Benintendi back with Sox
Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, but Chris Young started in left field.
The move came a day early because Brock Holt has a sore shoulder. Benintendi, 22 and a top Red Sox prospect, landed on the DL on Aug. 25 with a left knee sprain.
Four football players being investigated for link to sexual assault
Four Minnesota football players were suspended for Saturday’s game against Indiana State for violating unspecified team rules.
Several media outlets reported that those four players — cornerbacks KiAnte Hardin and Ray Buford, safety Dior Johnson and defensive end Tamarion Johnson — are being investigated for a possible connection in an alleged sexual assault in Minneapolis.
The players, who remained suspended from the Gophers’ team, are not named specifically in the police report, but the Associated Press and the Pioneer Press both reported they are part of the investigation.
WCCO, a CBS-TV affiliate in Minnesota, reported that a police spokesman confirmed that the department is investigating four Minnesota Gophers football players to determine if they were involved. Whether they are being sought for possible charges or as witnesses is unclear.
Ex-coach Wyche undergoes heart transplant surgery
Former Cincinnati Bengals coach Sam Wyche underwent heart transplant surgery early Tuesday morning, according to his personal Facebook page.
The 71-year-old Wyche was wheeled into surgery shortly before 3 a.m. at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, N.C. The procedure lasted approximately 4 1/2 hours.
An update was posted shortly after the surgery was over:
“Coach is out of the Operating Room and now in recovery!!! The surgeon said Sam did great! The total operating time was about 4.5 hours. Now he is a strong man, spiritually and physically with a strong heart, thanks to a wonderful donor and donor’s family. #DonateLife”
Wyche said last week he would have an artificial pump implanted if a donor wasn’t found. Doctors discovered a donor match on Monday and surgery was scheduled.
Wyche went 61-66 in eight seasons as coach of the Bengals and guided them to the Super Bowl following the 1988 season. Cincinnati went 12-4 in the regular season and lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII.
Pirates’ Cole shut down for the season
The Pittsburgh Pirates shut down injured right-hander Gerrit Cole on Tuesday, one day removed from the ace’s disastrous two-inning stint in his return from the disabled list.
Cole was placed on the 60-day disabled list with right elbow posterior inflammation. The 26-year-old had just returned from his second stay on the disabled list and yielded five runs on four hits versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
Also, the Pirates acquired veteran left-hander Wade LeBlanc from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations or a player to be named. Pittsburgh was not done as it selected left-hander Zach Phillips and catcher Jacob Stallings from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed catchers Chris Stewart and Elias Diaz on the 60-day disabled list with left knee injuries.