Sports

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Hockey Writer The Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t been through struggles like this in many years. Three separate three-game losing streaks have left the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup champions with just six victories over the past month. It’s creating the kind of adversity Tampa Bay has not experienced since getting swept out

By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Alex Zanardi has been invited back to the Long Beach Grand Prix time and again, in any official race role he wanted. Organizers wanted to induct the Italian into its Walk of Fame, but Zanardi was always too busy. He was training for

TORONTO (AP) — Philadelphia guard Matisse Thybulle was listed as ‘ineligible to play’ on the official NBA injury report for the 76ers’ game Thursday night at Toronto. Thybulle, a defensive specialist, has not said publicly whether he is vaccinated against COVID-19. Unvaccinated foreign nationals are currently prohibited from entering Canada. Limited exemptions to the rule

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Winners of the Roberto Clemente Award will wear his No. 21 on the back of their caps for the rest of their major league careers. Major League Baseball called it a special tribute to Clemente’s enduring legacy. Thursday’s announcement on opening day was timed for the

By The Associated Press American forward Konrad de la Fuente is unlikely to play again this season with Marseille due to a knee injury. French media reports said the 20-year-old will undergo surgery and miss Marseille’s last eight French league games. He did not feature in Marseille’s 2-1 win over PAOK Thessaloniki in the first

By MARK LUDWICZAK Associated Press Stefon Diggs has a reassuring message to fans of the Buffalo Bills: He’s not going anywhere. Diggs officially signed a four-year, $96 million contract extension with the Bills on Thursday. The standout wide receiver had two years remaining on his original contract, and the new deal locks him up through

By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The fate of a decorated former water polo coach at the University of Southern California implicated in the sprawling college admissions bribery scandal is now in the hands of a jury. Prosecutors and defense lawyers gave their closing arguments Thursday in the trial of Jovan Vavic in

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — All-Star closer Ryan Pressly has signed a $30 million, two-year contract to stay with the Houston Astros. The deal covers the 2023-24 seasons and has a vesting option for 2025. Pressly, who was named to his second All-Star Game last season, had a career-best 2.25 ERA

By JAY COHEN AP Baseball Writer CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ had three hits, including a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on opening day. Nico Hoerner hit the majors’ first homer of 2022 and Kyle Hendricks pitched neatly into the sixth, leading Chicago to

By AARON BEARD AP Basketball Writer Duke has hired former Elon head coach and Blue Devils staffer Mike Schrage to work as special assistant to new coach Jon Scheyer. The school announced the move Thursday. Schrage had resigned at Elon on Monday after three seasons. His hiring brings more than two decades of college experience

By PAUL NEWBERRY AP Sports Writer AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger Woods is back. The five-time Masters champion shot a 1-under 71 in his first competitive round since a devastating car wreck 14 months ago that could’ve cost him his right leg. Woods walked with the slightest hint of a limp, and he couldn’t quite

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Amanda Anisimova rallied from a set down to defeat top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and reach the quarterfinals at the Charleston Open. Sabalenka won her first match in almost six weeks on Wednesday and took the opening set against Anisimova. But the 15th-seeded American came back to win the final two

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer The Pittsburgh Pirates are building around third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. A person with knowledge of the agreement tells The Associated Press the Pirates and Hayes have come to terms on a new eight-year, $70 million deal with the 25-year-old Hayes pending a physical. The person spoke to the AP

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Amanda Anisimova rallied from a set down to defeat top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and reach the quarterfinals at the Charleston Open. Sabalenka won her first match in almost six weeks on Wednesday and took the opening set against Anisimova. But the 15th-seeded American came back to win the final two

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP National Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer says he is “good to go” for his New York Mets debut in Friday’s second game of the season against the Washington Nationals. This is Scherzer’s return to Nationals Park after he played 6 1/2 seasons with Washington and helped the club win the