Red Sox’ Jarren Duran suspended 2 games for shouting homophobic slur at fan who heckled him
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox suspended Jarren Duran for two games on Monday without pay after he shouted a homophobic slur to a fan behind home plate who heckled him in a loss to the Houston Astros a day earlier. The exchange that was caught on a live mic...
White Sox fire manager Pedro Grifol after end of 21-game losing streak that tied AL record
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol on Thursday, two days after the team ended a 21-game losing streak that tied the American League record. Chicago began the day 28-89, on pace to finish 39-122, which would be the worst major league record since the National League’s...
Billy Bean, 2nd openly gay ex-MLB player who later worked for commissioner, dies at 60Video
NEW YORK — Billy Bean, who became the second former MLB player to come out as gay in 1999 before becoming the sport’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, has died. He was 60. MLB released a statement confirming his death. Bean died at home on Tuesday after...
First Call: Steelers to see 1st-team offense from Texans Friday; Pirates get stiff test in series opener vs. Padres
The Steelers will get a strong challenge at Acrisure Stadium in Friday’s preseason opener, and the Pirates will get one on the mound Tuesday night. Also, a Steelers division rival is dealing with an injury issue along the defensive front, and a former Steeler loses out on a shot to...
Jim Harbaugh has best track record of 8 new head coaches but Morris has better shot at playoffsVideo
At least one NFL team with a new coach has reached the playoffs every year since the 2006 season. DeMeco Ryans took over in Houston last year and led the Texans from worst to first in the AFC South. With AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud and Defensive...
A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue will be unveiled 6 months after the original was stolen
WICHITA, Kan. — A rebuilt statue of Jackie Robinson in bronze will be welcomed home Monday by Little League players and former Major League Baseball All-Stars, just over six months after the original was destroyed by thieves. The original sculpture of the baseball icon resting a bat on his shoulder...
Tigers retire Hall of Fame Jim Leyland’s No. 10 next to World Series winner Sparky Anderson on wallVideo
DETROIT — Jim Leyland’s No. 10 was retired by the Detroit Tigers, putting the Hall of Fame manager’s name and number in white on a brick wall next to World Series winner Sparky Anderson. “When I look out on that wall and see my name with the Tiger greats, it’s...
Giants’ Blake Snell throws 1st career no-hitter in 3-0 win over the RedsVideo
CINCINNATI — Blake Snell pitched his first career no-hitter Friday night, striking out 10 as the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds, 3-0. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner walked three and threw 114 pitches, 78 for strikes, in his first complete game in 202 major league starts....
First Call: Ex-Steelers WR finds familiar home; good start for Pirates’ Nick Yorke; potential Steelers WR trade target update
Friday’s “First Call” has a new home for a recently released Pittsburgh Steelers receiver. Another Steelers trade target at the position may be staying put. A new Pirate is off to a strong start in the minor leagues. And the Pirates are getting set for a crucial six-game stretch against...
First Call: Arthur Maulet jabs back at Patrick Queen; Steelers Hall of Fame projections for the next decade
Thursday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler in Baltimore firing back at a current Steeler who used to be a Raven. We also get some speculation on Steelers Hall of Fame candidates and some national reaction to the Pirates’ trade deadline tactics. Plus, a former Penguins fan favorite has...
D-backs get Josh Bell, Red Sox and Yankees fortify bullpen ahead of trade deadline
PHOENIX — The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, San Diego added All-Star closer Tanner Scott and Arizona and Baltimore made significant deals for the stretch run ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. Many top stars mentioned as trade targets stayed with their teams, including Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero...
MLB trade roundup: Cardinals add RHP Erick Fedde, OF Tommy Pham
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired right-hander Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham on Monday as part of a three-team trade that also moved hard-throwing reliever Michael Kopech to the Los Angeles Dodgers. St. Louis got Fedde and Pham from the major-league-worst Chicago White Sox, who sent Kopech to the Dodgers....
Mark Madden: Maybe it’s time to lighten up on Pete Rose
HBO’s new four-part, four-hour documentary on Pete Rose reveals little new but is nonetheless provocative. That’s because Pete Rose is provocative. He’s everyman, a monument to hard work maximizing skill. If you don’t believe that, ask Rose. He’ll tell you. His ban from MLB for betting on baseball is something...
First Call: A Steelers WR trade prospect adjusts his contract; AFC North news; odd injury for Bethel Park’s Mason Miller
Friday’s “First Call” removes one name from the Steelers wide receiver rumor mill. There’s lots of information from the team’s rivals in the AFC North and one headline from a Penguins rival within the Metropolitan Division. And we’ve got odd injury news for Bethel Park’s Mason Miller in Oakland. Bad...
Oakland All-Star closer Mason Miller breaks left pinky finger pounding training table in frustrationVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Oakland Athletics All-Star closer Mason Miller broke the pinky finger on his non-pitching hand when he pounded a table in frustration after he was reminded he had to do postgame lifting following Monday night’s game against Houston. The 25-year-old right-hander, the hardest-throwing pitcher in the major leagues...
Clayton Kershaw makes 2024 debut with Dodgers, strikes out 6
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw made his season debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, striking out six and allowing two runs and six hits in his return from offseason shoulder surgery. With his return to the lineup against the San Francisco Giants, Kershaw became the only pitcher to...
Latrobe, Seton Hill alum Kollar gets promoted to Padres’ Triple-A affiliate
A day after his 26th birthday, pitcher Jared Kollar received a gift: a promotion in the minor leagues. Kollar, a Latrobe and Seton Hill alum, is headed to Triple-A with the San Diego Padres. His 9-3 record and 3.04 ERA in 15 starts were good enough to earn him a...
Scherzer passes Verlander for 10th on career strikeout list at 3,394, most among active pitchersVideo
ARLINGTON, Texas — Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer moved into 10th place on the career strikeout list — and the most among active pitchers — when the Texas Rangers right-hander recorded his 3,394th on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox. Scherzer passed fellow three-time Cy Young winner Justin...
Dylan Cease throws 2nd no-hitter in San Diego Padres historyVideo
WASHINGTON — Dylan Cease pitched the second no-hitter in San Diego Padres history, a 3-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Thursday that completed a three-game sweep. After falling one out short of a no-hitter two years ago when he gave up a single to current teammate Luis Arráez, Cease...
Ernie Johnson taking leave of absence from TBS’ MLB duties
ATLANTA — Ernie Johnson, the well-respected longtime TNT Sports broadcaster, is taking a leave of absence from hosting duties for TBS’ national MLB games. In a news release, he said, “I’d like to thank the leadership at TNT Sports for allowing me the time away to take care of a...
Mt. Lebanon pitcher David Shields signs with Kansas City Royals, forgoes college baseball
Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields is turning pro. The left-handed pitcher has signed with the Kansas City Royals, who drafted him in the second round of the MLB Draft, forgoing a scholarship to play baseball at Miami (Fla.). Shields posted a photo on social media showing him signing his contract with...
First Call: Overlooked Steelers angle before training camp; love for Paul Skenes, not much for NHL
After a week off at “Breakfast With Benz,” there is plenty of catching up to do. We have a lot to preview as NFL training camps begin and the Pittsburgh Pirates get back into divisional play this week. For our initial “First Call” back from break, let’s get recalibrated by...
Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hits for cycle against Mariners
SEATTLE — Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hit for the cycle against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, becoming the 10th player in Houston history to accomplish the feat. Alvarez singled in the first inning, hit his 20th homer of the season off Mariners starter Bryan Woo in the fourth, added...
Pirates’ Jim Leyland among those inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — Jim Leyland said there was something special about all four of the organizations he managed during his Hall of Fame career — the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers. The Pirates gave the longtime minor-league coach his first chance to manage, and what followed...
Dreams of contention for Elly De La Cruz and the Reds take a hit with a sweep at Washington
WASHINGTON — Elly De La Cruz predicted before the second half of the season began that the Cincinnati Reds were going to make the playoffs and “win it all.” That optimistic goal became even more of a long shot on Sunday, when the still-rebuilding Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep...
