MLB-SCHEDULE
Twins top Dodgers as Kershaw throws perfect game for 7 innings
UNDATED (AP) — Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game through seven innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his season debut before being pulled. Kershaw dominated the Minnesota Twins with 13 strikeouts in 21 batters in a 7-0 victory.
Manager Dave Roberts pulled Kershaw after 80 pitches on a cold afternoon at Target Field. Alex Vesia relieved for the eighth. He gave up Minnesota’s first and only hit, a single by Gary Sánchez. Cody Bellinger, Gavin Lux and Austin Barnes hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the eighth against Twins reliever Dereck Rodriguez.
Elsewhere in the majors:
— Josiah Gray allowed one hit in five scoreless innings, and the Washington Nationals beat Max Fried (freed) and the Atlanta Braves 3-1. The Nationals won two of three in the series, dropping the World Series champions to 3-4 on their opening homestand. Gray struck out five, walked three and also hit a batter. His only trouble came in the fifth, when he hit Adam Duvall amd walked Alex Dickerson with two outs before striking out Manny Piña. Austin Riley homered off Kyle Finnegan in the sixth.
— Ben Gamel hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Ke’Bryan Hayes went 4 for 4 a day after getting a big contract and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 for a two-game series split. Kevin Newman hit a two-run triple in the third for the Pirates, who went 3 for 7 with runners in scoring position, a day after going 0 for 10. Seiya Suzuki was 1 for 3 with an RBI single in the fourth. He is 6 for 20 (.400) with three homers and nine RBIs in six games.
MLB-NEWS
AP Source: Bauer leave extended through April 22
UNDATED (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave has been extended yet again, this time by six additional days through April 22. That’s according to a person familiar with the proceedings, who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was authorized.
Bauer was placed on seven days’ paid leave last July 2 under the joint domestic violence and sexual assault policy of MLB and the union after a Southern California woman said he choked her into unconsciousness, punched her repeatedly and had anal sex with her without her consent during two sexual encounters earlier last year. MLB and the union have since agreed to several extensions.
Bauer’s agents, Jon Fetterolf and Rachel Luba, have repeatedly pointed out that administrative leave is not a disciplinary action.
In other MLB news:
— Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase gets a $2 million signing bonus and $1.5 million salaries this season and next as part of his $20 million, five-year contract with the Cleveland Guardians, a deal that could be worth $38 million over seven seasons. Clase gets $2.5 million in 2024, $4.5 million in 2025 and $6 million in 2026. Cleveland has a $10 million club option for 2027 with a $2 million buyout and a $10 million team option for 2028 with a $10 million buyout. Clase would get a $1 million assignment bonus if traded.
NFL-NEWS
AP source: Raiders give Carr 3-year extension
UNDATED (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press that the Las Vegas Raiders have given quarterback Derek Carr a three-year contract extension worth $121.5 million.
The eight-year veteran was entering the final year of his deal, worth nearly $19.8 million in base salary. That contract was for five years at $125 million, the richest in the NFL at the time he signed it in 2017.
Despite all sorts of turmoil with the Raiders last season, including the resignation of coach Jon Gruden, Carr helped them to the playoffs as a wild card in the tough AFC West. He threw for a career-high 4,804 yards and 23 touchdowns as Las Vegas went 10-7 before losing at Cincinnati in the postseason.
In other NFL news:
— Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson has signed his franchise tender that guarantees him $16.7 million this season. General manager Trent Baalke and new coach Doug Pederson have said repeatedly they hope to sign Robinson to a long-term deal. The former Alabama standout has started 61 games over five seasons since Jacksonville drafted him with the 34th overall pick in 2017. But he’s been far from one of the league’s best blind-side protectors.
— Baker Mayfield feels the Cleveland Browns deceived him about their offseason plans, which resulted in their trading for Deshaun Watson. Speaking on a podcast, Mayfield said he feels “disrespected 100 percent” because the team told him one thing and did another. Mayfield’s tumultuous four-year run as Cleveland’s quarterback essentially ended when the team acquired Watson in a deal last month with Houston. Mayfield struggled while playing most of last season with a shoulder injury. He’s currently on Cleveland’s roster as the Browns try to work out a trade.
— Funeral services for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed when he was hit by a dump truck on Saturday, will take place next weekend. The first will be held April 23 at noon at Christ Church in New Jersey’s Rockaway Township. The next day, services will occur at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. The 24-year-old Haskins was hit by the truck while he was walking on a South Florida highway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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