September 28, 2023 4:41 am
CLEVELAND (AP) — Shane Bieber shut down Cincinnati for six innings and the Cleveland Guardians sent manager Terry Francona off with a victory in his final home game, 4-3 over the Reds, whose playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. Bieber limited the Reds to one run and five hits in just his second start since July 15. The right-hander missed more than two months with elbow inflammation, one of several key injuries that contributed to the Guardians not defending their AL Central title. The Reds are 1 1/2 games behind Chicago and Miami for the last NL wild card with just three games left.
September 28, 2023 4:39 am
Michigan State has fired Mel Tucker, saying the suspended football coach failed to present adequate reasons why he should not be fired for cause after having what he described as consensual phone sex with an activist and rape survivor. The school said Wednesday that it terminated what’s left of Tucker’s $95 million, 10-year contract for acknowledging actions that subjected the institution to ridicule, among other reasons. The woman said Tucker sexually harassed her during the phone call in April 2022. Michigan State informed the 51-year-old Tucker that it planned to fire him on Sept. 18 and gave him a week to respond, which he did on Monday.
September 27, 2023 4:35 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Johan Rojas hit an RBI single in the 10th inning that sent the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and clinched a National League wild-card berth. Rojas’ single off Pirates reliever David Bednar scored pinch-runner Christian Pache and sent the crowd of more than 30,000 fans into a frenzy and the Phillies mobbed each other in celebration. Brandon Marsh homered for the Phillies and Bryce Harper tacked on a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 2-0 lead. Jeff Hoffman (5-2) tossed a scoreless 10th for the win. Bryan Reynolds and Henry Davis hit homers for the Pirates.
September 27, 2023 4:38 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86. The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson’s family. The statement did not say how Robinson died. Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series and homered in Game 1 of the Orioles’ 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first crown.
September 26, 2023 4:32 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow shook off a lingering calf injury, throwing for 259 yards as the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Los Angeles Rams 19-16 to get their first win after starting the season with two losses. Joe Mixon’s 14-yard touchdown run in the third quarter gave the reigning AFC North champs their first lead of the season. Meanwhile, Logan Wilson picked off Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford twice and the Bengals sacked him six times. Stafford finished 18 for 39 for 269 yards as the Rams slipped to 1-2.
September 26, 2023 4:34 am
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Hurts threw for one touchdown and ran for another to help the Philadelphia Eagles remain unbeaten with a 25-11 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hurts also led on his team on a game-ending drive that lasted more than nine minutes. The defending NFC champions are off to a 3-0 start in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1992-93. Hurts improved to 20-1 over his last 21 regular-season games. He tossed a 34-yard TD pass to Olamide Zaccheaus that helped Philly build a 13-3 halftime lead, and his 1-yard scoring run gave the Eagles a 17-point advantage early in the second half.
September 26, 2023 4:36 am
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is in concussion protocol. That puts his status in question for when Las Vegas visits the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Garoppolo was injured in Sunday night’s 23-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Garoppolo took several hits in getting sacked four times and his head bounced off the turf on one play in the fourth quarter. Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was flagged for roughing the quarterback. If Garoppolo can’t play, the Raiders will go with 15-year veteran Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell.
September 25, 2023 4:45 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kenny Pickett passed for 235 yards and two touchdowns in an encouraging performance for Pittsburgh’s offense, and the Steelers held off the Las Vegas Raiders for a 23-18 victory. In the first meeting between the franchises in Las Vegas, the Steelers earned their first road win against the Raiders since 1995. Las Vegas trailed 23-7 going into the fourth quarter. It had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes, but coach Josh McDaniels settled for a short field goal instead of trying to convert a fourth-and-4 at the 8.
September 25, 2023 4:48 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Matt Gay capped a terrific day of kicking with a 53-yard field goal in overtime, giving the Indianapolis Colts a 22-19 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Gay made four kicks from beyond 50 yards, including a 53-yarder that tied it in the final minute of regulation. His chance in overtime didn’t come until after both teams had been stopped on fourth down near midfield. Gardner Minshew, playing in place of injured rookie Anthony Richardson, threw for 227 yards and a touchdown for the Colts. Lamar Jackson ran for 101 yards and two TDs for the Ravens.
September 25, 2023 4:47 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — TJ Friedl hit a two-run homer and drove in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning as the Cincinnati Reds bounced back from an historic collapse the night before to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. Joey Votto received ovations all day and singled in what could be his final home at-bat for the Reds. Christian Encarnacion-Strand added a solo homer for Cincinnati, which began the day 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the final National League wild card. The Reds have five games remaining, all on the road. Cincinnati blew a 9-0 lead in a crushing 13-12 loss to the Pirates on Saturday, but on Sunday rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Despite starting 20-8, the Pirates were assured their fifth straight losing season.
