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  • Associated Press

Jun 26, 2025, 05:51 PM ET

DENVER — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw inched closer to 3,000 career strikeouts Thursday, fanning five in six innings against the Colorado Rockies.

Kershaw has 2,997 strikeouts in his 18-year career, three short of becoming the 20th major leaguer to reach the milestone.

Kershaw’s next scheduled start is expected at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.

“I knew I had eight to go,” Kershaw said. “Eight in Colorado is never going to be easy to do. I felt good. But pitched well, got through six. A chance to strike out three at home would be really cool.”

The 37-year-old will be the third active pitcher to reach the mark behind Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. Verlander, in his 20th season, has 3,468 strikeouts. Scherzer has 3,412 in 18 seasons.

“He’s certainly competing, making pitches,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he has gotten better each time out, even with not the best of stuff. He just found a way to be efficient.”

Kershaw struck out three in the first two innings Thursday and got his fourth for the final out of the fifth. He struck out Tyler Freeman for the second out of the sixth inning and left the game after retiring the next batter. Kershaw threw 69 pitches, 41 for strikes.

“You always want to be efficient, no matter what,” Kershaw said. “My days of throwing 115 pitches is probably over. Getting through six is probably the biggest thing at Coors Field.

“Doc [Roberts] is doing a good job of protecting me, which I appreciate. I just want to be able to go back out there every fifth, sixth day. Whatever that means is good for now.”

Kershaw recorded two strikeouts on his 73 mph curve and got three more on sliders against a Rockies lineup that had all right-handed batters. He earned his fourth straight win and helped the Dodgers finish a three-game sweep with a 3-1 victory.

The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner and 10-time All-Star received plenty of crowd support in Colorado, getting a standing ovation from some in the Coors Field crowd when he left the mound after the sixth inning.

Kershaw has made eight starts this season after being activated from the injured list May 17 following offseason left knee and foot surgeries. His ERA dropped to a season-low 3.03 after Thursday’s game.

“He has given us a shot in the arm,” Roberts said. “We’re sort of ailing on the starting pitching side. Coming in and giving us valuable innings, I just love that kind of edge that he gives on start day. We certainly feed off that.”

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A&M’s Howell sacks Utah St. QB 3 times in a row

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September 6, 2025

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A&M's Howell sacks Utah St. QB 3 times in a row

  • Associated Press

Sep 6, 2025, 02:48 PM ET

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M‘s Cashius Howell sacked Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes on three consecutive plays in the second quarter Saturday.

Utah State had the ball on its 25 early in the second quarter when the defensive end muscled past left tackle Jake Eichorn and dropped Barnes for a loss of 6 yards for 19th-ranked Texas A&M. On the next play, Howell got past Eichorn again to take Barnes down for a loss of 7 yards.

Bullying past Eichorn one more time, Howell sacked Barnes for a loss of 8 yards to bring up fourth-and-31 and single-handedly force a punt.

Howell, a fifth-year senior, entered the game with 15½ career sacks and had just four last season. His career best came in 2023 when he had 9½ for Bowling Green.

It’s the first time a player has had sacks on three straight plays since Jack Cichy did it for Wisconsin against USC in the 2015 Holiday Bowl, according to research by the Texas A&M communications staff.

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FSU players honor Pritchard with dad on hand

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September 6, 2025

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FSU players honor Pritchard with dad on hand

  • Andrea AdelsonSep 6, 2025, 01:51 PM ET

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    • ACC reporter.
    • Joined ESPN.com in 2010.
    • Graduate of the University of Florida.

The father of Florida State linebacker Ethan Pritchard was on the sideline Saturday for the Seminoles’ game against East Texas A&M.

Earl Pritchard and another family member were on the sideline wearing his son’s No. 35 jersey. Ethan Pritchard remains hospitalized in Tallahassee after surviving a gunshot wound to the head last weekend.

Florida State safety Earl Little Jr. brought out a No. 35 jersey to midfield for the coin toss, and Florida State players wore No. 35 wristbands to honor their teammate.

Defensive tackle Darrell Jackson Jr. wore a T-shirt with Pritchard’s face on it during pregame warmups.

According to Earl Pritchard, Ethan Pritchard was driving his aunt home when he was shot in the back of the head in Havana, Florida, 16 miles from Tallahassee, on Sunday night.

The Seminoles routed East Texas A&M 77-3 on Saturday, after which coach Mike Norvell presented Earl Pritchard with the game ball, and asked him to break the rock – a tradition generally given to the player of the game after each Seminoles victory.

Norvell grew emotional as he discussed Pritchard during his postgame media availability.

“The way that he plays the game … he loves it, he absolutely loves it. To know that right now that’s taken away from him in a senseless act, you don’t always know why you have to go through things in life but I do believe God has his hand over Ethan and this football team,” Norvell said.

“To have Earl here today – He’s a wonderful man, and being with him I know it’s so very hard. I know it’s hard for anybody to have to go through, but he told me early in this week, ‘I know where my boy wants to be so I’m going to go stand in his place for him.'”

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Sources: Clemson without WR Williams vs. Troy

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6 hours ago

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September 6, 2025

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Sources: Clemson without WR Williams vs. Troy

  • ESPN News Services

Sep 6, 2025, 08:55 AM ET

Clemson wide receiver Antonio Williams is not expected to play against Troy on Saturday as he recovers from a hamstring injury, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Williams has been considered day-to-day since leaving the season-opening loss to LSU in the first quarter with the injury.

A second-team Associated Press preseason All-American, Williams caught 75 passes for 904 yards and 11 touchdowns last season and is considered quarterback Cade Klubnik‘s best option in the passing game.

Coach Dabo Swinney said this week that he doesn’t believe Williams’ injury is severe but noted there is “always a concern” that a hamstring injury could linger.

“Any time you have any type of soft tissue-type injuries and things like that, especially [with a] skilled player, you’re always concerned,” Swinney said. “Antonio will do what he needs to do to get himself back.”

Swinney said Tyler Brown would start if Williams was out. Brown, who missed most of last season with an injury, had four catches for 43 yards against LSU.

“I know Tyler played well,” Swinney said. “Should have had two touchdowns, and one was a walk-in. But he made some plays for us and good to see him play with a little confidence.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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