Cruz HR Keys Pirates Over Brewers

August 3, 2022 3:52 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) –  Rookie Oneil Cruz hit a three-run homer to spark a five-run sixth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 5-3 victory over the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, snapping a seven-game skid. Cruz hit a blast to dead center field off reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, pulling the Pirates into a 3-all tie. Pittsburgh then added two runs to win for the first time since July 23. The Brewers had their four-game winning streak snapped, one day after trading All-Star closer Josh Hader to San Diego. Milwaukee had also won seven of eight.

MLB Trade Deadline; Soto To Padres

August 3, 2022 3:49 am

CHICAGO (AP) –  Baseball’s trade deadline day was an action-packed affair – and no one had more fun than the Padres. San Diego made the biggest splash, acquiring Juan Soto in a massive deal with the Washington Nationals. The sweet-swinging Soto, still just 23 years old, joins Manny Machado in the middle of the Padres’ order, and Fernando Tatis Jr. is on his way back after being sidelined by a broken left wrist. The Cardinals and Yankees also swapped big leaguers, with Gold Glove-winning center fielder Harrison Bader going to New York in exchange for left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery.

Pirates Deal Quintana & Stratton To Cardinals

August 2, 2022 3:54 am

ST. LOUIS (AP) –  Jose Quintana has parlayed his success in Pittsburgh into a job in St. Louis. The Pirates traded have the veteran left-handed pitcher along with reliever Chris Stratton to the Cardinals on in exchange for reliever 24 year old Johan Oviedo and corner infield prospect 21 year old Malcolm Nunez. The 33-year-old Quintana signed a one-year deal with the Pirates last fall intent on re-establishing himself as a starter after spending most of the last two seasons working out of the bullpen with multiple clubs. Quintana delivered, going 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA in 20 starts with Pittsburgh, including 5 2/3 shutout innings last week against Philadelphia.

MLB Trade Deadline Day

August 2, 2022 3:55 am

NEW YORK (AP) – The trade market got busy ahead of Tuesday’s deadline, with the New York Yankees acquiring pitcher Frankie Montas from Oakland for four prospects. As contenders bulked up ahead of stretch runs and possible postseason appearances, San Diego got All-Star closer Josh Hader from first-place Milwaukee, and Houston obtained DH and first baseman Trey Mancini from Baltimore as part of a three-team trade that included Tampa Bay. World Series champion Atlanta brought back infielder Ehire Adrianza from Washington, the Yankees got reliever Scott Effross from the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox obtained left-hander Jake Diekman from Boston.

Norman; Woods Turned Down $700M Saudi Offer

August 2, 2022 3:50 am

Tiger Woods turned down a Saudi offer Greg Norman says was in the neighborhood of $700 million to $800 million. Norman confirmed a figure he previously told the Washington Post. Norman was speaking to Fox News’ Tucker Carlson for an interview aired Monday night. The interview took place Sunday at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey. That’s where the third LIV Golf Invitational was held. Norman says he wasn’t the CEO of LIV Golf when Woods got the offer. Woods has spoken out against the Saudi-funded league. He says players who sign are turning their backs on the PGA Tour.

Pirates Drop Seventh Straight; Now Last In Division

August 1, 2022 3:58 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Alec Bohm fell a triple shy of the cycle, tying a career-high with four hits in an 8-2 win for the Philadelphia Phillies that completed a four-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bohm hit his seventh homer of the season in the sixth, a solo shot that gave him four hits on just five pitches and extended Philadelphia’s lead to seven runs. It was his second game with four hits in the majors, the first since going 4 for 5 against the Washington Nationals on June 23, 2021. Philadelphia had a season-high 18 hits to win its fifth straight and hand Pittsburgh a seventh straight loss.

MLB; Trade Deadline Approaching

August 1, 2022 3:56 am

When Juan Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year deal to stay with the Washington Nationals, it ensured Tuesday’s trade deadline would have a little juice. It’s shaping up to be a memorable one, with MLB’s expanded postseason helping nearly 20 teams remain in contention. The Soto sweepstakes could include even more bidders than that. The 23-year-old is a two-time All-Star, a Home Run Derby champion, a World Series winner and famously one of the most difficult at-bats in baseball. Pry him away from the Nationals, and a club could enjoy 2 1/2 seasons of Soto and his signature batter’s box shuffle before he can test free agency.

Cleveland Browns Quarterback Deshaun Watson Suspended For Six Games

August 1, 2022 3:55 am

(AP) – Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy following accusations of sexual misconduct made against him by two dozen women in Texas during massage treatments. A disciplinary officer who reached that conclusion said his behavior “more egregious than any before reviewed by the NFL.” Watson, who played for four seasons with Houston before being traded to Cleveland in March, recently settled 23 of 24 lawsuits filed by women alleging sexual harassment and assault during massage therapy appointments in 2020 and 2021. The NFL has three days to appeal the decision by disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson.

Bill Russell Dies At 88

August 1, 2022 3:52 am

BOSTON (AP) –  The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday. The statement did not give the cause of death, but Russell was not well enough to present the NBA Finals MVP trophy in June due to a long illness. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. His last two were as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport. Russell was a Hall of Famer, five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star. He won with defense and rebounding and waged battles with Wilt Chamberlain. Russell also marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and stood with boxer Muhammad Ali when he refused military induction.

Bythemissal Wins the Adios

July 31, 2022 8:25 pm

WASHINGTON, PA — On paper, North America Cup winner Pebble Beach and Meadowlands Pace champion Beach Glass looked many lengths better than the rest of the field in Saturday’s $350,000 final of the Delvin Miller Adios Pace for the Orchids at The Meadows. Bythemissal reminded everyone that a premier test for 3-year-old pacers is not contested on paper. The local gelding moved powerfully first over to defeat Beach Glass by 1-1/4 lengths, springing an 8-1 odds upset for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke. Bythemissal had lost only once in his six-race career, but it was that 5-3/4-length pasting by Pebble Beach in last week’s Adios eliminations that sent bettors looking elsewhere. Page indicated that race served as a sort of an introduction to top-level competition for Bythemissal. “Last week was the prep race,” said Page, in only his second Adios. “I was really confident in how he came out of the race and how he finished. Ronnie said he had a great week this week, so I just needed to make sure I kept him out of trouble. I got him in play a little bit but away from the 53.4 half.”

“We wanted to race him a little more aggressively, but it didn’t work out,” Burke said. “But you don’t make the move he made last week to finish second and not be good. You can’t be three deep and make up ground against real good horses. Chris had him double wrapped up at the wire. Chris is never confident, and he was supremely confident with this horse. At the half today, I thought, if Chris can get wheeled up by the three-quarters, it’ll be on. My horse has the will to win. You get him close, he’s gonna get ya.”

It’s the second blanket of orchids for Burke, whose massive stable is based at The Meadows, as he also prevailed with Dorsoduro Hanover–still active and a double millionaire. He also was assistant trainer for his father Mickey when the elder Burke won the Adios with May June Character–the final win of that horse’s career.

ADIOS NOTES: Handle for the 16-race Adios Day card surged to $1,294,602, highest total in recent memory. Bythemissal’s time matched the track record for geldings established by Alsace Hanover.