Professional sports

Japan women beat France 74-70 in their Olympic hoops opener (07/26 10:04 pm)

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Saki Hayashi scored 12 points and Moeko Nagaoka added 11 to help Japan beat France 74-70 on Tuesday in the Olympic opener for both teams. It was a tight game throughout and Japan led 52-49 after three quarters before France quickly tied it at 55 with 6:48 left. The teams then exchanged leads over the next few minutes...
Olympics Latest: Surfers head into semifinals of competition (07/26 10:02 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- The Latest on the Tokyo Olympics, which are taking place under heavy restrictions after a year's delay because of the coronavirus pandemic: ------ Brazilian men and American women are leading the final day of competition in surfing, which is making its Olympic debut...
Northern lights: Alaska teen shocks with Olympic swim gold (07/26 9:58 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- Alaska, of all places, has an Olympic champion at the pool. Seventeen-year-old Lydia Jacoby gave the United States a victory in the women's 100-meter breaststroke, knocking off teammate and defending champion Lilly King on Tuesday. Jacoby was the first swimmer from the Arctic state ever to make the U.S. Olympic swimming team...
Red Sox rally late, extend lead over Blue Jays with 5-4 win (07/26 9:56 pm)

BOSTON (AP) -- Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox rallied late for the second straight game, beating Toronto 5-4 on Monday night in the opener of an important series for the Blue Jays. Boston star Rafael Devers added a solo homer on the four-year anniversary of his first major-league shot...
Red Sox rally late for 2nd straight game, beat Blue Jays 5-4 (07/26 9:49 pm)

BOSTON (AP) -- Alex Verdugo hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox rallied late for the second straight game, beating Toronto 5-4 on Monday night in the opener of an important series for the Blue Jays. Boston star Rafael Devers added a solo homer on the four-year anniversary of his first major-league shot...
McNeil lifts Mets over Braves 1-0 for doubleheader split (07/26 9:45 pm)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Jeff McNeil laced his second go-ahead hit in two days Monday night, when his RBI double in the fifth inning sent the New York Mets to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves and a doubleheader split. Kyle Muller threw five sharp innings to earn his second big league victory in the opener, a 2-0 win for the Braves...
US swimmer Lydia Jacoby wins gold in women's 100M breaststroke, first Alaskan ever to make US swim team (07/26 9:31 pm)

** US swimmer Lydia Jacoby wins gold in women's 100M breaststroke, first Alaskan ever to make US swim team TOKYO (AP) -- US swimmer Lydia Jacoby wins gold in women's 100M breaststroke, first Alaskan ever to make US swim team.
Panthers sign Sam Bennett to 4-year deal; Sam Reinhart next? (07/26 9:07 pm)

Sam Bennett re-signed with the Florida Panthers on Monday, inking a four-year contract worth $17.7 million with the team that has been a good fit for him since joining at the trade deadline. Bennett put up six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 10 regular-season games with the Panthers after they acquired him from Calgary. The 25-year-old was a point-a-game player during Florida's playoff series, too, with a goal and four assists...
Salazar gets lifetime ban for sexual, emotional misconduct (07/26 8:57 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- Track coach Alberto Salazar has been permanently banned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport for sexual and emotional misconduct. Salazar has 10 days to appeal the decision, which was handed down Monday. The SafeSport center does not reveal details of investigations...
Recovering from gunshots, Vikings rookie likely out 1st half (07/26 8:55 pm)

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings rookie defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, who has been recovering from four gunshot wounds, likely won't play in the first half of the season. Twyman, a sixth-round draft pick from Pittsburgh, was waived Monday per NFL procedure. ...
Tokyo Olympics: A success? A failure? And how to judge? (07/26 8:53 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- Will it be a success? A failure? Or none of the above? It will take something much more nuanced than those basic notions to assess the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics when they wrap up in two weeks. The response will be twisted by dozens of parties with their own interests...
GLIMPSES: As rain arrives and typhoon nears, Olympics endure (07/26 8:36 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- The rains came to Tokyo on Tuesday morning. After many days of blistering sunshine and summer humidity, enough to cause discomfort and heatstroke at some venues in recent days, the rain cooled Tokyo by about 10 degrees Tuesday morning, taking the edge off...
Alternate Olympic surfer: Rival 'selfish' for COVID report (07/26 8:30 pm)

ICHINOMIYA, Japan (AP) -- An aggrieved Olympic surfing alternate forced into a futile race against time to catch a wave in Japan is slamming a competitor's officials as "selfish" for not being transparent about his rival's positive COVID-19 test that cost him a shot at the sport's historic Summer Games debut...
Chiefs veterans have something to prove in 2021 (07/26 8:26 pm)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mecole Hardman knows the exhilaration of walking off the field as a Super Bowl champion. Last February, he and his Kansas City Chiefs teammates also experienced the bitter disappointment of losing the biggest game of the season...
Yankees acquire righty reliever Clay Holmes from Pirates (07/26 8:14 pm)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Reliever Clay Holmes was acquired by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday for infielders Hoy Park and Diego Castillo. Holmes, a 28-year-old right-hander, is 3-2 in 44 relief appearances with 44 strikeouts and 35 walks in 42 innings. He has held right-handed batters to a .173 average (17 for 98). Holmes is 5-7 with a 5.57 ERA in four major league seasons...
Focus is on QB Zach Wilson as Robert Saleh's Jets open camp (07/26 8:12 pm)

NEW YORK JETS (2-14) CAMP SITE: Florham Park, New Jersey LAST YEAR: In a word: awful. The Jets had a franchise-worst 0-13 start and finished with the second-worst record in team history. Quarterback Sam Darnold dealt with a shoulder injury and struggled through the worst of his three NFL seasons -- and last with the Jets. ...
AP Source: Pelicans, Grizzlies, agree to multi-player trade (07/26 8:10 pm)

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade center Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for center Steven Adams, guard Eric Bledsoe and a swap of multiple draft choices, a person familiar with the situation said...
Talks stalled, but Buxton says he wants to stay with Twins (07/26 7:56 pm)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Byron Buxton doesn't have a new contract yet. He doesn't have a target return date from his current injury, either. The Minnesota Twins center fielder still has a strong desire to remain with the organization, however, despite his eligibility for free agency following next season...
Without the crowd's roar, Tokyo Olympians search for spirit (07/26 7:54 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- The beloved American gymnast Sam Mikulak flipped off the parallel bars, stuck the landing and blew a kiss toward the camera. Those watching the men's Olympics gymnastic competition on television back home knew they'd seen magic. "Beautiful!" the broadcast announcer exclaimed. "Wow, that was fantastic!"...
Biles tries to lead Team USA to third consecutive gold medal (07/26 7:21 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- The greatest gymnast of all time must rally Team USA for the Americans to win their third consecutive gold medal. Simone Biles and her squad trail the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee heading into Tuesday's women's gymnastics team final...
Pirates trade All-Star 2B Frazier to Padres (07/26 7:15 pm)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded All-Star second baseman Adam Frazier to the playoff-contending San Diego Padres for three minor leaguers. Frazier was the National League starter in the All-Star Game this month. He leads the majors with 125 hits and is batting .324. He'll join a potent Padres infield that includes Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer...
Rangers 105 complete innings without leading in 12-game skid (07/26 7:09 pm)

The Texas Rangers are not only losing games. During their 12-game losing streak, the Rangers have completed 105 consecutive innings without even being in the lead. "It's the toughest situation I've ever been a part of, and I know a lot of these guys can honestly say the same thing," Texas manager Chris Woodward said...
Missouri AD Jim Sterk to step down after 5 years in position (07/26 6:49 pm)

Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk will step down once a replacement is found, ending a five-year tenure that was marked by school-wide social unrest, millions of dollars in facilities upgrades and key coaching hires in football and basketball. The school said in a statement Monday that the 65-year-old Sterk had "mutually agreed" to part ways with Missouri once a nationwide search identifies the Tigers' next athletic director. ...
Smith-Schuster returns to Steelers seeking strong season (07/26 6:33 pm)

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger took a voluntary pay cut during the offseason. Roethlisberger's restructured deal helped the Steelers free up enough money to persuade wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to return to the team on a one-year deal. Smith-Schuster decided to stay in Pittsburgh rather than leave in free agency, citing a sense of loyalty...
NBC's Gannon adds Olympic gymnastics to versatile resume (07/26 6:31 pm)

Terry Gannon has become the voice of some of the most-watched sports at the Olympics. Gannon has called figure skating at two Winter Games and is doing gymnastics at a Summer Games for the first time this year after Al Trautwig had called the past five. Gannon has been calling gymnastics since 2018, when he was paired with 1984 gold medalist Tim Daggett and 2008 all-around champion Nastia Liukin...
Pandemic Olympics endured heat, and now a typhoon's en route (07/26 6:31 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- First, the sun. Now: the wind and the rain. The Tokyo Olympics, delayed by the pandemic and opened under oppressive heat, are due for another hit of nature's power: a typhoon arriving Tuesday morning that is forecast to disrupt at least some parts of the Games...
Giddey, Sengun, Garuba among international NBA prospects (07/26 6:22 pm)

It wasn't that long ago 6-foot-8 Australian point guard Josh Giddey's objective was to play in the NBL -- not the NBA. The Melbourne native had his country's National Basketball League in mind when it came to career goals, but his game kept improving -- and eventually so did his goals...
With eye on SEC, Oklahoma, Texas move toward leaving Big 12 (07/26 5:38 pm)

Oklahoma and Texas took the first formal step Monday toward moving to the Southeastern Conference and leaving the Big 12 behind. The only schools to win college football national championships during the Big 12's 27-year history notified the conference they would not be renewing an agreement that binds its members through 2025...
Biles tries to lead Team USA to third consecutive gold medal (07/26 5:34 pm)

TOKYO (AP) -- The greatest gymnast of all time must rally Team USA for the Americans to win their third consecutive gold medal. Simone Biles and her squad trail the team representing the Russian Olympic Committee heading into Tuesday's women's gymnastics team final...
Singer Pink backs beach handball team on 'sexist' clothing (07/26 5:30 pm)

HELSINKI (AP) -- U.S. pop singer Pink has offered to pay a fine given to the Norwegian female beach handball team for wearing shorts instead of the required bikini bottoms. Pink said she was "very proud" of the team for protesting against the rule that prevented them from wearing shorts like their male counterparts...
Yankees star Aaron Judge takes BP, nearing return from COVID (07/26 5:28 pm)

TAMPA. Fla. (AP) -- New York Yankees All-Star outfielder Aaron Judge and catcher Kyle Higashioka took another step in returning from the COVID-19 injured list by taking batting practice Monday at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. First baseman Luke Voit, on the IL with left knee inflammation, also took part in the workout at the Yankees' spring training complex...
Washington signing Jonathan Allen to $72M, 4-year extension (07/26 5:24 pm)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Any worries about Jonathan Allen going into the final year of his contract without a long-term deal have evaporated on the eve of Washington training camp. Allen and the team agreed to terms on a $72 million, four-year contract extension with a $30 million signing bonus, according to his agency. Team IFA and agent Blake Baratz announced the terms of the deal in a Twitter post Monday...
Announcer back at Minnesota racetrack after racist rant (07/26 4:41 pm)

FAIRMONT, Minn. (AP) -- An announcer who was fired by an Iowa racetrack after a racist rant was back behind the microphone in southern Minnesota last weekend, but he did not receive a standing ovation as promised because he was apparently uncomfortable with that plan, according to the promoter of Fairmont Raceway...
Indians claim LHP Alex Young off waivers from Diamondbacks (07/26 4:15 pm)

CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Cleveland Indians claimed left-hander Alex Young off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Young went 2-6 with a 6.26 ERA in two stints with the Diamondbacks this season. He made 30 appearances and two starts before being designated for assignment on July 21...
McVay sees Henderson as Rams' best RB option with Akers hurt (07/26 4:09 pm)

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- When Cam Akers tore his Achilles tendon during offseason workouts, it seemingly left the Los Angeles Rams with questions at running back, including whether a reunion with their former star Todd Gurley was possible. But coach Sean McVay expressed confidence with the Rams' current options at the position and ruled out the addition of a more experienced tailback before training camp starts on Wednesday...

Professional sports

Tuesday, July 27

MLB