Sports

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) — Cole Custer won the first pole of his career Saturday through a formula designed for qualifying via heat races at dirt-covered Bristol Motor Speedway. Custer put his No. 41 Ford at the front for NASCAR’s rare Easter Sunday race that was specifically scheduled for

By RICHARD J. MARCUS Associated Press SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ian Anderson pitched one-run ball into the sixth inning, Matt Olson hit one of Atlanta’s three homers and the Braves beat the San Diego Padres 5-2. Anderson allowed two hits and struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings. Padres rookie starter Nick Martinez was stung

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Asia Muhammad and Jessica Pegula beat Lyudmyla Kichenok and Dayana Yastremska 7-6 (5), 6-3 in doubles play Saturday to give the United States a 3-2 victory over Ukraine in a Billie Jean King Cup qualifier. The Americans secured a spot in the Cup finals in November at a site to be

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Mike Smith made 39 saves for his second consecutive shutout and 44th overall and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 on Saturday. Edmonton moved six points ahead of Los Angeles for second place in the Pacific Division — and seven points clear of Vegas. The Oilers are 14-3-2

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Alex Verdugo and Xander Bogaerts each hit two-run home runs, Tanner Houck held the Twins scoreless over five-plus innings and the Boston Red Sox beat the Minnesota Twins 4-0. Houck (1-0) was solid, allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out four. Matt Straham

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jeremy Ebobisse scored the tying goal for the San Jose Earthquakes in a 2-2 draw against Nashville. The Earthquakes moved to 0-4-3 and Nashville is 3-2-2.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers placed star shortstop Javier Báez on the 10-day injured list with right thumb soreness before a game at Kansas City. The move is retroactive to Wednesday. Báez has missed four games with the thumb issue despite negative X-rays. He’s eligible to rejoin the team for a series

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — As down as they felt after blowing two chances to make the playoffs, the Los Angeles Clippers can’t wait for next season. That’s when a healthy Kawhi Leonard is expected back in the lineup, alongside Paul George and Norman Powell. Coach Tyronn Lue says the

By TERESA M. WALKER AP Sports Writer MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Anthony Edwards scored 36 points in his postseason debut, and the seventh-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves stunned the No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies 130-117 to grab home-court advantage in the opener of their first-round Western Conference series. Karl-Anthony Towns added 29 and 13 rebounds. The Timberwolves

By IAN HARRISON Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Cristian Pache hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning, Sean Murphy also connected and the Oakland Athletics beat Toronto 7-5, snapping a six-game losing streak against the Blue Jays. Facing Blue Jays right-hander Julian Merryweather (0-2), Pache hammered a 1-0 pitch into the right field

By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Harold Varner III shot an 8-under 63 to take a one-shot lead in the RBC Heritage on Saturday in pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory. Varner had eight birdies in a bogey-free round to match Cameron Young’s opening score as the lowest

SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Mariners placed outfielder Mitch Haniger on the COVID-19 injured list after he reported symptoms and tested positive. Seattle manager Scott Servais said Haniger took an at-home test that was positive and followed up with a subsequent test at the ballpark that confirmed the original. Haniger had started each of the

By SARAH TROTTO Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — José Abreu homered for the first time this season, closer Liam Hendriks left the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2. Michael Kopech threw five solid innings, and Yasmani Grandal singled away from the shift to put

MONTREAL (AP) — Djordje Mihailovic scored in the opening minutes, Romell Quioto struck early in the second half and Montreal beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 on Saturday. Montreal (3-3-1) has a four-game unbeaten streak, winning three in a row. Brian White scored for Vancouver (1-5-1).

By JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Gerard Moreno has scored one goal and set up another before being injured during Villarreal’s 2-1 win at Getafe in the Spanish league. Gerard has been key to Villarreal’s impressive run to the Champions League semifinals after ousting Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout rounds.

By DAVID BRANDT AP Sports Writer PHOENIX (AP) — First-year coach Willie Green has helped lead the New Orleans Pelicans to the NBA playoffs after beating the Clippers in the play-in tournament. The Pelicans will face the top-seeded Phoenix Suns in the first round beginning on Sunday. Green was the Suns’ top assistant last season

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Oklahoma captured its fifth NCAA women’s gymnastics title, rallying from last after the first rotation to the top spot at the end behind a stellar performance from junior Ragan Smith. The Sooners posted a team score of 198.200, just ahead of Florida at 198.075.