MLB-SCHEDULE
Rangers, Astros lose
UNDATED (AP) β The Seattle Mariners cooled off the Rangers on Friday, keeping Texas atop the AL West by 2 Β½ games over Houston.
The Rangers had won five straight before the Mariners’ bullpen held them hitless over 4 2/3 innings to secure a 3-1 triumph at Texas. Ketel Marte (KEH’-tul mahr-TAY’) opened the scoring with a two-run double in the second inning before scoring on Kyle Seager’s single. Rangers manager Jeff Bannister was ejected for arguing that Marte’s two-run hit should have been ruled a foul ball.
In Houston, the Astros led 3-2 until Danny Valencia belted his second homer of the night, a two-run shot in the eighth inning of Oakland’s 4-3 victory. Josh Reddick homered for the Athletics, who trailed 3-0 before sending the Astros to their fifth consecutive loss.
Jed Lowrie had two RBIs and Chris Carter homered to highlight Houston’s five-hit attack.
In other major league finals:
β Kansas City’s magic number to win the AL Central remains six after Dixon Machado’s bases-loaded single gave Detroit a 5-4, 12-inning win over the Royals. The Royals went ahead on Paul Orlando’s RBI grounder in the top of the 12th after Salvador Perez extended the game with a two-run homer in the ninth. But Greg Holland blew the save by walking Tyler Collins with the bases loaded before Machado ended it.
β Marcus Stroman was terrific in his second start since returning from a knee injury, allowing a run and six hits in seven innings to pitch Toronto past Boston 6-1. The Blue Jays broke it open with a three-run fourth as Justin Smoak hit a two-run double and scored on a triple by Ryan Goins. The Jays’ third straight win leaves them atop the AL East by 4 1/2 games over the Yankees.
β The Mets reduced their magic number for winning the NL East to eight by defeating the Yankees, 5-1. Rookie Steven Matz is 4-0 after scattering seven hits while allowing just one run over six innings. Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy and Juan Uribe (yoo-REE’-bay) homered for the Mets.
β Washington stayed eight games behind the Mets by defeating Miami 5-4 on Jose Lobaton’s (LOH’-bah-tohnz) sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th. Michael Taylor’s RBI single put the Nationals ahead 4-3 in the eighth, but the Marlins extended the game on Dee Gordon’s sac-fly. Clint Robinson homered for the Nats.
β Starlin Castro tied career highs with two home runs and six RBIs as the Cubs whipped St. Louis 8-3 in the opener of an important three-game series for both teams. The second baseman snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run homer in the fifth, one inning before his three-run blast capped the scoring. The Cubs’ fourth straight win puts them within six games of the NL Central-leading Cardinals and moved them closer to wrapping up a playoff berth.
β Pittsburgh remains five games behind the Cardinals. Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) is 18-3 with a major league-leading 1.65 ERA after giving up two runs and four hits in seven innings of the Dodgers’ 6-2 win over the Pirates. Rookie Corey Seager smacked a two-run homer and Adrian Gonzalez delivered a two-run double as the Dodgers reduced their magic number for winning the NL West to eight over San Francisco.
β Rubby De La Rosa combined with four relievers on a two-hitter as Arizona blanked the Giants, 2-1 in San Francisco. De La Rosa picked up his 13th win by limiting the Giants to one hit in 5 2/3 innings. San Francisco’s loss gives the Cubs a magic number of seven for wrapping up an NL playoff berth.
β Carlos Santana launched a grand slam and Francisco Lindor (LIHN’-dohr) added a solo blast in the Indians’ 12-1 laugher over the White Sox. Michael Brantley had three hits and two RBIs to support Cody Anderson, who held the White Sox to a run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.
β Grady Sizemore laced a three-run double while Tampa Bay scored six times in the fifth to beat Baltimore 8-6. Mikie Mahtook (MY’-kee MAH’-took) was 5-for-5 with a run scored as the Rays ended a two-game skid.
β Brandon Finnegan won his first big league start by yielding just one run and three hits in five innings of Cincinnati’s 5-3 win at Milwaukee. Jay Bruce put the Reds ahead for good with a solo blast in the fourth inning.
β Chad Bettis held San Diego to a run and four hits in five innings of Colorado’s 7-4 triumph over the Padres. Dustin Garneau lined a two-run double and Jose Reyes added a two-run single for the Rockies.
β Atlanta beat Philadelphia 2-1 as Williams Perez gave up a run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Cameron Maybin’s RBI single snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth.
β The Angels and Twins were rained out in Minnesota, creating a split doubleheader on Saturday. Both teams are battling for the final AL wild-card berth.
MLB-NEWS:
Nelson remains hospitalized
UNDATED (AP) β Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson will remain in a hospital for at least one more night after being hit in the back of the head by a line drive in last night’s game against St. Louis. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell says the extra day in the hospital is precautionary as doctors want to make sure Nelson is 100 percent. Counsell also said there are no indications at this point that Nelson sustained a concussion.
Elsewhere in the majors:
β The Reds played Friday without Joey Votto (VAH’-toh), who served a one-game suspension after it was reduced from two games earlier in the day. Votto was punished for his tantrum during a game in St. Louis last week.
β Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick has been reinstated from the disabled list after missing 34 games because of a strained left hamstring. Kendrick was hitting .296 with nine homers and 49 RBIs in 105 when he was injured Aug. 10.
GOLF-WOODS-SURGERY
Woods undergoes second back procedure
UNDATED (AP) β Tiger Woods has announced on his website that he has undergone a second microdiscectomy (MY’-kroh-dihs-KEHK’-toh-mee) surgery on his back.
Woods reported the microsurgical procedure was performed late Wednesday in Park City, Utah, by neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Rich. He pulled out of three events he planned to play this year and isn’t expected to return to the tour until January at the earliest.
The 14-time major champion hasn’t won one of golf’s four biggest events since the 2008 U.S. Open. He is winless in all events since the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
NFL-NEWS
Johnny Football is Johnny Starter
UNDATED (AP) β Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel (man-ZEHL’) will start Sunday’s home opener against Tennessee because Josh McCown remains out with a concussion.
This will be Manziel’s third NFL start. McCown was injured on Cleveland’s opening drive last week against the New York Jets and has not been cleared by an independent neurologist to practice.
Manziel came off the bench after McCown was injured and threw his first career touchdown pass, but also committed three turnovers in a 31-10 loss.
Elsewhere:
β Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson was limited in practice for the second straight day Friday, leaving his status in jeopardy for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. The 38-year-old is trying to recover from a dislocated shoulder he suffered late in last week’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
β Green Bay will be without veteran starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga for their home opener against Seattle on Sunday night after he injured his left knee in practice yesterday. The setback comes a year after the sixth-year pro suffered an injury to the same knee in the Packers’ season-opening loss at Seattle.
β Carolina middle linebacker Luke Kuechly (KEEK’-lee) has not been cleared to return after suffering a concussion in the season opener. That makes Kuechly doubtful for Sunday’s game against Houston.
β Bills cornerback Corey Graham has been cleared to return for Sunday’s game against New England. Graham suffered a concussion on the first play from scrimmage in the season-opening win over Indianapolis.
β Atlanta strong safety William Moore has been fined $23,152 for initiating contact with the crown of his helmet against Eagles receiver Jordan Matthews during the Falcons’ 26-24 win Monday night. The NFL announced the fine Friday even though Moore did not draw a penalty on the play.
β The Santa Clara Police department says four people have been arrested on suspicion of felony assault in the beating of a Vikings fan outside Levi’s Stadium following the 49ers’ 20-3 victory over Minnesota on Monday night. All parties had left when police arrived at the scene, but a video of the assault surfaced Tuesday morning on social media and helped lead to the arrests. One of the alleged assailants was a season ticketholder, while another was a female juvenile.
NHL-TRAINING CAMP NEWS
Kane cheered in camp debut…Pacioretty named Canadiens captain
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) β Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was greeted with loud cheers in his first public appearance with the Stanley Cup champions since he became the subject of a sexual assault investigation.
Kane reported for the start of training camp at Notre Dame and he got a warm reception during a scrimmage.
Kane is accused of assaulting a woman in her 20s in August at his offseason home outside Buffalo, New York, a person familiar with the investigation has told The Associated Press. No charges have been filed, and Kane says he has done nothing wrong.
In other hockey news:
β The New York Islanders have signed defenseman Marek Zidlicky to a one-year contract. The 38-year-old Zidlicky had seven goals and 34 points in an NHL-high 84 regular-season games for New Jersey and Detroit last season.
β Max Pacioretty (pah-chee-ohr-EH’-tee) was voted captain of the Montreal Canadiens by his teammates, becoming only the third American to take the role with the storied franchise. The 26-year-old former University of Michigan product has been taking French lessons and opened his press conference by reading a prepared statement in French.
NASCAR-CHICAGOLAND
Rain washes out qualifying; Harvick on Chicagoland pole
JOLIET, Ill. (AP) β Rain has washed out qualifying for the opening race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship at Chicagoland Speedway. Kevin Harvick will start his title defense from the pole Sunday after posting the best practice speed. Joey Logano will start alongside Harvick, just in front of Brad Keselowski and Martin Truex Jr.
Sixteen drivers are in the hunt for the season title with Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson sharing the top seed based on their season-best four wins each.
GOLF- BMW CHAMPIONSHIP
Day in driver’s seat at BMW
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) β Jason Day is holding a five-shot lead after the second round of the BMW Championship. The PGA Championship winner is a tournament-record 18 under after rounds of 61 and 63.
Daniel Berger and Brendan Todd hold down second at 13-under. Berger shot a 64, Todd a 63. Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth (SPEETH) is tied with Kevin Na at 11 under.
GOLF-SOLHEIM CUP
Europe edges ahead
ST. LEON-ROT, Germany (AP) β English teenager Charley Hull helped win both of her matches as Europe held a 4-2 lead over the US on the darkness-suspended the opening day of the Solheim Cup. The 19-year-old Hull teamed with Gwladys Nocera of France defeated American rookie Alison Lee and Angela Stanford 3 and 2 for the home team’s fourth point.
Morgan Pressel (PREH’-sehl) and Paula Creamer won their morning alternate-shot match for the Americans, while Cristie Kerr and Lexi Thompson added another point with the morning win.
The US trails in one and is all square in the other of the matches that were suspended due to darkness.
T25 FOOTBALL-FLORIDA STATE/BOSTON COLLEGE
Seminoles plod through win at BC
BOSTON (AP) β Ninth-ranked Florida State looked rather ordinary against Boston College on Friday, but it was enough to secure its 25th consecutive ACC victory.
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey returned a fourth-quarter fumble 36 yards for a touchdown to secure the Seminoles’ win in Boston, 14-0 over the Eagles. Everett Golson threw for FSU’s other touchdown but was just 15 of 24 for 119 yards.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-BAYLOR-DISMISSAL
Armstead booted by Baylor
WACO, Texas (AP) β Baylor has dismissed junior tight end Tre’Von Armstead for an unspecified violation of team rules.
Coach Art Briles announced the dismissal in a brief statement that offered no other details. Armstead played 27 games for the Bears, with five catches for 62 yards and one touchdown.
FOOTBALL-REFEREE HIT
Players: Coach told us to hit ref
DALLAS (AP) β Two Texas high school football players say a coach told them to strike a referee during a game because of missed calls that had hurt the team.
During an appearance Friday on ABC’s “Good Morning, America,” the players for Jay High School in San Antonio also repeated earlier claims that the ref had used racial slurs.
Michael Moreno says he regrets hitting Robert Watts and wants to apologize. Victor Rojas says he was just doing what he was told.
Watts has denied using any slurs.
