Mets reportedly agree to deal with Escobar
NEW YORK — The New York Mets and All-Star infielder Eduardo Escobar have agreed to a free agent contract, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday night because the agreement was pending a physical and hadn’t been announced. MLB Network reported the contract will pay Escobar $20 million over two years.
The 32-year-old Escobar was anAll-Star in 2021, when he batted .253 with 28 homers and 90 RBIs for Arizona and Milwaukee.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL Clawson receives long-term deal
Wake Forest has signed football coach Dave Clawson to what it calls a longterm contract extension as Clawson guides the No. 21 Demon Deacons through a historically successful season.
Clawson, 54, is in his eighth year with the Demon Deacons (9-2).
SMU to hire Miami’s Lashlee: Rhett Lashlee leaving his post as the Miami Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator and will take over as coach of the SMU Mustangs, according to multiple reports.
Sonny Dykes remains the coach at SMU for now, although he is reportedly leaving to take over the TCU Horned Frogs.
GOLF Lawrence leads at Joburg Open
South African golfer is Thriston Lawrence shot another 6-under 65 to finish his second round atop the leaderboard of the Joburg Open on Friday, while a large number of European players withdrew because of a new COVID-19 variant.
Lawrence was on 12under 130 at the halfway mark to lead compatriot Zander Lombard (67) by four strokes on a day when play was again interrupted by bad weather.
SOCCER U.S. women post Sydney shutout
After 21 years since last playing in Australia, the United States women’s soccer team needed only 24 seconds to score against the Matildas on Saturday.
Turns out that was all the new-look American side needed in a 3-0 win at Sydney’s Olympic stadium before a Matildas-record crowd of 36,109.
Ashley Hatch scored her first international goal when Australia’s defense failed to clear the ball from the opening kickoff, and Hatch found herself oneon-one with goalkeeper Teagen Micah. Hatch calmly slotted a low shot to the right of Micah.
Rose Lavelle scored the second American goal in the 49th minute and Lindsey Horan scored on a penalty kick in the 68th for the final goal.
TENNIS Djokovic, Serbia get Davis Cup win Novak
Top-ranked Djokovic secured a victory for Serbia, and a young Italian team rolled past the 32-time champion United States in the Davis Cup Finals on Friday.
Djokovic beat Dennis Novak 6-3, 6-2 to give Serbia a 2-0 lead over host Austria in Innsbruck after Dusan Lajovic had defeated Gerald Melzer in three sets.
The U.S. got off to a rough start against host Italy in Turin.
Lorenzo Sonego beat Reilly Opelka 6-3, 7-6 (4) and Jannik Sinner dominated against John Isner 6-2, 6-0.