Baseball
Mets closer Diaz suspended 10 games
NEW YORK — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz began serving his 10-game suspension Tuesday, just two days after his ejection from a win over the Chicago Cubs for having a foreign substance on his hand.
The 30-year-old Díaz came on in the ninth inning to try to seal a 5-2 victory for the Mets, but was tossed by third-base umpire Vic Carapazza before throwing a pitch after an inspection of his glove and throwing hand.
Both Díaz and manager Carlos Mendoza said the umpire said he thought the pitcher had too much of a combination of rosin, sweat and dirt on his throwing hand.
But Carapazza, the crew chief, said in a pool report after the game it “definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat” on Díaz’s hand.
“We’ve checked thousands of these,” Carapazza said. “I know what that feeling is. This was very sticky.”
MLB issued the suspension to Diaz on Monday. The 10-game suspension is automatic for any player ejected for using a foreign substance. Players are allowed to appeal, though none of the eight pitchers ejected since 2001 — when MLB began cracking down on the use of sticky stuff — have done so.
The Mets cannot replace Díaz on the active roster and will play a man short during the suspension, which is slated to run through July 5.
Brewers acquire Keuchel from Mariners: The Milwaukee Brewers added some depth to their injury-riddled pitching staff by acquiring 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, who has spent all of this season in the minor leagues.
Milwaukee added the 36-year-old left-hander from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash. Keuchel has gone 7-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 13 starts with the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Tacoma this season.
Short hops: The Reds placed pitcher Nick Lodolo on the IL with a blister. ... Mets outfielder Starling Marte is expected to miss at least a month with a deep bone bruise in his right knee. ... The Twins placed pitcher Chris Paddack on the IL with arm fatigue.
Texas snags Schlossnagle from Texas A&M: Jim Schlossnagle, who built the Texas A&M baseball program into a national power in three years and led the Aggies to the brink of this season’s national championship, is leaving to become coach at arch-rival Texas.
Schlossnagle and Texas A&M officials announced that he was leaving without saying where he was going. Texas then confirmed Schlossnagle would be a Longhorn.
Hockey
Roenick gets into Hall of Fame
Jeremy Roenick was getting a coffee when he got the call he once hoped for but some time ago stopped expecting when the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee meets typically in late June.
Tears welled up in his eyes and then down his face as he was rendered unable to pay, to hold the cup or to speak. It was to him an embarrassing but also a wonderful moment to get the word that he’ll be inducted into the hall this November.
“I still can’t believe it,” Roenick said. “I’m sitting here in shock. I’m shaking. I’m sweating. ... This means the world to me.”
His lengthy wait is over after more than a decade, as Roenick was unveiled Tuesday as part of the seven-member class of 2024, the first to include two women’s players since 2010. It’s the first class with two U.S. women’s players in the hall’s history: Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl.
Two-time Detroit Red Wings Stanley Cup-winning winger Pavel Datsyuk and former Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber were elected in their first year of eligibility. Longtime executives Colin Campbell and David Poile were chosen in the builder category.
Meruelo backing out of ownership of Coyotes: Alex Meruelo is walking away from ownership of the Arizona Coyotes, putting hockey’s future in the desert further in doubt. Meruelo’s son, Alex Jr., told Coyotes staff of the decision on Monday.
Around the League: The Sharks acquired defenseman Jake Walman and a second-round pick from Detroit in exchange for future considerations. ... The Bruins traded 2023 Vezina Trophy winning goaltender Linus Ullmark to the Senators in exchange for a 2024 first-round draft pick, forward Mark Kastelic and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
Briefly
Basketball: The Timberwolves signed head coach Chris Finch to a contract extension that covers the next four seasons. ... The Nets are trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, four unprotected first-round picks and one protected pick.
College: The NCAA Division I council voted to remove use of cannabis products from the banned drug class for championships and postseason participation in football. ... The University of Houston started the search for a new athletics director after parting ways with Chris Pezman.
Football: The city of Jacksonville approved a $1.4 billion “stadium of the future” that should keep the Jaguars in one of the NFL’s smallest markets for at least another 30 years and end decades of speculation about the franchise being a potential relocation candidate.
Motor sports: Chase Briscoe and Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed that the NASCAR driver will replace the retiring Martin Truex Jr. in the No. 19 Toyota for the 2025 Cup Series season.
Tennis: Emma Raducanu beat Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-0 in the first round of the grass-court Eastbourne International.
Cycling: Spanish Vuelta champion Sepp Kuss has not sufficiently recovered from a COVID-19 infection and won’t take part in the Tour de France.
