Digital Sports Desk

The online destination for sports purists

PGA Tour: Stenson Takes Wyndham Championship

by

GREENSBORO – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – It had been more than a year since Henrik Stenson won a golf tournament, so even with a record score there was nothing easy about it Sunday. Stenson put together four birdies with the pressure on to pull away from a crowded leaderboard and win the Wyndham Championship by one stroke at Sedgefield Country Club.

Golf: Henrik Stenson wins Wyndham C'ship

Henrik Stenson of Sweden holds the winner’s trophy on Aug. 20, 2017, after winning the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Kyodo News via Getty Images).

###

“It pushed me all the way to the end,” he said. “It was a tight race. Luckily, I put my foot down and made a couple of birdies coming home.”

Stenson shot 6-under-par 64 in the final round to set a tournament record on the course at 22-under 258.

He saved par on the final hole after hitting into the fairway rough.

Stenson trusted his shot-making ability and touch around the greens.

“It’s the first win for me without a driver in the bag,” he said.

Stenson, who moved from No. 9 to No. 6 in the world rankings, registered birdies on Nos. 13, 15, 16 and 17.

The 41-year-old Swede, who was the highest-rated golfer in the field, hadn’t won since the 2016 British Open. He moved to 23rd in FedEx Cup points, a jump from No. 75.

He made a schedule change to enter the tournament.

“You never know when a win is around the corner,” Stenson said. “It’s certainly a good time to start firing. It’s the first step and delighted to get a win this year.

“(I entered) hoping to pick up some momentum and certainly I did. Sometimes you turn something around in a short time.”

Ollie Schniederjans was second after his final-round 64, with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. He nearly produced an eagle on the final hole, but the ball rolled past the cup on his shot from the fairway.

“This was probably my best tournament that I’ve played four straight days,” Schniederjans said. “At the beginning of the day, I would have taken a 64 and liked my chances of winning.”

Schniederjans, a rookie aiming for his first PGA Tour title, rolled in a birdie putt on No. 17 accompanied by big fist pump. He played in the pairing in front of Stenson.

Webb Simpson (67), the 2011 champion, took third place at 18 under. Ryan Armour and Rory Sabbatini shot 64s and joined Kevin Na (68), who played the last round with Stenson, as finishers at 17 under to share fourth place.

With six holes to play, Stenson, Armour, Schniederjans and Na all shared the lead.

“It was anyone’s tournament on the back nine,” Stenson said.

Not only was the championship at stake, but several golfers moved into and out of the top 125 in points in the final regular-season event of the season. A spot within the top 125 is needed for a position in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Na had a 42-foot birdie roll on No. 2 for the first of his four front-side birdies. He moved alone in first place at No. 9.

Armour, the second-round co-leader, appeared to drop out of contention with Saturday’s 72, but he played the first eight holes of the final round at 4 under to pull within two strokes with plenty of golf to play.

Armour was in a four-way tie for first place with his birdie on No. 16. His ball landed in a greenside bunker on No. 18 and posted a bogey. That dropped Armour to 17 under, and he also fell out of the top 125.

Davis Love III, a three-time champion in this tournament (most recently in 2015), finished with a 69 to tie for 10th place with Harold Varner III (69) and Richy Werenski (69).

Several golfers moved into the top 125 to secure a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs.

The list of late playoff qualifiers included Rory Sabbatini (began the week at 148), Geoff Ogilvy (was 125), Martin Flores (was 139), Varner (was 138) and J.J. Henry (was 134), who was the last qualifier. Vaughn Taylor slipped from 119 to 124 but stayed in the mix.

“I guess what the situation proved to be is how much I wanted to still be here,” Ogilvy said of the pressure to advance.

NOTES: Roberto Castro had a hole-in-one on No. 3 and Ben Crane and Martin Flores aced the 16th hole in the final round. Crane’s hole-in-one resulted in him winning 1 million Wyndham Rewards points. The prize goes to the first golfer to ace No. 16 during the tournament. “Landed two paces short there and rolled in just like a putt,” said Crane, who used a 7-iron. … There were no holes-in-one during the tournament’s first three days. … There was an eagle each day on the par-4 first hole, with Cameron Smith pulling it off Sunday

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE Red Sox Get Last Licks

by

Boston 5, NY Yankees 1
When: 1:30 PM ET, Sunday, August 20, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Attendance: 36,911
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox

Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Boston Red Sox reacts after an RBI single against the New York Yankees in the sixth inning at Fenway Park on August 20, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

###

BOSTON — Here’s the kind of day Jackie Bradley Jr. had Sunday: When a reporter asked him to talk about his big hit, he needed clarification — “Which one?”

The reporter was asking about Bradley’s two-out, two-run triple to center-field in the second inning.

“Oh, that one,” Bradley said with a smile.

“That one” put the Boston Red Sox ahead of the New York Yankees early, and they never looked back en route to a 5-1 victory at Fenway Park.

“I got ahead in the count, a 2-0 fastball that I was able to handle,” said Bradley of the hit that brought Xander Bogaerts and Sandy Leon across the plate for a 2-0 lead. “Put some good barrel on it, and it was really big to get those runs early.”

They were the first two of three runs driven in by Bradley, who added a two-out single in the sixth to score Mitch Moreland.

Bradley’s heroics and a lock-down performance by the Boston bullpen gave the Red Sox the rubber match of the teams’ three-game series, extending their lead over the Yankees in the American League East to five games.

Rick Porcello (8-14) picked up the win, allowing one run on three hits in six innings of work with four strikeouts and three walks. It’s the fourth straight win for Porcello, bringing him to 4-4 since the All-Star break.

“Nothing in particular was really on fire,” Porcello said. “The walks were a little concerning, but we were able to pitch out of it, and I can’t say enough the way our offense battled. They really grinded their starter down, did a hell of a job, and we were able to put those runs across late in the game. To get him up over 100 pitches through five innings was huge.”

Sonny Gray (7-8) went five innings and allowed two runs, both earned, on seven hits with two walks in his fourth start as a Yankee. He departed with the Yankees down 2-1, but the New York bullpen fell flat, allowing four runs on five hits.

The Red Sox stretched Gray early, forcing him to throw 20 pitches in each of the first three innings.

“I think today was just a product of them putting in good at-bats,” Yankee manager Joe Girardi said.

Gray was mostly able to avoid any damage on the scoreboard save for the second inning, when Bradley smoked his two-out triple into the center-field triangle to bring Xander Bogaerts and Sandy Leon home for a 2-0 lead.

“I just continued to battle and battle and obviously it didn’t turn out in my favor,” Gray said. “They had the one big hit — Jackie, I left a 2-0 pitch up.”

Porcello was mostly sharp early, before issuing back-to-back walks in the fourth inning. He escaped that trouble by inducing a fly ball from Todd Frazier and striking out Tyler Austin.

Bradley’s offense gave Porcello a cushion, and he helped his pitcher out in the field as well. Didi Gregorious led off the sixth inning by swinging on the first pitch he saw from Porcello, and he sent it seemingly destined for the gap in right-center. Instead, Bradley tracked it down and made the catch without even having to leave his feet.

“Jackie’s been phenomenal, swinging the bat today and giving us three RBIs, giving us a big double and a big lift defensively,” Porcello said. “That ball that Didi hit into the gap, I mean, I was on the mound and he caught it standing up, he tracked it down, and I thought for sure that ball was going to be down for at least a double. Jackie’s the best I’ve seen in center field. He’s phenomenal.”

The Yankees finally got to Porcello in the fifth when Brett Gardner, using Fenway Park’s unique dimensions, snaked a shot just past the right-field foul pole for a solo home run, cutting the Boston lead to 2-1.

The Yankees’ offense effectively shut down from there, as Boston pitching didn’t allow another baserunner the rest of the way. Red Sox relievers Brandon Workman, Addison Reed and Craig Kimbrel retired the final nine Yankee hitters in order.

“We have a lot of really good arms out there,” Workman said. “It seems like everybody’s capable of getting big outs, everybody’s throwing the ball well this year, and everybody’s got big arms out there.”

Gray departed after five innings, which ended his AL-best streak of nine straight starts (including six with Oakland) of at least six innings and two or fewer earned runs allowed.

With Gray gone, Bradley added another RBI to extend the Red Sox lead to 3-1 in the sixth inning, bringing home Mitch Moreland with a two-out single off of Adam Warren.

Aroldis Chapman made his first appearance since surrendering two runs in the eighth inning of Friday’s come-from-behind Red Sox win. Chapman, who was effectively demoted out of the closer’s spot by manager Joe Girardi after Friday’s game, entered in the sixth and retired four batters, walking one and striking out Rafael Devers with Mookie Betts looming at third base to end the seventh inning.

“When you go out there to pitch, you have to have the same mentality,” Chapman said through a translator. “I had the same mentality. The only difference is that I went into the game a little earlier.”

The Red Sox tacked on two more runs in the eighth, when Leon ripped a double off of Tommy Kahnle into the right field corner to score Bogaerts and Moreland.

NOTES: After the game, the Yankees optioned RHP Bryan Mitchell to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. … The Red Sox announced that LHP Drew Pomeranz will throw a bullpen session on Monday and is on track to make his scheduled start Wednesday in Cleveland, after leaving Friday’s game in the fourth inning with back spasms. … Yankees RHP Masahiro Tanaka had an on-field throwing session before Sunday’s game. Tanaka was placed on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Aug. 10 with shoulder inflammation, but is scheduled to start Tuesday’s game in Detroit. He also threw a bullpen session at Fenway Park on Friday. … Red Sox INF Eduardo Nunez did not start Sunday, marking his first non-start since the trade that brought him from San Francisco to Boston on July 26, a span of 19 games. … RF Aaron Judge continued to struggle against the Red Sox, going 0-for-4 and extending his major league record streak to 37 straight games with at least one strikeout. … The Red Sox honored former second baseman and current television color commentator Jerry Remy before the game. Remy, a team broadcaster since 1988 and a member of the Red Sox Hall of Fame, is currently recovering from surgery after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

NBA Opens Investigation Into LA Lakers’ Case

by

NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report by The Sports Xchange) – The NBA is investigating the Los Angeles Lakers for alleged tampering involving Paul George after the Indiana Pacers filed a formal complaint.

Oklahoma City Thunder Introduce Paul George during Media Event

Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks to fans and media during a media event on July 12, 2017 at the Jones Assembly Hall in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images).

###

The league released a statement Sunday:

“At the request of the Indiana Pacers, the NBA opened an investigation into alleged tampering by the Los Angeles Lakers,” the NBA statement said. “The independent investigation is being conducted by the law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. The Lakers have been cooperative and, at this point, no findings have been made. We have asked both teams to refrain from commenting while the investigation is ongoing.”

Peter Vecsey on Patreon reported Saturday that Lakers president Magic Johnson, general manager Rob Pelinka and owner Jeanie Buss were contacted by an investigator for the NBA and asked to provide “any correspondence pertaining to” George, his agent and his parents.

“As the NBA’s statement made clear, we cannot comment about the specifics of any ongoing investigation,” the Lakers said in a statement. “We can confirm, however, that we are cooperating fully with the NBA in the hope of clearing our name as soon as possible.”

The Pacers declined to comment when contacted by The Indianapolis Star on Sunday.

George’s agent contacted the Pacers on June 18 and informed the team that George would not return after his contract expired following the 2017-18 season and that his preference was to play for his hometown Lakers.

When contacted in June, a source told The Indianapolis Star the Pacers were more concerned about finding a trade for George. The Pacers dealt the All-Star forward to the Oklahoma City Thunder on June 30 in exchange for guard Victor Oladipo and forward Domantas Sabonis.

George, who is from Palmdale, Calif., previously mentioned his admiration of Lakers legends Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

Within an hour of an initial report about George’s intentions to leave the Pacers, Johnson tweeted “God is good!” Johnson also acknowledged in a late-night TV interview in April that he would welcome George as a Laker.

NFL Preseason: Texans Over Patriots

by

Houston 27, New England 23
When: 8:00 PM ET, Saturday, August 19, 2017
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
Attendance: 71,504
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
New England Patriots v Houston Texans

Optical Illusion: J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans is introduced in front of pyrotechnics display and crowd at NRG Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

###

HOUSTON — Operating out of the shotgun formation, Houston Texans starting quarterback Tom Savage made a fast decision when he saw wide receiver Jaelen Strong break across the middle against the New England Patriots secondary.

Savage lobbed a perfect spiral in the back of the end zone to connect with Strong, a fellow Philadelphia native, for a leaping 2-yard touchdown catch against the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Strong beat Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler for the score during a 27-23 preseason win for the Texans at NRG Stadium.

It was an extremely sharp performance by Savage, the Texans’ new starter, as he continues to hold off the challenge of gifted first-round draft pick Deshaun Watson.

Savage completed 8 of 9 passes for 98 yards, one score and no interceptions for a pristine 149.1 passer rating in nearly one quarter of action before being replaced by Watson.

At this stage of the preseason, Savage has done nothing to relinquish his grip on the starting job.

“Yeah, I’m really, really comfortable with this offense,” Savage said. “We have a lot of talent out there and a lot of the guys are making some big plays for me and it’s been awesome.”

Watson completed just 3 of 10 passes for 102 yards for a 69.6 passer rating. Sixty-three of those yards came on an impressive catch-and-run by rookie running back D’Onta Foreman. Watson rushed for 10 yards on four carries.

Watson also rushed for one touchdown, his second this preseason.

Although Watson made some good plays while dealing with pressure, it wasn’t the kind of performance that would make a convincing argument for him to unseat Savage.

For the Patriots, quarterback Tom Brady completed 6 of 9 passes for 67 yards, one touchdown and had no interceptions for a 125.7 passer rating.

He found running back Rex Burkhead in the open field with Burkhead beating rookie linebacker Zach Cunningham for a 22-yard touchdown pass.

In relief of Brady, Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Top Game Performances

PGA Tour: Stenson Leads After R-3

by

GREENSBORO – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – Keeping calm was best for Henrik Stenson during the third round of the Wyndham Championship. That will be the goal for Sunday’s final round as well

Wyndham Championship - Round Three

Henrik Stenson of Sweden reacts after a putt on the 17th hole during the third round of the Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club on August 19, 2017 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images).

###

Stenson posted birdies on four of five holes late in Saturday’s round to regain the lead at Sedgefield Country Club.

“Very calm and collected there,” Stenson said after his mid-round troubles. “Seemed to be that way. I hope it’s the same (mindset Sunday).”

Stenson, who was even for the round through 12 holes, shot a 4-under-par 66, moving to 16-under 194 for the tournament and holding a one-shot lead over three players.

Stenson, a Swede who is ninth in the world rankings, is the tournament’s highest-rated entrant. He began the round one shot off the top spot. His backside birdies came on Nos. 13, 14, 15 and 17.

“Got to keep producing chances,” he said. “What I’ve done so far is working pretty well and I’m playing the course the way I think it’s best for me.”
Stenson encountered trouble earlier, duffing a shot on the seventh hole and ending up with a double bogey. An errant tee shot on No. 11 led to a bogey.

“Things weren’t going great in the middle of the round, but I was hanging in there,” he said. “Made a couple of putts coming home and we find ourselves where we want to be.”

Webb Simpson, who won the 2011 tournament here, dropped out of a share of the lead with a bogey on No. 17. Simpson (68), Kevin Na (65) and Ollie Schniederjans (66) share second place at 15 under, with Johnson Wagner (65) next at 14 under.

“I’m in position to have a good day (Sunday),” Simpson said. “I’m thinking birdies, trying to play aggressive and play smart at the same time.”

Simpson hasn’t won on the tour since 2013. He said that bothers him.

“Very hungry to win again, very hungry to compete week-in, week-out regularly,” he said. “It’s on my mind a little bit.”

Na is aiming for a second tour victory, though he hasn’t won since 2011.

“I think there’s low scores to be had out there,” Na said. “I like the position I’m in.”

Davis Love III, the 2015 tournament champion, and Schniederjans also took turns atop the leaderboard.

Schniederjans, 24, has rookie status on tour and he is a former No. 1-ranked amateur in the world. His lone professional victory came last year in the web.com Tour.

Love, a three-time champion in Greensboro, played the last 10 holes in 1 over, stalling his charge with a round of 67. Harold Varner III (66) and Richy Werenski (64) joined Love at 13 under for the tournament.

With the tournament being played less than two miles from the Atlantic Coast Conference headquarters, there was a true ACC feel for most of the day. Simpson (Wake Forest), Schniederjans (Georgia Tech), Love (North Carolina) and Werenski (Georgia Tech) all have ACC backgrounds, while Wagner played for Virginia Tech before it joined the conference.

Ryan Armour, who shared the second-round lead after shooting a 61 on Friday, slumped to a 72 despite an eagle on the fifth hole. He is at 11 under.

This is the final event of the regular season, with golfers aiming for top-125 spots in points to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs.

NOTES: Johnson Wagner eagled the par-4 first hole with a shot from the fairway. This came after Friday’s round when he had an albatross (double eagle) and an eagle on the course’s two par-5 holes. … Eighty-five golfers made the cut, equaling the second-most on the PGA Tour this season. The field was to be cut to the top 70 (with ties) for Sunday’s round. … Dru Love, the son of Davis Love III, made the cut for the first time in six starts on the tour. Dru Love shot 75 on Saturday but won’t play in the last round (he tied for 75th). … A father and son hadn’t made the cut in the same tournament since Jay Haas and Bill Haas did it in the 2006 Wells Fargo Championship. … A storm came through following play Friday, impacting the condition of the course

NFL and NFL Players Spare on Conduct Issues

by

NEW YORK – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith in harsh terms said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s explanation of how the league’s personal conduct policy was overhauled was a falsehood.

“He lied,” Smith said in response to questioning from Bryant Gumbel during an interview that will air Tuesday night on HBO.

Trumka, Labor Leaders Call For Boycott Of Hyatt Hotels

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Assn (T.J. Kirkpatrick/Getty Images).

###

NFL owners unanimously approved a more stringent personal conduct policy in December 2014 following a series of high-profile incidents, the most notable featuring former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice.

How that policy evolved is what drew a terse response from union chief Smith during the sit-down with Gumbel.

“When Roger Goodell can stand up there as he did and say, ‘We’re drafting a new NFL Personal Conduct Policy. We’re gonna do so in conjunction with the union,’ and then doesn’t consult the union, comes up with a new policy, that says what?” Gumbel asked Smith.

“That says he lied,” Smith said.

With the NFLPA filing an appeal last week of a six-game suspension handed to Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott for violating the league’s personal conduct policy after multiple domestic violence incidents, the relationship between the union and league office again is in the spotlight.

“He has a job,” Smith said. “And I have a job. My relationship with Roger I would argue is irrelevant.”

The broadened powers under the more rigid policy has allowed Goodell to serve as judge and jury in deciding both the punishment and appeals of players, a point of contention between the league and union.

Smith somewhat sidestepped another question by Gumbel of whether he trusts the commissioner.

“I don’t have the luxury of trust, now do I?” Smith said.

NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy responded to Smith’s comments, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

“We repeatedly tried to engage the union but they had no interest in developing a tough and enhanced personal conduct policy,” McCarthy told HBO.

Patriots Lose Top Pick to ACL

by

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS – (Wire Service Report by The Sports Xchange) – New England Patriots defensive end Derek Rivers’ rookie season may be over due to a knee injury.  The Patriots fear they have lost their top pick (third round, 83rd overall) in the 2017 NFL Draft out of Youngstown State for the entire season, league sources said on Friday.
NFL: JUL 27 Patriots Training Camp

New England Patriots defensive end Derek Rivers (95) gets set for a drill during New England Patriots training camp on July 27, 2017. (Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

###
Rivers, 23, was injured on a kickoff coverage drill Wednesday in a joint practice in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., with the Houston Texans.
Before the Patriots traveled to Houston for a preseason game Saturday night, the team sent Rivers back to Boston for more tests. Those tests reinforced the team’s initial fear of a season-ending knee injury, according to ESPN.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Rivers, who was projected to be part of a rotation at defensive end, played 41 snaps in last Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had 41 sacks in his college career, including 14 as a senior in 2016

 

Celtics to Retire Pierce’s No. 34

by

BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced today that they will retire Paul Pierce’s No. 34 after a mid-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018, cementing his 15-year Celtics legacy which includes countless accolades, significant milestones, and the 2008 NBA Championship.

“We teamed up with Paul from the beginning of our ownership and grew to be champions together,” said Celtics Co-Owner and Governing Partner Wyc Grousbeck. “He’s a great person and a great Celtic.”

NBA Finals Game 4: Boston Celtics v Los Angeles Lakers

LOS ANGELES: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics celebrates in the final moments of the Celtics’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 12, 2008. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

###

Ten other Celtics players donned the number 34 prior to Pierce getting drafted by the team with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 draft. Now, after witnessing Pierce’s name skyrocket up a majority of the franchise’s historic leaderboards during his time in Boston, the 17-time NBA champions are raising his number among the other Celtics legends and champions.

“I will always be grateful for the sacrifices Paul made to help the Celtics be great,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. “His love for the game was contagious and his talents and hard work were legendary. He was one of the greatest players of his era.”

“The moment I was drafted by the Celtics, I knew I was joining one of the most historic organizations in the NBA,” said Pierce. “For 15 years, I played at the Garden, looking up at the jerseys of some of the most iconic players in the game – Russell, Bird, and Cousy. To now be recognized alongside those names is such an honor. I have always said I would be a Celtic for life, and now it is really coming true.”

Pierce’s No. 34 will be ceremoniously lifted to the rafters of TD Garden less than 10 years after he helped raise the Celtics’ 17th championship banner up to the very same ceiling in 2008. Going head-to-head with the rival Los Angeles Lakers in his first career NBA Finals appearance, Pierce followed up a 22-point performance in a Game 1 victory with 28 more points on 9-of-16 shooting (4-4 3-PT) and eight assists in Boston’s Game 2 triumph. His 38 points in Game 5 of those Finals represented his second-highest scoring total in 26 postseason games that year.

Pierce was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player that year, making him the third Celtic to collect MVP honors in his first NBA Finals appearance (JoJo White – 1974, Cedric Maxwell – 1981). He averaged 21.8 points (43.2% FG, 39.3% 3-PT, 83.0% FT), 4.5 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.08 steals and 38.8 minutes in that six-game series en route to the Celtics’ first championship banner since 1986.

“Paul was a transcendent player, a great leader, and wonderful teammate; simply one of the great Celtics in every way,” said Celtics Co-Owner Steve Pagliuca. “His number in the rafters will forever remind us of the joy he brought to the game of basketball and his love for the fans and the city of Boston.”

While his role in the 2008 NBA Finals will forever be remembered as a key part of his Celtics legacy, it was a performance earlier that postseason that is widely remembered as one of his more iconic moments in green and white. Battling the Cavaliers in a decisive Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Pierce and LeBron James battled head-to-head in a back-and-forth scoring affair that saw both stars score over 40 points. The Celtics captain unloaded for a team-high 41 points (13-23 FG, 4-6 3-PT) to upend Cleveland, 97-92, and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Pierce’s 15 seasons in Boston from 1998-99 to 2012-13 trails only John Havlicek (16) for the most ever spent in a Celtics uniform. He produced 21.8 points (44.7% FG, 37.0% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 6.0 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.44 steals and 36.6 minutes in his achievement-filled 1,102 career games with the franchise.

Earning his iconic nickname “The Truth” during his third NBA season in 2000-01, Pierce tops the franchise lists in three-point field goals (1,823), free throws (6,434) and steals (1,583), while also placing as the Celtics’ second all-time leading scorer with 24,021 career points. He currently ranks in the organization’s top 10 lists in games played (3rd – 1 ,102), minutes played (3rd – 40,360), field goals (3rd – 7,882), field goal attempts (2nd – 17,630), three-point field goal attempts (1st – 4,928), free throw attempts (1st – 7,979), offensive rebounds (8th – 1,008), rebounds (7th – 6,651), assists (5th – 4,305), and blocked shots (4th – 668).

Pierce’s No. 34, which was also retired collegiately at the University of Kansas on Jan. 25, 2003, will represent the 22nd retired number in Celtics franchise history. He becomes the first Celtic to have his number retired since Cedric Maxwell’s No. 31 was retired on Dec. 15, 2003.

NCAAF: Alabama Opens at No. 1

by

NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report by The Sports Xchange on AP Rankings) – The Alabama Crimson Tide begin the college football season atop the Top 25 coaches poll for the second straight year.  The Crimson Tide were picked first by 49 of the 65 coaches on this year’s panel for the poll, which was released on Thursday.

Alabama Spring Game

Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #3 of the Alabama Crimson Tide attempts to catch a pass in front of defensive back Tony Brown #2 of the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on April 22, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Michael Chang/Getty Images).

###

No. 2 Ohio State received five first-place votes while No. 3 Florida State garnered four. USC was ranked fourth, one spot ahead of defending champion Clemson, which received seven first-place votes.

The Crimson Tide will be put to the test out of the chute when they open the season against the Seminoles in a blockbuster on Sept. 2.

Coach Nick Saban is no stranger to seeing Alabama atop the coaches poll. Thursday’s designation marks the fourth time the Crimson Tide has opened as the favorite, although they have failed to win the national title on their three previous occasions — including last year’s loss to the Tigers in the championship game.

The last preseason No. 1 in the coaches poll to win the national championship was USC in 2004.

Big Ten clubs Penn State (No. 6), Michigan (No. 9) and Wisconsin (No. 10) are joined by No. 7 Washington and No. 8 Oklahoma in the top 10.

The Southeastern Conference led the power leagues by placing six teams in the top 25, with LSU (12), Auburn (13), Georgia (15), Florida (16) and Tennessee (24) joining Alabama. It’s the first time the conference has placed only one team in the top 10 of the preseason coaches poll since 1991.

The Big 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference each placed five teams in the poll. The Pac-12 joined the Big Ten with four while No. 22 South Florida of the American Athletic Conference is the lone ranked representative of the Group of Five leagues

PGA Tour: Fed Ex Playoffs Begin

by

PGA TOUR: The Northern Trust at Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, N.Y., Thursday through Sunday.
TV: Thursday and Friday, 2-6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; Saturday, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel and 3-6 p.m. EDT on CBS; and Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel and 3-7 p.m. EDT on CBS.
LAST YEAR: Patrick Reed captured the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs, then known as The Barclays, by one stroke over Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and Sean O’Hair on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. Reed, who claimed the sixth victory of his PGA Tour career, rallied from an early two-stroke deficit by closing with a 1-under-par 70. He even could afford making a bogey on the final hole while picking up his first-ever victory in the playoffs and wrapping up a spot on the United States team for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine a month later. O’Hair birdied the final hole for a 66, and Grillo also closed with a birdie for a 69.

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE MLB Scout: Yankees at Red Sox

by

NY Yankees at Boston
When: 1:30 PM ET, Sunday, August 20, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
St Louis Cardinals v Boston Red Sox

Rick Porcello of the Boston Red Sox  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images).

###

BOSTON – The New York Yankees knocked a game off their deficit in the American League East on Saturday and have a chance to do it again when they visit the Boston Red Sox on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series. The Yankees sit four games back after holding the Red Sox off in a 4-3 win on Saturday and control the AL wild card.

New York was questioning its bullpen after squandering a 6-3 lead on Friday, and manager Joe Girardi announced prior to Saturday’s contest that Aroldis Chapman was being removed from the closer’s role. The new setup, with Adam Warren leading into David Robertson and Dellin Betances taking care of the ninth, worked quite well when the three combined for seven strikeouts in the final three innings of Saturday’s triumph. The loss was just the third in the last 16 games for Boston, which heads to Cleveland for four straight against the AL Central leaders on Monday. The Red Sox will try to regain control of the division race behind reigning Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello on Sunday while the Yankees counter with Sonny Gray.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, TBS, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Sonny Gray (7-7, 3.37 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (7-14, 4.59)

Gray earned his first win as a member of the Yankees on Tuesday, when he held the New York Mets to two runs on five hits in six innings. The Vanderbilt product surrendered two or fewer earned runs in each of his last nine starts but has not completed seven innings in any of the last seven. Gray earned a win over Boston as a member of the Oakland Athletics on May 18, when he allowed three runs and struck out eight over six innings.

Porcello is working on a three-start winning streak and is finally getting plenty of support from his offense, which totaled 27 runs in those three starts. The New Jersey native went seven innings against St. Louis on Tuesday, yielding three runs and eight hits while striking out six. Porcello is looking for his first win against New York this season after going 0-3 in the first three chances despite a 3.79 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox rookie 3B Rafael Devers is 4-for-8 with two home runs and four runs scored in the series and has eight homers in his first 20 games.

2. New York RF Aaron Judge set a major-league record by striking out in his 36th straight game on Saturday.

3. Boston rookie LF Andrew Benintendi went 0-for-4 on Saturday, snapping an 11-game hitting streak.

Yankees Strike Back on Red Sox

by

NY Yankees 4, Boston 3
When: 7:10 PM ET, Saturday, August 19, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Attendance: 37,274
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox

BOSTON = Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox is tagged out by Didi Gregorius of the New York Yankees while attempting to steal during the ninth inning of a game on August 19, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

###

BOSTON — It was less than two weeks ago when CC Sabathia contemplated retirement after injuring his right knee in Toronto. Fortunately for his team, he changed his mind

“I know that he was pretty emotional that night because he thought he was heading for surgery,” New York manager Joe Girardi said after Sabathia came off the disabled list and outpitched Chris Sale while leading the Yankees to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday night.

“We said, ‘Let’s just see.’ If you would have listened to the tone in his voice, you probably wouldn’t have guessed that (he’d be back).”

The pain subsided and Sabathia returned to beat the Red Sox for the third time in as many tries this season — going six innings and yielding two runs.

“I would have said, ‘No way.’ But everything’s worked out,” Sabathia (10-5) said after not only winning but also setting the American League record for career strikeouts by a left-hander. “I want to keep going out there and helping the team.”

As far as the knee, he said, “I felt it a little bit, but nothing like Toronto. I feel like where it’s at now I can manage.”

Sabathia passed Mickey Lolich with his 2,680th career strikeout, in the third inning. He has allowed two runs in 20 innings against Boston this season and this performance helped his team out after two crushing losses to the first-place Red Sox.

“I felt confident coming in,” he said. “But to be able to go out and pitch well against that team and get us a big win, feels really good.”

Sabathia improved to 7-0 with a 1.46 ERA after Yankee losses this season.

The win reduced Boston’s lead over the Yankees atop the American League East to four games.

The loss was only the third in 16 games for the Red Sox, while the Yankees have won five of their last six.

Tyler Austin crashed a three-run homer in his first career at-bat against Sale (14-5) in the second inning and Todd Frazier hit his second homer in as many nights for the Yankees.

“Anytime I give up two homers in a game, it’s not gonna work out so much,” said Sale, who has failed to beat the Yankees in four starts this season. “Solo shot’s not that big of a deal. But when guys get on base, I just gotta be better than that.”

Austin, robbed of extra bases by Jackie Bradley Jr. in the fourth, doubled to lead off the ninth.

Adam Warren gave up a solo homer to rookie sensation Rafael Devers — his eighth home run in 20 major league games, in another two-hit game — in the seventh and David Robertson struck Xander Bogaerts out on three breaking pitches to end an eighth-inning threat created by a wild pitch on a strikeout that should have ended a 1-2-3 inning.

With Aroldis Chapman demoted from the closer role, Dellin Betances worked the ninth for his ninth save — and he also had to pitch around a strikeout/wild pitch. Gary Sanchez caught pinch runner Brock Holt stealing for the second out and Bradley flied out to end it.

“We have full confidence in his ability to steal a base right there, particularly in a 2-0 count where typically a pitcher is going to get a little bit longer to throw a strike,” Boston manager John Farrell said, “and Dellin is a guy that’s got a fairly long, if not long, unloading time. Sanchez threw a bullet right to second base. That’s an aggressive baserunning play and I think a calculated risk.”

Didi Gregorius had three hits for New York.

The Red Sox have scored five runs in Sale’s five losses. He went seven innings, allowing a season high-tying-four extra-base hits and striking out nine.

The Yankees went 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position and are 2 for 17 in that department in the two games, stranding 22 runners.

Aaron Judge struck out his last three times up to break a tie with former pitcher Bill Stoneman with a strikeout in 36 straight games. He also tied Adam Dunn’s record of 36 straight games with a K stretching over two seasons.

NOTES: Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before the game he is taking LHP Aroldis Chapman out of the closer’s role as Chapman continues to struggle, saying, “I will use him at any point” and adding Chapman was OK with the decision. … The umpires were wearing dark blue sweatbands on their left arms in solidarity with their union, which is complaining over Ian Kinsler’s recent harsh words aimed at ump Angel Hernandez. Umps earlier in the day wore white bands. … RHP Masahiro Tanaka (shoulder inflammation) is tentatively scheduled to come off the disabled list to pitch for the Yankees in Detroit on Tuesday. … LHP Jordan Montgomery, whose innings are being watched, was sent back to Triple-A to make room for CC Sabathia. … RHP Sonny Gray faces the Red Sox for the first time in a Yankees uniform when he opposes RH Rick Porcello in Sunday’s series finale. … LHP David Price (elbow) received treatment and didn’t throw for a fourth straight day.

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE MLB Scout: Yankees at Red Sox

by

NY Yankees at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Saturday, August 19, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees

Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 in ten innings. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images).

###

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox are making the New York Yankees rethink their bullpen structure as they pull away in the American League East. The Red Sox will try to push the lead to six games in the division when they host the Yankees in the second of a three-game set on Saturday.

New York looked like it would pick up a game in the standings after taking a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning on Friday, but Chad Green and Tommy Kahnle combined to allow four runs in the bottom of the seventh before star closer Aroldis Chapman surrendered two more runs in the eighth in a 9-6 loss. Chapman allowed two earned runs in each of his last three appearances, including during a home loss to Boston on Sunday. The Yankees still own the first AL wild card spot and hold a healthy 3 1/2-game over the second-place Los Angeles Angels and Minnesota Twins. New York faces a tough task in bouncing back on Saturday, when the Red Sox send ace Chris Sale up against CC Sabathia.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, YES (New York), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees LH CC Sabathia (9-5, 4.05 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (14-4, 2.51)

Sabathia went on the DL with pain in his right knee after a three-inning start at Toronto on Aug. 8 but is back in time to face the team against which he delivered some of his best performances of the season. The burly veteran held Boston scoreless over eight innings at home on June 7 and scattered two hits and five walks over six scoreless frames at Fenway Park on July 16. Sabathia was not nearly as strong in his three starts prior to hitting the DL, allowing a total of 12 runs in 13 1/3 innings.

Sale surrendered one or no runs in five of his last six starts and is well on his way to his first AL Cy Young Award. The Florida native still has yet to notch his first win against New York this season despite posting a 1.19 ERA in three starts. Sale struck out 12 at New York on Sunday – his 16th double-digit strikeout performance of the season – and yielded just one run and four hits in seven frames but was held out of the decision in a game the Red Sox won in 10 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi hit safely in each of the last 11 games.

2. New York RF Aaron Judge tied the major-league record by striking out for the 35th straight game on Friday.

3. Boston 3B Rafael Devers is 11-for-26 with four homers, eight RBIs and seven runs scored during a seven-game hitting streak.

Copyright 2017

www.digitalsportsdesk.com