Off the wire
PRO FOOTBALL
Sanchez put on short-term IR
Mark Sanchez has his sights set on returning to the field this season — as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback. Well, at least in a few months. Sanchez was placed on short-term injured reserve Saturday, meaning he will not be able to play for the next eight weeks while he recovers from an injured right shoulder. “As far as making a decision that’s best for the team and best for my medical health, we’re all on the same page,” Sanchez said. “I’ll come back, hopefully, in eight weeks and be ready to play.” Sanchez injured his right shoulder after replacing rookie Geno Smith in the fourth quarter of the team’s third exhibition game against the Giants. He opted to try to rehabilitate the injury rather than have season-ending surgery. The exact nature of the injury has not been revealed by either Sanchez or the team, but some published reports say it is a partially torn labrum. Sanchez has been throwing passes left-handed during practices and was doing the same Thursday night before the team’s 13-10 loss to New England.
With injuries at receiver and cornerback, the Jacksonville Jaguars turned to their practice squad to fill potential holes against Oakland. The Jaguars signed first-year receiver Jeremy Ebert and rookie cornerback Marcus Burley off the practice squad Saturday. To make room for them on the roster, the team waived guard Jacques McClendon and defensive end Chris McCoy. McClendon and McCoy went with the team to Oakland and likely will be resigned next week. Ebert and Burley might be needed if receiver Mike Brown (back) and cornerback Alan Ballround (groin) can’t play against the Raiders. Both are questionable and considered game-day decisions. Ebert, a seventh- pick by New England in 2012, spent the preseason with the Jaguars. Burley, an undrafted rookie signed earlier this year, spent the preseason with the club.
The Arizona Cardinals have released cornerback Jamell Fleming and promoted wide receiver Kerry Taylor from the practice squad. Fleming was a third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2012, but had fallen to the bottom of the depth chart under the Cardinals’ new coaching staff. Taylor, a former Arizona State player signed as a free agent, adds needed depth at wide receiver. Arizona had only four wide receivers on its roster before the move and Larry Fitzgerald is listed as questionable for today’s home opener against Detroit with a hamstring injury. Taylor, originally signed as a rookie free agent by Green Bay in 2011, has spent time on the practice squads of the Packers, New England and San Francisco.
TENNIS
Safarova advances to finals
Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic rallied to beat Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday to reach the final of the Bell Challenge in Quebec, Ontario. Safarova, the No. 3 seed, will face sixth-seeded Marina Erakovic in today’s final after the New Zealander beat American
Christina McHale 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
HORSE RACING
Alterite wins Garden City Alterite won her U.S. debut on Saturday, taking the $500,000 Garden City Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Belmont Park. After winning three of nine starts in France, Alterite joined the barn of Chad Brown, who won the same race last year with Samitar. The French filly, ridden by John
Velazquez, made a three-wide move in the lane to rally past the pacesetting Discreet Marq for a 1 ½ length victory. The time was 1:50.55 for 11/ miles on a firm
8 course. Alterite paid $8, $4.30 and $4.20 as the 3-1 second choice. Discreet Marq, the 5-2 favorite, returned $3.90 and $3.10, while Concise paid $7.20 to show.
BASEBALL
Pirates shut down Rodriguez
Wandy Rodriguez has been shut down for the remainder of the season by the Pittsburgh Pirates because of continuing pain in the left-hander’s pitching arm. Rodriguez has been on the disabled list since June 6 with stiffness in his left forearm, though he was also found to have arthritis in his elbow when examined by orthopedist Dr. James Andrews last month. The Pirates made the move Saturday. Rodriguez made 12 starts for the Pirates this season, going 6-4 with a 3.59 ERA. The 34-year-old Rodriguez can become a free agent at the end of the season but also holds a $14 million player option in his contract to return in 2014.
Former American League MVP Vladimir Guerrero is giving up on a return to baseball. Guerrero is announcing his retirement after failing to secure a contract this season. He last played in 2011 for the Orioles. The 38-year-old Guerrero told a radio station in his native Dominican Republic that he made the decision in part because he’s still feeling the effects of two operations on his right knee. He also wants to spend more time with his family, including a 14-year-old baseball-playing son named Vladimir Jr. The nine-time All Star said in the interview Saturday with Z101.3 FM in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, that his only real regret is not reaching the 500-home run mark. Guerrero spent 16 seasons in the major leagues as an outfielder and designated hitter, and won the 2004 MVP with the Angels. He also played for Montreal and Texas. He hit .318 with 449 home runs and 1,496 RBI.