Friday August 6th Local Sports

THIS WEEKEND ON AM-1300 KGLO:

== FRIDAY — Minnesota Twins at Houston — pre-game 6:30, first pitch 7:10

== SATURDAY — Minnesota Twins at Houston — pre-game 5:30, first pitch 6:10

== SUNDAY — Minnesota Twins at Houston — Inside Twins 12:00, pre-game 12:30, first pitch 1:10

 

HOUSTON (AP) — The Minnesota Twins got a solid start from rookie Griffin Jax, and Andrelton Simmons drove in two runs as they built a big lead early and held on for a 5-3 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Jax (2-1) allowed three hits and one run in a career-high 5 1/3 innings for his first career win as a starter. The Twins jumped on Houston starter Framber Valdez (7-3) early to take control of the game. The Astros, who got home runs from Jason Castro and Yordan Alvarez, are tied for the best record in the American League at 65-44 despite losing four of their last five.

 

 

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has been activated from the COVID-19 reserve list. He completed the NFL’s required five-day quarantine for unvaccinated players deemed a high-risk close contact with an infected person. The Vikings also activated Nate Stanley to bring their quarterback cadre close to full strength after a tenuous stretch of training camp practices. Rookie Kellen Mond tested positive and remains on the reserve list away from the team. The absence of Cousins, Mond and Stanley left Jake Browning as the only quarterback Saturday. Browning is vaccinated.

 

 

GREEN BAY — Former Iowa State star Allen Lazard says his only goal for this season is to win a Super Bowl ring. The Urbandale native begins his third full season with the Packers after hauling in 33 passes, including three touchdowns in 2020. It was a season in which he was limited to 10 games due to groin surgery.

The Packers have lost in the NFC Championship game in each of the last two seasons. Lazard likes their chances now that MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers has returned to take part in training camp.

Lazard says he feels good as training camp is underway.

The Packers acquired veteran receiver Randall Cobb late last month and Lazard believes the Packers have the deepest receiving corps in the NFL.

Green Bay opens the pre-season at home a week from Saturday against Houston

 

 

 

TAMPA BAY — Former Iowa standout Tristan Wirfs is going through a much different training camp as he begins his second season in Tampa Bay. Not only are the Buccaneers the defending Super Bowl champions but Wirfs has a year under his belt as the starting right tackle.

Wirfs says having fans back at training camp will help break up the monotony.

Tampa Bay opens the pre-season a week from Saturday at home against Cincinnati.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive lineman Zach VanValkenburg feels the Hawkeyes take a lot of momentum into the upcoming season. Iowa finished 6-2 during a COVID shortened 2020 season and closed on a six game winning streak.

The transfer from Division II Hillsdale College was a second team All-Big Ten selection last season and says a full summer of workouts will benefit a young defensive line.

With fall camp getting underway, Van Valkenburg says the attention will soon shift to the first game of the season.

Iowa opens September 4th at home against Indiana.