Fits, Starts Marked Long Stadium Drive

Nick Buss went 3 for 6, finishing a home run shy of a cycle, and drove in four runs to lead the River Cats over the host El Paso Chihuahuas 13-2 on Thursday.

In the opposing clubhouse before Thursday's game, Garrett Richards was a palpable presence. He subtly invaded conversations. His stat line drew admiring chuckles.

The self-described "relentlessly positive" head coach had a theme to push - the opening of training camp was a "rebirth" - and questions about his right guard's dissatisfaction with his contract weren't going to interfere. The 49ers' running back wasn't on the field Thursday afternoon for the first practice of training camp after he was placed on the non-football injury list last week. Before practice, Harbaugh said Lattimore was placed on the list because of two issues: his surgically reconstructed knee and a hamstring injury he sustained during the offseason program. "The trainer, doctors evaluate and make those decisions as an organization, and we do what's best for the member of the team, the youngster," Harbaugh said. Because ultimately that's in our best interest.

After taking a 94 mph fastball to the head on Wednesday, Ruben Tejada got a new batting helmet to replace the one that was cracked by the ball. The Mets shortstop, however, is not sure when he will get a chance to use it.

Somehow the Yankees have won six of seven games out of the All-Star break, even though it feels as if it takes the passage of some special baseball legislation for them to score more than a couple of runs a game.

There has never been a baseball player unanimously elected to the Hall of Fame. But “The Franchise,” Mets great Tom Seaver, thinks Derek Jeter, who will be eligible in 2019, should be the first one.