THE HOT CORNER

1 2 3

4

5

GOLF: Andy Sullivan came within a stroke of tying the European Tour record for the lowest 36- hole score by shooting 6- under 66 in the second round of the Golf in Dubai Championship on Thursday. The English golfer followed up his round of 61 on Wednesday by making five birdies and an eagle at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, lifting him to 17 under par overall and a three- shot lead.

BASEBALL: Starting second baseman Hanser Alberto was let go Wednesday by the Baltimore Orioles, who agreed to oneyear contracts with catcher Pedro Severino and infielder Yolmer Sanchez. Severino gets $ 1,825,000 and Sanchez $ 1 million. Baltimore also reached one- year deals that avoided arbitration with right- hander Shawn Armstrong ($ 825,000) and infielder Pat Valaika, who will make $ 875,000 in the majors and $ 300,000 in the minors.

BASEBALL:

Pitchers Hector Neris, Zach Eflin, David Hale and Seranthony Dominguez agreed to one- year contracts with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday along with catcher Andrew Knapp. Philadelphia also offered deals to first baseman Rhys Hoskins and right- hander Vince Velasquez, who are eligible for salary arbitration and are represented by agent Scott Boras.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL:

Vanderbilt has canceled its men’s game at SMU on Tuesday, extending its pause on activities. The Commodores announced the cancellation Wednesday night, two days after pausing activities and withdrawing from a pair of games in Connecticut due to a positive test within its program

TENNIS:

The U. S. Tennis Association canceled its National Winter Championships in Arizona and Florida because of the coronavirus pandemic. The youth tournaments were supposed to run from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3.