SPORTS SHORTS
MLB: Astros outslug Seattle, lead AL West
Martin Maldonado and Tyler White each homered and had three hits, helping the Astros beat the Mariners 10-7 on Wednesday in Seattle. The victory puts Houston in sole possession of first place in AL West. The Astros led 9-1 before the Mariners got one back in the fifth and added five runs in the sixth.
In Oakland, Calif., Mike Minor pitched six scoreless innings of one-hit ball to win his fourth straight, Joey Gallo hit his 33rd home run and the Rangers beat the Athletics 4-2.
In Boston, Xander Bogaerts hit two solo homers, Andrew Benintendi had a three-run double to cap a big fourth inning and the Red Sox beat the Indians 10-4 to halt their three-game losing streak.
Mitch Moreland added a two-run homer for the Red Sox, who lost the previous two nights in a matchup of AL division leaders.
NCAA: Rutgers players to face fraud case
Eight Rutgers football players — four of whom have already left the team — accused in an $11,000 credit-card fraud scheme planned to turn themselves in to Middlesex County, N.J., authorities on Wednesday to face a variety of charges, according to a NJ Advance Media. The report quoted Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey as saying sophomore linebacker
Brendan DeVera and defensive back K.J. Gray were the ringleaders of the scam — in which creditcard numbers were stolen and funds were lifted from Rutgers “Express Accounts” for personal use.
ETC.: Cowboys center has rare disorder
Cowboys center Travis Frederick said he has been diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome that causes weakness in various parts of the body, and the four-time Pro Bowl player isn’t sure on a timetable for a return.
Spain’s players’ association is asking the Spanish league not to play a regular-season match in the United States, and wouldn’t rule out a strike if its demands on that and other issues aren’t met.
Captains of the first-division clubs met in Madrid and said they are against the unilateral decision to take league matches outside of Spain, something that could happen as early as this season as part of La Liga’s new 15-year deal to promote soccer in North America.