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DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The LEDE Sox Going Winless in Seattle

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Seattle 6, Boston 5
When: 10:10 PM ET, Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
Attendance: 28,992
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange

SEATTLE — Guillermo Heredia isn’t known as a good baserunner. He is 1-for-5 on stolen-base attempts this season. However, the Seattle outfielder raced from first to third on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning Tuesday, then scored the winning run on Jean Segura’s infield single as the Mariners improbably defeated the Boston Red Sox 6-5 at Safeco Field.

Heredia also hit a three-run homer as the Mariners (51-51) returned to the .500 mark and sent the Red Sox (55-47) to their season-high fourth consecutive defeat.

“There were a lot of crazy plays,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said.

With Seattle trailing 5-4 one out into the bottom of the 13th, Mitch Haniger walked and Ben Gamel hit into a fielder’s choice.

Heredia fouled off a couple of two-strike pitches against Boston’s Doug Fister (0-5) before lining a single to right field, with Gamel taking third. Gamel then scored the tying run on the wild pitch, with Heredia advancing from first to third as Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon retrieved the ball near the backstop.

“(Heredia) kept his head up and took the extra base,” Servais said.

Red Sox manager John Farrell was asked if Leon lost track of Heredia, the trailing runner.

“I don’t know that,” Farrell said. “Heredia can fly, so when the ball didn’t carom and kick back, when it stayed close to the back wall, he had a chance to take two bases.”

Segura then hit a chopper up the middle that Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts raced to his left to field behind second base. Bogaerts tried to make an off-balance throw to first, but even a perfect toss wouldn’t have been in time to get the speedy Segura.

“A groundball to the middle of the infield is the difference,” Farrell said. “We had opportunities throughout, we fight back from a three-run deficit, but it is what it is. It’s a tough loss, but our guys kept grinding.”

Tony Zych (5-2), the eighth Seattle pitcher, went two innings to earn the victory.

“You literally go to everybody but one (reliever), you’re stretched that thin,” said Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, who hit a home run leading off the seventh inning to tie it at 4-4, the last run that scored until the 13th. “To come back and win that way after being down is big.”

The Red Sox took a 5-4 lead as Leon singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the top of the 13th.

Hanley Ramirez led off with a single that fell just in front of right fielder Haniger. After Zych struck out the next two batters, Ramirez advanced to second on a wild pitch.

After a walk to Chris Young, Leon hit a soft liner to left. Gamel charged the ball and made a strong throw in an attempt to get Ramirez at the plate, but the runner slid home safely as Zunino bobbled the throw.

Staked a 3-0 lead, Seattle right-hander Felix Hernandez cruised through the first five innings, allowing just one run on two hits and throwing just 64 pitches.

However, King Felix never made it out of the sixth, losing his command.

Red Sox rookie third baseman Rafael Devers, making his major league debut and batting ninth, led off with a walk. After Hernandez struck out Mookie Betts on a pitch in the dirt, Andrew Benintendi also walked. Dustin Pedroia followed with a two-run double down the left field line to tie the score at 3-3.

After Ramirez grounded out, Jackie Bradley Jr. lined a run-scoring single into right-center, giving the Red Sox a 4-3 lead.

That was it for Hernandez, who needed 31 pitches to record his only two outs in the sixth.

“Felix was really cruising for five innings, and it got away from him in the sixth,” Servais said, citing the bases on balls.

The Red Sox had only one hit until the fourth, when Ramirez hammered a 1-1 pitch from Hernandez off the out-of-town scoreboard in left field. The homer, Ramirez’s 17th of the season, was measured at 414 feet.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, Red Sox starter Drew Pomeranz ran into trouble in the second.

With one out, Kyle Seager got an infield single, hitting the ball between first baseman Mitch Moreland and second baseman Pedroia. An out later, Gamel walked before Heredia hit a three-run homer, his sixth of the season. Heredia turned on an 0-1 pitch from Pomeranz and hit it just over the fence down the left-field line for a 3-0 advantage.

Hernandez allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings, while Pomeranz gave up three runs in five innings.

NOTES: During the game, the Red Sox acquired INF Eduardo Nunez from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league RHPs Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos. … Boston 3B Rafael Devers went 0-for-4 with two walks in his major league debut. Seattle DH Nelson Cruz struck out five times in six at-bats. … Mariners RHP Nick Vincent pitched a scoreless inning of relief to equal a franchise record. Vincent hasn’t allowed a run at home this season in 24 appearances, matching the mark set by George Sherrill in 2007. … Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was back in the lineup after missing Monday’s series opener with what manager John Farrell called “flu-like stuff.” … LHP Chris Sale (12-4, 2.58 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Red Sox in the series finale Wednesday afternoon against Mariners rookie RHP Andrew Moore (1-2, 5.70).

MLB: Mariner’s Paxton Blanks Sox

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Seattle 4, Boston 0
When: 10:10 PM ET, Monday, July 24, 2017
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
Attendance: 29,262
Special to Digital Sports desk by The Sports Xchange
Seattle Mariners v Houston Astros

James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

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SEATTLE — James Paxton pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 10, and Kyle Seager hit a home run as the Seattle Mariners defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-0 Monday night at Safeco Field.

Paxton (10-3) allowed four hits and didn’t walk a batter. The 10 strikeouts were a season-high.

The left-hander didn’t allow a baserunner until a one-out single by Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. in the fifth inning. Bradley was jammed by an inside pitch and muscled a single into center field.

The Red Sox put two runners on against Paxton in each of the next two innings.

Brock Holt reached on an error by first baseman Danny Valencia with one out in the sixth and Mookie Betts followed with a single to left. But Paxton struck out Andrew Benitendi and Dustin Pedroia to retire the side.

Hanley Ramirez and Bradley opened the sixth with back-to-back singles. Paxton struck out Chris Young, then got Deven Marrero to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Boston’s Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Mariners took a 3-0 lead in the second inning against Rodriguez.

Seager led off by hitting a 2-1 pitch from the left-hander 415 feet to straightaway center field and over the fence.

With one out, Ben Gamel hit a triple down the right-field line. Guillermo Heredia followed with a chopper to first baseman Ramirez. Gamel broke from third and beat the high throw to the plate from Ramirez.

One out later, Jean Segura drove home the third run with a double to right-center field.

The Mariners tacked on a run in the fourth as Gamel led off with a single and, with two outs, moved to second when Segura was hit by a pitch. Valencia followed with run-scoring double to right.

NOTES: The Red Sox called up 3B Rafael Devers, their top prospect, and he joined the team Monday in Seattle. The plan is for Devers to be in the lineup Tuesday, when the Mariners are starting RHP Felix Hernandez (5-4, 3.88 ERA) against Boston LHP Drew Pomeranz (10-4, 3.51). To make room on the roster for Devers, the Red Sox optioned RHP Kyle Martin to Triple-A Pawtucket and transferred LHP Robbie Ross Jr. to the 60-day disabled list. … Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts was a late scratch from the starting lineup with what manager John Farrell called “flu-like stuff.” … The Mariners signed IF Danny Espinosa, who was released by the Los Angeles Angels last Thursday after batting .162 in 77 games. Seattle optioned IF Taylor Motter to Triple-A Tacoma and transferred RHP Hisashi Iwakuma to the 60-day DL.

Sox Prospect Devers in the Show

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SEATTLE – The Boston Red Sox promoted prized prospect Rafael Devers from Triple-A Pawtucket prior to Monday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

Devers, a third baseman, will assume the roster spot made available after right-hander Kyle Martin was optioned to Pawtucket following Sunday’s 3-2 setback to the Los Angeles Angels. Boston also transferred left-hander Robbie Ross Jr. to the 60-day disabled list on Monday.

Northeastern University v Boston Red Sox (G)

Rafael Devers #74 of the Boston Red Sox bats against Northeastern University on February 23, 2017 at jetBlue Park in Fort Myers, Florida. (Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

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Devers will be available off the bench Monday and likely start Tuesday’s contest, according to reports. The 20-year-old batted .311 with 20 homers and 60 RBIs in 86 games this season between Double-A Portland and Pawtucket, including a 14-for-35 stretch with two homers in nine contests with the PawSox.

Boston has received limited contributions from its third basemen this season, most notably Pablo Sandoval, a major free-agent signing two years ago who was released last week.

“(Devers) handled the challenges we’ve given him and we feel he’s ready for the next step,” Red Sox general manager Dave Dombrowski said on Sunday. “We weren’t thinking about the timing of this, it’s just obvious that we have the need. There were no better options for us. We just want him to be himself.”

Devers was named the organization’s 2016 Minor League Defensive Player of the Year.

Ross was placed on the 10-day disabled list on June 1 with left elbow inflammation. The 28-year-old owned a 7.00 ERA in eight games with Boston this season and has recorded a 16-12 mark with six saves and a 3.92 ERA in 266 career contests (12 starts) with the Texas Rangers and Red Sox.

Gutsy Spieth Wins at The Open

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SOUTHPORT – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – Jordan Spieth went from potential disaster that dropped him from the lead to a five-stroke swing in a stretch of four holes as he posted a 1-under-par 69 in the final round on Sunday to capture a three-shot victory over fellow American Matt Kuchar at the 146th Open Championship, contested at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

GOLF-OPEN-BRITAIN

US golfer Jordan Spieth poses for pictures with the Claret Jug, the trophy for the Champion golfer of the year after winning the 2017 British Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale golf course near Southport in north west England on July 23, 2017. Jordan Spieth won the British Open at Royal Birkdale on Sunday by three shots. It is Spieth’s third major title after he won the Masters and US Open in 2015. (ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images).

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Spieth, who turns 24 years old on Thursday, finished at 12-under 268 and won his third major championship after victories in the Masters tournament and the U.S. Open in 2015. He is the youngest player ever with three major championship victories.

Spieth produced a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie run on holes 14 through 17 after bogeying the 13th and falling a stroke behind Kuchar. Kuchar fought gallantly throughout, making two birdies down the stretch, but had to settle for runner-up after a 69 in the final round.

Haotong Li of China finished alone in third place at 6 under after a 63 on Sunday but Li was the only golfer who made a significant move up the leaderboard in the final round. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (67) and Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain (68) finished another stroke back and tied for fourth.

England’s Matthew Southgate (65), Australia’s Marc Leishman (65), Alex Noren of Sweden (67), Branden Grace of South Africa (70) and current U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka of the United States (71) were an additional shot in arrears in a five-way tie for sixth.

Spieth started the day three up on Kuchar and was still two shots ahead until the ninth hole, when he bogeyed after Kuchar birdied in a two-shot swing.
Spieth had four bogeys in the first nine holes created by a combination of poor shots and uncharacteristic misses on short putts. Meanwhile, Kuchar kept grinding, carding two birdies and a two bogeys on the front nine to make the turn where he began at 8 under.

The two were tied after the 12th hole and Kuchar’s drive on the tough, long par-4 13th hole landed in the right rough but was relatively worry-free. Spieth then uncorked one of the wildest drives in Open Championship history, sending a shot 80 yards to the right of the fairway that rested on the back side of a 40-foot tall grass dune.

From that unlikely spot, and after more than 25 minutes of rulings, machinations and attempts to move the gallery out of his intended ball path, Spieth managed a bogey to Kuchar’s routine par, falling out of the lead for the first time all week.

Spieth followed up his adventure at the 13th with a stunning shot on the par-3 14th that nearly rolled into the hole, but resulted in a birdie that again pulled him into a tie with Kuchar, who parred.

Then Spieth made the perhaps the shot of the tournament, rolling in a 63-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 15th. After Kuchar’s birdie with a short putt, Spieth had regained a one-shot lead as the duo headed to the 16th tee.

That turned the tournament into a four-hole, match-play competition between the two.

NOTES: Current Masters champion Sergio Garcia of Spain shot a 72 in the final round to finish tied for 37th at 2 over … Hometown favorite Tommy Fleetwood, who had to shoot a 69 on Friday during the tournament’s worse condition to make the cut, shot a 70 on Sunday and finished tied for 27th. … Defending champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden shot even-par 70 in the final round and finished tied for 11th at 3 under. … There were 25 under-par rounds recorded on Sunday, led by Haotong Li of China’s 63. … World No. 1 Dustin Johnson ballooned to a 77 on Sunday — the worst score in the final round — and finished tied for 54th

MLB: LA Angels Edge Red Sox

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LA Angels 3, Boston 2
When: 3:37 PM ET, Sunday, July 23, 2017
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim
Attendance: 40,471
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Mike Scioscia manager of the Los Angeles Angels, before the game in Anaheim, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images).

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ANAHEIM — Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia didn’t know anything about Parker Bridwell when the team obtained him in a modest trade with Baltimore in April.

“None of us had ever seen him throw,”‘ Scioscia said, referring to his coaching staff. “But Billy (Eppler, the Angels’ general manager) was excited because he saw a real upside.”

Excited is the right word now that Bridwell has secured a spot in the rotation. He pitched a career-high seven innings Sunday, allowing five hits and two runs as the Angels won the series against the Boston Red Sox with a 3-2 victory.

Bridwell made just his seventh start, and the Angels are 6-1 in those seven games. He’s now 4-1 with a 3.09 ERA, has five quality starts and has allowed three runs or less six times.

“We didn’t have any expectations,” Scioscia said, “He’s learning on the fly and he’s been real good at making adjustments. You couldn’t ask for a better start than the one he gave us today.”

Bridwell wanted better. Scioscia, on a warm day and with some matchups coming up better served by the bullpen, decided to end Bridwell’s day after seven innings and 78 pitches.

“He was a bit frothy about coming out,” Scioscia said.

“I never want to come out of the game,” Bridwell said. “But with what we have in the bullpen, I understood. We won, which is always good enough.”

Bridwell was in the Orioles’ system for several years before the trade, making two major league appearances last season, and he looked at it as a fresh start even if he was a total unknown to everyone in Anaheim.

“I came here with a clear mind,” he said. “I thought the trade would be good for my career. It wasn’t hard to change organizations. It’s what you can make of it.”

The Angels rank last in the American League in home runs, but they hit three solo shots against Boston’s Rick Porcello (4-13) — all leadoff home runs, by Andrelton Simmons (11th) in the fourth, Mike Trout (19th) in the sixth and Luis Valbuena (ninth) in the seventh.

Porcello only allowed five hits and a walk in eight innings but took the loss. It was the 11th time in his last 18 starts that his offense has scored two runs or less for him. He has gone six innings or more in all but one of 21 starts.

“During the day, this park plays small,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said regarding the three home runs. “I thought Rick gave us a good eight innings. He did his job.

“We need to get back to using the whole field like we did a few nights ago, and take relentless at-bats. We didn’t have many of those today.”

Bridwell didn’t allow a hit until the fifth, and then allowed three straight, the last an RBI single by Deven Marrero. Hanley Ramirez hit his 16th home run, a solo shot in the sixth. The Red Sox didn’t do anything beyond the fifth and Ramirez’s home run.

Blake Parker, who has not allowed an earned run in 24 career appearances at Angel Stadium, worked a perfect eighth. Bud Norris allowed a leadoff single in the ninth before a strikeout and double play grounder by Xander Bogerts.

Los Angeles’ bullpen has pitched 12 scoreless innings, with just two hits, one walk and 13 strikeouts.

NOTES: The Red Sox recalled third baseman Rafael Devers from Triple-A Pawtucket and optioned Kyle Martin and Doug Fister to Pawtucket. Devers has been one of Boston’s top prospects for two years and was hitting .305 with a .373 on-base percentage and .575 slugging for Pawtucket and Double-A Portland with 20 home runs. Devers will report to the Red Sox on Monday in Seattle and will likely make his major league debut Tuesday. … INF Josh Rutledge will start a rehab assignment with Pawtucket this week. … The Red Sox are 5-6 since the All-Star break, and the Angels’ win was just their sixth in their last 15. … Angels DH Albert Pujols, coming off a three-hit night, wasn’t in the lineup … Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia also got the day off from the starting lineup. … The Angels start a six-game road trip to Cleveland and Toronto on Tuesday. Boston starts a three-game trip at Seattle on Monday. … The Angels have scored just 58 runs in their last 20 games and rank last in the AL in runs per game at 4.07. … The win moved the Angels to 2 1/2 games behind Kansas City and Tampa Bay for the second wild card postseason berth.

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.

Red Sox Acquire Nunez

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BOSTON – (Staff report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired utility player Eduardo Nuñez from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for minor league right-handed pitchers Shaun Anderson and Gregory Santos, said President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.

Nuñez, 30, has hit .308 (93-for-302) with 20 doubles, four home runs, and 31 RBI in 76 games for the Giants this season, adding 18 stolen bases in 23 attempts. The right-handed batter has hit safely in 38 of his last 42 games since May 12, batting .353 (61-for-173) with a .497 slugging percentage in that time. He reached base in 33 consecutive games from May 12 to July 16, the longest streak by any major leaguer this season. Nuñez has made 47 starts at third base in 2017, as well as 17 in left field, 10 at shortstop, and one in right field.

A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Nuñez has hit .409 (27-for-66) with runners in scoring position this season. He is batting .312 (67-for-215) against right-handed pitchers, compared to .299 (26-for-87) versus left-handers. Named an American League All-Star in 2016, Nuñez has batted .279 (557-for-1,999) with 38 home runs and 123 stolen bases over eight major league seasons with the New York Yankees (2010-13), Minnesota Twins (2014-16), and Giants (2016-17). In nine career postseason games with the Yankees (2011-12) and Giants (2016), Nuñez has gone 3-for-14 with a double, a triple, and a home run.

Anderson, 22, has gone 6-3 with a 3.42 ERA (37 ER/97.1 IP) in 18 starts between Single-A Greenville and High-A Salem in 2017. Selected by the Red Sox out of the University of Florida in the third round of the 2016 June Draft, the right-hander has posted a 1.15 WHIP and held opponents to a .228 batting average this season. He made only two appearances for short-season Single-A Lowell in 2016, allowing nine earned runs in 2.2 innings.

Santos, 17, was signed by Boston as an international free agent on August 28, 2015. He has made seven starts for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox this season, going 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA (3 ER/30.0 IP), 24 strikeouts, and 15 walks. The right-hander made his professional debut in 2016, when he went 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA (19 ER/41.0 IP) in 16 appearances (10 starts) for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox2.

PGA Tour: At a Glance

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COMING UP
PGA TOUR: RBC Canadian Open at Glen Abbey Golf Club in Oakville, Ontario, Thursday through Sunday.
TV: Thursday and Friday, 3-6 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel; Saturday and Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT on the Golf Channel and 3-6 p.m. EDT on CBS.
LAST YEAR: Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela birdied the last three holes at Glen Abbey to claim his second PGA Tour victory by one stroke over Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm of Spain and Martin Laird of Scotland. Vegas sank a 7-foot putt on the 16th hole, a 9-footer on the 17th and a tap-in on the final hole. He began the day five strokes out of the lead held by Brandt Snedeker. Vegas got into the thick of things early with birdies on his first five holes en route to an 8-under-par 64 that gave him his first victory since the 2011 Bob Hope Classic. Johnson eagled the 16th and birdied the 18th for a 69, while Rahm, in his fourth pro start, and Laird both shot 67. Snedeker, who won the 2013 Canadian Open, shot 71 to finish two shots back in a tie for fifth.

NFL: Cowboys Fight Back

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OXNARD — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones opened training camp by declaring war on the NFL in the ongoing investigation into domestic violence allegations against star running back Ezekiel Elliott.  The NFL has ended its year-long investigation into the accusations brought against Elliott by a former girlfriend.

Dallas Cowboys Training Camp

Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys runs through drills on the first day of training camp on July 24, 2017 in Oxnard, California. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images).

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The Columbus (Ohio) attorney’s office dropped the case because of “conflicting and inconsistent” information. Elliott has maintained his innocence all along.
ESPN has reported that Elliott should brace for a one- or two-game suspension.

But Jones let it be known at the start of training camp that Elliott did nothing wrong and he should not be punished.

It was a clear and present message to the NFL that Jones is ready to fight if he is indeed suspended.

“There’s nothing … I have reviewed everything as you know. There is absolutely nothing, not one thing, that I’ve seen that has anything to do with domestic violence,” Jones said. “I don’t want to answer any more. But I’ve seen nothing.”

Jones was absolute in his comments, just as he was a year ago. He has long maintained that the NFL had no cause and no case.

The only thing that has changed recently is the NFL has completed its report. Elliott and the NFL Players Association have submitted “a final response” to the league.

Jones claims he has seen the report. Nothing has changed his mind.

“I found nothing since we were standing here this time last year,” Jones said. “And I knew everything in that report, I knew that this time last year. Those are their concerns because you need to get this stuff behind you.”
Jones not only claims that nothing happened, but that there is not a discrepancy among the participants.

“My opinion is there is not even an issue of ‘he said, she said,'” Jones said. “There is not even an issue there.”

The NFL doesn’t need a court conviction or even a court case to levy discipline against a player for conduct detrimental to the league.
The league has a taken a long time investigating this case to make sure it gets it right after so many past mistakes.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the league “wants to pin something” on Elliott as a lesson for his repeated mistakes in judgement.
But Jones is not going to let it happen without a fight.

And he is seemingly not going to let his upcoming induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame get in the way of his battle with the NFL over Elliott.

He brought up the New England Patriots as an example of a team that overcame the distraction of quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension last season and went on to win the Super Bowl.

Seemingly, the bigger lesson for Jones comes from Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who admittedly regretted not fighting the NFL sanctions and penalties from the Deflategate controversy.

“I don’t want to in any way speculate,” Jones said. “I don’t know that there’s anything I could say that might influence, but I don’t want anything I’ve said over the last week to be interpreted as a feeling or a speculation about his status, relative to a suspension. It shouldn’t be. It should be just reflective as what I am here and what I know.”

ROOKIE TO WATCH
–CB Chidobe Awuzie will start out at outside cornerback with hopes of breaking into the starting lineup. He will also be given reps at nickel, but could eventually be competing with Jeff Heath for the starting spot at strong safety. The Cowboys want to find a way to get him on the field

DIGITAL SPORTS DESK The Lede Sox at Seattle Tonight

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Boston at Seattle
When: 10:10 PM ET, Monday, July 24, 2017
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle, Washington
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
Philadelphia Phillies v Seattle Mariners

Starter James Paxton of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Safeco Field on June 27, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Stephen Brashear/Getty Images).

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SEATTLE – The Boston Red Sox have received minimal offensive production from the assortment of players they have tried at third base this season, so they decided it was time to see if they could find a sparkplug on the farm. The Red Sox likely will start 20-year-old Rafael Devers on Monday, when the team’s top prospect is expected to make his major-league debut on the road in the opener of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

Boston, which holds a three-game lead in the American League East despite losing three of four, has watched its third basemen – led by the likes of Deven Marrero, Josh Rutledge and the recently released Pablo Sandoval – post a combined .228 batting average this season. Devers, who arrived at the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate less than two weeks ago from Double-A Portland, went 14-for-35 with two homers at Pawtucket to prove to the parent club it didn’t need to look for help outside the organization. “Our people said, ‘Well, why would you try that (trade)? Why don’t you try (Devers)?’ … He’s in a position, we think he can do it,” president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters. The Mariners, who have dropped four of six since beginning the second half with four straight wins, find themselves 2 1/2 games behind Kansas City for the AL’s second wild-card spot after losing three of four to the New York Yankees over the weekend.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), ROOT Northwest (Seattle)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (4-2, 3.66 ERA) vs. Mariners LH James Paxton (9-3, 3.05)

Rodriguez struggled early before settling into his first start since June 1, permitting three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out eight in 5 1/3 frames of a no decision last Monday against Toronto. The 24-year-old Venezuelan did not fare well in his three rehab outings with Pawtucket, going 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. Rodriguez was masterful in throwing six scoreless innings versus the Mariners on May 26, however, to improve to 1-0 with a 0.73 ERA in two starts against them.

Paxton won his fourth straight start Wednesday at Houston, yielding one run and six hits while fanning seven over as many innings. The 28-year-old Kentucky product has rebounded nicely from a rough five-outing stretch during which he went 1-3 with a 7.20 ERA, posting a 2.05 mark and 28 strikeouts during his winning streak. Paxton has given up one run on nine hits and two walks over a pair of eight-inning outings against the Red Sox, including a no-decision at home on Aug. 1.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox, who rank third in the AL with 60 stolen bases, are 16-0 when they swipe multiple bags in a game.

2. The Mariners signed 2B Danny Espinosa on Sunday – three days after he was released by the Los Angeles Angels. The 30-year-old is batting .162 in 72 contests this season.

3. Boston took two of three from Seattle at home in late May, with each team winning via shutout.

MLB GAME SCOUT: Sox at LA Angels

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Boston at LA Angels
When: 3:37 PM ET, Sunday, July 23, 2017
Where: Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Anaheim, California
Special Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote
New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox - Game One

BOSTON, MA – JULY 16: Rick Porcello #22 of the Boston Red Sox delivers in the first inning of a game against the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on July 16, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM – The season-long search for a regular third baseman lingers on for the Boston Red Sox, who are actively seeking a solution prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline. In the meantime, the Red Sox look to extend their lead in the American League East on Sunday as they face the host Los Angeles Angels in the rubber match of a three-game series.

Brock Holt went 0-for-3 in Saturday’s 7-3 loss and is one of six different players to man the hot corner this season for the Red Sox, who may look outside the organization for help in order to give top prospect Rafael Devers more time to develop at Triple-A Pawtucket. Boston was held to six hits in Saturday’s loss as Hanley Ramirez made his third start of the week at first base and went 1-for-4, giving him five hits in his last 32 at-bats. The Angels have lost nine of their last 14 games but continue to receive strong support from their bullpen, which has limited Boston to no runs and one hit over the last two games covering eight innings. Albert Pujols went 3-for-4 with two RBIs in Saturday’s victory and is batting .321 in 43 career games against Boston.

TV: 3:37 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FSN West (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (4-12, 4.60 ERA) vs. Angels RH Parker Bridwell (3-1, 3.18)

Porcello leads the major leagues in losses but has pitched well in his last two outings, allowing a total of two earned runs with no walks in 14 innings. The 2016 AL Cy Young winner has pitched at least six innings in each of his last 17 starts, the longest active streak in the majors. Kole Calhoun is 7-for-15 with two home runs against Porcello, who is 6-6 with a 6.11 ERA in 15 career starts against the Angels.

Bridwell continued to impress last Sunday against Tampa Bay, allowing two runs on six hits with a career-high eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. The 25-year-old rookie has posted a 2.04 ERA in three road starts while registering a 4.09 ERA in four games at Angel Stadium. Bridwell, who has pitched at least six innings in each of his last four starts, limited Boston to two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory on June 25.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston’s past 12 games have all been decided by four runs or fewer.

2. The Angels are 25-13 against Boston since 2012.

3. The Red Sox are expected to activate INF Josh Rutledge (concussion) from the disabled list on Monday.

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