BOSTON (AP) — Rubby De La Rosa pitched seven solid innings and Mike Napoli hit a tiebreaking homer to lift the Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.

It was the sixth win in seven games for the defending World Series champions, who are looking to climb from the AL East’s basement.

De La Rosa (3-2) had another strong start in Fenway Park, giving up one run on five hits, walking four and striking out two. He worked out of trouble most of his outing.

Danny Duffy (5-10) allowed two runs — one earned — on six hits in 6 2-3 innings. It was his fifth loss in six starts, but he’s allowed two or fewer runs in four of the losses.

All-Star Koji Uehara got his 20th save in 22 chances.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jordy Mercer doubled home Neil Walker with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Saturday night.

Walker led off the inning with a single against Colorado’s Chad Bettis (0-2), moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored one batter later when Mercer hit a drive deep into the gap in left-center.

Jared Hughes (5-2) earned the win after escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the 11th by snagging a line drive from Charlie Blackmon and turning it into a double play.

Walker went 3 for 5 with two runs scored for the Pirates.

Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Rockies, who lost All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the fourth inning to a left thigh cramp.

 

Lincoln—The 30^th annual Cornhusker State Games officially opened Friday with eight year-old Jack Hoffman touching off the caldron as mystery torch lighter and capping off opening ceremonies at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Not quite tall enough to reach the bowl of the caldron, Hoffman got an assist from a pair of National Guard Soldiers who had rappelled from the building’s catwalk moments earlier.

“The purpose of the Opening Ceremonies is to inspire the athletes, and I doubt you get a more inspirational torch lighter than Jack Hoffman,” Games Executive Director Dave Mlnarik said.

The Opening Ceremonies, which began at 7:30 p.m. with the Parade of Athletes, marks the beginning of the largest Cornhusker State Games since 2001, with more than 13,000 competing in 63 different sports, mostly over the next two weekends.

Hoffman, who lives in Atkinson and whose battle with brain cancer led him to befriend former Husker running back Rex Burkhead, gained national fame and worldwide awareness for his cause with a touchdown run in the Huskers’ 2013 spring game.  The video clip of the run went viral and Hoffman won an ESPY, which spawned an outpouring of support for the Team Jack Foundation, formed in Jack’s name to raise money in the fight against pediatric brain cancer.

The stage was set for Hoffman when First Lieutenant Ryan Thompson and Staff Sergeant Chad Morris rappelled 90’ from the rafters, marched to the stage and flanked the caldron.  Hoffman was introduced by a video produced by Husker vision before crossing the arena and joining the soldiers, who lifted him high enough to ignite the Games flame.

Entertainment was provided earlier in the show by the trampoline dunk act known as ACRODUNK, a 2013 finalist on America’s Got Talent and a famous Sioux Falls drum-line known as Su Fu Du.  Several Nebraska mascots made appearances along with DJ Romeo, Miss Nebraska USA Amanda Soltero and members of the Husker men’s and women’s basketball teams, who led the oath of athletes.  The national anthem, sung by statewide contest winner Ether Saure, capped a patriotic segment that included video messages from Nebraska U.S. soldiers.  Emcees included KOLN-KGIN anchors Owen Jensen and Bridget Fargen, and Sports Director Kevin Sjuts, while Joy Patten, General Manager of Three Eagles Communications served as Honorary Chair and made the opening declaration.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The development of an Olympic TV channel is receiving support as the IOC gets down to mapping out a major overhaul of its operations.

Leading representatives of the Olympic Movement met Saturday to discuss “Olympic Agenda 2020,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach’s blueprint for the future.

An IOC statement says the 16 participants supported an Olympic TV channel “to greatly increase the presence of sports and the promotion of the Olympic values year round and worldwide.”

The IOC adds that it will contact all the relevant stakeholders in the coming months to further develop the TV concept.

Also discussed were changes to the bidding process and a more flexible “event-based rather than sport-based approach” to the Olympic program.

Recommendations will be voted on in Monaco in December.

NEW YORK (AP) — CC Sabathia is disappointed and relieved all at the same time.

Sidelined with a right knee injury, the New York Yankees’ pitcher spoke to reporters Saturday morning for the first time since the team announced he will have season-ending surgery Wednesday.

Sabathia says the news was tough to take and his situation is “not fun,” but he’s glad doctors recommended an arthroscopic cleanup rather than microfracture surgery, which would have required perhaps an 18-month recovery.

The big left-hander, who turns 34 on Monday, says he’s confident he will be back on the mound in spring training next year. And with a plan now in place, he says he was able to get some sleep Friday night for the first time in weeks.

Sabathia made only eight starts this year and finished 3-4 with a career-worst 5.28 ERA. He is 208-119 with a 3.63 ERA in 14 major league seasons.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking hunters buying their deer permits to consider also making a tax-deductible donation to Hunters Helping the Hungry.

The program arranges distribution of venison to Nebraskans in need. During the state’s various deer seasons, hunters can donate deer at participating processors. The processors then distribute ground venison to food pantries and soup kitchens.

The cost of processing is covered by donations. Last year 363 hunters donated 392 deer, which provided more than 19,000 pounds of venison to Nebraskans in need.

More information about the program is available online at OutdoorNebraska.com/HHH.