MIAMI -- Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich has been forced to leave the game at Miami after fouling a ball off his right knee.

Yelich limped off the field in the first inning Tuesday night. There was no immediate report on the extent of his injury.

Yelich remained on the ground for several minutes before getting up.

The outfielder was the NL MVP last year. Yelich began the day batting .330 with 44 home runs and 97 RBIs for the playoff-contending Brewers, and led the majors in slugging percentage and OPS.

Trent Grisham continued Yelich's at-bat and struck out. Grisham stayed in the game in right field.

The Brewers entered the night two games behind the Chicago Cubs in the race for the second wild card.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Saracens' decision to pay their women's team this season is "really exciting", says their England back Sarah McKenna.

Sarries will pay their female players for the first time in a move McKenna says shows their "one-club mentality".

But players from other clubs expressed concern that the move could result in "too much difference" between English top-flight teams.

"A club with more money can get all of the best players," said Darlington Mowden Park winger Mackenzie Thomas.

Saracens show their intent

Saracens have beaten Harlequins in both finals since the English top flight was revamped in 2017.

Less than a year after the Rugby Football Union reintroduced full-time contracts for 28 players, Saracens will now issue retainers and pay match fees.

Worcester are the only other top-flight team that will pay match fees next season.

"It's really exciting for the players, coaches and the supporters alike that the club have become aligned in the men's and women's sections," McKenna told BBC Sport.

"It's Saracens as a whole with a one-club mentality now, and in terms of professionalism and the way the game has gone, there has been a change in the mindset."

Richmond flanker Hannah Field believes the move has to be "sustainable".

"If you bring players in because of the money, are you creating a team that want to play for each other or are you creating a team that want to get paid?" she said.

"At Richmond, we are adamant we can be the team that we want to be without paying players. New Zealand's men play for one another, which is more important than playing for money.

"I think if it is managed well enough, and if we can learn from the mistakes the men made when they went professional then it can be a good thing - but it is a slow process and it has to be sustainable."

'You don't want too much difference between sides'

With no promotion to the Premier 15s, or relegation from it, the same 10 clubs have featured in the league since its formation in 2017.

But with Exeter among the clubs bidding to create franchises, teams that finish in the bottom four could be in danger of losing their place in the top division.

Darlington's Thomas said women being paid to play club rugby is "amazing for women's sport", but warned "right now, it may not be sustainable for every club to do that".

"It is expensive and for the league itself you don't want too much difference between sides," she added.

Firwood Waterloo hooker Rachel Thomas agrees, saying there must be "level ground" if clubs want to retain players.

"Whether it is match fees, accommodation or help with university places, there has to be a level ground," she said.

"Especially when you see local girls coming through from the centre of excellence who are outstanding, but they are 17 or 18 and ready to go to university, so instead of staying in the area with us, they are looking at other universities where there are big clubs around who can support them."

'We want this league to be here in 20 years'

Nicky Ponsford, head of women's performance at the RFU, responded "clubs know that the infrastructure has got to be right".

"Our main aim is to ensure Tyrrells Premier 15s is sustainable," she said.

"We've got to make sure commercial revenues are driven up first before we fully professionalise.

"We want this league to be here in 20 years' time."

The Premier 15s season begins the weekend of 21-22 September, with Saracens beginning their title defence at Bristol Bears.

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has called on World Rugby to standardise the way concussion is treated.

Warburton praised Wales and England's treatment of players after suffering blows to the head in matches.

But the two-time British and Irish Lions captain claimed the same standards are not met in France.

"France don't treat concussion seriously and they've had deaths in the last 12 months," he told the Scrum V podcast.

Warburton said Wales' decision to remove fly-half Rhys Patchell early in their 19-10 defeat by Ireland on 7 September was praiseworthy.

But Warburton, who retired in July 2018 aged 29 after repeated injury problems, added: "I'm not sure if that happens in France.

"And what I've heard from players and coaches, they don't take concussion seriously so that's where I think World Rugby do need to get into a lot of the Unions.

"I've been dealt with at Twickenham where I've been knocked out; the RFU [Rugby Football Union] dealt with me brilliantly.

"Wales I think do it brilliantly so I can say firsthand that those two have things in order - I think all the Home Nations have - but I'm not sure every other country has."

Patchell failed a head injury assessment (HIA) after a heavy collision with Ireland back row CJ Stander. The stand-off is being monitored and is expected to fly with Wales to Japan on Wednesday to take part in the Rugby World Cup.

The player suffered two concussions during the 2018-19 season playing for Scarlets.

Wales coach Warren Gatland says Wales' medical staff will be consulted over Patchell's previous head injuries and they will "see how he fares over the next couple of days".

Second-impact syndrome

Warburton said it was important players do not go back onto the field after failing HIA tests.

"There's something called second-impact syndrome, which is when if you get concussed and you go back on and get another concussion your chances of a fatality increase massively," added Warburton.

He said Wales' move in keeping Patchell off was "because he's had a concussion - it's not with the World Cup in sight, it's for the player's safety".

Four players - two amateurs and two professional - died in separate incidents in France between May 2018 and January 2019

However, not all of those were concussion related, with Nicolas Chauvin suffering a broken neck and another - Louis Fajfrowski - collapsing and dying after being struck in the chest.

An investigation ruled his death was caused by commotio cordis. His heart stopped because he was hit in the chest at a vulnerable moment in the cardiac cycle.

Two amateur players, Nathan Soyeux, 23, and Adrien Descrulhes, 17, died after taking blows to the head.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) has formed a global forum alongside World Rugby and has proposed a change to rugby's tackle laws forcing players to tackle opponents below the chest.

The FFR has been asked to comment.

STATESVILLE, N.C. — GMS Racing announced Tuesday that CMR Construction & Roofing will sponsor additional races with Brett Moffitt in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series.

CMR will sponsor Moffitt in four of the five remaining NGOTS races this season, including Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway on Sept. 13, Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Oct. 12, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Oct. 26 and the season finale at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway on Nov. 15.

CMR also has options for additional races with GMS Racing in 2020.

Moffitt drove the No. 24 CMR Construction & Roofing Silverado to victory lane at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last month, during the brand’s first appearance with GMS Racing.

“CMR is excited to extend our sponsorship of Brett Moffitt,” said company CEO Steve Soule. “Brett impressed us all with an incredible win in Canada on our first sponsorship with him. CMR customers are huge NASCAR fans, and they have been following along on Facebook and Instagram, joining us as we cheer Brett on. This is a fun opportunity to share with our community, especially when we get to celebrate together.

“We look forward to watching Brett bring home many more victories in the CMR colors.”

Moffitt is the defending Truck Series champion and is currently leading the playoff point standings by virtue of his two wins in the Round of 8.

He is locked into the Round of 6, which begins at Talladega next month.

“I’m pumped to have CMR on board with us for more races,” said Moffitt. “We won in Canada for their first race with us, and hopefully we’ll have more trips to victory lane with them this season.

“Not many sponsors get a win in their first race with a new team, so that was pretty cool.”

READING, Pa. – Considering it’s happened the past six years, the streak of winners at Maple Grove Raceway is worth noting and has Leah Pritchett’s attention heading into this weekend’s 35th annual Mopar Express Lane NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil.

Since 2013, the winner of the Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship race at Reading has gone on to win the world title.

It’s a string that started with Shawn Langdon, continued with Tony Schumacher, Antron Brown (twice), Brittany Force and Steve Torrence, who won the race last year en route to his first world title.

Now, Pritchett hopes to do the same in her 11,000-horsepower Mopar Dodge dragster as the playoffs begin. Racing at her sponsor’s race already makes it important for Pritchett, but she knows what a win could mean.

“I believe that it is no accident that the winners of Reading have been that year’s champion,” Pritchett said. “It shows that coming hot out of the gate is pivotal for the championship momentum. We intend to execute precision performance strategy every step of the way.

“Excellence starts at the shop, and this team has worked diligently to dissolve any mishaps that may trip up our performance, from the simplest of procedures to new technology.”

In addition to opening the playoffs is also the 19th of 24 races in 2019, and Pritchett is confident her team can get hot at the right time.

It’s been an up-and-down campaign for the Top Fuel star, but the team won in Brainerd to grab their first win of the season. Pritchett followed with an untimely first-round loss in Indy, but she believes her team is ready to compete for a world title.

Langdon, Force and Torrence were all first-time champions during this streak, and Pritchett has a chance to become the fourth straight should she win in Reading.

Starting the playoffs in seventh, she knows a good start is necessary.

“The mindset for us is to be solid in our execution,” Pritchett said. “As a driver, I have tested different approaches to driving and feel we have a dangerous combination for the Countdown. It looks like great conditions in Reading for us to continue to put Mopar power down. There is no better time than now for us to apply power and consistency.

“We have all worked hard to solidify a spot in the Countdown and there is no room error in our hunt for the championship.”

Torrence had a dominant regular season on the heels of his perfect run in the playoffs last year. He’ll open as the points leader, but Pritchett will also have to deal with the likes of Force, Brown, Indy winner Doug Kalitta, Clay Millican, Richie Crampton, Mike Salinas, Austin Prock and Billy Torrence.

But Pritchett is determined to leave her mark on this title chase, and that starts with what she hopes is a memorable performance this weekend at Maple Grove Raceway.

“By points design, there is no better time to peak than right now,” Pritchett said. “The strength is in sustainability, and right now it is not just about coming on strong, but staying strong. I believe with all of my heart, because I see it and feel it everyday, that we have the internal strength, intelligence, work ethic, power, partners, and attitude to be Top Fuel world champions.

“It excites me everyday knowing that we are one step closer, one day closer, to being in that position to execute and prove to ourselves that we have what it takes.”

WEEDSPORT, N.Y. — It’s a simple fact that the best big-block modified racers in the world congregate every October during NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week at Oswego Speedway to celebrate the sport and its fans.

This year is no exception, with the 48th annual Super DIRTcar Series Billy Whittaker Cars 200 set to cap off the thrilling event on Sunday, Oct. 13.

Thanks to several events on the Super DIRTcar Series tour, seven drivers have locked in their position for the 200-lap finale, with two more guaranteed starts still up for grabs.

All Super DIRTcar Series races paying $10,000 or more to the winner come with a guaranteed starting spot at NAPA Super DIRT Week XLVIII.

Eight-time Super DIRTcar Series champion Matt Sheppard wasted no time in obtaining his guarantee. Sheppard opened the season at Can-Am Speedway with a roof dance in La Fargeville, N.Y., ahead of Mat Williamson and Billy Dunn.

Sheppard, the only driver to win Sportsman, 358 Modified and Big Block features during NAPA Super DIRT Week, is seeking his third Billy Whittaker Cars 200 crown.

Next up was Ontario’s Stewart Friesen, who took the checkered flag in The Big Show XI at Albany-Saratoga Speedway.

The No. 44 crossed the finish line first in dramatic fashion, as he nipped legendary driver and Big Show promoter Brett Hearn in the final laps.

Friesen is attempting to tie Hearn’s mark of six wins in the sport’s most prestigious event.

The North Country’s first qualifier took place at Plattsburgh Airborne Speedway, where Lightning Larry Wight rode the rim to Victory Lane. Wight returns to Oswego Speedway as the defending NAPA Super DIRT Week Champion.

Will Wight repeat and go back-to-back? Since the event shifted to Oswego in 2016, there has yet to be a repeat winner.

Weedsport Speedway’s Hall of Fame 100 saw Series rivals Sheppard and Ransomville Speedway track champion Erick Rudolph go head-to-head for the win.

Sheppard bested Rudolph, but since Sheppard already had a guaranteed start, Rudolph became the recipient.

The next qualifier took place on the famous high-banked half-mile Eldora Speedway in Ohio. The series put on a fantastic show in front of a tremendous crowd with Rudolph driving to the win.

Billy Decker was on Rudolph’s tail across the finish line and gladly accepted the guaranteed start for himself and his Gypsum Racing team.

At the Orange County Fair Speedway, 69 drivers entered the $10,000-to-win Battle on the Midway 100 to kick off the speedway’s centennial celebration.

Sheppard took his No. 9s to the front once again, but rookie racer Ryan Godown finished a career-best runner-up and secured his berth in the Billy Whittaker Cars 200.

For the 14th time in his career, Kenny Tremont Jr. was crowned Lebanon Valley Speedway’s track champion. He capped off the season with a $25,500 check and his sixth Mr. DIRT Track USA title. Tremont is looking to ride that wave of momentum into Oswego.

Fulton and Brewerton Speedway regular Jason Occhino and his red No. 33 have the distinction of being the first driver to enter NAPA Super DIRT Week XLVIII in the big-block modified division.

He’s a dark horse in the 200, but is well worth keeping an eye on.

Alan Johnson, a living legend of dirt track racing in the Northeast, will once again make an attempt to take home the $50,000 grand prize in Oswego.

Johnson calls Land of Legends Raceway his home and finished third in track points, behind two of the best going right now in Sheppard and Rudolph. Johnson is a three-time winner in NAPA Super DIRT Week’s premier race, but he hasn’t won it since 2003.

Former NAPA Super DIRT Week Champion Billy Dunn is poised for another massive win. This time he’ll go for gold in the Graham Racing No. 49 Teo Pro Car. Dunn thrilled the massive crowd at Syracuse in 2013 for his lone NAPA Super DIRT Week 200-lap victory.

Then there’s Hearn and his 900-plus wins from Sussex, N.J. His six NAPA Super DIRT Week wins in the 200 remains untouched.

Hearn took the Orange County Fair Speedway  hampionship this year. Now he looks to add another $50,000 NAPA Super DIRT Week payday to the record books.

The old adage says it’s not how you start that matters but rather how you finish. In drag racing, though, a smart start does matter as it’s a key factor in how the pass ends.

Tommy Johnson Jr., experienced in both an NHRA Top Fuel dragster and a Funny Car, and Hector Arana Jr., a 15-time winner and perennial Pro Stock Motorcycle title contender, understand that. Here’s how they explain their starting-line routines.

Johnson said of his Funny Car paces, “Once (the engine) rolls over and they pull the wire, I put the fuel on. And from then on, it’s in their hands. We don’t have any instruments in the car. The gauges are up front, where the crew can see them. They set the fuel pressure, idle, everything. Once the body goes down, you do the burnout.

“Once I do a burnout and stop the car, the crew member will push on the (injector) blades to make sure the idle is back to normal. Sometimes if it’s idling too high, you can’t get it in reverse,” he continued. “My crew chief will flip up the hatch to let the smoke out. Then I start rolling back. I try to keep as much heat out of the clutch as I can.

“I’ll get it rolling and push the clutch pedal back in and bump it every now and then to keep a certain speed and watch where he wants me. (The backup person is) watching the guy behind the car. The crew chief will mark the track with chalk where he wants the rear tire. So he’s guiding me back to put the tire on that spot. They stop me and I put it in forward,” Johnson explained.

“Then they raise the body. Once the body goes up, I don’t do a lot. I watch to make sure they take the throttle stop off from the burnout. I look at the Christmas tree and look down the track. There’s somebody standing in front of me, so I can’t see straight down the track. When he nods and they pull the dash that has all the gauges out of there, it’s time for the body to come back down,” he said. “Once the body goes down, they roll me forward before they line me up. I take deep breaths. My crew chief reaches down and turns the idle screw, then it’s time to focus and roll it into the beams.”

Johnson says it’s key not to overthink the process.

“The less brainpower you can use on the starting line, the better off you’ll be,” he said. “The more thoughts in your head, the slower you’ll be. You need to be thinking about only one thing. You’re never going to think about only one thing, but you can think about three instead of six.”

It’s almost show time.

“Once they pull the wires on the starting line, I never hear a word,” Johnson explained. “I couldn’t tell you if there’s anybody in the stands. I couldn’t tell you the difference between a test run at the track on Monday with nobody there versus a packed grandstand. If you’re looking in the grandstands, you’re looking in the wrong place. You don’t have time to be looking up there.”

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MONTEREY, Calif. – With two races yet to run in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, Action Express Racing is focused on defending its IMSA driver and team championships, as well as earning a sixth Michelin Endurance Cup title.

But the team is also looking ahead to the future, and as such has confirmed that Whelen Engineering will return as the title sponsor of the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R for the 2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.

The iconic red and white Whelen Cadillac will be driven by drivers Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani for the full IMSA campaign in 2020, which will once again launch with the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 25-26.

Whelen Engineering first partnered with the team in 2015, taking victories at Detroit and Road America to set the stage for the team’s run to the 2016 IMSA Prototype title.

The Whelen Engineering team claimed a second IMSA Prototype title, as well as its first Michelin Endurance Cup, in 2018.

Nasr and Derani enter the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca event weekend second in the IMSA Prototype championship standings, having won this year’s Sebring 12 Hour and scored podiums in the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Detroit Grand Prix.

“We’ve worked really hard to have a strong team, and being able to build on what we’ve learned each year is very important so I’m pleased to have Pipo and Felipe return to race for us again next year,” said Action Express Racing Team Manager Gary Nelson. “We plan to have a lot of familiar faces in our pit box and in the garage again next season.

“Chris Mitchum, Director of Operations; Iain Watt, Technical Director; Tim Keene, Performance Coordinator; and Bill Keuler, crew chief; along with many others, will continue in their current roles.”

Action Express Racing is working to finalize the No. 31 Whelen Engineering Cadillac DPi-V.R driver roster for the Michelin Endurance Cup events at Daytona Int’l Speedway, Sebring Int’l Raceway, Watkins Glen Int’l, and season-ending Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.

“Action Express is happy that we have been able to announce our 2020 plans for our Whelen Engineering No. 31, with Felipe Nasr and Pipo Derani as full time drivers,” said team owner Bob Johnson. “We are still working on the 2020 plans for the No. 5 car but the 2020 sponsorship package is not yet complete.

“We expect to make an announcement with final details soon.”