MLB
The St. Louis Cardinals are within 2 ½ games of first place in the NL Central following their win at Los Angeles and the Chicago Cubs' loss at Detroit.
Yadier Molina and Marcell Ozuna belted two-run homers as the Cardinals dumped the Dodgers, 5-2. Molina broke a 1-1 deadlock with a third-inning blast in the Redbirds' second straight win over the Dodgers and 12th in their last 14 games.
Manny Machado homered for the Dodgers, who have dropped eight of 11 to fall 3 ½ games off the NL West lead.
In Motown, Jordan Zimmermann scattered seven hits over six innings as the Tigers downed the Cubs, 2-1. Zimmermann blanked Chicago until Anthony Rizzo homered in the sixth.
Victor Martinez singled home a run to put the Tigers ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first. It came off Kyle Hendricks, who was saddled with the Cubs' third straight loss.
The Brewers remain three games behind the Cubs after Scooter Gennett belted a tiebreaking, solo homer in the ninth inning of the Reds' 9-7 victory at Milwaukee. Gennett had three RBIs and helped Cincinnati overcome an early 4-0 deficit. Travis Shaw and Jonathan Schoop homered for the Brewers, who allowed five unearned runs with Junior Guerra on the mound.
Checking out the rest of Tuesday's major league action:
Kevin Gausman and Dansby Swanson were the stars as the Braves whipped the Pirates, 6-1. Gausman allowed four hits over eight shutout innings, leaving him 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in four starts since joining Atlanta from Baltimore. Swanson belted a pair of two-run homers as the Braves won their second straight since being swept in a four-game series with Colorado.
Atlanta has a two-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East after the Phillies blew a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning of a 10-4 loss at Washington. Andrew Stevenson hit his first big league homer and Wilmer Difo added a solo shot during the Nationals' five-run sixth. Ryan Zimmerman also homered and Matt Wieters had three RBIs as the Nationals moved back to .500.
Jon Jay scored the winning run on a throwing error by Cam Bedrosian in the bottom of the ninth to give the Diamondbacks a 4-3 win against the Angels. Jay was hit by a pitch to start the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice before Bedrosian threw away A.J. Pollock's bunt attempt. David Peralta drove in three runs and came a triple short of the cycle as the Diamondbacks increased their lead in the NL West to 1 ½ games over Colorado.
Austin Hedges provided the tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning of the Padres' 4-3 win over the Rockies. Eric Hosmer banged out a two-run homer and the San Diego bullpen gave up just two hits over four shutout innings. Chris Ianetta homered for the Rockies, whose four-game winning streak ended.
Khris Davis has a share of the major league home run lead after blasting his 38th in the Athletics' 6-0 shutout of the Rangers. Davis had three RBIs and Brett Anderson pitched a one-hitter over seven innings of Oakland's 15th victory in 19 games. Jed Lowrie and Nick Martini each had two hits and an RBI as the A's stayed tied with Houston for first place in the AL West.
he Astros beat the Mariners for the first time in six tries as Josh Reddick's fourth-inning homer put Houston ahead to stay in a 3-2 verdict over Seattle. Yuli Gurriel added an RBI single in the sixth for a two-run lead. Lefty Framber Valdez won his big league debut by yielding just two hits and an unearned run over 4 1/3 innings of relief.
Cleveland beat Boston for the second straight night as Shane Bieber pitched into the seventh inning and Melky Cabrera homered for the third consecutive game in a 6-3 victory over the Red Sox. Bieber had a shutout until Xander Bogaerts hit an RBI double in the Bosox's three-run seventh. Yan Gomes also homered and Greg Allen ran his career-high hitting streak to 14 games by going 2-for-3 with an RBI double. The series continues Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.
The Yankees are within eight games of the AL East-leading Red Sox after Kyle Higashioka singled and scored on Miguel Andujar's sacrifice fly in the 12th inning of New York's 2-1 win at Miami. Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-6 with three strikeouts in his return to Miami. A.J. Cole worked an inning of relief to get the win as the Yankees' bullpen tossed six scoreless frames. Game 2 is Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.
Blake Snell is 15-5 with a 2.07 ERA after tossing four-hit ball over six innings of the Rays' 4-1 win against the Royals. Snell struck out 11 and didn't allow a run until Ryan O'Hearn homered in the fifth. Joey Wendle laced a two-run triple, Willy Adames homered and Tommy Pham was 3-for-4 with an RBI double.
Eddie Rosario supplied a tiebreaking, RBI single in a three-run ninth that lifted the Twins over the White Sox, 5-2. Jorge Polanco added a two-run single to add insurance as Minnesota stayed 13 games behind the AL Central-leading Indians. Chicago prospect Michael Kopech made his big league debut and tossed two innings before a 52-minute rain delay led to his departure.
Jeff McNeil doubled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and Michael Conforto added a three-run homer as the Mets rallied past the Giants, 6-3. Conforto had four RBIs for New York, which trailed 2-0 in the seventh before winning for the third time in four games. McNeill was 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Game three of four is Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.
Homers by Justin Smoak, Billy McKinney, Aledmys Diaz and Kendrys Morales powered the Blue Jays' 8-2 rout of the Orioles. Smoak, Morales and McKinney homered in the fifth to cap the scoring. McKinney had three RBIs to back Sam Gaviglio, who held Baltimore to two runs over seven innings.
In other MLB news:
The Washington Nationals were expected to raise a National League East championship banner and challenge for a World Series berth. Instead, they have raised a white flag with six weeks remaining in the season. The Nationals have pared down its payroll by shipping second baseman Daniel Murphy to the Cubs and first baseman Matt Adams to the Cardinals. The moves came with the team 62-63 and 7 ½ games out of first place. Murphy is hitting .300 since his return from knee surgery, and Adams has 18 home runs in 94 games this season. Washington received little in return for the two players. The Cubs send Class A infielder Andruw Monasterio and a player to be named or cash to Washington. The Nationals get just $50,000 from the Cards.
Marlins right-hander Jose Urena has dropped his appeal of a six-game suspension for intentionally hitting Atlanta rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. with a pitch. He nailed Acuna on the left arm with his first pitch, triggering a melee in Wednesday's 5-2 loss to the Braves in Atlanta. The decision to begin his suspension Tuesday comes two days after he pitched his first career complete game against the Nationals.
The Cubs say pitcher Yu Darvish will miss the rest of the season after pitching just one inning in a rehab start for Class A South Bend on Sunday. Darvish is on the 60-day disabled list with right triceps tendinitis after going 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts. Chicago signed the Japanese right-hander signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the Cubs in February.
New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman left Tuesday's 2-1 win in the 12th inning with pain in his left knee. Yankees Manager Aaron Boone told ESPN "Same spot as he felt before, so we just got him out of there," and said testing will be completed on Wednesday." New York as also placed shortstop Didi Gregorius on the 10-day disabled list with a bruised left heel. Gregorius was hurt in a collision Sunday at first base during a 10-2 romp over Toronto. He's batting .270 with 22 home runs and 74 RBIs, and has 48 extra-base hits this season.
White Sox manager Rick Renteria has been released from a Minnesota hospital after undergoing tests following an episode of lightheadedness. The 56-year-old Renteria was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center before Monday night's 8-5 victory over the Twins. The team says Renteria will return to Chicago on Wednesday and undergo further testing at Rush University Medical Center.
NFL
Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith has been suspended for four games without pay for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
The punishment comes after the league uncovered evidence of threatening and emotionally abusive behavior toward a former girlfriend.
The 30-year-old Smith played in 12 games last season before an Achilles tendon injury forced him to miss the team's final four games. While injured, he served a four-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing policy.
In other NFL news:
Authorities say former NFL offensive lineman Richie Incognito has been arrested in Arizona on charges he threatened to shoot employees of a funeral home. Scottsdale police say Incognito is being held on suspicion of misdemeanor charges of threats and disorderly conduct. Police say Incognito was at the funeral home Monday to make arrangements for his father, who died last weekend.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera says rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore was "chastised" after the first-round draft pick from Maryland was cited for driving approximately 113 mph in a work zone in Interstate 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The speed limit is 65 mph in the construction zone.
The Titans have agreed to a contract extension with wide receiver Rishard Matthews through next season. Matthews spent the first four seasons of his career with Miami, but has had his best seasons since joining the Titans in 2016.
Panthers left tackle Matt Kalil has undergone arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and will be re-evaluated on a weekly basis. Kalil becomes Carolina's third starting offensive lineman — and the second tackle — to go down with a knee injury.
Former Giants receiver Victor Cruz has retired and says he plans to join ESPN as an NFL analyst. Cruz was a seven-year veteran and a 2012 Pro Bowl selection after joining the Giants as an undrafted free agent. Cruz had 303 catches for 4,549 yards and 25 touchdowns, including an NFL record-tying 99-yard reception in December 2011.
T25
Heisman Trophy runner-up Bryce Love of Stanford and Outland Trophy winner Ed Oliver of Houston highlight The Associated Press preseason All-America team.
The team announced Tuesday also features West Virginia quarterback Will Grier and his teammate, receiver David Sills V.
Love, Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell, Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards and Utah kicker Matt Gay were the only players who made first team All-American after last season and first team to start this season. Love ran for 2,118 yards and 8.05 per carry last season and was second to Baker Mayfield in the Heisman Trophy voting.
In other college football news:
Authorities in Dallas say LSU offensive lineman Ed Ingram was arrested on sexual assault charges on Aug. 2. The alleged incident occurred around the time the projected starter was suspended from the Tigers' football program for an unspecified violation of team rules. Sheriff's spokesman Raul Reyna says deputies were acting on an outstanding DeSoto Police Department warrant alleging two counts of aggravated sexual assault when they arrested the 19-year-old Ingram in Texas.
NHL
Ottawa Senators assistant general manager Randy Lee has resigned amid charges of harassment stemming from an incident at the NHL scouting combine in May.
Lee is accused of making lewd comments and rubbing the shoulders of a 19-year-old male shuttle driver at the combine in Buffalo, New York. He pleaded not guilty.
The 56-year-old was scheduled to appear in court in Buffalo on Wednesday to argue motions, but that was pushed back to Sept. 13.
TENNIS
The U.S. Tennis Association has seeded Serena Williams No. 17 for the U.S. Open, nine spots higher than her current ranking of No. 26.
Williams is one place behind her older sister, Venus.
The draw for the tournament is Thursday. Play begins Monday.
This will be the third Grand Slam tournament of Williams' return to competition since she gave birth to a daughter during the 2017 U.S. Open last September, then dealt with health complications.
The 23-time major champion, who turns 37 next month, was the runner-up at Wimbledon in July.
INDYCAR
IndyCar driver Robert Wickens had titanium rods and screws placed in his spine to stabilize a fracture associated with a spinal cord injury suffered in a crash at Pocono Raceway on Sunday.
IndyCar says in a statement Tuesday the severity of the spinal cord injury was unknown.
Wickens is expected to undergo more surgeries to treat fractures in his lower extremities and right forearm. He remains in stable condition.
© 2018 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
