Briefs
Flyers, Capitals swap defensemen
The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired defenseman Matt Niskanen from the Washington Capitals for defenseman Radko Gudas.
Philadelphia is retaining 30 percent of Gudas’ salary in the final year of his contract. Gudas counts $3.35 million against the salary cap. Washington will be responsible for $2.35 million.
Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said Friday the deal provides the team with financial flexibility. This sheds $3.405 million total for this season with the Capitals in need of re-signing a few key players.
The 32-year-old Niskanen gives the Flyers an offensive-minded, right-shot defenseman who can also help on the power play. He had 25 points in 80 games last season and is signed through 2020-21 at a cap hit of $5.75 million.
It’s the first significant move of the NHL offseason after the St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup.
Pats drop grievance
against Texans
The Texans have dropped their pursuit of Patriots executive Nick Caserio for their vacant general manager’s job, and New England has withdrawn the grievance it filed against Houston.
Texans owner Cal McNair released a statement Friday saying the Texans would no longer seek interviews with Caserio.
“When we started the process to interview Nick Caserio for our EVP/GM position, we consulted the league office on numerous occasions, followed the procedures outlined in the league’s rules and believed we were in full compliance,” McNair said in the statement. “We have now been made aware of certain terms in Nick’s contract with the Patriots. Once we were made aware of these contract terms, I informed Mr. (Robert) Kraft that we would stop pursuing Nick.”
Brian Gaine was abruptly fired by the Texans last week. Subsequently, an 11-page complaint by former security coordinator Jeff Pope filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleged his firing by the team was racially motivated.
Pope alleged that Gaine unjustly initiated the firing of Pope and eight other black employees during his 17 months on the job.
In golf
Washington native Steve Wheatcroft sits at 2-under par and tied for 28th after the second round of the Lincoln Land Charity Championship on the Web.com Tour.
- Waynesburg’s Rachel Rohanna shot 3-under par and is tied for 10th place after the first round of the Forsyth Classic on the Symetra Tour.
Pony baseball
Gibby Havanis pitched a complete game with five strikeouts to help Ace Sporting Goods to a 12-2 victory over Washington Hyundai in Washington Pony League action.
Havanis also doubled. Max Dotson had two doubles.
J.J. Miles doubled for Washington Hyundai .
Indians’ Bauers
hits for the cycle
Cleveland’s Jake Bauers hit for the cycle, and the Indians routed the Detroit Tigers 13-4 on Friday night after scoring eight runs in the fourth inning.
Bauers singled and tripled in that inning. He also hit a double in the second and a two-run homer in the eighth, becoming the first Cleveland player to hit for the cycle since Rajai Davis did it at Toronto on July 2, 2016.
Leonys Martin’s three-run homer highlighted Cleveland’s eight-run fourth. The Indians sent 13 men to the plate that inning, turning a 3-2 deficit into a 10-3 advantage. The first six batters of the inning reached base.
Adam Plutko (3-1) allowed two earned runs and five hits in six innings for Cleveland. He walked one and struck out six.
Ryan Carpenter (1-4) threw 92 pitches but only lasted three-plus innings. He allowed six earned runs, eight hits and four walks.
Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Dixon hit consecutive homers for Detroit in the second.
The 23-year-old Bauers came into the game hitting just .209, but he opened the scoring with an RBI double in the second. The Indians led 2-0 before Cabrera and Dixon answered with solo shots.