Sports category, Page 104
Dennis Santana served as most reliable reliever in a Pirates bullpen of constant flux
There is a widespread belief in baseball that every reliever wants to be the closer, and every closer wants to make a memorable entrance in the ninth inning and record the final three outs of the game. Dennis Santana is no different. “I always dreamed about that,” Santana said in...
Penguins prospect Harrison Brunicke: ‘My goal is to be here’Video
Defensive prospects Owen Pickering and Harrison Brunicke have been roommates in their temporary residence during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ ongoing training camp. Though the 21-year-old Pickering has a specific way of outlining his living arrangements with Brunicke, 19. “He’s not that much younger than me,” Pickering said. “But it is my...
First Call: Steelers game in Ireland posts huge TV ratings; John Harbaugh fuzzy on Lamar Jackson’s status
Thursday’s “First Call” boasts some eye-popping ratings for Steelers-Vikings in Ireland. The Baltimore Ravens injury report is eye-catching as well. And in the Major League Baseball playoffs, one former Pirate nailed down a save for his team, while another is trying to extend his club’s season on Thursday. Early wake-up...
U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin’s decision-making, Pirates’ failures anger fans
The Steelers are going into the bye weekend at 3-1 and in first place atop the AFC North. Nothing to complain about, right? Ha! That’s a good one! via GIPHY So long as Mike Tomlin is managing the clock and the Pirates are playing baseball, that’s never going to be...
Dodgers make quick work of Reds in 2-game series sweep
LOS ANGELES — Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out a postseason-high nine while pitching into the seventh inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers broke it open with a four-run sixth to beat the Cincinnati Reds, 8-4, on Wednesday night to advance to the National League Division Series. The defending World Series champion...
Braves manager Brian Snitker won’t return next season, moves to advisory role
Brian Snitker will not return as manager of the Atlanta Braves, transitioning to an adviser role in 2026 for his 50th season with the franchise. Snitker will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame next season, the team said Wednesday. Named manager about a month into the 2016 season...
Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany injured in preseason win
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany suffered an undisclosed injury during a 5-3 preseason win against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. There was no immediate word on his status beyond a social media posting by the team indicating he was injured during the game....
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson misses practice; coach John Harbaugh evasive about status
The most significant name on the Ravens’ bloated injury report from Wednesday was that of two-time MVP and three-time All-Pro quarterback Lamar Jackson, whose hamstring injury against the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday threw an already teetering season into further peril. Baltimore coach John Harbaugh proved cagey when asked to...
Defenseman Luke Hughes signs 7-year, $63M deal with Devils
The New Jersey Devils signed defenseman Luke Hughes to a seven-year, $63 million contract Wednesday. The 22-year-old restricted free agent will join the Devils for practice Thursday, the team announced. Hughes recorded 44 points (seven goals, 37 assists) and 60 blocks in 71 games with New Jersey in 2024-25. He...
Yankees even series vs. Red Sox; David Bednar gets 1st playoff save
NEW YORK — Austin Wells hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the eighth inning, and the New York Yankees avoided elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their American League wild-card series Wednesday. Game 3 of the best-of-three set will be...
Pitt left guard Ryan Carretta prepares for larger role, 1st collegiate startVideo
Already through the season’s first month, Pitt has had to dig down its depth chart to plug holes caused by injuries to starters. Juelz Goff and Ja’Kyrian Turner have filled in for All-American tailback Desmond Reid, whereas Shawn Lee and Shadarian Harrison have seen heavy snaps at cornerback with Tamon...
Guardians pop in 8th inning, beat Tigers to force Game 3
CLEVELAND — Brayan Rocchio belted a go-ahead solo homer, and Bo Naylor had a three-run shot as part of a five-run eighth inning, giving the Cleveland Guardians a 6-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of their American League wild-card series Wednesday afternoon. The Central Division champion Guardians...
Manny Machado homers as Padres shut out Cubs to even wild-card series
Manny Machado belted a two-run homer in the fifth inning, helping the visiting San Diego Padres square their National League wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs at one win apiece following a 3-0 victory Wednesday. The decisive Game 3 of the best-of-three series is Thursday afternoon in Chicago. The winner...
Mentally sharp after month of ‘projects’ and ‘presentations,’ Steelers’ Will Howard eager to come off IR
No, the finger injury Will Howard suffered early during training camp didn’t compel the rookie quarterback to give up his playing career and try out coaching. And, no, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t running Howard through any sort of rookie initiation akin to an intern not quite entrusted with any of...
49ers QB Brock Purdy, key receivers to miss game against Rams
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy badly wanted to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams but his turf toe injury didn’t cooperate. The 49ers star was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday and will be a spectator when San Francisco battles the Rams in a showdown at...
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels practices, plans to return vs. Chargers
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has been medically cleared from his knee injury, practiced Wednesday and deemed himself ready to return for the Week 5 game Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers. “I plan on being out there on Sunday,” Daniels said. “Obviously, as a competitor you want to go...
Can Penn State coach James Franklin learn from Ryan Day?
Ryan Day learned from soul-crushing losses to win big. Can James Franklin? The same lonely, desperate look. Saw it on the face of Day last season, saw it on Franklin last weekend. But there’s a road back for Penn State, no matter what Franklin feels gnawing at his insides. From...
‘Medical situation’ sidelines Pitt center Dishon Jackson indefinitely, Panthers announce
Pitt center Dishon Jackson is out indefinitely as he deals with an unspecified medical condition, the Panthers announced Wednesday. Declining to offer any additional comment, Pitt released a statement on behalf of Jackson. “I’ve appreciated the concern and outreach recently,” Jackson said. “I’ve been dealing with a medical issue for...
Pirates took calculated risk by changing pitching coaches in push to maximize talent
Don Kelly repeatedly made the point that pitching was the foundation for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with Paul Skenes an overwhelming favorite to win the National League Cy Young and anchoring a staff that led MLB in shutouts and ranked in the top 10 in multiple categories. So, it came across...
Defending Horizon Tournament champion Robert Morris turns the page with new team
What will they do for an encore? Following a year in which both Robert Morris basketball programs finally captured the attention of Horizon League fanatics, the Colonials are tasked with — shall we say? — keeping the ball bouncing. “Every group is different,” Robert Morris coach Andy Toole said Wednesday...
Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs scheduled to start against Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs is scheduled to start the team’s final road game of the preseason, a contest against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y., on Wednesday. He is expected to play the entire game. Coach Dan Muse announced Silovs’ status following an optional morning skate...
Mark Madden: Begging for mercy isn’t solution for Baldwin, Fox Chapel
High school football used to be a big deal in Western Pennsylvania. Not just in selected communities, but everywhere. Now it’s come down to negotiated surrender. Baldwin and Fox Chapel high schools have teams so bad that they’ve contacted opponents about playing shorter games: eight-minute quarters instead of 12 minutes,...
Tim Benz: For Pirates fans, the MLB playoffs are a bittersweet reminder of what the sport can be — and what their team is not
A little after 7 p.m. I took a break from watching the Yankees-Red Sox playoff game between innings. I walked out on my back deck overlooking the North Side of Pittsburgh. The sunset was coloring the pastel skies over PNC Park, and I thought, “What a great night this would...
First Call: Lamar Jackson’s injury timeline; ex-Steelers DB heading to NFC South
Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. Lamar Jackson could be down for a while in Baltimore. The Atlantic 10’s commissioner wants a bigger NCAA Tournament. And we check in on some former Pirates in the MLB playoffs. Pillaging the practice squad The Tampa Bay...
Undrafted forward Avery Hayes gives Penguins coaches something to considerVideo
On a night that was simply spectacular, it might have been the most spectacular moment. During a 4-1 home preseason win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday at PPG Paints Arena, a contest that served as a lavish send-off for franchise icon Marc-Andre Fleury, the Penguins’ opening goal was...
