SPORTS ROUNDUP: Matt Kemp hits three round-trippers

Kemp sends three out Friday

MILWAUKEE — Matt Kemp had hit two home runs in a game 11 times before, but never in his 11-year career had he belted three.

That changed Saturday, though, as Kemp set a personal record with three of the Atlanta Braves’ four home runs in an 11-3 romp over the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park.

“It felt great,” said Kemp, who has reached base in six straight games. “Especially the way were hit the ball today. offensively, we’ve been doing pretty good job of putting up runs. People are starting to go right now. That’s a good sign.”

He wasn’t the only contributor on offense, either. The Braves combined for a season-high 20 hits — their highest total since getting 21 on Sept. 2, 2008 — with Kemp, Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis each recording three and Tyler Flowers leading the way with four.

The Braves had been averaging four runs per game through their first 20 contests but have put up 21 runs in two.

“How do you explain it?,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “A week ago, we were having a hard time hitting the gap but it can change that quick. It was nice having guys break out.”

Atlanta’s hot bats helped pick up left-hander Jamie Garcia, who struggled with his command and walked a season-high five batters but limited the Brewers to two runs on three hits with three strikeouts over six innings.

Bills fire GM Whaley day after draft

BUFFALO — Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley was fired Sunday, one day after the seven-round NFL draft ended.

Whaley spent four years as general manager with the Bills and helped owner Terry Pegula hire a head coach in January, landing Sean McDermott to replace Rex Ryan.

Pegula said McDermott took a more active role in draft decisions over the weekend, including the Bills moving out of their original first-round slot — No. 10 — in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“After a thorough review of our football operations over the past several months, Kim and I informed Doug this morning that we will be moving in a new direction,” Terry Pegula said Sunday in a statement. ” We have enjoyed working with Doug. He is a good person and we want to thank him for his work and commitment to our football team. This was my decision. It was not an easy decision but I believe it’s the right one for the future of the Buffalo Bills. Our search for a new general manager will begin immediately.”

Whaley and Ryan were not on the same page when 2016 came to a close.

The Bills went 30-34 during Whaley’s four-year run as general manager.

Among candidates the Bills could consider are recently fired Colts general manager Ryan Grigson. Grigson and McDermott worked with the Eagles 10 years ago and are film and football junkies with a strong bond

Bears decline CB Fuller’s fifth-year option

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears will not pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round cornerback Kyle Fuller’s rookie contract.

General manager Ryan Pace told reporters of the team’s decision on Saturday that will allow Fuller to become a free agent in 2018.

Fuller, who was selected 14th overall in the 2014 draft, started his first two seasons but sat out last year after undergoing a knee scope during the summer.

The Bears designated Fuller to return off of injured reserve late in the 2016 season but his knee never responded enough to play.

Fuller, 25, made an impressive start to his career with three interceptions and two forced fumbles in his first three games of his rookie season, before making just three picks and one forced fumble in the next 29 games.

During free agency, the Bears signed cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper.

Fuller now will be battling just to make the Bears’ 53-man roster. His $1.740 million base salary is fully guaranteed for the 2017 season.

Pagenaud wins Phoenix Grand Prix

AVONDALE, Ariz. — A reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion doesn’t usually need breaks to win races, but Simon Pagenaud got a big one Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway.

Pagenaud won the Phoenix Grand Prix thanks in part to a caution coming at the perfect time. He not only got the lead when Team Penske teammate Will Power pitted mid-race, he got a big advantage when the caution came out for Takuma Sato’s Turn 4 crash.

Because this track is known as a short oval — it’s only 1 mile in length — Pagenaud was able to put a host of lapped cars between he and Power when the green light came back on.

That gave Pagenaud a seven-second lead which he didn’t relinquish. The significance of that: This was his first victory on an oval track. His nine other series wins had come on permanent road courses and street circuits.

The margin at the finish was 9.1 seconds and gave Pagenaud his first victory of the season. It also gave him the series points lead after four races.

“My best win,” Pagenaud said. “It takes a lot to learn the strategies at these (oval tracks), learning the turbulence, things like that.

“I am very, very, very excited guys. It’s as exciting as winning the championship.”

Team Penske drivers led all 250 laps with Pagenaud recording 116.

Nastase apologizes for remarks about Serena

Ilie Nastase, who has been under fire since making a racist comment about Serena Williams’ unborn child, apologized Friday to the 23-time Grand Slam winner.

Upon learning of Williams’ pregnancy last week, the 70-year-old Nastase said, “Let’s see what color it has. Chocolate with milk?” The 35-year-old Williams, who got engaged to Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in December, is black and her fiance is white.

Nastase, who earned the nickname “Nasty” for his on-court outbursts in the 1970s, said his reaction was “spontaneous.”

“I am fully aware that nothing can truly excuse my statements — not the tension of a high-stakes game, not my traditionally irreverent attitude, not the unfortunate escalation of the situation,” said Nastase, who is the captain of Romania’s Fed Cup team. “My life remains dedicated to tennis and its audiences, so please accept my apologies, for whatever they may be worth right now.”