KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Michael Lorenzen pitched seven shutout innings, MJ Melendez homered and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 3-0 on Wednesday for their sixth win in seven games. The Royals spoiled the season debut of Johnny Cueto, a 17-year veteran who helped Kansas City win the 2015 World Series. He allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings and left the mound to an ovation from the Kansas City crowd. Lorenzen allowed four hits, two walks, a hit batter and struck out five. Lucas Erceg worked a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his sixth save and fourth with the Royals.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam in the 10th inning to give the St. Louis Cardinals a 10-6 comeback victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. Arenado’s fifth career walk-off homer and sixth career grand slam gave the Cardinals their second win in their last eight games and snapped the Brewers’ six-game winning streak. The Brewers led 6-4 after Joey Ortiz’s two-run double in the eighth inning. But the Cardinals capitalized on Devin Williams’ control issues. Williams hit Willson Contreras to start the ninth and St. Louis tied the game at 6-all with bases loaded walks to Matt Carpenter and Tommy Pham. Ryan Helsley (5-4) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win.
NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jesse Winker led off the ninth inning with his first home run for the New York Mets, giving them another rousing 4-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Mets starter Sean Manaea retired his first 17 batters and Mark Vientos put New York ahead 3-2 with a solo homer in the seventh. Francisco Lindor also went deep and J.D. Martinez drove in a run with a grounder to help the Mets take two of three in the series. Austin Slater had a two-run homer for the Orioles. In the series opener Monday night, it was Francisco Alvarez’s solo homer in the ninth that gave the Mets a 4-3 victory.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix was informed Wednesday that he'd won the Denver Broncos' starting quarterback job. That means he'll be the 14th different player to start at quarterback for the Broncos since Peyton Manning retired in 2016. Nix was the 12th player and sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL draft. He started 61 games at Auburn and Oregon, which is the most by a quarterback in NCAA history. Nix beat out incumbent Jarrett Stidham and trade acquisition Zach Wilson, whom the Broncos acquired from the New York Jets in April.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Deshaun Watson is dealing with what the Browns describe as “general arm soreness.” That development could impact whether Cleveland’s quarterback makes his preseason debut this week. The Browns stopped Watson from throwing during Wednesday’s practice. Coach Kevin Stefanski said he's not "overly concerned” by the soreness. Watson had shoulder surgery in November to repair a fracture that ended his second season with Cleveland after six starts. Stefanski has not decided if or how much Watson will play on Saturday when the Browns visit Seattle Seahawks. Also, Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. has been released from a hospital after suffering a rib injury in practice.
UNDATED (AP) — The impact of the NCAA ruling granting an extra year of eligibility as a result of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season remains apparent four years later as players extend their college careers into their mid-20s.Hundreds of Football Bowl Subdivision players are in their sixth season of eligibility and dozens are in their seventh year or later. Miami tight end Cam McCormick is entering his ninth season of eligibility at the age of 26. No. 17 Oklahoma State has two seventh-year players in quarterback Alan Bowman and linebacker Justin Wright. Fourteen other Oklahoma State players are entering their sixth seasons.
UNDATED (AP) — Superconferences and a 12-team College Football Playoff make this season more difficult to predict than ever, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. Georgia and Ohio State appear to be the closest thing to locks. The Southeastern Conference could have a third of the field, and still not get Alabama in. There will be some surprises, too. Wisconsin and Virginia Tech, anybody?
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler could have skipped the BMW Championship. He already is practically assured of the top seed going to the FedEx Cup finale this week. Castle Pines is not only at mile-high altitude south of Denver, it's new to 48 out of the 50 players in the field. But Scheffler is setting his sights on another trophy. He already has six of them this year, along with an Olympic gold medal. At stake for the other 50 players is making sure they get into the top 30 in the FedEx Cup and qualify for the season finale.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Bobby Hurley is returning to Duke’s Cameron Indoor Stadium for a charity exhibition game with his Arizona State basketball team. The Sun Devils and Blue Devils will play the game on Oct. 27 with benefits going to the Duke Children’s Hospital. Hurley won two national championships and was a first-team All-American under former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski from 1989-93. Hurley is still the NCAA’s all-time assists leader with 1,076. Hurley has spent the past nine seasons coaching at Arizona State.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final N.Y. Mets 4 Baltimore 3
Final Texas 1 Pittsburgh 0
Final Chicago White Sox 6 San Francisco 2
Final Minnesota 11 San Diego 4
Final Cincinnati 11 Toronto 7
Final Detroit 8 Chicago Cubs 2
Final L.A. Dodgers 8 Seattle 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Boston 4 Houston 1
Final N.Y. Yankees 8 Cleveland 1
Final Kansas City 3 L.A. Angels 0
Final Tampa Bay 4 Oakland 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Washington 6 Colorado 1
Final Philadelphia 3 Atlanta 2
Final Arizona 10 Miami 8