DETROIT (AP) β James Shields and two relievers combined on a two-hitter as Kansas City blanked Detroit 3-0 to regain a one-game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central race. Rick Porcello pitched well for the Tigers, but Kansas City pushed across two runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain and added another on a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) β Andrew McCutchen hit the first inside-the-park home run of his career and the Pittsburgh Pirates protected their lead in the NL wild-card race, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 last night. The Pirates own a game and a-half lead over Atlanta and Milwaukee for the second wild-card spot. Pittsburgh has won six of seven.
CINCINNATI (AP) β For the second straight night, the Cincinnati Reds beat NL Central-leading St. Louis 4-2, reducing the Cardinals’ lead to three and a-half games over Pittsburgh. The Reds send out 17-game winner Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) in this afternoon’s series finale against the Cardinals Lance Lynn, who’s 15-8.
NEW YORK (AP) β The NFL says former FBI director Robert Mueller (MUH’-lur) will conduct a probe into how the NFL handled evidence as it investigated domestic violence claims against former Ravens running back Ray Rice. The league says the investigation will be overseen by NFL owners John Mara of the New York Giants and Art Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers with Mueller having access to all NFL records.
PROVO, Utah (AP) β The Top-25 college football weekend gets an early start tonight when 25th-ranked and 2-0 Brigham Young hosts 1-1 Houston. BYU popped into the AP Top-25 for the first time since September 2012 on the strength of its 41-7 rout at Texas last Saturday.
