AP Sports Summary for Thursday August 29th, 2024:
Ohtani and his dog share first-pitch duties before Dodgers superstar blasts leadoff homer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has homered leading off the game on his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium. He sent a 1-2 pitch from Baltimore's Corbin Burnes to right-center shortly after Ohtani and his dog handled first pitch duties. The second Ohtani bobblehead giveaway this season is proving just as popular as the first. Only the first 40,000 fans at Wednesday's game received the bobblehead, which depicts a smiling Ohtani holding his dog named Decoy. Long lines of cars backed up on roads around the stadium five hours before the Dodgers hosted the Orioles. Ohtani carried his dog to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. They later shared a hand-to-paw high five.
Wimbledon champion Krejcikova out of US Open, Shelton and Tiafoe set to meet in 3rd round
NEW YORK (AP) — Frances Tiafoe is getting the rematch he wants, a second shot at Ben Shelton at the U.S. Open. But there won't be a second straight Grand Slam title for Barbora Krejcikova. The Wimbledon champion was knocked out of the U.S. Open in the second round on Wednesday, defeated by Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 7-5. Ruse advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and will play No. 26 seed Paula Badosa, who eliminated American Taylor Townsend 6-3, 7-5. Tiafoe and Shelton both won second-round matches and will meet Friday. Shelton beat Tiafoe last year in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Novak Djokovic reaches US Open third round after opponent stops in 3rd set due to injury
NEW YORK (AP) — Defending champion Novak Djokovic has reached the third round of the U.S. Open after his opponent had to stop in the third set of their match with an injury. Djokovic led Laslo Djere 6-4, 6-4, 2-0 on Wednesday night when his Serbian countryman retired. Djere was leading 4-2 in the second set when he appeared to be troubled by pain near his hip and was visited by a trainer later in the set. It was the 90th win at the U.S. Open for Djokovic, allowing him to reach that total at all four Grand Slams. The 24-time major champion will play No. 28 seed Alexei Popyrin on Friday.
US Open: Iga Swiatek and other tennis players say their mental and physical health are ignored
NEW YORK (AP) — It's nothing new for tennis players to worry aloud about their sport's overcrowded calendar, too-tough season and too-short offseason. No. 1-ranked Iga Swiatek added an additional complaint this week at the U.S. Open: Athletes are not being heard when they express concerns about potential harm to mental and physical health caused by having more tournaments that run longer and new rules that require participation in more events. Swiatek also said players are not being consulted enough by the professional tours.
49ers star receiver Brandon Aiyuk misses practice despite being cleared by team doctors
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco star receiver Brandon Aiyuk wasn't at the start of practice despite the team saying he was cleared by doctors to participate. Aiyuk had refused to practice all training camp as he seeks a long-term extension or a possible trade, with coach Kyle Shanahan citing a back injury as the official reason for what is essentially a contract dispute. Both Shanahan and general manager John Lynch said before practice that Aiyuk had been cleared by team doctors and the expectation was that he would practice. But Aiyuk was not on the field during the portion open to reporters and could be subject to fines.
Pittsburgh Steelers are handing their offense to veteran QB Russell Wilson
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are going to let Russell Wilson cook. Coach Mike Tomlin has selected the nine-time Pro Bowler as the starting quarterback heading into Week 1. The move ended a largely perfunctory quarterback competition with Justin Fields in which the 35-year-old Wilson held the "pole position" as Tomlin put it for months and did little to cede ground. Wilson is the fourth different quarterback to start Week 1 for the Steelers in the past four years.
Boxer's brother throws a punch at a rival trainer in chaotic post-fight melee
SYDNEY (AP) — The brother of a boxer who had just been awarded a technical knockout punched the trainer of a rival fighter during a chaotic melee in the ring following a televised bout in Sydney. Michael Zerafa received the TKO win on Wednesday night after his opponent Tommy Browne quit with a biceps injury after the first round of their catchweight bout. Zerafa wasn't happy with his rival retiring and yelled "you quit" to Browne. That led to a heated argument between Zerafa and Browne's trainer, Tommy Mercuri. Then Zerafa's brother and cornerman, Jason-Manuel Zerafa, entered the ring, moved around behind an official and threw a right to the side of Mercuri's head before retreating behind the boxer. The boxer's brother was later charged with assault by police.
Caitlin Clark sets WNBA rookie record for 3s as Fever beat Sun and snap 11-game skid in series
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kelsey Mitchell scored 23 points, Caitlin Clark had 19 points, five rebounds and five assists, and the Indiana Fever beat the Connecticut Sun 84-80 to snap an 11-game losing streak in the series. It was Indiana's first win against Connecticut since July 3, 2021. Clark set a WNBA rookie record for made 3-pointers, passing Rhyne Howard's 85 in 2022, with a triple in the first quarter. Clark added two more 3-pointers before finishing 3 of 12, giving her 88 on the season.
Everyone starts out chasing Scottie Scheffler for the FedEx Cup title at East Lake
ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is the best player in golf. And now the other 29 players at the Tour Championship are spotting him a two-shot lead. Shane Lowry says he's used to giving his friends a few shots at home. But he says his friends are not named Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. The Tour Championship and its staggered start depending on FedEx Cup ranking gets underway on Thursday. One change already in place for restored East Lake is to insert interior out-of-bounds stakes left the 18th to keep players from trying to take an easier route down the adjacent 10th fairway.
Giants taking historic number out of retirement for rookie receiver Malik Nabers
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants are putting their first retired number back into service for sensational rookie receiver Malik Nabers. The Giants announced Wednesday that Nabers will wear No. 1 this season. The number was retired by the Giants in 1935, coinciding with the retirement of end Ray Flaherty. It was first jersey number retired in pro football history. The decision came after talks between Giants co-owner John Mara and Ray Flaherty, Jr., and the family approved the move, the team said. Nabers wore No. 9 in training camp, but it belonged to veteran kicker Graham Gano.
AP-Scorecard
Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:
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INTERLEAGUE
Final Houston 10 Philadelphia 0
Final Oakland 9 Cincinnati 6
Final Washington 5 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Atlanta 5 Minnesota 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 6 Baltimore 4
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Cleveland 7 Kansas City 5
Final Seattle 6 Tampa Bay 2
Final Texas 3 Chicago White Sox 1
Final Boston 3 Toronto 0
Final Texas 4 Chicago White Sox 3
Final Detroit 3 L.A. Angels 2
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 14 Pittsburgh 10
Final St. Louis 4 San Diego 3
Final Milwaukee 5 San Francisco 3
Final Colorado 8 Miami 2
Final Arizona 8 N.Y. Mets 5
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WOMEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Final Indiana 84 Connecticut 80
Final Washington 74 Chicago 70
Final Minnesota 89 Phoenix 76
Final Los Angeles 94 New York 88
Final Seattle 85 Atlanta 81
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MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Final Columbus 1 Philadelphia 0
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TODAY'S SPORTS SCHEDULE
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INTERLEAGUE
Oakland at Cincinnati 5:10 p.m.
Baltimore at L-A Dodgers 10:10 p.m.
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AMERICAN LEAGUE
L-A Angels at Detroit 1:10 p.m.
Texas at Chi White Sox 2:10 p.m.
Toronto at Boston 7:10 p.m.
Kansas City at Houston 8:10 p.m.
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NATIONAL LEAGUE
San Francisco at Milwaukee 2:10 p.m.
San Diego at St. Louis 2:15 p.m.
Miami at Colorado 3:10 p.m.
N-Y Mets at Arizona 3:40 p.m.
Atlanta at Philadelphia 6:40 p.m.
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TOP-25 COLLEGE FOOTBALL
W. Carolina at (24)NC State 7 p.m.
Murray St. at (11)Missouri 8 p.m.
Lindenwood (Mo.) at (22)Kansas 8 p.m.
S. Utah at (12)Utah 9 p.m.
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