SPORTS SHORTS
MLB: Red Sox end four-game skid
J.D. Martinez homered and drove in three runs to back a dominant pitching performance by Nathan Eovaldi, and the Red Sox snapped a four-game skid by beating the Orioles 6-0 Wednesday night in Baltimore. Boston is a game behind the Yankees in the battle for the first wild-card spot. Red Sox first base coach Tom Goodwin won’t be on the field for the rest of the season because he remains unvaccinated.
In Seattle, the Mariners won for the 10th time in 11 games and moved just a half game out of the second AL wild-card spot with a 4-2 win over the Athletics who are now eliminated.
In Atlanta, Max Fried pitched seven strong innings, Austin Riley drove in three runs, and the Braves beat the Phillies 7-2 to move within one win of a fourth straight NL East title.
In St. Louis, Daniel Vogelbach hit a two-run homer to lead the Brewers to a 4-0 win that ended the Cardinals’ teamrecord 17-game winning streak.
Shohei Othani has thrown his final pitch this season for the Angels, and the two-way All-Star will focus on his atbats in the final few games, manager Joe Maddon said..
NFL: Bears edge toward Soldier Field exit
The Bears took a major step toward moving out of their longtime home at Soldier Field — one of the most recognizable stadiums in the United States — and into the suburbs by signing a $197.2 million purchase agreement for Arlington Park, about 30 miles northwest of the city.
The Buccaneers signed Richard Sherman, a three-time All-Pro cornerback and Super Bowl champion who has been dealing with legal issues, to a one-year deal.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid, who was taken to the hospital with an illness and dehydration following Sunday’s loss to the Chargers, was back to work Wednesday.
Patriots RB James White is expected to miss the rest of the season with a hip injury, ESPN reported. White, 29, was carted off the field during Sunday’s home loss to the Saints with what was reported as a hip subluxation.
The Bengals will be without WR Tee Higgins (shoulder injury) and S Jessie Bates (neck injury) for their Thursday night matchup with the Jaguars. … Jacksonville ruled out struggling kicker Josh Lambo leaving Matthew Wright to handle field goals and extra points Thursday night.
Raiders DT Gerald McCoy, out for the year with a knee injury, was suspended for six games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
SOCCER: Fernandez, Red Bulls tie Philly
Omir Fernandez scored his third goal in four games, in the 37th minute, and the Red Bulls (11-8-7) tied the Philadelphia Union 1-1 in Harrison, N.J., extending their unbeaten streak to four games.
In Bridgeview, Ill., Robert Beric and Federico Navarro scored to give the lowly Chicago Fire their first win in a month, 2-0 over New York City FC (11-10-6).
ETC: Hischier goal lifts Devils past Capitals
Nico Hischier scored on a power play with 1:12 left to lift the Devils to a 5-4 victory over the Capitals in Washington. Yegor Sharangovich, Jack Hughes, Alexander Holtz, and Dawson Mercer also scored for the Devils.
The International Olympic Committee announced restrictions for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to control the COVID-19 pandemic, including: a 21-day quarantine for athletes, officials and workers who are not fully vaccinated, daily testing for vaccinated people and no tickets sold to anyone living outside China. The Games are scheduled to begin Feb. 4.
Five-time Olympic swimming medalist Klete Keller, 39, pleaded guilty to a felony charge for storming the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot and faces 21 to 27 months in prison.
College athletes who earn millions for their schools are employees, the National Labor Relations Board’s top lawyer said in guidance that would allow players at private universities to unionize and negotiate over their working conditions. NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo also threatened action against schools, conferences and the NCAA if they continue to use the term “student-athlete.”
Katie Nolan, who left Fox Sports and joined ESPN four years ago, announced on Twitter that she has left ESPN. “Alas: the obvious thing has happened. I no longer work at ESPN,” the 34-year-old tweeted.