Reds call up Xavier Paul

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Reds called up outfielder Xavier Paul from Triple-A Louisville to help fill in for the loss of first baseman Joey Votto.

Paul batted .332 in 66 games with nine homers and 48 RBIs.

Votto had surgery on Tuesday to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks. He’s the Reds’ top hitter, batting .342 and leading the NL in doubles, walks and extra-base hits.

The Reds optioned right-hander Todd Redmond back to Louisville after a one-day stay in Cincinnati. The Reds called him up before Tuesday’s 4-0 win over Arizona because they were concerned that starter Johnny Cueto would have trouble with a blister on his pitching hand.

 

Chapman case settled

GROVE CITY (AP) — Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has been fined $150 plus court costs for an Ohio speeding ticket.

A Grove City court clerk says a second charge of driving under suspension was dismissed. Chapman’s license had been reinstated sometime after his May 21 arrest.

Police in the Columbus suburb had reported clocking Chapman at 93 mph on Interstate 71. They found that his Kentucky driver’s license was suspended.

His attorney Michael King entered Chapman’s guilty plea Wednesday to going 83 mph in a 65 mph zone, with the suspension charge dismissed. King says the $150 fine and $89 in costs have been paid.

The All-Star pitcher has converted 14 of 18 save opportunities, closing Tuesday night’s victory with a strikeout on a 101 mph fastball.

 

Big 12 picks WVU’s Smith

IRVING, Texas (AP) — West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith is the Big 12 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, beating out Oklahoma’s Landry Jones.

The league on Wednesday released its preseason All-Big 12 teams, selected by media members who cover the conference.

Texas lineman Alex Okafor is the preseason Defensive Player of the Year and is one of three Longhorn defenders on the all-league team.

Oklahoma State’s Joseph Randle and Texas’s Malcolm Brown earned nods at running back, with Oklahoma’s Kenny Stills picked at wide receiver.

Iowa State’s linebacker duo of Jake Knott and A.J. Klein both made the cut along with Kansas State’s Arthur Brown.

Freshman wide receiver Trey Metoyer of Oklahoma is the preseason Newcomer of the Year.

 

Miami releases Armstrong

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Miami kicked senior safety Ray-Ray Armstrong off the football team Wednesday, and said it would give him a full release should he decide to transfer.

Armstrong was suspended for four games at the start of last season because he broke NCAA rules by accepting gifts from a former Miami booster. He missed another game later in the season while the school checked if other violations were committed when Armstrong had dinner with a friend who works in a public relations firm that handles professional athletes.

Miami will allow Armstrong to remain on scholarship at the school, if he desires.

 

Lynch charged with DUI

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch was charged Wednesday with driving under the influence in Northern California.

Lynch was charged by the Alameda County district attorney with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and driving while having a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher. Lynch has a court date on Aug. 14, which is in the middle of Seahawks training camp.

But Lynch’s attorney, Ivan Golde, told The Associated Press that he feels the case could get thrown out or reduced because of discrepancies in blood-alcohol tests.