MLB: Red Sox rip Royals
Jarrod Saltalamacchia pounded a three-run homer, left-hander Andrew Miller gave Red Sox manager Terry Francona precisely what he was looking for and Boston rolled to a 7-1 victory over the Royals last night in Kansas City.
Miller (5-1) allowed one run on three hits and a pair of walks over 5 1/3innings. Adrian Gonzalez added three hits and a sacrifice fly for Boston.
Boston (76-48) remained a half-game behind the Yankees in the AL East.
* Nationals manager Davey Johnson thinks teenage prospect Bryce Harper probably will miss the rest of his minor league season after injuring his right hamstring.
* The Cubs fired general manager Jim Hendry yesterday.
* Third baseman Chipper Jones said he’s definitely playing for the Braves in 2012.
NCAA: Mizzou in no rush
The University of Missouri chancellor said the school will wait for the results of an NCAA investigation at Miami before making any decisions about the future of new men’s basketball coach Frank Haith. Former Hurricanes booster Nevin Shapiro told Yahoo! Sports that Haith, a former UM assistant, was aware of an alleged $10,000 payment to recruit DeQuan Jones in 2008.
* UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway reached a settlement agreement with the university and announced his retirement yesterday.
GOLF: Gainey in lead
In Greensboro, N.C., Tommy Gainey shot a 65 to move to 12-under 128 and take a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the Wyndham Championship. Ernie Els (66), Webb Simpson (65), Stuart Appleby (67) and Daniel Summerhays (65) were at 131.
* In North Plains, Ore., Na Yeon Choi double-bogeyed the par-4 final hole, but her 6-under 65 held up for the first-round lead at the LPGA Safeway Classic.
HOOPS: China restricts NBA
State media says the Chinese Basketball Association will bar NBA players under contract from playing for domestic teams in the event the NBA season is canceled.
* Former Seton Hall forward Jeff Robinson has signed to play in Austria in the country’s “A” league.
ETC: Kentucky blanks Pa.
In the Little League World Series, Kentucky pitcher Griffin McLarty struck out 12 and hit a homer in a 1-0 win over Pennsylvania, the hometown favorites from Clinton County, just 30 miles down the road from South Williamsport.
* Greg Biffle won the pole for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Brooklyn, Mich.