CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Nick Pratto hit two home runs to highlight a career-high four-hit performance and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 9-7. Chicago has lost five in a row. White Sox manager Tony La Russa missed the game because of an unspecified medical issue. The team said the 77-year-old Hall of Famer was out on the recommendation of his doctors and would undergo further testing Wednesday. Gavin Sheets homered twice and drove in five runs for the White Sox. Salvador Perez and Michael A. Taylor each homered and drove in three runs for the Royals. Pratto added a double and also had three RBIs.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Austin Romine hit a two-run homer as the Cincinnati Reds roughed up Dakota Hudson and beat St. Louis 5-1, ending the Cardinals’ three-game winning streak. Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols went 0 for 2 and was hit by pitch from Justin Dunn that caromed off his chest and caught his right forearm in the second inning. Pujols stayed in the game for the NL Central leaders and remained at 694 home runs, two behind Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time list. Hudson had been 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three career starts at Great American Ball Park. He gave up five straight hits to start a four-run burst in the third. Romine’s go-ahead liner that reached the front row of the seats in deep right-center field made it 2-1.
ATLANTA (AP) — C.J. Cron drove in two runs, José Ureña outpitched Max Fried, and the Colorado Rockies beat Atlanta 3-2 on Tuesday night to hand the Braves their third straight loss. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2019, Fried has 50 wins — second-most in the majors to Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (53). He had a 2.12 ERA in his previous 11 starts, but the first-time All-Star wasn’t his usual sharp self. Fried (12-5) allowed three runs — two earned — and seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts in five innings. Ureña (3-5) bounced back from a career-worst start to give up two runs and six hits with two walks and a season-high six strikeouts in five innings.
DENVER (AP) — The competitive AFC West features four talented quarterbacks now that the Denver Broncos have finally solved their QB conundrum by trading for Russell Wilson. Justin Herbert of the Chargers has more touchdown throws in his first two seasons than any quarterback in NFL history. The Raiders' Derek Carr has college teammate Davante Adams with him in Las Vegas now. And Patrick Mahomes has a trio of new pass catchers in JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and rookie Skyy Moore. But he doesn't have Tyreek Hill any longer, which could complicate the Chiefs' plans of staying atop the division.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs succeeded in getting younger around quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the rest of their veteran core through this year's draft. They had 10 selections and all but one of them made the initial 53-man roster Tuesday. The lone player to be cut was cornerback Nazeeh Johnson, who is a candidate for the practice squad. That means along with a pair of first- and second-rounders, the Chiefs also kept a pair of seventh-round picks in running back Isiah Pacheco and cornerback Jaylen Watson. Wide receiver Josh Gordon was among the veterans that were released.
UNDATED (AP) — The Las Vegas Raiders have waived offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood. He is the third of the club’s three first-round draft picks in 2020-21 to get dumped before the end of his second season. NFL teams had a Tuesday deadline to cut rosters to 53 players for the regular season. Many moves were procedural steps before those players come back. Cleveland released quarterback Josh Rosen. He was an extra arm as the Browns navigated the situation with Deshaun Watson. Rosen was working to be Jacoby Brissett's backup during Watson's 11-game suspension.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has begun serving his NFL suspension for alleged sexual misconduct, a punishment that will keep Watson away from the team until Oct. 10. Watson was placed on the reserve/suspended by commissioner list before practice as the Browns finalized their initial 53-man roster. The 26-year-old was accused of sexual misconduct and harassment by two dozen women during massage therapy sessions in Texas. Watson will miss 11 games, pay a $5 million fine and must undergo mandatory treatment and counseling before he can be reinstated. Watson is not permitted to have contact with team personnel during his suspension.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield has ignited what was already expected to be an emotionally charged Week 1 game against his former team, the Cleveland Browns. According to Bills sideline reporter Cynthia Frelund, Mayfield had some choice words for the Browns following the Panthers’ 21-0 preseason win over Buffalo on Friday night. “I’m going to (expletive) them up,” Mayfield said of the Browns, according to what Frelund said on a podcast.
UNDATED (AP) — The NCAA instituted a policy last summer allowing athletes to benefit from their name, image and likeness. The idea was that it would give established players a chance to profit off their fame but wouldn’t be used as a recruiting weapon. That’s not how it’s worked out. The NCAA emphasizes that rules remain in effect to avoid pay-for-play situations or improper inducements. But there’s nothing stopping colleges from pointing out to recruits how much their athletes on campus have made through NIL compensation deals. It has now become common.
UNDATED (AP) — School is back in session across the United States. That means new textbooks, new clothes and maybe new name, image and licensing deals. College athletes and some high school athletes can make money doing things like social media posts, in-person appearances and hosting sports camps. College students are becoming more and more familiar with so-called NIL compensation. It remains relatively new at the high school level.
TUESDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 7 Miami 2
Final Toronto 5 Chicago Cubs 3
Final Oakland 10 Washington 6
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 5 Baltimore 1
Final Seattle 9 Detroit 3
Final Houston 4 Texas 2
Final Minnesota 10 Boston 5
Final Kansas City 9 Chicago White Sox 7
Final N.Y. Yankees 7 L.A. Angels 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 5 St. Louis 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 4 N.Y. Mets 3
Final Pittsburgh 4 Milwaukee 2
Final Colorado 3 Atlanta 2
Final Arizona 12 Philadelphia 3
Final San Diego 4 San Francisco 3