September 1, 2022 3:46 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams has eliminated No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 in the U.S. Open’s second round to ensure that the 23-time Grand Slam champion will play at least one more singles match. The 40-year-old Williams has hinted this will be the last tournament of her illustrious career. Williams missed about a year of action before returning to the tour in late June at Wimbledon. She lost in the first round there and was 1-3 in 2022 entering the U.S. Open, where she is 2-0 so far this week. She beat Danka Kovinic in the first round before following that up against Kontaveit on Wednesday night in front of a full house at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
August 31, 2022 3:53 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Oneil Cruz went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and scored the go-ahead run as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2. Cruz hit an RBI single in the third inning and a run-scoring double in the ninth. He also broke a 2-all tie in the eighth when he scored from third as Rodolfo Castro drew a bases-loaded walk from Brad Boxberger. Chase De Jong worked the ninth to earn his first career save. The Pirates have won eight of their last 12 meetings with the Brewers after losing each of their first six matchups this season.
August 31, 2022 2:42 am
(WPXI) – The Penguins have announced that head coach Mike Sullivan has signed a three-year contract extension with the team. “Mike is one of the top coaches in the National Hockey League and it was important for us to have him signed long term,” said Penguins General Manager Ron Hextall. “He is a great leader that finds success through communication, honesty and accountability. We know that Sully is committed to continuing a winning culture here in Pittsburgh.” The contract extension officially begins at the end of the 2023-24 season and runs through 2026-27.
August 31, 2022 3:55 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) – Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has begun serving his NFL suspension for alleged sexual misconduct, a punishment that will keep Watson away from the team until Oct. 10. Watson was placed on the reserve/suspended by commissioner list before practice as the Browns finalized their initial 53-man roster. The 26-year-old was accused of sexual misconduct and harassment by two dozen women during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson will miss 11 games, pay a $5 million fine and must undergo mandatory treatment and counseling before he can be reinstated. Watson is not permitted to have contact with team personnel during his suspension.
August 31, 2022 3:54 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Past U.S. Open champions Venus Williams, Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu all have lost in straight sets in the first round of the U.S. Open. Williams, who won two of her seven major titles in New York, was beaten by Alison Van Uytvanck in straight sets Tuesday. Their match came a day after Serena Williams won her first-round match in a much fuller and louder Arthur Ashe Stadium. Venus, who turned 42 in June, has not made any pronouncements about her future in tennis, unlike her younger sibling. Osaka is also a two-time title winner at the U.S. Open and was beaten by Danielle Collins. Raducanu became the third defending champion at Flushing Meadows to bow out in the first round, eliminated by Alizé Cornet.
August 30, 2022 3:42 am
MILWAUKEE (AP) – Garrett Mitchell hit a tying home run in the eighth inning and Keston Hiura connected for a game-ending shot in the ninth as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5. Hiura, who replaced injured first baseman Rowdy Tellez in the fourth, launched a two-run homer off reliever Wil Crowe that bounced off the top of the left-field wall. Willy Adames singled leading off the ninth for the Brewers. Mitchell, starting his second game in the majors after being called up from Triple-A Nashville late last week, belted his first career homer, a two-run drive off Crowe with two outs in the eighth. That earned Mitchell a curtain call from the crowd, which included several family members. Pittsburgh lost for 14th time in 17 games.
August 30, 2022 3:46 am
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Jimmy Garoppolo is staying in San Francisco after agreeing to a reduced contract to be the backup to Trey Lance on the 49ers. A person familiar with the deal says on condition of anonymity that the sides are finalizing a deal to reduce Garoppolo’s $24.2 million base salary for 2022. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced. ESPN reported that Garoppolo will receive a $6.5 million fully guaranteed base salary, $500,000 in roster bonuses and the chance to make nearly $9 million more in playing time bonuses.
August 30, 2022 3:44 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Serena Williams has won her match in the first round of the U.S. Open. Williams beat Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3 under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Williams is a 23-time Grand Slam champion who turns 41 next month and has said she is ready to move on from her playing days. After her victory Monday night, Williams said she has been intentionally vague about whether the U.S. Open will be her last tournament – and wants to keep it that way. She will play again Wednesday in the second round of singles against No. 2 seed Anett Kontaveit.
August 29, 2022 3:53 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Mitch Trubisky staked his claim to be the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, throwing for 160 yards and a touchdown in a 19-9 win over Detroit in the NFL’s preseason finale. Trubisky was at his best late in the first half, leading the Steelers on a 92-yard drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Steven Sims. Rookie Kenny Pickett played well in the second half for Pittsburgh but it appears Trubisky has the inside track to be the starter when the Steelers begin the regular season in Cincinnati on Sept. 11.
August 29, 2022 3:56 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Oneil Cruz, Tucupita Marcano and Bryan Reynolds all tripled and scored, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 to end a seven-game losing streak. The Pirates won for only the third time in 16 games. They also snapped the Phillies’ six-game winning streak. The Pirates became the second team this season to hit three triples in a game. Noah Syndergaard took the loss for the Phillies. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto caught two runners stealing.
