AP National Sports

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — Jon Rahm began his U.S. Open title defense with a 69, a solid score Thursday at The Country Club that ended with a par and a birdie. His final two holes had a little more excitement that numbers alone can reveal. He hit two tee

SEATTLE (AP) — All-Star outfielder Jesse Winker and the Seattle Mariners avoided a salary arbitration hearing when they agreed to a $14.5 million, two-year contract. Winker gets $6.25 million this year and $8.25 million in 2023. In the second season, he can earn $400,000 in performance bonuses for plate appearances. The 28-year-old had been scheduled

By MIKE FITZPATRICK AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Max Scherzer might be back in the New York Mets’ rotation before long. The three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 50 pitches in a simulated game Thursday at Citi Field as he recovers from a left oblique strain. If he keeps feeling good, the right-hander

By JACK MAGRUDER Associated Press DENVER (AP) — José Ramírez doubled for his eighth straight game with an extra-base hit and the Cleveland Guardians matched a season high with their fourth win in a row, beating the sloppy Colorado Rockies. Ramírez is the first major leaguer with extra-base hits in eight consecutive games since Cincinnati’s

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bruce Cassidy says becoming the third coach of the Vegas Golden Knights in the franchise’s sixth year was a “no-brainer” from a hockey perspective. After all, Vegas has been one of the NHL’s most successful teams since entering the league in 2017, making the playoffs four

BELMONT, Mich. (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday at windy Blythefield Country Club for the lowest score of her LPGA Tour career and the first-round lead in the LPGA Meijer Classic. With steady wind at 12-18 mph and gusts to 30 mph with the temperature in the mid-80s, Kupcho eagled the

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have hired John Tortorella as their new coach, hoping the veteran can help lead them to their first Stanley Cup since 1975. Tortorella coached Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup title in 2004. He also coached the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks.

By MARK GONZALES Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Joe Musgrove pitched seven effective innings in his third straight win, and the San Diego Padres handed the Chicago Cubs their 10th consecutive loss with a 6-4 victory. Musgrove permitted two runs and five hits, struck out a season-high nine and walked one. The 6-foot-5 right-hander has

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer Always in control on the court, Sue Bird lasted about 10 minutes until the emotion of the moment and the finality of the decision got the best of her. After 21 professional seasons, one of the greatest basketball careers ever is nearing its end. “I feel like I’ve played

By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Paul Blackburn continued his road success by pitching sharply into the sixth inning, Christian Bethancourt hit a two-run single and the Oakland Athletics held off the Boston Red Sox 4-3 for just their second victory in 15 games.  Chad Pinder added an RBI single for Oakland, which

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Zach Wilson represents the latest hope for a New York Jets team looking to end a lengthy playoff drought. The No. 2 overall pick a year ago struggled through a down-and-up rookie season marked by early struggles, a knee injury and a

By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Bracket 1 in the College World Series could just as easily be called the Rivals Bracket. Texas is grouped with its two biggest adversaries in Oklahoma and Texas A&M and will play one or the other depending on the outcome of its game against Notre

By The Associated Press Marv Levy is poised to join a very select pro football group. On Friday night, the former Buffalo Bills and Montreal Alouettes head coach will be inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame. He’ll become just the third person to be in both the Canadian and Pro Football Hall of

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer Record crowds are expected to welcome Formula One back to Canada following a two-year pandemic pause. The series returns to Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal attempting to rectify the aches of Mercedes and its 37-year-old champion. F1’s governing body has addressed the “porpoising” effect that has bogged down Mercedes

AIGLE, Switzerland (AP) — Cycling’s governing body has updated its eligibility rules for transgender athletes with stricter limits that will force riders to wait longer before they can compete. The International Cycling Union (UCI) increased the transition period on low testosterone to two years, and lowered the maximum accepted level of testosterone. The previous transition

SEATTLE (AP) — OL Reign have acquired the rights to forward Tobin Heath from Racing Louisville. The Reign signed Heath for the rest of the National Women’s Soccer League season, with an option for 2023. She will join the team next week. In exchange, Louisville received second- and fourth-round picks in next year’s NWSL draft

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has been getting plenty of attention as a statesman for the game. He’s pretty good with his golf, too. McIlroy kept bogeys off his card until the last hole in the opening round of the U.S. Open. He still had a 67 and

NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Severino was scratched from his start for the New York Yankees against Tampa Bay and placed on the COVID-19 injured list. New York said right-hander Clarke Schmidt will replace Severino as its starting pitcher. Severino is 4-1 with a 2.80 ERA and the 28-year-old right-hander was to have made his

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — A father was acquitted Thursday of charges that he paid off a Georgetown University tennis coach to get his daughter into the school in the final trial linked to the explosive college admissions bribery scandal. Amin Khoury’s case is the 57th stemming from the Operation Varsity

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer DENVER (AP) — Injured Colorado Avalanche forwards Nazem Kadri and Andrew Cogliano skated with an assistant coach the day after missing Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final. Kadri skated with a stick in his hand for the first time since injuring his right thumb crashing into the boards