The Mets completed a three-game sweep as Noah Syndergaard fired two-hit ball over six innings of a 2-0 shutout of the Indians, a game that was called because of rain in the bottom of the eighth. Syndergaard struck out five and retired his first 16 hitters before Tyler Naquin blooped a single to center.
Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a two-run double in the fourth to help the Mets stay within 1 ½ games of the second NL wild card. The Indians are 3 ½ games behind the AL Central-leading Twins.
Tanner Roark pitched into the seventh and the Athletics reached Masahira Tanaka for five runs over six innings of a 5-3 victory over the Yankees. Roark struck out seven and allowed two runs over 6 1/3 frames to help Oakland complete a three-game sweep. Gleyber Torres homered twice for the Yanks, who have dropped four in a row.
The Red Sox completed a 5-4 win over the Royals on Brock Holt’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. The original contest was halted after a rain delay early on Aug. 8 with the score tied 4-4 and nobody out in the top of the 10th inning. J.D. Martinez slammed a two-run homer and Xander Bogaerts had two RBIs before the game was suspended.
The Nationals stayed six games behind Atlanta by whipping the Pirates for the third time in four days, 7-1. Max Scherzer gave up a run and four hits over four innings in his first start since landing on the injured list with a back issue four weeks ago. Howie Kendrick was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs. Anthony Rendon added a solo shot in the Nats’ ninth win in 11 games.
In MLB news, a judge has confirmed an arbitration decision from baseball executives ordering the Nationals to be paid $296.8 million by the cable network they jointly own with the Orioles for their television rights from 2012-16. The Orioles and Nationals jointly own the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and have been fighting in court for years about how much money Washington is owed under their unusual TV rights arrangement.
The Tampa Bay Rays have received a jolt as they try to nail down an American League wild-card berth. Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe has suffered a quadriceps injury that will likely sideline him the rest of the season. Manager Kevin Cash said Lowe got hurt on Wednesday while playing on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Durham. The All-Star selection is batting .276 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs. The second-year Ray hasn’t played since suffering a shin injury on July 2.
The Pirates are requesting unconditional release waivers on 33-year-old catcher Francisco Cervelli. He's played 34 games this season, hitting .193 with one home run and five RBIs. Cervelli has suffered several concussions in his career and hasn't played in the majors since his most recent one on May 25.
Angels rookie right-hander Griffin Canning will miss the rest of the season with mild elbow inflammation. Canning has emerged as the Angels' most promising pitching prospect in several years following his recall in April, going 5-6 with a 4.58 ERA in 18 appearances. He pitched seven innings of one-run ball in a victory over the White Sox last Sunday but emerged with elbow discomfort.
MLB says the Astros violated media guidelines by initially barring Detroit Free Press reporter Anthony Fenech from the Houston clubhouse immediately after Wednesday’s game. Losing pitcher Justin Verlander has a poor relationship with Fenech and accused him on Twitter Thursday of unspecified "unethical behavior in the past." Fenech eventually was allowed into the clubhouse following a nine-minute delay, but Verlander had already concluded his media scrum and refused to speak with the Detroit scribe.
NBA
Bob Cousy has been presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The medal celebrates individuals with a wide range of achievements and is the nation's highest civilian honor. The president calls Cousy "one of the all-time greats in the history of sports." The 91-year-old Cousy played for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963 and won six league championships along with the 1957 MVP title. Golfer Tiger Woods received the honor back in May.
NFL
Daniel Jones completed a difficult week with an encouraging performance, leading the New York Giants to a touchdown during a 25-23 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Zac Taylor's first home game as head coach. In a GQ article published Tuesday, Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield said he was stunned that the Giants drafted the quarterback from Duke in the first round.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady showed some scrambling ability to keep New England's only touchdown drive going in a 10-3 exhibition victory over the Carolina Panthers. Brady picked up three yards on a third-and-3 on the first play of the second quarter. The defending Super Bowl champions play their final preseason game next week against the New York Giants before opening the regular season against Pittsburgh on Sept. 8.
In NFL news, Patriots safety Patrick Chung has been indicted in New Hampshire on a charge of cocaine possession. A Belknap County grand jury indicted the 32-year-old Chung on Aug. 8. Authorities say Chung knowingly possessed cocaine on June 25 while in Meredith. The Patriots tweeted yesterday that the team is aware of the reports, but that "we will not be commenting while his judicial proceedings take place." Chung's arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Cardinals have acquired defensive lineman Bruce Hector in a trade that sent safety Rudy Ford to the Eagles. The move is pending physicals for both players. Hector played in eight games for the Eagles last season. Ford has played the past two seasons for the Cardinals, mostly on special teams.
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio won't rule out placing rookie quarterback Drew Lock on injured reserve to start the season. Lock sprained his right thumb against the 49ers and won't venture a guess as to how long he'll be sidelined. The Broncos say a timetable for his return remains up in the air. Joe Flacco is Denver’s starting quarterback. The Broncos will start quarterback Kevin Hogan against the Rams this weekend and use undrafted rookie Brett Rypien as the backup.
GOLF
Xander Schauffele has grabbed a share of the FedEx Cup lead by firing the best score ever for an opening round in the Tour Championship. Schauffele began the tournament six strokes back under the new scoring system for the FedEx Cup before firing a 6-under 64 that leaves him 10-under with three rounds remaining. He’s now tied with No. 1 seed Justin Thomas and Brooks Koepka. Koepka birdied three of his last four holes for a 67. Thomas carded a double-bogey and missed a pair of 3-foot putts for a 70 after entering the tournament with a two-shot advantage. The score to par is all that matters in deciding who wins the FedEx Cup and the $15 million prize.
TENNIS
Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will finally meet in the U.S. Open, and they'll do it in their very first match. The past U.S. Open champions are scheduled for an opening-round matchup when the draws were conducted for the final major of the year. Williams and Sharapova have met in the finals of the other three majors and the 2012 Olympics but have never played each other in the U.S. Open. Williams owns a 19-2 record in their WTA Tour matchups, but that lopsided number shouldn't do much to dampen the hype around what will be the marquee match of the opening round at Flushing Meadows, which begins Monday.
NASCAR
Dale Earnhardt Jr. still plans to compete in the Xfinity event at Darlington Raceway on Aug. 31, despite a recent plane crash. It’s his one race this season. Earnhardt Jr. posted on Twitter Wednesday night, saying his lower back is sore and swollen. He's receiving daily treatment "solely to get well to race." Earnhardt, his family and two pilots escaped a burning plane that veered off the runway at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee last week.
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS BRIBERY
The Wake Forest women's volleyball coach named in a scheme to help get wealthy children into elite schools has resigned. The school has announced the resignation of William Ferguson. Prosecutors allege a college counseling business directed money to the program and a camp controlled by Ferguson in exchange for help getting a student admitted. Ferguson has pleaded not guilty.
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