Sports category, Page 2419
Pirates’ Ken Brett authors a near-perfect Memorial Day worth rememberingVideo
Back in the old days, when finances didn’t matter, MLB teams played doubleheaders on Sundays and holidays. That’s why it was such a surprise Monday when Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play man Joe Block mentioned that the Memorial Day doubleheader with the Cincinnati Reds was the first between the two old National...
Serena Williams roars to 1st-round win at French Open
PARIS — This was one mistake too far for Serena Williams. Sure, the bad backhand put her behind only 15-30 at the outset of the second set of her opening match at Roland Garros on Monday. What made the miscue so bothersome? She already had dropped the first set against...
Pirates acquire right-hander Yefry Ramirez from Orioles
The Pittsburgh Pirates addressed their pitching depth by acquiring right-hander Yefry Ramirez from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday in a trade for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Ramirez, whose first name is pronounced “Jeffrey,” will be assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room on the 40-man...
96-year-old WWII veteran performs national anthem on harmonica for excited crowd
Pete DuPre, a 96-year-old World War II veteran known as “Harmonica Pete,” performed the national anthem on a harmonica in a fitting tribute to mark Memorial Day. DuPre performed before the start of a friendly soccer match between the U.S. women’s national team and Mexico on Sunday at Red Bull...
New research shows Pittsburgh to be birthplace of pro hockey
A historical marker on Pittsburgh’s North Side denotes the spot of the first professional football game played, coming in 1892. If Perrysville native John Schalcosky has his way, a similar marker soon will be erected in Oakland, noting the city as the birthplace of professional hockey, as well. Schalcosky is...
Bill Buckner, forever known for error in 1986 World Series, dies at 69Video
BOSTON — Bill Buckner, a star hitter who became known for making one of the most infamous plays in major league history, died Monday. He was 69. He died after a long battle with Lewy body dementia, Buckner’s family said in a statement. The disease causes Alzheimer’s-like symptoms along with...
Pirates add relievers to roster, move Corey Dickerson to 60-day IL
The Pittsburgh Pirates added a pair of right-handed relievers to their roster for Monday’s doubleheader at the Cincinnati Reds. Richard Rodriguez was added as the 26th man, while Alex McRae’s contract also was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis. To make room for McRae on the 40-man roster, the Pirates moved outfielder...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates need Mitch Keller to stabilize starting rotationVideo
I asked Neal Huntington whether he subscribed to the idea that an elite pitching prospect like Mitch Keller, ready or not, would rise to a higher level because it was required of him. The Pittsburgh Pirates general manager had a three-word answer: “Not at all.” Keller will make his major-league...
Undrafted rookie P.J. Locke brings versatility to Steelers
P.J. Locke took a calculated gamble in the frenzied hours as the NFL draft wound down late last month. While he wasn’t a top draft prospect by any means, as an experienced safety from a blueblood college program Locke had options as an undrafted free agent. But instead of pouncing...
Armed with biggest free agent contract in Steelers history, Steven Nelson settles in during OTAs
Steven Nelson wasn’t the biggest catch on the NFL’s offseason free-agent market, and he’s hardly a household name among casual fans. But he does hold the distinction of earning the biggest contract the Pittsburgh Steelers have given to an outside unrestricted free agent in their history. While that certainly carries...
Pirates pitcher Rookie Davis relishing return to Cincinnati to face RedsVideo
When Rookie Davis underwent hip surgery in October 2017, he knew it would be a long road to recovery and that there was no guarantee he would pitch in the major leagues again. When the Pirates signed Davis to a minor-league contract during spring training and assigned him to Triple-A...
Gus Frerotte huddles up with former AOL Sports executive Jimmy Lynn
Former Ford City High School standout and NFL quarterback Gus Frerotte sits down with Jimmy Lynn, a former AOL vice president who oversaw AOL Sports’ strategic partnerships, in the latest edition of the podcast “Huddle Up with Gus.” In each episode, Frerotte discusses with guests how sports has shaped their...
Martin Truex overcomes early problems to win Coca-Cola 600Video
CONCORD, N.C. — Martin Truex Jr. overcame an early flat tire after hitting the wall, then survived a wild restart five laps from the end Sunday night to win the Coca-Cola 600 for the second time in four seasons. Truex slid into the Turn 4 wall during the first stage...
West Virginia selected to host NCAA baseball regional for 1st time
OMAHA, Neb. — LSU will host a regional in the NCAA baseball tournament for the 26th time, and West Virginia was selected as a first-time host Sunday. The 16 teams announced as hosts have locked up spots in the national tournament, and the rest of the 64-team field will be...
Conor Daly hopes strong Indy 500 performance leads to more racing
INDIANAPOLIS — Conor Daly needed a solid Indianapolis 500 result to help jump-start his IndyCar career. A top-10 finish can’t hurt — and it might even lead to more work this season. The 27-year-old American stayed near the lead pack through most of Sunday’s race before a surprise ruling and...
Kevin Na breezes to Colonial win with final-round 66
FORT WORTH, Texas — Kevin Na always believed he could win at Colonial, so he paused to visualize his name on the wall of champions at the first tee before making another run at it. The South Korean-born American will get to read his name on that wall next year....
Bruins, Blues set to clash in bruising Stanley Cup FinalVideo
BOSTON — When the NHL altered its rules with an eye toward speed and skill, this is not the Stanley Cup Final it had in mind. Hockey is becoming less of a big man’s game, offense is up and it’s faster than ever. Then there’s the big and tough St....
John Steigerwald: Enjoy Josh Bell before he leaves the Pirates
Enjoy the Josh Bell ride while it lasts. Going into Sunday’s game against the Dodgers, Bell had the second highest batting average in Major League Baseball at .339, he was second in RBIs with 47 and tied for fifth in home runs with 16. Bell is on pace to hit...
Toronto ready for its NBA close-up in Finals vs. WarriorsVideo
The first NBA game was in Toronto. And now, the NBA Finals are headed there. Finally. The NBA Finals are set after the Toronto Raptors won the Eastern Conference championship Saturday night and earned the right to play the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors. For the Raptors, it’ll be...
Pirates collapse under weight of Dodgers bats, suffer 3rd straight lossVideo
Chris Archer threw one pitch that bounced wildly to the backstop, then another the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Corey Seager deposited over the fence. Archer went to three balls on 10 batters while throwing 105 pitches in only five innings. Overall, 42 percent of them missed the strike zone. That was...
Kevin Gorman: Pirates can’t afford for Mitch Keller to be a bustVideo
The Pittsburgh Pirates want you to believe there was a developmental delay that prevented them from promoting top prospect Mitch Keller to the major leagues until Memorial Day. The Pirates want you to believe that they were waiting for the 23-year-old right-hander to refine a cutter-slider at Triple-A Indianapolis to...
Finland defeats Canada for gold at hockey world championship
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Marko Anttila helped lead Finland to its third world hockey title, scoring the tying and go-ahead goals in a 3-1 victory over Canada on Sunday. Anttila tied it at 1 on a power play early in the second period and the Finnish captain made it 2-1 early...
Bruins’ Brad Marchand says hand ‘good’ entering Stanley Cup FinalVideo
BOSTON — Bruins winger Brad Marchand says his left hand is fine heading into the Stanley Cup Final. He sat out Boston’s practice Sunday after being given a “maintenance day” by coach Bruce Cassidy. But Marchand showed no visible signs of discomfort and didn’t wear any braces on his hand...
Looking back at Bobby Orr and the 1970 Blues-Bruins Stanley CupVideo
EDITOR’S NOTE: On May 10, 1970, the Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup for the first time in 29 years. The Bruins won it at the expense of the St. Louis Blues, who were swept in the final for the third straight year. The Game 4 win at the Boston...
Roger Federer cruises in 1st French Open match since 2015
PARIS — Roger Federer entered a refurbished Court Philippe Chatrier for his first French Open match since 2015, greeted by the sun peeking through the clouds and the full-throated support of spectators in their designer sunglasses, straw hats and sweaters tied over their shoulders. Were it permitted, perhaps some ticket-holders...
