Update on the latest sports

MLB-SCHEDULE

Cards extend win streak

UNDATED (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals have tied the longest winning streak in team history by sweeping a pair from the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

The Redbirds were 8-5 winners in the opener on two-run homers by Paul Goldschmidt, Tyler O’Neill and pinch-hitter José Rondón (rahn-DOHN’). Tommy Edman had three hits and Goldschmidt had three RBIs to help the Cardinals take a 8-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth.

The Cardinals made it 14 wins by blowing out the Cubs, 12-4 in the nightcap. Tyler O’Neill provided a three-run homer and pair Lars Nootbaar smacked a pair of solo shots. Harrison Bader added a solo drive, double and single as St. Louis batters went deep five times in the nightcap and eight times on the day.

The Cards reeled off 14 straight wins in 1935 behind Hall of Famers Dizzy Dean, Ducky Medwick and Frankie Frisch.

The Redbirds were three games out of a playoff berth when the streak began. They now lead the second NL wild card by five games over the Phillies and have a magic number of four to wrap up a postseason berth.

The Phillies currently are one game off the NL East lead, pending the outcome of the Braves’ game at San Diego. Didi Gregorius hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the seventh inning to send the Phils past the Pirates, 8-6.

Brad Miller also went deep as Philadelphia won its fourth in a row and eighth in the last 10.

Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES’) Jr. homered leading off the top of the seventh inning to send the Padres to a 6-5 win over the Braves in the resumption of a game that was suspended due to rain in Atlanta on July 21. Tatis’ homer regained the lead for the Padres after Braves pinch-hitter Adam Duvall tied it with a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the sixth.

Checking out Friday’s other MLB action:

— The Giants continue to hold a one-game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West after Mike Yastrzemski (ya-STREHM’-skee) hit a three-run homer in San Francisco’s 100th victory, 7-2 at Colorado. Tommy La Stella, Crawford and Brandon Belt had solo home runs to give San Francisco a 3-2 lead after six. Kervin Castro tossed two innings for his first major league victory.

— Chris Taylor robbed a pair of potential extra-base hits on defense in the ninth inning to secure the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory at Arizona. AJ Pollock hit a two-run homer and also stole an extra-base hit from Josh Rojas in the first inning. Winning pitcher Tony Gonsolin limited the Diamondbacks to two runs over five innings.

— Christian Yelich (YEH’-lihch) hit one of Milwaukee’s three home runs and Eric Lauer turned in a much-needed strong start for the Brewers in a 5-1 win over the Mets. Kolten Wong and Willy Adames (ah-DAH’-mehs) also went deep as Milwaukee ended a five-game skid and trimmed its magic number for winning its first NL Central title since 2018 to two. The Brewers have won 12 of their last 13 against the Mets in Milwaukee, including seven in a row.

— The Rays clobbered the Marlins, 8-0 as Ryan Yarbrough allowed two hits over six innings of relief to help the AL East leaders reduce their magic number to two. The Rays got three RBIs each from Randy Arozarena (ah-ROH’-zah-REH’-nah) and Kevin Kiermaier, who came within a homer of hitting for the cycle. Tampa Bay rookie shortstop Wander Franco returned after missing two weeks with a right hamstring injury and extended his on-base streak to 40 games with a sixth-inning walk.

— The Red Sox’s seven-game winning streak is over following an 8-3 pounding by the Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton slammed a three-run homer and Gerrit Cole took a shutout into the sixth as New York climbed within one game of Boston for the first AL wild card. Boston didn’t score until Rafael Devers’ (DEH’-vurz) three-run homer.

— Byron Buxton’s two-run homer was the difference as the Twins dumped the Blue Jays, 3-1. The blast was part of a three-run third against Jose Berrios, who was back in Minnesota for the first time since being dealt to Toronto at the trade deadline. Marcus Semien homered for the Blue Jays, who are two games behind the Yankees for the second AL wild card.

— Luis Robert hit a leadoff home run in the fifth inning of the White Sox’s 1-0 win over the Indians. Chicago starter Dylan Cease left after being struck on the right arm by a comebacker in the sixth inning, but X-rays were negative. Shane Bieber retired all nine hitters he faced in his first start for the Indians since suffering a shoulder injury in June.

— The Reds blew a 7-4 lead in the ninth before Aristides Aquino (ar-ih-STEE’-dehs ah-KEE’-noh) singled home the winning run in the 11th to give Cincinnati n 8-7 victory over the Nationals. Nick Castellanos (kas-tee-AH’-nohs), Eugenio (ay-oo-HEH’-nee-oh) Suárez, Max Schrock and pinch-hitter Delino DeShields homered for the Reds.

— The Royals knocked off the Tigers, 3-1 as Carlos Hernandez pitched five shutout innings and Whit Merrifield drove in a pair of runs. Hernandez allowed two hits, walked three and hit a batter, one start after allowing seven runs in four innings.

— Adolis (ah-DOH’-lees) García hit a go-ahead two-run double in a five-run ninth that gave the Rangers an 8-5 verdict over the Orioles. Cedric Mullins belted a three-run shot to become the first player in Orioles history to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in a season.

GOLF-RYDER CUP

Americans have 6-2 lead through Day 1 of Ryder Cup

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — The United States dropped the first completed match during Ryder Cup on Friday. The Americans didn’t lose another as they took a 6-2 lead over Europe at Whistling Straits. The day ended with the U.S. going 2-0-2 in fourball.

Even with a 3-1 start in foursomes, Steve Stricker broke up all his American teams and and still won the afternoon fourballs session.

Dustin Johnson and Xander Schauffele (SHAH’-flee) each went 2-0 on the opening day, while Rory McIlroy lost both of his matches. All six U.S. rookies contributed at least a half-point in giving Europe its largest first-day deficit in Cup history.

NFL-NEWS

Beckham cleared to play Sunday

UNDATED (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. has been cleared for takeoff. The Cleveland Browns wide receiver made it through a full week of practice without any issues with his reconstructed knee. Coach Kevin Stefanski says Beckham will make his return Sunday at home against the Bears.

Beckham hasn’t played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament on Oct. 25 against Cincinnati, an injury that kept him out during the Browns’ playoff run. He’s been inactive for Cleveland’s first two games.

In other NFL news:

— Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play on Sunday against Cincinnati. Roethlisberger has been dealing with a bruised chest that limited his participation in practice this week. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt is questionable with a groin injury suffered in a loss last week to Las Vegas. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and defensive lineman Carlos Davis are out.

— Panthers coach Matt Rhule (rool) says running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to miss “a few weeks” with a strained hamstring. McCaffrey was injured in Carolina’s 24-9 win over the Houston Texans Thursday night. The news isn’t as good for rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn, who has three broken bones in his foot and could miss the remainder of the season.

— Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan practiced fully all week and is set to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after being scratched for the Titans’ win in Seattle. Starting tight end Anthony Firkser, rookie cornerback Caleb Farley and outside linebacker Derick Roberson all are out against the Colts.

— The Ravens have put linebackers Jaylon Ferguson and Justin Houston and defensive linemen Brandon Williams and Justin Madubuike on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Baltimore also ruled out tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive end Derek Wolfe for Sunday’s game against the Lions. Quarterback Lamar Jackson was back to full participation in practice after missing Thursday because of an illness.

— Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark strained his hamstring and cornerback Charvarius Ward strained his quad in practice this week, leaving the status of both in doubt for their game against the Chargers on Sunday.

— The NFL is adding Monday night to its Wild Card Weekend. The league says it will play one of its first six playoff games on Monday night beginning this season. The NFL added a third wild-card team in each conference last season, and then played three wild-card games on Saturday and three on Sunday during its first weekend of the playoffs. The new schedule means the league will play two games on Saturday, three on Sunday and one on Monday night.

NBA-BULLS-WILLIAMS

Bulls’ Williams could miss start of season with ankle injury

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bulls say forward Patrick Williams has a severe left ankle sprain that could cause him to miss the start of the season.

The Bulls expect Williams to miss four to six weeks because of the injury sustained Sept. 15 during an optional individual workout.

Bulls guard Coby White is expected to make a full return in November after having surgery on his left shoulder.

In other NBA news:

— The Knicks’ entire roster is vaccinated, making all the players eligible to play in their home games. Because of local coronavirus regulations in New York and San Francisco, the Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors are required to be vaccinated unless exemptions for medical or religious reasons apply. The Knicks are the first of those teams to say they have met the mandate.

NHL-BLACKHAWKS-COVID-19

Two Hawks held out because of COVID-19 protocol

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Kevin Lankinen and forward Mike Hardman were held out of practice Friday because of the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol.

The announcement on the team’s second day of training camp doesn’t necessarily mean that either player tested positive. General manager Stan Bowman said Thursday that the team was 100% vaccinated.

In other NHL news:

— An attorney who represents a former Blackhawks player who alleges he was sexually assaulted by a then-assistant coach in 2010 says her client has been interviewed for the team’s review of the accusations. A former federal prosecutor has been hired by the Blackhawks to conduct what the team says is an independent investigative review of the allegations in a pair of lawsuits filed against the franchise.