SPORTS digest

Scrappers rained out

BATAVIA

Sunday’s Mahoning Valley Scrappers game against the Batavia Muckdogs was postponed due to rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader today starting at 1 p.m.

Redskins safety talked out of retirement

ASHBURN, VA.

Washington Redskins players said safety Su’a Cravens had to be talked out of retiring, and his future with the team is in doubt.

The 22-year-old Cravens, Washington’s expected starter at strong safety, has been out since Aug. 15 following knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus, but was expected to return to practice this week to prepare for the season opener Sept. 10 against Philadelphia.

It was not immediately clear how the Redskins would designate Cravens, though he was not at practice on Sunday. Deshazor Everett is expected to start against the Eagles. Cravens’ uncertainty explains why Washington kept five safeties on its initial 53-man roster.

Coach Jay Gruden informed players of Cravens’ situation after practice Sunday.

Cravens, the organization’s second-round pick in 2016 after a stellar career at Southern California, saw significant playing time as a reserve linebacker in his rookie season while missing five games with a concussion and an arm injury.

Desperate for safety help, the Redskins believed the 6-foot-1, 224-pound Cravens could effectively transition to strong safety. He practiced there throughout the offseason and training camp before being injured three snaps into an Aug. 10 preseason game at Baltimore.

Lynx the top seed in WNBA playoffs

BUFFALO, N.Y.

The Youngstown State women’s soccer team’s four-game winning streak was snapped after a 5-0 loss at Buffalo on Sunday evening.

The Bulls (1-3) scored three times in the first half, including an own goal by YSU (4-2), and twice in the second half.

The Penguins managed 11 shots and six shots on goal, but none found the net. Leading YSU offensively was senior Marrisa Martin, who had four shots and three shots on goal.

Buffalo registered 16 shots, including 10 on goal.

The Penguins visit Eastern Michigan at 5 p.m. on Friday.

Belgium clinches spot in World Cup

Romelu Lukaku was on target Sunday to give Belgium a 2-1 win over Greece and a place at next year’s World Cup.

The Group H fixture was goalless until the 70th minute when Jan Vertonghen blasted the visitors into the lead with a fierce shot.

Greece responded three minutes later through Zeca, but only one more minute passed before Belgium retook the lead thanks to Lukaku’s header. It was the Manchester United forward’s 10th goal of the qualifying campaign.

Victory leaves the Belgians top with an unassailable eight-point lead over second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina. That makes Belgium the first European team confirmed for the World Cup besides host nation Russia.

Belgium is unbeaten in qualifying, with seven wins and a 1-1 draw at home to Greece in March.

Luxembourg frustrates France with 0-0 draw

TOULOUSE, FRANCE

Antoine Griezmann missed a straightforward early chance as France had more than 30 shots on goal but failed to score in a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to a resilient Luxembourg on Sunday.

Veteran goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert kept Les Bleus at bay, as the visitors frustrated a France side that now only leads Sweden by one point in Group A with two games remaining.

France has 17 points, with Sweden on 16 and the Netherlands on 13 after beating Bulgaria 3-1 at home.

France routed the Netherlands 4-0 on Thursday, but it was a frustrating night for coach Didier Deschamps’ side. Luxembourg almost stole victory when substitute Gerson Rodrigues hit the post with a fine solo run and shot 12 minutes from time.

Staff/wire report