Quick Hitters

Timbers beat Philadelphia in MLS is Back semifinals

Jeremy Ebobisse and Sebastian Blanco each scored and the Portland Timbers earned a spot in the MLS is Back championship game with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night.

The Timbers will face the winner of Thursday night’s game between Orlando City and Minnesota United in the title match on Tuesday. The tournament winner earns a spot in the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League.

Scherzer exits; Mets top Soto, Nats

Max Scherzer is the type who is going to try to play if he possibly can, even on a tweaked right hamstring that prevents him from driving his lower body into his pitches.

Scherzer exited because of the leg issue after laboring through just one inning, overshadowing Juan Soto’s eventful 2020 debut for the World Series champs, and Rick Porcello collected his 150th career win in the New York Mets’ 3-1 victory over Washington.

76ers beat Wizards; Simmons leaves with knee injury

The Philadelphia 76ers showed they could hold it together — at least for a little while — without All-Stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

Simmons left the game in the third quarter with a knee injury, and Embiid battled through late foul trouble to finish with 30 points and 11 rebounds as the 76ers held on to beat the Washington Wizards 107-98 on Wednesday.

Chargers’ Lynn: Taylor is going to get chance to start

Anthony Lynn is trying his best to quiet any doubts that Tyrod Taylor will be the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback to start the season.

“He hasn’t started in a couple years, and he’s going to get that opportunity this year. I think he’s gonna be just fine,” Lynn said about Taylor.

Francona still not managing

Francona will miss his fourth game in a row Wednesday night when the Indians return home to play two straight against the Reds. The two teams just wrapped up a two-game series in Cincinnati while Francona underwent tests and exams for three days at the Cleveland Clinic.