Basabe leads Cougars to win:

Led by the offensive production of Luis Basabe, the Kane County Cougars (22-29, 55-66) came back to defeat the visiting Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (24-27, 58-63) by a 6-2 final. Basabe finished the night with 2 hits, a triple and a homer, driving in 4 runs. The Cougars erased an early deficit, tied the game in the third, and plated four in a triumphant seventh to tie up the series at one win a piece. From the home half of the third inning forward, the Cougars owned the momentum. The Cougars managed to tie the game at two a piece thanks to Basabe’s aggressive approach. The Cougars designated hitter struck with a triple-RBI to the right center gap and scored on a wild pitch.

Bills suspend DT for drug use:

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — The NFL has suspended Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The Bills announced the suspension in an email sent after practice Tuesday. Dareus is five-year starter since being selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2011 draft. Last year, the Bills signed him to the most expensive contract in team history, a seven-year deal that is potentially worth $104 million.

Yankees’ Eovaldi out until 2018:

NEW YORK — Nathan Eovaldi might never throw another pitch for the New York Yankees. The right-hander revealed Tuesday he will miss the remainder of this season and all of next year because of two tears in his elbow that require serious surgery. It’s a stunning blow to the Yankees, who hoped Eovaldi would be a key cog in their rotation for several seasons when they acquired him from the Miami Marlins in a December 2014 trade. After receiving a second opinion on his ailing elbow, Eovaldi says he has a torn flexor tendon and a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament. The torn UCL will necessitate a second Tommy John surgery for the 26-year-old Eovaldi, who had the procedure nine years ago when he was a high school junior.

Jones, Tagliabue named finalists:

CANTON, Ohio — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue have been selected as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. Jones and Tagliabue were chosen Tuesday by the hall’s contributor committee. The Cowboys won three Super Bowls in a span of four seasons from 1992 to 1995 after Jones bought the team in 1989 and fired Tom Landry, the only coach the franchise had known. Tagliabue was commissioner from 1989 through 2006, a period during which the NFL expanded from 28 to 32 teams and built 20 new stadiums. He helped negotiate a $25 billion TV deal in 2006, and the NFL Network was launched during his tenure. The 2017 class will be selected during Super Bowl weekend in February.

49ers sign QB Ponder:

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With Colin Kaepernick dealing with tightness in his throwing shoulder and Thaddeus Lewis out for the season with a knee injury, the 49ers signed free agent quarterback Christian Ponder on Tuesday. Ponder, 28, hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since October 2014 with the Minnesota Vikings. San Francisco was down to two healthy quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert and Jeff Driskel, as the team traveled Tuesday to Denver for two joint practices with the Broncos ahead of their preseason game Saturday.

Giants sign former Cubs pitcher:

SAN FRANCISCO — The Giants and 41-year-old right-hander Joe Nathan agreed Tuesday to a minor league contract. Nathan is attempting to extend his major league career after his second Tommy John surgery in 2015. He will report to the Giants Double-A team in Richmond. Nathan, who spent the first four seasons of his major league career with the Giants, has pitched only two innings this season and was released by the Cubs. San Francisco needs bullpen help. Closer Santiago Casilla’s job probably is safe but Nathan, who has 377 saves, could provide help in middle relief or in a set up role.