SPORTS IN BRIEF

Medals from Rio Olympics falling apart already

Kyle Snyder made history at the Rio Olympics by becoming the youngest American wrestler to win a gold medal. The medal will soon be history as well, to be replaced by the IOC and Rio organizers because of damage.

Snyder and Helen Maroulis, another U.S. gold medallist wrestler, are among a group of more than 100 athletes from around the world with defective Olympic medals.

Beach volleyball star Kerri Walsh Jennings says her bronze medal from last summer is flaking and rusting, and USA Swimming spokesman Scott Leightman said some swimmers have damaged medals as well.

Rio Games spokesman Mario Andrada said Friday that officials have noted problems with the covering on six to seven per cent of the medals.

“The most common issue is that they were dropped or mishandled, and the varnish has come off and they’ve rusted or gone black in the spot where they were damaged,” Andrada said.

Seahawk Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy found dead

ORLANDO, Fla. — Hall of Fame defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy has died in Orlando.

Police say the 48-year-old former Seattle Seahawks star was found dead on Tuesday morning.

Orlando Police Department public information officer Wanda Miglio said the circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown, but that there is nothing suspicious about his death. An investigation is being conducted.

Kennedy was a star in his 11 seasons in the NFL with the Seahawks and became the second Seattle player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012. Kennedy was an eight-time Pro Bowler and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1992.

“Really sad to lose a guy like Cortez Kennedy,” Broncos’ general manager John Elway tweeted Tuesday. Elway was chased around by Kennedy twice a year for much of the 1990s as competitors in the AFC West. “A great personality, a great player and I enjoyed competing against him.”

BLUE JAYS 4, BREWERS 3

MILWAUKEE — Kendrys Morales hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays held off the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Tuesday.

Six of the first eight Blue Jays batters reached base against Milwaukee starter Jimmy Nelson (2-3). Toronto pushed across two runs in the second, but the Brewers cut down a runner at the plate and Nelson struck out Ezequiel Carrera to limit the damage.

The Brewers broke through against Toronto starter Joe Biagini in the fifth on Orlando Arcia’s run-scoring single. Jonathan Villar drove in a pair with a single later in the inning. Biagini departed after walking Eric Thames, but reliever Danny Barnes (1-2) struck out Ryan Braun and Travis Shaw to end the threat.

NATIONALS 10, MARINERS 1

WASHINGTON — Anthony Rendon homered twice and drove in five runs, Joe Ross returned from the minors to allow one run over a career high-tying eight innings and the Washington Nationals routed the Seattle Mariners 10-1 on Tuesday night.

Bryce Harper added his 14th homer and Jayson Werth hit his seventh off Chris Bergman (1-2).

Mike Zunino homered off Ross (2-0) while Robinson Cano was hitless in his first game back from the disabled list.