July 20, 2020 3:53 am
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) – Richard Childress Racing had a successful day at Texas Motor Speedway. Austin Dillon stayed in front after a restart with two laps to go and beat rookie Tyler Reddick to the checkered flag. That gave Childress a 1-2 NASCAR Cup finish and quite a show for spectators spread out in the stands. Dillon raced to his third career win and first since Daytona at the start of the 2018 season. He stayed in front on three late restarts, the first after an incident with 29 laps left that shuffled the fast car of Ryan Blaney to a lap back. Joey Logano finished third, with Kyle Busch coming in fourth a day after he finished ahead of the field in two races. Series points leader Kevin Harvick was fifth.
July 20, 2020 3:54 am
TORONTO (AP) – The Toronto Blue Jays want to play their home games in a major league ballpark this season. That’s according to pitcher Anthony Bass, who says the front office is working to find a major league ballpark for the team. Bass said he spoke with general manager Ross Atkins and emphasized that players prefer a big league stadium. The veteran reliever added that players are willing to share a home venue with another team and make other sacrifices. Canada denied the Blue Jays’ request to play at Rogers Centre because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging.
July 19, 2020 7:31 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Cleveland Indians made a very public show of support for social justice before their 5-3 exhibition win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Indians stood with their right hands over their hearts and their left hands on the right shoulder of their teammates during the national anthem. Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor says the display was a sign of support for social justice. Lindor says the team held a lengthy meeting about what to do and came up with a plan they believe helps the call attention to the situation without being disrespectful to the American flag.
July 19, 2020 7:26 am
Pirates catcher Luke Maile underwent surgery to repair a fractured right index finger on Friday, July 17. The fracture was sustained after being by hit by a pitch in Thursday’s intrasquad game at PNC Park. The surgery was performed by Dr. Edward Birdsong at Allegheny Health Network in Wexford, PA. Maile is projected to resume competitive baseball activities in 10-12 weeks.
July 19, 2020 7:28 am
UNDATED (AP) – The NFL has informed teams their training camps will open on time. League executive Troy Vincent sent a memo to general managers and head coaches on Saturday informing them rookies are to report by Tuesday, quarterbacks and injured players by Thursday and all other players should arrive by July 28. The league and the NFL Players Association are still discussing testing for the coronavirus and other health and safety protocols. Union leadership expressed several concerns in a 90-minute conference call with reporters Friday. However, under the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL can impose report dates.
July 19, 2020 7:27 am
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) – The fast greens were to Jon Rahm’s liking Saturday as he took over the Memorial lead at Muirfield Village. Rahm began play one shot back before carding a 68, while previous co-leaders Ryan Palmer and Tony Finau shot 73. Rahm now enjoys a four-shot edge heading into Sunday’s final round. He took control with four straight birdies on the back nine before closing with consecutive pars. Danny Willett is alone in fourth place, six shots back and one ahead of Jason Day and Henrik Norlander. Tiger Woods shot a 71 after barely making Friday’s cut. He’s 10 strokes back.
July 18, 2020 9:23 am
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) – Tiger Woods teetered on the cut line before earning two more rounds at the Memorial. Woods followed Thursday’s 1-under 71 with a 76 that puts him at plus-3 in his first PGA tournament since the coronavirus pandemic. He missed a pair of 3-foot putts and took a double bogey from the fairway before a birdie-par finish left him one over the cut line. Woods is a five-time winner at Muirfield Village, but his current 36-hole total is his worst since his first time playing it 23 years ago. Ryan Palmer fired a 68 to pull into a tie for the lead with Tony Finau at 9 under. Jon Rahm is one stroke back.
July 18, 2020 4:22 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Joe Musgrove will be the opening day starter for the Pittsburgh Pirates when the club opens the 2020 season in St. Louis. First-year manager Derek Shelton credited Musgrove for the way he’s embraced a leadership role in recent months for a rotation missing Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer. While Musgrove is eager to make it the first opening day start of many, the Pirates will likely begin the season without closer Keone Kela and right fielder Gregory Polanco. Polanco has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus while Kela is dealing with an undisclosed health issue.
July 18, 2020 4:25 am
UNDATED (AP) – An ESPN survey finds most of the highest-paid college football coaches have avoided the voluntary salary reductions that have swept Power Five programs. ESPN surveyed the 65 Power Five conference schools along with 10 other prominent basketball programs. At 33 of the 75 schools, at least one of either the football and basketball coach had agreed to have his pay cut to deal with the financial crisis brought on by the pandemic. But eight of the 10 football coaches with the largest salaries during the 2019-20 academic year have not had their salaries reduced, including Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Alabama’s Nick Saban, the two highest-paid coaches in the the sport. Among basketball coaches half of the 10 highest paid have not taken cuts.
July 18, 2020 4:24 am
UNDATED (AP) – A total of 315 Division I football games have been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. According to Associated Press research, 102 Football Bowl Subdivision games are off. That number is 255 for the Football Championship Subdivision. Included in those numbers are 42 matchups between FBS and FCS teams. The Colonial Athletic Association, Ivy League, Patriot League and MEAC have canceled or postponed their seasons. The Big Ten and Pac-12 have canceled non-conference games. The CAA is allowing its members to play as independents this season. A total of 223 Division II games are off.
