D1 Sunday, August 30, 2020 GUIDE LINES McCullers solid, Astros beat A’s 4-2 in 1st game of DH HOUSTON (AP) — Lance Chris Bassitt (2-2) that went McCullers Jr. threw six strong just inside the right-fi eld foul innings, hit a pole. Reddick led off the fourth three-run homer and the Hous- with his second homer. ton Astros beat the Oakland McCullers (3-2) allowed two Athletics 4-2 in the fi rst game runs — one earned — and of a doubleheader on Saturday. six hits with seven Josh Reddick also connected and one walk. McCullers has for the Astros, who won for allowed two or fewer runs in BOB MAINDELLE the third time in four games. three of his last four starts. Tucker and Jack Mayfi eld Matt Chapman drove in each each had two hits. of Oakland’s runs. Bassitt The doubleheader was allowed six hits and walked Belton Lake scheduled after the Athletics three in three innings. and Astros decided not to play Ryan Pressly pitched the Friday night in order to raise seventh for his fi fth . produces awareness of racial inequality McCullers got some help in the wake of the police shoot- from his defense in the second. ing of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, cut second 2020 a Black man, in Wisconsin. down Mark Canha at the plate MICHAEL WYKE | AP Tucker put Houston ahead when he tried to score from starting Lance McCullers Jr., top, throws against to stay with his sixth homer fi r st on a double by Ramon Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien during the fi rst inning of the fi rst game of a catfi s h record in the fi rst inning, a drive off Laureano. doubleheader Saturday in Houston. n Aug. 22, Esteban  (Steve) and Donica Rangel of Copperas Cove took their chil- Odren, 8-year-old Alexander, and 6-year-old Anthony, on a fi sh- ing trip to Belton Lake. Little did they know that a few hours later they would be submitting an application for a record- class fi sh. The Rangels fi sh together routinely as a family, head- ing to Belton Lake in pursuit of catfi sh several times per month, fi shing from their 1978 Ranger boat, powered by a 150- horsepower Mercury Black Max outboard motor. By many accounts, fi shing on Saturday was a bit slow as some unstable weather put the fi s hing off a bit. In fact, the record catch the Rangels made was the only fi s h they caught the entire trip. Around 10:30 in the morn- ing the family sat at anchor in about 30 feet of water with their baits on bottom in slightly deeper water in the main basin of the lake, along

the reservoir’s south shore,  after they launched out of Westcliff Park. The Rangels prefer to use a Carolina-rig setup for their catfi shing. Their 40-pound- AP | FILE test monofi lament main line, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterbacks Tom Brady (12) and Blaine Gabbert (11) throw passes during a training camp practice Monday in Tampa, Fla. with a 4-ounce weight on the end, is tied to a swivel which keeps the weight from slip- ping past. Below the swivel is a short leader to which a size 9/0 Mustad Demon fi ne-wire circle hook is attached. The Rangels prefer to bait up with large pieces of fresh, dead FORGING AHEAD shad. On this morning they were using a chunk of frozen NFL 2020: Who really knows what to expect on fi eld and off? gizzard shad. The B ‘n’ M casting rod BY BARRY WILNER recognize the challenges off the Many would say playing a colli- coupled with an Okuma Clas- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS fi e ld could be more daunting than sion sport not only is hazardous sic baitcaster which the record those on it. Particularly a! er 77 but foolhardy. The NFL did have 67 fi s h struck was tethered to the boat via a rod holder. When ever has the NFL doubted false positive COVID-19 tests last players opt out of the season. But it the large catfi sh struck, the it would open its season weekend. seems the vast majority of players, rod, which was on the star- on time. For months, it coaches, executives and, for certain, board gunwale, went down has steadfastly stuck to “We’re going to have to be fl exible owners, want to stick to the script. suddenly. Instantly line began and adaptable,” says Dr. Allen Sills, to strip off the reel against Nits plans, even as the coronavirus Even with the risk COVID-19 pres- the drag and the reel’s audible pandemic has altered the course of the league’s chief medical o" cer ents. bait-clicker sounded off. every other sport — on all levels. and, in 2020, for good reason, its Alexander, a thir d-grade most visible executive. “I think “I just really thought about all the student at Martin Walker things that could happen,” says Elementary School, fought the With its kickoff game of Super that’s something we’ll continue to Bowl champion Kansas City host- track and monitor. If this taught Broncos star linebacker Von Miller, PLEASE SEE RECORD, D2 ing Houston rapidly approaching, us anything, projecting three, four who has recovered from the corona- possibly with fans in the stands, weeks down the road is a hazardous virus. “This season is different from America’s most popular sport must business.” PLEASE SEE NFL, D2  Johnson, Matsuyama tied for lead at tough Olympia Fields

BY DOUG FERGUSON back nine with a bogey, and he fi nished THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FEDEX CUP PLAYOFFS with a shot he thought was going to be long, came up 70 feet short and led to a OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Dustin John- ers to be among the top 30 who advance three-putt bogey for a 73. He still was only son is 21 shots worse to par than he was a to the FedEx Cup fi nale, and one last three shots back assuming he plays. COURTESY | ESTEBAN (STEVE) RANGEL week ago and still looks to be the player to round for others — like Tiger Woods — to McIlroy said after the round his wife is From le! , Donica, Alexander and beat. prepare for the U.S. Open on a course that expecting their fi rst child, news they had Anthony Rangel display Alexander’s Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama sur- plays every bit as tough. shared with family and friends but was re- pending Belton Lake-record catfi sh. vived another demanding day at Olympia Patrick Cantlay only hit fi ve fairways vealed during the NBC broadcast. He said The large channel catfi sh measured Fields, both scratching out a 1-under 69 and didn’t make a birdie as he tumbled out that partly explains his wandering mind 29 inches and was entered into the that felt better than it looked to share the of a tie for the lead with a round with a 75 the last few weeks, and that his caddie and Parks and Wildlife Depart- lead Saturday at the BMW Championship. that left him fi ve shots behind and might best friend, Harry Diamond, has kept a ment’s catch-and-release category Everyone else was over par going into cost him a spot in the Tour Championship. phone turned on while in the bag. of records for junior anglers under the fi nal round. Rory McIlroy had to play left-handed to the age of 17. Today is one last chance for some play- escape the base of a tree in starting the PLEASE SEE LEAD, D2