IN BRIEF
SLIPPERY ROCK — The Slippery Rock University women’s and men’s soccer teams are ranked among the Top 25 in NCAA Division II this week.
SRU’s women are ranked No. 11 while the men’s team is ranked No. 17. Both teams are 5-1-1 and play today.
The Rock men play at Pitt-Johnstown while the women play at No. 25 Gannon.
MLB batting average dropped to .253NEW YORK — The major league batting average dropped to .253 this season, its lowest level since hitters combined for a .244 average in 1972. This year's average was down from a recent peak of .270 in 1996.The big league earned run average of 3.86 was at its low point since a 3.74 ERA in 1992, STATS said. And the average of 4.17 runs per team per game was the smallest since a 4.12 average, also in 1992.The home run average of 0.96 per team per game was down from 1.02 last year but higher than the 0.94 in 2011.
Royals, Yost agree on 2-year extensionKANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Royals and manager Ned Yost agreed to a two-year contract extension after wrapping up an 86-76 season, the best finish for the franchise in 24 years.Yost's contract was set to expire after the season.Yost has been the manager in Kansas City for the past four years.
Titans lose Locker to hip ailmentNASHVILLE, Tenn. — While Jake Locker will miss a “few weeks” with a sprained hip, coach Mike Munchak says the Titans are encouraged by how the quarterback already is moving around.Exactly how many games Locker misses depends on how quickly he recovers.The Titans released a statement saying a second MRI exam was “reassuring” and confirmed Locker did not suffer major damage to his hip joint. Locker sprained his right hip and also his right knee.Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday for the Titans (3-1) against Kansas City (4-0), and Tennessee has not made any roster move yet to add another quarterback to the roster.
Jaguars, Ravens swing key tradeJACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to trade starting left tackle Eugene Monroe to the Baltimore Ravens for undisclosed draft picks. The trade won't be official until Monroe, the eighth overall pick in the 2009 draft, passes a physical in Baltimore.Monroe has started 62 games over five seasons, including the team's past 30 games. He was Jacksonville's best offensive linemen this season, getting beat at times as he tried to pick up the slack for struggling guard Will Rackley.
Thunder's Westbrook missing 4-6 weeksOKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook will miss the first 4-6 weeks of the NBA season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling.