AP National Sports

By MARK DIDTLER Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Drew Rasmussen won his third consecutive start, Manuel Margot got four hits and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 to complete a four-game sweep. The Angels lost their sixth in a row. Rasmussen, who took a perfect game into the ninth

By KEVIN COONEY Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper is set to start for the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night, just two months after having his left thumb broken by a pitch. Phillies interim manager Rob Thomson announced Harper’s impending return. Harper hit two home runs and a game-winning double

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Thriston Lawrence and Alejandro Cañizares shot 8-under rounds of 62 to share the lead after the first round of the European Masters in the Swiss Alps on Thursday. Lawrence chipped in for an eagle at his final hole, the par-5 ninth, after six birdies and no bogeys. Four players were tied

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights have bolstered their forward depth by signing veteran Phil Kessel to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. The 34-year-old Kessel has 399 goals and 557 assists in 1,204 career games with Boston, Toronto, Pittsburgh and Arizona. He spent the past three seasons with

HERNING, Denmark (AP) — The United States has routed Japan 10-0 in the opening game of the women’s hockey world championship. Defending champion Canada started the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Finland. The Americans had nine different scorers against Japan, with Alex Carpenter the only player to net twice. Taylor Heise went scoreless but

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Baylor and Gonzaga will meet in a men’s basketball game in South Dakota in December and organizers will pay players on both teams who agree to help promote the game. The game is Dec. 2 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. Baylor and Gonzaga will meet for the first

CINCINNATI (AP) — Brandon Vazquez and FC Cincinnati have agreed to a contract extension through the 2025 season. The deal includes an option for 2026. The 23-year-old forward has a career-best 15 league goals this season, tied for third in Major League Soccer with Dallas’ Jesús Ferreira, one behind Austin’s Sebastián Driussi and Nashville’s Hany

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard was an overwhelming choice as WNBA rookie of the year on Thursday. The versatile 6-foot-2 Howard received 53 of 56 votes to become only the second Atlanta player to win the award. Angel McCoughtry was the 2009 choice as the league’s top rookie. Howard also was a

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK (AP) — How well do you know the tennis career of Serena Williams? The AP has put together a quiz to test your knowledge of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion. Williams has said that she is ready to leave the sport and indicated that the U.S.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — All-American forward Ayoka Lee will undergo knee surgery that will force Kansas State’s star to miss the upcoming season. Wildcats coach Jeff Mittie says Lee she intends to take a medical redshirt and return for one more year. Lee has dealt with lingering knee injuries the past two seasons. She set

By MICHAEL MAROT AP Sports Writer WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) — First, Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich couldn’t wait for training camp to begin. Now, he can’t wait to get back home. Nearly a month after arriving at their summertime workout facility on the city’s northwest side, the Colts closed out a relatively uneventful camp with

By ERIC OLSON AP College Football Writer Joe Dolincheck led a group of Morningside College seniors who climbed Pike’s Peak this summer. He will now try to lead them back to the top of NAIA football this fall. Dolincheck is the centerpiece of the most powerful small-college offense in the nation, one that averaged better

By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan appeals court has issued a major ruling affecting long-term victims of car crashes. The court says changes in auto insurance law can’t be applied retroactively to people who were severely injured before summer 2019. It’s a victory for people who are still recovering and their

LONDON (AP) — Dele Alli is leaving the Premier League in the latest attempt to revive his career. The former England midfielder, who was once one of English soccer’s brightest prospects, left Everton to join Turkish club Besiktas on a season-long loan. The 26-year-old failed to make an impact at Goodison Park following his free

By The Associated Press Florida State hosts Duquesne on Saturday, looking open a season with a victory for the first time since 2016. The Seminoles welcome 14 transfers to what was one of the nation’s youngest teams under Mike Norvell the last two seasons. Florida State is seeking to build momentum going into a Sept.

By TOM WITHERS AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Jacoby Brissett is finally making his delayed debut for the Browns. The veteran quarterback, who will start for Cleveland while Deshaun Watson serves his upcoming 11-game NFL suspension, will start Saturday night’s exhibition finale against the Chicago Bears. Brissett has yet to see any action during

ISTANBUL (AP) — Karim Benzema and Alexia Putellas have won UEFA’s player of the year awards in a sweep for Spanish clubs. Benzema scored 15 Champions League goals to lead Real Madrid to a record-extending 14th European title. Putellas won a second straight UEFA award after helping Barcelona reach the Champions League final in defense

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels first baseman Jared Walsh has been put on the 60-day injured list due to thoracic outlet syndrome on his left side. Walsh has struggled this season offensively, hitting .215 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 118 games. Angels head athletic trainer Mike Frostad said before Los

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer Barcelona faces another tough Champions League group after being drawn with Bayern Munich and Inter Milan as it tries to avoid a second straight group-stage exit since losing Lionel Messi. Bayern beat Barcelona home and away last season when the Spanish giant failed to reach the knockout stage. Still,

CHICAGO (AP) — The U.S. Soccer Federation plans to announce its World Cup roster on Nov. 9. Kay Bradley, the USSF’s director of marketing, says the federation is planning to have coach Gregg Berhalter announce the roster during an event in New York. The U.S. is returning to the World Cup after missing the 2018