Kepler, Twins thump Indians

UNDATED (AP) — The Cleveland Indians' lead in the American League Central is a little smaller this morning after they were crushed by the American League's worst team.

Minnesota Twins v Cleveland Indians
Getty Images
loading...

Rookie Max Kepler homered three times and had six RBIs as the Twins hammered the Indians 12-5. He hit a pair of two-run shots off starter Danny Salazar and added a two-run blast versus Cody Anderson.

Kepler had a chance to tie the major league record for home runs in a game before he grounded out in the eighth inning.

Eddie Rosario and Joe Mauer also homered for the Twins, who got a bases-loaded triple from Jorge Polanco. Mauer had four of Minnesota's 19 hits and scored four times.

The Indians ended a three-game winning streak and saw their division lead cut to four games over idle Detroit.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Houston pulled out a 2-1 win over Toronto on Carlos Correa's RBI double in the bottom of the 14th. Jose Altuve (al-TOO'-vay) homered and Doug Fister worked six scoreless innings as the Astros pulled within 5 ½ games of the AL West-leading Rangers. The Blue Jays fell one game behind the AL East-leading Baltimore Orioles despite Marcus Stroman, who struck out 13 and surrendered just three hits over seven innings.

— Boston is also within one game of first place in the AL after Mookie Betts led off the ninth with a tiebreaking homer off Steve Cishek (SEE'-shehk) to push the Red Sox past the Mariners 2-1 in Seattle. Mariners starter James Paxton was working on a three-hit shutout until Aaron Hill's one-out blast in the eighth. Craig Kimbrel picked up the save in his return from left knee surgery.

— Kyle Hendricks threw a seven-hitter and the Cubs stretched their lead in the National League Central to eight games over St. Louis by blanking the Miami Marlins 5-0. Hendricks also supplied an RBI single after Addison Russell opened the scoring with a two-run single. Anthony Rizzo was 3-for-3 with two runs scored as the Cubs improved to a major league-leading 64-41.

— Washington's 14-1 pounding of the Diamondbacks gives the Nationals a five-game lead over the second-place Marlins in the NL East. Stephen Strasburg became the year's first 15-game winner by limiting the Diamondbacks to a run and three hits in six innings. Anthony Rendon drove in three runs and Daniel Murphy was 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.

— The Yankees ended a four-game skid by beating the New York Mets 6-5 on Starlin Castro's sacrifice fly in the top of the 10th. Matt Reynolds hit a three-run homer in the sixth to put the Mets ahead 5-3, but the Yankees forced extra innings on a two-run single by Didi Gregorius (DEE'-dee greh-GOHR'-ee-uhs) in the eighth. The Mets have played themselves out of contention for the NL East title by losing five of their last six, leaving them 7 ½ games back.

— Danny Duffy flirted with a no-hitter while striking out a career-high 16 in Kansas City's 3-0 shutout of Tampa Bay. Duffy's no-hit bid ended when Desmond Jennings led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. The Royals are 6-0 in games started by Duffy since July 1, and 2-16 when he doesn't pitch.

— The Padres' Travis Jankowski was a pest to the Brewers, which helped make winners out of San Diego on Monday night. Jankowski had three hits and two walks and San Diego snapped Milwaukee's four-game winning streak, 7-3.

MLB-TRADE DEADLINE

Flurry of traded ahead of deadline

UNDATED (AP) — The buyers and sellers were easily recognized as baseball's non-waiver trade deadline came and went on Monday. Several division leaders added roster depth, while the also-rans shed payroll and stockpiled young talent.

Among Monday's moves:

— The NL Central-leading Cubs added right-hander Joe Smith from the Angels for minor league righty Jesus Castillo. Smith joins a bullpen that includes newcomers Aroldis Chapman and Mike Montgomery.

— The AL West-leading Rangers have acquired outfielder Carlos Beltran from the Yankees for right-hander Dillon Tate and two other pitching prospects. The switch-hitting Beltran has been the Yankees' top offensive player, leading New York with a .304 batting average, 22 homers and 64 RBIs.

— The Rangers also landed All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress from Milwaukee for two former first-round picks, Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz. Lucroy is hitting .299 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs this year, and Jeffress has 27 saves and a 2.22 ERA.

— The Baltimore Orioles have reacquired infielder-outfielder Steve Pearce from Tampa Bay, sending the Rays minor league catcher Jonah Heim. Pearce gives the O's an extra bat as they try to win the AL East.

— The AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians have picked up outfielder Brandon Guyer from Tampa Bay for two minor leaguers. Guyer is batting .241 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 63 games.

— Chasing the Orioles are the Toronto Blue Jays, who got pitcher Francisco Liriano from the Pirates for Drew Hutchinson. Liriano is just 6-11 with a 5.46 ERA this year after going 12-7 with a 3.38 earned run average for the 2015 Pirates.

— The Blue Jays also grabbed right-hander Mike Bolsinger from the Los Angeles Dodgers for right-hander Jesse Chavez and $1.15 million. The 28-year-old Bolsinger was 1-4 with a 6.83 ERA for the Dodgers this season.

— The Red Sox hope they've bolstered their shot at the AL East crown after getting left-handed reliever Fernando Abad from Minnesota for minor-league pitcher Pat Light. Abad posted a 2.65 ERA in 39 appearances for the Twins.

— Just two games behind the NL West-leading Giants, the Dodgers have acquired right fielder Josh Reddick and left-hander Rich Hill from Oakland for a trio of pitching prospects. The 36-year-old Hill is 9-3 with a 2.25 ERA in 14 starts but is currently on the DL because of a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand.

— The Astros have traded right-handed reliever Josh Fields to the Los Angeles Dodgers for 19-year-old minor league first baseman Yordan Alvarez. The 30-year-old Fields had a 6.89 ERA in 15 games for Houston this season.

— Houston also swung a deal with Toronto, with the Jays acquiring right-hander Scott Feldman for minor league pitcher Lupe Chavez. The 33-year-old Feldman is 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 26 appearances this year.

— San Francisco stocked up on pitching by getting starter Matt Moore from Tampa Bay and reliever Will Smith from Milwaukee. The Rays got third baseman Matt Duffy, shortstop Lucius Fox and right-hander Michael Santos for Moore, who is 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 21 starts this season. Catcher Andrew Susac and pitching prospect Phil Bickford were jettisoned to the Brewers for Smith.

— The Mets have acquired outfielder Jay Bruce and lefty Jonathan Niese (nees) as they try to get back into the National League playoff race. Bruce was leading the National League with 80 RBIs when he was shipped by the Reds to the Mets for minor league second baseman Dilson Herrera and pitching prospect Max Wotell. Niese comes back to New York in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who get reliever Anthony Bastardo.

— The Minnesota Twins have grabbed starting pitcher Hector Santiago and a minor leaguer from the Los Angeles Angels for right-handers Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer and cash.

— Colin Rea is back with San Diego, just three days after the Padres shipped him to Miami. Rea injured his right elbow in his only start for the Marlins Saturday and is on the disabled list. San Diego sent minor league pitcher Luis Castillo back to the Marlins.

DODGERS-PUIG-MINORS

Puig to be demoted

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasiel Puig's (YAH'-see-ul pweegz) agent says the Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder expects to be sent to the minors after the club was unable to trade him at the deadline.

Agent Adam Katz says Puig didn't show up to Dodger Stadium before the team departed for Colorado because the Dodgers told them they were trying to trade him, and they planned to demote him if they were unsuccessful.

NASCAR-POCONO

Buescher wins weather-shortened race at Pocono

LONG POND, Pa. (AP) — Chris Buescher will only have foggy memories of his first Sprint Cup victory.

Buescher was declared the winner of Monday's race at Pocono Raceway after a fog delay of about 80 minutes. The race was red-flagged with 22 laps remaining and more bad weather in the forecast, leaving Buescher ahead of Brad Keselowski.

Buescher is now on the verge of being in the mix for NASCAR's championship after not finishing better than 14th all season before Monday. He is six points behind David Ragan for 30th to reach the cutoff needed to become eligible for the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship.

Regan Smith was third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Tony Stewart. Jeff Gordon finished 27th driving for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-McCARTNEY

Family says McCartney has late-onset dementia, Alzheimer's

UNDATED (AP) — The family of Bill McCartney says the former Colorado football coaching great was recently diagnosed with late-onset dementia and Alzheimer's.

Family members said in a statement that McCartney is "still the same Coach Mac — biking, golfing, supporting the Buffs and being an active member of his church." However, the statement also asked acquaintances not to take it personally if he appears disconnected or unknowing.

McCartney turns 76 later this month. He led the Buffaloes to their only national championship in 1990 and remains the winningest coach in team history at 93-55-5. McCartney was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame three years ago.

OLYMPICS-IOC-RUGGIERO

Ruggiero joins IOC executive committee

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Former Olympic ice hockey gold medalist Angela Ruggiero has been elected as chair of the International Olympic Committee's athletes' commission, automatically giving her a seat on the IOC's ruling executive board.

Ruggiero joins former rower Anita DeFrantz as a second American on the policy-making board.

Ruggiero's election is seen as a timely boost for Los Angeles' bid for the 2024 Games.

OLYMPICS-FILTHY WATER

Olympics waters are hazardous

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Just days ahead of the Olympic Games the waterways of Rio de Janeiro are as filthy as ever. They are contaminated with raw human sewage teeming with dangerous viruses and bacteria, according to a 16-month-long study commissioned by The Associated Press.

Not only are some 1,400 athletes at risk of getting violently ill in water competitions, but the AP's tests indicate that tourists also face potentially serious health risks on beaches.

The AP's survey of the aquatic Olympic and Paralympic venues has revealed consistent and dangerously high levels of viruses from the pollution.

NFL-BILLS-BUSH

Bush signs with Bills

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have given a one-year contract to free-agent running back Reggie Bush, who will provide depth at running back behind LeSean McCoy.

Bush is a 10-year NFL veteran who played five games with San Francisco last year before suffering a season-ending left knee injury.

NHL-SABRES-KANE PLEA

Sabres Kane pleads not guilty to charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Sabres forward Evander Kane has pleaded not guilty in Buffalo City Court to charges alleging he grabbed three women during an altercation at a downtown bar in June.

The 24-year-old Kane was arrested July 22 and charged with non-criminal harassment, disorderly conduct and trespass after turning himself in to Buffalo police. He was released after being processed.

More From KROC-AM