Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) — Joc Pederson homered for the third straight game, Sergio Alcántara and Ian Happ also went deep, and the Chicago Cubs used a five-run second inning to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-2. Kyle Hendricks threw six solid innings for his sixth consecutive victory and the Cubs won for the seventh time in 11 games. Nolan Arenado and Paul DeJong hit home runs for the Cardinals, who have lost 10 of 12 and fell to .500 at 32-32 for the first time since April 28. John Gant lasted 1 2/3 innings to add to St. Louis' rotation struggles.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Olson had four hits, including his 16th home run, and the Oakland Athletics roughed up Kansas City rookie Jackson Kowar in romping past the Royals 11-2. Matt Chapman also connected and drove in three runs. Skye Bolt added his first career home run for the A's. James Kaprielian overcame control issues and pitched two-hit ball over six innings. The highly touted Kowar was tagged for four runs on five hits and three walks in just 1 1/3 innings. Kowar made his major league debut last Monday and got only two outs against the Angels, allowing four runs on three hits, two walks and three wild pitches.
EASTLAKE, Ohio (AP) — Travis Kelce felt surrounded. Kansas City's All-Pro tight end was at home in Cleveland, but also in enemy territory as he played in a softball charity game against several Browns players. The event was hosted by Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry, who convinced teammates Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr. and Myles Garrett to participate. Kelce feels the Browns are "neck and neck" with the Chiefs, the two-time defending AFC champions. Cleveland will open the 2021 season in Kansas City, where the Browns' 2020 season ended with a playoff loss.
UNDATED (AP) — Reigning national champion Vanderbilt and Stanford swept their NCAA super regionals and became the first teams to lock up spots in the College World Series. Jack Leiter gave Vanderbilt another stellar pitching performance in a 4-1 win over East Carolina. Stanford's Alex Williams pitched a two-hitter and Brock Jones homered three times in a 9-0 win at Texas Tech. North Carolina State beat Arkansas 6-5 to even that series. Mississippi also tied its series with Arizona with a 12-3 victory. In super regional openers, Mississippi State beat Notre Dame 9-8, Dallas Baptist defeated Virginia 6-5, Tennessee beat LSU 4-2, and Texas posted a 4-3 walk-off win over South Florida.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Olympic swimming trials get underway this weekend in Omaha. It's where Ryan Lochte goes after his fifth — and final — Olympic berth. Katie Ledecky seeks to extend her dominance at the eight-day meet that opens Sunday. The U.S. trials are considered more competitive than the Olympics. Swimmers have to finish first or second to earn berths for next month's Tokyo Games. After a year-long delay because of the coronavirus pandemic, half the amount of fans as usual will be allowed at the trials.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Daniel Salloi tied it in the 71st minute and Sporting Kansas City held on for a 1-1 draw with expansion Austin FC. Johnny Russell challenged Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver for a loose ball in the middle of the penalty area and the rebound fell to Salloi, who smashed it home. Cecilio Domínguez opened the scoring for Austin with a right-footed shot in the 26th minute.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Even as she attempts to qualify for her third U.S. Olympic team, champion swimmer Katie Ledecky is keeping an eye on the NHL playoffs. Her uncle, Jon Ledecky, is a co-owner of the New York Islanders. The team has advanced to the final four of the Stanley Cup playoffs, facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in a best-of-seven series for the chance to take on either Las Vegas or Montreal in the final. Game 1 is Sunday afternoon. Katie Ledecky will be watching from Omaha, where she is competing in the U.S. Olympic swimming trials that also begin Sunday.
Update on the latest sports
NBA PLAYOFFS-CLIPPERS/JAZZ
Clippers hammer Jazz to pull within 2-1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers have climbed back into their NBA Western Conference semifinal series, avoiding an 0-3 hole.
Kawhi (kah-WY') Leonard had 34 points and 12 rebounds for the Clippers in a 132-106 trouncing of the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles. Paul George chipped in 31 points, marking the second time he and Leonard have scored at least 30 in the same postseason game this year.
George shot only 34% from the field in the first two games but was 12 of 24 in this one, including 6 of 10 on 3-pointers. He had 13 points in the second quarter, eight during a 13-2 run when LA seized control.
Donovan Mitchell led Utah with 30 points, his fifth straight games with at least 30.
The Clippers host Game 4 on Monday, when they will try to even the series at two games apiece.
NBA-NETS-INJURIES
Harden out Sunday, but Green could return
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Brooklyn Nets will play a third straight game without All-Star guard James Harden when they take on the Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday.
Harden experienced tightness in his right hamstring during the opening minute in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. He missed 20 games late in the regular season due to a hamstring strain.
However, the Nets could have the services of Jeff Green on Sunday as they try to take a three-games-to-one lead. Green hasn't played since Game 2 of the first-round series against the Celtics due to a plantar fascia strain.
MLB SCHEDULE
Rays hold off Birds
UNDATED (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays continue to roll since losing 15 of their first 28 games.
Joey Wendle hit an RBI double during a three-run first inning that sent the Rays past the Orioles, 5-4. Brandon Lowe made it 5-0 on a two-out, two-run double in the fourth, allowing Tampa Bay to improve to 28-10 since May 2.
Rich Hill was working on a shutout until Austin Wynns hit a grand slam in the fifth to chase the left-hander.
Reliever Collin McHugh struck out five and gave up one hit in two scoreless innings for his first win in 22 months.
The Orioles have dropped 14 straight road games, their longest such skid since the franchise moved to Baltimore.
Elsewhere around the majors:
— Vladimir Guerrero Jr. smacked his major league-leading 20th home run and Marcus Semien stretched his road hitting streak to 25 games with a round-tripper in the Blue Jays' 7-2 win at Boston. Bo Bichette (bih-SHEHT'), Cavan Biggio (BIH'-shee-oh) and Reese McGuire also went deep for the Blue Jays, who had dropped four of their last five.
— Dylan Cease (sees) allowed two runs on four hits in five innings before being removed with a 13-2 lead in the White Sox's 15-2 dismantling of the Tigers. Brian Goodwin homered and drove in five runs in his White Sox debut, two days after being recalled from the minors.
— The Athletics improved to 11-2 against the AL Central as Matt Olson had four hits, including his 16th home run in an 11-2 pounding of the Royals. Matt Chapman also connected and drove in three runs for Oakland, while Skye Bolt added his first career home run.
— Minnesota's José Berríos (beh-REE'-ohs) struck out eight over seven commanding innings of a 5-2 victory against the Astros. Jorge Polanco (poh-LAHN'-koh) homered for the fifth time in 11 games and finished with three RBIs.
— César Hernández scored on a throwing error by losing pitcher Paul Sewald in the 10th inning, completing the Indians' rally for a 5-4 victory over the Mariners. Hernandez also homered in the eighth after Cleveland fell behind, 4-0. Rene Rivera tied it with a two-run double in the ninth.
— The Mets were 4-1 winners over the Padres as Marcus Stroman limited San Diego to one run and six hits with eight strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Francisco Lindor (lihn-DOHR') slammed a two-run homer in the first inning and Stroman blanked the Padres until Fernando Tatis (tah-TEES') Jr. smacked his 18th homer of the season in the seventh.
— Zach Thompson picked up his first major league win by tossing five shutout innings in the Marlins' third straight victory, 4-2 over the Braves. Adam Duvall and Lewin Díaz hit solo homers and Miami dealt Atlanta its fourth loss in a row.
— Erick Fedde (FEH'-dee) returned after nearly a month on the COVID-19 injured list, tossing four-hit ball while fanning seven over five innings of the Nationals' 2-1 victory over the Giants. Kyle Schwarber belted a first-inning homer in the opener of a day-night twinbill.
— The Giants gained a split by scoring twice in the eighth to beat Washington, 2-1. The game was scoreless until LaMonte Wade and Wilmer Flores provided RBI singles.
— Nate Lowe was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBIs for the Rangers in a 12-1 thrashing of the Dodgers. Jonah Heim and Jason Martin also homered as Texas ended a 16-game road losing streak, the team's longest since moving from Washington.
— Jean Segura scored Ronald Torreyes with an infield single in the 10th inning to give the Phillies their fifth win in six games, 8-7 over the Yankees. Segura's second walk-off hit in as many games came after DJ LeMahieu launched a tying, three-run homer in the ninth for New York.
— Joc Pederson homered for the third straight game and the Cubs put together a five-run second in a 7-2 trouncing of the Cardinals. Ian Happ put the Cubs ahead with a two-run shot in the second and Sergio Alcantara added a solo blast in the third.
— Christian Yelich (YEH'-lihch) provided a pair of hits, including a three-run double during a five-run fourth inning of the Brewers' 12th win in 14 games, 7-4 over the Pirates. Omar Narvaez (nahr-VY'-ehz) also had two hits, RBI singles in the third and fourth innings.
— Wade Miley was 2-for-2 with a walk and allowed just two earned runs over seven innings to send the Reds to a 10-3 rout of the Rockies. Joey Votto (VAH'-toh) poked a go-ahead, two-run single and Tyler Naquin had three hits to help Cincinnati win for the ninth time in 12 games since falling a season-worst six games under .500.
— Anthony Rendon homered and drove in four runs as the Angels rallied to beat the Diamondbacks, 8-7. Los Angeles trailed by as many as five and took the lead in the ninth on RBI singles by Jose Iglesias and Taylor Ward.
MLB NEWS
Mets' ace Jacob deGrom on track for next scheduled start
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets and two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom are breathing easier after the ace had to be removed from Friday's game with tendinitis in his right elbow.
DeGrom is expected to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Cubs. He threw six magnificent innings on Friday before his removal, striking out 10 and allowing just one hit while facing the minimum number of batters.
DeGrom threw a bullpen session on Saturday, and a precautionary MRI showed no problem.
DeGrom owns a 0.56 ERA, the best through 10 starts since earned run average became an official stat.
In other baseball news:
— First baseman Max Muncy is going on the Dodgers' injured list with a right oblique muscle strain. The Dodgers recalled outfielder Luke Raley to take the roster spot of Muncy, who left Friday's game in the second inning.
— Yankees right-hander Luis Severino was removed from a minor league rehab start Saturday with a right groin injury that will require an MRI. He limped behind the mound, struggling to put weight on his right leg after throwing a pitch in the second inning. Severino was making his second rehab start following Tommy John surgery in February of 2020, pitching for High A Hudson Valley against Brooklyn.
— Reliever Hunter Strickland has been purchased by Milwaukee from the Angels as the Brewers attempt to see if he can regain his early-season form. The Angels purchased Strickland from the Rays on May 15 before designating him for assignment Monday. Strickland had a 1.69 ERA in 13 appearances for Tampa Bay but posted a 9.95 ERA in nine games with the Angels.
— The Twins have announced that former 20-game winner Jim "Mudcat" Grant has died at age 85. Grant won 21 games for the American League pennant-winning Twins of 1965, becoming the first Black to win 20 in an AL season. He was 124-100 with a 3.67 ERA over 14 major league season with seven teams.
FRENCH OPEN-WOMEN'S FINAL
Inspired by Novotna, Krejcikova wins 1st Slam title in Paris
PARIS (AP) — Unseeded Barbora Krejcikova (kreh-jih-KOH'-vah) has won her first Grand Slam title by beating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (pahv-loo-CHIHN'-koh-vah) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the French Open final.
This was only the fifth major tournament in singles for Krejcikova. The 25-year-old from the Czech Republic is the third unseeded women's champion in the last five years at Roland Garros.
Krejcikova also has a finals match in women's double on Sunday. No one has won the French Open women's singles and doubles titles in the same year since Mary Pierce in 2000.
The 31st-seeded Pavlyuchenkova was playing in her first Grand Slam final in the 52nd major tournament of her career.
NHL-CANADIENS-EVANS
Evans, Petry, Merrill make Vegas trip
MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans will accompany the Canadiens to Las Vegas for their Stanley Cup semifinal series against the Golden Knights, as will injured defensemen Jeff Petry and Jon Merrill.
Evans hasn't played since sustaining a concussion on a hit by Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele (SHY'-flee) in the Habs' Game 1 victory on June 2.
Interim Canadiens coach Dominque Ducharme said Friday he wasn't very confident the three players would dress for Game 1 on Monday night.
PGA-PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP
Hadley leads late in Round 3
RIDGELAND, S.C. (AP) — Chesson Hadley moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory in seven years, opening a four-stroke lead over Harris English and six over Dustin Johnson in the rain-delayed Palmetto Championship at Congaree.
Hadley surged late with four birdies on a five-hole stretch of the back nine to reach 14 under.
Hadley, English, Johnson and Lee Tain were all on the 18th hole when the horn sounded to stop play because of lightning. Rain followed about 10 minutes later and officials waited more than two hours for things to clear before telling the players they had to return to finish Sunday morning.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS-AMERICAN INSURANCE
Jimenez maintains lead
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Miguel Angel Jimenez will carry a one-stroke lead over Fred Couples into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions' American Insurance Championship.
Jimenez fired a 3-under 69 on Saturday for a 10-under total at University Ridge in Madison, Wisconsin. He grabbed the lead on Friday with a 65.
The 61-year-old Couples followed an opening 68 with a 67. He won the tournament in 2017, the last of his 13 senior titles.
RACING-INDYCAR
Rosenqvist injured in wreck
DETROIT (AP) — Felix Rosenqvist will spend a night in a Detroit hospital following a crash early in the IndyCar race on Belle Isle. The throttle appeared to stick in Rosenqvist's car as he entered the sixth turn.
The Swede slammed into a tire barrier with tremendous force, moving the retaining wall. Rosenqvist's car was stuck nose-up at a nearly 45-degree angle.
IndyCar's safety team placed Rosenqvist in a neck brace while the race was red-flagged for the wall to be rebuilt.
Marcus Ericsson won the race.
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