ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Pat Burrell snapped an eighth-inning tie with a RBI single and Evan Longoria followed with a two-run homer Wednesday night to help Tampa Bay avoid falling farther back in the AL playoff race with an 8-5 victory over Boston. A night after playing poorly in the opener of a series […]

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — John M. Stephens, the 1988 Offensive Rookie of the Year for the New England Patriots, has been killed after his pickup truck ran off a highway and struck some trees, authorities said Wednesday. Stephens, 43, apparently lost control of his vehicle on a rural stretch of Louisiana Highway 169 near Shreveport […]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield could soon throw off a bullpen mound. Wakefield, who got a cortisone shot Monday for a bad back, threw in the outfield before Wednesday’s game against Tampa Bay and said the session went good and there were no setbacks. Boston manager Terry Francona said it […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Everyone’s been curious about the condition of Rafael Nadal’s knees, so it made sense that his first Grand Slam opponent in three months would wonder as well. Which might explain why Richard Gasquet tried a drop shot deep in the third set of his U.S. Open match against Nadal on Wednesday. […]

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets signed veteran Ben Hartsock to a one-year deal Wednesday, filling their need for a blocking tight end, his agent told The Associated Press. Hartsock, who spent last season with Atlanta, signed with the Jets a day after the Falcons released him, agent Mike McCartney said. The […]

BOSTON (AP) — Curt Schilling, the former major league pitcher who won the allegiance of Bostonians by leading the Red Sox to the 2004 World Series, said Wednesday that he has “some interest” in running for the seat held for nearly 50 years by Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Schilling, a registered independent and longtime […]

HOUSTON (AP) — It’s less than two weeks from the regular season opener and the Houston Texans defense is far from set. At least two starting spots remain up for grabs. Rookie first-round pick Brian Cushing, who was scheduled to start at strongside linebacker, still hasn’t played because of a knee injury. Coach Gary Kubiak […]

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have claimed former Patriots backup quarterback Kevin O’Connell off waivers. The move comes after third-stringer Drew Stanton tore knee cartilage, an injury that requires surgery. Lions coach Jim Schwartz said Wednesday coaches will set up a simple package of plays for O’Connell and “see how comfortable he […]

There’s some complex term for Richie Parker’s medical condition. He can’t remember it offhand and as far as he’s concerned, it doesn’t matter anyway. Parker was born without arms and stands about 5 feet tall. But that doesn’t stop the 26-year-old from doing most of the things anyone else can do – and then some. […]

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Nate Davis knows he’s already shown the doubters just by winning a roster spot with the San Francisco 49ers. Davis is unfazed by a learning disability that makes it difficult for him to grasp the playbook and transfer that information onto the field. He carries himself with a confidence and […]