Update on the latest sports
MLB-SCHEDULE
Lester, Goldschmidt lead Redbirds
UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals picked up a big win as they try to stay in the hunt for the second NL Wild Card.
Jon Lester allowed one hit while pitching into the seventh inning of the Cardinals’ 3-1 win over the Reds. Lester retired 16 consecutive batters after giving up his only hit, Kyle Farmer’s second-inning leadoff home run.
Paul Goldschmidt put the Redbirds ahead to stay with a two-run homer in the first off Luis Castillo, who fell to 7-14.
The Cardinals closed within 2 1/2 games of Cincinnati for the second wild-card spot. San Diego is in between the two teams in the standings as the Padres take on the Diamondbacks.
Checking out Monday’s other major league action:
— Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in four runs with his 37th and 38th homers to support Robbie Ray as the Blue Jays dumped the Orioles, 7-3. Ray was reached for two runs and just four hits while fanning 10 over seven innings to win for the first time in his last six starts. The Orioles have dropped four straight and 23 of their last 25.
— Bailey Ober pitched six solid innings and Josh Donaldson slammed a two-run homer to help the Twins beat the Tigers, 3-2. Ober struck out five while holding the Tigers to two runs on five hits. Losing pitcher Casey Mize gave up three runs on five hits , including Donaldson’s 21st home run of the season.
MLB-NEWS
Bosox hurlers dealing with coronavirus
UNDATED (AP) — Boston left-hander Martín Pérez and right-hander Matt Barnes have become the latest Boston Red Sox players impacted by COVID-19.
Both pitchers were put on the COVID-19 injured list before Monday night’s game at Tampa Bay.
Infielder-outfielder Kiké (KEE’-kay) Hernández and infielder Christian Arroyo both tested positive last week and were placed on the COVID-19 injured list on Friday. Manager Alex Cora said Hernández and Arroyo are both feeling OK.
The team is going through the MLB coronavirus protocols that include contact tracing and testing.
Also around the majors:
— Giants starter Alex Wood tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms. Manager Gabe Kapler says Wood isn’t feeling well as he deals with headaches and a sore throat. Right-hander Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) was scratched from his scheduled start for San Francisco on Monday against Milwaukee because of cold and flu-like symptoms. Cueto was put on the COVID-related injured list, but there’s a chance he could start on Tuesday after testing negative.
— Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani (SHOH’-hay oh-TAH’-nee) will not take the mound for Tuesday’s game against the Yankees in order to give his right hand extra time to heal. Angels manager Joe Maddon also said outfielder Mike Trout is experiencing soreness in his right calf after running the bases on Saturday. Maddon says discussions about shutting down the three-time AL MVP for the rest of the season are rapidly approaching.
— Indians catcher Wilson Ramos will require season-ending surgery for torn ligaments in his left knee. Ramos tore his ACL and MCL in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s win over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday.
— The last-place Pirates have fired hitting coach Rick Eckstein after failing to produce much at the plate this year. Pittsburgh is dead last in the majors in runs scored, home runs, slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging. Eckstein had little to work with at the major league level while the organization focuses on stockpiling prospects.
TENNIS-US OPEN
Fans are back, as US Open begins
NEW YORK (AP) — Simona Halep (HA’-lehp) and Garbiñe Muguruza (GAHR’-been-yuh MOO’-guh-roo-thah) have pulled out tough two-set victories in the opening round of the U.S. Open.
The 12th-seeded Halep defeated Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 7-6 before the No. 9 Muguruza ousted Donna Vekic, 7-6, 7-6.
In other Day 1 action at the Open:
— No. 16 Angelique Kerber and No. 21 Coco Gauff each dropped their opening set before advancing. Gauff led 5-3 in the first before losing the next six games.
— Sloane Stephens needed 2 hours, 10 minutes to edge Madison Keys in a rematch of her victory in the 2017 final.
— Three-time runner-up Victoria Azarenka has moved into the second round, winning the final 11 games of a 6-4, 6-0 victory.
— Carla Suárez Navarro was eliminated, a year after revealing she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Suárez Navarro was beaten by No. 26 seed Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-4.
— A 20-year-old wild-card entry from Atlanta has tied the women’s U.S. Open serve speed record of 129 mph set by Venus Williams 14 years ago. Alycia Parks hit that mark in her first career Grand Slam main-draw match, a 6-3, 7-5 first-round loss to Olga Danilovic on Court 13.
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (SIHT’-sih-pahs) withstood a tough test from 2012 U.S. Open champion Andy Murray, emerging with a 2-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory after nearly five hours. The No. 3 seed from Greece is among the group of young challengers to top-ranked Novak Djokovic (JOH’-koh-vihch).
— No. 5 Andrey Rublev and No. 11 Diego Schwartzman advanced to the men’s second round in straight sets.
— Brandon Nakashima knocked out fellow American and 19th seed John Isner in straight sets.
— Other first-round winners on the men’s side include eighth seed Casper Ruud (rood) and 15th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
— Australian Open runner-up Jennifer Brady has withdrawn from the tournament due to an injury. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga also withdrew.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL-TEXAS-QUARTERBACK
Card to start opener for Longhorns
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — New Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says his starting quarterback for this weekend’s season opener against No. 23 Louisiana-Lafayette will be Hudson Card, who has one career pass completion.
While Card will get the start, Sarkisian said that Casey Thompson will also be in the mix for the No 21 Longhorns.
Card has been wowing his teammates and coaches with his throws in practice since last season. Thompson’s electric performance in the Alamo Bowl, however, had Texas fans thinking they’d found their future quarterback.
Elsewhere in college football:
— No. 2 Oklahoma and Tulane have announced that their season opener this weekend has been moved from New Orleans to Norman, Oklahoma, in the fallout from Hurricane Ida. The Sooners said conditions in New Orleans were not favorable to host a game this weekend.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-SEC
SEC won’t allow makeup games for short-handed teams
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Southeastern Conference teams that don’t have enough available players will have to forfeit games this year.
The league released its policy on dealing with COVID-19 issues during the 2021-22 season in all sports on Monday. Unlike last season, the short-handed team will have to forfeit and will take a loss in the SEC standings for regular season games. The scheduled opponent will be credited with a win.
NFL-SAINTS-DISPLACED BY IDA
Saints working 500 miles from home after displaced by Ida
DALLAS (AP) — The displaced New Orleans Saints have begun to practice in Arlington, Texas, after Louisiana was hit hard by Hurricane Ida.
Saints players and staff, along with about 120 family members, relocated to North Texas in advance of the storm.
Coach Sean Payton says the Saints will practice through Wednesday at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. That is before a previously planned break before the start of the regular season.
NFL-NEWS
Wentz to sit out as Colts add 3 to COVID-19 list
UNDATED (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts have put starting quarterback Carson Wentz, starting center Ryan Kelly and starting receiver Zach Pascal on the reserve/COVID-19 list. They join two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Eric Fisher on the list after Fisher tested positive last week.
Three-time All-Pro Quenton Nelson came off the list Monday, four days after he was deemed a close contact to Fisher.
Elsewhere in the NFL:
— Fully vaccinated players will be required to get tested for COVID-19 weekly instead of every 14 days as part of the revised protocols for the regular season agreed upon by the NFL and NFLPA. The weekly testing applies also for fully vaccinated Tier 1 and 2 staff. There’s an option for a second test for those who want it, according to a memo sent to clubs and obtained by The Associated Press on Monday.
— 49ers rookie quarterback Trey Lance will miss one week of practice after injuring a finger on his throwing hand during Sunday’s exhibition game. Lance remained in the game after the hit but got more tests done Monday that coach Kyle Shanahan said showed a “small chip fracture” in the finger. Shanahan said Lance is unable to take snaps and needs to rest for about seven days before he can return.
— Knee surgery is scheduled for Vikings on-the-rise tight end Irv Smith Jr., is expected to be sidelined at least a few games. Coach Mike Zimmer says the injury to Smith’s meniscus occurred sometime Friday during Minnesota’s exhibition game at Kansas City.
— The Seahawks added depth to their biggest position of concern, acquiring cornerback Sidney Jones IV from the Jaguars. Seattle is expected to send Jacksonville a late-round draft pick in the deal.
— Lions backup quarterback Tim Boyle broke his right thumb in the team’s preseason finale and needs surgery. Lions coach Dan Campbell made the announcement today, adding the team is hopeful it was not a season-ending injury.
— The Giants have acquired center Billy Price from the Bengals for defensive lineman B.J. Hill. Neither player was projected to be a starter this season.
— The Bills have dealt defensive end Darryl Johnson to the Panthers for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 draft. Johnson proved to be the odd-man out at a pass-rushing position. The Bills spent the offseason restocking with talent by drafting Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham.
HOCKEY-WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
US reaches final again
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — The United States women’s hockey team has advanced to the gold medal game at the world championship for the 20th time.
Alex Carpenter and Abbey Murphy scored in the second period of the Americans’ 3-0 shutout of Finland. The five-time defending champions will take on Canada, which beat the U.S., 5-1 in group play last week.
The Canadians reached the title game with a 4-0 victory ovwer Switzerland.
