March 4, 2021 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez says left-hander Jon Lester will have surgery to have a thyroid gland removed. Lester will leave spring training in West Palm Beach, Florida, and fly to New York for the procedure. Martinez says the 37-year-old starting pitcher is expected to be back at camp in about five to seven days. The starting pitcher originally was scheduled to make his first appearance for Washington in a Grapefruit League game Thursday. In 2006, Lester’s rookie season with the Boston Red Sox ended early because he was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma. He had chemotherapy and returned the next season. Lester is entering his 16th year in the majors and first with Washington. He was a free agent and joined the Nationals on a $5 million, one-year contract after playing the past six seasons with the Chicago Cubs.
In other MLB news: New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is taking a leave of absence from the team to get a pacemaker and intends to return to work in a few days. Bench coach Carlos Mendoza took over as acting manager for Wednesday night’s exhibition against Toronto in Tampa. The 47-year-old Boone is entering his fourth season as Yankees manager.
March 3, 2021 3:54 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Kasperi Kapanen scored two goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2. The Penguins won in front of their fans for the first time in almost a year, as state coronavirus restrictions were eased at the beginning of the month and spectators were allowed into the building. Penguins’ players raised their sticks and saluted the fans in attendance following the win. Bryan Rust scored his seventh, and Cody Ceci and Mike Matheson also scored for Pittsburgh, which has won five of its last seven. Joel Farabee scored twice for the Flyers, whose three-game win streak ended. Carter Hart made 22 saves for the Flyers. Pens captain Sidney Crosby was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list and did not play.
March 2, 2021 11:49 am
Sidney Crosby has been placed on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list and will not play Tuesday, Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Mike Sullivan said. The Penguins are set to play against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. “Sid will not be available for tonight’s game. He will be listed on the NHL’s COVID protocol list. We didn’t have a morning skate this morning due to the NHL’s COVID protocol,” Sullivan said.
March 2, 2021 3:49 am
DALLAS (AP) – The NIT is moving the entire 2021 event to Texas, taking the semifinals and championship game out of New York’s Madison Square Garden for the first time in the 83-year history of college basketball’s oldest postseason tournament. The pandemic is also reducing the field to 16 teams from the usual 32. All games are set for two venues in the Dallas area. First-round games will be played March 17-20, with the quarterfinals March 25. The semifinals are set for March 27, followed by the championship game the next day. Last year’s event was canceled because of COVID-19.
March 2, 2021 3:52 am
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – J.J. Watt has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. The team announced the deal with the free-agent edge rusher on Monday. Watt was released last month by the Houston Texans, for whom he won three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. The 31-year old Watt has been one of the NFL’s best players for a decade, but asked out in Houston, which is undergoing a roster upheaval. Watt joins another former Texans star, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, in Arizona. Hopkins was acquired by the Cardinals in a one-sided trade a year ago.
March 1, 2021 3:58 am
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) – Islanders rookie Ilya Sorokin made 20 saves for his second shutout, and Oliver Wahlstrom and Jean-Gabriel Pageau each scored power-play goals as New York finished a strong February with a 2-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Islanders went 8-2-2 during February with all four losses coming against the Penguins. The teams faced each other six times in the month. The Islanders remained the only team in the league without a regulation loss at home with a 7-0-2 mark at Nassau Coliseum. It was the first time the Penguins were shut out in 20 games this season.
March 1, 2021 3:59 am
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – DJ Funderburk dunked after a Cam Hayes steal to slow down a Pitt rally and swing some late momentum back to N.C. State in a 65-62 Wolfpack victory. Funderburk finished with 13 points in the balanced N.C. State offense. Jericole Hellems notched his second double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, Braxton Beverly added 14 points and Manny Bates added 10 points and six blocked shots. Justin Champagnie scored 10 of his 15 points in the second half for Pitt and pulled down 12 rebounds for his twelfth double-double. Femi Odukale scored 18 with five assists and Terrell Brown scored 11 with 11 rebounds.
February 28, 2021 7:41 am
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — — Kris Letang got his second goal of the game 4:34 into overtime, giving the Pittsburgh Penguins a 4-3 win over the New York Islanders on Saturday night. Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist for Pittsburgh, which won for the sixth time in eight games. Jared McCann also scored and Tristan Jarry made 24 saves as the Penguins beat the Islanders for the fourth time in five meetings this season. Late in the extra period, Letang brought the puck up the ice and fired a shot that went off Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s stick, through the New York forward’s legs and into the top left corner. It was Letang’s fourth of the season, all coming against the Islanders. Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist, and Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey also scored for the Islanders. Semyon Varlamov stopped 27 shots. New York fell to 6-0-2 at Nassau Coliseum, remaining the NHL’s only team without a regulation loss at home. The Islanders went 7-2-2 in February — with all the losses coming against the Penguins.
February 28, 2021 7:38 am
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Once recruited by Kansas State, Sean McNeil showcased why the Wildcats wanted him by coming up strong again for West Virginia. McNeil scored 16 points and No. 10 West Virginia used two big runs in the second half to beat Kansas State 65-43 on Saturday. McNeil is shooting 29 of 54 (54%) from the floor over his last five games, including 18 of 35 (51%) from 3-point range. McNeil has improved his scoring average from 5.5 last year to 11.7 this season. The Mountaineers (17-6, 10-4 Big 12) have won six of their last seven, including wins over No. 18 Texas Tech, No. 14 Texas and No. 17 Kansas.
February 28, 2021 7:39 am
PITTSBURGH — Marcus Weathers scored 28 points plus 14 rebounds as Duquesne defeated Rhode Island 86-75 to end the regular season on Saturday night. Chad Baker added 21 points for the Dukes. Baker also had three blocks and three steals. Tavian Dunn-Martin had 14 points and six assists for Duquesne (8-8, 7-7 Atlantic 10 Conference). Michael Hughes added 10 points, four assists and three blocks. The Dukes posted a season-high 10 blocks. Fatts Russell scored a season-high 27 points for the Rams (10-14, 7-10). Malik Martin added 10 points and six rebounds. Duquesne defeated Rhode Island 71-69 on Jan. 20.
