WEDNESDAY SPORTS PAGE: SASK UPSETS WINNIPEG

A game-winning three pointer by Justin Wright-Foreman helped the Saskatchewan Rattlers (5-9) pull off a 99-96 upset against the Winnipeg Sea Bears (9-6) at the Canada Life Centre. Wright-Foreman finished with a team-high 26 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds to keep the Rattlers in playoff contention, and prevent the Sea Bears from clinching a playoff position on home court. 

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Elias Diaz hit a two-run homer off Felix Bautista in the eighth inning, and the National League snapped a nine-game losing streak in the All-Star Game with a 3-2 win over the American League. The NL won for the first time since an 8-0 victory in 2012 in Kansas City thanks to Diaz, a catcher who became the first Rockies player to win the All-Star MVP award.

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Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano left the All-Star Game because of back tightness. The 30-year-old right-hander relieved to start the seventh inning and retired Will Smith on a flyout. Lourdes Gurriel Junior followed with a fly deep down the left-field line that initially was called a home run by Ryan Blakney but was reversed by replay umpire Jim Wolf in a video review. While the review was taking place, Detroit’s Michael Lorenzen relieved.

Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the post-season but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success. In the first season of the clock, the average time of a nine-inning game is two hours 38 minutes, on track to be the fastest since 1984. It is down by 26 minutes from last year and 31 minutes from 2021, the last season before PitchCom was introduced.

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The NBA’s board of governors has approved two rule changes for the coming season. One change gives coaches a second challenge if their first one is successful. The other will mean a technical foul will be called against players who flop. Coaches who challenge a call and are successful will get the chance to make a second challenge.

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Northwestern University has decided to retain its assistant football coaches and support staff for the 2023 season after it fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald amid a hazing scandal. Athletic director Derrick Gragg informed the coaches and staff of the decision during a meeting. There was no announcement by the school when it comes to the leadership of the program after Fitzgerald’s dismissal.

(CEBL Comms, CP)