Rahm, Smith Tied At Northern Trust, Final Round Bumped To Monday

August 22, 2021 7:18 am

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) – Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith are getting an unscheduled day off after moving into a first-place tie through three rounds of the PGA’s Northern Trust in New Jersey. Smith fired a course-record 11-under 60 to pull even with Rahm at minus-11. Smith had a chance for the 13th sub-60 score on the PGA Tour before he missed a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 at Liberty National. Rahm twice hit into the water on the second- and third-easiest holes, dropped a combined three shots and had to rally for a 67. Rahm and Smith were one shot ahead of Erik van Rooyen of South Africa, who made 10 birdies for a 62. The final round has been moved to Monday due to the threat of Hurricane Henri in the forecast for northern New Jersey.

Pirates Beat Cardinals Friday Night

August 21, 2021 4:02 am

ST. LOUIS (AP) – Mitch Keller struck out six over five solid innings, Gregory Polanco drove in two runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0. Pinch-hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo hit his first homer with Pittsburgh in the ninth. Keller walked one and worked around six hits in picking up his first victory since May 29. He had allowed 10 earned runs across 14 1/3 innings in his previous three starts since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. Three relievers covered the final four innings to preserve the shutout.

Roethlisberger Excited For New Offense

August 21, 2021 3:49 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is excited to run the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new offense. Roethlisberger, who was held out of Pittsburgh’s first two preseason games, will have his initial opportunity to work with first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada during an in-game setting when the Steelers host Detroit on Saturday.

Larry Fitzgerald Says He Does Not Have Desire To Play Right Now

August 21, 2021 4:04 am

Cardinals 11-time Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald says he currently doesn’t have the desire to play an 18th NFL season, though he left the possibility open that he might resume his career. Fitzgerald told Jim Gray on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio that he’s currently focused on being a radio broadcaster. He said he doesn’t have the urge to play right now, but admitted that could change in the coming months.

King Henry Calls It A Career

August 21, 2021 4:03 am

WASHINGTON (AP) – Veteran NHL goaltender Henrik Lundqvist has announced his retirement on Friday, less than nine months after heart surgery. The 39-year-old Swede starred for the New York Rangers, where he piled up 459 wins along with a a 2.43 goals-against average and 64 shutouts in 15 seasons. He is sixth in NHL history in wins, seventh in saves, eighth in games played and ninth in starts. Lundqvist told a Swedish newspaper that he needs a new heart procedure.

Judge Denies Restraining Order Against Bauer

August 20, 2021 3:51 am

UNDATED (AP) – A Los Angeles judge has sided with Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer and denied a restraining order sought by a woman who said he choked her into unconsciousness and punched her repeatedly during two sexual encounters.  Judge Dianna Gould-Saltman says that according to the 27-year-old San Diego woman’s testimony, Bauer followed the woman’s boundaries when she set them.  It’s a major victory for Bauer, but police and Major League Baseball are still investigating the incidents.

Thomas, Rahm Share Northern Trust Lead

August 20, 2021 3:52 am

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) – Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm share the first-round lead at the PGA’s Northern Trust in New Jersey.  Both opened with an 8-under 63 as the PGA Tour’s postseason began with no shortage of bizarre developments. Rahm was playing for the first time in a month, and Thomas sizzled after a 15-year-old told him to go back to the putter he abandoned earlier this year.  Harold Varner is alone in third, three shots off the lead and one ahead of a group that includes Adam Scott and Tony Finauy.  Bryson DeChambeau also made nine birdies but was done in by five bogeys and two double bogeys that put him eight shots back.  Patrick Reed had to withdraw from the tournament with an ankle injury. The timing is not great for Reed with Ryder Cup qualifying ending after next week. He is No. 9 in the U.S. standings and only the top six automatically qualify for the team.

PONY World Series Championship

August 19, 2021 2:30 am

Brownsville led, 4-1, 7-3 and 9-6 but needed a pair of runs in the eighth inning to beat Youngstown, OH and win the 69th PONY League World Series championship. Ruben Lopez stroked a three-run home run in the fourth, singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth and scored the ultimate game-winner on a Nehemiah Garcia double to win their first-ever championship game.  Youngstown used a three run sixth to tie the game at 9, then loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. But a lineout doubleplay and a groundout ended the walkoff attempt.  After Brownsville took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth, the runners-up again loaded the bases but got only one run before a lineout to center ended the game. Miah Vela pitched the final three innings for Brownsville to get the win. Ruben Lopez finished with three hits and four RBI. Alexis Lopez had two doubles, two singles, a walk, two runs driven in and four runs scored, giving Texas its fifth PONY title, the first since Laredo won ten years ago. Javier Garcia took home the World Series ERA Award, not allowing an earned run in 9.0 innings of work.

Carter Wilson led Youngstown at the plate with four hits and three RBI. Hunter Garvin won the tournament’s Batting Champion Award, hitting .600 (6-for-10) in the World Series. Jake Rynd had three hits but the Host Area runner-up stranded 16 baserunners in the game, their first title game appearance since losing to Washington in the 1955 championship game.

Elizabeth Engle was named PONY Princess with Ava Bowman taking home PONY Hostess honors.  Cameron Dames received the John D. Voytek Memorial Award as Washington County’s leading hitter, going 3-for-9 in the Hosts’ four tournament games.

Dodgers Pummel Pirates, 9-0

August 19, 2021 3:51 am

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Max Muncy slugged two homers and drove in five runs to highlight a power performance by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 9-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Pirates, won their sixth in a row overall, and are now three games behind the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants, who lost to the New York Mets 6-2. AJ Pollock and Corey Seager also homered for the Dodgers. The Pirates were limited to three hits in losing their fifth in a row and 15th in 17 games.

NCAA Investigating Nebraska Football

August 19, 2021 3:53 am

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) – Nebraska has announced that the NCAA is looking into its football program amid allegations Cornhuskers staff improperly used analysts and consultants with the knowledge of coach Scott Frost . The team also allegedly moved workouts off campus last year when such activities were banned during the pandemic.  Athletic director Trev Alberts confirmed the investigation first reported by The Action Network. Citing unidentified sources, The Action Network report said Nebraska has “significant video footage” confirming practice violations occurred in the presence of Frost and other assistants.  Frost said any workouts were approved by his superiors.