CINCINNATI (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. homered, doubled and singled to boost his major league-leading average to .352, Michael Lorenzen pitched into the sixth inning to get his first win since being traded and the Kansas City Royals beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-1 in the opener of an interleague series. The Royals’ All-Star shortstop hit a four-seam fastball from Nick Martinez 430 feet into the upper deck for his 25th homer in the fourth inning. He doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the sixth and had an infield single in the seventh.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mookie Betts and Kevin Kiermaier homered in a five-run sixth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers came back to beat the skidding St. Louis Cardinals 7-6. The offensive outburst gave Justin Wrobleski his first major league win. The left-hander was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day to make his fifth career start. Wrobleski allowed four runs and four hits — including three homers — in five innings as the NL West leaders stopped a two-game skid. Michael Kopech earned his 10th save this season and first with the Dodgers since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox last month. Kiermaier’s three-run homer in the sixth gave the Dodgers a 7-4 lead.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The launch of Venu Sports will be delayed after a federal judge granted FuboTV’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the planned sports streaming venture by ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery. United States District Judge Margaret M. Garnett in the Southern District of New York said in her 69-page ruling that Fubo was likely to be successful in proving that the joint venture would violate antitrust laws. Fubo TV filed the lawsuit two weeks after ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. Discovery and Hulu announced their plans to offer a sports streaming service on Feb. 6.
DETROIT (AP) — A former Michigan football staff member at the center of a sign-stealing scandal is running the defense at a Detroit high school. Connor Stalions is the defensive coordinator at Mumford. Coach William McMichael says, "The kids all love him and we’re all learning from him.” Stalions is accused of running an advance-scouting scheme for more than two years at Michigan. He sent people to games involving Michigan’s future opponents to digitally record signals. Stalions hasn't talked publicly about the allegations. The NCAA is investigating.
UNDATED (AP) — The Big 12 is bigger even after losing two national champions. Mike Gundy is going into his 20th season as 17th-ranked Oklahoma State’s head coach and expects a lot of parity in what is now a 16-team league. Four schools were added from the dismembered Pac-12 while Oklahoma and Texas went to the SEC. Coach Kyle Whittingham is going into his 20th season with newcomer Utah, the league’s highest-ranked team in The Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll at No. 12. Deion Sanders-coached Colorado, Arizona and Arizona State are also Big 12 newcomers.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah is the preseason pick to win the Big 12 championship. Key offensive playmakers Cam Rising, Brant Kuithe, and Micah Bernard are back after being sidelined with injuries a year ago. Keeping those players healthy will be a key to the 12th-ranked Utes making their third successful conference title run in four seasons. Injuries cost the Utes a shot at a third consecutive Pac-12 title in their final season in the league. This is their first season in the Big 12.
UNDATED (AP) — This tumultuous and uncertain period of college football, with rules about player compensation and transfers seemingly changing every six months, has made more than a few coaches — including Nick Saban — question whether the job is really for them anymore. For younger coaches such as Oregon running backs coach Ra'Shaad Samples — the potential head coaches of the future — evolution is everything. Thirty-something head coaches such as the Rams' Sean McVay Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and now Oregon’s Dan Lanning have taught Samples: It’s not about keeping up with trends, but being a trendsetter.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Hideki Matsuyama and Denny McCarthy are tied for the lead going into the weekend at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. They both relied on putting at the TPC Southwind, combining for nearly 300 feet of made putts. Matsuyama had a 64 and McCarthy a 63. They were one shot ahead of Sam Burns. Scottie Scheffler had a bogey-free 65 and was two shots behind. This is the first playoff event, and only the top 50 in the FedEx Cup advance to next weeks. Among those on the ropes is Jordan Spieth. He shot a 75 and was toward the bottom.
FRIDAY SCORES
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 6 Toronto 5
Final Kansas City 7 Cincinnati 1
Final Pittsburgh 5 Seattle 3
Final Tampa Bay 5 Arizona 4
Final Milwaukee 5 Cleveland 3
Final L.A. Angels 3 Atlanta 2
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 3 Detroit 0
Final Boston 12 Baltimore 10
Final Minnesota 4 Texas 3
Final Chicago White Sox 5 Houston 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Philadelphia 3 Washington 2
Final N.Y. Mets 7 Miami 3
Final L.A. Dodgers 7 St. Louis 6
Final Colorado 7 San Diego 3