BOSTON (AP) — Boston Red Sox right-hander Tim Wakefield expects to get a cortisone shot Monday after his next scheduled start was scratched because his balky back acted up again. The 43-year-old knuckleballer spent 5½ weeks on the disabled list with back problems after the All-Star break. He returned Wednesday and pitched seven innings, allowing […]

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — A few hours after Scott Kazmir reported to his first full day of work on the West Coast, his brand-new Angels cap already was darkened by sweat. The left-hander couldn’t wait to get started on what he hopes is another playoff run in his eventful young career. Los Angeles welcomed Kazmir […]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The winless, worried and wounded Kansas City Chiefs launched a short work week Sunday while awaiting medical tests on quarterback Matt Cassel and cornerback Brandon Flowers. Cassel limped off the field and out of sight after he was sacked on the third play of Saturday night’s dismal 14-10 loss to […]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Offensive tackle Andre Smith signed a contract Sunday with the Cincinnati Bengals, ending an impasse that dragged on a month into the preseason. The Bengals originally planned to have Smith start at right tackle, but he has missed all three preseason games. He was in Cincinnati and agreed to the deal shortly […]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Randy Johnson believes he will pitch again this season for San Francisco, albeit as a reliever. The 45-year-old Big Unit is on the 60-day disabled list and has been sidelined since July 6 with a strained left shoulder. He acknowledged pitching more than five innings and being effective would be tough […]

BOSTON (AP) — Clay Buchholz’s curveball was so sharp that he threw it for a strike when he didn’t even try. Buchholz allowed just three singles in 8 1-3 innings, and Alex Gonzalez and Dustin Pedroia’s RBI singles made up for a Boston offense that sputtered in the early innings as the Red Sox beat […]

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (AP) — Zimbabwe forward Kheli Dube scored a hat trick to give the New England Revolution a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer on Sunday. Dube scored his first goal in the ninth minute, when he converted a low cross from midfielder Mauricio Castro. He followed 20 minutes later […]

NEW YORK — Sergio Mitre shook off the rust and pitched sharply before getting struck by a line drive in the seventh inning, combining with Chad Gaudin on a one-hitter as the New York Yankees routed the slumping Chicago White Sox 10-0 Saturday. Working for the first time since a relief outing eight days ago, […]

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) — Paul Goydos figured Liberty National at least would look good on television, with the Statue of Liberty and so many other New York landmarks serving as a spectacular backdrop at The Barclays. Inside the ropes is starting to look pretty good to him, too. Goydos put together three straight birdies […]

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Coming into the third exhibition game, the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders talked about how this game would be a dress rehearsal for the season. Consider Drew Brees and the Saints’ first-team offense ready, while the Raiders may not have enough time to fix what’s wrong in Oakland. Brees completed […]