PHOENIX (AP) — Christian Walker scampered home for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on Nick Ahmed’s infield single, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks past the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Monday night. Ahmed — who was pinch hitting — brought home Walker on a one-out infield single off reliever Aroldis Chapman. Ahmed hit the ball off the end of his bat and the result was essentially a swinging bunt down the first base line. Vinnie Pasquantino tried to get Walker at home, but the throw was late.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Alex Cobb pitched his first shutout in 11 years and J.D. Davis hit a three-run homer, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a four-game series. Cobb scattered six hits and struck out four in his fifth career complete game and first since 2018 with Baltimore. His only other major league shutout was a four-hitter for Tampa Bay against Oakland in August 2012. It was the third complete game in the majors this season. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole and Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara each tossed a shutout against Minnesota this month. Cobb walked one and threw 70 of his 109 pitches for strikes as San Francisco won its third straight game.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Austin Gomber bounced back from a hideous start to get his first win, Jurickson Profar drove in three runs and the Colorado Rockies won for just the second time in 13 games, beating the Cleveland Guardians 6-0 on Monday night. Gomber (1-4) held the Guardians to three singles — all by Steven Kwan — in five scoreless innings. The left-hander was pounded for nine runs and nine hits in just two innings in a loss to Pittsburgh on April 19.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Taj Bradley won his third consecutive start to begin his big league career and the Tampa Bay Rays set a modern era MLB record with their 14th consecutive home win to begin a season, 8-3 over the Houston Astros. Tampa Bay had shared the mark dating to 1901 with the 2009 Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rays are 20-3 overall. Only the 1911 Detroit Tigers and 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers had better starts at 21-2 since 1901. Bradley allowed three runs and four hits with six strikeouts and no walks in five innings. Alex Bregman and Jeremy Peña homered for the Astros.
UNDATED (AP) — Aaron Rodgers is leaving behind his brilliant legacy in Green Bay and heading to the bright lights and massive expectations of the Big Apple. The New York Jets agreed on a deal to acquire the four-time NFL MVP from the Packers, according to a person with knowledge of the trade who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the teams have not officially announced the deal. The Jets will also receive the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-rounder this year from the Packers, according to another person with knowledge of the trade. In exchange, Green Bay will get the 13th overall selection, a second-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-round pick.
UNDATED (AP) — Quarterbacks are back on top in the NFL draft. A year after the first 19 picks were non-QBs and Kenny Pickett was the only signal-caller selected in the first round, this draft class is loaded with potential franchise players. Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud have been the center of attention since before last year’s draft even took place. They could become the ninth pair of QBs selected 1-2 in the Super Bowl era. Anthony Richardson and Will Levis should make it four QBs in the top 15, which has happened only five times previously. If they all go in the top 10, it’ll be the second time ever. Then there’s Hendon Hooker, who may end up being a late first-round pick despite his age and knee injury.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders is losing numerous players to the transfer portal, including a holdover wide receiver who was the standout in Colorado’s sold-out spring game over the weekend. Wideout Montana Lemonious-Craig turned in an impressive performance for the Buffaloes, which was highlighted by his 98-yard touchdown. A day later, Lemonious-Craig decided to depart the program that Coach Prime was brought in to rebuild on the heels of a 1-11 season. Among the others to announce on social media they will enter the portal are receivers Jordyn Tyson and Chase Sowell, and running back Deion Smith.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James made the tying layup with 0.8 seconds left in regulation before scoring four of his 22 points in overtime, and the Los Angeles Lakers surged to a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series with a 117-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night. Austin Reaves scored 23 points for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who are on the brink of their first playoff series victory outside the Florida bubble since 2012. Desmond Bane scored 36 points and hit a tiebreaking layup with 6.7 seconds left in regulation for the second-seeded Grizzlies.
MIAMI (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored a Miami playoff record 56 points, and the Heat roared back from 14 points down in the final quarter to stun the Milwaukee Bucks 119-114 on Monday night to put the NBA’s top overall seed on the brink of early elimination. The 56 points also became Butler’s career high. He was 19 for 28 from the field, 15 of 18 from the foul line and added nine rebounds for eighth-seeded Miami — which took a 3-1 lead over the Bucks in their Eastern Conference first-round series. Brook Lopez scored 36 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Milwaukee. Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from a two-game absence with a bruised back and had a triple-double.
MONDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Colorado 6 Cleveland 0
Final Cincinnati 7 Texas 6
Final Detroit 4 Milwaukee 2
Final Arizona 5 Kansas City 4
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 5 Boston 4
Final Tampa Bay 8 Houston 3
Final Toronto 5 Chicago White Sox 2
Final Minnesota 6 N.Y. Yankees 1
Final Oakland 11 L.A. Angels 10
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Atlanta 11 Miami 0
Final San Francisco 4 St. Louis 0
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Miami 119 Milwaukee 114
Final OT L.A. Lakers 117 Memphis 111
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final New Jersey 3 N-Y Rangers 1
Final OT Toronto 5 Tampa Bay 4
Final Vegas 4 Winnipeg 2
Final OT Seattle 3 Colorado 2
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