July 15, 2024 4:50 am
The Pirates selected Konnor Griffin with the 9th Pick in Baseball’s Amateur draft. Griffin, a shortstop from Jackson Prep (Mississippi), was ranked as the No. 9 overall Draft prospect by MLB Pipeline, the highest among all prep players. MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis said “he’s got the highest ceiling in the Draft” during MLB Network’s broadcast.
July 15, 2024 4:31 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Joey Bart and Bryan Reynolds homered, Ke’Bryan Hayes had three hits and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their fourth straight game, beating the Chicago White Sox 9-4. Nick Gonzales tripled and drove in two runs for the Pirates, who have won six of seven and reached .500 for the first time since April 27. Andrew Benintendi and Luis Robert Jr. each had three hits for the White Sox, who have lost four straight and 10 of 13.
July 15, 2024 4:36 am
BALTIMORE (AP) — Former NFL receiver Jacoby Jones has died at age 40. Jones’ 108-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains the longest touchdown in Super Bowl history. The Houston Texans were Jones’ team for the first five seasons of his career. They announced his death on Sunday. In a statement released by the NFL Players Association, his family said he died at his home in New Orleans. A cause of death was not given. Jones played from 2007-15 for the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He made several huge plays for the Ravens during their most recent Super Bowl title season, including that kick return.
July 15, 2024 4:38 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Argentina won its second straight Copa America championship, overcoming Lionel Messi’s second-half leg injury to beat Colombia 1-0 on Lautaro Martínez’s 112th-minute goal. Messi appeared to sustain a non-contact injury while running and falling in the 64th minute and covered his face with his hands when he sat on the bench. Martínez later ran to that bench to hug his captain after the goal that propelled Argentina to its record 16th Copa title. In a match that started 1 hour, 22 minutes late because of crowd trouble at Hard Rock Stadium, Argentina won its third straight major title following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup.
July 15, 2024 4:41 am
LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz has defeated Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon men’s final for the second year in a row to collect his fourth Grand Slam title at age 21. Alcaraz won 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (4) in front of a Centre Court crowd that included Kate, the Princess of Wales. A year ago, Alcaraz beat Djokovic in five sets for the title at the All England Club. This one was much easier for the Spaniard and gave him his second major championship in a row after last month’s French Open. He won his first Slam trophy at the 2022 U.S. Open as a teenager. Djokovic was denied in his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title and 25th major overall.
July 14, 2024 7:22 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Bryan Reynolds drove in four runs, Luis Ortiz pitched neatly into the sixth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2. Reynolds had four hits Saturday. He gave Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead in the seventh with a two-run single against reliever Tanner Banks and singled in two more during a three-run ninth, sending the Pirates to their third straight win and fifth in six games. Ortiz gave up one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings in his third start and 25th appearance. The right-hander struck out five and walked one in another strong outing.
July 14, 2024 7:19 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez is set for his first All-Star Game appearance as the replacement for Chris Sale. The Atlanta lefty is scheduled to start for the Braves in the final game before the break. The game is Tuesday night at the home of the Texas Rangers. The Phillies have an MLB-leading eight All-Stars. The Phillies have three All-Stars in their rotation, but only Sánchez has a chance to participate. Right-hander Zack Wheeler had already been ruled out because of back spasms, and lefty Ranger Suárez is out for the same reason. Suárez was replaced by Atlanta’s Max Fried.
July 13, 2024 4:11 am
CHICAGO (AP) — Marco Gonzales made a promising return to the rotation hours after coming off the injured list and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their second straight, 4-1 over the White Sox on Friday night. Ke’Bryan Hayes had a pair of hits, an RBI and scored a run for the Pirates. They’ve won four of five. Gonzales (1-0), who’d been out almost three months with a forearm strain, made his first start since April 13 and scattered seven hits over the five innings. He allowing an earned run, struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. David Bednar, the last of three Pittsburgh relievers, worked the ninth for his 17th save.
July 13, 2024 4:13 am
PHOENIX (AP) — Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes will start the All-Star Game for the National League on Tuesday night, becoming just the fifth rookie pitcher given the honor. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, who will lead the NL team, made the announcement Friday on the SiriusXM MLB Network Radio. Lovullo says: “It’s such a well-deserved honor for him.” A 21-year-old right-hander, Skenes was selected by Pittsburgh with the top pick in last year’s amateur draft. He made his major league debut on May 11 and is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in 11 starts
July 13, 2024 4:15 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson quickly agreed to extend his stay with a New York Knicks team that has been on the rise since his arrival. Brunson signed a four-year contract extension with the Knicks on Friday that a person with knowledge of the details said was worth about $156.5 million. The Knicks did not reveal terms of the deal, which were confirmed to The Associated Press under condition of anonymity. Brunson’s extension will begin with the 2025-26 season. He averaged 28.7 points last season and finished fifth in the voting for NBA MVP.
