Sports

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones has enjoyed watching young stars Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado trade home runs as they compete for the team lead in that department, but it’s not like he’s on the outside looking in.

Jones hammered two home runs and matched a career high with four hits in Monday...

Chris Stratton is learning about pitching in a pennant race, albeit it has nothing to do with the Giants and everything to do with the Giants’ opponents. A day after getting mathematically eliminated from the National League West race, the Giants began a string of games against contenders Monday night that could help determine the postseason alignment. Stratton pitched six shutout innings, his second straight scoreless start against a contender, and the Giants beat the Brewers 2-0 before an announced crowd of 39,341 that included plenty of no-shows. In his previous start, Stratton beat the Nationals, who comfortably lead the NL East, with 6 2/3 scoreless innings.

One day after Buster Posey went out of character with comments about Phillies closer Hector Neris, manager Bruce Bochy did the same. “I’ll say it,” Bochy said Monday. “He’s an idiot.” Neris drilled Posey in the back with a first-pitch fastball in Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Phillies, and Posey afterward accused Neris of drilling him on purpose and suggested, “I guess he didn’t feel like he could get me out.” Neris plunked Posey with two outs and runners on first and second in the eighth inning, loading the bases, then struck out Pablo Sandoval. “Well, it wasn’t just a little bit inside.

In a quarterback competition stacked against him, Trevor Siemian emerged as the big winner. The biggest loser? John Elway.

Marshawn Lynch is the Raiders’ Human Hate Shield. The Raiders are using Lynch to counter the simmering anger of Oakland fans. Of course, the Raiders would not admit this, because they’re desperate to downplay the blowback to their plans to leave town, having decided that Oakland can’t carry Las Vegas’ jock. It was a brilliant move, signing Lynch. Not only does he bring a little old-time-Raiders toughness to the team that has some soft spots, but his presence makes it almost impossible for hard-core local fans to abandon the team that soon will abandon them. No other NFL player has the hometown connection Lynch has with Oakland fans.