AP National Sports

By JOHN ZENOR AP Sports Writer Coach Bruce Pearl and Auburn lost two stars to the NBA from what he considered college basketball’s best frontcourt. So, the Tigers did what most college programs are doing: They turned to the transfer portal. Auburn filled the gaping voids left by likely first-round picks Jabari Smith and Walker

CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Mikael Backlund, Andrew Mangiapane and Trevor Lewis all scored in the third period, leading the Calgary Flames to a 3-1 victory over the Dallas Stars to take a 3-2 lead in their first-round playoff series. Jacob Markstrom made 20 saves for the Flames, who can win the series Friday in Dallas.

By JEROME PUGMIRE AP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — Elina Svitolina is calling for better mental health protection for juniors starting out in their tennis careers. The former No.3-ranked Svitolina remembers how tough the weight of expectation was, the loneliness, the anxiety and long travel when she was starting out. Not to mention replaying crushing

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Local high school hero Bobby Witt Jr. hit a two-run double and had his first major-league three-RBI game and Whit Merrifield homered for the first time since last August as the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 to snap a three-game losing streak. Joel Payamps was the second of

By STEVE OVERBEY Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Juan Yepez homered and Miles Mikolas pitched seven strong innings, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Yepez has reached base in all seven games since being recalled from the minors on May 3. His second-inning homer kickstarted a three-run

By VIN A. CHERWOO AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Pittsburgh Penguins were leading 2-0 in Game 5 of their first-round series against the New York Rangers when star center Sidney Crosby headed to the dressing room with about seven minutes left in the second period. He was knocked to the ice minutes

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Orlando Arcia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Atlanta Braves a 5-3 win over the Boston Red Sox. Arcia lined his first homer of the season over the left-field wall off Ryan Brasier with one out in the

BOSTON (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks are still alive in the NBA playoffs, but star Giannis Antetokounmpo is already joking about his plans for next year.  After scoring 40 points to help the Bucks take a 3-2 lead over Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals, the two-time MVP asked reporters out of the blue: “If

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears added depth at wide receiver, agreeing to a deal with free agent Dante Pettis. The 26-year-old Pettis announced the move on Twitter, posting a photo of himself signing a contract. Drafted by San Francisco in the second round in 2018, he has 52 receptions for 739 yards

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Houston Astros and Minnesota Twins had their game suspended when a severe thunderstorm rolled through and halted play in the top of the fourth inning with the Astros leading the Twins 5-1. José Urquidy won’t get to keep working on what he started. He gave

By AARON BEARD AP Sports Writer The Atlantic Coast Conference is mulling a change to its football scheduling model that could include the elimination of divisions by 2023. Discussions are taking place during the league’s annual spring meetings. The focus is a 3-5-5 model that would have teams playing three opponents as permanent scheduling partners

By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — When the Tampa Bay Rays came back to Angel Stadium the day after going hitless in a 12-0 loss, they had to face Shohei Ohtani. The impressive way they responded to those daunting circumstances left the Rays encouraged and excited before a long flight home.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin had prostate surgery Wednesday. The team announced Melvin’s surgery during its 7-5 loss to the Chicago Cubs. It had no further details and said it likely won’t have any updates until next week. Melvin said Tuesday that he didn’t think he had cancer, but the

By DANA GAURUDER Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — Zach Logue pitched seven sharp innings in his second major league start and the Oakland Athletics spoiled the debut of Joey Wentz by thumping the floundering Detroit Tigers 9-0 on Wednesday. Sean Murphy and Kevin Smith each drove in two while Christian Bethancourt supplied three hits, two

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Carter Verhaeghe set a Florida postseason record with a five-point night and the Florida Panthers escaped a three-goal deficit to beat the Washington Capitals 5-3 and take a 3-2 lead in an Eastern Conference first-round series. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 shots for Florida, which trailed

By BEN NUCKOLS AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz homered as the Nationals sent Mets right-hander Tylor Megill to the earliest exit of his career, and Washington beat New York 8-3. Soto hit a two-run homer in the Nationals’ five-run first inning. Cruz hit his 453rd career longball, a three-run