MLB:
The New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays are beginning to demonstrate just how they feel about their playoff chances.
The Mets have initiated their roster-pruning by sending first baseman Lucas Duda to the Rays for minor league pitcher Drew Smith. Duda is hitting .246 with 17 homers and 37 RBIs this season, which hasn't been enough to prevent New York from falling nine games out of a playoff berth.
Duda joins a ballclub that is within striking distance in the AL East and the league wild-card race.
Tampa Bay also has picked up lefty reliever Dan Jennings from the White Sox for minor league first baseman Casey Gillaspie. Jennings was 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 48 appearances for the White Sox this season.
The Yankees pulled out a 6-5 win over the Rays on Brett Gardner's homer in the bottom of the 11th. Gary Sanchez also left the yard for the Yankees and forced extra innings with an RBI single in the ninth. The Yanks' fourth straight win puts them within a half-game of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox and drops the Rays three games back.
San Diego earned a four-game split as Dusty Coleman hit a game-breaking, three-run homer that put the Padres up 7-1 in the fifth inning of a 7-5 victory over the New York Mets. Manuel Margot added a solo shot and three ribbies to the win.
The Red Sox were off last night, but they begin a series with the Kansas City Royals tonight at 7:10.
The Chicago Cubs have a firmer grasp on the National League Central lead after knocking off the White Sox on the South Side.
Kyle Schwarber was 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, a run-scoring triple and four RBIs as the Cubs doubled up the White Sox, 6-3. The Cubbies trailed until Schwarber and Anthony Rizzo went deep in the fourth inning. Schwarber put his team ahead 6-2 in the eight with a solo shot that lifted his season average to .191.
Jon Lester allowed four hits over seven innings, including solo homers by Willy Garcia and Jose Abreu (ah-BRAY'-oo).
The Cubs' 11th win in 13 games puts them 1 ½ games ahead of slumping Milwaukee.
The White Sox lost for the 12th time in 13 games despite Abreu's two home runs.
The Cubs were able to pad their division lead after the Nationals tied a team record with eight home runs in a 15-2 dismantling of the Brewers. The Nats also matched major league marks by hitting four in a row and five overall in the third inning.
Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman each accounted for two round-trippers to give Max Scherzer more than enough support in his 12th win. Scherzer struck out nine over six innings as Washington won for the 10th time in 13 games to open a 13-game lead in the NL East.
The Brewers have dropped nine of their last 11 since moving 5 ½ games ahead of Chicago.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— The Indians picked up their seventh straight win and moved two games ahead of second-place Kansas City in the American League Central. Trevor Bauer worked a season-high eight innings and Francisco Lindor singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh as the Indians downed the Angels, 2-1. Carlos Santana homered for the Indians, who are a season-high 10 games over .500 following a 7-0 homestand.
— J.D. Martinez and Zack Godley were the stars in Arizona's 4-0 shutout of the Cardinals in St. Louis. Martinez provided the scoring with a fourth-inning grand slam to back Godley, who tossed four-hit ball with seven strikeouts over seven innings. The Diamondbacks are 1 ½ games in front of Colorado for the first NL wild-card berth.
— Steve Pearce belted a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to give the Blue Jays an 8-4 victory and a four-game sweep of the Athletics. Kendrys Morales homered twice after supplying a walk-off blast in the ninth inning of Wednesday's win against Oakland.
— The Marlins were 4-1 winners over Cincinnati as Chris O'Grady held the Reds to five hits over seven scoreless innings. Derek Dietrich belted a solo homer and had three RBIs to help Miami hand the Reds their fourth consecutive loss.
MLB-NEWS
In other major league news:
— The Braves have optioned struggling shortstop Dansby Swanson to Triple-A Gwinnett. Swanson looked like a solid prospect after hitting .302 in 38 games for Atlanta last season, but his average is down to .213 with six homers and a .312 slugging average in 95 games this year.
— The Twins are sending Triple-A catcher John Ryan Murphy to the Diamondbacks for Double-A left-hander Gabriel Moya. Murphy spent part of last season with Minnesota following a three-year stay with the Yankees.
NFL-NEWS
No setbacks, but no timetable for Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater says he hasn't had any setbacks in his recovery from the massive injury to his left knee he suffered nearly a year ago in practice with the Minnesota Vikings. The fourth-year quarterback spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since he was hurt, marking the first day of training camp for the full team. He said there's no doubt he'll return to game action, though the timetable remains uncertain.
In other NFL news:
— Baltimore is showing interest in signing Colin Kaepernick following a back injury to starting quarterback Joe Flacco. Ravens coach John Harbaugh says he's talked to Kaepernick throughout the summer and confirms the former San Francisco 49er is a quarterback who is being discussed, although a decision is all speculation right now. Flacco missed the first full practice of training camp today and is expected to be out at least one week.
— Ravens offensive lineman John Urschel has retired from the NFL after just three seasons and 13 starts. Urschel pursued his doctorate at MIT during the offseason.
— Broncos coach Vance Joseph's first training camp got off to a rough start with word that Devontae Booker will undergo wrist surgery Friday and is expected to miss six weeks. Booker was pushing to unseat C.J. Anderson as Denver's starting running back.
— Redskins coach Jay Gruden says he doesn't believe Jordan Reed's toe injury is serious and expects the tight end to be back on the field next week. The Redskins placed Reed on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp, but he can be activated at any time.
— The Steelers and left tackle Alejandro Villanueva have agreed to a four-year contract that will keep the former Army Ranger protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's blindside for the rest of the decade. Villanueva started every game for the defending AFC North champions last season.
— Linebacker Erik Walden has agreed to a deal with the Titans, according to his agent. Walden had a career-high 11 sacks last season for Indianapolis and became a free agent this offseason.
— Cincinnati cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has accepted his one-game suspension for an offseason misdemeanor conviction, and expressed gratitude for the support he's received from Bengals owner Mike Brown. Jones is suspended by the NFL for the season opener as a result of his confrontation with hotel security personal and an obscenity-filled tirade against arresting police officers.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL:
Hall of Fame football coach Ara Parseghian has returned to his home in Granger, Indiana. The 94-year-old Parseghian spent more than a week in a nursing care facility because of an infection in his surgically repaired hip. One of his former players says Parseghian is still receiving 24-hour care.
Parseghian coached Notre Dame for 11 seasons, winning national championships in 1966 and '73.
Former Oregon receiver Darren Carrington has signed with Utah.
Carrington was dismissed from the Ducks two weeks ago, soon after he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence. He had 43 receptions for 606 yards and five touchdowns as a junior last season.
HOCKEY:
Andrei Markov is leaving the NHL after 16 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens to play in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.
The 38-year-old Markov registered 119 goals and 572 points in 990 NHL games. He hopes to represent Russia in the Olympics next February in South Korea, which will happen without NHL players.
PGA:
There was a five-way tie for the lead when the first round of the PGA's Canadian Open was suspended because of darkness.
Hudson Swafford, Brandon Hagy, Kevin Chappell, Matt Every and Ollie Schniederjans were in the clubhouse at 7-under 65 when play was stopped. Eleven others were at minus-6.
Matt Kuchar fought dizzy spells while shooting a 1-under 71. The 39-year-old American became dizzy marking a ball and sought medical attention during the morning round at Glen Abbey.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS:
Bernhard Langer is the first-round leader at the Senior British Open at Royal Porthcawl.
The 59-year-old German star had five birdies and three bogeys for a one-stroke lead over 64-year-old Carl Mason and Mauricio Molina.
Langer has nine senior major titles, winning the Regions Tradition and Senior PGA Championship in consecutive weeks in May.
Colin Montgomerie, Tom Lehman , Billy Mayfair and Tom Pernice Jr. are part of a fourth-place tie with Peter Lonard, Peter Fowler, Jean-Francois Remesy and Chris Williams.
LADIES SCOTTISH OPEN:
Karrie Webb's 7-under 65 puts her atop the leaderboard through one round of the Ladies Scottish Open.
The LPGA Hall of Famer shot a 7-under 65 in cold and windy conditions to take a one-stroke edge over Cristie Kerr. Webb played the final 10 holes in 7 under at Dundonald Links, including five consecutive birdies and another on the final hole.
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