Sports Digest: Former Red Sox bench coach will manage White Sox

BASEBALL

The Chicago White Sox hired Will Venable to take over as manager, turning to the former big league outfielder to help turn the team after a miserable season.

Venable, who turned 42 on Tuesday, will step in for Pedro Grifol, who was fired in August with the White Sox on their way to breaking the modern major league record for losses in a season. With Grady Sizemore serving as interim manager, the club finished with a 41-121 record.

Venable was an associate manager for Texas the past two years. He handled daily schedule items and outfield instruction as part of his duties with the Rangers, who won the World Series in 2023.

Venable, a Red Sox bench coach under Alex Cora for two seasons, played baseball and basketball at Princeton before being selected by San Diego in the seventh round of the 2005 draft. He played for the Padres, Rangers and Dodgers in nine years in the majors, hitting .249 with 81 homers, 307 RBI and 135 steals in 967 games.

TENNIS

PARIS MASTERS: Alexei Popyrin upset fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (4) in a tense second-round match.

Also, third-seeded Alexander Zverev saved a set point en route to a 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. Jack Draper eliminated fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz. 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4.

Eighth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov stayed in the race for the ATP Finals after rallying past Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 6-7 (9), 6-3, 7-5.

BASKETBALL

NBA: Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes will miss at least three weeks because of a right orbital fracture, the team said.

Barnes was struck by Nikola Jokic of Denver while competing for a rebound late in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s home loss to the Nuggets. Barnes went down before stumbling to the bench in pain.

Barnes, a first-time All-Star last season, is averaging 19.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists through four games.

• A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty in a betting scheme that ended Toronto forward Jontay Porter’s career. Three people, including Porter, have admitted their roles. Porter left early in games, claiming injury or illness, so tipped-off gamblers could win wagers he would score fewer points than bookies expected.

SOCCER

GOLD CUP: The 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup final will be played July 6 at NRG Stadium in Houston.

CONCACAF, the regional governing body, said last month that 14 sites in 11 areas will be used for the tournament, which starts June 14. It avoided the Eastern Seaboard, staying away from FIFA’s expanded 32-team Club World Cup.

The U.S. sent second-string rosters to the 2021 and ’23 Gold Cups to give most Europe-based players time off following their club seasons.

AUTO RACING

FORMULA ONE: Fernando Alonso will arrive late to this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix following his treatment in Europe for an intestinal infection, the Aston Martin team said.

The team said Alonso, a 43-year-old Spaniard, will miss media activities Thursday but be ready for the race.

Alonso, a two-time F1 champion, fell ill in the lead-up to the Mexico City Grand Prix last weekend, the team said.

HOCKEY

NHL: Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers is expected to miss two to three weeks with an ankle injury.

McDavid, the reigning playoff MVP who led Edmonton to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, was injured Monday night when he was tripped and went left skate first into the boards on his first shift at Columbus. The team sent him home to get evaluated, sowing fears it might be a long-time absence for the undisputed best player in hockey.

The Oilers were naturally going to be extra cautious with McDavid, especially so early in the season and given their aspirations to go on another long playoff run. He had 10 points in his first nine games before being injured.

• The Colorado Avalanche will be without their leading goal scorer, Ross Colton, for at least six weeks after he broke his foot blocking a shot.

— News service report

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