KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Drew Waters drew a bases-loaded walk to break an eighth-inning tie in his major league debut, boosting the Kansas City Royals to a 6-4 win over the Chicago White Sox in a game rescheduled because of the lockout in April. Joe Kelly, the seventh of eight White Sox pitchers, hit a pair of batters to start the inning. Ryan O’Hearn singled, and Waters drew a five-pitch walk with one out to break a 4-all tie. The White Sox rallied from a four-run deficit after their starter, Michael Kopech, exited the game having faced just four hitters. The team said he departed with left knee soreness.
CHICAGO (AP) — Albert Pujols hit career homer No. 693, Jordan Montgomery pitched a one-hitter and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 1-0 for their season-high eighth straight victory. Pujols led off the seventh with a drive to left-center for his seventh homer in his last 10 games and No. 14 overall in his final big league season. There was a noticeable round of cheers from the Wrigley Field crowd of 29,719 as the three-time NL MVP rounded the bases on his second hit of the night. That one run was all Montgomery needed. The left-hander struck out seven and walked none in his first career complete game,
CHICAGO (AP) — Yadier Molina has rejoined the St. Louis Cardinals after traveling to his native Puerto Rico for the end of his basketball team’s championship run. The 40-year-old Molina owns the Vaqueros de Bayamón, who play in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league. Bayamón beat San Germán 75-61 on Saturday to clinch its 16th BSN title. Molina was placed on the restricted list Saturday and missed the final two games of St. Louis’ weekend sweep in Arizona. The veteran catcher went 0 for 3 in the Cardinals’ 1-0 victory over the Cubs in the opener of a five-game series at Wrigley Field.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pro Bowl defensive tackle Chris Jones and wide receiver Mecole Hardman returned to practice with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, when they moved their training camp base from Missouri Western back to their own facility. Jones had been dealing with a back injury and Hardman had been out with a sore groin. Among those still missing practice were defensive end Carlos Dunlap with a sore Achilles tendon and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster with a sore knee.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says freshman Quinn Ewers was named the Longhorns' starting quarterback because he’s a talent who can “make all the throws.” In his first comments since naming Ewers the starter, Sarkisian praised him as a playmaker and natural passer in a complicated offense. Ewers transferred to Texas after sitting most of last season deep on the depth chart at Ohio State. He beat Hudson Card for the starting job with the Longhorns. Card started the first two games of 2021 but was benched for Casey Thompson in a 5-7 season. Thompson has since transferred to Nebraska.
UNDATED (AP) — Mississippi, Southern California, LSU and Nebraska were among the most active teams recruiting players from the transfer portal ahead of the college football season. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin sought experienced players who could fill immediate needs. USC’s Lincoln Riley and LSU’s Brian Kelly went in looking for star power as they attempt quick rebuilds. Nebraska’s Scott Frost is simply trying to save his job. The top-ranked portal class belongs to Riley at USC but Kiffin is right behind at No. 2.
UNDATED (AP) — Alabama stars Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr. are among four players from the top-ranked Crimson Tide selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Alabama defensive backs Jordan Battle and Eli Ricks also made the first team. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Georgia each had three players chosen to the first team. Ricks was one of seven players who have transferred during their careers to make either the first or second teams. That includes USC receiver Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award last season at Pittsburgh.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady has returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ending what has been described as an 11-day, prearranged break from training camp for personal reasons. The seven-time Super Bowl champion didn’t address the media after practicing Monday. Teammates and coach Todd Bowles said the 45-year-old quarterback was sharp throwing the ball and essentially took up where he left off before leaving the team on Aug. 11. Brady missed two preseason games that Bowles said he wouldn't have played in even if he had been with the team. The coach said it hasn't been determined if Brady might play in this weekend's preseason finale at Indianapolis.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Baker Mayfield will start the Carolina Panthers’ Sept. 11 regular-season opener against his former team, the Cleveland Browns. Panthers coach Matt Rhule made the announcement on the team’s website Monday. Mayfield, acquired in a trade with the Browns earlier this offseason, beat out incumbent starter Sam Darnold for the job. Both quarterbacks are expected to play Friday night in the preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Gary Gaines, coach of the Texas high school football team made famous in the book and movie “Friday Night Lights,” has died. He was 73. Gaines’ family says the former coach died in Lubbock after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Gaines made many stops in West Texas during a 30-year coaching career. He was best known for a four-year stint leading the highly successful program at Odessa Permian. His 1988 team was chronicled in Buzz Bissinger’s bestselling book. It portrayed a program that favored football over academics but had a sympathetic view of Gaines.
MONDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 4 N.Y. Mets 2
Final Miami 3 Oakland 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Kansas City 6 Chicago White Sox 4
Final Texas 2 Minnesota 1
Final Tampa Bay 2 L.A. Angels 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Atlanta 2 Pittsburgh 1
Final Philadelphia 4 Cincinnati 1
Final St. Louis 1 Chicago Cubs 0
Final Milwaukee 4 L.A. Dodgers 0
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final N-Y Jets 24 Atlanta 16