AROUND THE HORN
■ Astros: J.R. Richard, a huge, flame-throwing righthander who spent 10 years with the Astros before his career was cut short by a stroke, died. He was 71. The team announced his death on Thursday but didn’t provide any further details. The 6-foot-8 Richard was selected by the Astros with the second overall pick in the 1969 draft and pitched for the big league club from 1971-80, going 107-71 with a 3.15 ERA and 76 complete games. In 1978 he became the first Astro to strike out 300 batters in a season when he led the majors with 303. The next year, he led the NL with a 2.71 ERA and fanned 313 to again lead the majors. Richard was having a great season in 1980, posting a 10-4 record with a 1.96 ERA in the first half of the season and starting for the NL in the All-star Game on July 30. Less than a month later, Richard, then 30, suffered a major stroke that ended his career. Richard left his mark on the Astros’ record books and is tied for second in career ERA (3.15), third in strikeouts (1,493), fourth in complete games (76) and fifth in wins (107) and shutouts (19). He was inducted into the team’s inaugural Hall of Fame in 2019.
■ Dodgers: The administrative leave for Trevor Bauer was extended a fourth time, this time by an extra seven days through Aug. 13, ESPN reported. Bauer, 30, who won the NL Cy Young last season while with the Reds, has been accused by a woman of choking her until she lost consciousness on multiple occasions, punching her in several areas of her body and leaving her with injuries that required hospitalization over the course of two sexual encounters earlier this year.
■ Yankees: C Gary Sánchez became the latest Yankees player to test positive for the coronavirus after starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole were sidelined by COVID-19 earlier in the week. The three positive results occurred after the Yankees returned from playing six games against the Rays and Marlins in Florida, where COVID-19 cases are surging. At least 85% of New York’s players are vaccinated. Since the All-star break, OF Aaron Judge, 3B Gio Urshela and backup C Kyle Higashioka have tested positive along with relievers Wandy Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga.
■ Indians: Ending speculation they would be relocating, the Indians agreed to a 15-year lease extension at Progressive Field in Cleveland, keeping them at their downtown ballpark through at least 2036. The agreement, which still needs legislative approval, includes two additional fiveyear options that could make it a 25-year deal through 2046. Also, the Indians are partnering with the city, Cuyahoga County and state to spend $435 million for renovations on the ballpark.
■ Phillies: J.T. Realmuto and Rhys Hoskins each hit a two-run double in the ninth, and the Phillies rallied for a 7-6 victory over the host Nationals to complete a four-game sweep. The Phillies have won five straight and are within one-half game of the idle NL East-leading Mets, who travel to Philadelphia for a series beginning Friday.
■ Tigers: Victor Reyes tripled twice and drove in three runs, Tarik Skubal (7-10) pitched five scoreless innings, and the Tigers beat the visiting Red Sox 8-1. The Red Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games and dropped 1 ½ games behind the idle Rays in the AL East.