
Mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor is due in court amid plea negotiations to resolve charges stemming from a backstage melee at a New York City arena. The 30-year-old Irish fighter is expected to be joined Thursday in Brooklyn by his 25-year-old friend and co-defendant Cian Cowley. Video showed what appeared to be McGregor hurling a hand truck at a bus full of fighters after a news conference for the UFC 223 event at Brooklyn's Barclays Center in April.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The future of the Capital Region’s biggest men’s basketball rivalry is still in limbo.
UAlbany and Siena have played every fall since 2001. All but one of those games took place on Siena’s home court, the Times Union Center, which can hold more than 15,000. But UAlbany has been pushing to alternate sites. The Great Danes hosted the 2016 game in the smaller SEFCU Arena for the first time.
Division I programs have been releasing their schedules in recent days. It’s unclear if this non-conference matchup will continue. In an interview with WAMC, new Siena coach Jamion Christian says the Saints are leaving a slot open.
“We're in the Capital Region here and so we should play it at a place where everyone can enjoy it and everyone can see it. I believe that and our Siena fans believe that as well, and I stand firmly with them on that,” says Christian.
UAlbany coach Will Brown contends it’s only fair to take turns hosting.
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