July 29, 2023 4:08 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kyle Schwarber broke out of a slump by hitting a two-run home run and reaching base in all five plate appearances and Zack Wheeler struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Friday night. Schwarber’s blast, his 27th of the season, came off All-Star Mitch Keller in the third inning and carried into the Phillies’ bullpen in center field. Brandon Marsh walked to lead off the inning before Schwarber unloaded with one out. Schwarber also doubled and walked three times. He had gone 1 for 22 in his previous seven games.
July 29, 2023 4:12 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals coach Zac Taylor says quarterback Joe Burrow could miss “several weeks” with a right calf strain. The 26-year-old franchise quarterback hobbled on one leg and then went to the ground after a scramble play near the end of practice Thursday. Backup QBs Jake Browning and Trevor Siemian took the snaps on Friday. Burrow is still negotiating with the Bengals on a long-term contract that could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players.
July 28, 2023 4:30 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Carlos Santana is heading to Milwaukee. The Brewers have acquired the veteran first baseman/designated hitter from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for minor leaguer Jhonny Severino. The 37-year-old Santana hit .235 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 94 games for the Pirates, who have faded to last place in the NL Central following a fast start. The Brewers lead the NL Central as the trade deadline approaches and are hoping Santana can help boost an offense that is just 25th in runs scored.
July 28, 2023 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers rookie cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is back to where he once belonged. Porter has returned to St. Vincent College for the team’s training camp for the first time since he was a ball boy for the club while his father Joey Porter Sr. served as an assistant coach in the mid-2010s. The Steelers drafted the 6-foot-2 Porter with the first pick of the second round, believing his size will help them slow down some of the offenses they’re trying to chase in the AFC.
July 28, 2023 4:36 am
CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was carted off the practice field after he came up hobbling from a scramble. The 26-year-old franchise quarterback hobbled on one leg and then went to the ground after the play near the end of the afternoon practice. Coach Zac Taylor later said it was a calf injury. Burrow was wearing a sleeve on it and came up limping. Burrow is still negotiating with the Bengals on a long-term contract that could make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid players.
July 28, 2023 4:37 am
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — The Colorado board of regents has voted unanimously to leave the Pac-12 Conference and return to the Big 12. The Pac-12 has seemed vulnerable to more poaching. It will lose USC and UCLA to the Big Ten next year and has spent months trying to land a new media rights contract. Now Colorado is leaving at the same time. The Buffaloes say money wasn’t the only lure back to the league where it was a founding member. Chancellor Philip DiStefano noted that Colorado will have more favorable start times across three time zones that will provide better exposure for the school.
July 27, 2023 4:38 am
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ji Man Choi, Bryan Reynolds and Carlos Santana hit home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who held off the San Diego Padres 3-2 to win two of three games. David Bednar loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning and then walked pinch-hitter Juan Soto before getting rookie Taylor Kohlwey to foul out and then striking out Trent Grisham. Bednar hopped off the mound and punched his glove with his fist after securing his 20th save and converting his 16th straight chance. Right-hander Johan Oviedo (4-11) shook off three pitch clock violations and a wild pitch to snap a streak of eight straight losing decisions.
July 27, 2023 4:59 am
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett is ready to make a leap forward entering his second season of the NFL. Pickett and the rest of the Steelers have reported for training camp at Saint Vincent College optimistic after a strong finish to the 2022 season. Pittsburgh won seven of its final nine games to wind up 9-8 and just miss the playoffs. Pickett enters camp firmly entrenched as the starter after beginning camp last summer buried on the depth chart. Pickett says he feels more comfortable this time around and is eager to get to work.
July 27, 2023 4:39 am
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Lindsey Horan scored a revenge goal after being knocked around in the second half and the United States squeezed out a a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands at the Women’s World Cup. The Dutch struck early with Jill Roord’s first-half goal to surprise the Americans. With the draw, neither team secured a spot in the knockout round yet with one group game remaining. The Americans and the Dutch sit atop the Group E standings with a win and a draw, but the U.S. has the edge with more goals.
July 27, 2023 4:42 am
The PGA Tour won’t be supporting the proposal to roll back the golf ball. That’s from Commissioner Jay Monahan in a memo sent to players Wednesday evening. Monahan says there is widespread belief this isn’t good for the game. The USGA and R&A have proposed a modified local rule that would reduce distance by 15 yards for the biggest hitters. The rule would only apply to elite players. It also would allow for two sets of rules. Monahan says he has notified the groups the tour won’t go along with this proposal. The feedback period ends Aug. 15.
