AP National Sports

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Wichita State has hired Murray State athletic director Kevin Saal as its athletic director. Wichita State President Rick Muma announced Wednesday that Saal, a 44-year-old Kansas native, will take over the job in mid-July. Saal replaces Darron Boatright, who was fired in May in part over the university’s lack of preparation

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts starting safety Khari Willis has decided to retire so he can pursue a career in the ministry. Willis made the announcement in a Twitter post. While the move came as a surprise to many, team officials seemed to have an inkling Willis was considering

By JACK SOMMERS Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Zac Gallen pitched seven effective innings despite an early bout of wildness, and the Arizona Diamondbacks used a four-run eighth inning to top the Cincinnati Reds 7-4. Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run homer for the Diamondbacks, who avoided a sweep after the Reds took the first two

By JAKE SEINER AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Leaders from the New York Mets recently held what’s believed to be an unprecedented meeting with the nonprofit group Advocates for Minor Leaguers to discuss pay and working conditions in the minors, and another meeting is planned soon that will include players from the team’s

By BEN ROSS Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Whit Merrifield broke a 2-2 tie with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly and the Kansas City Royals edged the San Francisco Giants 3-2 to avoid a three-game sweep. Andrew Benintendi led off the inning with a pinch-hit double off Giants reliever John Brebbia. Nicky Lopez moved him

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Two things that Melvin Gordon III never concedes are his starting running back job and his vacation time. Despite skipping the Broncos’ OTAs after returning to Denver on a one-year, $2.5 million contract this spring, Gordon said at mandatory minicamp this week he won’t

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Astros starter Luis Garcia and reliever Phil Maton each threw an immaculate inning — nine pitches, three strikeouts — and Martín Maldonado keyed a six-run first inning that sent Houston over the Texas Rangers 9-2. Garcia had a span of five consecutive strikeouts that began

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BROOKLINE, Mass (AP) — New Englander Keegan Bradley is looking forward to a big weekend in Boston sports. And taking part in it, too. The Vermont native and relative of Red Sox Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park on Tuesday. Bradley will

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — The U.S. Open this week is the first time that 14 golfers will have to face the American public since defecting to a Saudi-backed upstart tour. The injection of international intrigue is expected to energize the traditionally obnoxious Boston sports fans. Phil Mickelson is the

NEW YORK (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen has been placed on the 15-day injured list because of a strained left hamstring. Rasmussen last pitched Friday at Minnesota. The 26-year-old right-hander is 5-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 12 starts. He threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and still felt an issue. Right-hander

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — The U.S. Open starts Thursday and not a moment too soon for those interested in golf. The talk all week at The Country Club outside of Boston has been more about the Saudi-funded LIV Golf league instead of thick rough and firm greens. This isn’t

RUNNEMEDE, N.J. (AP) — LeBron James might be on the cusp of setting another record. And someone will have to pay a lot of money to make it happen. A one-of-a-kind James trading card — called the “Triple Logoman” — is up for auction this month, with some believing that it wind up as the

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The Cleveland Browns went on a field trip to explore their rich football roots, including some deep ones nearly forgotten. Hoping to connect his team to its storied past, Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski took minicamp on the road with a trip south to Canton for

By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Basketball Writer BOSTON (AP) — Andrew Wiggins’ critics always focused on what they thought he wasn’t. Not driven enough to be the No. 1 pick in the draft, they said. Just not good enough to be an All-Star starter, they argued. One more victory by the Golden State Warriors and all

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Stephen Curry and the Warriors have been within a game of clinching a championship in three of Golden State’s previous five trips to the NBA Finals during his 13-year NBA career. Curry says he’ll lean on that experience when he takes the court at Boston’s TD

LONDON (AP) — Former Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic kept his focus to beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (6), 7-5 and advance to the quarterfinals of the Queen’s Club. Tommy Paul upset the sixth-seeded Denis Shapovalov 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in a first-round match at the grass-court tournament, and Botic van de Zandschulp reached the quarterfinals by beating

By SUMMER BALLENTINE and RONALD BLUM Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — U.S. cities and states have lined up with tax breaks and millions of dollars in both public and private investments for a chance at hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. U.S. host cities are set to be announced Thursday. The prize is

By KEVIN COONEY Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Garrett Stubbs hit a three-run homer with two out in the ninth inning, sending the Philadelphia Phillies to a dramatic 3-1 victory over the Miami Marlins. Alec Bohm sparked the winning rally with a one-out single against Tanner Scott. Pinch-hitter J.T. Realmuto walked before Yairo Muñoz struck

The Associated Press The Army-Navy game will be played in New England for the first time. The service academies made that announcement as they revealed the five cities that will host the game over the next five years. Next year’s game will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, home of the New England

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Mekhi Becton’s bright blue T-shirt said it all. Words such as “fat,” “lazy,” “out of shape,” “injury prone,” “overweight” and “bum” formed a circle of criticisms around the eye-catching capitalized “BIG BUST” in the middle. “A lot of words I’ve been called