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JAYS SMOAK ‘EM AND GOT ‘EM

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BOSTON — Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak led off the ninth inning by hitting a solo blast over the left-centerfield wall to pound-out the winning run in a 8-6 Toronto victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The game-winner was Smoak’s second homer of the game and 26th of the year as he anchored Toronto’s offense with his two home runs and three RBI, highlighting the Blue Jays’ 27th come-from-behind win of the season.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox

Francisco Liriano of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park on July 20, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images).

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At the outset, Toronto left-hander Francisco Liriano was looking to rebound from one of his worst starts of the season  – a five run in two innings outing on July 15th – but, instead, tossed a similar outing Thursday afternoon and lasted just 1 2/3 innings, giving up three runs, two earned.

Trailing 3-1, the Blue Jays batted around in the third, scoring four runs on two hits and four walks. Steve Pearce and Ryan Goins each hit two-run singles in the inning.

Smoak’s 25th homer of the season, on Fister’s first pitch of the fifth, put Toronto ahead, 6-3. The Blue Jays added another run in the sixth when Smoak’s two-out single off Kyle Martin scored Darwin Barney, who led off the inning with a walk.

Boston cut its deficit to one in the seventh on a three-run homer by Dustin Pedroia, who was serving as the designated hitter for the first time this season. The homer was his sixth of the season.

Red Sox starter Doug Fister also struggled, lasting just 4 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on seven hits.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox

Doug Fister #38 of the Boston Red Sox is removed from the game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning at Fenway Park on July 20, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

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Right-hander Dominic Leone relieved Liriano and earned the win, improving to 2-0. Roberto Osuna pitched a scoreless ninth, with two strikeouts, for his 24th save. Fister took the loss, falling to 0-4.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays split their four game series and the Sox finished their homestead 4-4 but fell to 5-8 over their last 13 games.The Red Sox had won their last 23 games when they scored more than six runs, last dropping such a game on May 9 in Milwaukee.

NOTES: 2B Dustin Pedroia served as Boston’s designated hitter on Thursday for the first time this season, just the fifth game in his career. He is a career .500 hitter as the DH, going 9-for-18 with five RBI. On Thursday he extended his hitting streak to nine games. … With a scoreless first inning Toronto LHP Francisco Liriano lowered his first-inning ERA from 10.05 to 9.39. … RHP Joe Smith, sidelined since June 14 with shoulder inflammation, is expected to join Toronto for its series in Cleveland beginning Friday. … SS Xander Bogaerts was back in the starting lineup on Thursday for the first time since Monday. He had been bothered by a muscle contusion and a sprained right hand after being hit by a pitch. … Boston RHP Kyle Martin, called up Thursday, made his major league debut in the seventh inning

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE O.J. Simpson Granted Parole

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LOVELOCK, Nevada – Former football star and convicted felon O.J. Simpson was granted parole on Thursday in Lovelock, Nev., after serving almost nine years of a 33-year sentence on robbery charges.

The four-person parole board unanimously voted to release Simpson. By virtue of the decision, the 70-year-old Simpson could be out of prison as early as Oct. 1.

Simpson simply lowered his head and whispered “Thank you” after receiving the news.

O.J. Simpson Granted Parole At Hearing

LOVELOCK, NV – JULY 20: O.J. Simpson attends his parole hearing at Lovelock Correctional Center July 20, 2017 in Lovelock, Nevada. Simpson is serving a nine to 33 year prison term for a 2007 armed robbery and kidnapping conviction. (Jason Bean-Pool/Getty Images).

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Simpson was convicted in 2008 of an armed robbery involving two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. He served the minimum sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center, about 90 miles northeast of Reno, Nev.

“I’ve spent nine years making no excuses about anything. I am sorry that things turned out the way they did,” Simpson said in his closing remarks Thursday. “I had no intent to commit a crime. … I’ve done my time. I’d just like to get back to my family and friends — believe it or not, I do have some real friends — and I tried to be helpful to everybody.”

Appearing as inmate No. 1027820, Simpson was accompanied by lawyer Malcolm LaVergne, prison caseworker Marc La Fleur, close friend Tom Scotto, sister Shirley Baker and daughter Arnelle Simpson. Simpson said at the time of his arrest that he was attempting to retrieve his own personal sports memorabilia that was stolen from him sometime in the mid-1990s.

By receiving parole, Simpson noted that he wished to repair relationships that have been affected by his time in prison and feels he’ll adapt well in everyday life.

“Well, you know, I do have four kids,” Simpson said. “I’ve missed a lot of time with those kids — like 36 birthdays with my children. … My reputation has always been that I’m open to the public, I’m open to everybody. Right now, I’m at the point in my life where I can spend as much time with my children and my friends. … Wherever I’ve been there’s been a crowd. That’s not new to me. … I’m pretty easily approachable. I’ve dealt with it all my life, and I don’t foresee any problem dealing with the public now, at all.”Arnelle Simpson choked back tears as she pleaded her father’s case before the parole board.

“He’s like my best friend and my rock,” she said. “And as a family, we recognize that he is not the perfect man, but he is the man and the father that speaks to his overall character, which is to be positive no matter what. … On behalf of my family, his friends, we just want him to come home.”

Simpson was acquitted in the killings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995. He was a highly popular figure prior to the brutal knife-slashing killings in 1994 but the Pro Football Hall of Famer was infamous after the verdicts despite being found not guilty.

Simpson was a college football star at USC and was perhaps the top running back in the NFL in the 1970s while starring for the Buffalo Bills.

PGA Tour: Spieth, Koepka, Kuchar Lead The Open

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SOUTHPORT – If there was ever a time the daunting course at Royal Birkdale was “gettable,” it was on Thursday, when bright sunshine, putting surfaces softened by rain, and moderate wind — especially in the afternoon — allowed for some low scores for the world’s best golfers.  Americans Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Matt Kuchar took advantage of the relatively benign conditions while forging 5-under par 65s to assume the lead after the first round at the 146th Open Championship, being contested at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

That was just two shots off the all-time Open record at Royal Birkdale.

146th Open Championship - Round One

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 20: Jordan Spieth of the United States in action during the first round of the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 20, 2017 in Southport, England. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images).

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Paul Casey of England and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa were a stroke back and tied for fourth after shooting 66s. Ian Poulter and Richard Bland of England, Americans Justin Thomas and Charley Hoffman, Austin Connelly of Canada and Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain are tied for sixth after 67s.

Stuart Manley of Wales, Alex Noren of Sweden, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Sung-Hoon Kang of South Korea, Martin Laird and Richie Ramsay of Scotland, Ernie Els of South Africa, Joost Luiten of the Netherlands joined five Americans — James Hahn, David Lipsky, Daniel Berger, Bubba Watson and Kevin Na — another shot in arrears after firing 68s.

Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Adam Scott of Australia, Andrew “Beef” Johnston and Matthew Fitzpatrick of England and Jon Rahm of Spain were another stroke back at 69.

There were no rounds without a bogey in the 72 holes of competition the last time the Open was played at Royal Birkdale in 2008, but Spieth made sure that didn’t happen again with a rousing performance on Thursday.

Spieth’s bogeyless effort in the morning wave on the demanding course featured five birdies and a knee-knocking, eighth-foot putt for par on the par-4 16th. Spieth, the 2015, U.S. Open champion, found just five of 14 fairways in the heather-lined course but still hit 15 of the 18 greens in regulation to lead the morning wave in that stat along with fellow American Russell Henley.

“It was a really good start — everything was strong,” Spieth said afterward. “I’d give it a ‘nine’ across the board for everything — tee balls, ball-striking, short game and putting — so things are in check. It’s just about keeping it consistent.

“But I couldn’t have done much better today. I missed three greens, but one of them I was putting from the fringe. So essentially missed two greens in some 15-mile-an-hour winds. This course has a lot of crosswinds, so it’s tough to judge how far the ball is going to fly depending on what shot you play. So that speaks a lot to the ball-striking of the day.”

Koepka, this season’s U.S. Open champ, had four birdies on his card while playing in the morning wave and added an eagle out of the bunker on the par-5 17th to offset his only bogey on the demanding 16th. He needed just 21 putts on his round despite finding only nine of the 18 greens in regulation.

“I’d say I hit five or six drivers today,” Koepka said. “The wind was blowing pretty good and I’m not trying to overpower this golf course. If you get holes downwind like 18 or No. 8 or 17, too, you kind of play the hole backwards, which to me is links golf.

“Off the tee you’re trying to avoid all the bunkers or if it’s got a lot of bunkers, you’re just trying to put one of them in play. You just try to take the best chance you have of putting the ball in the fairway or on the grass. And that’s the big thing.”

Kuchar, who has never won a major championship, played in the afternoon wave and reeled off four birdies in his first six holes before making the turn at 5-under 29. He parred the entire back nine to claim a piece of the lead.

Rickie Fowler, world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland finished with 71s.

Royal Birkdale claimed its share of victims as well, namely two-time Open Champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, current Masters champion Sergio Garcia of Spain, and Americans Patrick Reed, Kevin Chappell and Phil Mickelson, all of whom are in a pack of golfers at 73, eight shots off the leader’s pace.

Former Open champions John Daly and Darren Clarke finished with a 74 and 75, respectively, while Zach Johnson, the Open winner in 2015, struggled to a 75.

NOTES: Heavy rain and strong winds are in the forecast for Friday’s second round. Temperatures will hover in the low 60s and sustained winds of 15-25 mph are expected with gusts as high as 40 mph. There is a 90 percent chance of precipitation, according to the BBC…Phil Mickelson had a birdie-less round on Thursday, the first time that’s happened to him since 1999 in the first round at Carnoustie, 18 years ago…England’s Paul Casey turns 40 on Friday a day after shooting 66. “Apparently life begins at 40 so maybe that’s a good omen for me,” he said… The R&A took a look a potential rules violation by Jon Rahm of Spain when he moved a long strand of grass while in the rough on the 17th hole, but decided Rahm’s ball had not moved. He faced a potential two-shot penalty if it had… Charley Hoffman holed his approach out of the rough on the par-4 first hole for an eagle, the very first two ever recorded at Birkdale’s daunting opening hole

MLB Game Scout: Jays at Sox

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Toronto at Boston
When: 1:35 PM ET, Thursday, July 20, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

Fenway Park in Boston

BOSTON – After watching his team play 58 innings in a four-day span, Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell was grateful for a stress-free win on the eve of Thursday afternoon’s finale of a four-game series versus the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. “The fact that we played that game in under three hours, it felt like we were only at halftime,” Farrell told reporters Wednesday.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia collected a pair of hits and three RBIs in Wednesday’s 5-1 win as the Red Sox improved to 4-3 on their eight-game homestand to open a three-game lead atop the American League East. Waiver-wire acquisition Doug Fister, a loser of eight straight decisions dating to Aug. 22, 2016, could be pitching to keep his spot his in the rotation as he makes his fourth start of the year. His opponent, Toronto left-hander Francisco Liriano, was forced to leave his last start at Detroit due to soreness in his neck but appears on track to start after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday. Second baseman Darwin Barney is in a 2-for-22 slump for the Blue Jays, who are 2-4 on their 10-game road trip.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH Francisco Liriano (5-5, 6.04 ERA) vs. Red Sox RH Doug Fister (0-3, 6.75)

Liriano was knocked around for five runs on three hits and four walks in two-plus innings against the Tigers, but told reporters he did not want to skip a start following Tuesday’s 25-pitch bullpen session. He held Boston scoreless on four hits over 5 1/3 innings on April 19, but was tagged for five runs on seven hits in six innings by the Red Sox on July 1. Pedroia is 7-for-17 against Liriano.

Fister was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and made a decent season debut against his former club, taking the loss with six innings of three-run ball. He did not factor in the decision in his following start, allowing a three-run homer among four hits over five innings. Fister then was touched for six runs at Texas in 3 2/3 innings before giving up three runs in relief versus the Yankees.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pedroia has 10 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.

2. Blue Jays RHP Mike Bolsinger went on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday due to inflammation in his left knee.

3. Red Sox LF Andrew Benintendi is hitless in his last nine at-bats and 2-for-20 over the past five games.

Pedroia Powers Sox Past Jays

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Boston 5, Toronto 1
When: 7:10 PM ET, Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Attendance: 37,360
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange

BOSTON — Drew Pomeranz became Boston’s second 10-game winner, and Dustin Pedroia drove in three runs, powering the Red Sox to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night.

The win extended the Red Sox’s lead in the American League East to three games over the Tampa Bay Rays and 4 1/2 over the New York Yankees, both losers earlier in the day.

Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox

BOSTON, MA – JULY 19: Pitcher Drew Pomeranz #31 of the Boston Red Sox walks to the dugout after being pulled from the game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the seventh inning at Fenway Park on July 19, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

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Pomeranz (10-4) allowed only an unearned run — keyed by Pedroia’s first error in 115 games — and three hits in 6 2/3 innings en route to his fourth consecutive win. He is 7-1 in his past eight decisions since a dugout confrontation with manager John Farrell.

The Red Sox (54-42) are 9-2 in Pomeranz’s past 11 starts, and he has beaten the last-place Jays twice this month.

Pomeranz’s 6 2/3 innings helped a tired bullpen. Heath Hembree and the just-recalled Ben Taylor finished.

Deven Marrero and Pedroia both had two-out, two-run singles in a four-run second inning aided by a Josh Donaldson error. Pedroia, who has 10 RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak, then delivered another two-out RBI single off Aaron Sanchez (1-3) in the fourth.

Pedroia collected his third and fourth two-out hits with runners in scoring position in the first three games of the series. He is 18-for-38 (.487) with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.

Sanchez, 15-2 last season before suffering through an injury-plagued 2017, lasted four innings and saw his four-game winning streak against the Red Sox snapped.

The Blue Jays (43-51) fell 10 games behind Boston and two games behind the fourth-place Baltimore Orioles in the East.

The Red Sox scored four runs in the second inning despite several baserunning mistakes — one leading to a double play. Marrero’s bouncing single up the middle brought home the first two runs, and Pedroia delivered the next two.

Pomeranz got double-play grounders in the second and third innings.

Pedroia’s second RBI hit was a roller to short that scored Mookie Betts from second in the fourth. Troy Tulowitzki charged Pedroia’s softly hit grounder and tried to barehand the ball before it got by him.

Pedroia’s error led to Jose Bautista’s sacrifice fly that got the Blue Jays on the board in the fifth.

Pedroia’s 114-game streak without an error was the longest by a second baseman since Darwin Barney had a 141-gamer with the Cubs in 2012. Barney, now with the Blue Jays, hit the ball that ended Pedroia’s streak.

NOTES: Boston SS Xander Bogaerts missed his second straight game with a right hand injury, but the hope is he can play Thursday in the series finale. … The Red Sox recalled RHPs Ben Taylor and Kyle Martin from Triple-A Pawtucket. They sent RHP Hector Velazquez, Tuesday night’s winning pitcher, and LHP Brian Johnson, Tuesday’s starter, back to Triple-A Pawtucket. … 3B Pablo Sandoval cleared waivers and became a free agent, with the Red Sox owing him almost $50 million. He reportedly was close to re-signing with the San Francisco Giants. … The Jays placed RHP Mike Bolsinger, Tuesday night’s loser, on the 10-day disabled list with knee inflammation and recalled RHP Cesar Valdez from Triple-A Buffalo. Valdez pitched four scoreless innings Wednesday. … RHP Joe Smith, slated to come off the DL, instead was set for one more rehab effort at Buffalo and should rejoin the Jays on Friday. … LHP Nelson Liriano, who left his last start with neck stiffness, passed all tests and will start against Boston RHP Doug Fister in the Thursday matinee.

PGA Tour: Ten to Watch at The Open

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Here are 10 PGA Tour players to watch at the annual British Open, staged at Royal Birkdale in Southport this weekend:

1. Jon Rahm, Spain — When Rahm came out of Arizona State last year, Phil Mickelson said he already was one of the best players in the world, and it turns out Lefty was right. The rookie has won on both major tours this season, capturing the Farmers Insurance Open by three strokes at Torrey Pines in January and the Irish Open by six shots in his last start two weeks ago. Rahm has finished in the top 10 in seven events on the PGA Tour this season, losing to top-ranked Dustin Johnson in the final of the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and finishing second in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational. He has climbed to fifth in the FedExCup Rankings and No. 7 in the Official World Golf Rankings. He also tied for 10th in the Open de France and is third in the Race to Dubai standings on the European Tour. Rahm’s victory at Portstewart in Northern Ireland showed that he can play links courses, even though he only tied for 59th at Royal Troon in his first Open Championship a year ago.

The Open Championship 2017 - Practice Day Three - Royal Birkdale Golf Club

England’s Andrew Johnston during practice for The Open Championship 2017 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport. (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images).

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2. Jordan Spieth, United States — Wanting to get an early start on his links preparation ahead of the 146th Open Championship this week at Royal Birkdale, Spieth passed on the John Deere Classic, which he won for his first PGA Tour victory in 2013 and again two years later. He will be playing for the first time since he claimed his 10th victory on the circuit three weeks ago in the Travelers Championship after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. Spieth is fourth in the FedExCup standings and also No. 3 in the world, in what is close to an absolutely monster season, as he also tied for second in the Dean & DeLuca Invitational and was third in the SBS Tournament of Champions and the Sony Open in Hawaii. The two-time major champion is making his fifth start in the Open Championship and his best result was a tie for fourth in 2015 at St. Andrews after he won the Masters and U.S. Open earlier in the season.

3. Dustin Johnson, United States — The top-ranked player in the world and FedExCup points leader has not cracked the top 10 since being forced to withdraw on the eve of the Masters because of a back injury. He tied for 13th in the AT&T Byron Nelson before missing the cut in the Memorial Tournament and the U.S. Open at Erin Hills. Johnson was a cumulative 12-over-par in those last two events and could be rusty when he gets to Royal Birkdale after taking a month off. Before that, he was proving he is the best player in the world with six top-10 results, including victories in the Genesis Open, the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. Johnson, whose only major title came in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont, is making his ninth straight appearance in the Open Championship and he has finished in the top 10 three times, including a tie for second in 2011, when he was one shot behind eventual winner Darren Clarke before driving out of bounds on the 14th hole at Royal St. Georges.

4. Hideki Matsuyama, Japan — Following his runner-up finish behind Brooks Koepka in the U.S. Open last month at Erin Hills, his fifth finish in the top two this season on the PGA Tour, Matsuyama is ranked No. 2 in the world and also is second in the FedExCup point standings, behind Dustin Johnson in both. His world ranking is the highest ever for a player from Japan. He has victories in the WGC-HSBC Champions and the Waste Management Phoenix Open this season, and his other second-place finishes came in the CIMB Classic and the SBS Tournament of Champions. This will be his fifth appearance in the Open Championship and his best result was a tie for sixth in 2013 at Muirfield. Matsuyama just missed another top-10 major finish in April when he tied for 11th in the Masters, and last year he tied for fourth in the PGA Championship at Baltusrol and tied for seventh at Augusta National, giving him six top-10 results in the Grand Slam events since 2013.

5. Sergio Garcia, Spain — The Masters champion has rested since finishing one shot behind Andres Romero of Argentina in a tie for second in the BMW International Open in Germany last month, and should be fresh as he tries to claim the second major title of his season and career this week in the Open Championship. Garcia, No. 5 in the world, also won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic early this year and ranks second in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai point standings behind Tommy Fleetwood of England. The Spaniard is making his 20th consecutive start in the Open and had some heart-breaking finishing, losing to Padraig Harrington in a playoff in 2007 at Carnoustie and tying for second, two strokes behind Rory McIlroy in 2014 at Royal Liverpool. Garcia also tied for fifth three times, last year at Royal Troon, in 2006 at Royal Liverpool and in 2005 at St. Andrews. He has a total of 10 finishes in the top 10 in the third major of the season.

6. Justin Rose, England — Even though he has won 18 times as a pro, including the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion, Rose is remembered almost as much for his last shot as an amateur, when he chipped in for a birdie on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale to finish in a tie for fourth in the 1998 Open Championship. That remains his best result in the third major of the year and he could manage only a tie for 70th when the tournament returned to the Southport, England, links course in 2008, posting an ugly 82 in the third round. In fact, Rose’s only other top-10 result in 15 appearances in the Open was a tie for sixth two years ago at St. Andrews. The 2016 Olympic gold medalist has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2015 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, although he came close earlier this year when he lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia in the Masters and also finished second at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Rose tied for fourth two weeks ago in the Irish Open.

7. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland — Although he remains No. 4 in the world, McIlroy has struggled recently with missed cuts in three of his last four starts, including the U.S. Open at Erin Hills, the Irish Open of which he is the host, and the Scottish Open last week. He has missed time because of a rib injury this year, but what he needs right now is a quick fix with the putter, as he has struggled mightily on the greens while trying several models lately. McIlroy has not won since he wrapped up the FedExCup by taking the Tour Championship last September, but he started this season with three consecutive top-10 finishes and also tied for seventh in the Masters. McIlroy, a four-time major champion, is making his ninth start in the Open and he claimed the Claret Jug by two strokes over Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia in 2014 at Royal Liverpool. He also tied for third in 2010 at St. Andrews and tied for sixth last year at Royal Troon.

Henrik Stenson

8. Henrik Stenson, Sweden — The Big Swede defends his title this week in the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, having become the first Swedish man to win a major golf title when he outplayed Phil Mickelson down the stretch at Royal Troon. Stenson birdied four of the last five holes to shoot a bogey-free 8-under-par 63, the 29th time a player has posted that record score in the Grand Slam events. He finished at 20-under, tying the lowest score in relation to par in a major set by Jason Day in the 2015 PGA Championship. Stenson is playing in the Open this week for the 13th time, and his best previous finish was second in 2013, three shots behind Mickelson at Muirfield. He likes Royal Birkdale, having tied for third there in 2008, and also tied for third in 2010 at St. Andrews. Stenson is No. 7 in the world, with his best results this season a tie for second in the WGC-HSBC Champions, a tie for seventh in the Valspar Championship and a tie for 10th last month in the BMW International Open.

9. Rickie Fowler, United States — With four top-10 finishes in his last five starts on both sides of the Atlantic, Fowler might finally be ready to capture his first major championship. After tying for second in the Memorial Tournament, he tied for fifth in the U.S. Open at Erin Hills and tied for third in the Quicken Loans National. Then he headed for the United Kingdom, where he tied for ninth in the Scottish Open, which he won two years ago. The 10th-ranked Fowler will tee it up in the Open Championship for the eighth time, with his best finish a tie for second in 2014 Royal Liverpool. That was part of his brilliant run in the majors that year, as he also tied for fifth in the Masters, tied for second in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and tied for third in the PGA Championship at Valhalla. Fowler, who tied for 11th in the Masters this year, has seven top-10 results in the majors in his career and it’s time to win one.

10. Adam Scott, Australia — It’s hard to believe that Scott has only one major title, becoming the only Aussie to win the Masters in 2013 when he beat Angel Cabrera of Argentina with a birdie on the second playoff hole. It’s just that he’s had so many chances, particularly when he had a four-stroke lead with four holes to play in the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. But closed with four straight bogeys and allowed Ernie Els to take the title by one shot with a birdie on the final hole. That’s one of his Scott’s five top-10 results in the Open and he has a total of 16 in the majors. Once the top-ranked player in the world, he has slipped to No. 15, but was on a good run this season with a tie for ninth in the Masters, a tie for sixth in the Players Championship and a tie for 10th in the St. Jude Classic before missing the cut in the U.S. Open last month at Erin Hills

 

The Open: Garcia, Day Together

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SOUTHPORT – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – Jordan Spieth and defending British Open champion Henrik Stenson will open the 146th edition of the Open Championship on Thursday at Royal Birkdale in the same group with Players champion Si Woo Kim.

146th Open Championship - Previews

SOUTHPORT, ENGLAND – JULY 19: Jordan Spieth of the United States hits his second shot on the 18th hole during a practice round prior to the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 19, 2017 in Southport, England. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images).

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Mark O’Meara, who won the Open in 1998, is first to the tee at 6:35 a.m. local time.

Spieth’s group hits the tee box at 9:47 a.m. (4:47 a.m. ET).

Masters champion Sergio Garcia and Jason Day are joined by Zach Johnson, the 2015 Open winner, and Rory McIlroy is in a group with World No. 1-ranked Dustin Johnson and Charl Schwartzel.

Celtics Honor, Sign Pierce for a Day

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced that they have signed 10-time NBA All-Star and 19-year veteran Paul Pierce to a contract, enabling him to retire as a member of the organization with which he spent his first 15 NBA seasons.

“We’re honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics – a champion on and off the court,” said Celtics governor and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”

LA Clippers v Boston Celtics

BOSTON, MA – FEBRUARY 5: Paul Pierce #34 of the LA Clippers kisses the leprechaun after the game against the Boston Celtics on February 5, 2017 at the TD Garden (Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images).

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic,” Pierce said. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way. I’m a Celtic for life.”

Drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick of the 1998 NBA Draft, 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 1,102 career games (1,099 starts) in the green and white.

Pierce’s name will forever be a constant throughout the Celtics’ all-time leaderboards. The California native 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.

Earning his iconic nickname “The Truth” during his third NBA season in 2000-01, Pierce also retires 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 knack for postseason success further cements his legendary status in a Celtics uniform. Boston qualified for the playoffs in 10 of Pierce’s 15 seasons with the team, ranking him seventh on the franchise’s all-time playoff leaderboard with 136 postseason games played. The crafty forward averaged 20.9 points (41.9% FG, 33.9% 3-PT, 83.4% FT), 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.32 steals in 39.8 minutes in his Celtics playoff career. Pierce – who owns the fifth most playoff points in franchise history at 2,843 – averaged north of 20.0 points in six separate postseason runs, including a playoff career-high 27.1 points over 10 games in just his second career playoff appearance in 2002-03.

One of Pierce’s greatest postseason accomplishments coincides with the Celtics’ most recent NBA title in 2008. Making his first career NBA Finals appearance, Pierce followed up a 22-point performance against the Los Angeles Lakers 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 produced 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, helping the Celtics raise their NBA-record 17th championship banner and their first since 1986. Named the Most Valuable Player of that 2008 clash, Pierce became the third Celtic ever to earn MVP honors in his first NBA Finals Appearance (Jo Jo White – 1974, Cedric Maxwell – 1981).

Spanning over his 19-year NBA career, Pierce averaged 19.7 points (44.5% FG, 36.8% 3-PT, 80.6% FT), 5.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.31 steals and 34.2 minutes in 1,343 games (1,285 starts) with Boston, Brooklyn, Washington and the LA Clippers. He ended the 2016-17 season as the only active NBA player with at least 25,000 career points, 7,000 rebounds and 4,500 assists.

 

NFL: 19-0? Ridiculous!

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BOSTON – New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman wants no part of the loose chatter circulating around a potential undefeated season for the defending Super Bowl champions.

Asked by a local Boston-area reporter if the Patriots could run the table and post a 19-0 mark, Edelman said it’s “stupid” for an NFL player to even consider the idea.

Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots v Atlanta Falcons

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 5: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots catches a 23-yard pass during Super Bowl 51 against the Atlanta Falcons at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)

“You can’t worry about what other people say, honestly. I mean, there’s no script to this thing. There’s no camera. This isn’t Hollywood. This is real life,” the 31-year-old Edelman said. “When you go out and play in the National Football League, it’s one of those things where it’s even stupid to think about that. It’s never been done. You don’t really want to talk about it.

“My focus is more on trying to get ready for the season, trying to learn your teammates, form your identity. (The 19-0 talk is) stupid. That’s it.”

The Patriots were one victory shy of going undefeated in the 2007 season, losing 17-14 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLIII. The 1972 Miami Dolphins were the last team to go undefeated, finishing with a 17-0 mark.

Edelman, who signed a two-year contract extension in the offseason, had team highs in catches (98) and receiving yards (1,106) last season.

Edelman’s most important catch — in the eyes of Patriots fans — was his shoestring reception that kept the team’s comeback bid alive in Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons.

NBA: Votes to Cut-Down Time-Outs

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LAS VEGAS – The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved rules changes pertaining to timeout format and procedures for administrating free throws and halftime.

Utah Jazz v Los Angeles Clippers - Game Five

NBA made several moves to cut down time outs and improve flow of play (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images).

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Effective with the 2017-18 season, the maximum number of timeouts per game will decrease from 18 to 14.  In addition, during the last three minutes of a game, teams will be limited to two team timeouts each instead of the previous rule that allowed three per team in the last two minutes.

“These changes will help us fulfill our goal of improving game flow and pace of play,” said Byron Spruell, NBA President, League Operations.  “Fewer stoppages and less time without action, especially at the end of a game, will further enhance the viewing experience for our fans.”

The rule modifications for timeouts are below:

  • Each team will have seven timeouts per game, with no restrictions per half.
  • All team timeouts will be 75 seconds.  In the previous format, “full” timeouts were 90 seconds and “20-second” timeouts were 60 seconds.  Both “full” and “20-second” timeouts have been replaced by team timeouts.
  • All four periods will have two mandatory timeouts, which will take place after the first stoppage under the seven- and three-minute marks.
  • The under-nine-minute mandatory timeouts in the second and fourth periods will be eliminated.
  • Each team can enter the fourth period with up to four team timeouts.
  • Each team will be limited to two team timeouts after the later of (i) the three-minute mark of the fourth period or (ii) the resumption of play after the second mandatory timeout of the fourth period.
  • Each team will have two team timeouts per overtime period; previously teams had three.

The NBA also made the following changes regarding game flow:

  • Referees will assess a delay-of-game violation if a free throw shooter ventures beyond the three-point line between attempts.
  • Halftime will last 15 minutes for all games, beginning immediately upon expiration of the second period.  A delay-of-game penalty will be issued if a team is not ready to start play at the expiration of the halftime clock.

In addition, the Board of Governors approved moving the trade deadline from the Thursday after the NBA All-Star Game to the Thursday 10 days before the All-Star Game.  With the new placement of the trade deadline, teams will be able to settle their rosters before the All-Star break and avoid the disruptions that result from players joining new teams just as practices and games are beginning to resume following the All-Star break.

The NBA’s Competition Committee unanimously recommended the rules changes before the Board of Governors’ vote.

MLB Game Scout: Blue Jays at Sox

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Toronto at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – If the Toronto Blue Jays are to make any kind of run for a playoff spot, right-hander Aaron Sanchez will have to be among the players leading the charge. A 15-game winner in 2016, Sanchez is coming off his first victory of the season as he prepares to make the start Wednesday when visiting Toronto resumes its four-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

Toronto Blue Jays Vs. Boston Red Sox At Fenway Park

BOSTON – JULY 18: Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez, right, is congratulated by teammate Christian Vazquez after Ramirez won the game for Boston with a bottom of the 15th inning walk off solo home run. The Boston Red Sox host the Toronto Blue Jays in a regular season MLB baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Jul. 18, 2017. (Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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In an effort to spark his team’s stagnant offense, Red Sox manager John Farrell gave regular designated hitter Hanley Ramirez only his third start at first base this season and the move paid off – after six hours. Ramirez, who was 1-for-14 in his previous four games, belted a towering walk-off homer in the bottom of the 15th inning as Boston won for only the fourth time in 11 games. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki had four of Toronto’s 15 hits after going 2-for-20 over his previous five games. Sanchez, who missed nearly two months due to issues with blisters, has never lost at Fenway Park while posting a 3-0 record in six starts and winning twice in Boston last year with identical lines of one run and two hits allowed in seven innings.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Aaron Sanchez (1-2, 3.94 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Drew Pomeranz (9-4, 3.75)

Sanchez returned just before the All-Star break and took a beating against Houston, giving up a career-high eight runs on seven hits while lasting only 1 2/3 innings. He was much better last time out in what was just his seventh start of the year, limiting Detroit to an unearned run and seven hits over six innings. Dustin Pedroia, Xander Bogaerts and Hanley Ramirez a combined 9-for-52 versus Sanchez.

A ninth-inning rally by Boston took Pomeranz off the hook for a loss after he permitted four runs over six innings last time out against the New York Yankees. The 28-year-old won his previous three starts in impressive fashion, including a victory at Toronto on July 2 in which he allowed one run and five hits in six innings. Justin Smoak has had success against Pomeranz with three hits in seven at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Blue Jays RHP Roberto Osuna had converted 22 consecutive saves before blowing one in the bottom of the 11th – his first since April 27.

2. Bogaerts was sent for an MRI exam due to recurring soreness in his right hand.

3. Blue Jays RHP Mike Bolsinger took the loss Tuesday despite becoming the second pitcher in franchise history with four strikeouts in an inning.

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE Red Sox Defeat Jays in 15 Innings

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Boston 5, Toronto 4
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston
Attendance: 36,488
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange

BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez hit the home run that finally ended a very long baseball game early Wednesday morning, but he preferred to talk about his team.

“We never give up,” Ramirez said after his one-out solo homer in the 15th inning gave the Boston Red Sox a 5-4 decision over the Toronto Blue Jays. “We keep pushing, and Mookie (Betts) in that (11th) inning, that’s the type of team that we are.”

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox

Hanley Ramirez of the Boston Red Sox reacts before a game at Fenway Park. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

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Betts drilled a two-out, run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th to keep the game going after Ryan Goins’ sacrifice fly had given the Jays the lead. The pitching of Hector Velazquez and Ramirez’s 15th homer of the season took care of the rest in Boston’s second marathon in four days.

“It’s a good win,” Ramirez said. “This time of the year you gotta keep winning and winning, especially when you play (teams) in the same division. I gotta give credit to Velazquez and our bullpen. Everybody, Everybody.”

Velazquez (2-1), recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket earlier Tuesday, pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Being a starter, he was in for a long haul, and he came through to keep the game going.

“This was a gritty win and a very important win,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

It really was important. The Tampa Bay Rays rallied to win in Oakland and could have moved to within a game of the first-place Red Sox in the American League East. The New York Yankees, who made a trade to bolster their roster Tuesday, could have been 2 1/2 games out after their victory at Minnesota.

The Red Sox (53-42) have played 58 innings in five games starting with a 16-inning loss to the Yankees on Saturday. They would have fallen to 1-4 in those games with a loss.

“Playing all these long games, it’s going to be tough to stay excited and stay energized, but we find a way,” said Betts. “Every good team is going to go through some stretches where things are getting rough, and we’re at that stretch right now. Luckily we’re still winning games.

“It was fun. It’s fun to be part of games like that. Extra innings isn’t the fun part, but the way the game played out where both teams could have scored and both teams had their chances, that made the game fun.”

Ramirez, getting his third start of the season at first base, hit the first pitch from Mike Bolsinger (0-3) completely out of Fenway Park for his third career walk-off home run.

Bolsinger struck out six — four in one inning — in 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief.

“They played their hearts out, man,” said Toronto manager John Gibbons, whose team fell to 43-50 and into sole possession of last place in the AL East. “They played their butts off. It was one of those games, it was back and forth, they hung around.

“We had a couple of opportunities, we couldn’t capitalize, especially early in the game.”

Betts’ tying hit snapped Roberto Osuna’s save streak at 22 straight, three shy of matching Tom Henke’s team record. Osuna had struck out two in a row after the Red Sox placed runners on first and second, but Betts came through.

For the second straight night, Dustin Pedroia tied the game 3-3 with a two-out double in the seventh inning. Then, with first and third and nobody out in the eighth, Toronto’s Kevin Pillar hit a hard grounder to a drawn-in Pedroia, and the second baseman tagged Steve Pearce and flipped to first for a double play.

“Pedroia burned us the second night in a row,” Gibbons said. “That was a little bit of deja vu. But we came back.”

Said Ramirez, with a laugh: “Why we gotta talk about Pedey? Everybody knows Pedey. Pedey can do it all — that’s why he is who he is. It’s unbelievable. But the biggest thing is heart. He’s a great, great teammate, a great person, a great guy.”

Chris Young and Pedroia hit solo homers (the fifth home run of the year for both) off Toronto starter J.A. Happ for the first two Boston runs.

Troy Tulowitzki’s second single drove in a run in a three-run fifth inning — while Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales also drove in runs in the inning against Boston starter Brian Johnson.

Tulowitzki had four hits but was guilty of not taking second on a ball off the wall leading off the 13th. He was then caught stealing as part of a double play.

The win raised the Red Sox’s extra-inning record to 8-2 while the Jays fell to 3-8 in extras.

NOTES: SS Xander Bogaerts was scratched from the Boston lineup to have an MRI on his right hand, which revealed a contusion and slight sprain. He appeared briefly in the game as a pinch runner in the 11th inning. He is 4-for-26 (.154) since getting hit July 6 and is day-to-day. … The Red Sox, who recalled LHP Brian Johnson for the start, sent 1B Sam Travis and LHP Robby Scott to Pawtucket. … Toronto RHP Aaron Sanchez, who has won four straight against the Red Sox dating back to 2015, goes for just his second win of the season when he faces LHP Drew Pomeranz (6-1 in his last seven decisions) Wednesday night. … Boston DH Chris Young drew his 500th career walk in the second inning.

Copyright 2017

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