CHICAGO -- New York Yankees reliever Zack Britton told manager Aaron Boone to remove him from his current role as the team's closer after his latest blown save of the season. Britton spoke to Boone in the wake of giving up the walk-off 2-run shot hit by White Sox All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson in Chicago's a 9-8 win over the Yankees in the Field of Dreams game in Iowa last Thursday.

"I told him I don't deserve to be out there in the ninth inning; other guys deserve it," Britton said before game two of the Yankees-White Sox series at Guaranteed Rate Field. "I haven't been pitching the way I should be to be out there when the team needs wins. I told [Boone] I want to pitch, whenever you need me I'll be ready, but I don't deserve to be out there in those situations."

Subbing in as the team's closer, and put in charge of the ninth inning with Aroldis Chapman on the injured list due to left elbow inflammation, Britton has had four save opportunities and has converted only one. Britton has an 8.10 ERA in those four appearances, giving up three earned runs over 3 1/3 innings pitched.

The left-hander has had subpar performances in his 11 appearances in save situations this season, accumulating a 7.45 ERA (8 ER / 9 2/3 IP). And Britton's numbers are not remarkably superior in non-save situations, with a 4.50 ERA (3 ER / 6 IP) in such appearances.

"Physically [I am] not where I normally am at this stage of the season. But I have to find a way to get outs with where I'm at physically right now because it's just where I'm at," Britton said. "Just need to figure out how in the future I can get back to the top level of pitching that I want to be at."

Britton has been dealing with command issues, which he has attached to his routine being disrupted by missing spring training to undergo left elbow surgery. The 33-year-old has also not completely recuperated from suffering major weight loss during a bout of COVID-19 in the offseason. But on COVID and the surgery being factors affecting this performance, Britton called them "an excuse that's holding me back."

"I have to figure out a way to pitch with where I'm at. You've got to get outs, regardless of how you're feeling, velocity being down," he said. "I've been around long enough to know that it's not always about the best stuff, the most velocity, to get outs. It's about executing pitches. And I'm not doing a good job of that right now. And I'm capable of doing it."

Boone said that he will likely lean on hard-throwing relievers Jonathan Loáisiga and Chad Green as his two main options to fulfill the closer role before Chapman's return to form.

"It's going to be dependent on each and every night," said Boone of the Yankees' closer role, which he called a "fluid" situation. "But we'll continue to try and get Britt [Britton] into more situations where we feel like he can be really successful. He's going to play a huge role for us down the stretch here, and we have to get him back to that point all the way."

Boone also announced that injured starter Luis Severino, who did not pitch in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Thursday night due to shoulder tightness, would undergo further evaluation on Monday, when he's scheduled for an MRI.

"[Director of Pitching] Sam Briend noticed him trying to loosen up in his catch play, as he was getting ready to get on the mound," said Boone of Severino not taking the mound for his rehab start in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. "Sam said something to him and Sevy didn't really fight him on it; just wasn't feeling quite right. Ultimately, they pulled the plug on him making the start, probably wisely."

Boone admitted the situation was "very concerning" but refused to speculate on any possible setbacks in Severino's eventual return from Tommy John surgery, which was expected to be imminent.

"It's very concerning, when he's getting close to being back with us, and everything's gone really well. And enough for him to not make a start, it's obviously concerning," Boone added. "But at the same time, I don't want to speculate too much beyond him seeing the doctor and getting images and getting all the information. We'll hopefully have a clearer picture on Monday."

BOSTON -- Bolstered by Chris Sale's first major league appearance in just over two years, the Boston Red Sox hit five homers while pounding Baltimore 16-2 on Saturday, handing the Orioles their 10th straight loss.

Sale, 32, completed his return from Tommy John surgery by pitching five innings, giving up two runs on consecutive homers by Austin Hays and Trey Mancini in the third. Relying mostly on his sharp slider, the lanky left-hander struck out eight and walked none for the win.

Rafael Devers got Boston off to a fast start with a three-run homer in the first against Jorge Lopez (3-13). J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer for the Red Sox, and Bobby Dalbec added a solo shot during a seven-run fifth inning -- right after Sale left to a loud ovation.

Dalbec hit his second solo homer an inning later, and Hunter Renfroe connected in the eighth.

When Sale finished the fifth, he was greeted with a handshake then a hug from manager Alex Cora.

The seven-time All-Star last pitched in the majors when he started on Aug. 13, 2019. He had surgery on his 31st birthday -- March 30, 2020 -- and missed last year's pandemic-shortened season.

Sale's return created an electric atmosphere on a steamy afternoon. Many of the fans were on their feet when Hays foul tipped Sale's 94.2 mph first pitch.

Devers finished with four RBIs. Alex Verdugo hit four singles for Boston, and Enrique Hernandez scored four times.

WARM-UP MOMENTS

When Sale walked to the bullpen to warm up, he was greeted with cheers. Many fans clamored for a good look, trying to get near the bullpen, and were taking cell phone photos and videos, cheering nearly every pitch. When he was done, Sale gave catcher Christian Vazquez a big hug before bumping fists with the rest of the members of the team out there and walking to the dugout to a big ovation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Adam Scott knows it’s “do or die” this weekend at the Wyndham Championship, standing 121st on the FedExCup rankings and needing a top finish to secure a spot in the upcoming playoffs.

“It's hard to complain about 64,” said Scott, who fired a 5-under 30 on the front nine at Sedgefield Country Club and carded nine birdies total in the third round. “It's like qualifying this week for me, so I've got to get it done.”

Scott, 41, has experienced all the ups and down in his 22 years as a pro. “I don't know why it's so hard other weeks of the year. You can't fake that mindset, but this is what it is,” said Scott, who dropped from the No. 6-ranked player in the world before the COVID-19 shut-down in 2020 to No. 46.

Scott has qualified for the playoffs every year since its inception in 2007. He wants to continue his streak enough to miss his son’s birthday this week.

The Australian is married with three children and believes family is great for perspective, but that doesn't make competing any easier.

“I think to be the best at anything, you have to be incredibly selfish to be able to play at a top level,” said Scott, who thanked his wife, Marie, for her continuous support. “When you're trying to be a top athlete, you have to make those sacrifices and certainly my wife has to understand that we have to make some sacrifices.”

Scott was tied for second when he signed his scorecard on Saturday, but the leaders were just beginning their rounds. He finished the day tied for ninth and five off the lead, but projected at No. 106 in the FEC standings.

“I'd like to have another nice round tomorrow and see how far I can jump up going into next week on a course I've won at before and you'd just like to take some good form in,” said Scott, a winner at Liberty National in 2013.

“You just never know.”

Tee times have been moved up for Sunday's final round of the Wyndham Championship, because of the threat of afternoon thunderstorms.

The final round at Sedgefield Country Club will feature threesomes off split tees, from approximately 7-9 a.m. ET.

Golf Channel will live stream its early-round coverage from 8:30-10:15 a.m. ET (click here to watch). It will air tape-delayed on Golf Channel from 1-2:45 p.m. ET. CBS Sports coverage is scheduled for 3-6 p.m. ET.

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Will Zalatoris has “nothing to lose.” Although ranked No. 29 in the world, the Masters Tournament runner-up is not a PGA Tour member, which means he’s ineligible for the FedExCup playoffs – unless he wins the Wyndham Championship.

Zalatoris’ attitude was light after his bogey-free 65 on Saturday. “Finishing second doesn't do me any good,” he said. “I was just joking, I don't know why I left my putts short on 17 and 18, it's not like running them by or missing them matters.”

Zalatoris was at 9 under par through 54 holes, five shots off the lead before the final groups teed off in Round 3. He finished six back of 54-hole leader Russell Henley.

Zalatoris' PGA Tour career grew exponentially after finishing T-6 at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He followed that with a T-8 at the Corales Puntacana Championship and a T-5 at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. His most memorable performance was in April, when he finished solo second at the Masters behind champion Hideki Matsuyama. Zalatoris has earned 1,270 FedExCup points this season, which would put him at No. 26 on the standings. His play has earned him special temporary Tour membership, but not full status; therefore, he's ineligible for the playoffs, minus a victory.

This must-win mindset is “absolutely freeing” for Zalatoris. “If there's a chance to take out there, I've got to take it," he said. "It's a lot of fun, honestly, playing golf like this where you've got absolutely nothing to lose. There's something to be said for that.”

A few months ago, Zalatoris would have said something different. “My back had been bothering me and I was really trying hard to win,” said Zalatoris, who had to withdraw from The Open Championship after hurting his back while swinging from the rough.

“I was trying to get on the Ryder Cup team, trying to force it and trying to be a part of the FedExCup playoffs. It wasn't healthy because it was every single week, and if I made one single mistake, I made a bigger deal out of it than I should have. So it's a good lesson learned.”

If not a victory, a good finish could alleviate any concerns U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker might have about Zalatoris' health, and help make Zalatoris, currently 20th in the standings, one of Stricker's six wild-card picks.

FIFE, Scotland — Ariya Jutanugarn bogeyed the final two holes for an even-par 72 on Saturday at windy Dumbarnie Links, leaving her tied for the lead with Charley Hull and Ryann O’Toole in the Trust Golf Women’s Scottish Open.

Three strokes ahead entering the round, Jutanugarn had five birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in wind gusting to 28 mph.

“I feel like tomorrow just have to play my own game,” Jutanugarn said. “Today, I was thinking about the outcome so much ... and that’s why I end up today not playing so well. “So, I think tomorrow just have to go back to like yesterday or first round and have good commitment and not really thinking about the outcome.”

The 25-year-old Thai star won the 2018 tournament at Gullane. She has two victories this year, the Honda LPGA Thailand and Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational team event alongside sister Moriya.

O’Toole had a 68, and Hull shot her third straight 69 to match Jutanugarn at 9-under 207.

“The wind actually felt warmer, as well, so the ball was going a little bit farther,” Hull said. “Especially on last few holes it dropped off a bit. I’ve been feeling confident the last six weeks ever since pretty much, just the couple weeks after U.S. Open. I feel good. I feel really good.”

The 25-year-old Englishwoman won the 2016 CME Group Tour Championship for her lone LPGA Tour title.

O’Toole eagled the par-5 15th. The 34-year-old American is winless on the tour.

“I had just been playing 15, take the drive down just that center left side,” O’Toole said. “Today with the wind direction, it was helping a bit more versus left to right, so I was able to bite off more on the corner. The back pins, that’s the risk is that if you come in on that left side, you have a short club in but it’s a hard position to hold that green up top I put myself in a good spot. I had an uphill lie with pitching wedge in and was able to hold the green nicely and make the 9-footer.”

South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai (67) and Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul (70) were a stroke back.

Kelsey MacDonald leads the race for five spots next week in the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie at 5 under, followed by Karolin Lampert (4 under), Paula Reto (2 under), Prima Thammaraks (2 under), Jing Yan (even) and Whitney Hillier (even).

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Kevin Kisner has never qualified for a Ryder Cup, despite having a great match-play reputation, and is looking to catch the eye of U.S. captain Steve Stricker at the Wyndham Championship.

“It's a weird question,” said Kisner when asked about the Ryder Cup on Saturday. "I haven't gotten picked yet and I've played nicely going in. I figured I had to win this week or next week to really have a chance and I'm in position."

Even with a bogey-bogey finish, Kisner climbed up the leaderboard on Saturday with a 4-under 66 at Sedgefield Country Club. “Struck it nicely all day and gave myself a ton of chances. Keep that up and try to get rid of those dumb bogeys,” said Kisner, who is tied for third at 11 under, four off the lead.

Kisner is currently ranked 23rd in the Ryder Cup standings. The top six players qualify for the team after the second FedExCup playoff event – the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland – and Stricker has six captain’s picks. Even without a win, continued good play could get him to Whistling Straits.

The only team he's played on was the 2017 Presidents Cup, for which he qualified. Kisner won the WGC-Match Play in 2019 and was runner-up the year before. However, the Ryder Cup is too far in the future for Kisner to overthink.

“I want to make the Tour Championship first, that's a big goal of mine every year,” said Kisner, who is currently ranked 69th on the FedExCup rankings.

Well inside the top 125, Kisner will not have a problem making it into the first playoff tournament - The Northern Trust at Liberty National Golf Club. After that event, the top 70 players qualify into the BMW Championship and finally, the top 30 will compete in the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. 

“Made five out of the last six, so I don't want to stop now,” said Kisner, referring to the Tour Championship. “Finish well here tomorrow and go get them at Liberty and set myself up.”

Liverpool kicked off their 2021-22 Premier League campaign with a straightforward win over Norwich City at Carrow Road on Saturday.

Doigo Jota fired Liverpool in front in the 26th minute, firing a low drive past Norwich keeper Tim Krul to stake Jurgen Klopp's side to a half-time lead.

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Liverpool doubled their lead in the second half when Roberto Firmino redirected a Mohammed Salah assist past Krul in the 65th minute to make it 2-0.

Salah put the Reds up by three soon after, settling a poor clearance from Norwich after a corner and curling a lovely shot into the back of the net to seal the three points for Liverpool.

With defensive linchpin Virgil van Dijk back after nine months out with a serious knee injury, Liverpool enjoyed a relatively trouble-free evening.

"It was a tough game for many reasons and 3-0 sounds comfortable," Van Dijk said after the game. "It's about getting into normal habits, shouting at your teammates, repetition. I've made great steps in pre-season and this was another big step today."

Next up for Liverpool is a home match against Burnley on Aug. 15, while Norwich face Manchester City at the Etihad on the same day.

Inter have announced two signings, with Edin Dzeko joining from Roma and Denzel Dumfries moving to the Serie A champions from PSV Eindhoven.

Dzeko, 35, scored in a 3-0 friendly win over Dynamo Kiev on Saturday and is seen as a replacement for Romelu Lukaku at Inter, following the Belgian star's return to Chelsea, and leaves Roma after a successful six years at the club.

? | ANNOUNCEMENT@EdDzeko is an #Inter player ⚫?

? https://t.co/eMw6uErh9C#WelcomeEdin #IMInter pic.twitter.com/01KL4Ia5Mh

— Inter ??? (@Inter_en) August 14, 2021

The Bosnian striker joined from Manchester City in 2015 -- initially on loan before the move became permanent 12 months later -- and netted 119 time in 260 appearances. He was the league's top goal scorer 2016-17 with 29 goals.

Dzeko's future has been uncertain since a falling out with then-Roma manager Paulo Fonseca, who was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

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Dumfries, meanwhile, impressed at Euro 2020 for Netherlands, scoring two goals. The 25-year-old leaves PSV after three seasons at the club.

Inter won their first Serie A title since 2010 last season but financial issues caused by COVID-19 saw them lose Achraf Hakimi, who joined Paris Saint-Germain, and manager Antonio Conte.

Lionel Messi watched on from the stands as Paris Saint-Germain made hard work of beating Strasbourg 4-2 in Ligue 1 on Saturday to continue their winning start to the new season.

Not yet fully fit, Messi, along with Neymar and fellow new recruits Gianluigi Donnarumma and Sergio Ramos, did not make the match squad, but saw his new club take an early lead through Mauro Icardi at Parc des Princes.

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Kylian Mbappe then doubled PSG's advantage in the 25th minute after his shot was deflected home, before the France international's cross was turned in by Julian Draxler two minutes later to put the hosts 3-0 up.

However, second-half goals from Kevin Gameiro and Ludovic Ajorque got the visitors back into the contest, with PSG looking uneasy in possession.

Alexander Djiku's dismissal for two bookable offences let PSG off the hook nine minutes from time, with substitute Pablo Sarabia tapping home at the back post in the 86th minute to make sure of the unconvincing victory for Mauricio Pochettino's side.

The win sent PSG top of the table with two wins from two, while last season's champions Lille were surprisingly thrashed 4-0 at home by Nice earlier on Saturday.