WJPA Sports

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Spencer Horwitz hit a three-run double and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their dominance over the Brewers this season, beating Milwaukee 4-3 in the opener of a four-game series. Pittsburgh has won six of seven games against the NL Central-leading Brewers this season. The Pirates jumped on Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-7) for three runs in the third. Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (4-8) held the Brewers without a hit until David Hamilton’s single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. Mason Montgomery pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save in five tries.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pirates made a significant move to boost their struggling bullpen by acquiring veteran pitcher Luke Weaver from the New York Mets. The Pirates, aiming to end a decade-long playoff drought, traded 21-year-old shortstop prospect Sammy Stafura for the 32-year-old Weaver. This marks an aggressive financial push for the typically frugal team. Weaver is in the first season of a $22 million, two-year contract. The trade follows a 2-7 stretch for Pittsburgh in which the bullpen frequently struggled. Weaver has been a standout for the Mets this season, going 2-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 42 appearances.  The Pirates also added right-handed relievers Kirby Yates from the Los Angeles Angels, Lake Bachar from the Miami Marlins and took a flyer on San Diego prospect Andrew Moore.

The Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies took big swings Monday ahead of baseball’s trade deadline, with the Red Sox adding three-time All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman a few hours after the Phillies picked up three-time batting champion Luis Arraez. The pair of aggressive moves highlighted a hectic day of swaps, featuring dozens of deals in the hours leading up to Monday’s 6 p.m. EDT deadline. Among Monday’s other fireworks: the Houston Astros added veteran outfielder Daulton Varsho from Toronto in exchange for right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, and the Chicago Cubs got pitcher Clay Holmes from the New York Mets.

DENVER (AP) — The judge who granted the right to play another year of college sports to some athletes whose eligibility ran out last school year issued a new order to make clear that does not include football players who signed pro contracts this summer then had a change of heart. That change comes after U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney responded to an NCAA request for clarity about her ruling granting a fifth year to athletes who were not included in the new rule that allows five seasons of eligibility for Division I players.