National Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez was perfect through four, took a two-hit shutout into the seventh and became the first pitcher in the 2021 postseason to finish eight innings on Wednesday as the Houston Astros beat Boston 9-1 in Game 5 of the AL Champion

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica — Forge FC scored early but could not hold onto the lead Wednesday, falling 3-1 to Costa Rica's Santos de Guapiles in the first leg of their Scotiabank CONCACAF League quarterfinal.

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Oilers have placed goalie Mike Smith on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. The team has also recalled netminder Stuart Skinner from the Bakersfield Condors in the American Hockey League.

QUEBEC — A Montreal Canadiens land acknowledgment that refers to unceded territory of the Mohawk Nation may be a mistake, according to Quebec Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière.

The U.S. has launched a bid to host both the men's and women's Rugby World Cup with Vancouver billed as a potential host city. Wednesday's public launch of the bid comes on the eve of the U.S.

Head coach Orlondo Steinauer is confident the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will have receiver Brandon Banks back when they face the Ottawa Redblacks on Saturday afternoon. Banks, 33, has missed four of Hamilton's past five games with a rib injury.

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers agreed to terms with American defensive back Winston Rose on Wednesday. Winston was a CFL all-star in 2019 when he led the league in interceptions (nine).

The path to becoming the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' leading receiver has certainly been a long one for Jaelon Acklin. In 2018, the 26-year-old American was released by the Baltimore Ravens during training camp after signing as an undrafted free agent.

TORONTO — Canada's Olympic and Paralympic athletes must be vaccinated to compete at the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Brazilian winger Luiz Araújo has a US$3.6 million base salary after joining Atlanta from Lille and has total compensation of $3,941,667, the highest among players to join Major League Soccer teams during the 2021 season.