ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Luis Patiño pitched strongly into the sixth inning, Yandy Díaz drove in three runs, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1. Tampa Bay started the day tied with Toronto for the second AL wild card. The Rays have won five of six. Patiño was recalled from Triple-A Durham to make his first big league appearance since July 23. He gave up four hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Díaz homered on the second pitch from Max Castillo leading off the first, and had a two-run double during a during a five-run seventh off Brad Keller.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Albert Pujols launched a pinch-hit grand slam and drove in five runs, Adam Wainwright pitched seven sharp innings and the St. Louis Cardinals routed the Colorado Rockies 13-0 for a three-game sweep. The Rockies lost starting pitcher Antonio Senzatela and right fielder Charlie Blackmon in the second inning to leg injuries. Senzatela crumpled to the ground after attempting to cover first base and Blackmon was removed an inning after beating out an infield single. The NL Central-leading Cardinals won their fourth in a row and sent Colorado to its fifth straight loss. Pujols hit his 690th career home run. It was his 16th grand slam, tying him with Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and Dave Kingman for 10th-most of all-time. Wainwright gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked none.
UNDATED (AP) — The Big Ten has announced its new, seven-year media rights deal with Fox, NBC and CBS that is believed to be the richest ever struck with a college sports conference. A person familiar with the contracts tells The Associated Press that the conference's soon-to-be 16 member universities eventually will share more than $1 billion in revenue per year. Starting in 2024, when USC and UCLA join the conference, Big Ten football Saturdays will be structured similar to the NFL. That means three marquee games being carried in consecutive time slots on three different major TV networks.
UNDATED (AP) — NCAA officials have sent a letter to members updating them on enforcement’s staff pursuit of “potential violations” of the name, image and likeness compensation policy. The association emphasized the need for schools to aid investigations. The email says NCAA enforcement staff is “actively investigating potential abuses of NIL transactions and we’ll allege any substantiated concerns as soon as possible.” The NCAA in 2020 lifted its ban on athletes earning money for things like endorsement and sponsorship deals, social media posts and personal appearances.
BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game unpaid suspension, pay a $5 million fine and undergo required professional evaluation and counseling following accusations of sexual misconduct by two dozen women. Watson was accused of sexually harassing and coercing women during massage therapy sessions while he played for the Houston Texans. The league had sought to ban him for at least one year for violating its personal conduct policy. Watson's suspension begins Aug. 30, when he won't be allowed at the team’s facility. He may return for the Browns’ game on Dec. 4 in Houston. Cleveland traded for the three-time Pro Bowler in March, signing him to a fully guaranteed $230 million contract.
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Keegan Bradley hasn’t been to the FedEx Cup finale in four years. He started the BMW Championship like he was in a hurry to get back. Bradley tied a personal best with a 29 on the front nine a Wilmington Country Club on his way to a 64. That gives him a one-shot lead over Adam Scott. Both are in the same boat. They are outside the top 30 who make it to the Tour Championship in Atlanta to chase the $18 million prize. Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry were among those two shots behind.
SEATTLE (AP) — Geno Smith did little to distinguish himself in his battle with Drew Lock for Seattle’s starting quarterback job as the sloppy Seahawks fell 27-11 to the Chicago Bears in the second preseason game for both teams. The Seahawks had planned to start Lock but turned to Smith when Lock tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday. That meant another opportunity for Smith, but his uninspired performance suggests Lock still has a chance to win the job. Smith finished 10 of 18 for 112 yards and was hampered by teammates’ mistakes while playing the first half. Second-year Bears quarterback Justin Fields made a brief appearance and led a field-goal drive.
ATLANTA (AP) — Jared Bernhardt has traded in his stick for the pigskin. Just two years after being honored as the nation’s top college lacrosse player, Bernhardt is trying to make it as an NFL receiver with the Atlanta Falcons. If this were a lacrosse team, the 24-year-old Bernhardt would undoubtedly be one of their best players. He starred for five seasons at Maryland, where he helped the Terrapins to a national championship as a freshman and was honored with the sport’s version of the Heisman Trophy after his record-setting senior year. Now, he’s the longest of long shots on the gridiron.
THURSDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 3 Baltimore 2
Final Pittsburgh 8 Boston 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Texas 10 Oakland 3
Final Houston 21 Chicago White Sox 5
Final Tampa Bay 7 Kansas City 1
Final Toronto 9 N.Y. Yankees 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final St. Louis 13 Colorado 0
Final Milwaukee 5 L.A. Dodgers 3
Final Arizona 5 San Francisco 0
Final Atlanta 3 N.Y. Mets 2
Final Washington 3 San Diego 1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Chicago 27 Seattle 11