SPORTS digest

State College bats beat up Scrappers

NILES

The State College Spikes sprinkled in three doubles and two home runs among their 14 hits while beating the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 8-1, Thursday night.

Luis Flores opened the scoring with a three-run home run in the second inning and Daniel Gomez hit a two-run homer in the ninth. The Scrappers’ Joab Gonzalez hit an RBI-single in the fifth for the home side’s only run.

Daniel Espino took the loss by giving up three runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six in three innings.

YSU strikes promotion deal with local Rally’s

Youngstown

Youngstown State fans can enjoy a Big Buford sandwich from Rally’s when the football and men’s and women’s basketball teams earn home wins in 2019-20.

YSU will post celebratory coupons on its Facebook (Youngstown State Penguins) and Twitter (@YSUsports) following home victories. Fans can use the coupons to receive a free Big Buford with the purchase of either a small fry or small drink from the local participating Rally’s. The two area Rally’s are located on 3219 Belmont Ave., in Youngstown and 519 South Street SW in Warren.

The coupons are good for one week following the Penguins’ victory.

YSU’s first home football game of the season is on Sept. 7 against Howard. The men’s and women’s basketball teams are slated to open their home seasons on Nov. 5.

Orioles to add netting in Camden Yards

BALTIMORE

The Baltimore Orioles are extending the protective netting at Camden Yards in an effort to protect fans from foul balls hit into the seats.

The netting will extend down each foul line to near each foul pole and is expected to be in place for Baltimore’s next home game on Sept. 5 against Texas.

In a statement Thursday, the Orioles deemed the extended and raised protective netting to be “the best and safest option” for fans seated in the lower deck of the stadium.

Nets’ Wilson Chandler suspended 25 games

NEW YORK

Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler has been suspended 25 games without pay by the NBA for testing positive for Ipamorelin, a drug that increases the release of growth hormone.

The league says Thursday that Chandler’s suspension will begin with the first regular-season game in which he is healthy and eligible to play.

The Nets signed the veteran forward during their busy offseason. He could play a valuable role in the absence of Kevin Durant, who is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Mercedes chooses to retain Bottas

BRACKLEY, England

Valtteri Bottas is staying on for a fourth straight year with Mercedes in Formula One.

The British-based team says it has exercised the option to keep the 30-year-old Finnish driver for the 2020 season as the teammate of world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas has won twice this year and is second in the drivers’ standings with 188 points, 62 behind Hamilton.

US women coast past Portugal

PHILADELPHIA

Carli Lloyd had a goal and an assist in front of her hometown fans, and the U.S. women’s national team continued its post-World Cup victory tour with a 4-0 win over Portugal in front of a record crowd on Thursday night.

The announced attendance of 49,504 at Lincoln Financial Field was the largest ever for a stand-alone friendly game for the U.S. women, breaking the previous mark of 44,028 set in Pittsburgh during the team’s 2015 victory tour.

Tobin Heath, Morgan Brian and Allie Long also scored for the U.S., which has won 15 consecutive matches for the first time since 1996. Christen Press had two assists.

Staff/wire report