PHOENIX (AP) — Zac Gallen struck out 12 over 6 1/3 innings and stretched his scoreless streak to 28 innings, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks over the Kansas City Royals 2-0. The D-backs took two of three games from the Royals and finished 3-4 on their homestand. Gallen (4-1) had another stellar outing, giving up just four hits and walking none. The right-hander — who finished fifth in the NL Cy Young Award voting last season — hasn’t given up a run since April 4th against San Diego.
PHOENIX (AP) — Kansas City’s Freddy Fermin knocked the cover off the ball during Wednesday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Royals catcher was facing Zac Gallen in the second inning when he swung early on an off-speed pitch. Fermin’s bat just knicked the baseball, sending it bouncing softly into foul ground close to the on-deck circle. As it came to a stop, it was clear that the cover had been partially torn from the ball. The Diamondbacks beat the Royals 2-0 on Wednesday. Fermin wasn’t the only Royals hitter fooled by one of Gallen’s pitches. The Arizona right-hander struck out 12, running his scoreless streak to 28 innings.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mitch Haniger scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the fifth inning following a dropped fly ball by Cardinals center fielder Lars Nootbaar, helping the Giants overcome a big night from slugger Paul Goldschmidt and beat St. Louis 7-3 on Wednesday.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Tanner Bibee struck out eight and allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in his major league debut and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-1 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep. Bibee, a 24-year-old right-hander, was called up from Triple-A Columbus before the game and became the second Cleveland pitcher in four days to win his major league debut. Logan Allen won his debut Sunday against Miami.
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates utility player Drew Maggi made his majo -league debut Wednesday night after playing 13 seasons and 1,154 games in the minor leagues. The 33-year-old struck out as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning in the Pirates' 8-1 victory over the the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maggi had been called up from Double-A Altoona on Sunday when star outfielder Bryan Reynolds was placed on the bereavement list.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bryce Young wrapped up in a blanket, fighting off the cold on a crisp morning in downtown Kansas City, where 24 hours later he is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. All around the Alabama quarterback, workers in hard hats and publicists and myriad others hurried about Wednesday, putting the last touches on the league’s second-biggest spectacle behind only the Super Bowl. The city is hosting the draft just two months after the Chiefs celebrated their third Lombardi Trophy with a parade that also ended at Union Station.
UPDATED (AP) — It took the Carolina Panthers until Monday to decide which quarterback they’ll select with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. They’re not saying but oddsmakers believe it’ll be Alabama’s Bryce Young. The 2021 Heisman Trophy winner is an overwhelming favorite to go first. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud has dropped from favorite to having the third-best odds behind Kentucky’s Will Levis. Florida’s Anthony Richardson is a longshot. The Panthers traded four picks along with wide receiver DJ Moore to give new coach Frank Reich a quarterback to build around.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers believes he’s where he needs to be. And the New York Jets’ new quarterback thinks they can do big things together. The four-time NFL MVP was introduced by the team Wednesday to much fanfare in the team’s auditorium. Rodgers said it's a surreal day for him and he's looking forward to the new adventure in New York. The Jets received Rodgers, the No. 15 overall pick and a fifth-rounder this year from the Packers. In exchange, Green Bay got the 13th overall selection, a second-rounder, a sixth-rounder and a conditional 2024 second-round pick that could become a first-rounder if Rodgers plays 65% of New York’s plays this season. Rodgers spent his first 18 seasons in Green Bay.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 23 points, RJ Barrett added 21 and the New York Knicks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-95 in Game 5 to advance to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs for the first time since 2013. The Knicks controlled a series that was more one-sided than expected. New York won the opener at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, dominated the Cavs twice at noisy Madison Square Garden and then returned to Cleveland to finish the job. Brunson ir attempt to acquire Donovan Mitchell fell apart and he landed in Cleveland. Mitchell Robinson added 18 rebounds for New York. Donovan Mitchell scored 28 to pace the Cavs, whose postseason inexperience showed throughout the series.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Desmond Bane had 33 points and 10 rebounds, Ja Morant added 31 points and 10 boards, and the Memphis Grizzlies staved off elimination, beating the Lakers 116-99 to force their first-round Western Conference series back to Los Angeles. Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Grizzlies improved to 5-0 in Game 5s played in Memphis. They earned a second straight No. 2 seed by posting the NBA’s best home record at 35-6. Game 6 is Friday night in Los Angeles. LeBron James started 1 of 7 from the field but finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Davis had 31 points and 19 rebounds for the Lakers.
BOSTON (AP) — Trae Young's 30-foot 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Hawks 119-117 Game 5 victory over the Celtics changed everything about the first-round playoff matchup. Boston's series lead is now down to 3-2 and headed back to Atlanta. Though still on the verge of a second straight opening round exit, the Hawks have reason to be confident heading home because they will get back Dejounte Murray, who served a one-game suspension for bumping an official after the end of Game 4. The extension of the series is good news for the awaiting Philadelphia 76ers, who will have even more time to rest before the start of the second round.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 5 Texas 3
Final Cleveland 4 Colorado 1
Final Milwaukee 6 Detroit 2
Final Arizona 2 Kansas City 0
Final Philadelphia 6 Seattle 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final N.Y. Yankees 12 Minnesota 6
Final Toronto 8 Chicago White Sox 0
Final Baltimore 6 Boston 2
Final Houston 1 Tampa Bay 0
Final L.A. Angels 11 Oakland 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 8 L.A. Dodgers 1
Final Atlanta 6 Miami 4
Final Washington 4 N.Y. Mets 1
Final San Diego 5 Chicago Cubs 3
Final San Francisco 7 St. Louis 3
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final New York 106 Cleveland 95
Final Memphis 116 L.A. Lakers 99
Final OT Miami 128 Milwaukee 126
Final Golden State 123 Sacramento 116
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final OT Florida 4 Boston 3
Final Seattle 3 Colorado 2
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