August 28, 2021 4:02 am
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Louisville has given men’s basketball coach Chris Mack a six-game suspension for failing to follow procedures in handling an extortion attempt by one of his assistants. Mack’s former assistant, Dino Gaudio, pleaded guilty in June to a federal charge of attempted extortion. After Gaudio learned in March that he would be fired, he threatened to go to the news media with alleged NCAA violations by the team.
August 28, 2021 4:04 am
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – Bryson DeChambeau fired a 60 to take the clubhouse lead in the second round of the BMW Championship. DeChambeau had a chance to shoot a 58 before closing his round with consecutive pars, missing putts of 15 and six feet. He’s 16 under through 36 holes and one shot ahead of Patrick Cantlay, who shot a 63 on Friday. Jon Rahm was on the course at 15 under and faced a 15-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole when play was halted by darkness. Sergio Garcia and Sunjae Im are minus 12 and tied for third among those who completed their round. Afternoon thunderstorms halted play for 90 minutes and prevented 21 players from completing their rounds.
August 27, 2021 3:47 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Gregory Polanco turned boos into cheers with the decisive two-run double during an eight-run seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for an 11-7 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Polanco’s double put the Pirates ahead for good at 9-7 and was one of six straight hits off reliever Genesis Cabrera. Down 7-3 going into the seventh, the Pirates tied it with two-run singles by Bryan Reynolds and Wilmer Difo. Polanco then one-hopped the left-center field wall with his double before pinch-hitter Yoshi Tsutsugo capped the outburst with a two-run home run.
August 27, 2021 3:51 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Tennessee Titans’ coronavirus outbreak has grown to nine people. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was among three players added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
General manager Jon Robinson says Tannehill, tight end Geoff Swaim and linebacker Justin March-Lillard are joining four other players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That makes three Titans starters out, along with coach Mike Vrabel and special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman.
August 27, 2021 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – The Philadelphia Flyers have signed top center Sean Couturier to an eight-year contract extension worth $62 million. Couturier counts $7.75 million against the salary cap with his contract that begins after next season and runs through 2029-30. He won the Selke Trophy in 2020 as the NHL’s best defensive forward. Couturier had 18 goals and 23 assists last season. The eighth pick in the 2011 draft has 443 points in 692 regular-season games and 22 more in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The 28-year-old has earned a reputation as a 200-foot player who excels at faceoffs and plays through significant injuries.
August 26, 2021 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Carson Kelly and Pavin Smith hit solo home runs as the Arizona Diamondbacks came back against the Pirates’ bullpen for a 5-2 victory. Kelly’s homer came in the seventh against Pittsburgh reliever Anthony Banda (2-1) to give the Diamondbacks the lead for good. Five Arizona receivers combined to keep the Pirates off the board, including Brett de Geus (3-2) and Tyler Clippard worked around a leadoff double in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.
August 26, 2021 3:49 am
UNDATED (AP) – Yadier Molina says he will end his major league playing career when his current contract expires after next season. Molina announced the decision a day after he accepted a one-year, $10 million contract extension for the 2022 season. The 10-time All Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner has spent his entire career in the Cardinals organization since the team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2000 MLB draft. Molina this season joined Yogi Berra and Johnny Bench as the only catchers in major league history to record 2,000 hits and play in 2,000 games with one team.
August 26, 2021 3:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Former first-round pick Dwayne Haskins appears to have the inside track on landing a job with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The quarterback will get the start for Pittsburgh in the Steelers’ preseason finale against Carolina. Haskins signed with Pittsburgh in January shortly after being cut by Washington. The 24-year-old has played well at times during the preseason and says his confidence has returned. Haskins credited the environment with the Steelers’ organization for helping him get back on his feet.
August 25, 2021 3:47 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – JT Brubaker pitched five scoreless innings for his first win in nearly three months, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2. Brubaker (5-13) allowed four hits with six strikeouts, stranding five runners in scoring position. Since last winning May 29, Brubaker went 0-9 with a 7.08 ERA in 12 starts. Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner (7-8) surrendered four runs on six hits in six innings. Pittsburgh, which is 0-9 with a chance to sweep this season, has won four of five after taking the first two of the three-game set against Arizona.
August 25, 2021 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Caleb Smith has been suspended 10 games and fined an undisclosed amount for having a foreign substance on his glove during a game last week. Smith’s suspension is the second this season as Major League Baseball cracks down on pitchers using sticky substances to get a better grip on the ball. Seattle’s Hector Santiago had his 10-game suspension issued last month. Smith has elected to appeal his suspension, which otherwise would have begun Tuesday night against Pittsburgh. Smith had his glove confiscated after he came off the field in the eighth inning against Philadelphia last Wednesday and was ejected.
