Luke Voit was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, three RBIs and three runs scored in the New York Yankees’ 10-4 rout of Detroit in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The Yankees also won Game 2 6-4.
In Game 1, Edwin Encarnacion homered for the fourth time in eight games since returning from a broken wrist, but he had to leave in the fifth inning with a strained left oblique muscle. All-Star catcher Gary Sánchez became the Yankees' latest injury concern when he left Game 2 with left groin tightness. CC Sabathia allowed two runs over 3 1/3 frames in his latest comeback from a knee injury. Aaron Judge and Gio Urshela each hit two-run homers for the AL East leaders.
Juan Lagares hit his first grand slam and added a two-run blast to finish with a career-high six RBIs in the Mets’ 11-1 laugher over the Diamondbacks. Michael Conforto, Todd Frazier, Robinson Canó and Tomas Nido also went deep as the Mets set a team record for a home game by belting six homers. Marcus Stroman allowed a run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings to help New York stay within two games of Milwaukee and Chicago for the second NL wild card.
Xander Bogaerts hit his 50th double of the season and Marco Hernandez drove in two runs in the Red Sox’s 7-4 win at Toronto. Bogaerts and Rafael Devers are the first pair of Red Sox teammates with 50 in the same season. J.D. Martinez reached base three times as Boston ended a five-game losing streak.
The Phillies also are two games behind the Cubs and Brewers after Philadelphia belted four home runs in a 9-5 win versus the Braves. Cesar Hernandez, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura and Adam Haseley provided the longballs as the Phils gained a split of the four-game set. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 39th homer for the Braves, who now lead the NL East by eight games over Washington.
The Nationals gained ground and solidified their hold on the first NL wild card as Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto each homered and drove in three runs in a 12-6 pounding of the Twins. Adam Eaton and Yan Gomes also homered and Asdrúbal Cabrera added a pair of run-scoring hits for the Nats. Nelson Cruz homered for Minnesota, which saw its lead in the AL Central cut to 3 ½ games over idle Cleveland.
Elsewhere in the majors, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs remain in a dead heat for the second NL wild card, and they continue to trail the first-place St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. Ryan Braun’s two-run homer in the third inning gave the Brewers a 3-1 lead in their seventh consecutive win, 3-2 at Miami. Mike Moustakas lifted a sacrifice fly in the top of the first, but Milwaukee needed Braun’s 19th homer of the season to complete a four-game sweep of the National League’s worst team.
Yu Darvish struck out a season-high 14 and allowed only two hits over six shutout innings as the Cubs downed the Padres, 4-1 in San Diego to keep pace with the Brewers. Ian Happ had two of the Cubs’ eight hits, including a two-run single that put Chicago ahead, 3-0 in the fourth. The Cubs gained a split of the four-game set and blanked the Padres until Manny Machado was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth.
The Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep by homering five times in a 10-3 dismantling of the Rockies in Colorado. Dexter Fowler and Kolten Wong opened the game with successive home runs to set the tone after the Redbirds dropped a pair of 2-1 decisions in the first two games of the series. Marcell Ozuna, Rangel Ravelo and Harrison Bader also went deep for St. Louis.
In MLB news, Brewers star outfielder Christian Yelich is likely done for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs because of a broken right kneecap. The reigning NL MVP was injured while fouling a ball off the knee during Tuesday’s win over the Marlins. The team says Yelich won’t need surgery, but added the expected recovery time is 8 to 10 weeks. Yelich batted .329 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs this year, putting him in the mix for the NL batting title and home run crown before the injury.
NFL
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers showcased a strong defense and a balanced attack in earning their first win of the season. Peyton Barber ran for 82 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries as the Bucs silenced the Panthers, 20-14 at Carolina. The Panthers had a 12-10 lead until Barber furnished a 16-yard rushing TD with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter. Jameis Winston was 16 of 25 for 208 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions to help Tampa Bay bounce back from their 31-17 loss to the 49ers in the season opener. Chris Godwin was Winston’s prime target with seven receptions for 121 yards and a score. Carolina had a chance to pull out the win until Christian McCaffrey was stuffed short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the 2 on the Panthers’ final drive. The Bucs didn’t allow a touchdown as the Panthers settled for four Joey Slye field goals and a fourth-quarter safety for their points. Christian McCaffrey was held to 37 yards on 16 carries, and Cam Newton completed just 25 of his 51 passes for 333 yards.
In NFL news, New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has mononucleosis and will miss the team's upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns Monday night. Coach Adam Gase says Trevor Siemian will start in Darnold's place. The team learned of Darnold's diagnosis Wednesday and coach Gase went to the second-year quarterback's home to deliver the news to him in person. The coach says Darnold's biggest concern is weight loss.
Odell Beckham Jr. says his current Cleveland teammates have told him that former Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams instructed players to hurt him while playing for the New York Giants in a 2017 preseason game. The Pro Bowl wide receiver sustained a severe ankle injury when Cleveland's Briean Boddy-Calhoun cut his legs out. Beckham’s next game is Monday against the New York Jets, whose defensive coordinator is Williams.
Redskins running back Derrius Guice had right knee surgery that coach Jay Gruden called a "minor procedure." The operation reportedly was to fix a torn meniscus.
The NFL has launched the Helmet Challenge aiming to stimulate the development of a new helmet for players that outperforms all helmet models currently worn in the league. Up to $3 million will be available in the challenge, including $2 million in grant funding to support the development of a helmet prototype, and a $1 million award.
NHL
The Winnipeg Jets have signed defenseman Josh Morrissey to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension. The deal starts in the fall of 2020, ends in the summer of 2028 and has an average annual value of $6.25 million. Morrissey had a career-high 31 points in 59 games with the Jets last season. Morrissey returns to a Jets blueline that lost Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers and Ben Chiarot during the offseason.
PGA
Scott Harrington enjoyed his long-awaited debut as an official PGA Tour member. In his 17th year as a professional, the 38-year-old rookie shot a 6-under 64 that puts him within two shots of leader Robby Shelton through one round of the PGA’s season-opening event at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. Harrington turned pro in 2003 and played in four Tour events over the next 12 years. He locked up his first PGA Tour card with a runner-up finish last month at a Korn Ferry event in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. Like Harrington, Shelton has his tour card for the first time after winning two Korn Ferry events in May. The 8-under 62 is his lowest score on tour. Defending champion Kevin Na, Lanto Griffin, Mark Hubbard and Zack Sucher matched Harrington at 64.
TENNIS
Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters is planning another comeback, saying in an interview with WTA that she wants a new challenge. The 36-year-old mother of three retired after the 2012 U.S. Open and previously went on a 26-month hiatus in 2007 to have her first child. She won the 2009 U.S. Open shortly after her return to become the first mother to win a Grand Slam title since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbledon in 1980.
Local organizers and the WTA say the Hong Kong Open has been postponed indefinitely due to widespread protests in recent months. It was scheduled to be held from Oct. 5-13 on outdoor hard courts at Victoria Park.
JUSTIFY
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert denies giving 2018 Triple Crown winning horse Justify a banned substance that caused a positive test prior to last year's Kentucky Derby and blamed the result on contaminated food. Baffert says in a statement that he "unequivocally" rejects the implication that he'd give Justify or any other horse scopolamine, which the colt tested positive for in April 2018.
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