July 8, 2024 4:37 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes’ first All-Star selection was as speedy as his fastball. Just eight weeks after his major league debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 22-year-old right-hander was selected by Major League Baseball for the National League roster in the July 16 game at Arlington, Texas. Skenes’ final outing before the All-Star break is likely to be midweek, so he could be a possibility to start for the NL. He made his first big league start on May 11 and is 5-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 10 starts and 78 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. Outfielder Bryan Reynolds was also named to the squad. It will be his second All Star Game appearance.
July 7, 2024 4:40 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Francisco Lindor hit a two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning against Aroldis Chapman for his third hit of the game, rallying the New York Mets to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nick Gonzales hit a two-run single in the eighth off Edwin Díaz to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead, but the Mets rebounded and again reached .500 at 44-44. Chapman walked Francisco Alvarez leading off the ninth and gave up Harrison Bader’s single. Chapman threw called third strikes past Mark Vientos and Luis Torrens, threw a wild pitch and walked Jose Iglesias before Lindor’s hit.
July 8, 2024 4:44 am
Pete Alonso will participate in his fifth straight Home Run Derby, with the New York Mets first baseman trying to win for the third time. Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson and Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm also have committed to the July 15 event at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Ken Griffey Jr. is the only three-time champion of the derby, which started in 1985, winning in 1994, 1998 and 1999. Alonso won the competition in 2019 as a rookie of Cleveland’s Progressive Field, then repeated in 2021 at Denver’s Coors Field.
July 8, 2024 4:43 am
SILVIS, Ill. (AP) — Davis Thompson is a PGA Tour winner and it wasn’t even close. Thompson opened with five birdies in six holes to pull away. He shot a 64 and set the 72-hole scoring record at the John Deere Classic at 28-under 256, winning by four strokes. The victory gets him in the British Open in two weeks. The Georgia native also goes to the Masters for the first time next April. The real battle was for second place. C.T. Pan tied for second with Florida State sophomore Luke Clanton and Stanford alum Michael Thorbjornsen. Pan gets the British Open spot based on his world ranking.
July 7, 2024 7:21 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Luis Torrens had three hits, including a three-run double, and Edwin Diaz got the save after his 10-game suspension ended earlier in the day as the New York Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2 on Saturday. Torrens hit his double in the third inning to the deepest part of the park at the 410-foot sign in left-center to break a scoreless tie. The catcher also singled twice as the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak. Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his eighth save in 12 opportunities. Diaz was suspended by Major League Baseball after being ejected from a game against the Chicago Cubs on June 23 for having a foreign substance on his pitching hand.
July 7, 2024 7:40 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark posted the first triple-double by a rookie in WNBA history to rally Indiana to an 83-78 victory over New York on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, snapping the Fever’s nine-game losing streak to the Liberty. Clark finished with 19 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds for Indiana (9-13). Aliyah Boston finshed with 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting and had eight rebounds for the Fever. Sabrina Ionescu scored 22 to lead New York, which had won five straight games. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton added 20 points, Clark, the No. 1 pick in the WNBA draft, was one rebound shy of a triple-double two games ago in an 88-82 road victory over the Phoenix Mercury.
July 7, 2024 7:43 am
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) — Police say Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson has been killed in a car crash in Maryland. The 24-year-old Jackson was one of three people who died Saturday in an overnight three-car crash in Prince George’s County. State police say 23-year-old Isaiah Hazel and 24-year-old Anthony Lytton, Jr., who were teammates of Jackson in high school and former college players, were also killed. Police said the car they were in was clipped by another vehicle. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor and charges could be coming, police say. Jackson was a fourth-round draft pick by the Vikings in April.
July 6, 2024 4:11 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes threw seven strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates tied a franchise record by smashing seven home runs in a 14-2 demolition of the New York Mets. Bryan Reynolds homered from both sides of the plate, including a grand slam, and Rowdy Tellez had a grand slam among his two homers. They became the first teammates in major league history to each hit multiple homers including a grand slam in the same game. The 22-year-old Skenes allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts while his ERA ticked up slightly to 2.12.
July 6, 2024 4:12 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes is putting together a resume worthy of an All-Star. Skenes improved to 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA after working seven strong innings in a victory over the New York Mets. The 22-year-old is the first pitcher in major league history to record at least seven strikeouts in nine of his first 10 starts. Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton says Skenes is entering the conversation for All-Star consideration.
July 6, 2024 4:20 am
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar will unveil its hybrid engine system this weekend at the Mid-Ohio race track. It has been a joint effort involving IndyCar and engineers from Chevrolet and Honda, the two engine suppliers for the series. Each took on a different piece of the hybrid system to develop. The system has gone through extensive testing and IndyCar is confident in its product. Drivers will need to learn when to deploy quick, powerful energy boosts that provide about 120 extra horsepower, pushing the total for IndyCar engines over 800 for the first time in decades.
