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DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE BETTS LEADS SOX TO WALK-OFF W

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Boston 5, St. Louis 4
When: 7:10 PM ET, Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Attendance: 37,181
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
St Louis Cardinals v Boston Red Sox

Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox is doused in water after hitting a walk-off two run double in the bottom of the 9th inning to defeat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-4, at Fenway Park (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images).

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BOSTON – Mookie Betts ripped a two-run double off the Green Monster to cap a three-run ninth-inning rally and give the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.  Betts, who drove in a run earlier in the game, hit a 3-2 pitch from Boston native John Brebbia off the Green Monster, scoring pinch runner Chris Young and Jackie Bradley Jr.

Bradley scored from first and likely would have been out at the plate but Yadier Molina couldn’t hold onto the throw from shortstop Paul DeJong.
The win, which completed a four-game sweep of the Cardinals this season, lifted the Red Sox to 3-48 this season when trailing after eight innings and kept them 4 1/2 games ahead of the New York Yankees in the American League East.
The Red Sox have won 12 of their last 14 games.
The Cardinals have lost three straight following an eight-game winning streak.
Trevor Rosenthal started the ninth with a 4-2 lead and gave up a leadoff homer to Xander Bogaerts before walking Mitch Moreland on a 3-2 pitch that bounced to the backstop. Zach Duke (0-1) came on and struck out pinch hitter Brock Holt on a 3-2 pitch after falling behind 3-0 and then went 3-0 on Jackie Bradley Jr. before walking on 3-2.  Brebbia came on and with the count 0-2 on Eduardo Nunez, Brebbia held the set too long and home plate umpire Chris Segal called time. That got catcher Yadier Molina upset and manager Mike Matheny came out and, still fuming over a check swing call earlier in the inning, was ejected by Segal.
Nunez fouled out and Betts delivered against Brebbia, who grew up a Red Sox fan.
Boston closer Craig Kimbrel (5-0), who hadn’t pitched since Sunday, pitched a perfect ninth inning.
St. Louis starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs (one earned) and hasn’t lost since July 4.
The Cardinals collected five hits in scoring all four of their runs in the second inning off Eduardo Rodriguez, who is 0-1 with a 4.78 ERA in six starts since coming off the disabled list and hasn’t won since May 26.
Kolton Wong had three hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Cardinals.
The second inning was wild, with Bradley twice trying to nail a runner trying to score from third base on a single. He was successful the second time, throwing out Matt Carpenter.
Wong, after bunting foul twice in attempts to sacrifice, singled a run home, and Luke Voit made it 2-0 with an RBI single. The third run scored on a passed ball by catcher Christian Vazquez, and the fourth came in when Carpenter dropped his single in front of Bradley.
However, Carpenter was eventually thrown out trying to score from third after Tommy Pham’s single to center.
As Rodriguez settled down, the Red Sox took advantage of a Lynn throwing error to cut their deficit in half in the third.
The first run scored when Eduardo Nunez hit a ball back to Lynn for an infield single, but Lynn threw the ball away allowing Vazquez to score all the way from second. Betts then made it 4-2 with a sacrifice fly.
NOTES: Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Lonborg, Ken Harrelson, Rico Petrocelli and Reggie Smith headed the list of members of the 1967 Red Sox Impossible Dream team honored prior to the game. … The Red Sox will pitch LHPs Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale on Friday and Saturday against the New York Yankees but still hadn’t decided between RHs Rick Porcello (on regular rest) and Doug Fister for Sunday. … Boston will honor broadcaster Jerry Remy, battling cancer for the fifth time, and his 30 years in the TV booth Sunday. He will throw out the first pitch. … Boston LHP David Price (elbow) delayed a throwing session a day and wil throw Thursday from flat ground. … The Cardinals visit the Pirates for three games, the first two in Pittsburgh and the third, on Sunday night, in a small minor league stadium in Williamsport, Pa

 

PGA Tour: Ten to Watch at Wyndham

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GREENSBORO – Here are ten players to watch at this week’s PGA Tour event at the Wyndham Championship:

1. Kevin Kisner, United States — If he doesn’t suffer a letdown after having at least a share of the lead in the first three rounds in the PGA Championship before fading to a tie for seventh, Kisner could make up for it this week in the Wyndham Championship. He has some incentive, too, as he is ninth in the FedExCup point standings and can climb to fifth heading into the playoffs by winning or finishing in a tie for second. Kisner claimed his second PGA Tour victory earlier this year in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational in addition to tying for second in Arnold Palmer Invitational, among his seven finishes in the top 10 this season. He is making his fourth start at Sedgefield Country Club and recorded his second straight top-10 result last year, when he played the last three rounds in 67-67-63 to wind up in a tie for 10th. Two years ago, Kisner posted four scores in the 60s, including a 64 in the second round, en route to a tie for eighth.

GOLF: AUG 13 PGA - PGA Championship - Final Round

CHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 13: Kevin Kisner gets a drink of water before teeing off on the 1st hole during the final round of the PGA Championship on August 13, 2017 at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, NC. (William Howard/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

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2. Ryan Moore, United States — Coming off a tie for 13th in the PGA Championship, Moore this week is back at Sedgefield, where he claimed the first of his five PGA Tour victories in 2009. After opening with 64-65, he played the weekend in 70-65 and then beat Kevin Stadler and Jason Bohn in a playoff, sinking a six-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole. Moore is playing at Greensboro for the 10th time, also recording a tie for sixth in 2006 and a tie for 10th two years ago, when he recorded four scores in the 60s. Moore hasn’t won since the John Deere Classic last year, but has eight results in the top 25 this season, including a tie for third in the SBS Championship and a tie for ninth in the Masters, where he was in the chase for his first major title before closing with a 74. He is 67th in the FedExCup standings and needs another solid finish to improve his position heading into the playoffs.

3. Chris Stroud, United States — Only two weeks ago, Stroud was outside the FedExCup Playoffs bubble at No. 144 in the point standings. He then claimed his first PGA Tour and professional victory in the Barracuda Championship and followed that with his first top-10 finish in the majors, a tie for ninth in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. That lifted him to 69th in the standings and guaranteed his spot in the playoffs. The 35-year-old Stroud, who claimed that first victory on his 290th start on the circuit, has only one other top-10 finish this season. He recorded a tie for eighth in the Puerto Rico Open, but has finished in the top 25 on seven occasions. He is making his 11th start in the Wyndham Championship, but has missed he cut six times and his best result was a tie for 37th in 2013, when he opened with a 64. However, he has played the best golf of his career in recent weeks.

4. Henrik Stenson, Sweden — The highest-ranked player in the world this week in the Wyndham Championship at No. 9, Stenson hopes to play more like the guy who once was No. 1. The Big Swede needs a high finish in his first appearance in Greensboro to improve his position in the FedExCup standings, as he comes in at No. 75, his worst spot since 2012. The 2013 FedExCup champion, who has not won since claiming his first major victory in the Open Championship last year at Royal Troon, has finished in the top 10 on the PGA Tour only twice this season, when he tied for second in the WGC-HSBC Champions in China and tied for seventh in the Valspar Championship. However, Stenson hasn’t been that far off, as he tied for 11th in his title defense in the Open at Royal Birkdale, tied for 13th last week in the PGA Championship, tied for 16th in the Players Championship and tied for 17th in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

5. Kyle Stanley, United States — At No. 17 in the FedExCup point standings, Stanley will be trying to jump into the top 10 this week with a big performance in the Wyndham Championship. He earned his second PGA Tour victory, and first since the 2012 Waste Management Phoenix Open, earlier this year in the Quicken Loans National. He tied for fourth in the Players Championship in addition to tying for sixth in the Memorial Tournament. Stanley has had a bit of a letdown since winning Tiger Woods’ tournament early last month, with his best result in the last four events a tie for 41st in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and he also missed the cut in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale and the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. After missing the cut in his first three starts at Sedgefield and tying for 51st in 2015, he posted four scores in the 60s last year, including a 65 in round two, to tie for 14th.

6. Webb Simpson, United States — The 2002 PGA champion in 2012 at Harding Park in San Francisco, Simpson made a solid comeback in his latest appearance in the final major of the year last week after opening with a 76, making the cut and then climbing back to a tie for 33rd. The Carolina native is looking for much better this week before the home fans in the Wyndham Championship, in which he earned the first of his four PGA Tour victories five years ago by three strokes over George McNeil. Simpson is making his ninth start at Sedgefield, and he also tied for fifth in 2015, tied for sixth in 2016 and tied for eighth in 2010. He has eight results in the top 25 this season, topped by a solo second in the Waste Management Phoenix, and is looking for another strong finish to improve his 37th place position in the FedExCup standings with the playoffs only a week away.

7. Billy Horschel, United States — Sitting pretty at No. 21 in the FedExCup standings, Horschel needs to regain his form from earlier in the season to improve his position going into the playoffs. He claimed his fourth PGA Tour victory in the AT&T Byron Nelson, tied for second in the RSM Classic, and tied for fourth in both the St. Jude Classic and the AT&T Byron Nelson, but his best result since was a tie for sixth in the Quicken Loans National. However, Horschel knows what can happen if you get hot at this time of year after he won the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship to claim the 2014 FedExCup. He will tee it up for the sixth time in the Wyndham Championship and last year posted his best result at Sedgefield, where he posted four scores of 68 or better to wind up in a tie for fifth. He finished seven strokes behind winner Si Woo Kim of South Korea.

8. Jason Dufner, United States — When he captured the Memorial Tournament in June for his sixth PGA Tour victory and followed that with a tie for 14th in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, it seemed Dufner was gearing up for a late summer run. However, he could manage only a tie for 50th in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and a tie for 58th in the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. However, it’s been a solid season for the 2013 PGA champion, as he has recorded 11 finishes in the top 25 in 19 starts on the circuit and would love one more to improve on his 22nd place position in the FedExCup standings on the brink of the playoffs. Dufner is making his 10th start in the Wyndham Championship, with his best results a tie for seventh in 2012, when he shot 63 in the third round, and a tie for eighth in 2004, when he opened with a 65 at Sedgefield.

9. Bill Haas, United States — At 34th in the FedExCup standings, Haas knows he still has a solid chance in the season-long race since he finished at the top of the heap by winning the 2011 Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta. Despite being winless since claiming his sixth PGA Tour victory in the 2015 Humana Challenge, he has 11 results in the top 25 this season, the best coming in big events. Haas tied for fifth in the U.S. Open, finished third in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and tied for fourth in the WGC-HSBC Champions. Haas teed it up 12 times previously in the Wyndham Championship, and after missing the cut in each of his first four starts, he has recorded four results in the top 10. The best was a tie for second in 2014, when he closed with a 64 to finish one stroke behind Camilo Villegas of Colombia. Haas also tied for sixth in 2015, tied for seventh in 2012 and tied for 10th in 2009, when he opened with a 62.

10. Davis Love III, United States — It’s been pretty much a lost season for Love after he underwent surgery on his right collarbone in January and didn’t play again until April. He has missed the cut in six of his 12 starts, with his best finish a tie for 29th in the Greenbrier Classic, when he showed he still has it by opening with a 63. And you can never count him out ahead of the Wyndham Championship, in which he has collected three of his 21 PGA Tour victories. The most famous came two years ago at the age of 51, when he had bookend 64s to beat Jason Gore by one stroke and become the third-oldest winner in Tour history. Love’s other victories in Greensboro came in 2006 by two strokes over Jason Bohn and in 1992, when he closed with a 62 to win by six strokes over John Cook. He also finished sixth in 1997 and tied for 10th in 2012

Red Sox Top Cards, 10-4

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BOSTON – (Staff report by Digital Sports Desk with wire service coverage by The Sports Xchange) – Hanley Ramirez and Sandy Leon drove in two runs apiece in an eight-run fifth inning that carried the Boston Red Sox to a 10-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. Ten straight Red Sox reached base and 13 came to bat in chasing Mike Leake (7-11) and propelling Boston to its 11th win in its last 13 games. The victory brought the Red Sox to a season-high tying 17-games over .500.

Rick Porcello, helped by a fourth-inning triple play turned on a Jadier Molina grounder, allowed three runs in the sixth inning after being staked to a 9-0 lead but worked through seven for his third straight victory. The reigning Cy Young Award winner improved to 7-14 — 3-0 in August — after going more than a month without a win.

St Louis Cardinals v Boston Red Sox

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The Red Sox, who maintained their 4 1/2-game lead on the New York Yankees in the American League East, have won all three games against the Cardinals this season. It was St. Louis’ first visit to Fenway Park since losing the sixth game of the 2013 World Series. The Yankees won at home against the New York Mets.

Jackie Bradley Jr. also drove in two runs and Xander Bogaerts contributed three singles to the 15-hit Boston attack that included two more hits for rookie sensation Rafael Devers.

Dexter Fowler had three hits, including a two-run double, for the Cardinals, who lost their second straight after an eight-game winning streak. They trailed the Chicago Cubs by 1 1/2 games entering Tuesday.

In his last two starts, Leake has allowed 20 hits and 13 runs (12 earned) in 9 1/3 innings.

The triple play was the first for the Red Sox since they turned one against the Tampa Bay Rays on Aug. 16, 2011. It was the first turned against the Cardinals since May 9, 2015 — and Molina hit into that one too.

Through five innings, the Red Sox, who took a first-inning lead on three straight two-out singles, had turned two double plays to go along with the triple play. Molina also hit into a double play.

Things were quiet and quick until the fifth, when the home team chased Leake and broke the game open. Ramirez belted a ringing double off the wall in left. After an intentional walk to Devers reloaded the bases, Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland singled in runs to chase Leake.

Leon then greeted Matt Bowman with his two-run double. Bradley, who flied out to start the inning, singled in a run and Eduardo Nunez stroked his second hit of the inning for another run. It took a nifty grab in left field by Tommy Pham to end the inning.

Leon ended the previous inning when he was robbed by a diving Randal Grichuk in right field.

NOTES: Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia will be out longer than the minimum 10 days in his second straight stint on the disabled list because of his balky left knee. … Cardinals 3B Jedd Gyorko, who received a cortisone shot in his right knee Sunday, was able to return Tuesday after sitting out the weekend. … Several members of the Cardinals visited the inside of the Green Monster earlier Tuesday. … Boston LHP David Price (elbow) continues to throw off flat ground with no return date in sight. … The Red Sox will honor the 50th anniversary of their 1967 Impossible Dream team that lost a seven-game World Series to the Cardinals on Wednesday. … The Boston Globe reported domestic battery charges against Red Sox TV analyst Steve Lyons stemming from an argument with his girlfriend in January, were dismissed in California. … RHP Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.12 ERA) pitches for St. Louis against LH Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 3.80) in the series finale Wednesday. Strangely enough, the pitching matchups for the two games in St. Louis were the same as in the rematch, but in reverse order

NBA Releases 2017-18 Schedule

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NEW YORK – (Staff and wire service report from The Sports Xchange) – The NBA offseason featured plenty of movement. However, two notable stars who changed addresses will have to wait until the new year to face their former teams at the place they used to call home.

(Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images).

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The NBA released its 2017-18 regular-season schedule on Monday, and among its highlights were All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Gordon Hayward returning to Chicago and Utah, respectively, in 2018. Butler joins Taj Gibson and coach Tom Thibodeau in a reunion of sorts when the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Bulls on Feb. 9. Chicago traded Butler and the 16th overall pick of the 2017 draft to Minnesota for Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn and the seventh overall selection. Hayward, who signed with the Boston Celtics as a free agent, will return to Utah for a game against the Jazz on March 28.

Paul George will make a familiar trek to Indiana to face the Pacers on Dec. 13. George was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder after making it clear that he would not re-sign with Indiana when he becomes a free agent next summer.

Chris Paul, who was a longtime member of the Clippers, will join his new team in the Houston Rockets when they make a return to Los Angeles on Jan. 15.

The league announced its marquee television matchups for opening week and Christmas Day last week. The defending champion Golden State Warriors will begin their title defense and hold their championship ring ceremony at home against the Rockets on Oct. 17. Last season’s runners-up, the Cleveland Cavaliers, will start the season on the same day at home against the Celtics in a rematch of the Eastern Conference finals.

Here are a few other notable matchups:

  • Three-time All-Star center DeMarcus will join the New Orleans Pelicans on Oct. 26 in a road game against the Sacramento Kings, his former team.
  • The Rockets will play Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 1.
  • Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid will get a firsthand look at second overall pick Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 15. Embiid and Ball’s outspoken father, LaVar, have exchanged jabs via social media during the summer. Markelle Fultz, the top overall pick, will match-up against Ball in the game.
  • On the international front, the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets play in Mexico City on Dec. 9 and the 76ers and Celtics tip-off in London on Jan. 11.
  • The Cavaliers and Warriors will play their second regular-season matchup on Jan. 15 in Cleveland. The first one is the highlight of the Christmas Day slate.
  • Cleveland superstar LeBron James will travel to Los Angeles to face the Lakers on March 11. Speculation abounds on whether James will call L.A. his home (for basketball purposes) in the not-too-distant future.

NFL: Elliott to Appeal Suspension

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OXNARD  – (Wire Service Report by The Sports Xchange) – Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott will appeal a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy because of alleged domestic violence against a former girlfriend in July of 2016.

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball down field during morning practice on July 27, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images).

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Elliott, who was not arrested nor charged in the case, continues to maintain his innocence.

The Columbus city prosecutor said he didn’t believe that he could make a case because of conflicting and inconsistent information.

Elliott will try to discredit Tiffany Thompson in the appeal process by highlighting, her threats to “ruin his career,” including one that was racially based, according to sources.

The NFL announced Elliott’s suspension Friday, saying it has photo and digital evidence supporting a finding “that (Elliott) engaged in physical violence against Ms. Thompson on multiple occasions during the week of July 16, 2016.”

Elliott’s appeal game plan includes highlighting Thompson’s already chronicled text messages encouraging a friend to lie to police about an alleged domestic assault on July 22, misleading testimony to NFL lead investigator Lisa Friel, and repeated threats to ruin his career after breaking off the relationship.Elliott has not talked to the media since the start of training camp, and was escorted from the locker room following Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams.

But he made his feelings known on Twitter on Friday, saying he was “both surprised and disappointed by the NFL’s decision” and “I strongly disagree with the league’s findings.”

His representatives also blasted the NFL in a statement Friday for their “factual inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions” and promised “a slew of additional credible and controverting evidence will come to light” during the appeal.

It’s unclear what role Cowboys owner Jerry Jones will play in the appeal. But a source says Jones is “angry” about the suspension after being adamant that, after reviewing all of the league’s evidence, no assault occurred and Elliott would not be disciplined.

Jones also has uncharacteristically not spoken with the media since the suspension.

Elliott’s absence will leave a massive hole in the Cowboys’ offense. He led the league in rushing a season ago as a rookie and is a home-run threat whenever the ball is in his hands.

“For us it’s very shocking,” running back Darren McFadden said. “We didn’t know what was going on exactly. To hear six games, it was definitely a surprise to us. We didn’t expect anything to happen. But they made a decision. For us as a team, we are going to rally around him and keep going forward.”

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MLB: Bettis Returns to Rockies

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Colorado 3, Atlanta 0
When: 8:40 PM ET, Monday, August 14, 2017
Where: Coors Field, Denver
Attendance: 33,641
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
Atlanta Braves v Colorado Rockies

DENVER – Starting pitcher Chad Bettis #35 of the Colorado Rockies delivers to home plate during the first inning against the Atlanta Braves at Coors Field on August 14, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. Bettis is making his first start of the season following treatment for testicular cancer. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

DENVER — Chad Bettis made a dazzling return Monday night, pitching seven scoreless innings for the Colorado Rockies in his 2017 debut and his comeback from cancer.

Bettis was not involved in the decision, but his storybook start paved the way to Colorado’s 3-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Rockies scored their runs in the eighth, the first on Gerardo Parra’s RBI single and the final two on Carlos Gonzalez’s single.

Bettis, 28, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and underwent surgery in late November. In March, Bettis learned the cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, forcing him to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy. On Monday, he pitched in the big leagues for the first time since Sept. 30.

“There wasn’t a doubt it would happen for me,” Bettis said of his return to the Rockies. “The question was when it was going to be and what was it going to look like. Would I be in the bullpen or would I be able to start?”

Bettis allowed six hits with no walks and two strikeouts and got 13 outs on ground balls. He threw 89 pitches, including 62 strikes, and held the Braves hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

The final two such at-bats wrapped up Bettis’ outing. After Kurt Suzuki led off the seventh with a double and was sacrificed to third, Bettis got Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson to fly out. He then received a standing ovation as he walked to the Rockies’ dugout.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Bettis said. “You try to get your mind clear because of the task at hand, and then to be hit with that emotion, it was unbelievable. Walking in it was deep breaths.”

The Rockies’ game-winning rally began when Charlie Blackmon led off the eighth against former Rockies reliever Rex Brothers (2-3) with his major-league-leading 14th triple. The hit came with the count 1-2 and on Brothers’ fifth pitch of the at-bat.

“I had a count in my favor and didn’t execute, simple as that,” Brothers said. “At this level, you see what happened. It’s a matter of execution. I threw a slider belt-high, about as middle-middle as you can get.”
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NCAAF: Alabama Opens at No. 1

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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).

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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

MLB: Cardinals and Sox to Celebrate ’67

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St. Louis at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
St. Louis Cardinals v Cincinnati Reds

Lance Lynn of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 5, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images).

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BOSTON – Right-hander Lance Lynn goes for his fifth consecutive victory and attempts to give the St. Louis Cardinals a split of a two-game interleague series against the host Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night. St. Louis has dropped two in a row following an eight-game winning streak but remained 1 1/2 games behind Chicago in the National League Central.

The game will be played after the Red Sox honor their 1967 American League “Impossible Dream” pennant winner, a team that lost to the NL Cards in an exciting seven-game ’67 World Series.

The surging Red Sox turned their first triple play in six years in the series opener, breaking the game open with an eight-run fifth inning in the 10-4 victory to improve to 11-2 in their last 13 games. Slumping shortstop Xander Bogaerts, mired in a 1-for-17 slump in his previous five games, broke loose with three hits and an RBI single as Boston maintained its 4 1/2-game lead in the American League East. Dexter Fowler had a two-run double among three hits for the Cardinals and is 11-for-24 over his last eight games. Lynn, who has not allowed more than two earned runs in eight straight starts, will be opposed by left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez, who won at St. Louis on May 16 with six innings of three-run ball.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (10-6, 3.12 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodríguez (4-3, 3.80)

Although Lynn did not factor in the decision last time out, he limited Kansas City to three runs (two earned) over six innings to extend his unbeaten string to seven starts. He is 4-0 and has permitted a combined seven earned runs in that span – all quality starts – but 13 walks over the last three turns is a concern. Lynn’s ERA is nearly a run higher on the road (3.56) than at home (2.62).

Rodriguez remains in search of his first win since May 26, although he spent a lengthy portion of that time on the disabled list. He appeared on the way to ending the drought in his last start at Yankee Stadium, tossing six scoreless innings of two-hit ball and striking out seven before Boston’s bullpen coughed up a lead. Rodriguez has made six starts at Fenway this year, posting a 1-0 record and 3.31 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi, 15-for-35 during an nine-game hitting streak, left Tuesday’s game after taking a pitch off the knee.

2. St. Louis SS Paul DeJong has five straight multiple-hit games (11-for-20) and a five-game RBI streak.

3. Red Sox 3B Rafael Devers has hit safely in five straight games, going 8-for-19 with three homers and six RBIs.

Sports Biz: Calhoun Considering Comeback

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HARTFORD – (Wire service report by The Sports Xchange) – Longtime University of Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun is considering a comeback at a Division III program, multiple media outlets reported.  The 75-year-old Calhoun, who stepped down from UConn in 2012 after 26 years and three national titles, told USA
Today he is acting as an unpaid adviser to the University of St. Joseph, which is located in West Hartford, Conn., and plans to start a men’s basketball program.
Connecticut v Tennessee

Former Connecticut Huskies head basketball coach Jim Calhoun looks on against the Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee (Joe Robbins/Getty Images).

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Calhoun did not rule out the possibility that he would coach the team, and the Hartford Courant reported that St. Joseph officials had serious discussions with Calhoun about its proposed program. Prior to his Hall of Fame career at UConn, Calhoun coached at Northeastern University in Boston
“I’m not at the point of accepting or rejecting,” he told USA Today. “If I thought I could help the kids there, I’d consider it.”
St. Joseph has accepted only female students until now, but it announced in June that it would begin admitting males as well in 2018. The proposed men’s basketball program would operate at the Division III level.
St. Joseph president Rhona Free released a statement, which read, “While we certainly can’t think of a better person to inaugurate the University of St. Joseph’s first-ever men’s basketball team, right now we have nothing to announce.

 

MLB Game Scout: Cards at Red Sox

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St. Louis at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special Preview to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox are enduring a tough stretch of schedule but are having no trouble holding their own against a series of teams fighting for playoff spots. The Red Sox will greet another such club when the St. Louis Cardinals visit on Tuesday for the opener of a two-game interleague series.

The Cardinals had an eight-game winning streak come to an end on Sunday against Atlanta, but sit 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and are happy about their improvement. “We’re a better team than when we started,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny told reporters. “I believe we’re going to be better as we move along, too. (We’ve) just got to continue to work to figure out the holes we’ve got to continue to fix. I don’t see this as a streak. I see this as a level of expectation of how we should play every game as we go forward, as long as they let us play.” The Red Sox are seeing their own improvements, going 10-2 in their last 12 contests to lead the second-place New York Yankees by 4 1/2 games in the American League East despite falling to AL Central-leading Cleveland 7-3 on Monday. Reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello will try to keep Boston rolling along when he goes up against Cardinals righty Mike Leake on Tuesday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Mike Leake (7-10, 3.48 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (6-14, 4.63)

Leake is winless in his last three starts and was knocked around for five runs – four earned – and 11 hits over five innings against Kansas City on Wednesday. The Arizona State product did not complete six innings in five of his last seven starts. Leake is 6-10 with a 4.04 ERA in 28 career interleague starts, including 0-1 with a 4.26 mark in three chances against Boston.

Porcello is enjoying a two-start winning streak and finally starting to get some support from his offense, which totaled 17 runs in his last two outings. The New Jersey native is still struggling with the long ball and surrendered a pair of solo home runs on Wednesday at Tampa Bay to bring his season total to a career-high 28 allowed. Porcello is 17-8 with a 4.17 ERA in 35 career interleague games, including 1-1 with a 3.38 mark against St. Louis.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 3B Jedd Gyorko (knee) sat out the last two games but is expected to return on Tuesday.

2. Boston LF Andrew Benintendi is 14-for-32 with five home runs and 12 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

3. St. Louis INF Paul DeJong recorded multiple hits in each of his last four games and is batting .400 over his last 10 contests.

Cleveland Indians Power Past Red Sox

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Cleveland 7, Boston 3
When: 6:10 PM ET, Monday, August 14, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Attendance: 37,430
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
Cleveland Indians v Boston Red Sox

Edwin Encarnacion #10 of the Boston Red Sox reacts with Carlos Santana #41 after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 14, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. It was his second home run of the game. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

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BOSTON — Edwin Encarnacion’s first two-run homer Monday gave the Cleveland Indians the lead for good.

The designated hitter’s second two-run shot of the night gave the Indians breathing room en route to a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

Rookie Rafael Devers hit two homers for the Red Sox, giving him five in 16 games since making his major league debut on July 25.

Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer (11-8) struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings. He gave up three runs (all on solo homers), seven hits and two walks.

“They kind of chipped away the first time, but when Edwin hit that second one, (Bauer) really buckled down,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “When (Encarnacion is) going well, he has a different gear. Tonight’s a good example of that.”

In Bauer’s past four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA, allowing six combined runs with 33 strikeouts and four walks.

“I was like, ‘OK, here we go,'” Bauer said. “That’s all they’re going to get. Pitching 5-3 is a lot different than pitching 3-3.”

Tyler Olson, Bryan Shaw and Joe Smith combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the win.

With the score tied in the fifth inning, Encarnacion turned on a fastball from Boston starter Doug Fister (2-6) and gave Cleveland a 5-3 lead.

With two outs in the sixth, Encarnacion launched a 96 mph fastball from Heath Hembree, Boston’s third pitcher of the game, into the seats above the Green Monster for a 7-3 Cleveland advantage.

Jose Ramirez scored on both of Encarnacion’s homers.

The Indians scored three runs in the second, highlighted by Francisco Lindor’s two-run single, as they batted around while forcing Fister to throw 41 pitches in the inning. However, the damage could have been much greater. Cleveland left the bases loaded when Encarnacion popped out to end the inning.

The Red Sox tied the score with solo home runs in the second, third and fourth innings — with the two from Devers and another by rookie Andrew Benintendi.

“You work so hard, and it’s for a reason,” Devers said through a team translator. “I was playing well in the minors this year, and it’s nice to see the results come.”

Fister allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

“The difference in this one tonight compared to the last two starts were the number of walks that he included with some base hits,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “A guy that’s going to pitch to contact, there’s going to be some hits inside of a given game.

“But I felt like with the additional baserunners and the walks, that was the difference in this one. Then in the middle innings, two swings by Encarnacion ends up being the big difference with the two two-run homers. So that’s the difference in this one. He just wasn’t as sharp with his command.”

The game was the makeup for an Aug. 2 rainout, the finale of what would have been a three-game series. The Red Sox won the first two games of the series.

NOTES: Indians LHP Andrew Miller (right patellar tendinitis) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance on Wednesday with Triple-A Columbus. If he comes through that outing without a problem, he could rejoin the Indians on Friday when they open a three-game series in Kansas City. … Indians 2B Jason Kipnis was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Thursday after he tweaked his right hamstring. He was activated from the disabled on Aug. 5 after missing 22 games due to the same ailment. … Cleveland S Francisco Lindor has reached base safely in 27 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the majors. … Red Sox LHP David Price (left elbow inflammation) still has no timetable for a return. Manager John Farrell said Price must complete a progression of throwing from a mound and facing live batters before he can go out on a rehab stint. … Boston LF Andrew Benintendi extended his hitting streak to eight games.

Copyright 2017

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