CHARLOTTE SOCCER
Charlotte hoping to continue hosting 2 soccer games annually
(Information in the following story is from: The Charlotte Observer, http://www.charlotteobserver.com)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Charlotte hopes to host two international soccer games at Bank of America Stadium every year for the next 10 years.
The Charlotte Observer reports that Deputy City Manager Ronald Kimble revealed the city’s plans on Tuesday to about 200 people at the Charlotte Rotary Club’s weekly meeting.
Kimble says the events have been an economic success, with last summer’s match between England’s Liverpool F.C. and Italy’s A.C. Milan generating $16 million in spending at Charlotte businesses over that weekend.
The city is hosting two soccer events next month, including a July 25 exhibition match between England’s Chelsea F.C. and France’s Paris Saint-Germain.
Kimble says the city is in contact with teams for potential matches in 2016 and 2017, but he did not name specific teams.
SOCON TOURNEY-ASHEVILLE
SoCon hoops tourneys to remain in Asheville through 2021
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) β Asheville and the Southern Conference basketball championships are staying together into the next decade.
The two sides announced a four-year extension to an agreement to continue playing the tournaments at U.S. Cellular Center through 2021. The existing deal was set to expire in 2017.
As part of the extension, both parties agreed to move the women’s basketball quarterfinals to the U.S. Cellular Center effective in 2016. Those games have been played at UNC Asheville’s Kimmel Arena the past four years.
The Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, with a $375,000 budget to stage the tournament, paid all its bills and had money left over after the 2015 tourney.
The SoCon tourney, which began in 1921 in Atlanta, has been played in 13 cities. Raleigh has 17 tournaments, one more than Asheville.
PHILLIES-REDS
De Jesus homers again as Reds beat Phillies 5-2 for sweep
CINCINNATI (AP) β Ivan De Jesus Jr. homered for the second time in three games, and the Cincinnati Reds swept the Philadelphia Phillies with a 5-2 victory on Wednesday after losing shortstop Zack Cozart to a knee injury.
Cozart twisted his right ankle and knee as he tried to beat out a grounder in the first inning. He crumpled to the ground, rolled on his back and grabbed the knee, wincing in pain. He didn’t put any weight on the right leg as he was helped off the field and taken for an exam.
The Phillies fell to 7-23 away from Citizens Bank Park, their worst road record after 30 games since 1941. They have lost seven straight on the road β their worst such slump in two years β and have been swept three times in their last five series.
STEELERS-GAY
Gay stepping into leadership role for revamped secondary
PITTSBURGH (AP) β Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay suddenly finds himself as the wise old veteran on a secondary in the midst of a youth movement.
The 30-year-old Gay is the longest tenured cornerback on the team following the retirement of Ike Taylor in the offseason. Gay is coming off a career year in which he returned three interceptions for touchdowns as the Steelers won the AFC North.
Gay’s picks were one of the few highlights for a defense that finished 27th against the pass. Gay says that number needs to improve in 2015 even as the Steelers try to work in rookies Senquez Golson, Doran Grant and Gerod Holliman.
Gay added “the sky is the limit” for the Steelers, who finish up spring drills with minicamp next week.
REDS-COZART
Reds shortstop Cozart hurts right knee in slip
CINCINNATI (AP) β Reds shortstop Zack Cozart hurt his right knee during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies and had to be helped off the field.
Cozart tried to beat out a grounder and stretched his right foot toward first base. His foot slipped across the base, causing his ankle and knee to twist. He fell to the ground, rolled onto his back and grabbed his right knee immediately.
Cozart was in a lot of pain as a trainer examined the knee. He didn’t put any weight on the leg as he was helped off the field. Cozart has been one of the NL’s top shortstops this season. He’d homered in three of his last four games.
RED SOX-ORIOLES
Orioles, Chen beat Red Sox 5-2
BALTIMORE (AP) β Adam Jones drove in a run and played exceptional defense behind left-hander Wei-Yin Chen, who earned his second win of the season Wednesday night in the Baltimore Orioles’ 5-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
J.J. Hardy had two RBIs for the Orioles, who will attempt to complete a three-game sweep on Thursday night.
Jones, a four-time Gold Glove winner, threw out a runner from center field and made two fine catches. He also put Baltimore up 3-1 in the third with an RBI single.
Chen (2-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings.
Darren O’Day struck out four during two perfect innings to earn his second save.
Rick Porcello (4-6) gave up five runs and 10 hits over 5 1/3 innings in losing his fourth straight start.
NATIONALS-YANKEES
Span infield hit in 11th lifts Nationals over Yankees 5-4
NEW YORK (AP) β Denard Span had a run-scoring infield hit with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Washington Nationals snapped the New York Yankees’ seven-game winning streak with a 5-4 victory Wednesday.
After the game, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said closer Andrew Miller will go on the disabled list because of a strained forearm muscle, an injury that pushes setup man Dellin Betances into a ninth-inning role.
Michael Taylor hit a tying, two-run homer in the eighth against 22-year-old rookie Jacob Lindgren, helping Washington win for just the third time in 12 games.
Tyler Moore led off the 11th with a single off Chris Capuano (0-4) and advanced on Jose Lobaton’s sacrifice and Danny Espinosa’s tapper back to the mound. Span then hit a high chopper up the middle. Second baseman Stephen Drew fielded the ball as he crossed past second base but Span beat the one-hop throw for his third hit.
Blake Treinen (2-2) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, and Drew Storen was perfect in the 11th for his 19th save, tying St. Louis’ Trevor Rosenthal for the NL lead.
YANKEES-MILLER
Yankees lose closer Andrew Miller to forearm injury
NEW YORK (AP) β The New York Yankees’ dominant bullpen took a big hit Wednesday when the team announced closer Andrew Miller has a left forearm strain and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list.
Manager Joe Girardi revealed the injury Wednesday after a 5-4, 11-inning loss to the Washington Nationals, which ended a seven-game winning streak.
Miller told the Yankees about the injury Tuesday night but said he was feeling it for some time. He had an MRI Wednesday, which showed a slight strain in his flexor mass muscle.
Girardi said Miller will not throw for 10 days to two weeks.
