ST. LOUIS (AP) — John Smoltz is happy to be pitching, period. Whatever the St. Louis Cardinals want the 42-year-old right-hander to do in the postseason is fine with him. Smoltz is 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in a late-season rebirth heading into his sixth start on Wednesday in Houston. He’s coming off a strong […]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The maker of Jim Beam Bourbon will stop sponsoring Robby Gordon’s Sprint Cup team next season, sending another liquor company to the NASCAR sidelines. A day after Jack Daniels announced it would stop supporting Casey Mears’ No. 07 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing, Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. said Tuesday […]

AVON, Ohio (AP) — Sitting on the gym stage, Indians manager Eric Wedge looked across at the bleachers packed with screaming elementary school kids and observed the future. He’s not so sure about his own. With two weeks left in Cleveland’s disastrous season, Wedge does not yet know if he’ll be back for an eighth […]

VERSAILLES, Ky. (AP) — Former Preakness champion Summer Squall was euthanized Tuesday at Lane’s End Farm due to complications of old age. He was 22. Summer Squall finished second in the 1990 Kentucky Derby behind Unbridled, then returned the favor in the Preakness following a thrilling stretch duel in which he pulled away along the […]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brodie Croyle has a much higher quarterback rating and a better completion percentage, but Matt Cassel has a bigger guaranteed contract. Guess who’ll start for Kansas City on Sunday? It will be Cassel facing the Eagles in Philadelphia, coach Todd Haley said Tuesday. But the rookie head coach also said […]

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Jacobs hit a three-run homer and Alberto Callaspo’s two-run double keyed Kansas City’s biggest inning in almost a year, rallying the Royals past the Boston Red Sox 12-9 on Monday night. After falling behind 6-0 in the third and 8-2 in the fifth, the Royals seized an 11-9 lead […]

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford attempted to go through quarterback drills with Oklahoma on Monday as he rehabs from a sprained right shoulder. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said after practice that Bradford “was doing more today than he’s done.” “Don’t read anything into it,” Wilson said. “There was more going on […]

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Doug Marrone sits in a rather unique situation — two players who keyed his first win as Syracuse’s head coach weren’t even on the team a year ago. And the combination of quarterback Greg Paulus, a graduate student transfer from Duke, and wideout Mike Williams, a senior who was suspended due […]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets’ stifling defense has made the end zone unfamiliar territory for opposing offenses. Two games down, and no touchdowns allowed. The Jets can’t possibly remain this stingy, could they? “Hey, the New England Patriots went undefeated during the regular season,” cornerback Darrelle Revis said with a laugh […]

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The men’s Final Four in 2011 will be played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, the NCAA said Monday. The 2012 Final Four will be played at the Superdome in New Orleans and in the following year — the 75th anniversary of the event — it will be played at the Georgia Dome […]