Off the wire

LITTLE ROCK — FOOTBALL

Luck sharp for Colts

Andrew Luck’s first NFL throw was a 63-yard touchdown pass, and the rookie led Indianapolis to three first-half touchdown drives and a 38-3 victory over St. Louis in Sunday’s preseason opener at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Luck, under pressure, dumped off a short screen pass to Donald Brown, who darted up the field, then cut across and outran the Rams’ defense for the score. Luck finished 10 of 16 for 188 yards with 2 touchdowns in 24 plays for Indianapolis. Sam Bradford, the No. 1 pick in 2010, was 7 of 9 for 57 yards in two series for the Rams. The Colts’ victory ended a streak of seven consecutive losses in preseason openers and was their most lopsided since a 35-0 victory over Washington in 1966.

A person familiar with the decision said six-time Pro Bowl receiver Chad Johnson has been released by the Miami Dolphins one day after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife. The person confirmed the decision to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Dolphins hadn’t announced the move.Johnson was released on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor. The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show Basketball Wives. Johnson, 34, had been battling for a spot on the Dolphins.

The Dallas Cowboys will play their exhibition opener without at least six expected starters. Rookie cornerback Morris Claiborne, their first-round draft pick, will not play today at Oakland. He was back at practice Saturday, but had missed a week because of a sprained left knee and has practiced in pads only twice. Also out against the Raiders will be two-time Pro Bowl receiver Miles Austin (hamstring), Pro Bowl nose tackle Jay Ratliff (foot), defensive end Jason Hatcher (groin), linebacker Anthony Spencer (hamstring) and center Phil Costa (back). Receiver Dez Bryant is uncertain to play after leaving practice early Saturday because of hamstring tightness.

In need of another running back, the Green Bay Packers have signed veteran Cedric Benson. Benson left Cincinnati after spending four seasons with the Bengals, leading them in rushing each year. But Cincinnati showed little interest in re-signing the eight-year veteran. The Packers have been plagued by injuries in what has been an unimpressive running game. Green Bay finished 27th in rushing in 2011 despite going 15-1.James Starks is bothered by turf toe, Brandon Saine (hamstring) has not practiced, Alex Green is coming off knee surgery, and Ryan Grant was not re-signed. The 29-year-old Benson rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of the last three seasons. He was Chicago’s top draft pick in 2005.

The Jacksonville Jaguars released veteran wide receiver Lee Evans on Sunday. Evans signed as a free agent with the Jaguars in April after he was released a month earlier by Baltimore. Evans played seven seasons with the Buffalo Bills before joining the Ravens in 2011. In his eight-year career, he has 381 receptions for 6,008 yards and 43 touchdowns.

BASEBALL

Inge to have MRI

Oakland Athletics third baseman Brandon Inge will travel to Oakland to have a magnetic resonance imaging on his dislocated right shoulder. A’s Manager Bob Melvin announced the plan for Inge after Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Inge was hurt Saturday on a diving stop in the seventh inning. He remained in the game and started a double play two batters later. Inge then drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth, leading the team to believe the injury wasn’t too severe. Inge was held out of the lineup Sunday. The team decided he should meet with doctors to determine the extent of the injury and whether he can play through it without causing long-term issues. Inge, 35, is hitting .216 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI.

Boston Red Sox rookie third baseman Will Middlebrooks is not having surgery on his broken right wrist. Middlebrooks said Sunday that doctors told him the injury will heal without an operation. Middlebrooks is unsure if he will return this season, however. Middlebrooks is batting .288 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in 75 games. He is the 25th player to go on the disabled list this season for the Red Sox. He was hit by a pitch in the ninth inning Friday night. Danny Valencia, acquired in a trade from Minnesota on Aug. 5, started at third Sunday against Cleveland.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated right-handed reliever Juan Cruz from the 15-day disabled list. The Pirates activated Cruz on Sunday for their game against the San Diego Padres. He had been on the DL since July 18 with inflammation in his right shoulder. Rookie right-hander Jared Hughes was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis. Cruz is 1-1 with 3 saves and a 2.61 ERA in 37 games. He pitched twice for Class AA Altoona on an injury rehabilitation assignment and allowed two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Hughes was 2-1 with 1 save and a 2.70 ERA in 47 relief appearances.

GOLF

Ryu wins LPGA event

So Yeon Ryu rode a string of six consecutive birdies in the middle of her round to a 9-under-par 62 and a seven-stroke victory in the LPGA Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. The 22-year-old began the day in the midst of a four player logjam - all South Koreans - for first place. She took the lead by herself for the first time with an 8-foot birdie putt at the third hole and gradually stretched her advantage until pulling away with birdies on Nos. 9-14. Angela Stanford made a long birdie putt on the final hole for 66 to finish second, earning $119,765. Ryu, whose only previous LPGA Tour victory was the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, ended up at 20-under 264 - thanks to the lowest final round by a Farr winner and earned $195,000. Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a final round 66 and finished 8-under 276. She earned $22,310.

Chris Wilson won the Price Cutter Charity Championship for his first Web.com Tour title, beating Scott Harrington with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff in Springfield, Mo. Wilson, the former Northwestern player who missed the cuts in 11 of his previous 13 tour starts this year, birdied the final hole of regulation for a 5-under 67 to match Harrington, also a former Northwestern player, at 21-under 267. Harrington shot a 68, also birdieing the final hole of regulation at Highland Springs, but hit his second shot into the water on the par-5 closing hole in the playoff.Wilson made $112,500 after entering the week with only $6,486 in earnings. Andy Winings shot a 65 to finish third at 20 under. Ben Kohles, the winner of the previous two events in his first two starts as a professional, tied for 60th at 8 under. David Lingmerth (Razorbacks) shot a final-round 71 to finish 18-under 270, earning $20,234. Glen Day (Little Rock) had a 71 Sunday and finished 14-under 274. He earned $6,828. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) earned $3,000 after finishing 12-under 276. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) finished with a 9-under 279 and earned $1,953.

HORSE RACING

Saratoga favorites win

Kauai Katie won the Grade II $200,000 Adirondack Stakes for 2-year-old fillies and Spurious Precision won the Grade II $200,000 Saratoga Special for 2-year-old colts and geldings Sunday at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Kauai Katie, trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Rosie Napravnik, who broke an0-for-48 slump, beat Salamera by 23/4 lengths, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.81 and paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Spurious Precision, trained by Richard Violette and ridden by Alan Garcia, romped to a 5-length victory, running 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.53. Spurious Precision paid $3.50, $2.70 and $2.10.