Islanders defenseman Johnny Boychuk gets 7-year extension

NEW YORK (AP) — Johnny Boychuk and the New York Islanders have agreed on a long-term contract extension that assures that two of the club’s top defensemen will stick together well after the team locates to Brooklyn next season. Boychuk received a seven-year deal Thursday, as Nick Leddy did late last month. Boychuk’s contract is[…]

Ortiz and Sandoval homer, Red Sox top Pirates

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval homered in the third inning off Pirates right-hander Ryan Beckman to erase a deficit and lift the Boston Red Sox over Pittsburgh 5-1 Thursday. Pirates starter A.J. Burnett pitched 2 1-3 hitless innings but left two runners on base who scored on Ortiz’s three-run drive. Burnett[…]

Grizzlies say they’ll sit Conley, Gasol, Randolph at Wizards

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Memphis Grizzlies say they will be without injured point guard Mike Conley against the Washington Wizards and also will rest Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Tony Allen. The Grizzlies announced the lineup changes several hours before playing at the Wizards on Thursday night. Memphis, second in the Western Conference standings, is[…]

Judge strikes some gun testimony in Aaron Hernandez trial

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — The judge overseeing the murder trial of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez on Thursday struck some testimony from an employee of firearms manufacturer Glock, who said surveillance video showed Hernandez carrying a gun less than 10 minutes after the killing. The decision by Superior Court Judge Susan Garsh[…]