The Yankees are AL East champions for the first time in seven years following a 9-1 pounding of the Angels. DJ LeMahieu belted a three-run homer and Brett Gardner provided a solo shot and a two-run double in New York’s 100th win.
Cameron Maybin and Clint Frazier added eighth-inning homers after Masahiro Tanaka limited Los Angeles to a Kole Calhoun home run and just three other hits over seven frames.
Ronald Acuna Jr. belted his 40th home run and the Atlanta Braves clinched at least a tie for the NL East title by downing the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4. Mel Ott is the only player younger than the 21-year-old Acuna to hit 40 home runs in a season, doing it at age 20 for the 1940 Giants. Freddie Freeman had two RBIs and Mike Soroka allowed two runs over five innings to move to 13-4.
Eduardo Rodriguez is 18-6 after striking out 10 over six innings of the Red Sox’s 5-4 victory against the Giants. Xander Bogaerts supplied a pair of RBI singles to back Rodriguez, who limited San Francisco to one earned run and four hits to help Boston avoid a three-game sweep.
In MLB news, Yankees star pitcher Domingo Germán has been placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball because of domestic violence. MLB did not give details in its statement Thursday, but said the leave "may last up to seven days, barring an extension." MLB is investigating and says it will have no further comment. The Yankees say in a statement they "fully support all measures being undertaken" by the commissioner and stressed that "domestic violence has no place in our society and cannot be tolerated." The team adds that MLB will have its "complete cooperation." Germán has given the Yankees' rotation a big lift this year, going 18-4 with a 4.03 ERA.
Also in the Bronx, Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has been told surgery is not recommended for the partially torn Achilles tendon that ended his season after eight pitches. Betances hurt his left foot when he hopped on the mound Sunday at Toronto after striking out Brandon Drury, his second and final batter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the right-hander will be in a walking boot for another four weeks before he is re-evaluated.
A person familiar with the negotiations says Marlins manager Don Mattingly has agreed to a contract extension and will return for a fifth season in 2020. Mattingly's contract was to expire after this season. The rebuilding ballclub has the worst record in the National League at 53-99 this season, and they're set to exceed 100 losses for the first time since 1998.
NFL
The Jacksonville Jaguars have their first win of the NFL season after knocking off the Tennessee Titans. Gardner Minshew completed 20 of 30 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns in the Jaguars’ 20-7 victory against the Titans. Minshew found James O'Shaughnessy wide open for a 7-yard TD, one play after Adoree' Jackson's muffed punt. Minshew was more precise with a 22-yard touchdown pass to DJ Chark, who was blanketed by Malcolm Butler. The sixth-round draft pick starting his second consecutive game in place of injured quarterback Nick Foles. Jacksonville sacked Marcus Mariota nine times, including three by Calais Campbell. Derrick Henry scored the Tennessee’s lone touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but he finished with just 44 yards on 17 carries. Both teams are 1-2.
In NFL news, Jets safety Jamal Adams is appealing his fine from the NFL for roughing the passer against Cleveland, saying officials apologized after the game for calling the penalty. Adams ranted on Twitter late Wednesday night, calling the NFL a joke for fining him $21,056 for his hit on Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield in the first quarter of New York's 23-3 loss Monday night.
Pats receiver Antonio Brown declined to answer questions about allegations of sexual assault and rape against him on Thursday, saying he's keeping his focus on football. It was his first interview with reporters since agreeing to a deal with the Pats on Sept. 7. He twice refused to answer questions about the civil case filed against him in South Florida by his former trainer or the NFL's investigation into it.
Josh Rosen will be the starting quarterback for the Dolphins Sunday at Dallas as Miami tries to bounce back from a pair of lopsided losses to start the season. A person familiar with the decision confirmed to The Associated Press that Rosen is replacing Fitzpatrick after the Dolphins were outscored 102-10 in their first two games. Rosen was traded in April after only one season with the Cardinals, who took him in the first round of the 2018 draft. The Dolphins also claimed former Cowboys first-round pick Taco Charlton off waivers.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera isn't ready to name Kyle Allen his starting quarterback Sunday’s game at Arizona, or to talk about Cam Newton's foot injury. Rivera says he will know more about the QB situation on Friday. Allen has taken the first-team reps while Newton has sat out the team’s last three practices with a foot injury.
The Browns could be missing several starters Sunday night when they face the defending NFC champion Los Angeles Rams. Tight end David Njoku, linebacker Christian Kirksey, right tackle Chris Hubbard and safeties Damarious Randall and Morgan Burnett all missed practice Thursday. Njoku broke his right wrist in Monday's win over the Jets and may need surgery. Kirksey is also facing a possible operation for a chest injury.
The Raiders have acquired wide receiver and returner Trevor Davis from Green Bay for an undisclosed 2020 draft pick. The Raiders finalized the deal to add depth as receiver and returner Dwayne Harris deals with an ankle injury.
NBA
The Detroit Pistons have signed 38-year-old swingman Joe Johnson. Detroit announced the move Thursday. The 17-year NBA veteran did not play in the league last season. He was recently named MVP of the BIG3 3-on-3 basketball league. Johnson averaged 6.8 points in 55 games for Houston and Utah during two seasons ago. The seven-time All-Star has also played for Boston, Phoenix, Atlanta, Brooklyn and Miami, averaging 16 points over his career with 15 double-digit scoring seasons.
NHL
Sabres defenseman Brandon Montour will miss the remainder of training camp because of a hand injury that could cause him to miss the season opener. It's unclear when Montour was hurt after he logged more than 17 minutes in a 4-1 preseason loss at Columbus on Tuesday. The four-year veteran is projected to play a top-four role on Buffalo's blue line.
Ottawa Senators have locked up their top young blueliner with a longterm deal. Thomas Chabot has accepted an eight-year, $64 million extension as the Senators continue their rebuilding effort. The former first-round pick was one of the team’s top players last season, scoring 14 goals and 55 points in his first full NHL campaign. The contract comes a month after Ottawa inked center Colin White to a six-year package.
PGA
Tom Hoge has picked up where he left off last weekend. Hoge opened with three straight birdies and closed with a 45-foot birdie putt for an 8-under 64 and the clubhouse lead in the first round of the Sanderson Farms Championship. The strong start comes four days after he was runner-up at the Greenbrier for the best finish of his PGA Tour career. Robert Streb, Cameron Percy and Seamus Power each shot 65. Play was suspended for the day following a lengthy delay caused by a mid-afternoon thunderstorm at the Country Club of Jackson in Mississippi.
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