Update on the latest sports

TENNIS-US OPEN

Osaka advances as opponent withdraws

NEW YORK (AP) — Naomi Osaka didn’t have to break a sweat this afternoon.

The No. 3 seed and defending champion advanced to the third round of the U.S. Open when Olga Danilovic of Serbia withdraw for medical reasons.

Two-time Grand Slam champions Simona Halep (HAL’-ehp) and Garbiñe Muguruza (GAHR’-been moo-gah-ROO’-thuh) also advanced to the third round, joining second seed Aryana Sabalenka, fifth seed Elina Svitolina (eh-LEE’-nuh svih-toh-LEE’-nah), No. 15 Elise Mertens and No. 18 Victoria Azarenka.

On the men’s side, No. 2 seed Daniil Medvedev (DAN’-ihl MEHD’-veh-dehv) eased into the third round with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Dominik Koepfer. Fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev also advanced, as did American Frances Tiafoe (tee-AH’-foh). Casper Ruud (rood) fell in four sets to Botic van de Zandschulp (BOH’-tihch van de ZAND’-shoolp). No. 15 seed Grigor Dimitrov (GREE’-gohr DIH’-mih-trahv) retired after losing two tiebreakers and trailing 4-0 in the third set against Alexei Popyrin.

MLB-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) — The Seattle Mariners have posted their consecutive shutout of the American League West leaders.

Logan Gilbert and four relievers combined on a nine-hitter as the Mariners beat the Astros, 1-0. Gilbert threw five innings before turning to Seattle’s bullpen. Paul Sewald worked out of an eighth-inning jam before earning his eighth save.

Abraham Toro furnished the only run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, one day after his grand slam gave Seattle a 4-0 win.

The Mariners are within 6 1/2 games of the division-leading Astros. Oakland is 4 1/2 games back heading into its game against Detroit.

Also on Wednesday’s major league schedule:

— Josh VanMeter homered while the Diamondbacks tagged Yu Darvish for six runs in the third inning of an 8-3 rout of the Padres. Luke Weaver allowed one run and four hits over six innings of his first start in 3 1/2 months. VanMeter had three RBIs, while Ketel Marte (keh-TEHL’ mahr-TAY’) and Pavin Smith each contributed three hits and two runs scored.

— Paul Goldschmidt homered twice and had three RBIs as the Cardinals topped the Reds, 5-4 in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Cincinnati led 4-3 until Goldschmidt hit a two-run shot in the fourth inning. Harrison Bader went 3-for-4 with a homer to help St. Louis hand Cincinnati it’s fourth straight loss.

— Brendan Rodgers provided a two-run double while the Rockies scored five times in the ninth to beat the Rangers, 9-5. The Rockies scored three more runs aided by four Rangers infield errors, three by first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Rodgers also homered in the fourth inning after Texas took a 5-0 lead.

— The Phillies-Nationals game in Washington was postponed by heavy rain. It is rescheduled for Thursday, an off-day for both teams.

MLB-NEWS

Nats VP quits rather than get COVID shot

UNDATED (AP) — Mandatory COVID-19 vaccines continue to receive pushback within Major League Baseball.

A person with knowledge of the situation says Nationals Vice President Bob Boone has informed the club he’s resigning rather than comply with the organization’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The Nationals said employees were notified of the policy Aug. 12 and had until Aug. 26 to provide proof of full vaccination or one dose or apply for an exemption.

The former All-Star catcher had been with the franchise since 2004 and moved into his role as VP and senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo after the 2015 season.

John Smoltz and Al Leiter are not making in-studio appearances for MLB Network after refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine. That’s according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Wednesday was the first day of MLB Network’s policy making it mandatory for all employees to be vaccinated. Smoltz and Leiter will still do analysis for studio shows, but it will be remotely instead of from the network’s studio.

Also around the majors:

— Khris Davis is back with the Athletics, four weeks after being signed to a minor league contract. His recall comes after he hit .333 with 10 homers and 25 RBIs in 16 games for Las Vegas The major league home run leader in 2018 was released by the Rangers in July after hitting .157 with two homers and five RBIs in 51 at-bats this season.

— Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda has undergone season-ending Tommy John surgery. The surgeon added an internal brace to the arm, a recent development in the Tommy John technique that could help speed the rate of recovery, which is traditionally at least a year.

— Red Sox infielder Yairo Muñoz has become the latest team member to test positive for COVID-19. Eight Boston players and two coaches have either had a positive test or have been identified as close contacts since Friday.

— The Mariners have rewarded team executive Jerry Dipoto and manager Scott Servais (DUR’-vihs) as the team challenges for an AL wild-card berth. The Mariners promoted Dipoto to president of baseball operations and signed Servais to a multiyear contract extension.

— Mets acting general manager Zack Scott was arrested on charges of driving while intoxicated Tuesday morning, hours after attending a fundraiser at team owner Steve Cohen’s house. White Plains police say they found him asleep at the wheel of his SUV at a traffic light and determined he was intoxicated. A police spokesperson said Scott refused a breathalyzer test, was booked and released.

NFL-NEWS

Saints to call Jacksonville home for opener

UNDATED (AP) — The New Orleans Saints will open their regular-season schedule in Jacksonville instead of the Superdome.

The Saints will take on Green Bay in Jacksonville on Sept. 12 after practicing in Dallas for the better part of two weeks. The venue change was announced three days after Hurricane Ida battered the Louisiana coast as a Category 4 hurricane, leaving the entirety of New Orleans in darkness until small pockets of the city began to get power back on Wednesday.

In other NFL news:

— Chiefs All-Pro safety Tyrann (TY’-rahn) Mathieu has tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the league’s reserve list. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Mathieu is fully vaccinated. Mathieu has been an All-Pro each of his first two seasons in Kansas City and is entering the final season of a three-year, $42 million contract.

— The Vikings are bracing for a season-long absence for on-the-rise tight end Irv Smith Jr., after knee surgery Wednesday for a torn meniscus. Smith had the procedure after being injured in the team’s last exhibition game Friday at Kansas City. He was in line for a breakout season on the heels of the departure of 10-year veteran Kyle Rudolph.

— Titans coach Mike Vrabel returned to work Wednesday after a 10-day quarantine for COVID-19. The Titans still have nine players currently on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including five starters.

NHL-NEWS

Blues extend Parayko

UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Blues are keeping Colton Parayko (pah-RAY’-koh) in their long-range plans.

Parayko has accepted an eight-year, $52 million contract with an average annual cap hit of $6.5 million. The new deal begins next season and ends speculation Parayko would be traded.

Injuries limited him to two goals and 12 points in 32 games last season.

In other NHL news:

— The Islanders have announced new contracts for free agent forwards Anthony Beauvillier (boh-VIH’-lee-ay), Casey Cizikas (sih-ZEE’-kihs) and Kyle Palmieri, along with goaltender Ilya Sorokin (sah-ROH’-kihn).