Cougars end losing streak:

The Kane County Cougars (21-28, 54-65) stormed to a victory over the visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels (28-21, 64-54) by a 5-1 tally. The Cougars snapped a seven-game losing streak against the Kernels dating to July 10th. The Kernels still won the series, taking three of the four contests. Tossing 5 innings on just 1 run, Jose Almonte picked up the win. An inning shy of a quality start the Kernels Tyler Beardsley (0-2) suffered the loss.

Boomers swept in doubleheader:

AVON, Ohio — The Schaumburg Boomers struggled against the pitching staff of the Lake Erie Crushers, totaling just three hits in dropping both games of a doubleheader 2-0 and 4-0 on Sunday. The first contest featured dominant pitching performances on both sides. Seth Webster retired the first 11 batters of the game for the Boomers while Stetson Nelson allowed a hit to the leadoff man, Kenny Towns, and then didn’t surrender another until the final frame. Lake Erie tallied an unearned run in the fourth and added a run in the fifth to account for the 2-0 final. Webster struck out 6 and allowed just 3 hits in the hard luck loss.

Texans rally over 49ers:

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Blaine Gabbert overcame a shaky start to throw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Vance McDonald before the Houston Texans rallied in the second half against San Francisco’s reserves to beat the 49ers 24-13 on Sunday in the exhibition opener for both teams. Brock Osweiler didn’t fare as well in his Texans debut, failing to lead Houston to any points in three drives. With Colin Kaepernick sitting out with tightness in his throwing shoulder, Gabbert got the stage to himself in the battle to win San Francisco’s starting quarterback job for first-year coach Chip Kelly. Gabbert finished the game 4 for 10 for 63 yards and a touchdown.

Panthers coordinator steps down:

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven has decided to step down from his position and move into an advisory role with the team while continuing his battle with prostate cancer. The team announced Sunday that Thomas McGaughey has been promoted to special teams coordinator and Chase Blackburn to special teams assistant. DeHaven will return to Buffalo, New York, to receive cancer treatments with the hopes of returning to the team as an adviser in mid-September.

Betts launches 3 homers:

BOSTON — Mookie Betts hit 3 home runs and drove in a career-best 8 runs, joining Hall of Famer Ted Williams as the only Red Sox players in over 100 years with a pair of 3-homer games in a season and powering Boston over the Arizona Diamondbacks 16-2 on Sunday. Betts matched David Ortiz for the club lead with 26 homers. Dustin Pedroia had 5 hits and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a 2-run homer for Boston.

Minor leaguer’s streak ends:

LYNCHBURG, Va. — The 50-game hitting streak is over for Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Francisco Mejia. Mejia went 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday for Class-A Lynchburg in a 6-0 win against Winston-Salem in the Carolina League. Mejia’s streak was tied for the fifth longest in pro ball history and the best since 1954. The record is 69 games, set by Joe Wilhoit of the Western League in 1919.

Rays pummel Yankees:

NEW YORK — Corey Dickerson hit a 3-run homer off Luis Severino, Evan Longoria added a 3-run double against Luis Cessa to cap a 6-run fourth inning and Tampa Bay past New York Yankees, which started eight players 26 years old or younger for the first time in 49 years. Longoria had an RBI-double in the first and singled in the seventh, finishing the three-game series 7 for 11 with 6 RBI. His 74 hits and 47 RBI top visiting players at new Yankee Stadium. Jake Odorizzi (7-5) won his fourth straight decision, allowing 5 hits in 6 innings. He held the Yankees hitless for 6 ? innings on May 29 and led 1-0, then allowed Starlin Castro’s 2-run homer.