Didi Gregorius and Austin Romine each hit two-run homers off Chris Sale as the New York Yankees outscored the Red Sox, 9-6 in Boston to avoid a four-game sweep. Domingo Germán took a no-hitter into the fourth inning and allowed four hits while striking out nine over 5 1/3 to move to 13-2. The Red Sox committed three errors to fall into third in the AL East, nine games behind the Yankees.
The New York Mets scored six runs in the first inning and beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-7, then acquired All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman from Toronto. Michael Conforto sparked New York's offense with a two-run homer in a six-run first inning against Chris Archer, and the Mets won their fourth straight game and matched their longest winning streak this season. Jason Vargas has won three straight starts. Pittsburgh has lost eight straight games and 14 of 16.
Stephen Strasburg won his seventh consecutive start and the Washington Nationals climbed back within 5 ½ games of the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves by thrashing the Los Angeles Dodgers, 11-4. Strasburg struck out nine, walked none and limited a potent Dodgers lineup to one run and two hits over seven innings to earn his major league-leading 14th win. J.T. Realmuto launched a grand slam and three other Phillies went deep in a 9-4 thumping of Atlanta.
J.T. Realmuto hit a grand slam, three other Phillies went deep and Philadelphia avoided a three-game sweep with a 9-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Aaron Nola (9-2) cruised through six scoreless innings before faltering in the seventh, when the Braves tagged Philadelphia's ace right-hander for four runs. Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and Adam Haseley also homered for Philadelphia, which pulled within 6½ games of the NL-East leading Braves.
In MLB news, the New York Mets have acquired All-Star pitcher Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays for two minor league prospects. Stroman is 6-11 in 21 starts despite a 2.96 ERA that is fifth-best in the American League. He has a $7.4 million salary and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season. Toronto received 24-year-old lefty Anthony Kay and 18-year-old right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson.
New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is back on the injured list because of right knee inflammation. The 39-year-old left-hander also was on the IL because of knee inflammation from May 23 to June 2. He allowed five runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings in Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Red Sox and is 0-2 in four starts since beating Toronto on June 24. Sabathia is 5-6 with a 4.78 ERA in 17 starts. He intends to retire this year after his 19th major league season.
The Toronto Blue Jays have traded veteran utilityman Eric Sogard across the diamond to the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. The 33-year-old was due to start in right field this afternoon against Rays right-hander Yonny Chirinos but was scratched shortly before first pitch and replaced by Billy McKinney. The trade was confirmed while the Blue Jays batted in the second inning. Sogard is batting .300 with 10 home runs and 30 RBIs in 73 games.
It's easy to become desensitized to all the big home run numbers these days, but last week was pretty special when Robinson Canó, Paul DeJong, Nelson Cruz and Mookie Betts each hit three homers in a game. They did it on consecutive days, the first time that's ever happened.
NFL
The New York Jets will have a busy backfield this season. Le'Veon Bell is the star of the running backs group, but Ty Montgomery and Bilal Powell, and perhaps even Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon could all play significant roles in Adam Gase's offense. Through four training camp practices, it has been clear that Gase likes the idea of mixing and matching his backs while using them in various ways.
The New York Giants cornerback who was wounded hours after being drafted in an April shooting that claimed the life of his Washburn University teammate is trying to make a career in the NFL not only for himself but also his late best friend. Speaking to the Giants media for the first time since the shooting in Topeka, Kansas, Corey Ballentine said he is still haunted by the random late-night attack after attending an off-campus party.
Michael Bennett took long-distance travel to a new level. The veteran defensive lineman disembarked a red-eye flight from Hawaii to Boston on Sunday morning and quickly made his way to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to participate in his first full-pads training camp practice with the New England Patriots.
GOLF
Bernhard Langer beat Paul Broadhurst by two shots on Sunday to win the Senior British Open for his record-extending 11th senior major title. The 61-year-old German fired a 4-under 66 to finish at 6-under 274 for his fourth Senior Open title. That’s a tournament record. In his last appearance at the tournament, three-time champion Tom Watson shot 73 and finished tied for 64th at 9 over.
Brooks Koepka had three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the front nine and cruised to a three-stroke victory over Webb Simpson at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Playing with Rory McIlroy in their first final-group pairing, the top-ranked Koepka closed with a bogey-free 5-under 65 at TPC Southwind for his seventh PGA Tour title. He finished at 16-under 264.
Jin Young Ko clinched her second major title of the season on Sunday. The 24-year-old South Korean fired a final-round 4-under 67 to win the Evian Championship by two shots with a 15-under total of 269. Ko closed out the victory after playing partner and longtime leader Hyo Joo Kim lost control with a triple bogey at the par-3 14th, winding up in a three-way tie for second.
NASCAR
Denny Hamlin had enough fuel to pull away off the final restart in an overtime finish for his fifth victory at Pocono Raceway. Hamlin raced to his third victory of the season and 34th overall in NACAR Cup Series race, giving Joe Gibbs Racing its 11th win in 21 races this season. Hamlin held off teammates Erik Jones, who needed a win to secure a spot in the playoffs. Martin Truex Jr. was third, followed by William Bryon and Kyle Larson.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Egan Bernal became the first Colombian to win the Tour de France on Sunday, as the three-week race ended with the 21st and final stage on the Champs-Elysees. The 22-year-old Bernal is the youngest Tour winner in the post-World War II era. Bernal succeeded Ineos teammate Geraint Thomas as the British outfit posted a seventh Tour victory with a fourth different rider in eight years.
SWIMMING
Caeleb Dressel won his record eighth medal at the world swimming championships, helping the U.S. to silver in the 4x100-meter medley relay Sunday. Dressel's haul included six golds. Simone Manuel completed a sweep of the 50 and 100 freestyles, becoming the first American woman to achieve the feat. She won four golds and six medals overall in the eight-day competition. The U.S. team finished atop the medals table with 27.
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