IndyCar:
IndyCar driver Justin Wilson has died at 37 from a head injury suffered when a piece of debris from another car struck him during Sunday's race at Pocono Raceway. Wilson's vehicle veered into an interior wall at the track, and he was swiftly taken by helicopter to a hospital. Wilson is the first IndyCar driver to die because of an on-track accident since Indianapolis 500 champion Dan Wheldon in the 2011 season finale at Las Vegas.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees edged Houston 1-0 to move into a tie for first in the AL East, Boston topped the White Sox 5-4, Oakland bested Seattle 11-5, and it was Kansas City over Baltimore 8-3.
In the National League, the New York Mets lead the NL East by 5 ½ games over Washington after David Wright hit the first of their team-record eight home runs in a 16-7 comeback win at Philadelphia. Wright went deep in his first at-bat since missing four months with a back injury. Wilmer Flores homered twice and had five RBIs for the Mets, who trailed 7-2 heading into the fourth inning. Meanwhile Pittsburgh beat Miami 5-2, Atlanta won against Colorado 5-3, and it was St. Louis over Arizona 5-3.
In interleague play, the Cubs slid past Cleveland 2-1, and it was Cincinnati over Detroit 12-5.
NFL:
In preseason football, Tampa Bay trumped Cincinnati 25-11.
New England Patriots players are looking forward to having veteran wide receiver and former rival Reggie Wayne on their team. There has not been an official announcement from the Pats, but coach Bill Belichick says, "I think we've agreed. I've had several (conversations) with him. We'll see how it goes." Belichick made the comments yesterday on his weekly appearance on WEEI in Boston.
The New York Jets have signed rookie tight end Matt LaCosse, and waived injured rookie defensive lineman Davon Walls. The New York Giants signed the 6-foot-6, 240-pound LaCosse as an undrafted free agent in May and waived him this month. The Jets signed Walls in May as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse. He hurt a calf during the team's practice at Hofstra University on Sunday night.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Nelson, one of the top targets for NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, was injured Sunday in a preseason loss at Pittsburgh. The team said Monday only that he suffered a "significant right knee injury" that would cost him the season. Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said the team had hoped for good news in a re-evaluation of Nelson's injury. Instead, the Packers will be without a playmaker who set career highs in receptions (98) and yards receiving (1,519) in 2014.
Boston:
Public health officials and anti-tobacco activists are throwing their support behind Boston Mayor Marty Walsh's plan to ban chewing tobacco, snuff and dip from city ballparks, including historic Fenway Park. More than a dozen experts representing hospitals, health care organizations and tobacco prevention groups testified yesterday at a City Council committee hearing. All spoke in favor of the proposal.
Tennis:
Agnieszka Radwanska breezed into the second round of the Connecticut Open with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over American CoCo Vandeweghe yesterday at Connecticut Tennis Center. The Krakow, Poland native needed only 65 minutes to set up a second-round meeting with France's Aliza Cornet, who advanced with a three-set win against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.
NCAA:
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook has been found not guilty of punching a woman. The seven-member jury delivered its verdict after a one-day trial that included the testimony of the alleged victim, one of her friends and several of Cook's teammates. The victim testified that he also said he would be able to buy her in a couple of years once he went pro. Cook had been charged with misdemeanor battery. The school immediately reinstated Cook following the verdict.
NBA:
A person familiar with the situation says forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has agreed to a four-year, $52 million contract extension with the Charlotte Hornets. Kidd-Gilchrist increased his offensive output last season and averaged a career-high 10.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 55 games. He was the second player taken in the 2012 NBA draft.
