Beavers return to College World Series
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Danny Hayes hit a two-run home run and Oregon State advanced to the College World Series with a 4-3 victory over Kansas State on Monday night in the finale of the Corvallis (Ore.) Super Regional.
Ben Wetzler (9-1) struck out five, walked five and allowed three earned runs over 7 2/3 innings, and opening-game starter Matt Boyd held off the Wildcats (45-19) to earn his first save of the season and send the Beavers to Omaha for the first time since 2007, when Oregon State won its second consecutive national title.
Oregon State (50-11) jumped ahead in the second inning when Hayes followed a leadoff walk by Dylan Davis with a two-run home run to right-center field.
The Beavers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth when Kavin Kayes knocked an RBI double off the right-center field fence. That was it for Kansas State starter Jake Matthys (9-2).
Manuel steps forward; Jackson cut by Bills
Football: Rookie quarterback EJ Manuel took a big step forward in the competition to win the Buffalo Bills’ starting job after the team released veteran Tarvaris Jackson.
The move was announced by the team in a one-sentence release. And it came a day before the Bills open a three-day mandatory minicamp – the team’s final sessions before the start of training camp next month. The timing of the decision immediately frees up additional practice time for Manuel to further his development and become comfortable running the offense under rookie coach Doug Marrone. Jackson’s departure leaves Manuel competing with Kevin Kolb, a sixth-year player the Bills signed in free agency in April.
• Johnson sentenced: Chad Johnson was sentenced to 30 days in jail for a probation violation in a domestic violence case by a judge in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who angrily rejected a no-jail plea deal after Johnson playfully slapped his attorney on the backside in court.
Johnson, known as Chad Ochocinco for his jersey number in Spanish during his playing days, had reached a deal with prosecutors calling for community service and counseling instead of jail.
• Jones-Drew not talking: Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew isn’t talking about his role in an alleged bar fight over Memorial Day weekend.
Jones-Drew answered questions for 15 minutes Monday, a day before a mandatory, three-day minicamp, but declined to offer any details about what happened at a St. Augustine, Fla., restaurant/bar last month.
• Seats to be added: The Philadelphia Eagles are planning to add 1,600 seats and two high-definition video boards as part of a $125 million stadium revitalization project to be completed before the 2014 season.
Lincoln Financial Field is undergoing a facelift just 10 years after it opened in 2003.
• Former GM hired: The New York Jets have hired former Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves as the team’s senior director of football administration.Graves was with the Cardinals for 16 years and served as GM since 2007 before being fired in January a day after the season ended.
• Pacman arrested: Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was arrested and jailed on one count of assault.
Police alleged he “knowingly attempted to cause physical harm” to a woman in Cincinnati last week. A police complaint says Jones allegedly struck a 34-year-old Cincinnati woman shortly before midnight on Wednesday.
Stars sign Gonchar to two-year deal
Miscellany: The Dallas Stars have signed Sergei Gonchar to a two-year, $10 million contract after trading for the 39-year-old defenseman last week.
The deal announced Monday adds to the Stars’ veteran defensive core of Trevor Daley, Alex Goligoski and Stephane Robidas.
• Oilers hire coach: The Edmonton Oilers have hired Dallas Eakins as their new coach, replacing the fired Ralph Krueger.
Eakins is the fourth coach in the past five seasons for the Oilers, who have not made the playoffs since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2006.
• Breeders Cup to remain at Santa Anita: The Breeders’ Cup will remain at Santa Anita in 2014, keeping the year-end world championships at the Arcadia, Calif., track for the third consecutive year.
The event, consisting of 14 races highlighted by the $5 million Classic, will be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 next year.
Santa Anita is staging this year’s Breeders’ Cup on Nov. 1-2, marking its seventh time as host..