Sports Headlines

Gilbert throws 8 dominant innings in Mariners’ 5-0 victory over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — Logan Gilbert threw eight dominant innings, Luis Urías and Cal Raleigh homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 5-0 on Saturday night. Gilbert (3-0) allowed two hits and four walks and struck out six. He has allowed two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts. “It's nice and helps me catch my breath,” Gilbert said about the run support. “It gives me a lot of confidence to fill it up. It gives me freedom to do what I want to do and trying to just keep the momentum that they already built.” The right-hander retired 16 of 17 at one point. He was also aided by three double plays. “He was super aggressive,” ... Read More

Lowe has 4 hits as Rangers beat Royals 15-4

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nathaniel Lowe had four hits and two RBIs, and the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals 15-4 on Saturday night. Lowe went 4 for 6 one night after going hitless in four at bats in Texas' 7-1 loss. It was his first four-hit game since last July 14. “I guess it was just my turn in the grand pendulum of the swing of baseball," Lowe said. “It was great to have so many guys contribute. We got smoked last night, so it was good to come back tonight.” Adolis García, Evan Carter and Travis Jankowski also drove in two runs each. Carter scored on a wild pitch after a two-run triple in the third ... Read More

Yankees slugger Aaron Judge ejected for first time in career

ByJORGE CASTILLO NEW YORK -- Aaron Judge has accomplished plenty during his nine-year major league career. The five-time All-Star set the American League record for home runs in a season in 2022. He won the AL MVP award. He was named the 16th captain in New York Yankees history. And not once in his first 869 career games was the 32-year-old slugger ever ejected. That streak, though, ended Saturday at Yankee Stadium. Judge was tossed for the first time leading off the seventh inning after arguing a called third strike in the Yankees' eventual 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Judge was displeased when plate umpire Ryan Blakney punched him out on a pitch he thought was outside for ball ... Read More

Mavericks’ Maxi Kleber (AC joint) out indefinitely

ByTIM MACMAHON DALLAS -- Mavericks reserve power forward/center Maxi Kleber will be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a third-degree dislocation of the AC joint of his right shoulder, sources told ESPN. The injury could sideline Kleber for the remainder of the Mavs' playoff run, a source said. Dallas will face the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals series that begins Tuesday night. Kleber, who missed most of the first half of the season with a dislocated toe, is a key defender who provides Dallas with lineup versatility. He shot 10-of-18 from 3-point range in the Mavs' first-round series win over the LA Clippers. Kleber suffered the injury on a gruesome fall early in the second quarter of Friday's ... Read More

Bulls’ Lonzo Ball picks up $21.4M option for 2024-25

ByADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI After missing the past two-plus seasons with a knee injury, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has exercised the $21.4 million option on his contract for the 2024-25 season, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Ball has undergone three surgeries on his left knee, the most recent a cartilage transplant in 2023. There remains some guarded hope that he could return next season, but there are no assurances that the damaged knee will allow for him to play again. Ball, 26, signed an original four-year, $80 million deal as part of a sign-and-trade with New Orleans in the summer of 2021. After a fantastic start that had the Bulls leading the Eastern Conference in 2021-22, Ball averaged 13.0 points, 5.4 ... Read More

Mystik Dan wins 150th Kentucky Derby by nose in photo finish

ByABC News LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The 150th Kentucky Derby produced one of the most dramatic finishes in its storied history -- three noses at the wire. Mystik Dan desperately fought to hang on with two challengers coming to him in the closing strides. He did, too, after a delay of several minutes while the closest three-horse photo finish since 1947 was sorted out. That year, Jet Pilot won by a head over Phalanx and a length ahead of Faultless. This one was much tighter. Mystik Dan, an 18-1 shot, edged Sierra Leone by a nose, with Forever Young another nose back in third on Saturday. Sierra Leone was the most expensive horse in the race at $2.3 million. Long shots ... Read More

Boston Bruins rally, defeat Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7

ByABC News BOSTON -- David Pastrnak scored on a feed from Hampus Lindholm 1:54 into overtime and the Boston Bruins defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-1 in Game 7 on Saturday night to clinch their NHL first-round series and advance in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Jeremy Swayman finished with 30 saves and Lindholm had the tying goal in regulation to help the Bruins avoid losing their second straight first-round series after holding a 3-1 lead. They have now defeated the rival Maple Leafs in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs three times in the past seven years. After a loss in Game 6, Boston coach Jim Montgomery told reporters the club needed more from Pastrnak, and the ... Read More

Anthony Edwards outduels Nikola Jokic as Wolves take Game 1

ByDAVE MCMENAMIN DENVER -- If you asked another young star what it felt like to go into the defending champs' building and put up a career playoff-high 43 points in a 106-99 Game 1 win to tip off the second round, he might call it a statement performance. If he was really feeling himself, he might say Saturday night represented a seismic shift in the balance of power in the Western Conference with the Minnesota Timberwolves stealing home court away from the Denver Nuggets. However, Anthony Edwards isn't like any other young star today. He might not be like any other young star in league history. "It's not about introducing ourselves to nobody. We know who we are," Edwards said ... Read More

Ohtani breaks Roberts’ Dodgers mark for most HRs by Japanese-born player

ByABC News LOS ANGELES -- Dave Roberts recently joked that Shohei Ohtani should gift him a Porsche when the slugger breaks his Dodgers record for most home runs by a Japanese-born player. Ohtani obliged, just maybe not in the way Roberts imagined. Before Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves, Ohtani gifted Roberts a purple toy model Porsche in his office. Roberts said the car is sitting on his desk. Ohtani hit his eighth home run, and surpassed Roberts' mark, with a solo shot to right-center during the third inning of Saturday's 11-3 rout of the Braves. "He did buy me a car. I guess I didn't specify what type of car," Roberts said before the game. "So I can't say ... Read More

Brooks Koepka wins in Singapore for fourth LIV title

ByABC News SINGAPORE -- Brooks Koepka shot a 3-under 68 on Sunday to win the LIV Golf tournament, his fourth victory on the circuit. Koepka finished 15-under 201 for the three rounds, two ahead of Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith. Leishman finished with a 66 and Smith a 64 at the Sentosa Golf Club. Talor Gooch shot 67 and finished in fourth place, 3 strokes behind Koepka. Koepka has four LIV titles to go with five major championships. The latest was the PGA in 2023. Koepka was the seventh different winner in seven events this season. "It's all starting to come around," Koepka said in his postmatch interview. "I've put in a lot of work, I feel like, on ... Read More

Pendrith leads Byron Nelson as one of several seeking first PGA Tour victory

McKINNEY, Texas (AP) — Taylor Pendrith has been here before — holding or sharing a lead after three rounds on the PGA Tour. The Canadian was one of six among the top 10 on the leaderboard seeking a first tour victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Pendrith chipped in twice for consecutive eagles to kick-start an 8-under 63 on Saturday for a one-shot lead over second-round leader Jake Knapp. “I have no idea,” Pendrith said when asked if he'd ever had back-to-back eagles, which came on the par-5 fifth and par-4 sixth holes as he finished at 19-under 194. “I don't think so. Maybe a first.” It was the third time on the PGA Tour this season, and vaulted ... Read More

Kleber of the Mavericks is out indefinitely with a separated shoulder

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks center Maxi Kleber has a separated shoulder that will sideline him indefinitely and raises doubts about his status for the rest of the playoffs, a person with knowledge of the injury said Saturday. Kleber injured the right shoulder in the first half of the Mavericks' clinching 114-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the club hasn't disclosed details of the injury. Dallas won the first-round series 4-2 and will face top-seeded Oklahoma City in the Western Conference semifinals starting Tuesday night. Kleber was driving toward the basket in transition, running near full speed, when he fell hard on his right ... Read More

Altuve drives in go-ahead run, steals 300th base to lead Astros over Mariners 5-3

HOUSTON (AP) — Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead bunt RBI single and collected his 300th career stolen base in Houston’s four-run seventh inning to lead the Astros to a 5-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. The 2017 AL MVP is the fifth player in MLB history to have at least 300 steals, 2,000 hits, 400 doubles, 200 homers and a career batting average of .300 or higher, joining Derek Jeter, Paul Molitor, Willie Mays and Roberto Alomar. “It’s always good to get milestones like that, but I think that we are in the wrong time to think about stats because we’re trying to win games and cover some ground we lost in the beginning,” Altuve said. “But ... Read More

Golden Knights beat Stars 2-0 to force Game 7

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Beginning with Tyler Seguin on a breakaway, the shots came in waves at Vegas goalie Adin Hill. He stopped Seguin at point blank, saved Joe Pavelski's rebound and then stopped Seguin again. This was the Hill of last year's Stanley Cup championship run, and because of him the Golden Knights kept alive their hopes of repeating by beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 on Friday night to force a Game 7. “You need to make big saves at big times in big games,” Hill said. “That's how you win playoff games. I think our team learned that last year, and any team that's won, their goalies had to catch fire at times.” The deciding game in the ... Read More

Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving help Mavericks vanquish Clippers

ByABC News DALLAS -- Luka Doncic struggled with his shot again thanks to his ailing right knee, and Kyrie Irving spent a bunch of energy playing defense. Through all that, the co-stars of the Mavericks tag-teamed for a second-half surge that sent Dallas to the second round in their first postseason together. Doncic had 28 points and 13 assists, Irving scored 28 of his 30 points after halftime and the Mavericks finished off the LA Clippers with a 114-101 victory Friday night. With Irving alongside him this time, Doncic did what the Slovenian superstar couldn't three years earlier -- close out the Clippers in Dallas in Game 6 of a first-round playoff series. The fifth-seeded Mavericks beat the Clippers for ... Read More

Dolphins, WR Odell Beckham Jr. agree to 1-year deal

ByMARCEL LOUIS-JACQUES MIAMI -- The Dolphins have agreed to terms on a contract with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a source confirmed to ESPN, adding a veteran presence to a position group looking for a third option. The source said it's a one-year deal worth $3 million, with incentives that can push its max value to $8.25 million. Beckham visited with the Dolphins in March, but the sides were unable to reach an agreement then. General manager Chris Grier said before the NFL draft that there was "nothing imminent" on a deal with the three-time Pro Bowler; despite taking two wide receivers in the draft, Grier didn't downplay the possibility of signing Beckham after its conclusion. "We always look at ... Read More

NBA, sportsbooks discuss changes to player props

ByDAVID PURDUM In the aftermath of the Jontay Porter betting scandal, the NBA and its partner sportsbooks are discussing changes to betting menus to combat similar occurrences in the future, sources familiar with the talks confirmed to ESPN. Among the changes that have been discussed is prohibiting betting on players on two-way contracts between the G League and the NBA, sources said. More extreme measures such as not allowing bets on the "under" on a player prop have been considered, sources said, but there are concerns that restricting wager types could push bettors into the unregulated betting market. The NBA has commercial contracts with sportsbooks such as BetMGM, DraftKings and FanDuel that give the league some influence on what types ... Read More

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers to have no restrictions when OTAs open

ByRICH CIMINI Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be ready to go when the New York Jets begin OTA practices on May 20. The four-time MVP, eight months removed from surgery to repair a torn left Achilles, will have "no restrictions," according to coach Robert Saleh. "Once phase three hits, we're not anticipating any restrictions from what we can and can't do with him," Saleh said Friday at the start of a two-day rookie minicamp. Phase three, which lasts four weeks and covers 10 practices, is when teams are allowed to do noncontact, 11-on-11 work. That Rodgers will participate shouldn't come as a surprise; he was practicing on a limited basis over the final month of last season. Still, it's noteworthy, considering ... Read More

Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham after 2 seasons

ByDAVE MCMENAMIN LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham on Friday after two seasons, and the team now will open a job search in hopes of finding the right person to maximize what figures to be the final chapter of LeBron James' storied career while returning to championship contention. Ham, who had two years remaining on his contract, went 90-74 (.549) during the regular season and 9-12 (.429) in the postseason -- which does not include his two play-in tournament wins -- since being hired to replace Frank Vogel in 2022. He also guided the Lakers to the inaugural in-season tournament title in Las Vegas in December. The decision came just days after the Lakers were ... Read More

Clippers want to sign coach Ty Lue to extension

ByADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI The LA Clippers are planning to pursue a contract extension with coach Tyronn Lue that will allow him to avoid entering the final year of his deal in 2025-26, sources told ESPN on Friday. Lue is expected to be a target in the Los Angeles Lakers' coaching search and perhaps other looming vacancies. The Clippers' season ended Friday night with a Game 6 loss to the Mavericks in Dallas in the teams' Western Conference first-round playoff series. However, that outcome has no bearing on the Clippers' desire to keep Lue as the franchise's long-term coach, sources said. LA was 51-31 and the fourth seed in the Western Conference this season. The Clippers were without All-NBA forward Kawhi Leonard ... Read More

Padres nearing deal for Marlins 2B Luis Arraez

ByABC News The San Diego Padres are nearing a deal to acquire second baseman Luis Arraez from the Miami Marlins for reliever Woo-Suk Go and prospects Dillon Head, Jakob Marsee, and Nathan Martorella, a source told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Friday night. The trade is pending medical review but is expected to be finalized soon. The transaction represents the first significant move for the Marlins since Peter Bendix took over as the team's president of baseball operations in November after Kim Ng departed. It marks the beginning of the Marlins' teardown of an underachieving roster that has produced the third-worst record in the majors at 9-25 with a minus-61 run differential after reaching the postseason in 2023. On the other ... Read More

England’s Kim, 16, youngest to make PGA Tour cut in 11 years

ByABC News Kris Kim, a 16-year-old English amateur playing on a sponsor exemption at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, became the youngest player in 11 years to make the cut in a PGA Tour event. Kim finished his second round Friday with a birdie for a 4-under 67. At 7-under 135, he was among 66 players who made the cut, which was 6 under. Jake Knapp was the leader at 14-under 128. Guan Tianlang was 14 when he made the cut at both the Masters and Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2013, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. At 16 years, 7 months old, Kim is the fifth-youngest player ever to make a PGA Tour cut, according to ... Read More

Rockies lead from start to finish for first time, top Pirates

ByABC News PITTSBURGH -- Ryan McMahon homered into the Allegheny River, Cal Quantrill pitched into the eighth inning and the Colorado Rockies finally held onto a lead during a 3-2 win over the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Colorado trailed in each of its first 31 games this season, a modern-era record. But not this time. "I'll sleep a little better because I haven't been sleeping well at all," Rockies manager Bud Black said with a laugh after he was reminded that the streak was over. "Really, it's been awful." McMahon put the Rockies in front when he opened the sixth inning with a drive over the right-field stands against Martín Pérez for his fifth homer. The ball splashed ... Read More

Magic ‘stay the course,’ survive Mitchell’s 50-point game

ByKENDRA ANDREWS ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic huddled up four minutes into the third quarter of Game 6 against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Coach Jamahl Mosley called a timeout amid a 13-4 Cavaliers run that propelled Cleveland from down four at halftime to up seven. His message to his young team was simple: "Stay the course. This is a long game. We have to understand it's a game of runs." It was still a five-point game heading into the fourth quarter, but the Magic took the lead within the first two minutes. Paolo Banchero scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Magic overcame a 50-point performance from Donovan Mitchell to hold off the Cavs 103-96 ... Read More

Hurricanes’ Rod Brind’Amour says he feels ‘really good’ about reaching new contract with team

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Thursday he feels “really good” that he will reach a new contract with the team, mirroring optimism from president and general manager Don Waddell a day earlier. Brind’Amour – considered by many the face of the franchise with his long-running ties here that include being the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup winner – is in the final year of a deal reached in 2021. His status has become a talking point around the league with multiple jobs open as Carolina prepares to face the New York Rangers in the second round of the NHL playoffs. “Yeah, I had a great conversation yesterday with Don, and then again this morning,” ... Read More

Jamal Murray is saving the defending champion Nuggets with clutch playoff performances

DENVER (AP) — A supremely confident Reggie Jackson was just waiting to let loose as he watched Jamal Murray dribble past Nikola Jokic’s high screen with the seconds ticking away on the Los Angeles Lakers’ season. “Just watch our bench, I clearly called, ‘Game!’” Murray’s backup said Thursday following the Denver Nuggets’ practice at Ball Arena. “I mean, the guy has the ball in his hands, with the shot clock running down, time running out, I haven’t seen too many do it better than him.” One week earlier, in Game 2, Murray’s basket over an outstretched Anthony Davis from the right baseline completed a comeback from a 20-point second-half deficit and gave Denver the first buzzer-beater in the franchise’s 100-game ... Read More

Cubs ace Justin Steele in line to return Monday from hamstring injury

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs ace Justin Steele is just about ready to return to Chicago’s rotation after being sidelined since the season opener because of a strained left hamstring. Steele is on track to start Monday against San Diego, assuming he gets through one more bullpen session with no issues, manager Craig Counsell said Friday. The left-hander was hurt trying to field a bunt at Texas in the first opening day start of his career. “We’ve missed him for a month and it’ll be good to get him going,” Counsell said. Steele threw 63 pitches Wednesday for Triple-A Iowa. He allowed three runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. “I feel I’m ready to go,” he said. The Cubs ... Read More

Former New York Giants player Aaron Thomas, who caught 35 touchdown passes, dies at 86

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Thomas, one of the most prolific receiving tight ends in the history of the New York Giants, died last week at his home in Corvallis, Oregon, following a lengthy illness. He was 86. The Giants announced Thomas’ death Friday. The team said he died on April 26. Thomas played 116 regular-season games for the Giants between 1962 and 1970. He ranks 17th in franchise history with 254 receptions, 14th with 4,253 yards and is tied for sixth with 35 touchdown catches. He missed only seven games in his career because of injury. “He’s almost like the early version of (Kansas City Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce,” his son, Robb Thomas, who played a decade ... Read More

Miami Dolphins agree to sign Odell Beckham Jr. to a 1-year contract, AP source says

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Dolphins agreed to sign wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract was not finalized. NFL Network first reported the agreement, which is expected to be worth up to $8.25 million, the network reported. Beckham, 31, will join his fifth team after previously playing for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore, Cleveland, and the New York Giants, who drafted him 12th overall in 2014. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams during the 2021-22 season. Beckham is joining a Dolphins group with last year’s receiving yards leader Tyreek Hill ... Read More

After top betting choices Fierceness and Sierra Leone, it’s wide open for the 150th Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fate has not been kind to Mike Repole in the Kentucky Derby. The outspoken owner is 0 for 7, although he is perhaps best known for his two champions that never made the starting gate. In 2011, Uncle Mo was scratched the day before the race because of a gastrointestinal infection. Last year, Forte was scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised right front foot. Now, the self-made billionaire from Queens, New York, is back with Fierceness, the morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 150th Derby. The bay colt was last year’s 2-year-old champion and is coming off a 13 1/2-length win in the Florida Derby. Fierceness will have to overcome a bit of Derby ... Read More

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