MLB-SCHEDULE
NL West showdown
UNDATED (AP) β The top two teams in the National League West start a weekend series tonight as the Giants play host to the Dodgers. In the standings the Giants hold a 1 Β½ -game lead over the rival Dodgers. The Giants enter the game having won seven of their last 10 while the Dodgers are 5-5. The pitching matchup has Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) of the Dodgers against Tim Lincecum (LINZ’-ih-kuhm).
There’s a good matchup in New York tonight as the Yankees play host to the Blue Jays. In the American League East, the Yankees top the Jays by a percentage point for second place in the division behind Baltimore. The Orioles are in Seattle tonight for a game with the Mariners.
Two of the top teams in the AL continue their series in Anaheim tonight as the Angels entertain the Tigers. Detroit won the opener last night 6-4.
Your remaining games this evening feature Arizona at Philadelphia, the Nationals in Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, which has won seven straight, playing host to Boston, the Padres at Texas, Minnesota hosting the White Sox, the Indians in Kansas City, Milwaukee at home to the Mets, Miami at Houston and the Pirates in Denver against the Rockies.
MLB-RANGERS-MOVES
Rangers use another pitcher
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) β The Texas Rangers have purchased the contract of veteran right-hander Jerome Williams, who will start tonight in the series opener against AL West-leading Oakland. Williams is the 52nd different player, and 31st pitcher, used by Texas this season.
The 32-year-old Williams is 43-51 with a 4.45 ERA in 181 major league games since 2003 for San Francisco, the Chicago Cubs, Washington, Los Angeles Angels and Houston.
NFL-FALCONS
Johnson waived by Atlanta
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) β The Atlanta Falcons have waived wide receiver Darius Johnson. He made a surprising contribution last season after star receiver Julio Jones went down with a season-ending injury. Johnson played in 10 games with two starts, making 22 catches for 210 yards and one touchdown.
NFL-ROLANDO MCCLAIN-ARREST
Judge convicts Cowboys linebacker
DECATUR, Ala. (AP) β A judge has convicted Dallas Cowboys linebacker Rolando McClain of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in his Alabama hometown. McClain has been sentenced to an 18-day jail term that could interrupt his bid to restart his career.
McClain was accused of yelling an obscenity at police trying to arrest him during a disturbance in a crowded city park in 2013.
McClain won’t have to report for his jail sentence until after an appeal is complete in state court and was free to leave the state to report to the Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, California.
NBA-HAWKS-PAYNE
Hawks sign first rounder
ATLANTA (AP) β The Atlanta Hawks have signed Adreian Payne who was the team’s first-round pick last month. The 6-foot-10 power forward from Michigan State was the 15th overall pick in the draft.
Payne averaged 12.5 points and seven rebounds while starting all six games for the Hawks’ Las Vegas summer league team this month.
He finished his college career as Michigan State’s career leader with 141 blocked shots. He averaged 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior.
Terms of the deal were not released.
NASCAR-SCHEDULE CHANGES
Cries for schedule changes fall on deaf ears
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) β A call by some NASCAR drivers for changes in the schedule won’t result in any significant adjustments.
NASCAR Chairman Brian France says nothing drastic will be done to next year’s schedule.
Among some of the suggestions by the drivers are moving dates of races, slicing the number of races, or just adding more time off between races.
CHAMPIONS TOUR-SENIOR BRITISH OPEN
Langer remains in front
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) β Bernhard Langer (LAHN’-gur) followed up his Thursday 6-under 65 with a second round 5-under 66 to grab the midway lead in the British Senior Open at 11-under. The German tops Chris Williams of England, who shot a second-round 1-under 70 to stand 4-under for the tournament, and Scotland’s Colin (KAH’-lihn) Montgomerie, who shot a 66 to finish at 4-under as well.
PGA-CANADIAN OPEN
Furyk goes low, shares lead
MONTREAL (AP) β Two-time champ Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) shot a course record 7-under 63 to grab a share of the lead in the second round of the Canadian Open. Furyk is at 10-under par, tied with Tim Petrovic (peh-TROH’-vihk) who shot 66.
Graham DeLaet (deh-LEHT’) played in the same group as Furyk and also shot a record-tying 63 and is two shots off the pace. He’s trying to become the first Canadian in 60 years to win his country’s national championship.
LPGA-INTERNATIONAL CROWN
U.S. gets on the board
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) β The teams of Lexi Thompson and Cristie Kerr along with Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis scored wins for the United States over Spain in the LPGA International Crown. The victories come a day after the top-seeded U.S. lost twice to Taiwan and was the only country without a point. The Americans will finish off better ball play against Thailand Saturday, trying to earn a spot in the singles matches Sunday that will determine the winner.
NHL-MAPLE LEAFS-REIMER
Reimer, Leafs agree to terms
TORONTO (AP) β Goalie James Reimer (RY’-mur) and the Toronto Maple Leafs have agreed to a two-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.
Reimer lost the starting job to Jonathan Bernier (BURN’-yay) last season, but was forced into service late in the season after Bernier sustained a knee injury.
Reimer was 12-16-1 with a 3.29 goals-against average last season. In four seasons with Toronto, he’s 65-48-15 with a 2.85 GAA.
COOPER-CANCER
Former NBA guard diagnosed with cancer
ATLANTA (AP) β Michael Cooper, who was part of five NBA championship teams with the Lakers, has had surgery for tongue cancer. The 58-year old is the current head coach of the WNBA Atlanta Dream and is a former head coach of the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks.
The Dream report that Thursday’s procedure was successful and Cooper “will be back coaching soon.”
CYCLING-TOUR DE FRANCE
Nibali has big lead
BERGERAC, France (AP) β Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali remains more than seven minutes in front after the 19th stage of the Tour de France. He’s all but assured of rolling through the streets of Paris as the winner of the grueling three-week event on Sunday.
COURT-AARON HERNANDEZ
Judge won’t dismiss murder charge
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) β A judge has rejected a motion to dismiss charges against Aaron Hernandez stemming from the 2013 slaying of a Boston man whose body was found near Hernandez’s home.
Lawyers for the former New England Patriots tight end argued that prosecutors hadn’t shown probable cause to sustain the murder charge against Hernandez in the death of Odin Lloyd.
Bristol Superior Court Judge E. Susan Garsh said in her ruling Thursday that probable cause, and a defendant’s guilt, can be established by circumstantial evidence, and prosecutors don’t need to prove a motive to secure a murder conviction.
Hernandez is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to killing Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. His trial is scheduled to start Jan. 9.
