Canucks’ season still on hold due to COVID
The NHL has delayed the Vancouver Canucks’ return to competition.
The Canucks, who have not played a game since March 24 due to a COVID-19 outbreak, had been scheduled to host the Edmonton Oilers on
Friday night. The league announced Thursday the team would not play that game and did not immediately set a new date for Vancouver’s return.
The decision was made with input from the NHL Players’ Association and medical staff from teams, the NHL said.
Before the league made the announcement, Vancouver forward J.T. Miller said it would be “very challenging and not very safe” to play Friday night because the pandemic-hit team has not had enough time to recover and get back in shape.
Miller did not test positive for COVID-19 during the outbreak, but said he still isn’t in game shape and can’t imagine what it would be like for teammates who were sick to return to play so quickly.
The NHL plans to announce additional changes to the schedule for North Division teams on Friday.
INDIANS REBOUND
Slumping Jose Ramirez connected for a go-ahead, two-run homer off Lance Lynn in the sixth inning and the Cleveland Indians bounced back from being no-hit, beating the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Thursday.
After Carlos Rodon just missed a perfect game Wednesday night, there was a different kind of tension this time as the benches emptied in the bottom of the first.
Adam Eaton singled and tried to advance when Indians right fielder Josh Naylor threw to third, hoping to get the lead runner. Eaton arrived ahead of the throw back to second, but was called out when his hand came off the bag while shortstop Andres Gimenez stood his ground and held the tag.
Eaton grabbed Gimenez’s leg, began barking and then pushed Gimenez in the chest with two hands. Indians starter Aaron Civale plunked Eaton with a pitch in the upper arm in the third.
CUETO TO IL
San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto has been placed on the 10day injured list with a strained lat muscle.
The team said Thursday that Cueto has a Grade 1 strain beneath his pitching shoulder. A corresponding roster move will be made Friday.
Cueto exited in the sixth inning of his start Wednesday against Cincinnati. He wound up as the winner in a 3-0 victory and improved to 2-0 this season.
LOW FOR KO
Lydia Ko went low again, shooting a 9-under 63 at Kapolei Golf Club to take a three-stroke lead midway through the second round at the Lotte Championship.
Ko, a two-time major champion who’s seeking her first win since 2018, is 24 under par her last three rounds. She nearly caught Patty Tavatanakit with a final-round 62 last week at the year’s first major, the ANA Inspiration.