AP National Sports

NEW YORK (AP) — Matches in qualifying rounds for the U.S. Open will be closed to spectators because of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.S. Tennis Association is calling it a “particularly tough decision.” Qualifying is held at Flushing Meadows in New York the week before main draw competition begins there Aug. 30. The USTA said

By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida cornerback and projected starter Jaydon Hill will miss the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Coach Dan Mullen calls the injury a “massive disappointment.” Hill, a junior from Huntsville, Alabama, started five games last season and had been slotted

By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a game-ending homer with one out in the seventh inning and the New York Mets quickly bounced back from blowing the lead, beating the Washington Nationals 5-4 for a doubleheader sweep. The Mets won the opener 4-1 as Brandon Nimmo homered and drove

BALTIMORE (AP) — Miguel Cabrera is out of the starting lineup for Detroit’s game at Baltimore, setting up the possibility that he’ll hit his 500th home run at home. The 38-year-old slugger hit No. 499 on Wednesday night, and after that game, manager A.J. Hinch said Cabrera absolutely would play the following day. But on

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — The Winnipeg Jets have agreed to terms with forward Andrew Copp on a one-year contract. The deal is worth $3.6 million for Copp, who had 15 goals and 24 assists in 55 games for the Jets last season, adding two assists in eight playoff games. The 27-year-old Ann Arbor, Michigan native

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Seton Hall University has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by former basketball player Myles Powell over a knee injury that Powell claims was misdiagnosed. In its brief, the school argues that it is shielded from Powell’s negligence claims under state law governing schools and other institutions. It also

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks maximized his time while sitting out last season due to COVID-19 concerns. Brooks rushed for 2,067 yards and 18 touchdowns his first two years with the Sooners. Now that he’s vaccinated, he’s ready to jump back into action. Brooks adds his smooth running style

CHICAGO (AP) — The Milwaukee Brewers have reinstated All-Star closer Josh Hader from the COVID-19 reserve list. Hader joined several Brewers on the COVID-19 list on Aug. 2 after he tested positive. He entered Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs with 22 saves in 23 chances. The Brewers also optioned left-hander Hoby Milner to Triple-A

By BRETT MARTEL AP Sports Writer METAIRIE, La. (AP) — The Saints don’t want the NFL’s renewed emphasis on punishing unsportsmanlike behavior to squelch C.J. Gardner-Johnson, their ultra-competitive and trash talking defensive back. They only hope Gardner-Johnson can continue to ruffle opposing receivers without drawing flags. A crew of NFL officials has been visiting Saints

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — New York Jets rookie wide receiver Elijah Moore has a quadriceps injury and is expected to have an MRI. Coach Robert Saleh depending on how the tests come back, Moore could miss the team’s preseason opener Saturday night against the Giants. Moore

LONDON (AP) — British 4×100-meter relay silver medalist Chijindu Ujah has been provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for an alleged doping violation at the Tokyo Olympics. The AIU announced Thursday that the doping control laboratory in Tokyo had notified the International Testing Agency of an “adverse analytical finding” in Ujah’s doping sample. Ujah’s

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Right-hander Jake Arrieta has been released by the Chicago Cubs. Arrieta won a Cy Young Award and helped the Cubs capture a drought-busting World Series championship in his first stint with the club. But he struggled in his second go-round. Arrieta was 5-11 with a 6.88

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Away from the Premier League’s title favorites stands a collection of outsiders looking to push into European contention or solidify themselves as established members in the world’s richest league. They face plenty of questions. Is the marriage of Everton and its newly appointed manager Rafa Benitez heading for a

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Romelu Lukaku has sealed a return to Chelsea by moving from Inter Milan for a reported $135 million. It is a record transfer fee for the European champions. The Belgium striker is back at the London club where he spent three seasons from 2011 though he was out on

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Former Mexican national team player Gonzalo Pineda has been hired as head coach of Atlanta United. His task will be to stabilize a team that’s seen plenty of turnover at the coaching position. But his debut with Atlanta will be delayed because he tested positive for

MONTREAL (AP) — Bianca Andreescu tumbled out of the National Bank Open on Thursday night, hours after fellow Canadian Rebecca Marino’s surprising run ended. Ons Jabeur of Tunisia beat the second-seeded Andreescu 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1 in a match interrupted by rain for about an hour in the second set. The 13th-seeded Jabeur will face

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Rangers have agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Brennan Othmann on an entry-level contract. Rangers general manager Chris Drury announced the agreement with the Canadian forward without releasing details. Othmann skated in 34 games in the Swiss League this past season, collecting seven goals and nine assists

PARIS (AP) — Negotiations on Lionel Messi’s contract with Paris Saint-Germain took just a few days. Expect a longer wait for his debut. The 34-year-old Argentina star had just returned from vacation when Barcelona announced it couldn’t afford to keep him, opening the door for PSG. Messi is now under contract for at least two

By JOHN COON Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Utes have entered camp undecided on who will be the starting quarterback for the second straight year. The competition to lead the offense has turned into a two-man race between Baylor transfer Charlie Brewer and redshirt sophomore Cameron Rising. No discernible gap exists

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis has announced his retirement. Davis ends a career in which he became one of baseball’s most prodigious home run hitters before his production declined amid injury problems. Davis led the majors in home runs with 53 in 2013 and 47 in