ASTROS’ MARTES IS SUSPENDED FOR YEAR
YORK» Houston Astros pitcher NEW
Francis Martes was suspended for the 2020 season after his second positive test for a performance-enhancing substance under baseball’s majorleague drug program.
Martes tested positive for Boldenone, the commissioner’s office said Monday. Boldenone is sold under the brand name Equipose and is used commonly on horses.
A 24-year-old right-hander, Martes is on the Astros’ 40-man major league roster but hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2017.
He was suspended last March 12 for 80 games after a positive test for Clomiphene, a women’s fertility drug that has been used by some athletes to counter side effects of steroids use. Martes returned Aug. 21 and made two starts for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Astros and one for Quad Cities of the Single-A Midwest League.
Colorado College beats Air Force 4-2 at Falcon Stadium.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY» Grant Cruikshank had a hat trick to lead the Colorado College hockey team to a 4-2 victory against Air Force at Falcon Stadium.
Cruikshank scored one goal in each period for the Tigers, who also got a goal from Chris Wilkie. Brandon Koch and Luke Rowe scored for the Falcons.
Canucks acquire Toffoli from Kings.
COLUMBIA» The VANCOUVER, BRITISH
Vancouver Canucks acquired Tyler Toffoli from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Tim Schaller, prospect Tyler Madden, a 2020 second-round pick and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2022.
The 27-year-old Toffoli has spent his entire career with the Kings and produced 139 goals and 290 points in 515 games. He also has nine goals and 21 points in 47 playoff games, winning the 2014 Stanley Cup with L.A.
This season he has 18 goals and 34 points in 58 games, including a hat trick Saturday in a 3-1 win over the Avalanche at Falcon Stadium. He is the first player with three goals in an outdoor game.
NBA All-Star Game TV ratings up.
YORK» Ratings for the NBA AllNEW
Star Game were up 8% over last year, with an average of 7.3 million viewers watching Sunday night’s broadcast on TNT.
About 8 million viewers were tuned in for the end of the game, where LeBron James’ team defeated Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team 157155 in the first target-score format in All-Star history. The fourth quarter was untimed and was broadcast commercial-free.
TNT’s pregame coverage, which included tributes to Kobe Bryant, averaged 6.3 million viewers. That figure represented a 19% increase over viewership for the same show last year.
For the weekend — including Friday’s Rising Stars game and Saturday’s showing of the Skills Competition won by Miami’s Bam Adebayo, the 3-point contest won by Sacramento’s Buddy Hield and the dunk contest won by Miami’s Derrick Jones Jr. — Turner Sports said ratings were up 15% from last year.
Biles, Messi, Hamilton honored. BERLIN» Gymnastics star Simone Biles was named the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year for the third time, while soccer’s Lionel Messi and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton shared the men’s award.
Biles won five gold medals, including a record fifth all-around title, at the 2019 world championships in Stuttgart. That made her the most decorated gymnast ever at worlds with 25 medals.
DU’s Murkey co-player of week. Denver men’s basketball senior Ade Murkey was named the Summit League’s co-player of the week after averaging 35 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in two games last week. The Minneapolis native set a DU singlegame record in the school’s Division I era with 42 points in Friday’s loss at South Dakota State.