SPORTS HEADLINES

Joshua Báez of the Cardinals hits 3 homers in his first 3 at-bats in a historic major league debut

CHICAGO (AP) — Joshua Báez became the first player to hit a home run in each of his first three at-bats in the majors, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday. Called up from Triple-A Memphis before the game, Báez had 30 members of his family in attendance at Wrigley Field. The traveling party, which included his mother, Yris, gathered on the field for photos afterward in spite of rain. He hit the first pitch he saw from Matthew Boyd an estimated 449 feet. The left fielder’s next at-bat ended with a solo shot down the left-field line and the third, on his ensuing at-bat, went the opposite way.

WNBA icons say the discourse and scrutiny around the league are part of the growing pains of success

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — During Hall of Fame weekend, nearly everyone would like the attention to be on basketball, but it’s difficult to ignore the conversations that are swirling around the WNBA — especially with some of the league’s greatest icons being enshrined. The ongoing vitriol centered around race, gender and sexuality makes for daily headlines for the league while the impressive play on the court in the WNBA’s 30th year often gets overshadowed. Hall of Famer Dawn Staley, who is getting inducted again with the 1996 Olympic women’s basketball team, sees a lot of parallels between what the WNBA is going through and what the NBA went through in its earlier stages.

Seahawks, CB Devon Witherspoon agree to 4-year, $132 million deal, AP source says

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks and cornerback Devon Witherspoon have agreed to a four-year, $132 million contract extension, with $101 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract, which would make Witherspoon the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, hasn’t been finalized. On March 26, the Seahawks exercised their fifth-year option on Witherspoon, but elected to sign him to a long-term deal on the same day they started preseason play against the Dallas Cowboys.

Scottie Scheffler with a 68 builds a two-shot lead over Sam Burns and Sungjae Im in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has had five runner-up finishes and five top 4s since his lone victory this year in January. Now he sees if he can get another trophy. He shot a 68 and has a two-shot lead over Sam Burns and Sungjae Im. Burns shot a 62. He and Scheffler are close friends and will be in the final group together for the first time. Im shot a 67. Sunday is not just about who wins. The top 50 in the FedEx Cup advance in the postseason and are assured of playing the $20 million signature events next year.

Three-time MVP Aaron Judge plays catch for first time in rehab from broken rib, return date unclear

TORONTO (AP) — Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge played catch in New York on Friday as he continues working toward a return from a broken right rib. Judge hasn’t played since May 31, but the three-time AL MVP has said he intends to return this season. He was cleared to begin light workout activity on Aug. 5. Manager Aaron Boone spoke to Judge and said the slugger responded well to throwing for the first time in his rehab. However, Boone didn’t know when Judge might be ready to rejoin the Yankees.

Blue Jays put six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on 7-day IL because of concussion symptoms

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays put six-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the seven-day IL Saturday because of concussion symptoms and selected outfielder Daz Cameron from Triple-A Buffalo. To make room on the 40-man roster, right-hander Lazaro Estrada was designated for assignment. Also Saturday, Toronto recalled left-hander Ricky Tiedemann and optioned right-hander Chase Lee to Triple-A.

Novak Djokovic ousted from Cincinnati Open in his first match since Wimbledon

MASON, Ohio (AP) — Novak Djokovic’s stay at the Cincinnati Open was a short one. The 24-time major champion fell to Thiago Agustin Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday in a match that took 2 hours, 44 minutes in hot and humid conditions. A 25-year-old from Argentina, Tirante is ranked No. 50 in the world. The 39-year-old Djokovic was playing for the first time since his loss to top-ranked Jannik Sinner in the semifinals at Wimbledon. Up next for Djokovic is the U.S. Open, which starts Aug. 30. Djokovic appeared to struggle physically in the heat and had his 10-match winning streak in Cincinnati snapped. He won the title in 2020 and 2023.

Kate Douglass blazes to 50 free world record in Pan Pacific prelims

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Kate Douglass has set a world record in the women’s 50-meter freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships. The 24-year-old American finished in 23.49 seconds during the preliminary heats in Irvine, California. Douglass broke the previous mark of 23.55 set by teammate Gretchen Walsh in June at an international meet in Rome. Walsh swam in the heat after Douglass and touched in 23.78 seconds. They qualify as the top two for the evening final. It’s the first individual world record set at the meet that includes swimmers from Australia, Japan, Canada, and China, among other countries.

Judge sides with MSG against Oakley, says the former Knick couldn’t prove he was assaulted at game

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge sided with Madison Square Garden in its lengthy legal battle with Charles Oakley on Friday, saying that the former New York Knicks All-Star had not proven he was assaulted when he was removed from a game he attended in 2017. Oakley was handcuffed and arrested after an altercation with security while sitting near owner James Dolan. Oakley initially brought a number of claims against MSG that were dismissed in February 2020. After appeal, Oakley’s assault-and-battery claim remained. But Judge Richard J. Sullivan of the Southern District of New York ruled that Oakley “has produced no evidence to support his claim that he was assaulted by MSG security guards.”

Fever fans cheer Stephanie White as Caitlin Clark and Indiana continue surge after recent tumult

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Stephanie White was greeted by cheers instead of boos. And the Indiana Fever and their fans had plenty of reasons to be happy before the night was over. Caitlin Clark had 29 points and 10 assists in an entertaining duel with fellow No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers, and the Fever beat the Dallas Wings 98-87 on Friday night in a rare game that wasn’t marred by on-court or off-court controversies. White had drawn the wrath of Fever fans earlier this week after what some saw as her downplaying a flagrant foul by Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington on Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham.