AROUND THE HORN
Astros: J.R. Richard, a huge, flame-throwing right-hander who spent 10 years with the Astros before his career was cut short by a stroke, died. He was 71. The team announced his death on Thursday but didn’t provide any further details. The 6-foot-8 Richard intimidated hitters with an effectively wild delivery, a fastball that often touched 100 mph and an almost unhittable breaking ball. He was selected by the Astros with the second overall pick in the 1969 draft and struck out 15 batters in a complete-game win over the Giants in his major league debut on Sept. 5, 1971. He pitched for the Astris from 1971-80, going 107-71 with a 3.15 ERA and 76 complete games. Richard won a career-best 20 games in 1976, the first of four straight seasons with at least 18 wins. In 1978 he became the first Astro to strike out 300 batters in a season when he led the majors with 303. The next year, he led the NL with a 2.71 ERA and fanned 313 to again lead the majors. Yankees: C Gary Sánchez became the latest Yankees player to test positive for the coronavirus after starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole were sidelined by COVID19 earlier in the week. The three positive results occurred after the Yankees returned from playing six games against the Rays and Marlins in Florida, where COVID-19 cases are surging. At least 85% of New York’s players are vaccinated. Since the All-Star break, star OF Aaron Judge, 3B Gio Urshela and backup C Kyle Higashioka have tested positive along with relievers Wandy Peralta and Jonathan Loaisiga.
Indians: Soon to be known as Guardians, the Indians aren’t leaving home anytime soon. Ending rampant speculation they would be relocating, the Indians agreed to a 15-year lease extension at Progressive Field in Cleveland, keeping them at their downtown ballpark through 2036 and perhaps longer. The agreement, which still needs legislative approval, includes two additional five-year options that could make it a 25-year deal through 2046. Also, the Indians are partnering with the city, Cuyahoga County and state to spend $435 million for renovations on the ballpark, which opened as Jacobs Field in 1994 but is now one of MLB’s oldest facilities.
Tigers: Victor Reyes tripled twice and drove in three runs, Tarik Skubal pitched five scoreless innings, and the Tigers beat the visiting Red Sox 8-1. Skubal (7-10) allowed five hits and struck out four. He had surrendered six home runs in 10 ⅔ innings during his last two starts. The Red Sox lost for the sixth time in seven games and dropped 1 ½ games behind idle Rays in the AL East.