MLB-SCHEDULE
Astros lead continues to shrink
UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball’s tightest division race is in the AL West following another loss by the first-place Houston Astros.
Sonny Gray improved to 12-4 with a 2.06 ERA by tossing a five-hitter in Oakland’s 3-1 win over the visiting Astros. Danny Valencia’s solo homer put the A’s ahead 2-0 in the third inning. Billy Burns and Josh Phegley each added two hits and an RBI as the Athletics cut Houston’s division lead to 1 ½ games over the Los Angeles Angels.
The Astros lost for the fourth time in five games despite Luis Valbuena’s 21st home run.
The Angels were 8-4 winners against Baltimore as Mike Trout went 2-for-3 with his 33rd home run and two runs scored. Pinch-hitter C.J. Cron gave the Halos breathing room with a two-run blast in the seventh. Chris Ianetta’s (eye-ah-NET’-uhz) two-run double in the sixth put the Angels ahead to stay and allowed them to withstand homers by Matt Wieters (WEE’-turz) and Jonathan Schoop (skohp).
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays have climbed within 3 ½ games of the AL East-leading New York Yankees by taking the series opener in the Bronx.
Jose Bautista launched a tiebreaking, solo homer in the top of the 10th to lift the Jays past the Yanks 2-1. Josh Donaldson smacked his 30th homer of the year to put the Blue Jays ahead in the first inning, but Mark Teixeira (teh-SHEHR’-uh) countered with his 30th home run in the second.
R.A. Dickey scattered six hits in seven innings before the Jays earned their sixth consecutive win.
Checking out the rest of the major league finals:
— Rookie Michael Conforto sparked a two-run ninth as the Mets picked up their seventh consecutive win, holding off Tampa Bay 4-3. Conforto laced a game-tying double and scored the go-ahead run on a single by Wilmer Flores. Before that, Juan Uribe (yoo-REE’-bay) and Daniel Murphy hit game-tying, solo homers, but Evan Longoria gave the Rays their final lead with a solo blast in the eighth.
— Carlos Gonzalez helped the Mets stretch their division lead to 2 ½ games over Washington. The Nationals led 4-1 until Gonzalez ripped a grand slam in the eighth inning to push Colorado past the Nats 5-4. Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit an RBI grounder and scored twice while Washington built a 4-0 lead, but he struck out to end the game.
— Lance Lynn struck out seven in six shutout innings as St. Louis blanked Milwaukee 6-0 to keep its six-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central. Rookie of the Year candidate Randal Grichuk (GRIH’-chuk) crushed a three-run homer in the Cardinals’ six-run sixth. Stephen Piscotty and Matt Carpenter delivered RBI doubles to help the Redbirds improve to a major league-best 70-39.
— Pittsburgh beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 on a bases-loaded single by Pedro Alvarez in the bottom of the 10th. Gregory Polanco led off the bottom of the first with a homer to end Clayton Kershaw’s shutout streak at 37 innings. Jimmy Rollins had two RBIs for the Dodgers, who still lead the NL West by three games over the Giants.
— Rookie Kyle Schwarber had two hits and two RBIs as the Cubs won for the eighth time in nine games, downing San Francisco 7-3. Schwarber poked a two-run single to ignite Chicago’s five-run fifth inning. The Cubs are 12 games over .500 for the first time in seven years, putting them 1 1/2 games ahead of the Giants for the last NL playoff slot.
— Edinson Volquez scattered four hits in seven innings of Kansas City’s 3-2 triumph over the Chicago White Sox. The game was tied 1-1 in the sixth until Lorenzo Cain hit an RBI double and scored on Eric Hosmer’s single. The Royals still lead the AL Central by 9 ½ games over Minnesota.
— Texas led 3-2 in the sixth until Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano (kuh-NOH’) hit back-to-back solo homers to lift Seattle past the Rangers, 4-3. Mark Trumbo also went deep off Cole Hamels, who served up all three gopher balls in his first loss in two starts since joining the Rangers. Bobby Wilson lined a two-run double for Texas.
— Torii Hunter smacked a tiebreaking, solo homer in the ninth inning as Minnesota downed Cleveland 10-9 to end a five-game losing streak. Brian Dozier also homered and Hunter was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Yan Gomes (gohmz) belted a three-run homer and had four RBIs for the Indians, who turned a 6-0 deficit into a 9-7 lead before the Twins rallied.
— The Braves scored four runs in the seventh to beat Miami 6-3. Nick Markakis (mahr-KAY’-kihs) snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run single and A.J. Pierzynski (peer-ZIHN’-skee) finished with two RBIs for Atlanta.
— David Ortiz cracked a two-run homer, and Hanley Ramirez and Xander Bogaerts (ZAN’-dur BOH’-gahrts) slapped two-run doubles in Boston’s 7-2 verdict over the Tigers in Detroit. Joe Kelly entered the game with a 6.11 ERA before holding the Tigers to two runs while striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings.
— Chase Anderson combined with two relievers on a five-hitter as Arizona shut out Cincinnati 2-0. Anderson gave up four hits while striking out seven in seven innings. Welington Castillo homered for the third time in five games, a solo shot in the seventh to double the Diamondbacks’ lead.
— Philadelphia beat San Diego 4-3 on Cameron Rupp’s solo homer in the 12th inning. The Padres led 3-0 following Justin Upton’s 2-run triple in the bottom of the third, but the Phillies eventually knotted the score on solo blasts by Domonic Brown, Ryan Howard and Code Asche (ASH’-ee).
MLB-TRADES
Indians and Braves pull off three player deal…Rangers take a Nap
ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have acquired outfielders Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher from the Cleveland Indians for Chris Johnson. Bourn is batting just .246 with 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases for the Indians this season, three years after making the All-Star game as a member of the Braves. Swisher has compiled a .198 average in 30 games, and Johnson has a .235 average with two homers and 11 RBIs.
The Braves also receive cash in the deal.
Mike Napoli is returning to the Texas Rangers after struggling for Boston this season.
The Red Sox have shipped the first baseman and cash to the Rangers for a player to be named or cash.
Napoli batted .207 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs in 98 games for the last-place Bosox this year.
And the Oakland Athletics have acquired minor league right-hander Dawrin Frias from the Mets, completing a deal that sent left-hander Eric O’Flaherty and cash to New York on Tuesday.
MLB-METS-INJURIES
Wright on track for Monday rehab start
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Mets third baseman David Wright remains on target to start a minor league rehab assignment Monday in an effort to return from spinal stenosis. Mets manager Terry Collins said today that Wright will keep working out at New York’s spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Florida, through Saturday.
The Mets also said outfielder Michael Cuddyer (kuh-DY’-ur) could return this weekend after missing the last two weeks with left knee inflammation.
NHL-KANE INVESTIGATION
Police investigating NHL and NFL players
HAMBURG, N.Y. (AP) — The police chief of a suburban Buffalo community confirms his department has launched an investigation into Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane. Hamburg, New York, chief Gary Wickett says police are still gathering information and awaiting forensic tests following the alleged incident at Kane’s off-season home over the weekend.
The investigation began on Sunday night, when several plainclothes officers searched the grounds around and the inside Kane’s home.
NHL-DUCKS
Winger agrees to new deal with Ducks
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Right wing Jakob Silfverberg has agreed to a four-year, $15 million contract with Anaheim through the 2018-19 season. He set career highs with 13 goals and 26 assists last season, playing frequently on the second line for the Pacific Division champs. He broke out in the postseason with four goals and 14 assists in just 16 games as Anaheim fell one victory short of the Stanley Cup final.
NFL-49ERS-SMITH
Niners cut loose Smith
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith has been released by the team after being arrested on Thursday on charges of hit and run, drunken driving and vandalism. This was his fifth run in with the law since being drafted by the team in 2011 and fourth arrest.
One of those arrests came two years ago when he was booked on drunken driving charges and missed five games in 2013 after that arrest and went into a substance abuse rehabilitation clinic.
Last fall, Smith received a nine-game suspension for what the league called violations of its substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.
WORLD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Furyk moves in front
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Jim Furyk (FYOOR’-ihk) owns a healthy four-shot lead at the midway point of the PGA’s Bridgestone Invitational. Furyk fired a second straight 66 for an 8-under total in a tuneup for the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. Shane Lowery, Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson share second, one stroke ahead of Graeme McDowell, first-round leader Danny Lee and Henrik Stenson.
PGA-BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP
Gonzales, Steele share lead
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Andres Gonzales had 11 birdies and a bogey in a 21-point round for a share of the second-round lead with Brendan Steele in the Barracuda Championship.
Steele matched Gonzales at 26 points in the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford event, scoring 18 points with an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey at Montreux Golf and Country Club.
CHAMPIONS TOUR-SHAW CHARITY CLASSIC
Monty goes low
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Colin Montgomerie has a one-stroke lead over Peter Senior through one round of the Champions Tour’s Shaw Charity Classic in Alabama. Montgomerie opened with an 8-under 62 that included nine birdies. Scott McCarron, Michael Allen and Stephen Ames are part of a six-way tie for third at minus-5, as are Tommy Armour III, Corey Pavin and Skip Kendall.
LPGA-SUGGS OBIT
LPGA legend Suggs dies
UNDATED (AP) — The LPGA Tour says Hall of Famer Louise Suggs has died in Sarasota, Florida. She was 91.
Suggs was perhaps the most influential player in LPGA history and one of the tour’s 13 founders in 1950. She served as LPGA president three times and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame and the LPGA Teaching and Professional Hall of Fame.
Suggs won the 1947 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 1948 British Ladies Amateur and the 1949 U.S. Women’s Open by 14 shots over Babe Zaharias (zah-HEHR’-ee-as).
The LPGA Tour named its rookie-of-the-year award after Suggs.
SWIMMING-PHELPS
Phelps sizzles in the pool
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Michael Phelps turned in his fastest time in the 200-meter butterfly since setting the world record in a high-tech suit six years ago.
Phelps was timed in 1 minute, 52.94 seconds at the U.S. national championships Friday night, demonstrating he could be a factor at the Rio Olympics next year. The performance follows months of lackluster performances and serious problems away from the pool.
It would have been good enough for gold at the 2012 London Olympics, where he finished second.
NASCAR-TONY STEWART
Stewart sued over driver’s death
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — The family of a young driver struck and killed by Tony Stewart’s car on an upstate New York sprint racing track has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the NASCAR star.
The lawsuit was filed as Stewart returns to Watkins Glen International on the one-year anniversary of the fatal crash.
The lawsuit accuses Stewart of gross negligence, saying he gunned his engine and put his car into a skid as 20-year-old Kevin Ward Jr. walked onto the track after a crash at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. The car struck Ward, and he was killed.
A grand jury declined to indict Stewart, who at the time called it “100 percent an accident.”
MINNESOTA-TEAGUE RESIGNS
Minnesota AD resigns
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The University of Minnesota’s athletic director has resigned after being accused by two female co-workers of drunkenly groping them and sending them lewd and graphic text messages.
The university released redacted transcripts of the sexual harassment complaints against Norwood Teague, which included texts to one woman in which he asked her to skinny dip and to let him perform a sexual favor for her.
