SOCCER
USA shuts out Mexico
Stanford sophomore Jordan Morris scored early in the second half in his first start for the U.S. national team, Juan Agudelo added his first international goal in four years and the Americans dispatched Mexico 2-0 in an exhibition game Wednesday night in San Antonio. Morris, a 20-year-old thought to be the first collegian to start for the U.S. in at least two decades, pounced on a ball that ricocheted off defender Mario Osuna in the 49th minute and beat goalkeeper Cirilo Saucedo from close range. Agudelo replaced Morris in the 65th and scored seven minutes later with a low shot from just outside the penalty area, his third international goal and first since March 2011. He was playing his second international match since November 2012 and his first since March last year. Before a sellout crowd of 64,369, U.S. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann improved to 3-0-3 against his team’s regional rival.
BASEBALL
Wright placed on 15-day DL
Eight games into the season, David Wright is on the disabled list again. The New York Mets put their captain on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring Wednesday after the seven-time All-Star was injured while stealing second base the night before. The team expects him back within three weeks, General Manager Sandy Alderson said. It’s the latest significant injury for Wright, 32, who has had trouble staying healthy the past five years. He is under contract through 2020 after signing an eight-year deal worth $138 million, the richest in franchise history.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have recalled heralded outfielder Yasmany Tomas from Class AAA Reno to give them a spark off the bench. Arizona signed the 24-yearold Cuban defector to a $68.5 million, six-year deal in December.
Right-hander Adam Ottavino has earned the closer job for the NL West-leading Colorado Rockies. Manager Walt Weiss made the announcement before Wednesday night’s series finale at San Francisco. LaTroy Hawkins was moved out of the closer job Monday after he blew a save a day earlier in a 6-5 loss to Chicago Cubs, surrendering Dexter Fowler’s two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning. Ottavino struck out the side in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 4-1 victory over the Giants. It was the pitcher’s second major league save.
Yankees pitcher Wilking Rodriguez has been suspended for 80 games under baseball’s minor league drug program following a positive test for Furosemide. A 25-year-old right-hander, Rodriguez made his major league debut with two appearances for Kansas City last year. He is on the roster of New York’s Class AAA International League team at Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre.
FOOTBALL
Lions trade DE to Bucs
The Detroit Lions traded defensive end George Johnson and a seventh-round draft pick to Tampa Bay on Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the draft later this month. The Lions upgraded their pick from 231st overall from Baltimore to 168th overall from New England. Johnson played in all 16 games for the Lions last season. He finished with 26 tackles (21 solo) and six sacks.
Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Stu Voigt is charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy and fraud in an alleged Ponzi scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s office said Wednesday. The government accuses Voigt, 66, and another man, Jeffrey Gardner, 61, of using a real estate scheme to defraud investors. According to the indictment and court documents, between 2005 and 2007 Gardner and Voigt raised money from investors in connection with Gardner’s business, Hennessey Financial. Investors were promised returns of between 10 percent and 20 percent annually. But the indictment alleges Gardner, Voigt and others misrepresented Hennessey’s financial circumstances to investors. Prosecutors allege that when Hennessey was failing, Gardner and Voigt created new companies, opened bank accounts in the names of new companies, transferred funds from Hennessey accounts and took other steps to hide income and assets from investors, creditors and the government.
HORSE RACING
Del Mar’s leading trainer dies
Mike Mitchell, the all-time leading thoroughbred trainer at Del Mar (Arcadia, Calif.) racetrack with 476 victories, has died after a long struggle with brain cancer. He was 66. He died Tuesday at his home in Monrovia, not far from Santa Anita racetrack, where he won two training titles and 659 races. Track officials confirmed his death Wednesday. Mitchell had turned his stable over to longtime assistant Phil D’Amato last April and retired because of his illness. Mitchell won 19 training titles on the Southern California circuit, including seven at Del Mar, the last coming in 2011 at the seaside track north of San Diego. His biggest success came late in his career with Ireland-bred Obviously, who won five graded stakes races in 2012-2013 and finished third in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.
Blacktype beat Barrel of Love by a nose Wednesday in the $75,000 allowance feature, the first turf race of the year at Aqueduct. The 4-yearold French-bred gelding trained by Christophe Clement prevailed for his third victory in 12 starts. Irad Ortiz, Jr. was aboard for the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.29 over the course labeled good. Blacktype, the even-money favorite, paid $4.20, $3 and $2.20. Barrel of Love returned $3.70 and $2.50, and Smooth Daddy paid $2.30 to show.
HOCKEY
Bruins fire general manager
The Boston Bruins fired General Manager Peter Chiarelli on Wednesday, days after missing the playoffs for the first time in eight years and just four seasons after the franchise won its first Stanley Cup title since 1972. The statement from the team said Coach Claude Julien and the rest of his staff “will remain in place at this time.” No interim was named, and Bruins President and Hall of Fame forward Cam Neely said the team will conduct an “exhaustive” search for a permanent replacement. Chiarelli was hired in 2006, and he assembled the team that beat the Vancouver Canucks for the 2011 NHL championship. The Bruins returned to the Stanley Cup Final in 2013, and last year they had the best regular-season record in the league. This year they were eliminated from the playoff race on the final day of the regular season.