Digital Sports Desk

Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports

Archives for August 2024

Sox: Astros Break Out of Slump

by

BOSTON – The Houston Astros will look to extend their winning streak to four on Saturday when they face the Boston Red Sox for the second matchup of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The Astros seem to have broken out of an offensive slump that plagued them in early August.

Embed from Getty Images

After collecting 13 hits in a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, Houston posted a 16-hit attack in an 8-4 triumph over Boston on Friday night. Seven of those hits came in a four-run seventh inning that included a two-run home run by Jose Altuve.

Altuve’s shot tied the game at three-all, and Houston scored twice more in the frame.

“Obviously, trying to get a run in, we were down by two,” Altuve said. “Basically, just put a ball in play. … I’ve been working on trying to drive the ball again and (have) been getting on base, hitting for power.”

Yainer Diaz hit a two-run home run for the Astros in a three-run ninth. Prior to the Wednesday win, Houston was held to 19 runs in the previous eight games — six of them losses.

The Astros scored seven runs on 12 hits in three innings against Boston’s bullpen.

“We’re getting healthy and we have arms,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It didn’t happen today. I always say that’s a fastbreak offense. When they get going, they get going. … It happens quick. They do a good job putting the ball in play, hitting the ball hard early in counts. They’re very aggressive and today we didn’t do the job.”

The Red Sox were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-10, 5.33 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday. Arrighetti struck out a career-high 12 in his latest outing, a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. It was the most strikeouts in a game by an Astros pitcher this year.

Arrighetti allowed five hits and walked two in six innings. The only run he permitted came on doubles by Dylan Carlson and Brandon Lowe in the third inning. He threw 100 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Houston has lost six consecutive games started by Arrighetti, but he compiled a 3.41 ERA over the past five of those outings as the Astros scored a total of five runs.

Arrighetti will be facing Boston for the first time in his career.

Right-hander Cooper Criswell was scheduled to start Saturday’s game for Boston, but he was placed on the COVID-related injured list on Friday. Right-hander Josh Winckowski (2-1, 3.44 ERA) will get the ball instead.

In 24 games with Boston this season, Winckowski has made five starts, the most recent coming July 6 against the New York Yankees. In that contest, he allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Against the Astros in his career, Winckowski has a 2.25 ERA and one save in three relief appearances, all of them last year.

The Friday loss dropped Boston’s home record to 27-29. The Red Sox have a 3.85 ERA in 58 road games and a 4.28 ERA in 56 home games.

Boston’s Nick Sogard had two hits in the series opener. He has reached base in all six games he has played since he was called up from Triple-A Worcester last week, compiling a .318 batting average and a .423 on-base percentage.

“He has a pretty good idea of what to swing at,” Cora said. “He doesn’t chase. He gets to the fastball. So far it’s been good.”

–Field Level Media

Witt is It

by

KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. homered twice and drove in four runs on Wednesday, leading the Kansas City Royals past the visiting Boston Red Sox 8-4 to salvage the finale of a three-game series.

Embed from Getty Images

Cole Ragans (9-7) allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks over 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City. The left-hander struck out seven and collected his fourth win over his last five starts.

Boston starter Kutter Crawford (7-9) tossed 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts. He allowed Witt’s first home run, a one-out solo shot in the first to open the scoring.

Crawford has surrendered 13 homers in his last four starts and leads the majors with 27 home runs allowed.

Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino, who are tied for third in the American League with 84 RBIs, both supplied two in the Royals’ five-run fourth inning.

MJ Melendez drew an 11-pitch walk to open the frame and scored on Crawford’s wild pitch with one out to pull Kansas City within 4-3.

Witt put the Royals ahead with a two-out, two-run double into the right field corner on an 0-2 pitch, which chased Crawford from the game.

Pasquantino promptly hit reliever Brennan Bernardino’s second pitch into the right field bullpen for a two-run homer and a 7-4 lead.

Witt closed the scoring in the sixth inning with his second solo shot of the night and 22nd of the season.

With the win, the Royals increased their lead to 1 1/2 games over Boston for the AL’s final wild-card spot.

Michael Massey’s RBI single put Kansas City up 2-0 in the second inning before his throwing error helped the Red Sox rally in the third.

Massey’s mistake put two runners on with none out, and Romy González eventually connected for a two-out, three-run homer, his fourth this season.

Boston boosted its lead to 4-2 on Danny Jansen’s homer to lead off the fourth.

Red Sox right-hander Chris Martin was activated from the injured list and struck out three in a scoreless eighth.

–Field Level Media

Sox: On Again After Off Again

by

KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in three runs as the Boston Red Sox rallied past the Kansas City Royals 6-5 on Tuesday evening.

Embed from Getty Images

Yoshida, who had four hits in Monday’s 9-5 win for Boston, hit a solo homer in the third inning on Tuesday — his sixth blast of the season. He then singled in two runs to cap a three-run sixth inning.

Opening the sixth, Dominic Smith doubled and was later ruled out trying to score on Seth Lugo’s wild pitch, but the call was overturned after the Red Sox challenged it, breaking the 3-3 tie.

After Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the first, Boston answered quickly, taking advantage of second baseman Michael Massey’s first error of the season. David Hamilton’s RBI double and Ceddanne Rafaela’s run-scoring grounder gave the Red Sox a 2-1 lead.

Kansas City tied the game with two out in the fifth on Massey’s 10th homer and Vinnie Pasquantino’s RBI double. After a walk to Salvador Perez, Boston starter Brayan Bello was pulled in favor of Brennan Bernardino (4-3), who the final out got and picked up the win with his only pitch of the game.

In 4 2/3 innings, Bello allowed three runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out six.

MJ Melendez’s two-run double in the eighth cut the Royals’ deficit to one, but closer Kenley Jansen struck the final batter of that inning and two of three he faced in the ninth to earn his 21st save.

Boston has won six of eight games and three straight series.

The Red Sox won four of five games against the Royals this year and 27 of 38 since the start of 2018.

Lugo (13-6) pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing six runs — four earned — on six hits and four walks. He struck out four. He has lost four of his last six starts.

Pasquantino had three of Kansas City’s eight hits with two RBIs, and he leads the Royals with 82 RBIs.

The Royals have lost six of their last seven home games.

–Field Level Media

Judon to Honor Contract for ’24

by

FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots outside linebacker Matthew Judon said he will play this season on his current contract.

The four-time Pro Bowler was on the practice field Monday, a week after a heated exchange with head coach Jerod Mayo and members of the team’s front office, reportedly over his contract status.

“I gotta play,” Judon told reporters after Monday’s session. “This ain’t nothing about practice. I gotta do what I’m contracted and obligated to do so I don’t lose money.”

Judon has been an on-again, off-again participant in camp while seeking a raise from the $6.5 million base salary he is set to earn this season in the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal. He is due to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

“I want to stay here for the remainder of my career,” he said. “I only have one year left. It’s not up to me.”

Embed from Getty Images

For the first time, Judon talked to reporters about his exchange last week with Mayo.

“We had a conversation,” Judon said. “I didn’t want to be a distraction to the team, and I wasn’t participating that day so I went inside.”

Judon, who turns 32 on Aug. 15, is a ninth-year veteran who missed 13 games last season after suffering a torn biceps against the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 4 loss.

In eight seasons, Judon has 369 tackles, 66.5 sacks, 165 quarterback hits, nine forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 114 games (82 starts) with the Baltimore Ravens (2016-20) and Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Georgia’s On Everyone’s Mind

by

INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Georgia received all but nine first-place votes and is ranked No. 1 in the 2024 preseason USA Today Coaches Poll.

No. 2 Ohio State received seven of the remaining nine first-place votes with Oregon at No. 3 following by three consecutive SEC teams — Texas, Alabama and Ole Miss. The Rebels were last ranked this high in the coaches poll in 1970.

The SEC has nine teams in the poll, with No. 16 Oklahoma joining the conference newcomer Longhorns, who received one first-place vote.

Notre Dame is seventh and the only team outside the Power 4 in the poll. Defending national champion Michigan, also receiving one vote for first place, is No. 8 ahead of Penn State and Florida State.

The Crimson Tide are entering the first season under head coach Kalen DeBoer. He replaced Nick Saban, who retired at the end of the season. The No. 5 preseason ranking for Alabama is its lowest starting position in the Coaches Poll since 2009.

DeBoer’s former club, Washington, was national runner-up in January but didn’t make the preseason Top 25.

–Field Level Media

Sox Facing Royals in Key Series

by

KANSAS CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – As the visiting Boston Red Sox prepare for the middle game of a pivotal three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, they expect to soon receive a bullpen boost with the return of right-handers Chris Martin and Justin Slaten.

Embed from Getty Images

On the injured list since July 4, Martin may return during the series with the Royals.

“He’s on his way here,” Boston manager Alex Cora said on Monday. “He’s staying at home one more night. We’ll know more (Tuesday) night. If he’s ready, he’ll be activated Wednesday.”

Slaten, dealing with right elbow inflammation like Martin, has been sidelined since July 8.

“(He was) playing catch (Monday), up to 120 (feet),” Cora said, “so, that’s a good sign. When you get up to there, the bullpen is right around the corner.”

The Red Sox recently received surprising news about Trevor Story, who has missed all but eight games due to left shoulder dislocation and was thought to be lost for the year.

Instead, the shortstop has made significant progress and could return this season.

“I never thought we were going to get to this point,” Cora said. “I’m excited. Obviously, not a hundred percent that it’s going to happen, but the fact that he is doing everything possible to make it happen is great.”

Story is travelling with the club and swinging a bat.

“He’s hitting underhand tosses, front tosses this past weekend,” Cora said. “That’s close to BP. He’s moving well. His swing looks great.”

After winning the series opener 9-5 on Monday, Boston will send right-hander Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.13 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday as they look for their third straight series victory.

In two career starts against the Royals, Bello is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA. He collected a win on July 14 vs. Kansas City despite surrendering homers to Salvador Perez and Adam Frazier. He threw 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits.

In three starts since, Bello has been consistent, throwing at least five innings while allowing three or fewer runs each time.

The Royals will counter with right-hander Seth Lugo (13-5, 2.57 ERA). He has made four career appearances — one start — against the Red Sox, going 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA. The lone start was a loss on July 13, when he allowed five runs on 10 hits, including a home run by Rafael Devers, in five innings.

Lugo beat the Detroit Tigers in his latest start, allowing a run on four hits in eight innings on Thursday.

“A lot of soft contact, a lot of pitch efficiency,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “It looked like he had everything working. He got soft contact on changeups, some swing-and-miss on the breaking ball, had the two-seamer going. All in all, he was in command the whole night.”

While Bobby Witt Jr. has earned most of the Royals’ offensive headlines, teammate Vinnie Pasquantino has also contributed as Kansas City has homered in 11 straight games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in club history.

In the Monday loss, Pasquantino extended his hitting streak to nine games with his 16th homer. He has five long balls in his past six games.

“Vinnie’s a run producer,” Quatraro said. “He’s had some good games for us, especially lately.”

In 35 games since June 24, Pasquantino is hitting .329 with nine homers and 34 RBIs. His 51 home-game RBIs lead the majors.

–Field Level Media

 

Dutch Gold

by

PARIS – The Netherlands won gold in the men’s 3×3 basketball by edging France 18-17 in overtime in the final at the Paris Olympics on Monday, just a few minutes after Germany earned their first international title in the women’s tournament.

Embed from Getty Images

France was backed by a passionate crowd, but Worthy de Jong, instantly recognizable with his bleached blond hair, tied the score in the last seconds of regulation and sealed the title for the Dutch with a two-point, long-range shot in overtime.

On the women’s side, Germany beat Spain 17-16 after Sonja Greinacher hit a two-pointer that gave them a decisive lead with 30 seconds remaining at Place de la Concorde.

Greinacher had already scintillated in a back-and-forth semifinal contest against Canada, delivering 11 points and five rebounds for a 16-15 win.

“We definitely wanted that gold medal,” Greinacher said after getting a congratulatory hug courtside from compatriot and 14-times NBA All-Star Dirk Nowitzki.

“I think we just wanted to enjoy our last game together as a group. That was the biggest goal of it all, to just enjoy.”

The men’s bronze went to Lithuania after they dispatched Tokyo gold medalists Latvia 21-18, who picked a bad day to suffer their only two losses of the tournament.

The United States, who won the women’s gold in Tokyo, prevailed over Canada 16-13 to claim bronze this time around, a consolation prize after losing 18-16 to Spain in overtime in the semifinals.

“After we lost this morning and had our gold dream crushed, we were down,” American Hailey Van Lith said.

“We were kind of feeling sorry for ourselves. It took a lot of mental toughness just to compete in this game.”

In their bronze medal game, the United States had to rely on close one-point shots and five free throws to beat Canada’s Plouffe twins, Katherine and Michelle, the Nos. 1 and 3-ranked players in the world.

The Americans had a difficult start to the tournament, losing their three opening pool games to Germany, Azerbaijan and Australia before finally finding their groove.

The Paris 3×3 tournament was even more complicated for the U.S. men’s team, who were making their Olympic debut with a revamped squad after failing to qualify for Tokyo.

The Americans had to play four of their seven games without top-ranked player Jimmer Fredette, who suffered two torn ligaments in his adductor, and failed to break out of their pool.

France’s women, runners-up at the 2023 World Cup, were just as disappointing, finishing last in the pool phase behind Azerbaijan.

–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media

Abreu, Red Sox Pound Rangers

by

ARLINGTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu posted his first career multi-home run game on Sunday to power the Boston Red Sox to a 7-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in central Texas.

Embed from Getty Images

Abreu had a solo shot in the fourth inning then hit a three-run homer in the sixth to finish with four RBIs. His second blast was his 12th of the season and handed Boston a 6-2 lead.

Jarren Duran (No. 14) and David Hamilton (No. 6) each added a solo home run for the Red Sox, who won the rubber game of the three-game series. Duran had three hits and two RBIs in the victory.

Two of Boston’s four home runs came against Nate Eovaldi, who gave up five runs on seven hits in five innings. Eovaldi (8-5) struck out seven and walked one.

Cam Booser (2-2) tossed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win. Booser took over for Boston starter Nick Pivetta with two outs in the fifth and did not allow a hit.

Texas received solo home runs from Corey Seager (No. 22) and Josh Jung (No. 3), who had two of the team’s three hits.

The Rangers opened the scoring on Seager’s drive in the first,and doubled their advantage when Jung homered in the second. The Red Sox have allowed a major-league-leading 33 home runs in 15 games since the All-Star break.

Duran’s RBI double in the third drove in Hamilton to make it 2-1. Abreu’s home run in the fourth tied the game and Duran’s blast put the Red Sox in front 3-2 in the fifth.

In the sixth, Rafael Devers singled to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and Connor Wong doubled. Eovaldi was then lifted for Walter Pennington, who then gave up Abreu’s three-run shot. Devers extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

Hamilton’s home run stretched Boston’s lead to 7-2 in the seventh.

–Field Level Media

Scheffler Cares; Gets the Gold

by

PARIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – There were far too many Olympic and sports pundits who threw shade on multi-millionaires who wouldn’t have the motivation to play for a medal of golf, silver or bronze when they can earn upwards of $18,000,000 for a single FedEx Cup title or $300,000,000 for signing on the dotted line with LIV Golf. It’s just a wild guess, they didn’t stick around for the Medal Ceremony on Golf Channel to see tears of emotion streaming on Scottie Scheffler’s face.

Embed from Getty Images

Scheffler, an American golfer of the highest regard, won the gold medal at the Men’s Olympic Golf competition on Sunday with a final score of 19 under par at Le Golf National, south of the city of Paris.

He turned in a final-round 62, which included six birdies on the back nine. He closed with birdies on holes 15 through 18.

The World No. 1 finished one shot ahead of Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood (66), who took silver at 18 under. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (65) was two shots back to claim the bronze medal, improving on his tie for fourth place on home soil in Tokyo three years ago.

For Scheffler, this is his seventh victory of 2024. His wins include The Players Championship and the Masters Tournament.

–Reuters, Special to Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Olympic ⛳️

by

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

FROM the LYONS’ DEN in BOSTON – It’s time to “tee-up” a patented TL timeline of a column. It works when there’s any Olympic golf tournament, staged in Paris, France, and the time zone change brings live golf into your quiet, basement TV at three in the morning – a little like Ryder Cup times.

You know the rules. (There’s none).

Here we go:

August 1, 2024

4:11am – After my iPhone alarm had been moved to snooze twice since its 3:00am setting, a large cup of coffee – let’s call it Cafe au lait for the occasion – was made with the care of a Parisian shoppe owner while doing everything humanly possible to not awake our two wonderful canines.

As one would expect, the early bird – that’s the lève tôt pour moi – was rewarded with the 4:11am ET/10:11am (local) tee time threesome – trio – of World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the USA, Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and Sweden’s Ludvig Åberg being introduced to the crowds of Le Golf National, located at Saint Quentin en Yvelines, to the west/southwest of Paris.

To set the scene properly, it’s important to note, the starter at Le Golf National could easily double as the cropier at the Casino de Monte-Carlo’s Baccarat table. You might remember the scene from the 2018 Ryder Cup (17 1⁄2 – to – 10 1⁄2 win by Europe), as the Albatros Course looked and played in near perfect condition.

5:00am – There’s a few general thoughts running through your columnist’s mind. They’ll be addressed now, and presented in stream of consciousness mode.

Golf returned to the Olympic Games in 2016 (Rio) and is being contested for only the fifth time in the modern Olympics. The sport was first played in the Olympics in 1900, as the 1896 modern Olympics in Greece did not have a suitable golf course to play. In 1900, at the Compiègne Club in France, both men and woman competed in the sport. Only four nations were represented (France, Great Britain, the United States and Greece).

Charles Sands, a representative of the St. Andrews Golf Club in Yonkers, New York finished the 36 hole tournament, shooting (82)+(85) for (167), defeating Walter Rutherford of Jedburgh, Scotland (Great Britain) by one stroke. In the women’s competition, Margaret Abbott of Chicago Golf Club. Abbott (born in Calcutta) shot a (47) to win and became the first ever American female to medal in the Olympic Games. The bad news was that she received a gilded porcelein bowl as a trophy, rather than a gold medal. The incredible news, Abbott’s mother finished seventh.

St. Louis was celebrating the World’s Fair in 1904 and hosted a two country (USA and Canada) golf tournament at the Glen Echo course in St. Louis. A 20-year-old American, H. Chandler Egan, a Harvard student and the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, was the heavy favorite to claim the gold medal in match play format. Egan met Canadian George Lyon in the 36-hole final but lost 3 and 2 in difficult conditions.

Golf was not included in the Olympic Games for 112 years after St. Louis. Fast forward 90 years to October 9, 2009, in Copenhagen when the 121st IOC session determined golf would be reinstated to the Summer Olympics and for plaqnning purposes, the sport returned in grand form at the 2016 Games at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Interestingly, the USOC’s Bob Condron was named venue chief – a very smart move for the brand new course constructed for the event.

Britain’s Justin Rose and Korea’s Inbee Park took the gold medals in Rio.

Of course, the global pandemic wreaked havoc but golf returned in 2021 at the Tokyo Games when Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korda, both representing the United States of America, won the men’s and women’s events. They remain defending champions until medals are awarded this week.

Keep in mind, unlike the usual PGA Tour, DP World Golf or LIV Golf event when some 50-70+ players will have a slice of the sizable purse, this week, only three players in both the men’s and women’s events are recognized as winners. In other words, you get the same prize for fourth as you do for 60th – “nuthin.”

5:55am – The featured group of defending champion Schauffele – winner of two of ‘24’s four majors in the PGA Championship and the recent Open Championship – was placed with Spain’s Jon Rahm who won his first LIV Golf title only a week ago, and Norway’s Viktor Hovland, the reigning FedEx Cup Champion and winner of a cool $18 million for his efforts, joined the party.

Remember, for their entire PGA Tour careers, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, winners of 25 majors and 135 tour titles, earned a combined $7,595,888. (US).

6:06am – France’s Mathieu Pavon teed-off as the hometown hero but he was overshadowed a bit by his playing partners, Collin Morikawa of the USA and MattFitzpatrick of England.

6:15am – Two – yes, count ‘em, two dogs woke up and sought me out in our home basement and both were happy to cuddle-up and return to sleep for a while. Both Penny (Lane), our 3.5 year old Irish Golden Doodle (heavy on the Golden Retriever and Poodle side) and (Mighty) Max of Silver Hammer fame, our 1-year old english Springer Doodle, of the happiest, mellowist, craziest dog of all-time fame, remained silent, observing golf’s most important rule – “No Barking” at 6:15am.

A second wind cup of (Dunkin Donuts – original) coffee was brewed and poured into an Ember ceramic mug. BTW, the Ember Cup might be the greatest invention of the century, and I applaud (sis-in-law) for her generous Christmas gift. The glowing blue light, turned white hot, somehow keeps the coffee at its perfect temperature which can be set to the desired degree (120-145 degree Fahrenheit and that’s 48.9-62.8º degrees in Celsius – for all my many subscribers spread across the globe or those covering the golf tournament in the outskirts of Paris.

Speaking of which, please don’t categorize this as a rant. It’s a sincere wish.

HOW in the WORLD can an Olympic Golf tournament be staged without a one-day team match play event for gold, silver and bronze medals? Each country to qualify would pick two players to compete in a bracket-type, Match Play tournament, not unlike the WGC tournament which used to be on the PGA schedule. It would add a lot to the golf experience at the Olympics, and maybe add two days for the players to remain on the road. … Mixed doubles would be great too. (Four Ball).

It’s “on” to the rest of the morning:

6:30am – The “regular” alarm clocks ring. Thursday, August 1, 2024 is now, officially beginning in this Boston household.

6:39am – The final threesome of the day – Fabrizio Zanotti of Paraguay, Joel Girrbachof Switzerland, and Tapio Pulkkanen of Finland – are the first tee. Meanwhile, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama became the clubhouse leader for the first round by shooting an (8-under) (63), three strokes ahead of a group of two players at (-6) and four players (and growing) at (minus 5).

By days end, Hideki Matsuyama, the Japan native and popular PGA Tour player, carded a bogey-free, 8-under (63) to top the 60-athlete, first-round leaderboard on a sultry day in the outskirts of Paris. Round 1 was victim to two weather delays.

August 2, 2024

The second round saw American Xander Schauffele card a 36-hole total of (131), tying the low 36-hole Olympic mark that he recorded at the 2020 in ‘21) Tokyo Olympics. Meanwhile, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan closed with a double-bogey (6) for a 3-under (68) in his Friday play, but he leads the field with 15 birdies through the opening two rounds.

Fatigue was kicking in on the second day of the 4:00am (ET) wake-up, never mind the third day.

August 3, 2024

Spain’s Jon Rahm posted his second consecutive (66) and he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation. Rahm leads the field in Greens in Regulation (87.04%) and Driving Accuracy (80.95%) through three rounds.

Schauffele’s third round score (68) marked his second consecutive Olympics when he, at least, had a share of the 54-hole lead. Not bad. Schauffele can become the first back-to-back medalist in the men’s Olympic golf history.

Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of Great Britain withdrew from the Olympic men’s golf competition after he shot an (81) in the third round. He was nursing a thumb injury.

That leads us to the posting of WWYI (Saturday night at 10:00am ET) and the start of the final round of the tournament, beginning at 3:00am but highlighted when the leaders tee-it-up at 6:39am ET). So, if you’re reading this Saturday night, you know the deal.

If you’re reading it on Sunday morning, turn on the Golf Channel.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Buzzword Bingo for NBC’s coverage of the Men’s Olympic basketball tournament. Here’s a Top 10.

  1. International basketball is catching up. (psst, that happened at least 24 years ago).
  2. They check their ego at the door. (psst, there’s no ego check closet).
  3. The level of talent, is incredible. Twelve alpha-dogs.
  4. The USA hasn’t had all that much time to prepare.
  5. They have to play the right way.
  6. They’re playing for one another.
  7. This is bigger than me, individually.
  8. Take care of the basketball and defend the way you can.
  9. You’ve got guys that are willing to sacrifice.
  10. The coaching staff has done an amazing job. (a comment that can go 180-degrees if there’s an upset in the next round when it’s “On to Bercy”

RIP: There’s been far too many Rest in Peace notifications in this missive, but it’s a must to convey sincere condolences to the wife, Taryn Faith, and three daughters of Andy Jasner, a Philadelphia-based writer/reporter known to many of us through his late father, Phil Jasner, who wrote for the Philadelphia Daily News.

One minute Andy, 55, was filing a story on the Philadelphia Phillies, the next, he was gone, a victim of a massive heart attack which shook our world on Friday, August 2. The news spread quickly on Friday afternoon and the weekend. “I am simply speechless over this tragedy,” wrote one WWYI subscriber who emailed this morning.

NOTE: Sign Up for the COMPLETE Sunday Sports Notebook, sent every Saturday at 10:00pm ET to give you that Bulldog Edition kind of feel.