Crochet, Story lead Red Sox to 7th straight win over Royals
Crochet (13-4) struck out eight to win his ninth consecutive decision and help Boston win for the ninth time in 10 games. Story drove in two runs in the sixth and and added another RBI single in the three-run seventh, when the Red Sox took a 6-2 lead.
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Winnipeg Free Press
5 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Old friends, new rivals: 49ers set for reunion with Greenlaw and Hufanga
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — It will be reunion week for the San Francisco 49ers when they welcome some old friends for a joint practice and exhibition game against the Denver Broncos. Denver signed away two of San Francisco's top defensive players in the offseason, giving big deals to linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga. 'I love seeing them,' Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said ahead of the joint practice. 'I don't really like practicing or playing against guys that I really like and have a lot of love for, but I (will) enjoy seeing them.' Greenlaw and Hufanga are not the only prominent former 49ers now playing in Denver. Defensive tackle D.J. Jones is entering his fourth season with the Broncos after starting his career in San Francisco and former Niners first-round tackle Mike McGlinchey is in his third season with the Denver. Greenlaw and Hufanga will likely get the most attention this week. Greenlaw was the emotional leader of San Francisco's defense since being drafted in 2019 and the torn Achilles tendon that knocked him out of the Super Bowl following the 2023 season and most of last season played a big role in San Francisco's defensive decline. Hufanga, a fifth-round pick in 2021, was an All-Pro the following season before injuries hampered him in his final two seasons with the Niners. Both got lucrative contracts in free agency that San Francisco was unwilling to match as the Niners spent the offseason trying to get younger and cheaper on defense. The new-look defense that could feature as many as eight new starters this season gets one of its first big tests this week and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is excited to see how his young players fare. 'The challenge now is going to be a completely new opponent with no preparation because we're not preparing for Denver,' Saleh said. 'We're just lining up. Just throwing it on the field and seeing how they play. So, we're really excited to see how it goes and fully expecting some lumps along the way. But one thing is for certain, I do think that their competitive drive is going to be there.' Shanahan typically likes joint practices but had to cancel his only session last summer against New Orleans because the Niners were dealing with too many injuries. San Francisco also will hold a one-day joint practice next week before playing the Las Vegas Raiders. 'I think it's really valuable,' Shanahan said. 'Sometimes you can't do it. I'd always would like to do it. I'm more excited just going against someone once. In the past I've always done two days, and I'm always really excited by the end of the first day. I'm always wishing we didn't have to go the second day. So, kind of glad we're ahead of that on this. It's always good to go against different schemes too. Different players. We're going against each other every day. Same guys, same scheme. It gets a little bit old and it's a good way to switch it up.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Shanahan said the second day of joint practices sometimes leads to fights as the team that fared worse on the first day comes out more aggressive on day two. Shanahan said he and Broncos coach Sean Payton will script out the session ahead of time and that Denver will offer a stiff challenge thanks to one of the league's top defenses and a strong offensive line. 'I think the Broncos have a very good team,' Shanahan said. 'They were sneaky good last year. You could see them improve throughout the whole year. They got a bunch of good, young talent and they had a bunch of good players already. So, I expect them to be one of the better teams in the league this year.' ___ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jaguars veteran DT Arik Armstead now has a back injury that's sidelining him in camp
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Arik Armstead has yet to play a down in Jacksonville's training camp, a lingering absence that has the Jaguars concerned about his availability for the season opener. The 31-year-old defensive tackle opened camp last month watching from the sideline in what coach Liam Coen equated to giving him 'a little bit of a veteran start.' Now, two weeks later and with Armstead still without a practice rep, Coen said he is dealing with a back injury that has him on the shelf indefinitely. Although Coen expressed optimism that Armstead could be ready for the team's opener against Carolina on Sept. 7, he added 'it's hard for me to say right now.' 'Ultimately, he'll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,' Coen said Tuesday. 'The key is just making sure that he's healthy and ready to go for the first game. Ultimately, it's a long season, as we know. 'Not to say that early (games) aren't obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we're really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.' Armstead signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024 that included $28 million guaranteed. It was an eye-popping deal for a 6-foot-7, 290-pound player on the wrong side of 30 who missed 13 games over his final two seasons in San Francisco. Making the signing even more of a head-scratcher, Armstead was brought in to be a backup behind starting edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker — a decision the team believes will be fixed with Armstead now playing inside. 'Just being out there more I'm going to be more productive,' Armstead said. 'They're not paying me as a situational player.' Although Armstead saw action in all 17 games last season, he finished with just two sacks. His lack of production prompted him to ask coaches in mid-October to move back to his more natural position as a tackle. They declined. But it was far from a lost year for Armstead. He received the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given annually to one of 32 nominees to recognize their humanitarian efforts off the field. It was a career achievement that put Armstead in an exclusive club. But did it buy him any extra grace amid a new regime? Coen, first-year general manager James Gladstone and first-year executive vice president Tony Boselli already have dismantled most of what's widely considered the worst free-agent class in Jaguars history. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Last year's group included cornerback Ronald Darby (cut), receiver Gabe Davis (cut), returner Devin Duvernay (cut), center Mitch Morse (retired) and safety Darnell Savage (fighting to make the 53-man roster). Armstead's roster spot appears safe for now, especially since he has a guaranteed salary of $14 million this season. The Jaguars also liked what they saw from him during organized team activities and believe the position switch inside could get him closer to being the guy who had 33 1/2 sacks in nine years with the 49ers. 'I've got a good five years left in me,' Armstead said in the spring. 'I got a lot to prove, a lot to do, a lot to accomplish. I'm not stopping anytime soon. I still feel great. I know I can play at a high level. When that day comes where I feel like I can't play at a high level, I'll shut it down. But I don't see that happening anytime soon.' ___ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
5 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Titans hit the road for joint practices and preseason games against Bucs and Falcons
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans practiced in Music City on Wednesday morning and then headed out for their longest preseason road trip since the franchise left Texas in 1997. Second-year coach Brian Callahan scheduled not one, but two sets of joint practices around back-to-back road games starting Thursday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He sees nine nights away from Nashville as a way to create more of an old training camp vibe for a young team. 'That's sort of the intent of the whole trip,' Callahan said. 'Spend some time, get a chance to grow together, and then get to go play against some other teams.' Callahan also wants to hear the reviews from the Buccaneers, then the Atlanta Falcons on what they think of how the Titans compete. He sees this as a chance for a starting point of what the Titans can be this year. 'And get a change to do some things as a team on the road, some events together, things like that,' Callahan said. 'It's something I'm really looking forward to. Can't wait.' The Titans, who went 3-14 in Callahan's debut season, will be away from Nashville for nine straight nights. They won't practice again in Nashville until Aug. 19 before wrapping up the preseason by hosting Minnesota on Aug. 22. After opening this preseason Saturday night against Tampa Bay, the Titans go to Atlanta for two joint practices and a game Aug. 15. Left tackle Dan Moore has had only one joint practice with Pittsburgh, and that was last year. This will be a bit of a new experience, though Moore is familiar to going away to camp with the Steelers a regular at Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 'Obviously, we're on a business trip, but we'll have some free time, some downtime,' Moore said. 'We'll be in the hotel. Guys can hang out, do stuff together and go places, go eat, whatever. And I think that's a good time for us to just bond as team and build chemistry.' Bonding can only help a franchise that has added 37 free agents, nine drafted rookies and five more players added off waivers through Sunday — a total of 51 players in training camp. Safety Quandre Diggs isn't new after playing eight games for Tennessee last season before going on injured reserve. He signed Tuesday, and the Titans are easing him back into the mix. He recognizes a lot of faces on the roster, including his cousin, rookie quarterback Cam Ward. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'It's different when you walk in the locker room and you see your family, like real family,' the three-time Pro Bowl safety said of Ward. 'And so it was cool.' Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has been trying to throw every look possible at Ward to help prep the No. 1 draft pick overall for the season opener Sept. 7 at Denver. Now the Titans will get a glimpse of how other NFL defenses might challenge the rookie. 'He's a grown man to me,' wide receiver Calvin Ridley said of Ward. 'He's a confident guy, he's a guy that wants to be good.' ___ AP NFL:
