Connecticut Sun Eliminate Caitlin Clark & Indiana Fever

September 26, 2024 4:32 am

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Alyssa Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Connecticut Sun sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night. The third-seeded Sun will now face Minnesota in the semifinals which begin Sunday. Clark played much better in Game 2 than she did in her postseason debut last Sunday. The AP Rookie of the Year finished with 25 points and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough. Aliyah Boston added 16 points and 19 rebounds.

Pirates Fall To Brewers

September 25, 2024 4:30 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Willy Adames secured his first 30-20 season in the Milwaukee Brewers’ 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. Adames stole second after an infield single, his first of two hits, with one out in the second inning. It was the 20th stolen base for the seven-year veteran to go along with 32 home runs. He and 20-year-old rookie Jackson Chourio (21 homers, 21 stolen bases) are the first Brewers teammates to go 20-20 in the same season. Hoby Milner (5-1) pitched a perfect fifth inning for the win in relief of Tobias Myers. Pirates starter Bailey Falter (8-9) gave up four runs and five hits, striking out five and walking one in five innings.

Pirates Release Rowdy Tellez & Michael A. Taylor

September 25, 2024 4:32 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have released first baseman Rowdy Tellez and outfielder Michael A. Taylor and promoted infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Josh Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis. The moves came with just six games left in the season and Pittsburgh out of playoff contention. Tellez recovered from a slow start to hit .243 with 13 home runs and 56 RBIs in 131 games. The Pirates had signed Tellez to a one-year deal in the offseason. Taylor, like Tellez signed to a one-year deal, hit just .193 with five home runs, 21 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 113 games. His playing time diminished in recent weeks after the Pirates moved shortstop Oneil Cruz to center field.

Justin Fields To Remain At QB

September 25, 2024 4:33 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is in no hurry to announce Justin Fields as the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh. While Fields will again get the nod in place of the injured Russell Wilson when the unbeaten Steelers visit Indianapolis, Tomlin stopped short of giving the job to Fields on a full-time basis. Tomlin said there’s no need to make that kind of decision because Wilson still has not been cleared to play. The 35-year-old nine-time Pro Bowler has been limited in recent weeks after aggravating a calf injury days before the opener against Atlanta.

Brett Favre Says He Has Parkinson’s Disease

September 25, 2024 4:28 am

WASHINGTON (AP) — Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre told a congressional committee Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Favre made the announcement as part of his testimony about a welfare misspending scandal in Mississippi. Favre does not face criminal charges, but he has repaid just over $1 million in speaking fees funded by a welfare program in the state. He was also an investor a biotech company with ties to the case that said it was developing concussion drugs. It is unclear if Favre’s disease is connected to his football career or head injuries.

Bengals Fall To 0-3 With Loss To Commanders

September 24, 2024 4:35 am

CINCINNATI (AP) — Rookie Jayden Daniels threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score in a remarkably efficient performance, and the Washington Commanders stunned Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals 38-33. Daniels finished 21 of 23 for 254 yards, with the No. 2 overall draft pick setting an NFL rookie record for completion percentage at 91.3%. The Commanders scored on every possession except for kneel-downs at the end of each half and have not punted or turned the ball over in their last two games. Neither Washington nor Cincinnati punted or turned it over, the first time that’s happened in the Super Bowl era. The Bengals fell to 0-3.

Josh Allen Throws 4 TD Passes As Bills Roll

September 24, 2024 4:31 am

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes in the first half and the Buffalo Bills scored on each of their first five drives in a 47-10 win over a misfiring Trevor Lawrence and the unraveling Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen went 22 of 28 for 247 yards in the first 30 minutes alone, with completions to nine receivers. He only attempted two passes after halftime. And he spread the wealth, completing touchdown passes to Dalton Kincaid, Keon Coleman, Khalil Shakir and Ty Johnson. James Cook opened the scoring with a 6-yard run. Buffalo’s defense limited the Jaguars to 70 yards, five first downs and a field goal in five first-half possessions.

NFL Suspends Charges Safety

September 24, 2024 4:29 am

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James has been suspended one game without pay by the NFL for repeated violations of rules intended to protect players’ health and safety. James has five unnecessary roughness penalties in his last 18 games, the most in the league by a defensive player. All five have involved blows to the head of an opponent with his shoulder or helmet. Jon Runyan, the league’s vice president of football operations, pointed to James’ targeting of Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth during the third quarter of Sunday’s game as the last straw.

Phillies Clinch NL East

September 24, 2024 4:28 am

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies have won the NL East for the first time since 2011, clinching the division title with a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs. Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto went deep. Phillies fans went wild. And pitcher Aaron Nola provided a taste of just how great it would feel for the franchise if Philly went all the way this time. The Phillies won their 12th division crown and have their sights set on the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs. Seeking their third World Series championship following titles in 1980 and 2008, the Phillies overtook Atlanta for the division lead on May 3 and haven’t trailed since.

Justin Fields Shines In Steelers Win Over Chargers

September 23, 2024 4:40 am

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another and the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away late to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 20-10. Pittsburgh improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020 behind another efficient performance from Fields. The quarterback completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III midway through the fourth quarter that broke it open. Fields also added a 5-yard touchdown run and is quietly making a compelling case that he should be the starter even after Russell Wilson’s injured calf heals. The Chargers lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert in the third quarter with an ankle injury.