Monday Sports Update – Sod Poodles Fall To Travelers

(Amarillo, Texas) – The Sod Poodles fell by a final score of 10-7 in game three to the Travelers in front of HODGETOWN’s fourth-largest crowd of 7,311 on Sunday evening. Soddies starter Jesse Scholtens tossed six quality innings Sunday night allowing two runs on five hits. Scholtens struck out seven Arkansas batters but received the no-decision for his efforts. Taylor Trammell led the Sod Poodles offensively batting 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and two runs scored. With the loss, Amarillo drops a game behind the Midland RockHounds in the Texas League second-half South Division standings with one game to go in the regular season. In order for a second-half clinch for Amarillo, the Sod Poodles must win and the RockHounds must lose Monday. The Sod Poodles wrap up the regular season today against the Travelers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m at HODGETOWN.

Verlander Throws No-Hitter Against Jays

(Toronto, Ontario) — Justin Verlander threw his third career no-hitter as the Astros beat the Blue Jays 2-0 in Toronto. He becomes the sixth pitcher to throw at least three-no hitters. He retired the last 26 batters after walking Cavan Biggio in the first. He threw a season-high 120 pitches and struck out 14. Rookie Abraham Toro hit a two-run homer with two-out in the ninth for Houston’s runs.

Mariners Rout Rangers

(Arlington, TX) — Rookie left-hander Brett Martin failed to make it out of the first inning in the Rangers’ 11-3 loss to the Mariners in Arlington. Martin was roughed up for four runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batter while retiring only two. Rougned Odor drove in two Texas runs. The Rangers split the four-game series with Seattle.

Rangers Going On Road

(Bronx, NY) — The Rangers will play their next seven games on the road beginning this afternoon against the Yankees in New York. Left-hander Mike Minor will start the opener for Texas, which is 27-and-42 on the road. The Rangers don’t return home until September 10th.

MLB National League
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Washington Nationals 9, Miami Marlins 3
St. Louis Cardinals 4, Cincinnati Reds 3 (G1)
Cincinnati Reds 5, St. Louis Cardinals 3 (G2)
Milwaukee Brewers 4, Chicago Cubs 0
Pittsburgh Pirates 6, Colorado Rockies 2
San Diego Padres 8, San Francisco Giants 4
Los Angeles Dodgers 4, Arizona Diamondbacks 3 (F/11)
Philadelphia Phillies 5, New York Mets 2

MLB American League
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New York Yankees 5, Oakland Athletics 4
Houston Astros 2, Toronto Blue Jays 0
Tampa Bay Rays 8, Cleveland Indians 2
Minnesota Twins 8, Detroit Tigers 3
Kansas City Royals 6, Baltimore Orioles 4
Seattle Mariners 11, Texas Rangers 3
Boston Red Sox 4, Los Angeles Angels 3

MLB Interleague
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Atlanta Braves 5, Chicago White Sox 3

Cowboys Inching Closer To Deal With Elliott

(Frisco, TX) — Multiple outlets report the Cowboys are drawing closer to finalizing a contract extension with Pro Bowl running back Ezekiel Elliott, who remains a hold out. While hurdles remain, progress has been made with hopes of getting Zeke to practice this week and in the lineup this coming Sunday for the season opener against the Giants. Dallas has reportedly made an offer that would make Elliott the second highest paid running back in the NFL. There are also reports the Cowboys picked up rookie quarterback Clayton Thorson, an Eagles fifth-round pick out of Northwestern who was cut.

Texans Acquire Tunsil, Trade Clowney

(Houston, TX) — It’s been a busy weekend for the Texans with four trades. Houston acquired left tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills from the Dolphins for draft picks, including two first-rounders and a second-rounder. They sent Pro Bowl pass rusher Jadeveon [[ juh-DEV-ee-uhn ]] Clowney to the Seahawks for linebackers Jacob Martin and Barkevious Mingo and a third-round 2020 pick. Houston cut former Pro Bowl left tackle Matt Kalil to save 5.25 million dollars. They also acquired running back Carlos Hyde in a trade with the Chief and cornerback Keion Crossen from the Patriots for a sixth-round draft pick. The Texans open the season a week-from-today, a Monday night game in New Orleans.

NFL Regular Season Kicks Off This Week

(Undated) — With the preseason officially wrapped up, the NFL kicks off the regular-season this week with 16 games. The Packers and Bears open things up on Thursday night in Chicago. The defending champion Patriots begin the year hosting the Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Two Monday night games will close out Week One, as the Texans visit the Saints and the Broncos battle the Raiders.

Erik Jones Wins At Darlington

(Darlington, SC) — Erik Jones is leaving the track “too tough to tame” with a win. Jones was able to hold off a push from Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch to win the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Larson would finish second while Busch took third. Kevin Harvick and Brad Keselowski rounded out the top five. There’s just one race left at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this upcoming weekend before the NASCAR Playoffs Begin.

Djokovic Retires With Shoulder Injury At U.S. Open; Serena Advances

(Flushing Meadows, NY) — Number-one seed Novak Djokovic was forced to retire three games into the third set of his fourth round match against Stanislas Wawrinka on Sunday due to a shoulder injury. Djokovic has been dealing with the injury throughout the U.S. Open. Wawrinka had won the first two sets and led in the third when the match was stopped. On the women’s side, Serena Williams cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Petra Martic.

FC Dallas Defeat FC Cincinnati

(Frisco, TX) — FC Dallas beat FC Cincinnati 3-1 on Saturday at Toyota Stadium. Ryan Hollingshead, Michael Barriors and Zdenek Ondrasek scored the Dallas goals. With the victory, Dallas climbs into the sixth slot in the Western Conference with 43 points. The top seven qualify for the playoffs.

Wings Lose To Mystics

(Arlington, TX) — The Dallas Wings fell 91-85 to the Washington Mystics at home on Saturday. Rookie Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 30 points. The Wings are on the road Wednesday at the Connecticut Sun.

Cougars Lose At Oklahoma

(Norman, OK) — The Houston Cougars opened the season with a 49-31 loss to the fourth-ranked Sooners at Oklahoma in a nationally televised game last night. Houston QB D’Eriq King completed 14-of-27 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 103 yards and another touchdown. Marquez Stevenson and Kyle Porter caught touchdown passes in defeat. It was the first Houston game for head coach Dana Holgorsen. The Cougars will host Prairie View this coming Saturday night.

College Football Roundup

(Undated) — Texas and Texas A&M will be in headline college gridiron matches this coming Saturday. Number-10 Texas will welcome sixth-ranked LSU to Austin. The number-11 Aggies will play at top-ranked Clemson. Big 12 schools TCU, Baylor and Texas Tech all kicked off the regular season with victories over the weekend. This coming Saturday, Baylor will host UTSA and UTEP will play Texas Tech in Lubbock, while the Frogs have the week off. SMU and North Texas State will meet this coming Saturday in Dallas after both opened with victories.