© 2024
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
An update has been released for the Android version of the WAMC App that addresses performance issues. Please check the Google Play Store to download and update to the latest version.

#SportsReport: Packers Beat Bears In NFL Season Opener; Twins Top Red Sox

wikipedia.org
The NFL's centennial logo, which will be used throughout the 2019 season.

The 100th NFL season has opened with a victory for the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers hit Jimmy Graham in the second quarter for the game's only touchdown as the Packers tripped the Bears, 10-3 in Chicago. Rodgers at times looked uncomfortable in the attack designed by new coach Matt LaFleur. The two-time MVP was 18 of 30 for just 203 yards, including his eight-yard scoring strike to Graham. 

Both Rodgers and Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky were sacked five times as defense ruled the evening at Soldier Field. The Packers logged just 213 total net yards, while Chicago had 254. The Bears failed to score after Eddy Pineiro drilled a 38-yard field goal late in the first quarter. Former Bears safety Adrian Amos sealed the outcome by picking off an end-zone pass into double coverage with 1:58 remaining, the only turnover of the night.

In NFL news, star receiver Antonio Brown is not with the Oakland Raiders four days before the season opener amid reports he could be suspended over a confrontation with general manager Mike Mayock. Mayock said at the beginning of practice Thursday that Brown wasn't at the Raiders facility and won't be practicing a day after Brown posted a letter from the GM on social media detailing nearly $54,000 in fines for missing a practice and walkthrough. ESPN reported earlier Thursday that the two had a confrontation over the posting of the letter and that the Raiders plan to suspend Brown. Teams have the right under the collective bargaining agreement to suspend players up to four games for conduct detrimental to the team. A suspension would also void the more than $29 million in guarantees over the next two seasons contained in Brown's contract with the Raiders.

Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has agreed to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2023 season. Higbee hasn’t missed a game since being taken in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Odell Beckham Jr. says he's still not at full speed because of a hip injury. The Browns’ star wide receiver was kept out of the four preseason games to manage the unspecified ailment.

MLB

The Twins were able to celebrate a 2-1 win over the Red Sox after left fielder Eddie Rosario threw out Rafael Devers at home plate for the final out. Pinch-hitter Willians Astudillo drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with just the second hit of the night for Minnesota. The Twins took two of three in Boston and wrapped up an 8-2 road trip that puts them atop the AL Central by 6 ½ games over Cleveland.

Atlanta leads the NL East by eight games over Washington after Max Fried outpitched Stephen Strasburg in the Braves’ 4-2 victory over the Nationals. Fried pitched one-hit ball over seven innings, yielding only a first-inning single to NL batting leader Anthony Rendon. Ronald Acuna Jr. homered in the Braves’ seventh consecutive win.

Phillip Ervin belted a walk-off homer leading off the 11th inning to give the Reds a 4-3 victory against the Phillies. José Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the sixth and Eugenio Suárez greeted former teammate Jared Hughes with his 41st home run. J.T. Realmuto smacked a tying home run in the eighth for the Phils, who find themselves four games behind the Cubs for the second NL wild card.

In MLB news, Astros right-hander Aaron Sanchez will have season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder. Sanchez hasn't pitched since Aug. 20 because of what the team said was a sore right pectoral muscle. The team had expected him to return this season, but general manager Jeff Luhnow said Thursday morning that he would have the unspecified procedure on his right shoulder next week and wouldn't return this year. Meanwhile, outfielder George Springer has been diagnosed with a mild concussion and will miss a few games. Springer was carted off the field on Tuesday after his head hit the wall after he made a catch against the Brewers.

Bench coach Joe McEwing will manage the White Sox against the Angels this weekend. Skipper is slated for right rotator cuff surgery on Friday and plans to return to the dugout early next week.

Rays left-hander Blake Snell is scheduled to make his first rehab start Saturday in a playoff game with Triple-A Durham. Last year's AL Cy Young Award winner has been out since July 22 because of bone chips in his throwing elbow that required surgery.

Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel was put on the injured list with elbow inflammation ahead of a big series against the Brewers. Kimbrel hasn't pitched since allowing a three-run home run to Milwaukee's Christian Yelich in a 4-0 loss Sunday.

TENNIS

Serena Williams is once again on the verge of her record-tying 24th Grand Slam title. The eighth-seeded Williams rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win over fifth seed Elina Svitolina to advance to the U.S. Open final. Williams pulled out a 12-point game while serving to start the match and then broke on the 18th point of the second game en route to a 3-0 lead. The second set got away from Svitolina when Williams broke in the second game. The 37-year-old Williams is seeking her seventh U.S. Open crown, but she has dropped her last three Grand Slam finals.

No. 15 Bianca Andreescu is Williams’ next opponent after reaching her first major title match in only her fourth appearance at a Slam. The Canadian ousted No. 13 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, 7-6, 7-5 to become the first player to get this far in her debut in New York since Venus Williams was the runner-up in 1997.

NHL

The NHL and NHL Players' Association will meet again Friday in New York to continue collective bargaining negotiations. Players have until Sept. 15 to decide whether to terminate the current collective bargaining agreement effective a year from now. Owners had the same option and chose not to end it, citing the health of the league and the momentum from a period of labor peace. Unlike previous negotiations where Commissioner Gary Bettman said there was a need for fundamental changes, the issues this time appear more manageable.

NBA

Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Fame guard Jerry West has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony. The 81-year-old West noted his humble beginnings growing up in West Virginia and where sports has taken him. He said, "It never ceases to amaze me the places you can go in this world chasing a basketball."

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will induct its Class of 2019 Friday in Springfield, Massachusetts. This year’s class includes two-time NBA Coach of the Year Bill Fitch; eight-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member Bobby Jones; five-time NBA All-Star Sidney Moncrief; seven-time NBA All-Star Jack Sikma; five-time WNBA All-Star Teresa Weatherspoon; five-time NBA All-Star Paul Westphal; and the Tennessee A&I Teams of 1957-1959.

BASKETBALL WORLD CUP

Jaylen Brown scored 20 points and Kemba Walker as the U.S. World Cup men’s basketball team finally got to enjoy an easy night, rolling past Japan 98-45 in the Group E finale. The Americans are bidding for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title. Next up for the Americans are NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece on Saturday in Shenzhen.

PGA

Golfer Dustin Johnson has undergone arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee and is expected to return this fall. His manager says the procedure was considered routine and likened it to the surgery on Johnson's right knee at the end of 2011. Johnson is expected to be playing again before the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas and the Presidents Cup in Melbourne in early December.

© The Associated Press 2019. All Rights Reserved.