NASA assigns ex-Navy star Mann to astronaut crew

NAVY: NASA announced Friday that it had assigned Marine Corps Lt. Col. Nicole Mann, a former Navy soccer star, to a new crew of astronauts who will fly a privately developed spaceship, marking a return of U.S.-manned space flight after the shuttle program ended in 2011. Since then, Americans have relied on Russian spacecraft for space travel. Mann will be a part of a three-person crew to fly Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on a mid-2019 mission, the spacecraft’s first manned flight. NASA said in a tweet that the astronauts will launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to the International Space Station. The Starliner will dock and undock with the station before returning to Earth. Mann, 41, tweeted about her enthusiasm for her new assignment and preparations for the Starliner’s first manned mission. “I couldn’t be more excited to join the @BoeingSpace team! I’m looking forward to strapping into the Starliner and launching into space from the Cape! #LaunchAmerica,” Mann tweeted. BASEBALL: The Minnesota Twins claimed former Orioles reliever Oliver Drake (Navy) off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. He’s already pitched this season for the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Angels and Blue Jays, going 0-1 with an 8.59 ERA in 142⁄ innings over 14 games, all in relief. ... The Tampa Bay Rays recalled left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek (Maryland, Catonsville) from Triple-A Durham. He pitched two scoreless innings Friday night. ... The Chicago Cubs placed f ormer Orioles l eft- handed reliever Brian Duensing on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. WNBA: Angel McCoughtry (St. Frances) scored 21 points and Tiffany Hayes added 19 to help the host Atlanta Dream (17-10) earned an 89-74 win over the Chicago Sky (10-18). The second-place Dream are three games back of Seattle (20-7) in the playoff standings and one game ahead of Los Angeles (16-11). LAUREL PARK: Stronach Stable’s multiple gradedstakes placed homebred Unbridled Juan wrested the lead from a stubborn Phlash Phelps in the final sixteenth and withstood a frantic bid from late-running Duff to capture Friday’s featured seventh race. With Hall of Famer Edgar Prado in the irons, Unbridled Juan ($6.20) emerged from a three-way photo a head in front of Duff in the open $55,000 allowance for 3-year- olds and up, with Phlash Phelps another head back in third. The winning time was 1 minute, 36.17 seconds for 1 mile, having been moved from the All Along turf course to a main track rated good. It was the first win from three starts since being moved to the Laurel barn of trainer Jose Corrales for Unbridled Juan, second by less than a length in an off-the-turf Dixie Stakes (G3) on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course in his 6-year-old debut. — European Tour.

The Suns re-signed five-year veteran G Isaiah Canaan. He signed with the team Dec. 13 and appeared in 19 games before breaking his left ankle Jan. 31 against the Mavericks, requiring season- ending surgery.

The Patriots signed free-agent WR Eric Decker in hopes of adding depth. The team is looking to give QB Tom Brady more options following Julian Edelman’s suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancers and the departures of Danny Amendola and Brandin Cooks. ... Lions DE Cornelius Washington returned to practice, coming back from the injured reserve/non-football injury list. He had 21⁄ sacks in 15 games with the Lions last season, his fifth in the NFL. ... The Pro Bowl is headed back to Orlando, Fla. this season. It will be played Jan. 27 at Camping World Stadium and be televised by ESPN.

Conor McGregor will return to mixed martial arts Oct. 6 in Las Vegas for a title bout against UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. ... Johnny Manziel threw four interceptions in the first half of his CFL debut in the Alouettes’ 50-11 loss to the Tiger- Cats. ... The Stars re-signed restricted free agent C Gemel Smith to a $720,000 contract for the 2018-19 season. ... Hall of Fame jockey Victor Espinoza is wearing a neck brace while recovering at his San Diego home after fracturing a vertebra during a training accident at Del Mar. ... Billy Dib quit boxing after a unanimous points loss to Tevin Farmer in an IBF super featherweight title fight in Sydney.