KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — MJ Melendez hit a two-run homer, Salvador Perez drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the seventh inning, and the Royals held off the fading Twins 5-4 to open their final homestand of the season. Dylan Coleman earned the win with a scoreless seventh for Kansas City. Scott Barlow cleaned up Jose Cuas’ mess by striking out Mark Contreras to strand runners on second and third in the eighth, then handled the ninth for his 22nd save. Michael Fulmer gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to take the loss for Minnesota. The Twins have lost five of six to begin an eight-game trip that has nearly wiped them out of playoff contention.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kim Ha-seong homered and Mike Clevinger had a strong outing for the San Diego Padres, who shut down Albert Pujols and the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 to clinch their first winning record in a full season since 2010. The Padres improved to 82-66 and took a 1 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia for the NL’s second wild-card spot. The Phillies lost to Toronto, 18-11. Pujols remained at 698 career homers. He’s trying to become the fourth major leaguer to reach 700 homers, following Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. He walked and singled twice.
New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge is one home run away from matching the AL record. Judge hit his 60th homer on Tuesday night. Roger Maris set the AL mark of 61 in 1961. St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols is two home runs shy of 700 for his career. The Yankees host Pittsburgh on Tuesday night and the Cardinals play at San Diego.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have showcased the depth of their roster in opening the season with two lopsided wins. Buffalo's secondary has held up despite missing starter Tre'Davious White. And the Bills defensive front limited Derrick Henry to 25 yards rushing despite missing two regulars in a 41-7 rout of the Tennessee Titans on Monday night. That depth will be tested in preparing to face AFC East rival Miami on Sunday. The Bills defense could be potentially thinned after cornerback Dane Jackson, safety Micah Hyde, linebacker Matt Milano and tackle Jordan Phillips were hurt against Tennessee.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas has forged an identity through its first three games as an offensive-minded team capable of putting up big points without necessarily throwing the ball all over the yard. Kansas State has embraced the image of a physical, defense-first team that can barely score. The rest of the Big 12 is trying to figure out what they is. Six teams play their first league games Saturday. Iowa State has the eighth-ranked defense in the nation, and TCU has the ninth-ranked offense. Top-10 teams Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have been brilliant on offense but have shown some defensive chops as well.
UNDATED (AP) — The College Football Playoff is built to expand. While only three games determine a champion, the current postseason format is seven games: Two semifinals, a championship game and four marquee bowls. To convert a four-team playoff into 12 requires four more games and about three more weeks. Expanding for the 2024 and ’25 seasons largely hinges upon whether the already-scheduled semifinals and championship game can be pushed back. The NFL schedule will play a big role, too. College football fans should be prepared to watch playoff games on weeknights.
LONDON (AP) — Roger Federer’s farewell news conference will come before what he has said will be the last competitive tennis event of his career. Federer will meet with the media Wednesday to discuss walking away from the game at age 41 after 20 Grand Slam titles. Federer is in London and has been practicing at the arena that will host the indoor hard-court matches for the Laver Cup. The event founded by his management team begins Friday with the fifth edition of its Team Europe vs. Team World format. The main rivals whose careers overlapped with Federer’s also are participating: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson was released from the hospital after tests revealed he sustained no major injury to his neck or spinal cord when he was struck by a teammate. The Bills also revealed Tuesday that safety Micah Hyde was sent to the hospital for tests after he was carted off the field with his own neck injury later in Monday night's win over Tennessee. Hyde is also out of the hospital. Jackson's injury was considered to be more serious. He was driven off the field in an ambulance. Later Tuesday, he was back at the Bills' facility for treatment.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Americans are big favorites in the Presidents Cup. And it might be a matter of protecting against overconfidence. Captain Davis Love III doesn't see that as an issue. He mentions all the winning photos of past U.S. teams and how this group wants to be in the next picture. Loves says this 12-man squad doesn't have a record because it has never played together. International captain Trevor Immelman looks forward to what he sees as an uphill battle. He lost a lot of players to LIV Golf. But he likes the 12 who have rallied around the underdog label.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — A fan was arrested for allegedly throwing a plastic water bottle and hitting Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam during the closing moments of Sunday’s 31-30 home loss to the New York Jets. Cleveland police say 51-year-old Jeffrey Miller of Rocky River was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and failure to comply. Miller was spotted by video surveillance throwing the bottle and was followed with cameras. After the Jets took the lead, a video showed Haslam walking toward the tunnel in FirstEnergy Stadium when he was struck by the projectile. A person familiar with Browns' decision says the team intends to ban Miller from the stadium.
TORONTO (AP) — An official familiar with the matter says Canada will likely drop the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada by the end of September. Canada is similar to the United States in that it requires non citizens to be vaccinated when entering the country. It is not immediately known whether the U.S. will make a similar move by Sept. 30. The official says that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau needs to give final sign off on the decision but that the government will likely be dropping the requirement as well ending random COVID testing at airports. Filling out information in the unpopular ArriveCan app will also no longer be required.
TUESDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Boston 5 Cincinnati 3
Final Toronto 18 Philadelphia 11
Final N.Y. Yankees 9 Pittsburgh 8
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Houston 5 Tampa Bay 0
Final Detroit 3 Baltimore 2
Final L.A. Angels 5 Texas 2
Final Kansas City 5 Minnesota 4
Final Cleveland 10 Chicago White Sox 7
Final Oakland 4 Seattle 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final L.A. Dodgers 6 Arizona 5
Final Chicago Cubs 2 Miami 1
Final Atlanta 3 Washington 2
Final N.Y. Mets 7 Milwaukee 5
Final San Francisco 6 Colorado 3
Final San Diego 5 St. Louis 0
Final Arizona 5 L.A. Dodgers 2