December 26, 2019 3:50 am
CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago White Sox have continued their somewhat pricey makeover. A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press that veteran slugger Edwin Encarnacion has accepted a one-year, $12 million contract with the White Sox. Encarnacion is due $11 million in salary next season and a $1 million signing bonus, with the White Sox holding an option for the 2021 season. Encarnacion hit 34 home runs in 109 games for Seattle and the Yankees last season. Encarnacion joins former AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and catcher Yasmani Grandal as big-money additions this offseason.
December 23, 2019 3:54 am
TORONTO (AP) – The Toronto Blue Jays have landed the National League’s reigning ERA champion. A person familiar with the negotiations tells The Associated Press the Jays have worked out a four-year, $80 million package with Hyun-Jin Ryu. The South Korean native compiled a 2.32 earned run average and tied his career high for victories, going 14-5 with 163 strikeouts in 182 2/3 innings. Ryu was named to the 2019 NL All-Star team and finished second in the league’s Cy Young balloting. He is 54-33 with a 2.98 ERA in 126 big league games since 2013, all with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
December 22, 2019 8:07 am
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Marcus Weathers scored 14 of his career-high 22 points in the second half and Duke improved to 10-0 with an 86-77 win over Austin Peay in the St. Pete Shootout. Sincere Carry added 16 points for the Dukes, who are off to the best start since the 1953-54 team went 22-0. That team reached No. 1 in February of 1954 and featured Sid Dambrot, father of current head coach Keith Dambrot, as a guard. Tavian Dunn-Martin scored 13 points, Maceo Austin had 12 and Baylee Steele 11 of the bench for the Dukes, who shot 51% and made 30 of 24 from the foul line.
December 22, 2019 8:05 am
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) – Jake Virtanen and J.T. Miller scored power-play goals in the first period, leading the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Elias Pettersson and Brock Boeser also scored for the Canucks. Tyler Myers had two assists. Jake Guentzel scored for the Penguins (21-11-4)
December 21, 2019 4:14 am
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Myreon Jones scored 11 of his 21 points in the first half and No. 23 Penn State routed Central Connecticut 87-58. Izaiah Brockington scored 11 points and Lamar Stevens added 10 for the Nittany Lions, who won as a ranked team for the first time in 23 seasons. It was Penn State’s third straight win and 12th in a row at home dating to last season. Ty Outlaw had 14 points for the winless Blue Devils.
December 21, 2019 4:10 am
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) -Tristan Jarry made 26 saves, Jared McCann scored and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2. Chad Ruhwedel, Joseph Blandisi, Kris Letang and Brandon Tanev also scored for the Penguins, who have won four straight. Zack Kassian and Riley Sheahan scored for the Oilers, who have lost six of their last seven. The Penguins haven’t lost to the Oilers in regulation since 2006. Both teams play again on Saturday.
December 20, 2019 3:48 am
UNDATED (AP) – A person familiar with the process says that the Baseball’s players’ union has filed a grievance against the New York Yankees in an attempt to regain the remaining $26 million due released outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. New York converted Ellsbury’s $153 million, seven-year contract to a non-guaranteed deal. The team contends he violated the agreement by getting unauthorized medical treatment. The Yankees released the 36-year-old outfielder last month.
December 19, 2019 2:41 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges will get a chance to rebound. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says Hodges will start against the New York Jets despite throwing four interceptions in a loss to Buffalo in his previous start. Tomlin said Hodges has earned the right to bounce back. Pittsburgh is 3-1 this season when Hodges starts and 4-2 when he plays. Tomlin noted he provided the same opportunity to quarterback Mason Rudolph earlier this season following a four-interception game against Cleveland. The Steelers can clinch a playoff berth with victories in their final two games.á
December 18, 2019 3:09 am
MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) – Josh Williams hit four free throws in the final four seconds of the game to allow Robert Morris to hold off Central Michigan 83-79. The Chippewas took a brief lead with just under four minutes to play when David DiLeo hit a 3 to make it 71-70, but AJ Bramah missed a layup, grabbed the offensive rebound while drawing a foul. His two free throws put Robert Morris ahead for good.
December 17, 2019 3:42 am
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Drew Brees (breez) has added his name to one more NFL record. Brees is the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes after tossing four more in the Saints’ 34-7 thrashing of the Colts in New Orleans. The scoring strike that broke Peyton Manning’s record of 539 career touchdown passes came in the third quarter, when Brees hit tight end Josh Hill for a 5-yard score. He came into the game already holding NFL records for completions and passing yards before helping the Saints improve to 11-3. Brees also broke a single-game record for completion percentage by connecting on 29 of his 30 attempts for 307 yards in a little more than three quarters. The 6-8 Colts dropped their fourth in a row to eliminate themselves from playoff contention.
