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NFL GAME SCOUT: Chiefs at Patriots

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Kansas City at New England
When: 8:30 PM ET, Thursday, September 7, 2017
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

NFL Preseason: New York Giants Vs. New England Patriots At Gillette Stadium

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FOXBORO = Seven months removed from the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history that burnished the legacies of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots open the 2017 season on Thursday night against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. Emotions should be high as the Patriots celebrate their fifth world championship in a pregame ceremony.

Brady, who turned 40 last month, became the first quarterback in history to win five Super Bowl titles, rallying New England from a 25-point deficit in the second half to a 34-28 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons. New England, the last team to repeat as Super Bowl champ in 2003-04, was not content to stand pat in the offseason and brought in an elite wide receiver in Brandin Cooks — an acquisition even more noteworthy after fellow wideout Julian Edelman suffered a season-ending knee injury last month. The Chiefs face a daunting challenge against a club that has won 24 in a row at home against non-division AFC opponents, but they have plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, having won 23 games over the past two seasons and claiming the AFC West title in 2016 with a 12-4 mark. “If you’re in this business, that’s what you thrive on, and I’d tell you both sides feel that way,” Kansas City coach Andy Reid said of facing the Patriots. “The players, that’s why they play the game. They want to play against the best. You want to coach against the best — that’s a beautiful thing.”

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC. LINE: Patriots -9. O/U: 48.5

ABOUT THE CHIEFS (2016: 12-4, 1st in AFC West): Quarterback Alex Smith doesn’t put up big numbers — his 3,502 passing yards in 2016 were a career high — and has been tagged with the label of game manager, but the former No. 1 overall pick has tossed only 28 interceptions versus 76 scoring passes in four seasons in Kansas City. With the departure of veteran Jeremy Maclin, Tyreek Hill becomes the top target following a flashy rookie season in which he amassed 12 touchdowns — six via scoring passes, three on the ground and three in the air. Rookie running back Kareem Hunt, a third-round pick who piled up nearly 5,000 yards over four seasons at Toledo, ascended to the starting job when Spencer Ware underwent season ending knee surgery, while Travis Kelce is widely considered the league’s No. 2 tight end behind New England’s Rob Gronkowski. There’s plenty of talent on the other side of the ball, with perennial Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry leading a secondary that tied for the league high in interceptions, and Dee Ford and linebacker Justin Houston providing a pass rush that needs to pressure Brady.

ABOUT THE PATRIOTS (2017: 14-2, 1st in AFC East): Brady missed the first four games in 2016 while under suspension for the Deflategate saga, but returned to throw for 28 touchdowns against only two interceptions before capping the season with a record 466-yard performance in the stunning comeback in Super Bowl LI. Edelman was Brady’s most trusted target with at least 92 catches in three of the past four seasons, but Cooks provides a dynamic big-play threat with 17 scoring passes over the past two years in New Orleans while touchdown machine Gronkowski (68 in 88 games) returns after back surgery ended his season after eight contests. New England was willing to let LeGarrette Blount and his NFL-high 18 rushing TDs leave via free agency, bringing in Mike Gillislee from Buffalo and Rex Burkhead from Cincinnati to go with Super Bowl hero James White in the backfield. New England led the league with an average of 15.6 points allowed last season and bolstered the defense with the signing of free-agent cornerback Stephen Gilmore, who registered a career-best five interceptions for Buffalo in 2016.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Patriots have won eight consecutive season openers and seven in a row on Thursday night.

2. Kelce had 85 catches last season and led all tight ends with 1,125 receiving yards.

3. Brady, the 13th QB to start a game at age 40 or older, is 9-0 with 24 TDs and two interceptions on Thursday night.

SPORTS BIZ: NFL’s Full-Time Refs

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NEW YORK – (Wire Service Report for Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – Twenty-one game officials attained full-time status in a landmark move by the NFL designed to be a pilot program for expansion if successful.

Los Angeles Rams v Green Bay Packers

NFL referee’s hat during a preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Los Angeles Rams at Lambeau Field. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images).

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The league dictated in a decision announced Wednesday that officiating must be the “top professional priority” of all full-time NFL game officials, but other jobs are still permitted. For example, Walt Anderson, one of four referees granted full-time status, remains the Big 12 Conference officiating coordinator.

According to the NFL Referees Association, the benefit of full-time officials would be in the offseason, when additional training and on-field work could be done to incorporate rules changes and address new or added emphasis to existing game measures.

While officials can maintain secondary employment, they also must be able to reach the NFL headquarters within 48 hours of any such league request.

The NFL made the first step available as a voluntary measure to its entire 124-official roster in the offseason.

In all, seven officiating positions are represented, including side judge Jonah Moore. Moore is the least-experienced official on the full-time roster this season with three years at the NFL level.

Red Sox Win Marathon in 19th

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Boston 3, Toronto 2
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Mass
Attendance: 33,009
Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange
Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox

Hanley Ramirez (#13/head down)of the Boston Red Sox is mobbed by Mookie Betts #50 and teammates during the nineteenth inning of a game against the Toronto Blue. (Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images).

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BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez wasn’t very good Tuesday night.

Wednesday morning was a different story.

Ramirez was 1-for-7 when he stepped to the plate after midnight, but delivered a hit that made his woeful stat line irrelevant.

The mercurial Red Sox designated hitter hit a walk-off bloop single to center field in the 19th inning to send the Boston Red Sox past the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2, ending a six-hour marathon at Fenway Park.

“Sometimes it’s not going to be easy,” Ramirez said. “There’s a lot of things in our way, but nothing’s going to stop us to continue to go where we want to go and what we want to be. We want to be a champion.”

Mookie Betts led off the bottom of the 19th with a double off the Green Monster in left field against Blue Jays reliever Chris Rowley (1-2), setting the stage for Ramirez.

It was the second walk-off RBI of the season for Ramirez and the eighth of his career. He finished with two RBIs on the night, including one in the Red Sox’s game-tying, two-run ninth inning.

The Red Sox used 12 pitchers, tying a American League record set by the Los Angeles Angels on Monday night in an 11-inning game against the Oakland A’s.

“It’s a two-run game for 19 innings? In this park? There was some pretty good pitching going on on both sides,” acting Blue Jays manager DeMarlo Hale said.

It was the second-longest game in Fenway Park history following an 8-7 loss to the Seattle Mariners in 20 innings in 1981.

Hector Velazquez (3-1) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Boston relief pitchers set a franchise record with 13 shutout innings.

“Every guy that walked out to the mound, they did exactly what we needed to do with their backs against the wall,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Rowley gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings of relief.

Mitch Moreland also had an RBI for the Red Sox.

Boston (78-61) snapped a three-game losing streak and increased its lead atop the American League East to 3 1/2 games over the Yankees. New York lost 7-6 to the Baltimore Orioles.

“Even though it took 19 innings, I think we’re all happy we came out on top,” Betts said.

Toronto (64-75) fell for the third time in four games. The Blue Jays hit four home runs en route to a 10-4 victory Monday in the series opener.

“It’s hard. It’s hard to take a loss like this,” Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada said of the Tuesday game. “Anytime you go extra innings and you lose, it’s not a good feeling. But to go 19 innings, I feel bad for the guys who were out there.”

Kendrys Morales hit a solo home run, his 27th of the year, and Teoscar Hernandez drove in the other run for Toronto.

The Red Sox moved to 32-31 against AL East opponents this season, including 11-4 against the Blue Jays.

Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez tossed six innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts.

Rodriguez is winless in his past 11 starts (0-4), with the young southpaw’s last victory coming May 26 against Seattle.

Estrada also received a no-decision after pitching seven scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and three walks while striking out three.

Boston tied the game 2-2 against Toronto closer Roberto Osuna in the ninth on back-to-back RBI groundouts from Ramirez and Moreland after an Andrew Benintendi walk and a Betts double put runners on second and third with no outs.

It marked Osuna’s 10th blown save of the season.

“He’s going to be just fine,” Estrada said of Osuna. “The guy’s one of the best closers in the game. He’s just hit a rough patch.”

Justin Smoak nearly put the Blue Jays ahead with one out in the 11th, sending a fly ball to center field with runners on first and third. Jackie Bradley Jr. made the catch and fired a rocket to catcher Christian Vazquez to complete the double play and preserve the tie.

“Jackie’s throw, a couple-hundred-foot strike to cut down (Jose) Bautista (at the plate), and that allowed us to stay alive,” Farrell said.

Plate umpire Marvin Hudson ejected Toronto’s Josh Donaldson for arguing balls and strikes with nobody out in the Blue Jays’ half of the 18th.

Hernandez plated the game’s first run with a one-out sacrifice fly in the second inning.

Morales doubled the Blue Jays’ lead in the sixth, sending an 0-2 Rodriguez pitch into the Green Monster seats for a solo shot.

NOTES: The New York Times reported Tuesday that Boston used an Apple Watch to steal signs against the New York Yankees and other teams. Red Sox manager John Farrell and president of baseball ops Dave Dombrowski were aware of the situation. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, in town for a regularly scheduled visit, confirmed the investigation and said he “take(s) any issue that affects play on the field extremely seriously.” … Toronto 1B Justin Smoak (bruised calf) was not in the lineup, but he entered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning. He fouled a ball off his calf Monday. … Blue Jays manager John Gibbons missed his fourth consecutive game because of a personal matter. Bench coach DeMarlo Hale again served as the team’s acting manager. … Red Sox RHP Carson Smith was activated from the 60-day disabled list and made his season debut in the 18th inning. Smith, sidelined while recovering from Tommy John surgery, had not pitched in the majors since May 14, 2016. RHP Kyle Martin was designated for assignment.

Can Red Sox Bounce Back?

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Toronto at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Special to Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – (Special to Digital Sports Desk by The Sports Xchange) – The Toronto Blue Jays will likely be relegated to playing the spoiler role in September and hope to add more misery to the slumping Red Sox when they visit Boston for the second of a three-game series on Tuesday night. Toronto belted four homers among 14 hits in Monday’s 10-4 victory over the Red Sox, who lost for the eighth time in 12 contests and saw their lead in the American League East shrink to 2 ½ games.

Kendrys Morales snapped out of a 0-for-14 slump by going 2-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs for Toronto, which sits 7 ½ games out in the race for the AL’s second wild card and would have to jump over seven teams. Marco Estrada will try to hold down the dangerous Boston lineup when he takes the mound Tuesday against struggling left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has not won a game since May 26. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who has been limited after returning from a knee injury, is expected to be back in the lineup for the Red Sox and he is 13-for-38 with 14 RBIs in nine games against the Blue Jays this year. Most of Boston’s problems have been on the mound as it has surrendered at least five runs in eight of the last 12 contests.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Sportsnet, TVA Sports (Toronto), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (7-8, 5.23 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (4-5, 4.40)

Estrada has won his last two starts despite allowing nine runs and 15 hits over 11 innings combined while enjoying the benefit of 21 runs of support. The 34-year-old from Mexico boasts 156 strikeouts across 156 1/3 innings, but surrendered 26 homers in his 28 starts – seven in the past six outings. Pedroia is 11-for-26 with three doubles against Estrada, who is 0-0 with a 1.74 ERA in two starts versus Boston this year.

Rodriguez took the loss in each of his last two starts and is winless in his last 10 outings with four defeats during that stretch. The 24-year-old Venezuelan permitted five runs in each of his last two turns while giving up 17 hits (three homers) across 11 2/3 innings combined. Morales is 4-for-13 with a pair of doubles versus Rodriguez, who is 1-3 with a 6.15 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against Toronto.

WALK-OFFS

1. Boston RF Mookie Betts is 21-for-61 with 18 RBIs against the Blue Jays this season, but is just 5-for-31 overall in his past eight contests overall.

2. Toronto INF Ryan Goins is 4-for-9 in the past two contests and has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games.

3. Red Sox RHP Craig Kimbrel has struck out 106 of the 213 batters this season, by far the biggest percentage in the majors.

Red Sox vs. Yankees in TechGate

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BOSTON – The rivalry between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees is taking another twist with each team accusing the other of using technology to steal signs during games.

The Red Sox admitted to the commissioner’s office that their trainers had received signals from video replay personnel and then relayed that information to some players, according to a report in the New York Times.

Major League Baseball was alerted to the scheme, which included a trainer in the dugout looking down at his Apple Watch and relaying a signal to players, who may have used the information to determine the type of pitch being thrown, by the Yankees. New York general manager Brian Cashman filed a complaint with the commissioner’s office including video shot of the Boston dugout.

“Aware of the rule. Electronic devices are not to be used in the dugout, but beyond that the only thing I can say it’s a league matter at this point,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

Baseball investigators corroborated the Yankees’ claims, according to the New York Times.

The Red Sox responded by filing their own complaint on Tuesday, alleging that New York uses cameras from its television broadcast on the YES network to steal signs.

No discipline has been announced.

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