MLB-SCHEDULE
Dodgers win without Greinke…Kazmir a hit in Astros debut…King Felix wins 12th
UNDATED (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t missing a beat without All-Star hurler Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee).
Justin Turner homered and drove in three runs against his former club, emergency starter Ian Thomas hurled five effective innings, and the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 7-2 to take the first two games of their weekend series at Citi Field.
Thomas allowed one run and three hits over five innings in his first major league start. The rookie left-hander pitched in place of Greinke, who left the team Thursday morning for the birth of his first child.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says Greinke will start one game in New York, probably on Sunday.
In other baseball:
— The Pittsburgh Pirates hit three home runs off Washington ace Max Scherzer and beat the Nationals 7-5. Pedro Alvarez and Gregory Polanco hit two-run homers and Neil Walker added a solo shot for the Pirates, who’ve won the first two games of this weekend series. Scherzer had no-hit the Pirates last month.
— NL Central leader St. Louis improved its major league-best record to 62-34 by beating Atlanta 4-2. Randal Grichuk (GRIHCH’-ihk) homered and drove in two. Tim Cooney earned his first major league win by holding the Braves to two runs over seven innings.
— Newly acquired Scott Kazmir pitched seven strong innings in his Houston debut, leading the Astros to a 4-0 win over the Kanas City Royals. The 31-year-old left-hander limited the Royals to three singles while lowering his earned run average to 2.24. The Astros acquired Kazmir this week from Oakland.
— Seattle ace Felix Hernandez pitched seven strong innings to pick up his 12th win of the season, Mark Trumbo hit a two-run homer and the Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-2.
— Josh Hamilton doubled, singled and scored two runs in his return to Angel Stadium, and Texas got 7-plus outstanding innings of four-hit ball from Colby Lewis in a 4-2 victory over the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels.
— The Minnesota Twins used a 14-hit attack to maul the AL East-leading New York Yankees 10-1. Phil Hughes pitched seven shutout innings against his former team to improve to 9-6. Miguel Sano, Trevor Plouffe (PLOOF), Torii Hunter and Brian Dozier homered.
— Tim Beckham snapped an eighth-inning tie with a two-out, bases-loaded single that gave the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-1 victory over Baltimore. The Orioles lost for the first time this season when leading after seven innings.
— The Chicago White Sox blanked Cleveland 6-0 behind a Jose Quintana seven-hitter. Quintana is 5-9 after his first win since July 1. Jose Abreu (ah-BRAY’-oo) homered.
— Boston snapped its eight-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory in 11 innings over Detroit. Xander Bogaerts drove in the winning run. That’s the Tigers’ eighth extra inning loss this year.
— Carlos Gonzalez homered twice, tying the game each time, and Charlie Blackmon scored on a wild pitch in the ninth inning to lift the Colorado Rockies past the Cincinnati Reds 6-5.
— Jimmy Nelson threw seven innings and won a pitching duel with Arizona’s Patrick Corbin, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Diamondbacks 2-1. Ryan Braun homered.
— In interleague play, San Francisco won the opener of the Battle of the Bay series by trouncing Oakland 9-3 behind a 17-hit attack. Hunter Pence had four hits and drove in two for the Giants.
— Matt Kemp, Yonder Alonso and Brett Wallace homered in San Diego’s 3-1 win over Miami.
— Jeff Francoeur (fran-KOOR’) clubbed a two-run home run in the top of the 10th inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs. Francoeur connected off Cubs reliever Rafael Soriano, who just was called up from the minors.
MLB-TRADES
Cards get bullpen help…Angels get Gillaspie
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals have bolstered their bullpen, getting Steve Cishek (SEE’-shehk) in a trade with Miami for a minor league pitcher.
Cishek is 2-6 with three saves and a 4.50 ERA this year. The 29-year-old righty struggled and was sent down to Double-A earlier this season, but had an 0.71 ERA in 13 games since returning to Miami in mid-June.
Cishek has recently been among the most durable relievers in the majors, pitching at least 67 games in each of the past three seasons. He had 39 saves for the Marlins last year and 34 in 2013.
In other trades:
— The Los Angeles Angels acquired infielder Conor Gillaspie from the Chicago White Sox for cash. Gillaspie was designated for assignment by the White Sox last Sunday. He hit .237 with 15 RBIs in 58 games, making 50 starts at third base for last-place Chicago.
He’s likely to get playing time at third base in the next two weeks for the Angels, who lost starting third baseman David Freese to a broken right index finger on Wednesday. Gillaspie also plays first base.
MLB-METS
Mets Cuddyer on DL, prospect Conforto called up
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets promoted top hitting prospect Michael Conforto from Double-A and placed outfielder Michael Cuddyer (kuh-DY’-ur) on the 15-day disabled list. Conforto went 0 for 3 but drove in a run on a groundout in his debut Friday night in a 7-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Cuddyer hasn’t played since Tuesday because of inflammation in his left knee. The 36-year-old is hitting .250 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL-SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
Southern Miss hoops violations
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA says Southern Mississippi’s men’s basketball program and former coach Donnie Tyndall have committed multiple violations.
The charges were outlined in a notice of allegations released by the university.
Among the charges are arranging fraudulent academic credit, impermissible financial aid and obstructing the governing body’s investigation.
Tyndall left Southern Miss to coach at Tennessee in 2014.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-UNC
Tar Heels suspend cornerback Simmons
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina senior cornerback Malik Simmons has been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.
Chapel Hill police records indicate Simmons was arrested early Wednesday morning on Franklin Street and charged with resisting arrest.
He also faces an Aug. 3 court date after he was arrested May 16 on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession.
NFL-SAINTS-GALETTE
Saints cut sacks leader
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The New Orleans Saints have cut Junior Galette, who has been among their top pass-rushers the past two seasons. He signed a four-year, $41.5 million contract extension last year
Galette’s 10 sacks led the Saints last season. His 12 sacks ranked second on the club in 2013. However, he also has dealt with off-the-field trouble.
He was arrested in January after an alleged domestic dispute. Charges were dropped, but the incident remains under review by the NFL.
NFL-SUSPENSIONS
Chiefs, Broncos and Vikings lose players to suspensions
UNDATED (AP) —Cornerback Sean Smith of the Chiefs will miss the first three games of the regular season after being suspended by the league for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Under the policy, first-time offenders generally receive two-game suspensions. But there can be additional discipline depending on the circumstances, and Smith was pulled over by police last year after his car struck and broke a light pole.
Minnesota cornerback Jabari Price has been received a two-game suspension for violating the policy.
Denver defensive end Derek Wolfe will miss the first month of the season for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances. Wolfe said in a statement he took medicine this offseason that he didn’t realize was prohibited by the NFL.
NHL-SIGNINGS
Caps ink Holtby to new deal
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Washington has signed Braden Holtby to a $30.5-million, five-year contract, avoiding arbitration with the goalie.
Holtby is coming off a career season in which he recorded 41 victories, including nine shutouts. He had a 2.22 goals-against average and .923 save percentage
In other hockey:
— The Montreal Canadiens have signed Alexander Semin (SEHM’-ihn) to a one-year contract for $1.1 million. The forward, who once scored 40 goals with Washington, has spent the last three seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. Semin had six goals and 13 assists in 57 games last year with the ‘Canes. They bought out his contract on July 1 and owe the 31-year-old Russian $14 million over the next six years.
PGA-CANADIAN OPEN
Campbell has the lead
OAKVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Chad Campbell’s 9-under-63 gave him in the 36-hole lead at the Canadian Open. His bogey-free round put Campbell at 14-under, two shots in front of Brian Harman who posted a 67.
LPGA-MEIJER LPGA CLASSIC
Thompson shares lead
BELMONT, Mich. (AP) — Lexi Thompson fired a 7-under 64 to grab a share of the lead after the second round of the Meijer (MY’-ur) LPGA Classic. She’s joined by 9-under by Alison Lee who shot a 66 and Lizette Salas who posted a 69.
SENIOR BRITISH OPEN
Rain stops play
BERKSHIRE, England (AP) — Following more than four hours of hard rain the second round of the Senior British Open was shut down. The round will be completed Saturday morning before the third round begins with a two-tee start implemented.
Among those tied for the lead at 5-under are Jeff Sluman (SLOO’-mihn), Lee Janzen, defending champ Bernhard Lanager (LAHN’-gur) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (AHN’-hehl hee-MEHN’-ehz).
TOUR DE FRANCE
Froome is still No. 1
LA TOUSSUIRE, France (AP) — Defending champion Vincenzo Nibali (vin-CHEN’-zoh nee-BAHL’-ee) has won the mountainous 19th stage of the Tour de France. The Italian accelerated out of a group including overall leader Chris Froome during the hardest Alpine ascent.
About 90 seconds behind the winner, Froome lost several seconds to his main rival for the title: Colombia’s Nairo Quintana, who began the stage 3:10 behind in second.
SPORTS-MEDIA
ESPN ends Cowherd’s time
NEW YORK (AP) — ESPN says radio host Colin Cowherd won’t be on the air again before leaving the network in the wake of disparaging remarks he made about major league baseball players from the Dominican Republic.
Major League Baseball and its players’ union issued statements calling Cowherd’s comments “offensive.”
ESPN said earlier this month that Cowherd was leaving the network amid reports he’s going to Fox Sports 1.
