Andy Pettitte proved reliable again for the New York Yankees, right after they lost faith in Mike Mussina. Pettitte halted another Yankees slide by winning his sixth straight start, and Johnny Damon hit a tiebreaking homer against his former team in New York’s 5-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
New manager. Same old floundering Houston Astros. Chris Duncan shook off an August slump with a three-run homer and an RBI single and the St. Louis Cardinals ruined Cecil Cooper’s managerial debut with a 7-0 win over the Astros on Tuesday night. Phil Garner was fired on Monday and replaced by Cooper after Houston limped to a 58-73 record.
Yi Jianlian is going to play for the Milwaukee Bucks after all. Yi, the sixth overall selection in the NBA draft in June, signed a multiyear contract with the Bucks in Hong Kong on Wednesday. “There has been a genuine excitement throughout our city and state, as well as internationally, following our selection of Yi in the NBA Draft,” Bucks owner and team president Herb Kohl said.
Aaron Rowand’s swinging bunt took three small hops until it trickled to a dead stop maybe 45 feet down the third-base line, the baseball’s stitches kissing the chalk. Ryan Howard’s hefty cut went about 400 feet and sent the Phillies faithful into a frenzy. Both hits had the same result: crucial runs that led to a delirious victory for Philadelphia.
Jacque Jones’ dog days came earlier this season when he was benched and nearly traded. Now that August is almost over, he’s a starter and playing a big role as the Chicago Cubs make their run for the playoffs. Jones hit a game-tying two-run double in the seventh and scored the go-ahead run on an error by reliever Scott Linebrink as the Chicago Cubs rallied to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 on…
The Milwaukee Brewers will bring ace right-hander Ben Sheets off the disabled list Wednesday to start against the Chicago Cubs. Sheets, on the DL since July 16 with a sprained middle finger on his right hand and bothered by blisters, threw in the outfield before Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Cubs. “He was fine,” said manager Ned Yost, who announced after the game Sheets would start Wednesday.
Asante Samuel now is ready to build on his outstanding 2006 season. Insisting he’s happy his holdout is over and he has a one-year, $7.79 million contract, the Patriots cornerback was at practice Tuesday. Last year, the best of his first four since New England drafted him in 2003, he tied Champ Bailey of Denver for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions and picked off two more passes in the playoffs.
The Denver Broncos cut two of their starters from last year: defensive end Kenard Lang and punter Paul Ernster. The Broncos also placed wide receiver Rod Smith, their career receptions and touchdowns leader, on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Tuesday. Smith is recovering from offseason hip surgery.
Shuffling their rotation to line up John Smoltz to pitch against the New York Mets this weekend didn’t work out too well for the Atlanta Braves. After Smoltz fell behind early and the Braves rallied on Chipper Jones’ two-run homer, Alejandro De Aza’s 11th-inning sacrifice fly gave the Florida Marlins a 4-3 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday night.
After winning 247 games in the major leagues, Mike Mussina lost his spot in the New York Yankees’ rotation Tuesday. Following three terrible starts in a row, the 38-year-old right-hander was told by manager Joe Torre that he’ll be passed over for his next scheduled start Saturday against Tampa Bay. “He was disappointed, naturally.
