September 14, 2024 3:35 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Salvador Perez and Kyle Isbel hit home runs and drove in two runs each, Alec Marsh struck out 11 in 5 1/3 innings, and the Kansas City Royals snapped Pittsburgh’s four-game winning streak with an 8-3 victory over the Pirates. Perez’s two-run shot to left-center capped a six-run second inning when the Royals broke a scoreless tie. Isbel’s solo homer in the fourth pushed the lead to 7-0. Adam Frazier added a solo home run in the eighth. Marsh (8-8) allowed only one run and the 11 strikeouts matched a career high. Pittsburgh’s Luis Ortiz (6-6) was tagged for seven runs – four earned – on five hits in four innings.
September 14, 2024 3:37 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Prosecutors say the driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew as they bicycled on a rural road had a blood-alcohol level of .087. That’s above the .08 legal limit in New Jersey. At a virtual court hearing Friday, they say 43-year-old suspect Sean Higgins also has a history of road rage. A judge has ordered him detained until trial. Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” was home in South Jersey for his sister’s wedding the next day. Defense lawyers say Higgins is a married father with no criminal history before the August 29 crash.
September 13, 2024 4:35 am
A quarterback debate could be brewing in Pittsburgh. Justin Fields says he wants no part of it. Fields will make his second start for the Steelers on Sunday in place of an injured Russell Wilson. Fields avoided mistakes in a season-opening win over Atlanta, with coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith praising his poise. Wilson says his injured calf is getting better but he is focusing on helping Fields get familiar with Denver, where Wilson played for two seasons before getting cut in March. The Steelers are searching for their first 2-0 start since 2020.
September 13, 2024 4:31 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — James Cook caught a touchdown pass and ran for two scores and the Buffalo Bills routed Miami 31-10 on Thursday night, with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaving early because of a concussion. Tagovailoa left in the third quarter after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf. Tagovailoa was quickly ruled out with the concussion, casting doubt on his season after a history of dealing with head injuries. Josh Allen, playing with a glove on his left non-throwing hand after hurting it in Buffalo’s opener, completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards. He’s 12-2 against the Dolphins and the Bills are 14-2 against Miami since coach Sean McDermott’s first year as head coach in 2017.
September 13, 2024 4:33 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion for the third time in his NFL career, leaving his team’s game Thursday night against Buffalo after running into defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf. Tagovailoa remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands before smiling and departing toward the locker room. The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion in college at Alabama. Buffalo won 31-10.
September 12, 2024 4:36 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton is likely to remain with the club in 2025. General manager Ben Cherington says Shelton is “the right person to manage this team” as Shelton finishes up his fifth season. The Pirates have faded down the stretch in 2024 despite the arrival of ace rookie pitcher Paul Skenes. Cherington says he still believes the team is better than it was a year ago and it’s his responsibility to help them close the gap on the rest of the National League Central.
September 12, 2024 2:45 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh left-hander Bailey Falter carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and the Pirates beat the Miami Marlins 3-1 for a sweep of the season series. Falter (8-7) allowed three walks before Jonah Bride dropped a single into left field with one out in the seventh, the first of two hits allowed. Four of Falter’s five strikeouts came in the first five batters, striking out the side in the first inning on 10 pitches. The Marlins lost each of their seven games against the Pirates this season. Jonathan Bermúdez (0-1) got through two innings for Miami, allowing three runs and three hits with one walk in his first major-league start. (Photo: AP)
September 12, 2024 4:39 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL averaged 21.0 million viewers per game during the league’s opening week, making it the most-watched Week 1 on record. The league and Nielsen said Wednesday that the per-game average on TV and digital platforms was a 12% increase over last year. Nielsen began electronic measurement of viewing in 1988. All told, 123 million people saw at least part of one game, its highest total for an opening week since 2019. NBC had the most-watched game, with defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City’s 27-20 victory over Baltimore in last Thursday’s opener averaging 29.2 million on TV and digital. Tom Brady’s first game as Fox’s top analyst — Dallas’ 33-17 win over Cleveland — averaged 23.93 million.
September 12, 2024 4:37 am
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson said he was surprised by the latest civil lawsuit filed against him by a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her four years ago. The woman filed the lawsuit in Texas claiming Watson forced himself on her during a dinner date at her apartment in 2020. Watson says he was unaware of the allegations before Monday. Watson says he can’t be concerned about possible new punishment from the NFL over the matter. The league is examining the new lawsuit to see if he violated the personal conduct policy. He’s made just 13 starts in three seasons with Cleveland.
September 11, 2024 3:50 pm
PITTSBURGH (WPXI) – Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Boswell scored all 18 points for the Black and Gold over six field goals. He hit three of those field goals from more than 50 yards out, including 57, 51 and 56 yard scores. The team said with his performance, Boswell became the first kicker in Steelers history to hit three field goals of more than 50 yards or more. “Can’t say enough about Boz (Chris Boswell) not only in terms of him kicking the ball, but that punt was timely,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “We all know what he’s capable of. I don’t think anybody in that locker room is surprised by what he was able to do. Boswell also stepped up after punter Cameron Johnston suffered a season-ending knee injury in the fourth quarter of the game. “It definitely feels good, but I mean we are right back on to the next week and whatever I did this week has no relevance to next week,” said Boswell after the game. “I have the same mindset I’ve always had. Next kick, good, bad, indifferent. I have to move on to the next one. “Just because I made one, doesn’t mean I’m making the next. So, I’ve just got to stay into every single kick,” Boswell continued. Boswell was previously named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice in his career. He won the honor in Week 6 of the 2015 season and in Week 13 of the 2017 season. He also won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (December/January) in 2015.
