July 30, 2021 3:49 am
TOKYO (AP) – Olympic star Simone Biles says she’s been dealing with a bout of “the twisties” since last Sunday and is uncertain whether she’ll continue to compete at the Tokyo Games. The “twisties” are gymnastics code for when an athlete can’t figure out where they are in relation to the ground during a routine. Biles withdrew from the team and all-around competition because she felt she wasn’t mentally prepared.
– United States swimmer Caeleb Dressel watched his Olympic record fall in the 100-meter butterfly, only to take it right back. Minutes after Hungary’s Kristof Milak took down the mark in the first semifinal heat, Dressel went even faster with a time of 49.71 seconds in the second heat.
– American Ryan Murphy was second in the 200-meter backstroke at the Tokyo Games with a time of 1:54.15. Murphy was a double-gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Games, extending what had been America’s dominance of the backstroke events that went back to 1992. Russia’s Evgeny Rylov set an Olympic record to win the event and complete a backstroke sweep.
July 30, 2021 3:51 am
NEW YORK (AP) – The Detroit Pistons are hoping Cade Cunningham will be a key component to their rebuilding program. The Pistons have used the first pick in the NBA Draft to take Cunningham, who a first-team Associated Press All-American as a freshman this past season. The 6-foot-8, 220-pound point guard averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists for Oklahoma State. He possesses a game that allows him to hit from 3-point range, score off the dribble or find teammates out of traps. The Rockets used the second selection to take G-League product Jalen Green. The Cavaliers went with center Evan Mobley with the third choice. The Raptors picked up Florida State forward Scottie with the fourth selection, and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs went to the Magic and No. 5.
July 29, 2021 3:51 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Lorenzo Cain and Luis Urias hit two-run doubles, Adrian Houser pitched five scoreless innings and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-3 on Wednesday night. Cain’s hit in the fourth inning pushed the Brewers’ lead to 3-0. Urias’ double came during a three-run sixth that made it 6-0. Houser allowed two hits while striking out two and walking one. He is 4-0 in his last 11 starts and the Brewers have won each of his last eight outings. Pirates rookie Rodolfo Castro became the first player in major league history to have his first five hits all be home runs.
July 29, 2021 3:52 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith seeks consistency heading into his second NFL season. He’s also excited to be back in the mix with the NFL’s top-ranked pass rush. Highsmith closed the 2020 season opposite T.J. Watt as the Steelers’ starting right outside linebacker. This season, Highsmith will compete for additional playing time on the right side with newly signed veteran outside linebacker Melvin Ingram.
July 29, 2021 2:32 am
Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been named U.S. men’s hockey coach for the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. Sullivan will be behind the bench if the NHL participates. There is not a deal currently in place to send NHL players to the Olympics. Negotiations are ongoing. Sullivan coached the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017. USA Hockey expects to name his assistants later this summer.
July 28, 2021 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Omar Narvaez homered and had four RBIs, Brett Anderson pitched six strong innings and the Milwaukee Brewers scored eight runs in the first two innings to roll past the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 9-0 victory on Tuesday night. Narvaez’s home run started a three-run first inning, and his two-run single highlighted a five-run second against Luis Oviedo, who was making his first major league start. Anderson yielded three hits while striking out three and walking one. He has won both starts against the Pirates this season, allowing one unearned run in 13 innings. He is 5-1 against them lifetime.
July 28, 2021 3:44 am
SEATTLE (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates have indeed traded left-hander Tyler Anderson to a playoff contender – he’s going to the Seattle Mariners, not the Philadelphia Phillies. Earlier in the day, reports circulated the Pirates were close to sending the 31-year-old Anderson to the Phils. Instead, he wound up on the other coast, when the Mariners made their second trade of the day that involved pitching. Seattle sent a pair of minor leaguers, catcher Carter Bins and righty Joaquin Tejada, to the Pirates. Anderson is 5-8 with a 4.35 ERA in 18 starts. Hours before that, the Mariners traded Kendall Graveman, one of the best relievers in the majors this season, and pitcher Rafael Montero to AL West-leading Houston for infielder Abraham Toro and reliever Joe Smith.
July 28, 2021 3:51 am
TOKYO (AP) – Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title. The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself from the team final following one rotation because she felt she wasn’t mentally ready. Jade Carey will take Biles’ place in the all-around. Carey initially did not qualify because she was the third-ranking American behind Biles and Sunisa Lee. International Gymnastics Federation rules limit countries to two athletes per event in the finals. The organization said Biles will be evaluated before deciding if she will participate in next week’s individual events.
July 28, 2021 2:45 am
(AP) – The Vegas Golden Knights have traded reigning Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks. The reported return of a minor leaguer indicates it was a salary dump. Fleury counts $7 million against the salary cap next season. Chicago was not on the 36-year-old’s 10-team no-trade list. Agent Allan Walsh says Fleury will be taking time to talk to his family and seriously evaluate his hockey future. Among other goalie moves around the NHL, Vancouver’s Braden Holtby and San Jose’s Martin Jones will become free agents after going on buyout waivers.
July 27, 2021 3:47 am
NEW YORK (AP) – Reliever Clay Holmes was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates for infielders Diego Castillo and Hoy Park. Holmes is 3-2 in 44 relief appearances with 44 strikeouts and 35 walks in 42 innings. The 28-year-old right-hander has held right-handed batters to a .173 average. Holmes is 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA in four major league seasons. The 25-year-old Park appeared in one major league game on July 16 against Boston. He is batting .307 with 10 doubles, 11 homers and 32 RBIs for Somerset and Triple-A Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
