Jose Contreras’ first victory as a starter in more than two months came courtesy of an unexpected power outburst from his White Sox teammates. With Chicago trailing Tampa Bay 4-0 headed into the bottom of the seventh Monday, A.J. Pierzynski, Jermaine Dye and Juan Uribe hit consecutive homers off Edwin Jackson, who’d sailed through the first six innings.
Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith has earned the job as the Baltimore Ravens’ third-string quarterback. His place on the team, however, is not yet guaranteed. The Ravens cut former UCLA quarterback Drew Olson on Monday, leaving Smith alone on the depth chart behind starter Steve McNair and backup Kyle Boller.
Cornerback Asante Samuel returned to the New England Patriots on Monday, moving closer to ending a contract dispute that had cost him a month of the preseason. Samuel, who tied for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions last season, was at Gillette Stadium taking a physical on Monday, coach Bill Belichick said.
This is one of those landmark days, a dividing line that will forever define the history of the Atlanta Falcons. Never mind that it’s only the preseason. On Monday morning, Michael Vick will walk into a federal courtroom in Richmond, Va., to plead guilty to gruesome dogfighting charges, which will almost certainly end his Falcons career and could prevent him from playing again in the NFL.
NBA star Allen Iverson’s stepfather was indicted on federal drug distribution charges after police said they found crack cocaine in his car in April. Michael Andre Freeman, 51, will remain jailed until his bond hearing Friday. He was to have been in court Aug. 24 but the hearing was postponed a week to give him time to find a lawyer, the U.S.
Newly signed free agent forward James Posey took his seat in between one of the Boston Celtics’ owners and director of basketball operations Danny Ainge, and something that was very noticeable right away was the oversized NBA championship ring on his left hand. “We’ve very happy Danny put this deal together and, obviously, from the weight on his hand he has championship experience,” owner Steve…
The Colorado Avalanche signed defenseman Brett Clark to a two-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season. Clark, 30, set career highs with 82 games, 10 goals and 29 assists last season. “Brett has been an instrumental part of our team’s overall success,” general manager Francois Giguere said Monday.
Manager Phil Garner and general manager Tim Purpura were fired Monday by the Houston Astros, less than two years after leading the team to its first World Series appearance. Bench coach Cecil Cooper was appointed interim manager, and team president Tal Smith will serve as interim general manager. “I felt this was the time for a change,” owner Drayton McLane said.
Jose Contreras got his first win as a starter in two months and rookie Josh Fields put the White Sox ahead with Chicago’s fourth home run of the seventh inning in a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Monday. Contreras (7-16), who leads the major leagues in losses, had dropped nine straight starts since beating Florida on June 18 and had lost 13 of 14.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney bruised his right thigh during the Indianapolis Colts’ 37-10 win over Detroit Saturday night and isn’t expected to play Friday at Cincinnati. Coach Tony Dungy said Sunday that the injury is not serious and Freeney would probably play if it were a regular-season game.
