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LEADING OFF: Final day of funky uniforms, Yankees-Dodgers

A look at what's happening around the majors today: WHO ARE THOSE GUYS? A marquee matchup is set at Dodger Stadium when major league wins leader Domingo Germán (16-3, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Yankees against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.71). It's the last game of the day, meaning the final time we'll see those, um, unusual uniforms big leaguers have been wearing during Players' Weekend. The all-white and all-black, monochromatic outfits have been widely panned by fashionistas — not to mention that it's hard to read the numbers and nicknames on the jerseys. 'What's the slogan, 'Let the kids play'?' Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. 'Let the grown-ups look like morons.' Said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: 'It's not our proudest moment rockin' these all-white milkmen jerseys.' Added Yankees manager Aaron Boone: 'When I put the uniform on I felt a little silly.' BRAVES NEW WORLD Francisco Cervelli and the NL East-leading Braves try for a three-game sweep at Citi Field and their eighth straight win. Cervelli was an instant hit in his Atlanta debut with two doubles, a single and three RBIs during a 9-5 victory over the Mets on Saturday night. Released this week after batting .193 for Pittsburgh, the 33-year-old catcher joined the Braves before the game. In his first game in the majors since May 25, he also threw out a runner trying to steal second in a key spot. Atlanta lefty Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.14 ERA) starts the series finale against left-hander Steven Matz (8-7, 4.18). NATS NUMBERS Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals go for a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field and their fifth straight win overall. Strasburg (15-5, 3.65 ERA) looks to become the first 16-game winner in the National League when he faces Cubs lefty Cole Hamels (7-4, 3.73). Washington has won six of seven to extend its lead over Chicago for the top NL wild-card spot to three games. The Nationals have scored a total of 97 runs in their last nine games. CHECK HIM The Mets will see how closer Edwin Diaz is feeling, a day after he was forced to make an early exit. Diaz felt a little uncomfortable in the neck area warming up and it tightened up when he was pitching to Atlanta. Diaz isn't sure if the discomfort will keep him out for any time and called it nothing serious. He'll see what the trainers say when he gets to the ballpark. NOT YET Reds star Joey Votto will not be activated from the injured list, even though he's eligible. He's been out with a strain in his lower back. Manager David Bell said the first baseman is progressing well, but isn't ready to return yet. ROTATION RETURN Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray (10-7, 3.99 ERA) is set to come off the injured list and start at Milwaukee. He's been out with lower back spasms. ... Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd (6-9, 4.24) comes back from the paternity list to pitch at Minnesota. He is 0-3 in his last eight starts. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Brees breezes for TD in only series, Saints top Jets 28-13

Drew Brees got in, marched down the field and got out. It was a breezy preseason debut for Brees, who threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Thomas to cap his only drive, and the New Orleans Saints defeated the New York Jets 28-13 on Saturday night. 'Any time you can go down and get points, get a touchdown, that's good,' Brees said. 'Felt like it was pretty efficient, for the most part. Wasn't a big sample, right? I don't even know how many total plays we ran.' Just eight, actually. 'I was hoping to get 15 or 20,' Brees said, 'but I know there was a plan to pull a few of us out after a short while and get some other guys work.' Brees didn't take a snap in the Saints' first two exhibition games, but Sean Payton gave the 40-year-old quarterback a brief regular-season warmup in this one. Alvin Kamara had a 25-yard catch on third down, and a 20-yard grab by Thomas two plays later got the Saints (2-1) down to the 23. On third-and-6, Brees found Thomas in the back-right corner of the end zone with a perfectly placed ball over cornerback Tevaughn Campbell's head for the touchdown. Brees finished 4 of 6 for 68 yards and was done, along with the rest of the offensive starters, and was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater. Sam Darnold's night for the Jets (1-2) lasted quite a bit longer as the second-year quarterback played midway into the second quarter, despite three projected starting offensive lineman — center Ryan Kalil and guards Kelechi Osemele and Brian Winters — sitting out. A sluggish start included Ty Montgomery fumbling on the first drive and Darnold taking a hard shot from Trey Hendrickson to end his fourth possession. 'We were not very good,' coach Adam Gase said. 'After the fumble, we lost our minds a little bit.' The starting offense got going against the Saints' backup defense on the Jets' fifth possession. On third-and-5 from the Jets 40, Darnold connected with Robby Anderson for a 41-yard gain. After two runs by Montgomery and a defensive holding call on Terrell Williams Jr. put the ball at the Saints 2, Darnold threw a pretty swing pass to Montgomery for a touchdown that cut the Jets' deficit to 10-7 with 8:22 left in the first half. 'I didn't like how we played in the first quarter,' Darnold said. 'In the second quarter, we kind of found our rhythm and then were out.' Darnold was 8 of 13 for 97 yards and the score before he was replaced by Trevor Siemian. 'We wanted them to play the whole first half,' Gase said of the starters. 'It just felt like after we scored the touchdown it was the right time, kind of finish that group on a good note.' HAPPY RETURN Saints rookie wide receiver Deonte Harris returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown with 7:27 left, giving New Orleans a 23-13 lead. Harris, out of Assumption College, avoided a diving tackle attempt by punter Matt Darr before sprinting into the end zone. 'I knew if I made one person miss, I would be off to the races,' Harris said. 'It's an unbelievable feeling.' FLYING FLAGS There were 31 accepted penalties — 16 on the Saints for 142 yards, and 15 on the Jets for 128 yards. New York's final penalty of the night was a holding call in the end zone on offensive tackle Eric Smith, resulting in a safety late in the fourth quarter. KALIL SITS Kalil was expected to make his debut with the team, but the team decided to have him sit out while he continues to get into football shape and learn the playbook. Jonotthan Harrison started again in his place. Kalil, who played 12 seasons with Carolina, came out of retirement earlier this month and signed a one-year, $8.4 million deal with the Jets. '(Last) Sunday night was his first night in pads, so he's only had really three practices,' general manager Joe Douglas said before the game. 'So, we felt the smart thing to do was to hold him out. We'll re-evaluate it next week. Again, we're 15 days away from the opener, so we feel good that's he's going to have plenty of time to be ready for Week 1.' JUST FOR KICKS Jets kicker Taylor Bertolet bounced back after missing two extra points last week, making field goals of 48 and 56 yards and converting his one extra-point try. STATS Bridgewater was 15 of 26 for 143 yards before giving way to Taysom Hill in the third quarter. The do-it-all Hill ran for what appeared to be a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown late in the third, but it was wiped out by a holding call on Patrick Omameh. The Saints settled for a 38-yard field goal by Wil Lutz that put New Orleans up 16-13 with 2:36 left in the quarter. ... Lutz was also good from 39, 40 and 34 yards, but was wide left on a 43-yard attempt. INJURIES Saints: LB Josh Martin left in the third quarter with an apparent right arm injury. Jets: S Brandon Bryant suffered a head injury in the third quarter after being called for unnecessary roughness for leading with his helmet on a play. UP NEXT Saints: home vs. Miami on Thursday night. Jets: at Philadelphia on Thursday night. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

Inconsistent Franks, No. 8 Florida rally to beat Miami 24-20

Feleipe Franks was clutch one minute and confused the next, showing the kind of inconsistency that got him benched five times in two years. His job might be in jeopardy again if not for Florida's defense. Franks made up for three inexcusable turnovers by accounting for three touchdowns, doing just enough to help the eighth-ranked Gators beat rival Miami 24-20 Saturday night in a wild and wacky opening game of the college football season. 'Last five minutes of the game, I aged 10 years,' Florida coach Dan Mullen said. 'That was exhausting.' Franks threw for 254 yards and two scores and ran for another as the Gators won for just the second time in their last nine meetings with the Hurricanes. Franks also threw two interceptions — both horribly inaccurate passes — in the fourth quarter. He looked anywhere from good to great, from lost to downright awful. He dropped in a perfect pass to Josh Hammond that gained 65 yards and set up the go-ahead score in the fourth and later in the quarter threw right to a defender. He also fumbled in the first half while deciding what to do on a read-option play. Florida's defense bailed Franks out time and time again, finishing with a staggering 10 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss. Miami converted a fourth-and-34 play with 1:30 remaining when Marco Wilson was flagged for pass interference. The Hurricanes moved the chains again thanks to another pass interference call against Trey Dean. One official threw one more flag in the end zone with 20 seconds to play, but it was picked up following a discussion. The Hurricanes failed to score, and they needed a touchdown after Bubba Baxa missed a 27-yard field goal attempt wide right early in the fourth. 'We don't have the maturity level to see a victory through,' first-year Canes coach Manny Diaz said. 'That's a maturing process we have to go through.' Franks took a knee to run out the clock, celebrated with teammates and then ran toward the tunnel and punted the ball into the stands. At least this one didn't count as a turnover — or result in a penalty. The teams combined for five turnovers — Florida had four — and 225 yards in penalties. Miami got to break out its revised Turnover Chain after each of Florida's gaffes and was able to debut its Touchdown Rings following both trips to the end zone. 'We wanted to spice it up,' Diaz said. 'The 305 (chain) came out really well. We talked about offense wanting something else, wanting something different. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of them.' Miami's Jarren Williams completed 19 of 29 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown in his first career start. DeeJay Dallas ran for 95 yards, including a 50-yard scamper that put the Canes up 20-17 early in the fourth. Franks answered, though. And Florida's defense stepped up again. GUTSY CALLS Florida converted all four of its fourth-down tries, but none of them was more important than Mullen's fake punt early. Punter Tommy Townsend ran for 6 yards on a fourth-and-3 play from the Florida 28. Kadarius Toney turned a screen pass into a 66-yard score on the next play. The Gators scored again after Jeff Thomas muffed a punt. Van Jefferson recovered for Florida, and Franks found Lamical Perine over the middle for an 8-yard touchdown three plays later. WOE-LINES Both offensive lines struggled. Miami started two freshman offensive tackles, and it showed in giving up double-digit sacks. Florida had four new starters and finished with just 52 yards on the ground. PREGAME SUSPENSIONS Florida suspended four players , including safety Brad Stewart and defensive tackle Tedarrell Slaton, for the opener. The Gators also held out receiver Rick Wells and walk-on defensive back Pat Moorer for not living up to 'the Gator Standard.' Miami, meanwhile, suspended sophomore cornerback DJ Ivey for a 'violation of team rules.' The Hurricanes also were without backup safety Bubba Bolden, who did not suit up for Saturday night's game. The sophomore and Southern California transfer arrived on campus a little more than two weeks ago. SPURRIER & MEYER Former Florida coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer watched the game from a luxury suite alongside Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin. Spurrier serves as an ambassador to his alma mater. Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida (2006, 2008) and another at Ohio State (2014), is still receiving paychecks from the Buckeyes because he's co-teaching a character and leadership class there. So Meyer wearing a blue Gators polo was met with some raised eyebrows. Meyer also works as a Fox Sports analyst. UP NEXT Florida gets an early season bye week before hosting UT-Martin on Sept. 7. It's the first of two games the Gators play against Football Championship Series teams. Miami gets a week off before playing North Carolina on Sept. 7. It's the first of three road games outside the Sunshine State for the Hurricanes. ___ More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Luck announces retirement following Colts loss to Bears

Andrew Luck watched one last game from the sideline Saturday. Then he said goodbye to the NFL. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback heard boos as he walked away from the field, then walked to the podium and made the surprise decision official. The oft-injured star is retiring at age 29. 'I'm in pain, I'm still in pain. It's been four years of this pain, rehab cycle,' Luck said. 'It's a myriad of issues — calf strain, posterior ankle impingement, high ankle sprain. Part of my journey going forward will be figuring out how to feel better.' Luck wasn't planning to make the announcement following Saturday's 27-17 loss to the Chicago Bears. But when ESPN first reported the news during the fourth quarter, Luck changed the plan for a Sunday afternoon announcement. Instead, he held a 25-minute impromptu news conference. At times he sounded wistful. At others, his voice cracked with emotion. One thing was clear: The endless barrage of injuries stripped away his joy for the game and prompted him to walk away so he could enjoy the life he wants. 'There's no doubt when you hear him talk about the cycle of pain and injury and rehab, you can hear that,' coach Frank Reich said. 'There's a saying in football that everyone knows and everybody lives by, it's next man up and even though this situation is unique, no one is exempt.' That task now falls to Jacoby Brissett, a fourth-year player whom the Colts acquired in a cutdown weekend trade two years ago who has been practicing with the starters since April. He went 4-11 as a starter in the 2017 season after taking over for opening day starter Scott Tolzien. But the Colts had already been preparing for the possibility Luck might not be ready for the Sept. 8 season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. Luck was diagnosed with a strained left calf in March and team officials kept him out of all of the team's offseason workouts. He returned to limited action when training camp opened in late July. After three practices, though, the lingering pain near his ankle forced him back into rehab. He hadn't practiced with the team since, though he did throw passes in pregame warmups before last week's preseason game. 'I had a thought that it might be my last time throwing at Lucas Oil as a current member of the Colts team,' Luck said. 'And I wanted to make sure I could go out and enjoy it.' It wasn't just the leg, though. He played with shoulder pain for most of 2015 and 2016, and his 2015 season ended when he suffered a lacerated kidney. He missed all of 2017 following shoulder surgery and then the happy-go-lucky former Stanford star dealt with more pain and more endless months of rehab. The Colts bet big on Luck in 2012. They cut an injured Peyton Manning to take Luck with the top overall pick, fully believing he would be their franchise quarterback for the next 10 to 15 years. Team owner Jim Irsay called it a 'no-brainer' because his aging team needed to rebuild. 'I never felt that he (Luck) owed me to play until he's 40 or until he's 36 or whatever,' Irsay said. 'I mean, this is an unusual situation.' Luck delivered quickly on his promise. He led the Colts to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and to the AFC championship game after the 2014 season — without missing a start. But a subpar offensive line struggled to keep Luck upright and in 2015, the shoulder and kidney injuries forced him to miss nine games. The Colts finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. In 2016, after Luck opted not to have shoulder surgery, then coach Chuck Pagano gave Luck extra days off to try and keep him healthy. Luck made 15 starts that season though the Colts again finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. While Luck had surgery for a partially torn labrum in January 2017, he never felt right and after throwing for two weeks in the fall was shut down for the rest of the season. Last year, Luck looked like his old self. He established career highs in attempts (639), completions (430) and completion rate (67.3 percent), throwing for 4,593 yards with 39 touchdowns and 15 interceptions as he led the Colts back to the playoffs, earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection and was the runaway winner of the league's Comeback Player of the Year award. Then came the mysterious calf-ankle injury that again never felt quite right. So after marrying his longtime girlfriend this spring and now awaiting the birth of his first child, Luck called it quits. 'I am going to retire,' he said. 'This is not an easy decision. It's the hardest decision of my life. But it is the right decision for me.' Players around the league were just as stunned as the Colts. 'It was mind-blowing,' Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson said. 'It's something that of course caught everyone off guard. He can control his own future. He's a great player. He's a great quarterback. One of the top five quarterbacks in the league. He's doing it for the right reasons for himself.' Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the reigning MVP, said: 'Knowing Andrew he's a great football player, of course, but he's also a great human being — I know that he's going to make the right decision for himself and his family.' Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson, who was in the same draft class as Luck, said he found out from offensive tackle Duane Brown before the Seahawks' game against the Los Angeles Chargers and was surprised, like everyone else. 'We all expect we're going to play this game forever. The reality is for most players, it's not very long,' Wilson said. 'I've always loved being around him, and the times we've gotten to be around each other. I know this has to be really hard on him. Just praying for him to stay encouraged.' Reich had said he hoped to have an answer about Luck's availability for the Sept. 8 season opener after the third preseason game. This might not have been the one he wanted — and certainly didn't expect. 'Teams win, don't write the end of the story yet,' Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. 'I'm telling you the story's not over yet.' Luck finishes his seven-year career with 2,000 completions, 3,290 attempts, 23,671 yards, 171 touchdowns and 83 interceptions and those stinging boos as he left the field. 'I'd be lying if I said I didn't hear the reaction,' he said. 'It hurt, I'll be honest with you, it hurt.' BEARS DEFENSE Chuck Pagano, Luck's first coach, returned to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time since his firing shortly after the 2017 season. The new Bears defensive coordinator made a splash. Despite both teams sitting all of their starters including Brissett, the Bears used their second defensive touchdown to take the lead for good late in the third quarter. Trailing 10-0 early in the second quarter, safety Deon Bush ripped the ball out of the air from rookie tight end Hale Hentges got up and scored on a 91-yard interception return. After two field goals from Eddy Pineiro made it 17-13, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe returned a fumble 22 yards to give the Bears a 20-17 lead. Chicago closed out the scoring with a 17-yard TD pass from Tyler Bray to Jesper Horsted. Bray was 11 of 16 with 136 yards and Ryan Nall had two carries for 73 yards. Chad Kelly led the Colts to all three of their scores and was 16 of 21 with 209 yards and one touchdown — all in the first half. Deon Cain caught three passes for 74 yards, including a 46-yard TD catch. PINEIRO STICKS IT The Bears spent the whole offseason looking for a kicker. And it looks as if they found the right one. Less than a week after giving Pineiro the job, he made all three of his field goals, including a 58-yarder in the third quarter. His previous long during the preseason was 41 yards. UP NEXT Bears: Host Tennessee on Thursday in the preseason finale. Colts: Begin the post-Luck era at Cincinnati on Thursday. ___ AP Sports Writers Dave Skretta in Kansas City, Missouri; Joe Reedy in Carson, California and AP Pro Football Writer Schuyler Dixon in Arlington, Texas, also contributed to this report. ___ More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

'Like morons': Fashion reviews dim for MLB weekend uniforms

Terry Francona took one look at Cleveland's all-black uniforms and turned into a fashionista. His review? Not good. 'What's the slogan, 'Let the kids play'?' the Indians manager said. 'Let the grown-ups look like morons.' That was a common view across the majors and social media on Players' Weekend, when big leaguers wore uniforms designed to be fresh and fun, complete with nicknames on the back. But rather than a hit, the monochromatic schemes were mostly rated a big swing and miss. 'It's not our proudest moment rockin' these all-white milkmen jerseys,' Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday. Asked if he could compare them to anything he's worn before, Roberts said: 'It was probably an ugly sweater over the holidays.' New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially liked the concept. Then reality hit. 'When I put the uniform on I felt a little silly,' he said. 'I'm sure I would have felt that way if I had the white one on, too.' The Dodgers and Yankees traditionally wear two of the most classic uniforms in the majors. The Dodgers, in fact, asked Major League Baseball for permission to sport their regular uniforms for one game in this highly anticipated series at Dodger Stadium. Request denied. 'The one thing I would say — you know, Dodgers-Yankees, I feel like it would be cool that . this isn't necessarily the best weekend for us,' Boone said Friday. 'I think having this matchup and to have them in their uniform and us in ours.' The Chicago Cubs went rogue on Friday to begin their series against Washington at Wrigley Field. This is the third season of Players' Weekend and, according to an arrangement worked out this year between MLB and the players' union, the home team could pick whether to wear all black or all white. There was one caveat — pitchers in white had to wear a black hat, to help hitters see the ball better. Dressed in white, the Cubs decided on their own to go with blue hats, being a dark color to match starter Jon Lester's black cap. 'They got together and figured (for) uniformity we'd all wear the same hat. A solidarity kind of a move,' manager Joe Maddon said. Later, the Cubs were told by MLB to stick to the plan. 'Listen, I get in so many tough spots when I demonstrate my feelings on certain things,' Maddon said. 'I just don't know. I'd just like to know who said this was a good idea. That's the best way I can describe that. Just really awkward, very awkward. They're getting enough heat. I don't need to pile on.' Maddon offered his own suggestion. 'My take on it is they should every team design their own Players' Weekend uniform. That would be cool,' he said. 'You style the Cubs uniforms, then it truly is Players' Weekend,' he said. 'I think you'd get a lot more interesting and better ... if you went that route.' NL batting leader Jeff McNeil of the New York Mets returned from the injured list Saturday and saw his jersey — with 'Flying Squirrel' on the back — hanging in his locker at Citi Field. 'It's really white!' he said. 'It's fun, so I like it.' To others, those uniforms made players look like the Good Humor Man, or something from 'Field of Dreams.' Chimed in Kristin Smoak, wife of Toronto first baseman Justin Smoak: 'These uni's are kind of the worst look I've ever seen,' she posted on Twitter. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said he enjoyed this opportunity each year where 'the players get to show a little bit of flair and their personality,' adding, 'I'm all for it.' But it also made things a bit more difficult with his Diamondbacks wearing black to play the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. 'It was hard for me to look across the diamond and tell who is who. You can't see the numbers or the names,' Lovullo said. 'Maybe I'd ask for just a little bit more contrast for the names and numbers on the white uniforms.' ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Dodgers escape jam in bizarre 9th, hold off Yankees 2-1

With the sellout crowd at Dodger Stadium hanging on his every pitch, Kenley Jansen found himself in a jam. Bases loaded, one out, and Los Angeles clinging to a one-run lead over the Yankees in the ninth. All that right after a bizarre twist that had both managers on the field, trying to figure out what happened during a potential game-ending double play that got reviewed. Jansen stayed cool in the heat of the moment on a scorching day and struck out Mike Tauchman and pinch-hitter Gary Sánchez to give the Dodgers a 2-1 victory over New York on Saturday in a matchup between the teams with the best records in baseball. 'Stressful? No,' Jansen said. 'Just got to trust yourself in that situation. I don't lose confidence in myself.' Still, Jansen has faltered at times this season, including earlier in the week when fans booed during his sixth blown save. His 27th save was his first since Aug. 6. 'Kenley showed right there that he can still command the baseball in a big spot and make pitches,' Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. 'I definitely don't think that was stress; that was fun.' But it was the play right before that to load the bases that left most everyone in the ballpark wondering what was going on. There were runners at first and second with one out when Gio Urshela hit a grounder to third baseman Justin Turner, who looked to start a game-ending double play. Second baseman Max Muncy caught Turner's flip but then got wiped out by Brett Gardner's hard slide for an apparent forceout. 'I felt like I made it, but it was so close,' Gardner said. 'I'm glad I was safe, but we just came up short.' Gleyber Torres, who had started the play on second base, rounded third and then headed home with Muncy down on the ground, trying to score the tying run. Instead, Torres was stopped by the umpires because time had been called. 'Ninth innings are stressful enough as they are,' Muncy said, 'and you add that in there and it was kind of like, 'whew.'' The strange sequence set off a nearly 2-minute replay review. The call at second was reversed and Gardner was ruled safe, beating the throw with a physical but legal slide. 'For me in terms of playing the game, I thought it was perfectly clean,' Muncy said. 'In terms of the rule they've created, I thought the only thing that was questionable was his hand reaching out and grabbing me. Other than that, it was a good play by him.' Muncy said he wasn't injured, but Gardner 'got me pretty good.' Roberts challenged the slide, believing Gardner was out, while Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out, too, seemingly to seek clarification on why Torres wasn't allowed to score. 'It was a good baseball play,' Roberts said of Gardner's slide. Boone said plate umpire Gabe Morales told him Jansen had already raised his hands to call time. 'He had definitely started down the line, it didn't seem like halfway to me,' Boone said of Torres. 'You can see Kenley asking for time maybe about as he's getting ready to start down the line.' A day after the Yankees routed the Dodgers 10-2, the clubs played a tight game that have some fans predicting will be an October preview. 'Like I told the guys when I was on second base in the last inning, 'Good luck the rest of the way and hopefully we'll see you again,'' Gardner said. Roberts described the atmosphere as 'two great, iconic, storied franchises. You could feel the emotion from both dugouts and the stadium.' Turner hit a two-run homer in the third. After two games without a homer, the Dodgers got their National League-leading 226th. Aaron Judge homered for the second straight day, connecting in the fourth. Making just his fourth career start, rookie Tony Gonsolin outlasted six-time All-Star CC Sabathia in 89-degree heat. Gonsolin (2-1) allowed one run and two hits in five innings. Joe Kelly and Pedro Baez kept the Yankees scoreless over the sixth, seventh and eighth. Sabathia (5-8) gave up two runs and five hits in four innings, striking out seven. It was his second start since coming off the injured list with right knee inflammation. 'Just felt way more comfortable out there and hopefully just continue to build off that,' Sabathia said. Turner's 23rd homer of the season landed in the left-field pavilion and scored Gonsolin, who had reached on an infield single off Sabathia's leg for his second career hit. 'I've always been a lifelong Yankees fan,' said Gonsolin, who met Sabathia in high school. 'It was pretty great to throw against all those guys.' Judge's drive was New York's 58th homer in August, tying the major league record for most in a month shared by Baltimore in 1987 and Seattle in 1999. TRAINER'S ROOM Yankees: RHP Dellin Betances (lat muscle) threw a 20-pitch batting practice session at the minor league complex in Tampa, Florida. ... RHP Luis Severino (lat muscle) said he felt fine after throwing a two-inning simulated game Thursday. He's scheduled for another simulated game Tuesday and then could start a minor league rehab assignment. ... 1B Luke Voit (sports hernia) homered for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre leading off Saturday's game against Lehigh Valley's Jerad Eickoff. Voit was the DH and finished 2 for 4 with a walk. Dodgers: LHP Rich Hill (flexor tendon strain) threw a 27-pitch bullpen session. He'll do it again in a couple days and then face hitters. ... LHP Julio Urías is at the team's spring training facility in Arizona where he threw a bullpen session while serving a 20-game domestic violence suspension. He's set to return on Sept. 3, but the team is unsure whether he will start or work out of the bullpen. UP NEXT Yankees: RHP Domingo Germán (16-3, 4.15 ERA) is averaging fewer than six innings per start this season. Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (13-2, 2.71) gave up three home runs and walked three in six innings against Toronto in his last start. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Code of Honor wins Travers Stakes

Trainer Shug McGaughey walked into Saratoga Race Course stoked for the 150th running of the Travers Stakes. Code of Honor validated those feelings. Code of Honor won a stretch duel with Tacitus and Mucho Gusto, holding off hard-luck Tacitus by three lengths to win the $1.25 million Travers Stakes on Saturday. 'I've been really excited all week, I've been excited about the way the horse was doing,' McGaughey said after his fourth win in the race and first in 21 years. 'When he worked here on Monday, it was something to see. I wasn't nervous. I was ready to get it on. Today, he put it all together.' With jockey John Velazquez aboard, the chestnut son of Noble Mission covered the 1¼ miles in 2 minutes, 1.05 seconds and paid $10.80, $5.20 and $3.80 on a sunny day with temperatures in the mid-70s. The colt now has four wins, two seconds and a third in eight starts and nearly $2 million in earnings. Tacitus paid $3.70 and $2.80, and Mucho Gusto returned $3.80. Code of Honor won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream in February and was third in the Grade 1 Florida Derby to set up a strong run in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished third before being moved to second when winner Maximum Security was disqualified for interference. 'I never had any doubts about distance as a problem, just him putting his mind to running,' Velazquez said. 'When I got him out in the clear, he responded right away.' Code of Honor was the second choice in the Travers at 4-1 after an impressive victory in the Dwyer at Belmont Park in his previous start in early July. Belmont Stakes runner-up Tacitus was the 5-2 morning line favorite. Tacitus, wearing blinkers for the first time, had the lead in the back stretch before Mucho Gusto moved alongside at the half-mile pole and edged in front. At the top of the stretch they were challenged by Code of Honor, Owendale and Tax before Code of Honor slid past on the outside for the win. Endorsed was fourth, followed by Owendale in fifth. Tacitus trainer Bill Mott was looking for a breakout race for his gray colt, which stumbled out of the gate and nearly fell in finishing second to Tax in the Jim Dandy Stakes in July, a traditional prep race at Saratoga for the Travers. Instead, he finished second for the third straight time. 'Our horse was just there,' Mott said. 'I had one eye on the winner and one eye on mine. It looked like there was a good chance we were going to outduel Mucho Gusto, but the winner, he rolled by pretty fast.' The race was delayed for about five minutes while crews took down signs on the inner turf course after jockeys raised concerns the billboards might distract the horses. 'That was one thing I didn't have to worry about,' McGaughey said with a chuckle. McGaughey's other wins in the Travers came with Coronado's Quest in 1998, Rhythm in 1990, and Easy Goer in 1989. He said he wasn't sure where Code of Honor would race next, as the Pennsylvania Derby looms in a month. The 13-race card also featured five other Grade 1 stakes: Favored Mitole won the 40th running of the $600,000 Forego, taking the lead from pace-setting Promises Fulfilled and pulling away down the stretch from Firenze Fire by 3 ½ lengths for his fifth win in six starts this year and ninth overall in 12 starts for trainer Steve Asmussen; Come Dancing rallied from a slow start and powered to the front from the outside entering the stretch and captured the 41st running of the $500,000 Ballerina by 3 ½ lengths over Dawn the Destroyer; Mind Control, with Velazquez aboard, took the 35th running of the $500,000 Allen Jerkens, winning a stirring duel by a nose over Hog Creek Hustle and favored Shancelot, who was overtaken at the wire after gaining a two-length lead down the stretch; Midnight Bisou used a late charge to edge Elate by a nose at the wire and win the 72nd running of the $700,000 Personal Ensign; and Annals of Time, trained by Chad Brown, barely held off Sadler's Joy to take the 45th running of the $850,000 Sword Dancer, a 1 ½-mile test on the turf. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Georgia Sports News

Cervelli sparks Braves to 9-5 win over Mets in Atlanta debut

NEW YORK (AP) - Just about every newcomer to the Atlanta Braves has made an immediate impact lately. Francisco Cervelli fit right in Saturday night. The newly signed catcher had three hits and three RBIs in his Atlanta debut, and the Braves beat the New York Mets 9-5 for their seventh straight victory. 'He was excited about getting here - and it showed,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. Ronald Acu a Jr. hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, and recent addition Billy Hamilton dashed home with another run on the play thanks to a mental lapse by Mets left fielder J.D. Davis. Freddie Freeman launched his career-high 35th home run in the ninth. Freeman, who began the day leading the majors in RBIs, increased his season total to 105. Along with Cervelli and Hamilton, substitute shortstop Adeiny Hechavarr a was picked up off the scrap heap (from the Mets) not long ago. That trio and three key relievers acquired at the July 31 trade deadline have given the Braves a huge boost over the past two nights and beyond. 'All the new guys were - golly!' Snitker said. Ozzie Albies and Josh Donaldson also went deep for the NL East leaders, each connecting on a solo shot in the third off starter Zack Wheeler. Atlanta improved to 10-5 this year against the Mets, who remained two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card. Rookie slugger Pete Alonso matched a Mets record with his 41st home run, a three-run shot that put New York ahead 5-4 in the fifth after trailing 4-0. But third baseman Todd Frazier was unable to snag Cervelli's hard one-hopper in the sixth, a two-base error that led to Cervelli scoring the tying run on Rafael Ortega's single. After recovering from yet another concussion, Cervelli played his first major league game since May 25. The veteran backstop stroked a two-run double on the second pitch he saw for a 2-0 lead in the second. 'I was playing like a little kid,' Cervelli said. 'That's all that matters, man. From now on, just enjoy every game, every opportunity, and do what I have to do.' He singled his next time up and added an RBI double to deep center in the ninth. 'Hasn't played in three months, comes out and gets three knocks. Just makes it look that easy,' Hamilton said. From his knees, Cervelli also threw out Amed Rosario trying to steal second in a tie game in the seventh. 'After he got that hit in the second inning I just said, 'Well, just get a new guy every single day,'' Freeman said, adding that the recent additions are energizing the entire clubhouse. 'It's been pretty amazing.' Cervelli, released Thursday by Pittsburgh, signed with the Braves earlier Saturday to help fill in with Brian McCann on the injured list. Josh Tomlin (2-1) tossed two scoreless innings for the win. Ortega sparked Atlanta's two-out rally in the eighth with a single against Brad Brach (4-4) that went off the glove of a leaping Jeff McNeil at second base. The speedy Hamilton followed with a pinch-hit single and scored from third when Davis held the ball after Acu a's single and then lobbed it back to the infield, drawing boos from the crowd of 38,300. 'This is definitely fun. I keep getting a chance to play and I keep having fun with it,' said Hamilton, who hit a go-ahead single in the 14th inning of Friday night's victory for his first hit with Atlanta. Davis called it a 'helpless' feeling.' 'That's my fault. I should be throwing into (Rosario at shortstop) right away instead of picking up the runner at first,' Davis said. Atlanta starter Max Fried, handed a 4-0 lead and looking for his 15th win, allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings. Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 18 games for the Mets, the longest active streak in the majors. KID DYNAMITE Alonso had the souvenir ball in a plastic case after becoming the first rookie to tie his team's home run record since Hall of Famer and former Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner did it for the Pirates with 23 in 1946, according to STATS. Todd Hundley (1996) and Carlos Beltran (2006) also hit 41 home runs in a season for the Mets. 'It's surreal,' Alonso said. 'That moment was really special. I couldn't have dreamed it up any better.' The slugger also has 100 RBIs, making him the first Mets player to reach the plateau since David Wright had 103 in 2010. 'Really cool,' Alonso said. SPOTLESS Atlanta's bullpen has fired 24 consecutive scoreless innings. The relievers are 5-0 with three saves and a 0.34 ERA during the winning streak. TRAINER'S ROOM Braves: Dansby Swanson (bruised right foot) was scheduled to play shortstop in his third rehab game at Class A Rome. ... LF-3B Austin Riley (right knee sprain) was set to play left field for the first time on his rehab assignment at Rome. Mets: McNeil, the NL batting leader, was reinstated from the injured list after missing 10 days with a strained left hamstring. With the score tied, he delivered a pinch-hit double on the first pitch he saw leading off the seventh but was thrown out trying to advance to third on a grounder to shortstop. McNeil remained in the game and singled in the ninth. ... Mets reliever Edwin D az, who gave up Freeman's homer, exited with tightness in his back and neck area. He said he doesn't think it's serious. ... Backup catcher Tom s Nido was placed on the seven-day injured list with a concussion and the club selected the contract of veteran catcher Ren Rivera from Triple-A Syracuse. Reserve outfielder Aaron Altherr was designated for assignment. ... OF Brandon Nimmo (neck) had a day off on his rehab assignment at Syracuse. UP NEXT LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-5, 4.14 ERA) tries to pitch Atlanta to a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon. LHP Steven Matz (8-7, 4.18) goes for the Mets. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
LOOK: Steve Spurrier has priceless reaction to Feleipe Franks interception

Feleipe Franks threw a costly interception just after the Gators stopped Miami on defense. The camera immediately cut to Steve Spurrier. The former Florida coach was less than impressed by what the Florida quarterback did on first down no less. Steve Spurrier watching Feleipe Franks play Quarterback pic.twitter.com/VsR8B6yKPx Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) August 25, 2019 The interception was Franks' second of the game. He also had a fumble in the redzone earlier in the game as well. Franks did score three touchdowns, including a go-ahead rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Gators the lead. But this has not been a great night for the Florida quarterback. Franks has also been seen chirping with fans on the sideline during the game. It has been an incredibly sloppy game from both Florida and Miami. The Florida defense has bailed out the Gators offense, as Florida has sacked Miami quarterback Jarren Williams 9 times. The Gators and Bulldogs meet on Nov. 2 in Jacksonville, Fla. If the Franks plays like he did against the Hurricanes, Georgia should be celebrating a third-straight win over the Gators. The post LOOK: Steve Spurrier has priceless reaction to Feleipe Franks interception appeared first on DawgNation.
Georgia football fans laughing at Florida’s poor first half

Florida played poorly in the first half of its season-opener against Miami. The Gators trailed 13-7, giving a touchdown just before halftime. Florida also fumbled the ball twice, including once in the red zone. Georgia fans loved watching the Gators struggle in the first half, as Florida is seen as the top threat to the Bulldogs in the SEC East. The post Georgia football fans laughing at Florida's poor first half appeared first on DawgNation.
Former Georgia football linebacker Brenton Cox won’t dress for Florida-Miami game

ORLANDO, Fla. Florida has not yet received a ruling on the eligibility of former Georgia football outside linebacker Brenton Cox. Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin told DawgNation that Florida is still waiting for more information on the appeal that has been filed for Cox to have immediate eligibility. White Cox won't dress or play against Miami in the Gators' 7 p.m. Saturday opener against Miami, he has worked hard to impress his new teammates in Gainesvillefrom all indications. A recent social media post provided evidence of Cox's positive mindset. All these shots I'm takin, they must not know I'm Bulletproof #Themanforever pic.twitter.com/t7gfnJhI70 Brenton Cox Jr. (@Brenton_cox) August 12, 2019 Cox's transfer from Georgia was a whirlwind. The former 5-star recruit from Stockbridge, Ga., was signing autographs at UGA's Fan Day on Aug. 3, reportedly parted from the team on Aug. 4, announced his transfer on Aug. 5 and was signing autographs at Florida Fan Day on Aug. 10. RELATED: Brenton Cox enters transfer portal Georgia coach Kirby Smart seemed to take the Cox transfer in stride when asked about it on Aug. 10, Smart's first media availability after the transfer took place. ' Concerns? I don't know about that,' Smart said. 'Brenton chose to withdraw from the University of Georgia, going into the portal. He's now at another SEC institution so we wish him nothing but the best and we appreciate his contributions while he was here.' The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Cox had 20 tackles and a sack last season, appearing in 13 of the Bulldogs' 14 games. Cox had a career-high six tackles in the 28-21 Sugar Bowl loss to Texas, making his only career start in place of injured All-SEC linebacker D'Andre Walker. It was a tough season for Cox, who struggled with containment responsibilities, most notably after Walker was injured in the SEC Championship Game before Alabama's comeback. Things grew more challenging for Cox in the spring, when he was arrested on April 2 for misdemeanor marijuana possession. RELATED: Brenton Cox speaks out after marijuana arrest Georgia coach Kirby Smart disciplined Cox and Robert Beal who was also arrested on misdemeanor possession in part by making them run steps during a scrimmage. RELATED: Details emerge on misdemeanor arrest of Brenton Cox The Bulldogs have not had any off-field incidents reported since. For Cox, it may prove to be as simple as needing a fresh start. Cox has impressed his new teammates in Florida's fall camp. 'Elusive guy, great off the ball,' tailback Lamical Perine told Florida's Rivals.com site, Gators Territory. 'He's just a guy we glad to have, and he came from Georgia, so I'm pretty sure they kind of salty about that. Hey, we'll take him. He's a great guy.' Receiver Trevon Grimes was even more impressed. 'He's phenomenal; he's good, he's fast, he's quick,' Grimes said. 'He actually has some move that I've never seen before a spin move, like reversal, crazy. 'He's just gonna help our O-line get better.' No doubt, that's the sort of performance Cox's high school resume has suggested. A 2018 Under Armour All-American, Cox was named to the 2017 All-State Class 5A First Team defense by the AJC and the Associated Press. Cox was an ESPN.com five-star prospect, #11 in the ESPN 300, #8 overall prospect in the Southeast, #5 ranked DE nationally, #3 overall prospect in Georgia. RELATED: Breaking down the 8 Georgia football offseason transfers The post Former Georgia football linebacker Brenton Cox won't dress for Florida-Miami game appeared first on DawgNation.
Atlanta Braves sign veteran catcher Francisco Cervelli

NEW YORK (AP) - Francisco Cervelli caught on with a playoff contender, just as he hoped. The first-place Atlanta Braves signed Cervelli to a one-year contract Saturday and immediately plugged the veteran catcher into the starting lineup against the New York Mets. After recovering from his latest concussion, it was his first game in the majors since May 25. 'The only way he's going to get to know these guys is to catch 'em,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. About two hours before the game, Cervelli said he was still waiting for his catching equipment to arrive at Citi Field. But on the second pitch he saw in his first at-bat, he laced a two-run double into the left field corner for a 2-0 lead. He added a sharp single his next time up. Cervelli, who has a long history of concussions, was granted his release Thursday by the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates after telling them he wanted to hook on with a big league team that had playing time to offer and a chance to reach the postseason. He gives the NL East leaders a proven replacement for injured catcher Brian McCann, sidelined earlier in the week by a sprained left knee. 'It's amazing,' Cervelli said. 'My only mission here is win. I'm wired that way.' Atlanta will pay Cervelli $110,403, a prorated portion of the $555,000 major league minimum. That is offset against his $11.5 million salary in the final season of the $31 million, three-year contract with Pittsburgh that he was released from. The 33-year-old Cervelli joined the Braves at Citi Field and batted seventh against Mets right-hander Zack Wheeler. Snitker said Cervelli will split playing time with Tyler Flowers behind the plate and likely remain with the club when McCann returns because by then rosters will have expanded in September. 'He's got skills. He's a good little catcher,' Snitker said. 'While Mac's out, he's going to be nice little pairing with Tyler.' Cervelli dealt with multiple concussions this season and batted .193 with one home run and five RBIs in 34 games for the Pirates. He recently completed a minor league rehab assignment that began Aug. 11 at Double-A Altoona in the Pittsburgh organization. He played one game there and then caught six games at Triple-A Indianapolis. 'I'm not a little kid anymore, so I kind of know exactly what I need and how many games,' Cervelli said. 'I've been working so hard besides the game for a long time to get back at my best.' Cervelli acknowledged that two months ago, he was a little jittery about catching again after his most recent concussion in May. A report suggested he didn't plan to go back behind the plate, but Cervelli insisted he didn't say that - someone else did. After working out in the infield, he moved back to catcher in the minors. He said he was bored at other positions and threw away his infield glove. 'I'm not a baseball player. I'm a catcher,' he said. 'I've been doing it for 17 years and that's all I'm going to do. And, I like to be behind the plate. It sounds crazy, but I like to get hit and do my thing. So, I'm here now.' He said he quietly underwent a new therapy with a new doctor and is feeling good. 'I put everything I had,' said Cervelli, the Pirates' opening day catcher each of the past five years. Cervelli began the night a .269 career hitter with 36 home runs and 261 RBIs in 700 major league games. His .362 on-base percentage in 450 games with Pittsburgh was second among big league catchers during that span to San Francisco's Buster Posey (.368). To make roster room for Cervelli, the Braves optioned catcher Alex Jackson to Triple-A Gwinnett and transferred left-hander Grant Dayton to the 60-day injured list. Cervelli, from Venezuela, spent the first seven years of his career with the New York Yankees and played in 42 games for the 2009 World Series champions. 'I feel like a lucky man,' he said. 'Just the fact that I went to Triple-A and played baseball. It doesn't matter what it is. I played there like a kid again, and now I feel more grateful just to get picked up by a team who is in first place and they like to win. That's the whole idea.' ___ AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports