Alonso bests Ohtani...Denver weapons arrests
DENVER (AP) — For the second straight time, Pete Alonso has won MLB’s Home Run Derby. He bested Shohei Ohtani, Trey Mancini and Juan Soto on a night of record long balls in the thin Rocky Mountain air of Coors Field. Alonso, a New York Mets first baseman, hit 74 total home runs and beat Mancini 23-22 in the final round, joining Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14) in winning consecutive titles. Batting second, Alonso trailed 22-17 after the first two minutes of the final round, then hit six homers on six swings over the first 28 seconds of his final minute.
NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball will give at least $100 million over 10 years and help raise an additional $50 million to the Players Alliance aimed at increasing the number of Blacks playing the sport and eventually making the big leagues. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the decision before the All-Star Home Run Derby, saying it would be the sport’s largest charitable commitment. The Players Alliance was launched last year, and MLB and the Major League Players Association announced a $10 million commitment. In addition, 500 players donated a portion of their salaries on April 15, Jackie Robinson Day.
DENVER (AP) — Arrest documents say a man described by authorities as the leader of a group of four people arrested with more than a dozen weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition at a Denver hotel near the upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game asked to extend his stay and requested another room with a balcony. The request by Ricardo Rodriquez coupled with the discovery of weapons and tactical gear on Friday concerned police because of the chances for mass violence at such events. Rodriquez told Denver’s KCNC-TV that he wasn’t aware of any such plans.
CHICAGO (AP) — Two-time Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith has been shipped by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Edmonton Oilers for young defenseman Caleb Jones and a third-round draft pick. The Blackhawks also sent forward Tim Soderlund to the Oilers. The 2022 draft pick becomes a second-rounder if Edmonton reaches next year’s Stanley Cup Final and Keith is among the top four Oilers defensemen in total ice time through three rounds. Keith has two years left on his contract at a salary-cap hit just over $5.5 million. He turns 38 on Friday.
NOVI, Michigan (AP) — Police in Michigan have turned over their investigation into the fireworks death of Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks (MAH’-tihs kihv-LEH’-nihks) to a prosecutor for review. A Novi (NOH'-vy) police official says his department has not requested charges in Kivlenieks’ Fourth of July death. The death still is considered accidental and the police investigation was complete unless otherwise directed by the Oakland County prosecutor’s office. The 24-year-old died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.