Sports – Page 435 – North Platte Post Archive

Scherzer, Tigers Beat Royals Again, 4-2

Posted on September 9, 2014

DETROIT (AP) — Max Scherzer escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, Rajai Davis and J.D. Martinez homered, and the Detroit Tigers beat Kansas City 4-2 on Tuesday night to pull within percentage points of the Royals atop the AL Central.

Scherzer (16-5) allowed a run and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings. Kansas City was down 3-1 in the fifth when Alex Gordon’s deep fly to right went just foul with two on. Gordon walked to load the bases with one out, but Salvador Perez lined out and Eric Hosmer struck out.

Joe Nathan earned his 30th save in 36 chances, allowing two infield singles to start the ninth before ending it with two strikeouts sandwiched around a picked-off runner.

Kansas City’s Jason Vargas (11-8) allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings.

DeGrom Pitches 3-Hit Ball for 8; Mets Beat Rockies

Posted on September 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Jacob deGrom burnished his rookie of the year credentials by pitching three-hit ball for eight dominant innings, and the New York Mets held on to beat the Colorado Rockies 2-0 Tuesday night for their sixth win in seven games.

Jeurys Familia got Wilin Rosario to ground out with the bases loaded for his fifth save. Mets closer Jenrry Familia gave up two hits and a walk and got only one out before manager Terry Collins brought on Josh Edgin. The left-hander struck out slugger Corey Dickerson.

The win came after the Mets learned captain David Wright would be shut down for the rest of the season because of inflammation in his left shoulder. The third baseman had an MRI on Tuesday and didn’t play.

Juan Lagares had an RBI single to help the Mets move to five games of .500 (70-75).

Broncos Waive WR Nathan Palmer

Posted on September 9, 2014

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have waived wide receiver Nathan Palmer from their active roster and signed tight end Dominique Jones to their practice squad.

Jones takes the place of tight end Gerell Robinson, who was signed to Cleveland’s active roster Tuesday.

Jones (6-foot-3, 270 pounds) is a third-year player who has appeared in 12 career games, including three starts, with Indianapolis (2012-13) and Kansas City (2013), totaling three receptions for 42 yards. He was with Buffalo this preseason.

Palmer is a second-year pro who played in all four of Denver’s preseason games and caught one pass for 7 yards. He was promoted to the team’s active roster following Wes Welker’s suspension. But he was inactive for Denver’s game against Indianapolis.

MLB Clarifies Home Plate Collision Rule

Posted on September 9, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball has sent a memo to teams clarifying this year’s experimental rule intended to limit collisions at home plate, saying runners should not be called safe if the ball clearly beats them.

The rule, announced in February, says a catcher can’t block the plate if he doesn’t have the ball. There have been several disputed calls, including a pair of decisions in the last five weeks that led to runners being called safe after video review.

The guidelines sent to teams Tuesday say the catcher’s positioning shouldn’t change the call when the throw clearly is ahead of the runner. They also say if the catcher is entirely in fair territory, he should not be considered to have blocked the plate. Photo examples were included.

Beck Wants More Offensive Consistency

Posted on September 9, 2014

Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska football team continued its preparations for the third game of the season with a 90-minute practice Tuesdayafternoon at the Hawks Championship Center and outside on the Ed and Joyanne Gass practice fields. The Huskers will travel to Fresno Statethis Saturday for the first away game of the season at Bulldog Stadium.

Both offensive coordinator Tim Beck and defensive coordinator John Papuchis met with the media following practice.

Beck made note that he would like to see a lot more consistency in the ‘Red Storm’ NU offense.

“We have to be more consistent, we were not very good in the second half at all,” Beck said. “Too many three-and-outs, we have to convert and stay on the field. We did not do a good job doing that.”

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Armstrong will look to add to his already impressive 4-0 record away from the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Beck said that he just wants Armstrong to execute like he is supposed to, and it will not matter if NU is playing home or away.

“I just want him to play within the system, read what he is supposed to read, and deliver the ball to the guys he is supposed to deliver the ball to with proper technique,” Beck said. “When he does that, he is pretty good, when he doesn’t he is not very good. I don’t care if it is home or away.”

On the defensive side of the ball, junior standout defensive end Randy Gregory returned to practice following a minor knee injury. According to Papuchis, Gregory looked good in his first day back, but did not compete in all of the team drills during practice.

“Obviously whenever you can add a player with his ability back into the mix, it will obviously make you better; so it is good to have him back,” Papuchis said. “He didn’t do a whole lot of the team stuff, but he was out there moving around really well.”

As for what it means for the Blackshirt defense now that Gregory is back, Papuchis said that if Gregory plays his best, he is one of the best players out on the field.

“If he goes out and plays the way he is capable of, he is one of better defensive players in the country,” he said. “So having him back certainly helps.”

The Huskers will be back on the practice fields Wednesday as the Nebraska football continues its preparations for their first road trip of the 2014 season at Fresno State on Saturday Sept. 13, at 9:30 p.m. (Central). Fans can tune in to national broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

After Tough Weekend, Big Ten Teams Pivot Forward

Posted on September 9, 2014

There are a couple of nonconference tests and rivalry games on the Big Ten schedule this week, but this week is more about recovery.

The brand took a hit with decisive losses by Michigan State, Ohio State and Michigan to high-profile opponents, and the Spartans have this Saturday off. The Buckeyes and Wolverines host teams from the Mid-American Conference.

There were some shaky wins last week, too, with Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois barely getting by lower-tier foes.

But, hey, there are plenty of games left.

The postseason outlook already brightened since that rough weekend. Penn State learned it will be bowl eligible, with the lifting of NCAA sanctions stemming from the child sex-abuse scandal revealed three years ago.

US Beats Slovenia 119-76 to Reach Semis at Worlds

Posted on September 9, 2014

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Klay Thompson scored 20 points and James Harden had 12 of his 14 in the third quarter after a scoreless first half, helping the U.S. national team turn a close game into a 119-76 rout of Slovenia on Tuesday in the quarterfinals of the Basketball World Cup.

Kenneth Faried also had 14 for the Americans, who will play Lithuania on Thursday in Barcelona for a spot in Sunday’s gold-medal game in Madrid. Lithuania beat Turkey 73-61 earlier Tuesday.

Derrick Rose finished with 12 points after coming into the game shooting 8 for 37 in the World Cup.

Goran Dragic of the Phoenix Suns lead Slovenia with 13 points.

The Americans led by only five points early in the third quarter before tearing off a 27-10 run. Harden and Stephen Curry finally got going after the All-Stars combined to miss all 12 shots in the first half.

Chiefs’ Charles Goes MIA in Opening Loss to Titans

Posted on September 9, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Chiefs’ Jamaal Charles had seven carries for 19 yards and four catches for 15 yards in a season-opening loss to Tennessee, stunningly low numbers for the All-Pro running back.

His final eight touches? They netted a whopping 11 yards from scrimmage.

Charles said after, “I want to see the ball more and coach knows that,” and coach Andy Reid said Monday that not getting his biggest star the ball was “negligence on my part.”

Especially after the Chiefs gave him a two-year, $18.1 million extension before the season. Reid said the Titans took away much of what the Chiefs were trying to do with Charles, but he also made it clear that No. 25 needs to get the ball more for the team to be successful.

Former Denver Broncos great Gonsoulin dies at 76

Posted on September 9, 2014

Austin "Goose" Gonsoulin Trading Card — Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin Trading Card

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) — Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, the former Pro Bowl safety for the Denver Broncos and a member of the team’s Ring of Fame, has died. He was 76.

Kathy Levingston of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, Texas, says Gonsoulin died Monday while in hospice care in nearby Beaumont. She did not have a cause of death but says Gonsoulin was battling prostate cancer.

He was a member of the first Broncos team, fielded in 1960. The team said on its website that he still holds the Broncos record for single-season interceptions with 11. He was a five-time Pro-Bowler. He also was named to the second-team AFL All-Time Team.

Gonsoulin was a standout at Baylor before being drafted in 1960.

Services for the native of Port Arthur, Texas, are scheduled for Saturday.

Ape Who Picked 7 Straight Super Bowl Winners Dies

Posted on September 9, 2014

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah ape who gained national fame by accurately predicting the Super Bowl winner seven consecutive years has died.

The Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City announced Tuesday that the 24-year-old orangutan named Eli died Saturday from complications due to breast cancer.

He was diagnosed with the cancer in 2011, and had two surgeries to remove masses. Recently, he lost his appetite and was acting as if he were uncomfortable. He died during an exploratory procedure.

Eli was born Topeka, Kansas, zoo and moved to Utah in 2004.

He made his Super Bowl pick each year by choosing between papier-mache helmets or goal posts with team logos. Last year, he swiftly knocked down a helmet bearing the Seahawks logo. Sure enough, the Seahawks defeated the Broncos.