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Braves hammer Lester in his debut for Cardinals Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves hammered Jon Lester in his first start for the St. Louis Cardinals, scoring five runs in the first inning and cruising to a 6-1 victory Tuesday night. The 37-year-old Lester, acquired from Washington last week, allowed the first seven hitters to reach and did not record an out until his 27th pitch. by Associated Press Published Aug. 4 2021 @ 12:00am

Cease blanks Royals for six innings, White Sox win 7-1 Dylan Cease allowed one hit in six scoreless innings, matching a season high with 11 strikeouts, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Tuesday night. Tim Anderson and Andrew Vaughn homered for A.L. Central-leading Chicago, which had dropped 3-of-4 at fourth-place Kansas City last week. by Associated Press Published Aug. 4 2021 @ 12:00am

Scherzer eager to team up with Kershaw in Dodgers rotation Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw were part of the same draft class. Now they get to be on the same team. In his first comments since being acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Washington Nationals in a blockbuster trade last Friday, Scherzer said he's eager to team up with Kershaw and join a talented rotation as the defending World Series champions try to overtake the San Francisco Giants in the N.L. West. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 11:45pm

Pac-12, Big 12 commissioners consider alliances The commissioners of the Pac-12 and Big 12 met Tuesday to discuss how the conferences might benefit from working together or maybe even merging. Two people with knowledge of the meeting said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and George Kliavkoff from the Pac-12 were discussing the potential for strategic planning between the two conferences. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 11:44pm

Press Box: NHL quickly responds to Kane betting allegations One thing seems clear by glancing at social media surrounding San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane. He has some issues, and his wife says betting on his own team is one of them. Anna Kane said some other things, too, in an Instagram post during the weekend that also accused the hockey player of partying in Europe while the bank was going after their house and she was struggling to buy formula for their baby. by Tim Dahlberg/The Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 11:43pm

Chastain to drive No. 1 for NASCAR'S Trackhouse Racing Trackhouse Racing has signed Ross Chastain as its second Cup Series driver in a multiyear deal announced Tuesday. The 28-year-old Chastain currently drives the No. 42 Chevrolet for Chip Ganassi Racing. Trackhouse purchased the Ganassi operation in late June in a deal that takes effect at the end of this season and includes both of Ganassi's Cup Series charters. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 11:42pm

Durant scores 29 as U.S. reaches Olympic semifinals Back and forth they went, the three-time defending Olympic champions from the U.S. on one side, the reigning Basketball World Cup champions from Spain on the other. The difference: The Americans had Kevin Durant. Durant scored 29 points to keep his quest for a third Olympic title alive, and the Americans are headed to the medal round after ousting Spain 95-81 on Tuesday in a quarterfinal matchup at the Tokyo Games. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:30pm

Warholm wins record-setting hurdles race When brash Norwegian hurdler Karsten Warholm led the field to the starting line on a steamy afternoon at Olympic Stadium, he and his seven opponents had every reason to expect they'd be part of something special. It turned out to be more than that. This gathering of the world's best 400-meter hurdlers Tuesday produced a gold medal for Warholm, a world record, a masterpiece and slice of history. It also might have been one of the best races ever run. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:25pm

Thompson-Herah finishes with sprint sweep with 200-meter title It was billed as a star-studded race that anyone could win. So long as that person's name was Elaine. Elaine Thompson-Herah blew away a much-decorated field in the 200 meters Tuesday night. The latest sprint star from Usain Bolt's island country of Jamaica completed her second straight Olympic sprint sweep in 21.53 seconds, the second-fastest time in history. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:21pm

Biles returns to Olympic competition, wins bronze on beam Simone Biles stuck the landing. The American gymnastics superstar won bronze during the balance beam final Tuesday, a week after she took herself out of several competitions to focus on her mental health. Biles earned her seventh career Olympic medal, tied with Shannon Miller for the most by an American in gymnastics, by drilling a slightly watered-down version of her usual routine in front of a crowd that included IOC president Thomas Bach. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:16pm

Belarus sprinter says punishment awaited her back home A Belarusian Olympic sprinter who had a public feud with officials from her team at the Tokyo Games said Tuesday they "made it clear" she would face punishment if she returned home to an autocratic government that has relentlessly stifled any criticism. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:07pm

Sumo scare? Riders say horses might be spooked by statue Equestrian jumpers aren't keen on surprises. Neither are the horses, and it takes years of training to keep them from getting spooked. Of course, no horse in Tuesday night's Olympic jumping qualifier had ever seen anything like obstacle No. 10. "As you come around, you see a big guy's (butt)," British rider Harry Charles said. by Associated Press Published Aug. 3 2021 @ 9:01pm

Big 12 could lose half of TV value with UT/OU exit AUSTIN, Texas — The Big 12 Conference could see the value of its television deal cut in half once Texas and Oklahoma bolt for the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said at a hearing of Texas lawmakers. A committee of Texas senators heard testimony from university leaders at Baylor, TCU and Texas Tech on the monetary and academic losses conference realignment would mean for the Big 12 and its members once Texas and Oklahoma leave for the SEC in 2025. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:24pm

Kelce returns to practice after back, hip soreness ST. JOSEPH — Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce returned to practice Monday after missing some time with tightness in his back and hips, and safety Armani Watts was back on the field after he'd been placed on the PUP list with a foot injury. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:18pm

Bruce latest Ram set for Hall of Fame Isaac Bruce would love to see "The Greatest Show on Turf" playing with today's NFL rules. No head-hunting safeties. No handsy cornerbacks. No limits to what the St. Louis Rams' offense could do. "We'd probably have to call off the dogs," Bruce said. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:16pm

Cousins out, QB shortage irks Zimmer EAGAN, Minn. — Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has expressed confidence in the strength of his team's chemistry to supersede any potential tension between players vaccinated for COVID-19 and holdouts who've so far preferred to remain unvaccinated. Frustration from the starting quarterback missing practice due to NFL virus protocols prompted Zimmer to ponder the possibility of this becoming a regular season problem or rift, with Kirk Cousins sidelined for a third straight day from team activity. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:15pm

After a fall, busy Hassan gets a gold TOKYO — Sifan Hassan pointed to her left shoulder. "I have pain here," she said. Then, her right leg. "Pain here." Then, she dropped her hands to her sides in exhaustion, too tired to explain it anymore. "Pain there." by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:15pm

Colts' QB Wentz out 5-12 weeks with broken foot WESTFIELD, Ind. — Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich couldn't wait to start working with quarterback Carson Wentz on the field. He'll have to wait at least five more weeks — perhaps longer. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:13pm

Acts of kindness abound at an extraordinary Olympics TOKYO — A surfer jumping in to translate for the rival who'd just beaten him. High-jumping friends agreeing to share a gold medal rather than move to a tiebreaker. Two runners falling in a tangle of legs, then helping each other to the finish line. In an extraordinary Olympic Games where mental health has been front and center, acts of kindness are everywhere. The world's most competitive athletes have been captured showing gentleness and warmth to one another — celebrating, pep-talking, wiping away one another's tears of disappointment. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:12pm

U.S. women fall 1-0 to Canada in soccer semifinals KASHIMA, Japan — Carli Lloyd, clutch in so many critical moments for the U.S. women's soccer team, failed to connect Monday night against Canada and the Americans won't play for a fifth Olympic gold medal. Lloyd's look in the 86th minute with the United States trailing by a goal hit the crossbar as Canada won 1-0 and dropped the Americans into the bronze medal match. It is the second straight Olympics that the U.S. failed to reach the gold medal game. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:07pm

Bullpen woes cost U.S. in loss to Japan YOKOHAMA, Japan — Brandon Dickson, a 36-year-old nine seasons removed from the major leagues, was the first out of the bullpen and the first to stumble. Edwin Jackson, a 37-year-old released by five big league teams, was the last. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:06pm

Lowry, Paul move quickly in NBA free agency Point guards were the immediate focus when the NBA's free agency window opened Monday night, with Kyle Lowry headed to the Miami Heat, Lonzo Ball on his way to the Chicago Bulls while Chris Paul and Mike Conley landed lucrative deals to remain with their current teams. by Associated Press Published Aug. 2 2021 @ 11:04pm

U.S. JV lineup upsets Mexico 1-0 to win Gold Cup LAS VEGAS — Miles Robinson scored on a header in the 117th minute, and a United States junior varsity lineup upset a mostly front-line Mexico team 1-0 on Sunday night to win the CONCACAF Cup. by Associated Press Published Aug. 1 2021 @ 11:57pm