TENNIS
American Madison Keys has advanced to another Grand Slam semifinal as she seeks her first major championship.
The 14th-seeded Keys faced only two break points and had a 22-10 edge in winners while completing a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro at the U.S. open. Keys appeared dominant at times in advancing to the semifinals for the third time in the last five Grand Slam events.
The 23-year-old Keys lost to Sloane Stephens in last year's U.S. Open final.
Keys will take on Japan's Naomi Osaka in Thursday's semifinals. Osaka reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Lesia Tsurenko, a match that took just 57 minutes. Osaka raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set and then 4-0 in the second.
The shaky Tsurenko finished with more unforced errors than points in her first major quarterfinal.
Kei Nishikori moved into the men's semifinals by beating No. 7 Marin Cilic. Nishikori dropped his opening set and was down 4-2 in the second before storming to a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 victory against Cilic. Nishikori had trouble closing out the 4-hour, 8-minute match, blowing a 4-1 lead in the fifth before winning the last two games.
According to the ATP, the wins by Osaka and Nishikori mark the first time Japan will have a men's and women's semifinalist at the same Grand Slam tournament.
Next up for Nishikori is sixth seed Novak Djokovic, who concluded Wednesday's play with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win against Australian John Millman. The defending Wimbledon champion made quick work of Millman, who was fresh off an upset win against Roger Federer. Millman converted just four of 20 break points and had 53 unforced errors.
Djokovic is seeking his third U.S. Open title and 14th Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, 2010 French Open women's champ Francesca Schiavone has announced her retirement at age 38. Schiavone held a news conference at the U.S. Open and said she accomplished her two biggest goals as a player by winning a title at Roland Garros and being ranked in the top 10.
MLB
Brandon Phillips had a memorable debut for the Boston Red Sox as the best team in the majors moved closer to another AL East title.
Phillips unloaded a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning to complete the Red Sox's best comeback of the season, a 9-8 stunner in Atlanta. The newly-signed Boston infielder walked and scored in two previous plate appearances before launching his first big league home run since last Sept. 26 for the Angels against the White Sox.
The Bosox erased a 7-1 deficit in the eighth inning, only to give up a home run to Freddie Freeman in the bottom half.
Ian Kinsler and Blake Swihart drove in two runs apiece for the Red Sox, and Andrew Benintendi furnished three of the team's 11 hits.
Ronald Acuna Jr. homered off Hector Velazquez's second pitch, giving the rookie a franchise single-season record eight leadoff homers.
Atlanta still holds a three-game lead in the NL East following the Phillies' 2-1 loss at Miami. Sandy Alcantara was sharp over a career-high seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out six.
Austin Dean had two RBIs, including a run-scoring single that put Miami ahead 2-0 in the fourth.
Boston has the night off as they head home to take on the Astros Friday at 7:10 p.m.
In other MLB action:
Trevor Story was the star in the Rockies' fifth consecutive win, blasting three solo homers in a 5-3 decision over the Giants. Story tied it with a fourth-inning homer and put Colorado ahead in the sixth with his 31st of the season. The NL West leaders received four hitless innings of scoreless relief from the bullpen and moved 1 ½ games ahead of the second-place Dodgers, with the Diamondbacks falling two games off the pace.
Zack Wheeler and Seth Lugo combined on a three-hitter as the Mets took the rubber match of their three-game set with the Dodgers, 7-3. Wheeler was hit in the chest by a line drive in the fourth inning and still managed to hold the Dodgers to three runs and three hits over seven frames, including homers by Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger. Wilmer Flores drove in two runs and Amed Rosario was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. The Mets have the night off as they prepare to take on the Phillies Friday at 7:10 p.m.
The Cubs have a bit more breathing room in the NL Central following home runs by Daniel Murphy and Kyle Schwarber in a 6-4 victory over the second-place Brewers at Milwaukee. Ben Zobrist drove in a pair of runs and Jose Quintana gave up two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings to move to 12-9. The Cubs lead their division by four games over the Brewers, with St. Louis another half-game back.
Matt Adams homered twice and Marcell Ozuna tied a career high with four hits as the Cardinals outscored the Nationals, 7-6. Adams had been 3-for-23 with St. Louis before hitting two bombs against the team that traded him last month. Yairo Munoz also went deep and Miles Mikolas improved to 14-4 despite yielding four runs and 12 hits over 6 2/3s.
The Astros easily won their fifth in a row as Alex Bregman slammed a two-run homer and a three-run double in a 9-1 pounding of the Twins. Evan Gattis also hit his 25th home run as Houston won for the 12th time in 15 games. Winning hurler Framber Valdez went 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out five.
The Athletics clobbered the Yankees, 8-2 to stay 3 ½ games behind the AL West-leading Astros. Stephen Piscotty hit a two-run single and Matt Chapman had two RBIs to back Mike Fiers, who limited New York to two runs and three hits over six innings. Yanks starter Luis Severino was pulled in the third, charged with five earned runs on six innings to fall to 17-7. The Yanks have the night off as they travel to Seattle to take on the Mariners Friday at 10:10 p.m.
Corey Kluber became the majors' first 18-game winner of the season and the Indians shaved their major number to eight for winning the AL Central by downing Kansas City, 3-1. Kluber allowed one run and two hits in 6 2/3 innings before three relievers combined to toss hitless ball. Edwin Encarnacion's RBI grounder broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth and helped Kluber improve to 18-7.
Nelson Cruz and Denard Span hit back-to-back home runs and the Mariners won a home series for the first time since July 22 by topping the Orioles, 5-2. Mike Leake gave up two unearned runs in six innings to earn his first victory since June 23. Edwin Diaz recorded his major league-leading 53rd save.
The Pirates earned a 3-2 victory over Cincinnati behind Jameson Taillon (TY'-ahn), who surrendered eight hits but just one run over five innings to move to 12-9. Colin Moran doubled home the tying run in the second, an inning before Gregory Polanco and Francisco Cervelli delivered RBI singles. Homer Bailey gave up three runs over five innings to fall to 1-14.
Shohei Ohtani was 4-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs lead the Angels' 9-3 pounding of the Rangers. Ohtani also scored four times, hours after learning that he'll likely need Tommy John surgery to replace his ulnar collateral ligament. Andrelton Simmons also homered and drove in three runs for Los Angeles.
Aledmys Diaz belted a three-run homer while the Blue Jays scored seven times in the first inning of a 10-3 romp over the Rays. Billy McKinney added a solo blast and winning pitcher Aaron Sanchez struck out eight over six innings. Tampa Bay lost for only the third time in 16 games despite Kevin Kiemaier's two home runs.
Hot-shot rookie Michael Kopech served up gopher balls to Ronny Rodriguez, Jeimer Candelario, Mike Mahtook and Jacoby Jones in the White Sox's 10-2 loss to the Tigers. Kopech entered the game with a 0.82 ERA in three starts before Detroit tagged him for seven runs over 3 1/3 innings Jordan Zimmermann breezed through five innings by blanking Chicago on two hits.
Ohtani could have Tommy John surgery:
Angels’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani could require Tommy John surgery after new damage was discovered in his right elbow.
The team says surgery was recommended after an MRI Wednesday revealed the problem with his ulnar collateral ligament.
Ohtani returned to the mound last Sunday following a nearly two-month absence, but he lasted just 2 1/3 innings amid a drastic drop in velocity during the game.
The Japanese native was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 51 2/3 innings over 10 starts this year. Ohtani is also batting .276 with 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 81 games as the Angels' designated hitter.
In other baseball news:
The Dodgers are expected to be without All-Star closer Kenley Jansen for their weekend series in Colorado after a team cardiologist recommended the right-hander not travel to Denver. Jansen went on the 10-day disabled list last month with an irregular heartbeat and began taking blood-thinning medication. He struggled upon his return, giving up runs in four consecutive outings while taking a loss and blowing two save opportunities.
Nationals’ general manager Mike Rizzo is indicating that first-year manager Dave Martinez will return next season. Rizzo told reporters today that he hasn't considered any other scenario other than having Martinez in the dugout in 2019. The Nats opened Wednesday's action 69-70 and 7 1/2 games out of first place in the NL after entering the season as the favorites to win the division.
The White Sox say a 32-year-old Chicago man was back home Wednesday recovering from a broken nose after being hit by a foul ball the previous night. The man was injured in the ninth inning of Tuesday's loss to Detroit. He was seated in the first row on the first base side at Guaranteed Rate Field, well beyond the netting.
NFL
Earl Thomas hasn't received the contract he's been seeking, but the Seattle Seahawks safety has ended his lengthy holdout in time for the season opener Sunday against Denver.
Thomas showed up at the Seahawks facility Wednesday morning and was welcomed back by his teammates. Coach Pete Carroll said he met briefly with Thomas but wouldn't commit to whether Thomas would play in the opener.
Thomas is scheduled to make $8.5 million in base salary this season.
In other NFL news:
The Steelers are done sticking up for All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, who remains away from the club while waiting to sign his one-year franchise tender. Center Maurkice Pouncey called Bell's decision to stay out this long "selfish," and guard Ramon Foster questioned how much Bell actually cares about the team. James Conner will start in Bell's place against the Browns in Sunday's opener.
Chiefs’ safety Eric Berry is day to day with a heel injury that has kept him out most of training camp, and his status for Sunday's opener against the Chargers remains in question. The exact nature of the injury has never been disclosed.
A police report says a Ravens rookie kicker doesn't remember the circumstances leading to the apparent assault that landed him in the hospital and on the team's reserve/non-football injury list. News outlets report Baltimore police twice attempted and failed to speak with Kaare Vedvik at the hospital. The police report doesn't reveal what injuries the 24-year-old Norwegian suffered but said his wallet and phone were missing.
President Donald Trump says Nike is getting "killed" over an endorsement deal with Colin Kaepernick. Trump said on Twitter on Wednesday, "Just like the NFL, whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts. I wonder if they had any idea that it would be this way?" Nike this week unveiled the deal with the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who's known for starting protests among NFL players over police brutality and racial inequality.
NHL
Former NHL forward Ab McDonald has died at age 82.
McDonald enjoyed a 14-year career that included 182 goals and 430 points in time spent with Montreal, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. He scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the 1961 Blackhawks and ended his career with a two-year run in the WHA as captain of the Winnipeg Jets.
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