August 2, 2020 7:38 am
CHICAGO — Tyler Chatwood matched a career high with 11 strikeouts in another terrific performance, and the Chicago Cubs used the long ball to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Saturday night. Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber and Ian Happ homered as Chicago won for the fifth time in six games. The Cubs have gone deep in each of their first eight games for the first time since 1958. Chatwood (2-0) departed after Pittsburgh loaded the bases with two out in the seventh. Jeremy Jeffress came in and retired Phillip Evans on a grounder to third. The Pirates got three in the ninth on Colin Moran’s two-run homer off Kyle Ryan and Gregory Polanco’s run-scoring groundout. But Rowan Wick coaxed pinch hitter Jose Osuna into a fielder’s choice for his third career save.
August 2, 2020 7:42 am
Shortened doubleheaders are about to make their Major League Baseball debut. At least that’s the plan. In this most unpredictable and unusual of seasons, perhaps we shouldn’t take anything for granted. The Detroit Tigers are set to host the Cincinnati Reds in a pair of seven-inning games — a day after the teams were rained out at Comerica Park, more showers are in the forecast. This will be the first doubleheader since MLB approved condensing twinbills to seven innings each this season. Baseball could see an unusually high number of doubleheaders due to positive coronavirus tests causing postponements, plus rainouts.
August 2, 2020 3:30 am
The Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League announced there will be fewer football games among other changes this season as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. On Thursday, the WPIAL board voted to trade the traditional start dates for a “hybrid” option, allowing later dates to be established for each sport and giving schools added flexibility as they transition back to class amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a breakdown of the new plans specific to football:
- Heat Acclimatization may begin as scheduled on Aug. 10
- First scrimmage is now Sept. 3 (opponent as listed on WPIAL schedule for Week 1).
- Week 2 game listed on WPIAL schedule is replaced by Week 9 game.
- With high possibility of PIAA advancing the entry date for the state football tournament (as much as 2 weeks earlier than currently listed dates, WPIAL has adjusted schedules now to accommodate this change. Regular season will now conclude Oct. 23 with a maximum of seven competitions.
IF PIAA offers a state tournament, the following parameters/dates will be used for WPIAL playoffs:
Class 6A: Top 4 teams into Semifinals (Oct. 30-31), Finals Nov. 6-7.
Classes 1A-5A: Eight teams per class into Quarterfinals (Oct. 30-31), Semifinals (Nov. 6-7), Finals (Nov. 13-14).
Classes 1A, 3A, 4A, 5A will take top two teams in each section plus two Wild Card teams (Gardner Points).
Class 2A will take top two teams in each section.
IF PIAA does NOT offer a state tournament and advances the required completion date for the season, the following parameters/dates will be used for WPIAL playoffs: Semifinals (Oct. 30-31), Finals (Nov. 6-7).
Class 6A: Top 4 teams
Classes 1A, 3A, 4A, 5A: Section champions plus one Wild Card team (Gardner Points).
Class 2A: Section champions.
August 2, 2020 7:40 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Winning a World Golf Championship event easily would be the biggest victory of Brendon Todd’s career. He has a recent reminder of how to best protect a lead in the final round — even if that memory is a bit painful. Todd had a two-stroke lead going into the final round at the Travelers Championship in late June only to shoot a 75 and tie for 11th. He shot a 1-under 69 on Saturday at the FedEx St. Jude Invitational to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of this World Golf Championship event.
August 1, 2020 3:36 am
CHICAGO (AP) – Yu Darvish pitched six shutout innings and Jason Heyward drove in two runs, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Darvish allowed two hits, struck out seven and walked one, bouncing back nicely after he struggled in his first start last weekend against Milwaukee. The Cubs are counting on the Japanese right-hander to help anchor their rotation after he finished strong last year. Chicago also got a solo home run from Jason Kipnis in its fourth win in five games. Jarrod Dyson had an RBI single for Pittsburgh.
August 1, 2020 3:38 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The coronavirus continues to alter the Major League Baseball schedule. Friday’s game between Milwaukee and visiting St. Louis had to be postponed after two Cardinals players tested positive for COVID-19. The teams are now expected to play a doubleheader on Sunday. The Cardinals are quarantined in their Milwaukee hotel. The team says it learned of the positive tests on Thursday night. Eight teams have been affected in the first nine days of the season. The Phillies and Marlins haven’t played since Sunday and are on hiatus until at least Sunday after 17 Marlins tested positive while staying in Philadelphia. Four other teams had their schedules altered due to the virus. Meanwhile, Commissioner Rob Manfred spoke to union leader Tony Clark about the importance of players following the sport’s coronavirus protocols. A person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press that the two discussed what is needed to be done to complete the season. ESPN was first to report the conversation. Concerns have been expressed about lax behavior by players on the field – such as spitting or high-fives – and off. The scrambled schedule has also heightened doubts about whether the owners’ desire to play is realistic.
August 1, 2020 3:36 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The NFL has suspended wide receiver Antonio Brown for the first eight regular-season games of the 2020 season. Brown does not have a contract with any team. He was suspended Friday under the league’s personal conduct policy. Brown played one game last season for the Patriots before being released. He can be signed by any team and would be eligible to participate in all of his club’s preseason activities. The suspension would take effect when teams make their final cuts on Sept. 5. Brown’s agent wrote on Twitter that the receiver won’t appeal the suspension.
August 1, 2020 3:39 am
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Brendon Todd will carry a two-shot advantage into the third round of the PGA’s FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Todd followed Thursday’s 64 with a 5-under 65 that leaves him two ahead of Rickie Fowler. First-round leader Brooks Koepka shot a 1-over 71 that drops him into a third-place tie with Chez Reavie and Byeong Hun An at minus-7. Fowler closed with birdies on his final two holes for a 67.
July 31, 2020 3:50 am
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) – The Los Angeles Lakers came back from an 11-point, third-quarter deficit to beat the Clippers, 103-101. Anthony Davis scored 34 points and Lebron James had the go-ahead basket with 12.8 seconds left. James had 16 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to help the Lakers move 6 1/2 games ahead of the Clippers in the NBA’s Western Conference with seven games remaining. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz were 106-104 winners over the New Orleans Pelicans behind Rudy Gobert, who sank two free throws with 6.9 seconds left to cap a 14-point, 12-rebound and three-block performance. Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points for the Jazz, who trailed by 16 in the second half. The Pelicans had a chance to win until Brandon Ingram’s 3-point attempt rimmed out as time expired, a bitter end to his 23-point night.
July 31, 2020 3:48 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Major League Baseball has postponed this weekend’s scheduled series between Toronto and Philadelphia because of concerns about the coronavirus after two Phillies staffers tested positive. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo revealed news of the postponed series Thursday, saying his club was “not going to Philadelphia,” where the series was scheduled to take place. It’s the latest in a series of scheduling changes as baseball attempts to play a 60-game season amid a pandemic that is surging in parts of the United States. Earlier Thursday, word emerged that another player with the Miami Marlins tested positive for COVID-19, bringing their total outbreak to 17 players, according to a person familiar with the situation.
