AP National Sports

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer An American bid to stage the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups has received the full support of the White House and is expected to receive the green light on Thursday as the sport looks to break new ground. World Rugby will announce the host nations for the men’s

By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer LONDON (AP) — Maybe it’s the ćevapi, or the souvlaki, or the mbanga soup. Whatever it is, there’s no denying the tinge of international flavor when it comes to the NBA elite with Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic winning the league’s MVP award for a second straight season Wednesday.

By JOHN MARSHALL AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — Madison Bumgarner left an 0-2 pitch up in the zone to the third batter he faced and watched it sail over the wall. An early 2-0 hole wasn’t exactly what Arizona’s ace had in his mind his first game since being ejected, but the left-hander knew

By DAIMON EKLUND Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Robbie Ray pitched into the sixth inning and had 10 strikeouts, the most by a Seattle pitcher this season, and the Mariners beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4. Ray gave up two runs on two hits while walking two in 5 2/3 innings. Nick Castellanos, Rhys Hoskins and

Bob Lanier, the left-handed big man who muscled up beside the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as one of the NBA’s top players of the 1970s, has died. He was 73. The NBA said Lanier died Tuesday after a short illness. The Hall of Famer had worked for the league as a global ambassador. The Athletic

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Reid Detmers was called up to the Los Angeles Angels late last season with high expectations. After 10 forgettable big league starts, the rookie left-hander exceeded even his own hopes Tuesday night. Detmers pitched the majors’ second no-hitter this season, cruising after he benefited from

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — The San Diego Padres’ day began with news that manager Bob Melvin will have prostate surgery and ended with a thrilling win against the Chicago Cubs. Manny Machado hit a go-ahead double in the sixth inning and left fielder Jurickson Profar caught Frank Schwindel’s bases-loaded

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — The top-seeded Phoenix Suns looked much more like their old selves on Tuesday night. All-Star guard Devin Booker said a little time in front of the TV with NBA Coach of the Year Monty Williams did wonders. “We study film,” Booker said. “Coach is coming in

By DAVE CAMPBELL AP Sports Writer ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Vladimir Tarasenko had three goals in the third period to break open a tied game and series, and the St. Louis Blues pushed the Minnesota Wild to the edge of elimination with a 5-2 victory in Game 5. Ryan O’Reilly scored for the fourth

By WARREN MAYES Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Cedric Mullins and Tyler Nevin each homered and Kyle Bradish struck out 11 over seven strong innings for his first career win, leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Mullins also added three singles and a stolen base in a

CINCINNATI (AP) — Josh Hader reached 500 career strikeouts, Luis Urías hit tying home run and made a clutch catch and the Milwaukee Brewers held off Cincinnati 5-4 to stop the Reds’ season-high, two-game winning streak. Jace Peterson broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with the first of his two doubles for the NL

By JOE REEDY AP Sports Writer ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Los Angeles Angels rookie Reid Detmers has a no-hitter through six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 22-year-old has thrown 64 pitches Tuesday night and struck out two. The Angels lead 8-0. Detmers retired his first 15 hitters before Taylor Walls drew a lead-off

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer ATLANTA (AP) — Rafael Devers hit his first career grand slam and the last-place Boston Red Sox broke out for clean-shaven manager Alex Cora in a 9-4 win over the Atlanta Braves that ended a five-game skid. Devers’ 432-foot blast off Kyle Wright hit the center-field scoreboard behind the

By STEPHEN HAWKINS AP Baseball Writer ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Corey Seager snapped an 0-for-16 slump with two home runs as the Texas Rangers returned home with a 6-4 win over the Kansas City Royals. Martin Perez pitched 6 1/3 solid innings for Texas. Seager hit a two-out solo homer in the first, then led