AROUND THE HORN
■ MLB: Three games were postponed Wednesday as players across the sports landscape reacted in the wake of the weekend shooting by police of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Wisconsin. Games between the Reds and Brewers in Milwaukee, the Mariners and Padres in San Diego and Dodgers and Giants in San Francisco were called off hours before they were set to begin. Other MLB games had finished, were in progress or just about to start when the announcements were made. The baseball postponements came after the NBA’s Bucks didn’t come out on the floor for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series with the Magic in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NBA officials later announced that all three of the day’s scheduled playoff games had been postponed. Rockies veteran OF Matt Kemp, who’s Black, announced on social media he would skip the Rockies’ road game against the Diamondbacks “in protest of the injustices my people continue to suffer.” Dexter Fowler and Jack Flaherty of the Cardinals, both Black, opted not to participate in a home game against the Royals. The team tweeted that it supported the decision.
■ Braves, Yankees: Freddie Freeman hit a two-run HR in the sixth off Chad Green and the host Braves rallied to beat the Yankees 2-1 on Wednesday night to sweep a doubleheader. The Yankees have lost five straight. In the opener, Ian Anderson dazzled in his big league debut, holding the Yankees hitless into the sixth and ending Gerrit Cole’s 20-game winning streak as the Braves prevailed 5-1. Cole (4-1) suffered his first loss in the regular season since May 22, 2019, with the Astros. He was trying to become the first AL pitcher to win 21 straight regular-season decisions. Yankees OF Aaron Judge was pulled before the start of the bottom of the sixth of the second game because his calf tightened up while running. “Doesn’t seem to be serious, but we’ll see tomorrow,” manager Aaron Boone said. Judge was activated from the IL on Tuesday. He had been sidelined with a mild right calf strain. ■ Extra i nnings: The White Sox beat the visiting Pirates 10-3. Jose Abreu hits his seventh HR in the last five games and 12th overall, and Dallas Keuchel (5-2) allowed two runs on four hits and struck out seven for his third straight win. It was the ninth win in 10 games for the White Sox. ... Nationals All-Star closer Sean Doolittle was activated from the IL after the Nationals optioned struggling rookie 3B Carter Kieboom to their alternate site. Doolittle went on the IL on Aug. 13 because of right knee fatigue. ... Hall of Fame announcer Vin Scully has culled items from his personal collection of memorabilia for auction on Sept. 23. Internet bidding begins Friday at huntauctions.com. The auction was originally scheduled for All-Star weekend in Los Angeles in July but was moved online when the game was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Scully, now 92, retired at the end of the 2016 season after 67 years with the Dodgers.