a’s sign fan who threw 96 mph on radar gun
In the span of three weeks, Nathan Patterson went from a regular fan at a baseball game to an major-league hopeful with a minor-league contract.
On July 15, Patterson and his brother attended a Rockies game when they tried their luck at the speed pitch challenge at Coors Field. When Nathan started clocking in at around 96 mph, brother Christian began recording. The video was retweeted more than 500 times, viewed by some 200,000 people, and eventually caught the eyes of the Athletics’ front office.
The Athletics signed Patterson, 23, to a minor-league contract.
“Words cannot describe this feeling, and I cannot thank everyone enough who has been part of this journey so far!” Patterson wrote on Instagram.
♦ The Angels designated catcher Jonathan Lucroy for assignment. He suffered a concussion and a broken nose on a homeplate collision with the Astros’ Jake Marisnick on July 7 and missed 18 games. ♦ Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu was put on the 10-day injured list by the Dodgers with neck soreness. The left-hander leads the majors with a 1.53 ERA and has 11 victories.
GOLF
An leads by one in Wyndham
Byeong Hun An shot a 5-under 65 in the Wyndham Championship to take a onestroke lead into the weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina. An was at 13-under 127 halfway through the PGA Tour’s final event before the FedEx Cup playoffs. Brice
Garnett was a stroke back after a 64, and six players — including first-round co-leader Sungjae Im — were at 9 under. Adam
Svensson also was in that group after shooting a 61, the best round of the day.
♦ Ashleigh Buhai stretched her lead at the Women’s British Open in Milton Keynes, England, to three shots, shooting a bogey-free 5-under 67 in the second round.
MISCELLANEOUS
Comeback win for Overseas Elite in tbt
DeAndre Kane tallied 18 points to rally four-time champion Overseas Elite from a double-digit deficit to an 86-73 victory over Loyalty is Love in The Basketball Tournament at Wintrust Arena. Chicago native
Jeremy Pargo and D.J. Kennedy had 15 points each.
♦ A jury in Madison deliberated for 30 minutes before it acquitted former Wisconsin wide receiver Quintez Cephus, 21, on charges alleging that he sexually assaulted two female students. He was suspended from the team and expelled from the school. ♦ Soccer body CONMEBOL suspended
Lionel Messi from international matches with Argentina for three months because of accusations of corruption he made at the latest Copa America.