BRONCOS RELEASE LB
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – The Denver Broncos are saving $3.5 million with the release of linebacker Joe Mays, who lost his starting job and then broke his left leg last season. Not long after signing for $12 million over three years, Mays was suspended a game and docked $50,000 for an illegal hit on Houston’s Matt Schaub. He then lost his middle linebacker job following a poor performance by the defense in a loss at New England. That relegated Mays to special teams, and he was blocking on a punt return Oct. 28 when a Saints player inadvertently leg-whipped him, fracturing his fibula just above his left ankle, ending his season. Although healthy again, Mays was the odd man out with Nate Irving, Stewart Bradley and Steven Johnson vying for the job this summer. The Broncos open training camp tomorrow.
ROCKIES LOSE AGAIN TO THE FISH
DENVER (AP) – Rookie Jose Fernandez tossed seven strong innings and Christian Yelich went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in his major league debut, lifting the Miami Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night. Making his first start since appearing in the All-Star game, Fernandez (6-5) baffled the Rockies all evening as he pitched out of several jams and limited one of the league’s top-hitting teams to five hits and two runs. He also struck out eight. Giancarlo Stanton provided some insurance with a solo homer in the eighth and Adeiny Hechavarria (ah-DAY’-nee ETCH’-uh-vehr-REE’-uh) had an RBI double for the Marlins, who have taken two straight in the four-game series against Colorado.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORTS…
NEW YORK (AP) – Baseball fans are asking the question this morning, who is next? Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun was suspended for 65 games yesterday as part of baseball’s investigation of players reportedly linked to a clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs. He was cited by commissioner Bud Selig (SEE’-lihg) for multiple “violations” of baseball’s drug program.
BASEBALL (AP) – The red-hot Tampa Bay Rays moved to within a half-game of first place in the American League East last night with a 3-0 win over the division-leading Red Sox. The Rays have won six straight and 18 of their last 20 games. Winning pitcher Matt Moore tossed a two-hitter and James Loney drove in two runs for the Rays.
TORONTO (AP) – Not too long ago, the Dodgers were among the bottom dwellers in the National League West. This morning, after last night’s 14-5 win in Toronto, they are in first place. L.A. has won 21 of its last 26 games to edge past Arizona in the divisional race.
CHICAGO (AP) – Baseball has a 14-game winner. Detroit’s Max Scherzer improved to 14-1 last night as the team from the Motor City beat the White Sox in Chicago. There’s bad news for the Tigers however as reigning Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera left the game with a sore hip flexor muscle that will be evaluated today.
NEW YORK (AP) – Projected as a first-round pick in the NFL draft, Geno Smith fell to the second round and was chosen by the Jets. On Monday the two sides announced that he had signed a four-year package worth about $5 million. He’s competing with incumbent Mark Sanchez for the starting quarterback job.
