SPORTS DIGEST || Scrappers end trip with loss to Muckdogs

Scrappers end trip with loss to Muckdogs

Batavia, N.Y.

For the second straight night the Mahoning Valley Scrappers saw their offense held in check by Batavia Muckdogs’ pitching.

The Scrappers scored a run in the first but stranded eight runners in a 5-1 loss at Dwyer Stadium.

In the top of the first inning with two outs, Nolan Jones hit a solo home run for the Scrappers’ only lead.

Batavia took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Thomas Jones tripled and scored when Terry Bennett singled. Bennet scored on a double by Jared Barnes.

The Muckdogs added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull away.

Eli Morgan (3-2) started and took the loss in two-and-two-thirds innings. He allowed two earned runs on five hits. Morgan walked one and struck out five.

Maiker Manzanillo followed with three-and-a-third innings of relief. He allowed two hits and struck out three. Francisco Lopez allowed two earned runs on one hit in the inning he pitched. Lopez walked three and struck out one. Ping-Hsueh Chen worked the final inning. Chen allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out one.

The Scrappers are home tonight to play the State College Spikes.

Source: Cavs complete Irving deal with Celtics

CLEVELAND

A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Cavaliers have finalized their blockbuster deal with Boston involving All-Star guards Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas by getting another draft pick from the Celtics.

The Cavs will get a second-round pick in 2020 to complete the package, said the person who spoke Wednesday night to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the NBA has to sign off on the agreement.

ESPN first reported the deal was done.

The Cavs had balked at pushing the trade through last week after Thomas underwent a physical. He tore a labrum last season in the playoffs. Cleveland wanted Boston to sweeten the deal.

Irving demanded a trade in July and the Cavs pulled off the swap by sending their second-best player to the Celtics for Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and an unconditional first-round pick next year.

Ex-Villanova coach Massimino dies at 82

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.

Rollie Massimino, who led Villanova’s storied run to the 1985 NCAA championship and won more than 800 games in his career, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 82.

Massimino’s death was announced by Keiser University, where he was still the men’s basketball coach. He spent the final days of his life in Hospice care.

Best known for that national title at Villanova, Massimino also coached at Stony Brook, UNLV and Cleveland State. Massimino spent the last 11 years of his life at Keiser, where he started the program and turned it into an NAIA power.

He was a finalist for enshrinement in the Basketball Hall of Fame this year. Massimino is survived by his wife, five children and 17 grandchildren.

Sharapova moves into third round of US Open

NEW YORK

No one, not even Maria Sharapova herself, knew quite what to expect from her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open.

It had been 19 months since she had entered a major tournament. She played only nine times anywhere since returning from a 15-month doping suspension in April.

Sharapova became the first woman into the third round at the U.S. Open by using 12 aces to help set aside a poor start and coming back to beat Timea Babos of Hungary 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Two other past U.S. Open champions, Juan Martin del Potro and Svetlana Kuznetsova won in the afternoon, while two-time winner Venus Williams faced Oceane Dodin of France at night.

Staff and wire reports