MLB
MLB All-Stars beat Japan 3-1 in final game of tour
SAPPORO, Japan – Matt Shoemaker combined with four relievers on a four-hitter to upstage Shohei Otani, and the Major League Baseball All-Stars beat Japan 3-1 on Tuesday in the finale of their five-game series.
Shoemaker, who finished second to Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in AL Rookie of the Year voting, got the win by allowing two hits in five scoreless innings. Randy Choate, Tommy Hunter and Mark Melancon finished, as the MLB All-Stars won the last two games after an 0-3 start.
Melancon pitched a one-hit ninth for the save.
NFL
NFL suspends Peterson for at least rest of season
MINNEAPOLIS – Adrian Peterson was suspended without pay for at least the rest of the season by the NFL on Tuesday.
The league said it informed the Minnesota Vikings running back in a letter from Commissioner Roger Goodell that he will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15 for violating the NFL personal conduct policy – the first example of the league’s crackdown on players involved with domestic violence.
The NFL Players Association quickly announced its plan to appeal, sharply rebuked the league’s alleged inconsistency and unfairness in the process. The NFL’s words were even stronger, with a nearly 1,600-word statement spelling out his path to a return to the field and describing the reasons for the punishment.
Peterson pleaded no contest Nov. 4 to misdemeanor reckless assault in Texas for injuries to his 4-year-old son with a wooden switch. Peterson was on a special exempt list at the sole discretion of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, essentially paid leave while the case went through the legal system.
The NFLPA said Peterson was told that would count as time served for any suspension levied, citing an unnamed NFL executive.
Peterson’s salary for the season was $11.75 million. He will keep the pay accrued while on the exempt list.
NHL
NHL ending dry scraping of ice before overtime
TORONTO – The NHL no longer will dry scrape the ice before overtime.
Instituted this season in an effort to reduce the number of shootouts, the dry scraping will stop after Friday’s games.
The general managers decided at their meeting Tuesday to make the change after the league talked to the players’ union the last few days. Beginning on Saturday, ice crews around the league again will shovel the ice after regulation as they did in previous years.
The GMs also discussed expanded video review, including goaltender interference, and the possibility of three-on-three overtime.
Soccer
With 4-1 loss at Ireland, U.S. winless in 4 games
DUBLIN – The United States’ winless streak stretched to four games Tuesday night with a year-ending 4-1 loss to a second-string Ireland team.
Ireland changed all 11 starters from Friday’s 1-0 loss at Scotland in European Championship qualifying and went ahead in the seventh minute when Anthony Pilkington chipped goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who made his second international start and first since January 2012.
Mix Diskerud tied the score in the 39th after Jozy Altidore’s cross was headed to him by Chris Wondolowski.
Robbie Brady put the Irish back ahead in the 55th after he got behind the defense and scored from 7 yards. James McClean made it 3-1 in the 82nd with a shot that deflected off defender Geoff Cameron and past Hamid, and Brady scored on a 25-yard free kick in the 86th.
Associated Press
