Basketball coach Pitino ‘put’ on leave amid bribe scandal

LOUISVILLE, Sept 28, (RTRS): University of Louisville basketball head coach Rick Pitino was placed on administrative leave in the wake of a federal bribery investigation, the university’s interim president said on Wednesday.

Pitino, a Hall of Fame coach who steered the Cardinals to a national championship in 2013, was placed on unpaid leave a day after a probe alleged that coaches with four college basketball programs participated in a scheme to pay recruits’ families.

“While the investigation is continuing and no charges have been filed against the University of Louisville or any of its employees, the allegations are serious,” Louisville’s interim president, Greg Postel, told a news conference. “It is vital for this university to strictly adhere to NCAA rules and enforce federal law. Doing nothing would be a tacit endorsement of unethical and criminal behavior,” he added.

Postel said Pitino’s employment with the men’s program will be reviewed at a later date and that he hopes to name an interim replacement for him and athletic director Tom Jurich, who was also put on leave, in the next 48 hours.

The scandal, which has rocked college basketball, involves at least four men’s assistant college coaches from around the country and an Adidas AG executive.

Pitino’s lawyers said in a statement their client was effectively fired. Chicago Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St Louis Cardinals on Sept 27, in St Louis. (AP)

George Springer had a grand slam as Houston outscored Texas 37-7 in the series. The Rangers lost their sixth straight game.

Verlander (15-8) matched his season high for strikeouts while allowing two runs without a walk in six innings. He is 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA in his five starts since being traded from Detroit to Houston on Aug 31.

Altuve, who is hitting .347, got his 200th hit on a single in the first off Nick Martinez (3-8).

Diamondbacks 4, Giants 3 In Phoenix, J.D. Martinez hit his 16th homer in September during a three-run rally in the ninth inning that lifted Arizona over San Francisco.

Martinez tied Ralph Kiner’s 1949 NL record for home runs in September. The major league record is 17, shared by Babe Ruth and Albert Belle.

Martinez has 45 homers this season, 29 of them since being traded from Detroit to the Diamondbacks on July 18. His 36 RBIs in a month set an Arizona record, topping Luis Gonzalez’s 35 in June 2001.

David Peralta drew a bases-loaded walk to cap the comeback in the ninth. The next time Arizona plays at Chase Field will be next Wednesday in the NL wild-card game.

All of the runs were charged to Giants closer Sam Dyson (3-3). J.J. Hoover (31) earned the win in relief.

Phillies 7, Nationals 5 In Philadelphia, Aaron Altherr had two hits and drove in two runs to lead Philadelphia over Washington.

Nationals starter Tanner Roark (1311) struggled with command, walking five hitters and allowing six earned runs and seven hits in 4-1/3 innings.

Bryce Harper was 1 for 4 with a single and a run scored in his second game since returning from a hyperextended left knee.

Rookie Yacksel Rios (1-0) got his first career victory. Hector Neris worked a perfect ninth for his 20th consecutive save conversion and 26th in 29 opportunities overall.

Mets 7, Braves 1 In New York, Terry Collins was a winner in perhaps his final home game as manager of the New York Mets.

Travis d’Arnaud drove in three runs and pinch-hitter Dominic Smith launched a three-run homer for the Mets, who won their third straight and finished 37-44 at Citi Field this year. They wrap up the season with three games in Philadelphia this weekend.

The 68-year-old Collins, oldest manager in the majors, has said he has no plans to retire and would like to keep working until age 70 — even if that means somewhere else in baseball. His contract expires after this season, and the Mets (69-90) are expected to make changes following a hugely disappointing season derailed by injuries and underperformance.

Robert Gsellman (8-7) capped his inconsistent season by throwing six steady innings. Sean Newcomb (4-9) took the loss.

Royals 7, Tigers 4 In Kansas City, Missouri, Paulo Orlando hit a two-run homer and Kansas City sent Detroit to its ninth straight loss.

The Tigers are 4-22 in September and have been outscored 68-30 in the skid. The last time Detroit lost nine in a row was 2005.

Orlando’s home run was his first since Sept 19, 2016, going 117 at-bats between long balls.

Scott Alexander (5-4) went 1-1/3 scoreless innings and Mike Minor got his fourth save. Drew VerHagen (0-3) gave up the home run to Orlando.

Athletics 6, Mariners 5 In Oakland, California, Mark Canha hit a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning that sent Oakland over Seattle.

Canha’s fifth homer this season came against Shae Simmons (0-1).

The A’s avoided a three-game sweep and snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Mariners. Matt Joyce tied an Oakland record with three doubles.

Blake Treinen (3-4) pitched a scoreless ninth.

Pirates 5, Orioles 3 In Pittsburgh, Josh Bell hit a two-run homer and Pittsburgh beat Baltimore.

Bell’s 25th home run came off Gabriel Ynoa (2-3).

Chad Kuhl (8-11) went five-plus innings and Felipe Rivero pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances.