MLB: Phillies stay hot, close in on wild card
Jimmy Rollins hit a two-run homer and Cliff Lee pitched seven strong innings to lead the Phillies to their seventh straight win, 3-1 over the Marlins. Philadelphia pulled within three games of St. Louis for the second wild card after the Cardinals lost 3-2 in San Diego. The Phillies (72-71) re on a season-best winning streak have won 15 of 19 to move over .500 for the first time since they were 28-27 on June 3.
Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer as the Tigers beat the White Sox 8-6 to move within a game of first-place Chicago in the AL Central.
Josh Hamilton (knee) and Adrian Beltre (shoulder) homered before each left the game with injuries in Texas’ 5-2 win over the Indians.
A.J. Griffin pitched eight scoreless innings, becoming the second Athletics pitcher in 85 years to start his major league career with six straight wins, and Yoenis Cespedes homered for Oakland in a 4-1 victory over the Angels.
***A.J. Griffin pitched eight scoreless innings, becoming the second Athletics pitcher in 85 years to start his major league career with six straight wins, in a 4-1 victory over the Angels.
NFL: Goodell to meet with suspended players
Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to meet with the players whose bounty suspensions were temporarily lifted “as soon as possible.” Appearing at a hearing on Capitol Hill, Goodell noted that the league “offered several times to have them come in as part of the hearing process, the CBA process, and I hope that they’ll do that soon.”
An appeals panel last week overturned the suspensions of Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma (2012 season) and defensive end Will Smith (four games) for their roles in the team’s bounty program from 2009-11. Browns linebacker Scott Fujita got three games and DE Anthony Hargrove, now a free agent, got eight. The appeals panel said Goodell must clarify his earlier rulings to ensure that no part of his decisions was based on salary cap violations.
Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is expected to be back for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs after grieving with his family this week following the death of his brother, the team said. Simeon Gilmore, the defensive tackle’s younger brother, was one of three people killed during a burglary in Pelham, Ala., last weekend.
ETC: Nittany Lions receiver Kersey leaves team
***A.J. Griffin pitched eight scoreless innings, becoming the second Athletics pitcher in 85 years to start his major league career with six straight wins, in a 4-1 victory over the Angels.
ETC.: Penn State receiver leaves team
Penn State starting receiver Shawney Kersey won’t be pulling on a blue and white uniform after leaving the Nittany Lions this week for personal reasons. A team spokesman said yesterday that Kersey remains enrolled in school. Nearly three weeks into the season, Penn State’s new-look offense is still seeking an identity at key positions. Injuries could also leave Penn State (0-2) without its starting left tackle and top two running backs when Navy (0-1) visits Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
And that’s on top of the turnover the Nittany Lions endured before the season even kicked off.
Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain, a former world No. 1 tennis player whose career has been hampered by injuries, will retire after playing at his home event next month. Ferrero won the French Open in 2003. His career has been hampered by injuries,
“The Valencia Open 500 will be my final tournament, in the best possible scenario,” Ferrero told a news conference
Matt Mattare, a 26-year-old New York City resident who plays out of Bethpage, was ousted in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur in Lake Forest, Ill., losing a 3-and-2 decision to Garrett Rank of Canada. Rank will face three-time champion Nathan Smith in today’s 36-hole final.
Center Connor Voss, a 7-foot-1 standout from Minnesota, verbally committed to Columbia after visiting the Ivy League school last weekend. The senior, who was also being recruited by Davidson, Holy Cross and San Francisco, led Cathedral High School to a 24-6 record last year. — Zach Braziller