AP National Sports

TORONTO (AP) — Serena Williams wore her game face when she stepped out into the stadium for her first match since telling the world she is ready to leave professional tennis. Greeted by a standing ovation, the 23-time Grand Slam champion didn’t smile. She didn’t wave. She took a sip from a plastic bottle as

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays have been rained out in what was supposed to be the finale of their three-game series. The game never started, and it was called over an hour after it was supposed to begin. Tuesday night’s game — a 6-5

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the sixth and Austin Nola’s two-run homer capped a seven-run rally that carried the San Diego Padres to a wild 13-7 win against the San Francisco Giants. All seven runs scored with two outs. The Padres

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Connor Bedard had a goal and an assist and Canada opened play in the postponed world junior hockey championship with a 5-2 victory over Latvia on Wednesday night. The tournament was rescheduled after being called off Dec. 29 after four days as rising COVID-19 cases forced games to be forfeited. Ridly

By STEVE McMORRAN AP Sports Writer WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Recently retired test batsman Ross Taylor says in an autobiography that he experienced racism during his 16-year career in New Zealand cricket. Taylor, who is of Samoan heritage, describes racist locker room comments and casually racist comments from some New Zealand team officials. Taylor’s

By BEN ROSS Associated Press OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Magneuris Sierra hit an RBI single in the 10th inning, then doubled home the go-ahead run in the 12th that lifted the Los Angeles Angels over the Oakland Athletics 5-4 for a three-game sweep. The A’s suffered their second winless homestand of the season at 0-5.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Saints have cut veteran running back Malcolm Brown and waived defensive back Bryce Thompson with an injury designation. Free-agent quarterback K.J. Costello has announced on social media that he’s signing with New Orleans. Thompson appeared to have a serious lower leg injury during Tuesday’s practice at Saints training camp. The

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — Carlos Santana snapped an 0-for-17 slump with a go-ahead two-run homer during Seattle’s three-run seventh inning, and the Mariners rallied to beat the slumping New York Yankees 4-3. Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 45th homer of the season for the Yankees, who have lost eight

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Rodolfo Castro’s phone faux pas was a relatable moment. The 23-year-old mistakenly left his smartphone in the back pocket of his baseball pants and it flew out when he was sliding into third base during the Pirates’ 6-4 loss to the Diamondbacks. Castro

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears’ standoff with Roquan Smith took another turn when the team removed the star linebacker from the physically unable to perform list a day after he went public with a trade demand. It was unclear if the Bears took him off the

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Recently retired test batsman Ross Taylor says in an autobiography he experienced racism during his 16-year career in New Zealand cricket. Taylor, who is of Samoan heritage, describes racist locker room comments and casually racist comments from some New Zealand team officials. Taylor’s book is entitled “Black & White.” In

By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos now sport the wealthiest owner in the NFL and the league’s most diverse ownership group. Four of the six members of the Walton-Penner ownership group which was welcomed into the NFL fraternity this week, are either women or minorities. Walmart heir

By W.G. RAMIREZ Associated Press HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Jarrett Stidham knows who’s the starting QB in Las Vegas. But that hasn’t stopped him from acting and performing like an incoming starter for the Raiders. After all, when there’s a chance you understand a new offensive system better than probably anyone else coming into training

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Carl Lawson’s first season with the New York Jets last year was over before it even started. The defensive end suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during training camp and was forced to be a spectator. He’s healthy and back where he dreamed

By TOM KERTSCHER Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rowdy Tellez hit a tying homer in the ninth inning and made a key defensive play in the 10th, setting up Willy Adames’ game-ending RBI single that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Adames had struck out in his previous three

MONTREAL (AP) — Nick Kyrgios beat top-ranked defending champion Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-2 on Wednesday in the National Bank Open. Krygios, the Australian ranked 37th, won last week in Washington for his seventh ATP Tour title. Medvedev won last week in Los Cabos, Mexico. Kyrgios is 3-1 against Medvedev and has won 14

HELSINKI (AP) — Karim Benzema and David Alaba have scored in each half for Real Madrid to win the UEFA Super Cup with a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. Alaba prodded the opener home from close range in the 37th minute when Casemiro cushioned Benzema’s header back after a corner. Benzema then sealed Madrid’s record-equaling

By MARK GONZALES Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Nico Hoerner homered to ignite a four-run rally in the seventh inning that sent the Chicago Cubs over power-hitting rookie Joey Meneses and the Washington Nationals 4-2. Hoerner’s seventh home run ended a shutout bid by Nationals starter Josiah Gray and enabled the Cubs to earn just

By STEVE MEGARGEE AP Sports Writer GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love believes he has something to prove after producing so-so results while backing up reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers last season. The 2020 first-round pick from Utah State has looked more comfortable in training camp as he enters his third

By LARRY LAGE AP Sports Writer DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have fired general manager Al Avila, ending a seven-year tenure with no playoff appearances. Owner Chris Ilitch announced the move with his team mired in another disappointing season. Detroit entered Wednesday at 43-68, last in the AL Central. Ilitch invested millions in the