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SPORTS TUESDAY, JULY 31, 2018 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS HERMISTON MLB Arms race for Astros, Mariners at deadline AL West rivals trade to beef up bullpens By BEN NUCKOLS AP Sports Writer “There’s nothing better than the smell of burning fuel and rubber.” Adam Warren and Zach Duke moved into the Seattle bullpen. Closers Roberto Osuna and Ken Giles switched spots. And Lance Lynn got a new look in pinstripes. A day before the deadline to make trades without waiv- ers, there were a flurry of deals Monday. Osuna Hoping they could improve their bull- pen without causing friction in the clubhouse, the defending World Series champion Houston Astros acquired Osuna from the Toronto Blue Jays for Ken Giles and two pitching prospects. The 23-year-old Osuna was a first-time All-Star last season, his second as the Blue Jays’ full-time closer, and finished with 39 saves and a 3.38 ERA. But he hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 6 because he’s been serving a 75-day suspension under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. That sus- pension ends Sunday. Osuna was charged in May with one count of assault in Toronto, a charge that remains pending. The Astros have a zero-tol- erance policy on domestic vio- lence and released former pros- pect Danry Vasquez in March after video leaked of him hitting his girlfriend. Houston pitchers Jus- tin Verlander and Lance McCullers Jr. used social media to voice their disgust about Vasquez’s actions after the video became public. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said he reached out to — Shade Coe See TRADES/2B Staff photo by Brett Kane Terry and Shade Coe, and Jerry and Jeremy Erb, pose next to their ‘76 Monte Carlo, which they race at Hermiston Raceway. Handing off the KEYS TO VICTORY Second generation of racers take the wheel at Hermiston Raceway By BRETT KANE East Oregonian he summer sun sizzled high over Milton-Freewater on Sunday after- noon as Jerry Erb, 51, and Terry Coe, 48, wiped sweat and grease from their brows while polishing up their ’76 Monte Carlo for its next outing at the Hermiston Raceway. The duo is used to the heat and hard work, though — together, they’ve been building and racing cars since they met 27 years ago. Their wives, Liz Erb and Mindy Coe, used to compete in equestrian team pen- ning, and introduced their husbands to each other. From there, the two raced in courses in Walla Walla, Enterprise and Hermiston. “I was a huge NASCAR fan growing T Go see it Hermiston Raceway is hosting its Friday Night Bash from 6-10 p.m. on Friday. Racers in the Late Models, Street Stocks, Legends, Mini Stock & Super Mini, Bombers, and Hornets categories will compete. The race will be capped off by the CrashMania Demolition Derby. Team 123 will be racing their ‘76 Monte Carlo in the Bombers division. up,” said Coe. “It was always something I wanted to do.” The opportunity couldn’t have pre- sented itself more perfectly. Coe was work- ing for C. Rob Carter’s plumbing business when Erb was given the Monte Carlo back in 1991. “Rob let us use his shop to rebuild this old car and bring it back to life,” Erb said. “In a way, this wouldn’t have happened without him.” Erb and Coe enjoyed racing together for several years until it came time to set- tle down and start a family. Aside from the occasional weekend fishing trip, the two lost contact when they began focusing more on raising their kids. Their car found itself sitting in Erb’s garage for the better part of a decade until one day his son Jeremy showed interest in following in his footsteps. “The kids weren’t doing anything but playing video games,” Erb said. “It was time to get the car out of the garage again.” Jeremy, along with Coe’s son Shade, learned to drive in the Monte Carlo, doing circles out in the pasture when they were as young as 9. “Jeremy lit the spark up again,” Erb recalled. These days, however, Jeremy and Shade, both 25, are ready to race the car on courses bigger than the pasture. Ever since March, the father-and-son teams have been hard at work gearing up the Monte Carlo to com- pete at the Hermiston Raceway. This is Jer- emy and Shade’s first full season as drivers. See RACEWAY/2B Hometown Cress wins back-to-back Frontier Days rodeos By TYLER POSLOSKY Wyoming Tribune Eagle CHEYENNE — A year ago, Brody Cress used a re-ride to win his first Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo buckle. A year later, he was on the other side of it, watching Wyatt Casper jump back in the bucking chute for a second attempt Sunday at Fron- tier Park Arena. Cress’ heart raced as his trav- eling partner barreled out of the chute. He wanted Casper to ride well, but for Cress, history was on the line. “That horse (Casper rode), you can be 90 on her any day, too, so I guess I was a little nervous, but I did what I could with the horse I had,” the 2014 Cheyenne East graduate said. “So I sat, waited and watched.” Casper posted an 87-point ride, falling 2½ points shy of Cress, who became the first cowboy to win back-to-back Frontier Days saddle bronc titles since Tuff Greenough in 1935-36. “It’s outstanding, and this rodeo carries so much history, and it’s the rodeo I’ve been coming to since I was a little kid,” Cress said with a smile. “I’m blessed to be able to have them as one of my sponsors. “I wouldn’t want to represent any other rodeo in the world. So to be able to come here where it’s tough to draw three good enough horses to do that, because you’re riding against the best guys in the world — it’s a hard thing to do, so I’m truly blessed to be able to do that.” Cress won the aggregate stand- ings with a 252.5 and reeled in more than $13,000 in earnings Sunday afternoon. Tommy Cress watched his son take a victory lap around the arena and couldn’t help but smile. “I was excited,” he said. “There’s nothing like watching guys go over to that camera pit. You just know what it means to them and their career and what it means to this town. Our town has the 2,500-plus volunteers, and they really care about this rodeo year- round. We all take a little part in that when a hometown guy does well.” For Brody Cress, he’s beaming with confidence, and he doesn’t plan on tapering off any time soon. “Definitely keep going stron- ger,” Cress said. “The sched- ule only gets busier. We don’t have very many days off for the next month or two, but I love it that way. If I’m healthy and rid- ing good, then I like to be out on See CRESS/2B Blaine McCartney/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP Brody Cress, of Hillsdale, Wyo. competes in the saddle bronc event during Championship Sunday of the 122nd annual Cheyenne Fron- tier Days Rodeo on Sunday at Frontier Park Arena, in Cheyenne, Wyo. Cress won the event for the second year in a row. Sports shorts MGM, Caesars to cash in on sports betting LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two titans of the casino industry are racing to cash in on the newly created U.S. sports betting market, taking steps to expand their footprint and strengthen their positions as more states approve necessary regulations and people become more interested in legally gambling on pro and college sports. MGM Resorts International reached separate agreements Mon- day with a European bookmaker and a U.S.-based regional casino operator. THIS DATE IN SPORTS LeBron won’t close door on return to Cavs AKRON, Ohio (AP) — LeB- ron James won’t rule out a sec- ond homecoming in Cleveland. The NBA superstar, who earlier this month ended his second stint with the Cava- liers by signing a four-year contract with the Los Ange- les Lakers, told The Associ- ated Press on Monday there could be a day when he plays in his home state again. Asked if he could end his career in Cleveland, James says he doesn’t “close the chapter on anything or close the book on anything.” When James announced he was leaving the Cavs, Cleve- land owner Dan Gilbert said the team would retire “the famous #23 Cavs jersey one day down the line.” James says he didn’t know about Gilbert’s comment. But he says it’s awesome. 1963 — The Cleveland Indians become the first American League club to hit four straight home runs. Paul Foytack is the only major league pitcher to give up four straight home runs. 2012 — Michael Phelps breaks the Olympic medals record with his 19th, helping the U.S. romp to a 4x200-meter freestyle relay vic- tory at the London Games. With 19 medals spanning three Olympics, Phelps moves one ahead of Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com
