MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the Yankees tripled up Baltimore 9-3, Houston edged Boston 5-4, Toronto beat Oakland 5-2, Minnesota blanked the Angels 3-0, Seattle slid past Detroit 3-2 in 12 innings, and it was the Whites Sox over Cleveland 8-1.
In the National League, the Dodgers blanked the Mets 3-0, Pittsburgh bested Washington 7-3, Arizona won against Milwaukee 8-3, and it was Miami over San Diego 4-0.
In interleague play, St. Louis edged Kansas City 4-3.
Meanwhile the Hall of Fame induction is in Cooperstown New York on Sunday. Among the inductees is the Boston Red Sox’ Pedro Martinez and the Atlanta Braves’ John Smoltz.
Horse Racing:
The Saratoga Race Course opens today for thousands of horse racing fans. Post time is at 1 o'clock. The track is open everyday, barring Tuesdays, until September 7th. The Grade 1 Diana stakes is on Saturday followed by the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks stakes.
In its 147th summer, the track opens with the possibility that Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh will run in August's signature Travers Stakes race. The 40-day meet opens with a 10-race card today.
NHL:
The Buffalo Sabres have re-signed forward Jerry D'Amigo to a one-year contract. The deal is structured so that D'Amigo can play at either the NHL or minor-league level, the Sabres announced Thursday. The team had retained the player's rights by tendering him a qualifying offer last month.
D'Amigo was acquired by Buffalo in a trade that sent forward Luke Adam to Columbus in December 2014. D'Amigo was called up from the minors in March, and had no points in nine games with the Sabres. Overall, he has a goal and three assists in 31 career NHL games since being selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft by Toronto.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired longtime NHL executive Lou Lamoriello as general manager. Lamoriello resigned as president of the New Jersey Devils to take the job. New Jersey won three Stanley Cups during Lamoriello's stay. The Maple Leafs fired general manager Dave Nonis after missing the playoffs for the second straight season.
NFL:
The players' union has proposed a settlement on Tom Brady's four-game suspension last week, but has not gotten a response from the NFL. A person familiar with the proposal tells The Associated Press yesterday that the offer was "met with silence." The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NFL Players Association's offer was confidential. There is no timetable on when Commissioner Roger Goodell will rule on the New England quarterback's appeal.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the team through 2018. Tomlin is 82-46 with Pittsburgh since replacing Bill Cowher following the 2006 season. The Steelers have won one Super Bowl and appeared in another under Tomlin and are coming off an 11-5 mark and an AFC North title in 2014.
Golf:
Officials with the Travelers Championship have announced they will hold the 2016 golf tournament during the first week of August as the PGA Tour shuffles its schedule to accommodate the Olympics. The tournament has typically been held during the third week of June, the week following the U.S. Open.
American's Dori Carter, Lizette Salas and Katherine Kirk share the lead after the first round of the annual Meijer LPGA Classic. Each shot a 7-under-64 for a one-shot lead over two others in the second year of the tournament. Top-ranked Inbee Park shot a 70.
Argentina's Emiliano Grillo has the lead during the first round of the PGA's Canadian Open. He had an opening round 8-under-64 for a one shot lead over Vaughn Taylor and Brian Harman. Two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson is in a group four shots back. Jason Day, coming off a tie for fourth Monday in the British Open, also opened with a 68.
Olympics:
Leaders of Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics released details yesterday about insurance proposals they say will provide unprecedented coverage for Massachusetts taxpayers. The Boston 2024 bid committee released a document that described at least eight types of insurance it promises to purchase to minimize the risk to taxpayers in the event of unanticipated costs. The private organization has estimated the insurance will cost about $128 million.
Soccer:
The U.S. soccer team will play an exhibition against Brazil on September 8th at Foxborough, Massachusetts. The game, announced yesterday, follows a September 4th match against Peru at Washington, D.C.
FIFA sponsor Visa Inc. is calling for an independent commission to be formed to clean up world soccer's scandal-ridden governing body.
The credit card company joined fellow sponsor Coca-Cola in asking for the commission to consist of "impartial leaders" to ensure the reforms are credible.
FIFA is reeling from the indictment of 14 people — including two now-ousted vice presidents who were arrested in Zurich — in an American investigation into alleged racketeering, bribery and money laundering in soccer.
WNBA:
WNBA owners unanimously approved a plan to move the Tulsa Shock to the Dallas-Fort Worth area next season. The Shock will finish this season in Tulsa. They will play next year at the University of Texas at Arlington, subject to approval by the Texas system's Board of Regents.
Tour De France:
France's Romain Bardet was the winner of the 18th stage of the Tour de France. The overall leader remains Britain's Chris Froome by over three minutes.
