AP Wednesday Sports Roundup

MLB-SCHEDULE

Jays' deficit just a half-game

UNDATED (AP) — The Toronto Blue Jays were fourth in the American League East and eight games behind the division-leading New York Yankees following a loss to Philadelphia on July 28. They've lost just once since then to climb within a half-game of the Yanks.

Drew Hutchison allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings as the Blue Jays picked up their ninth consecutive win, downing Oakland 4-2. Hutchison owns a 5.26 ERA this season following his longest start since late May, but he's 11-2 because of strong offensive support. This time, the Blue Jays won despite collecting just six hits as Jose Bautista hit a solo homer and Justin Smoak supplied an RBI double that put Toronto ahead to stay.

It took the Yankees 16 innings to lose their fourth in a row as Michael Brantley laced a walk-off single to give Cleveland a 5-4 comeback win over New York. The Yanks pulled ahead on Chase Headley's two-run single in the top of the 10th, but the Indians answered back with Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly and a game-tying single by Yan Gomes.

Stephen Drew and Carlos Beltran homered for New York.

In other major league finals:

— The Cardinals improved to 4-0 versus Pittsburgh in St. Louis this season and widened their lead in the NL Central by posting a 4-3 triumph over the second-place Pirates. The Cards trailed 3-1 until Jason Heyward and Stephen Piscotty hit RBI singles in a three-run fifth. Carlos Martinez struck out eight in eight innings as the Cardinals improved to 41-16 at home and moved six games in front of the Pirates.

— Matt Harvey scattered four hits in eight innings as the New York Mets won for the ninth time in 11 games, beating Colorado 4-0. Harvey is 3-0 with a 0.91 ERA in his last four starts, leaving him 11-7 this season. Ruben Tejada opened the scoring with an RBI single in the sixth inning before Juan Lagares added a two-run double in the eighth.

— The Mets top the NL East by 2 ½ games after the second-place Washington Nationals fell 5-0 to the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Zack Greinke lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.65 with six innings of six-hit, shutout ball. Yasiel Puig  produced the scoring with two swings, contributing a two-run homer and a bases-loaded triple.

— San Francisco dumped Houston 3-1 as Madison Bumgarner struck out 12 in a five-hitter. Brandon Belt smacked a pair of solo homers to help the Giants stay 2 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers. Scott Kazmir served up both gopher balls for the AL West leaders, who lost for the seventh time in eight games to stay one game ahead of the Angels.

— The Angels were 3-0 losers to the White Sox as Carlos Rodon held Los Angeles to four hits while striking out 11 in seven innings. Trayce Thompson hit his first major league home run in the fifth, one inning after Melky Cabrera lined a two-run double. The Angels have dropped 13 of 18 since taking a two-game lead in the AL West.

— Jorge Soler and Anthony Rizzo drove in two runs apiece to lead the Chicago Cubs' 6-3 triumph against Milwaukee. The Cubs' bullpen combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings after Dan Haren allowed three runs over 5 1/3. Chicago has won five in a row and remains 3 ½ games ahead of San Francisco for the NL's second wild-card berth.

— Lorenzo Cain was 4-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored as Kansas City cruised to its fifth consecutive win, 6-1 over Detroit. Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas added two-run shots for the Royals, who top the AL Central by 12 games over Minnesota. Yordano Ventura walked six but gave up just two hits in six shutout innings.

— The Twins pulled out a 3-2 victory over Texas on Eduardo Escobar's RBI double in the bottom of the ninth. The Rangers led 2-0 on a two-run homer by Elvis Andrus, but Minnesota tied it on RBI doubles by Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano in the eighth. The rally came after Yovani Gallardo held the Twins to two hits in 5 2/3 shutout innings.

— Nelson Cruz and Mark Trumbo homered for Seattle, but the Mariners needed Austin Jackson's bases-loaded single to beat Baltimore 6-5 in 10 innings. The Orioles trailed 5-2 in the eighth until Adam Jones hit a two-run homer and Chris Davis launched a solo shot. The Birds remain two games behind the Angels for the final AL wild-card berth.

— David Peralta hit a grand slam while Arizona was erupting for 11 runs in the second inning of a 13-1 laugher against Philadelphia. Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson delivered two singles and three RBIs during the fireworks, and he limited the Phillies to an unearned run and seven hits in eight innings.

— Williams Perez allowed four hits in his first major league complete game, but he surrendered Kevin Kiermeier's two-run homer in the seventh inning as Tampa Bay beat Atlanta 2-0. Erasmo Ramirez gave up five hits in seven-plus innings to improve to 9-4.

— Jeff Gyorko hit a two-run homer and had four RBIs while San Diego was building an 11-0 lead by the third inning of an 11-6 rout of Cincinnati. Yangervis Solarte had two hits and scored three times during the early rallies.

— Miami rallied from a 4-0 deficit and beat Boston 5-4 on Justin Bour's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. The Red Sox were two outs from a 4-3 victory until Adeiny Hechevarria lifted a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

MLB-MARLINS-FERNANDEZ

Fireballer placed on DL

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Marlins have placed Jose Fernandez on the 15-day disabled list with a right biceps strain, although the team's ace doesn't see any reason why he can't return to the rotation later this season. Fernandez is 4-0 with a 2.30 ERA in seven starts since returning from Tommy John surgery. He last pitched Friday at Atlanta, leaving after throwing 76 pitches over five innings.

MLB-BREWERS-MELVIN

Melvin out as Brewers GM

UNDATED (AP) — Doug Melvin will step down as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He will continue to lead the team's baseball operations department before "transitioning into an advisory role."

The Brewers are in last place in the NL Central and have the second worst record in the league.

Milwaukee is rebuilding, having dealt Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez at the July 31 trade deadline. Melvin fired manager Ron Roenicke in May and replaced him with Craig Counsell.

Melvin joined the Brewers on Sept. 26, 2002 as the eighth general manager in the team's history. The Brewers went 26 years without a playoff appearance before winning the NL wild card in 2008 and the NL Central in 2011.

Elsewhere in the majors:

— Texas Rangers lefty Cole Hamels will miss his next start Thursday in Minnesota because of a sore left groin that isn't believed to be a serious injury. Hamels told reporters he felt the muscle grab in his previous start, his second since coming to the Rangers from Philadelphia. General manager Jon Daniels says Triple-A pitchers Chi Chi Gonzalez or Anthony Ranaudo will pitch on Thursday.

— Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera could be activated from the disabled list this weekend. The two-time American League MVP hasn't played since July 3, when he suffered a strained left calf while running the bases against Toronto. Cabrera is hitting .350 with 15 homers and 54 RBIs in 77 games.

— Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman threw off a mound for the first time since tearing knee ligaments in spring training, keeping him on target for a possible September return. Stroman went 11-6 with a 3.65 ERA in 26 games as a rookie last year.

— The Chicago Cubs have activated catcher David Ross from the bereavement list and optioned outfielder Matt Szczur to Triple-A Iowa. The team also activated infielder Tommy La Stella from the 60-day disabled list and optioned him to Triple-A.

NFL-JETS-SMITH SIDELINED

Jets quarterback punched by teammate

UNDATED (AP) — Geno Smith had hoped for a breakout season. Instead, the New York Jets quarterback received a broken jaw in a locker room fight with teammate I.K. Enemkpali Tuesday morning.

Smith will be sidelined at least 6-10 weeks and will require surgery following the altercation. Jets coach Todd Bowles says Enemkpali has been released after he sucker-punched the third-year Jet.

In other NFL training camp news:

— Tampa Bay has signed defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, who was released last week by Seattle for salary cap reasons. McDaniel spent the past two seasons with the Seahawks, starting 29 of 32 regular season games and helping Seattle to appearances in consecutive Super Bowls.

— A person with knowledge of the situation says Arizona Cardinals starting right tackle Bobby Massie has been suspended for three games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. The 2012 fourth-round pick started every game at right tackle for Arizona last season and is in the final year of his contract.

— The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Garrett Hartley to replace kicker Shaun Suisham, who injured his left knee in Sunday's preseason loss to Minnesota. Hartley spent six years with New Orleans and helped the Saints win the Super Bowl in 2010 before playing two games for the Browns last season.

— A judge is urging the NFL, the players' union and the Patriots' Tom Brady to have last-minute settlement talks before a Wednesday hearing over the quarterback's suspension for using underinflated footballs. Judge Richard Berman has ordered the sides to have "further good faith settlement efforts" prior to the first meeting in federal court.

NFL-OWNERS MEETINGS

Owners hear pitches for L.A. stadiums

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (AP) — NFL owners met in suburban Chicago on Tuesday to hear more about moving at least one existing team to the Los Angeles market.

The Chargers and Raiders are proposing a stadium in Carson, and the Rams are looking to build a facility in Inglewood. Commissioner Roger Goodell says no voting of any kind occurred at the meeting, and he anticipates the league will decide on a relocation fee this fall.

NBA-TIMBERWOLVES-SAUNDERS CANCER

Saunders having cancer treatment

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves president and coach Flip Saunders says he is being treated for cancer. The 60-year old says he has been undergoing chemotherapy for his Hodgkins' lymphoma which his doctors are calling "very treatable and curable."

Saunders plans to remain as the Timberwolves head coach and top executive while being treated.

BOXING-ALI-AWARD

Ali gets first time honor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Boxing great Muhammad Ali will get some special hometown recognition next month from the University of Louisville.

The school says that the three-time world heavyweight champion will be the inaugural recipient of the Grawemeyer Spirit Award. It cited Ali's role in inspiring others and working for positive change in the world.

The Grawemeyer Awards have been given for 30 years to recognize contributions in music composition, education, religion, psychology and improving world order. This is the first time the spirit award is being given.