KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The competition for the quarterback job behind Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City has become one worth watching. Blaine Gabbert was brought in to replace the retired Chad Henne, but the veteran has been pushed throughout training camp by Shane Buechele, a former undrafted free agent and practice squad staple. Chiefs coach Andy Reid called the competition “real close” as the Chiefs head into their preseason finale Saturday against Cleveland. The backup job has proven important in Kansas City, where Henne twice had to help the Chiefs navigate playoff wins on their way to reaching the Super Bowl.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker hit a two-run home run off Dylan Coleman in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night in a matchup of teams with the worst records in the major leagues. Zack Gelof, Jordan Diaz and Shea Langeliers also went deep for the MLB-worst Athletics (35-90), who snapped a three-game skid and won for the second time in 10 games. The Athletics won in front of their fifth-smallest crowd of the season (3,095) and avoided falling 56 games under .500 for the first time since 1920. Bobby Witt Jr. hit his 25th home run for Kansas City. The Royals (40-87) have dropped six of seven.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joshua Palacios hit a three-run home run and had a career-high five RBIs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat St. Louis 11-1, sending the last-place Cardinals to their fifth loss in six games. Palacios’ drive down the right-field line capped a four-run fourth inning to put the Pirates ahead 8-0 and chased starter Drew Rom, who was making his major-league debut. Palacios capped the scoring with a two-run double in the eighth. The Cardinals (55-71) remained in fifth place in the National League Central, falling 1 ½ games behind the Pirates (56-69). St. Louis hasn’t finished in last place since 1990.
UNDATED (AP) — Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michigan running back Blake Corum are among the returning first-team All-Americans who were selected to The Associated Press preseason All-America team. Notre Dame offensive tackle and Miami safety Kam Kinchens also followed up their All-America 2022 seasons by being named preseason All-Americans by AP Top 25 voters. Two-time defending national champion and No. 1 Georgia has the most players on the first team with four, including tight end Brock Bowers. Ohio State is next with three.
AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State confirmed running back Jirehl Brock has left the football program. Brock was among five projected football starters since Aug. 1 to be charged in the state's investigation of illegal sports wagering by Iowa State and Iowa athletes. All have been charged with tampering with records for allegedly attempting to disguise their identities on a mobile sports betting app account. Brock was the team's leading rusher last season. He's suspected of making more than 1,300 illegal wagers totaling over $12,000. He is accused of making bets on three Iowa State football games, two in which he played.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — American Sha’Carri Richardson won the women’s 100-meter world title. The 23-year-old outsprinted a star-studded field to take a gold medal two years after a positive marijuana test derailed her Olympic dreams. Running on the far outside in Lane 9, Richardson finished in 10.65 seconds to match the year’s best time and set the world-championship record. She beat Jamaicans Shericka Jackson by .07 seconds and five-time champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce by .12.
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — American sprinter Erriyon Knighton has often drawn comparisons to retired Jamaican great Usain Bolt. The 19-year-old Knighton doesn’t run away from those comparisons. He embraces the idea of following in Bolt’s footsteps and already is ahead of pace. He's eclipsed some of Bolt’s under-20 records. Knighton is convinced that someday he could surpass Bolt’s mark of 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters. Knighton is being pushed these days by American teammate Noah Lyles. Lyles is the two-time defending world champion in the 200. He also just won the 100-meter world title in Budapest.
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The sightseeing, beach trips and golf outings are over now for Team USA. It is vacation time in the NBA and USA Basketball went to great lengths to ensure that there would be a work-life balance for those who committed six weeks of their time with hopes of getting the Americans back atop the international stage. Now it's time to lock in on the World Cup. The U.S. men's team was flying to Manila on Monday and will spend the next few days going through final practice preparations before their opening game on Saturday against New Zealand. The Americans will be favored to win the tournament, but understand that it's not going to be easy to return home with the gold.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A review of hundreds of emails provides insight into the damage control that top New Mexico State University administrators undertook after news broke this year about allegations of hazing on the men's basketball team. More than 2,400 pages of documents released by the university in response to a records request by The Associated Press also show the disappointment and anger of fans and alumni over what many referred to as a “black eye” for the school. In an interview, Athletics Director Mario Moccia said the university is working through a list of 20 action items aimed at bolstering prevention. Posters are up in locker rooms and the university's new working group is focused efforts to change campus culture concerning hazing.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens’ NFL-record preseason winning streak ended at 24 with a loss to the Washington Commanders. Third-string quarterback Jake Fromm led a late drive to set up Joey Slye’s go-ahead 49-yard field goal that gave Washington a 29-28 victory. The Ravens lost a preseason game for the first time since 2015. Baltimore backup QB Josh Johnson and newly crowed Washington starter Sam Howell each threw for two touchdowns. Commanders No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin left the game with a toe injury late in the second quarter.
MONDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati at L-A Angels 9:38 p.m. (Postponed)
Final Chicago Cubs 7 Detroit 6
Final Arizona 4 Texas 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Seattle 14 Chicago White Sox 2
Final Houston 9 Boston 4
Final Oakland 6 Kansas City 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 10 San Francisco 4
Final Pittsburgh 11 St. Louis 1
Final N.Y. Mets 10 Atlanta 4
Final San Diego 6 Miami 2
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PRESEASON
Final Washington 29 Baltimore 28