This wasn’t supposed to be happening to these Arizona Diamondbacks, not now and especially not in this place. Adam LaRoche drove in three runs with a pair of doubles and Matt Morris pitched effectively over seven innings as the Pirates beat Arizona for the second night in a row, a 5-1 decision Wednesday that further tightened the NL West race.
Michael Vick is now likely one misstep from jail. The disgraced Atlanta Falcons quarterback tested positive for marijuana earlier this month, a violation of the conditions of his release as he awaits sentencing in federal court on a dogfighting charge that already jeopardizes his freedom and career. Now, he’s incurred the ire of the judge who could sentence him to up to five years in prison in the…
As New York Knicks coach Isiah Thomas remembers it, his contact with former team executive Anucha Browne Sanders was infrequent and usually friendly and respectful. Sometimes they greeted each other with hugs and kisses on the cheek, but there was nothing romantic about it, Thomas testified as he denied allegations in Browne Sanders’ $10 million sexual harassment lawsuit.
Kyle Lohse gave the Phillies something they’ve sorely lacked down the stretch. Then Washington helped them move closer to first place. Lohse became the first Phillies starter to pitch seven innings in two weeks, and Philadelphia moved within one game of NL East-leading New York with a 5-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night.
Champagne flowed. Joe Torre cried. The New York Yankees whooped it up. Celebrating clinching wins never gets old, even when you’ve made the postseason for 13 seasons in a row. Torre shed tears Wednesday night after the Yankees clinched at least a wild-card berth with a 12-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays that capped a comeback from a huge early season deficit.
Brett Favre took a congratulatory phone call from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday morning, but he wasn’t briefed on how much pomp and circumstance — if any — the league has planned for when he breaks Dan Marino’s career touchdown record. “They haven’t said anything about a parade yet,” Favre said.
Though he’s playing with two broken ribs, Marc Bulger has no problem with opening up the St. Louis Rams’ dormant offense. The 0-3 Rams had a multitude of safe plays last week to limit wear and tear on their quarterback, who was hurt in Week 2 when the Panthers sacked him six times. The result: Bulger was sacked only once, but the Rams couldn’t score in a 24-3 loss to the Buccaneers.
Time is running out on the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers wasted a chance to cut their NL Central deficit to one game, giving up a first-inning home run to Albert Pujols in a testy 7-3 loss Wednesday night to the St. Louis Cardinals that saw two more hit batters and a pair of ejections. “We’re in a situation where we no longer control our own destiny, so we pretty much are in a must-win every day,”…
Alfonso Soriano dressed slowly. Aramis Ramirez hunched over his postgame meal. Mark DeRosa sprawled on a couch. All focused on the TV in the corner of the clubhouse, hoping for help. The Chicago Cubs need it. Their grip on the NL Central became shaky Wednesday night, when they were shut out over the final 5 2-3 innings and lost for the second night in a row to the last-place Florida Marlins, 7-4.
As if the loss of Michael Vick wasn’t enough, the winless Atlanta Falcons are dealing with another distraction involving a high-profile player. Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall said Wednesday he’s been fined $100,000 by the team and may have to sit out one or two quarters of the next game for his meltdown last week against the Carolina Panthers.
