MLB-WORLD SERIES

Baker, Snitker embrace at home plate, Braves score first

HOUSTON (AP) — Atlanta’s Jorge Soler has become the first batter ever to lead off a World Series with a home run.

Making his first start since returning from a positive COVID-19 test, Soler led off Tuesday night’s game with a drive to left off Houston’s Framber Valdez. The 29-year-old Cuban took Valdez’s first two pitches for balls. Valdez then threw his third straight sinker, and with catcher Martín Maldonado set up low and outside, left the ball over the middle of the plate.

The Braves scored again in the opening stanza after Ozzie Albies stole second and scored on an Austin Riley double.

NFL-NEWS

NFL’s COVID-19 numbers encouraging, soft tissue injuries up

UNDATED (AP) — The NFL is encouraged by the progress made in preventing any major spreads of COVID-19 among the 32 teams, while concerned about an increase in soft tissue injuries.

Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, noted Tuesday at the first in-person owners meetings since December 2019 that a low positive COVID-19 rate between .04% and .06% is due greatly to vaccinations and protocols working. Members of the NFL’s Social Justice Working Group and the owners of all 32 teams were given a copy of a letter by two former employees of the Washington Football Team asking them to make public a report on the league’s 10-month investigation into the franchise. The employees allege the team engaged in harassment and abuse for decades.

Elsewhere in the NFL:

—Dustin Hopkins was signed as the Los Angeles Chargers kicker on Tuesday after the team waived Tristan Vizcaino. Hopkins was released by Washington on Oct. 20 after seven seasons. He was 12 of 14 on field goals and 10 of 12 on extra points through six games. Hopkins has made 84% of his field-goal attempts during his career.

—Former New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung has been charged with assault and battery on a family or household member. Prosecutors allege the 34-year-old Chung pushed a woman to the ground and slapped her outside her home in Massachusetts on Monday. The Patriot Ledger reports that Chung was released Tuesday without bail. Chung’s fiancée spoke on his behalf in court, saying the woman hit Chung first as he attempted to leave. Chung’s lawyer said her client looked forward to being “fully exonerated.”

— Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he considers it a “joke” that his name has been linked to open college jobs at USC and LSU. Tomlin says he has one of the best jobs in professional sports and has no interest in leaving. Former USC star quarterback Carson Palmer said on a radio program that Tomlin was a “wild card” in the search for the next Trojans head coach. Tomlin said there isn’t a booster check big enough for him to consider leaving the Steelers.

—The Baltimore Ravens have designated defensive end Derek Wolfe for return, allowing him to resume practicing. Wolfe has been on injured reserve since Oct. 2 because of back problems. Wolfe was a regular starter for eight seasons with the Denver Broncos, then started eight of the 14 games he appeared in last season for the Ravens. He hasn’t played yet this season.

— Mike Lucci, a Pro Bowl linebacker who played nine seasons with the Detroit Lions, has died. He was 81 years old. Lucci died in Florida after an extended illness. Lucci played on Cleveland’s 1964 NFL championship team. But he spent most of his 12-year career with the Lions, from 1965-73. After his NFL career, Lucci was a radio and TV broadcaster and businessman.

NHL-BLACKHAWKS-INVESTIGATION

Blackhawks GM Bowman resigns after sexual assault probe

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Blackhawks general manager and president of hockey operations Stan Bowman has resigned after an investigation found he was among a group of leaders who failed to respond promptly to allegations that an assistant coach sexually assaulted a player in 2010.

The results of an independent review commissioned by the team were handed over to the Blackhawks on Monday. Team CEO Danny Wirtz called the report released Tuesday “both disturbing and difficult to read.” The NHL responded by fining the team $2 million for mishandling the sexual assault allegations.

In other NHL moves:

The New York Islanders have signed tough guy forward Ross Johnston to four-year contract extension. Johnston has seven goals and eight assists in 87 games with the Islanders. The Islanders signed him as a free agent during his final season of junior hockey in 2014-15.

NBA-SCHEDULE

LeBron James to miss Lakers game vs. Spurs due to sore ankle

UNDATED (AP) — LeBron James will not play in the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Spurs in tonight in San Antoniot due to a sore right ankle.

Lakers coach Frank Vogel said James is “questionable” for Wednesday’s game at Oklahoma City. Vogel said the injury is in a “different spot” from the right ankle injury James suffered through late last season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL-ILLINOIS-SITKOWSKI

Illini QB Artur Sitkowski out for season with broken arm

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left arm against Penn State. Brandon Peters will start the Illini’s home game against Rutgers on Saturday.

Coach Bret Bielema announced Sitkowski would have surgery on his arm Wednesday and have another operation in two to four weeks to correct a chronic problem in his right shoulder. He is expected to miss spring practice and should be full strength next fall.

Sitkowski’s arm was broken when he was hit as he threw a pass in the fourth overtime of Illinois’ nine-overtime win at Penn State.

Elsewhere in college football:

Clemson’s leading rushing Kobe Pace will miss the game with Florida State this week as he’s in COVID-19 protocol. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced Pace’s status Tuesday. Pace is a 5-foot-10, 210-pound sophomore has started five games and rushed for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Pace’s absence is the latest hit to a backfield that’s was without highly regarded freshman Will Shipley.

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