JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia is set to...

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo’s wait for a major trophy in Saudi Arabia is set to continue as Al-Nassr lost 3-2 to Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League semifinals on Wednesday.The 40-year-old Ronaldo, who signed for the Riyadh club in December 2022, had chances but failed to score.Kawasaki will face another Saudi Arabian team, Al-Ahli, in Saturday’s final with both teams looking for a first continental title.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Kawasaki was ahead after just 10 minutes thanks to a spectacular volley from Tatsuya Ito. Just before the half-hour mark, however, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane scored for Al-Nassr to make it 1-1.Soon after, Ronaldo headed against the woodwork but it was Kawasaki who scored next, restoring its lead three minutes before the break through Yuto Ozeki.Al-Nassr continued to attack but fell further behind after 76 minutes as Akihiro Ienaga scored from close range.Ayman Yahya scored for Al-Nassr with three minutes remaining but despite Ronaldo and Jhon Duran — signed for over $100 million from English Premier League club Aston Villa in January — going close, the Riyadh club could not get the equalizer.Two-time finalist Al-Ahli reached the final by beating fellow Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal 3-1 on Tuesday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 30: Cristiano Ronaldo #7 of Al Nassr looks disappointed after his team concedes a goal during the AFC Champions League Elite Semi-finals match between Al Nassr v Kawasaki Frontale at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on April 30, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Ronaldo's trophy wait goes on as Al-Nassr fall in Asian Champions League semis

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through at least the...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexico City Grand Prix will remain on the F1 calendar through at least the 2028 season after a three-year contract extension was announced on Wednesday.The contract for the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit was set to expire at the end of this season.Mexico first hosted an F1 championship race in 1963 and has been on the calendar every year since 2015, excluding 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The extension comes as F1 experiments with rotating some established off-schedule slots in alternate years to meet demand for new hosts outside of Europe.Mexico also fits in with F1’s plans to reduce travel by scheduling back-to-back races in the same regions of the world. This year, it’s part of a four-race series in the Americas, in October and November. The others are in Sao Paulo, Las Vegas, and Austin, Texas.This June, NASCAR will hold its first modern-era international points-based race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez track, and IndyCar is in talks to hold an event there.___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - OCTOBER 27: Traditionally dressed performers entertain the crowd prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Mexico at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 27, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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Mexico City GP signs 3-year extension to stay on calendar through 2028

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros pitching prospect AJ Blubaugh will make his major league debut agai...

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HOUSTON (AP) — Houston Astros pitching prospect AJ Blubaugh will make his major league debut against the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.
A seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Blubaugh joins the Astros after posting a 4.29 ERA in five outings, four of them starts, this season with 28 strikeouts over 21 innings. He is the first pitcher from that school to reach the majors.
“This young man has worked really hard to get to this spot, so I told him just to enjoy this moment, stay present, compete,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “It’s hard not to think about the people and the building, he’s got to take it all in, but go out there and compete and trust the process.”
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The 24-year-old Blubaugh is taking the rotation spot of Hayden Wesneski, whose next start has been pushed back after he showed diminished velocity during his April 25 outing in Kansas City.
Wesneski’s next start could come during the Astros series in Milwaukee on May 5. He is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA through five starts this season.
To make room for Blubaugh on the 26-man roster, the Astros placed reliever Bryan Abreu on the paternity list. Espada said Abreu is expected to return for the team’s game in Chicago on Friday.
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AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>
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JUPITER, FLORIDA - MARCH 17, 2024: A.J. Blubaugh #45 of the Houston Astros throws a pitch during the fourth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on March 17, 2024 in Jupiter, Florida.

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Astros' Blubaugh set for MLB debut, Abreu lands on paternity list

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The only outfield in major league history where all three players batted .400...

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The only outfield in major league history where all three players batted .400 in the same season will be honored the same way as the Philadelphia Phillies players whose numbers have been retired, the team announced Wednesday.
Baseball Hall of Fame members Ed Delahanty, Billy Hamilton and Sam Thompson were the Phillies' regular outfielders from 1891-95. Delahanty batted .405, Hamilton .403 and Thompson .415 in 1894.
The three played before the introduction of uniform numbers. They will have their respective uniform insignias from their era added to the retired numbers displayed on the brick wall above Ashburn Alley at Citizens Bank Park. The insignias also will be individually showcased on the retired number disks in the left field plaza.
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A ceremony will be held before Thursday night's game against the Washington Nationals.
The Phillies have retired the numbers of Richie Ashburn, Jim Bunning, Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Roy Halladay and Robin Roberts and have the uniform insignias of Chuck Klein and Grover Cleveland Alexander on display. The Phillies, along with every major league team, also have retired Jackie Robinson's No. 42.
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AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JUNE 26: A detail view of the Philadelphia Phillies logo on a hat and a Rawlings glove in the dugout prior to the start of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 26, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan.

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Phillies to honor trio of outfielders who batted .400 in 1894

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek survived "one of the weirdest matches" after losing the first six games...

MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek survived "one of the weirdest matches" after losing the first six games and recovering to defeat Madison Keys 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 and stay on track to defend her title at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.Coco Gauff also advanced to the semifinals, beating teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight sets. Swiatek was overpowered by Keys early in their quarterfinal but eventually found a way to rally past the fifth-ranked American on center court.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"It was one of the weirdest matches I played," the second-ranked Swiatek said. "Maddie was playing just perfectly at the beginning and I wasn't really proactive with anything. I let Maddie do more mistakes by just putting the ball back and the momentum changed."Swiatek said it didn't feel good to go down 0-6 at the start of the game, adding that it was "weird.""At least it was fast, that's the only positive think," she said. "I just stayed in there. Obviously it wasn't easy."It was the first meeting between the two since Swiatek squandered a match point in the semifinals of the Australian Open that was won by Keys.Swiatek is trying to reach her third straight Madrid final. She beat Aryna Sabalenka last year after losing to her in 2023.Sabalenka, the No. 1 player in the world, later faces 24th-seed Marta Kostyuk in her quarterfinal match.Swiatek hasn't gone past the semifinals at any tournament since last year's French Open.<h3>Gauff goes through</h3>Swiatek will next face fourth-ranked Gauff, who got past seventh-ranked Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1.The 21-year-old Gauff needed just 92 minutes to earn the win against Andreeva, who turned 18 on Tuesday. Both Gauff and Andreeva had been able to finish their matches in the previous round just before play was paused because of the major blackout that brought Spain and Portugal to a standstill on Monday. More than 20 matches had to be postponed at the Caja Magica tennis complex.___AP tennis: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tennis">https://apnews.com/hub/tennis</a>

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 30: Iga Swiatek of Poland in action against Madison Keys of the United States in the quarter-final on Day Nine of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 30, 2025 in Madrid, Spain

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Swiatek recovers from 1st-set shutout to beat Keys in Madrid quarters

TORONTO (AP) — Natalie Spooner scored the shootout winner to help the Toronto Sceptres snap a two...

TORONTO (AP) — Natalie Spooner scored the shootout winner to help the Toronto Sceptres snap a two-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the New York Sirens on Tuesday night.Daryl Watts scored in regulation for Toronto, which now sits three points ahead of the Boston Fleet for second place in the PWHL with one regular-season game remaining.Carly Jackson made 25 saves in their first start in the PWHL in two seasons as the Sceptres’ backup.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Toronto entered Tuesday’s game having already clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Sirens’ 2-0 win over the Minnesota Frost on Sunday.Ella Shelton scored in regulation for New York, which had its three-game winning streak halted. Kayle Osborne stopped 34 shots.The Sirens were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday due to the Ottawa Charge’s 3-2 win over Montreal. With that, New York also locked up the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.TakeawaysSceptres: Sarah Nurse and Watts both missed prime scoring chances in overtime, which was a sore spot for Toronto. The Sceptres missed several scoring opportunities, including on the power play, late in regulation and were unable to avoid extra time.Sirens: New York showed it can play with second-place Toronto, with Osborne playing a big factor in the Sirens’ defensive effort. New York’s penalty kill was also a strong point on the night.Key momentSpooner beat Osborne for a second time in the shootout to seal Toronto’s win after also scoring on her first attempt.Key statThe Sirens just missed on a chance to better a record they set on Sunday. New York became the first team in PWHL history to record consecutive shutout victories in the regular season, backstopped by Corinne Schroeder in both games.Up nextThe Sceptres host the Ottawa Charge on Saturday in the regular-season finale, while the Sirens close the year hosting the league-leading Montreal Victoire.___AP Women’s Hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

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Jackson wins PWHL debut vs. Sirens as Sceptres snap 2-game skid

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Everything came together in the same game for two-time Cy Young Award win...

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Everything came together in the same game for two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom and the Texas Rangers batters.Texas had a much-needed offensive breakout while deGrom struck out seven over six scoreless innings for his first win in more than two years, though he had pitched well enough to win in several other starts this season.“When was the last one, ‘23? Yeah, it’s been a while,” deGrom said after the Rangers' 15-2 win over the Athletics on Tuesday night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He earned it. He had great stuff tonight, he kept us on our toes,” second baseman Marcus Semien said. “We were just talking about how the time of possession was. You know, we were hitting for a long time and he’s getting quick outs. So usually that’s a good recipe.”The 36-year-old deGrom (1-1) had gone 737 days since also beating the A’s on April 23, 2023, then made only one more start in his debut season with Texas before Tommy John surgery.He scattered four singles and didn't walk a batter in a 65-pitch outing (47 strikes). It was only that short since the right-hander didn't return after an eight-run outburst in the Rangers sixth that matched their previous season high for runs in an entire game and put them up 12-0.So just how efficient was deGrom? The right-hander honestly thought he was “probably in the 70s or something to 80,” as did catcher Jonah Heim.“A lot a strikeouts that I feel like he just overpowered a lot of hitters, which is who he is. He's got that electric fastball,” Heim said.“My mechanics were pretty good,” said deGrom, a meticulous worker who was feeling good after a side session the day before the game. “I’m constantly trying to perfect it and get in the best positions that I can get based on performance and health.”Texas entered the night last in the majors with 91 runs scored, and only 12 combined the previous six games. DeGrom had gotten only nine runs of support in his first five starts.The Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak while setting season highs for runs, hits (18) and walks (nine). They had three bases-clearing doubles in the same game for the first time in team history — Adolis García and Wyatt Langford each had one during a four-batter stretch in that big sixth, and Kyle Higashioka added his three-run double in the eighth.Their offensive outburst came after the full squad was required to be on the field for batting practice before the game.“Good to see you guys break out and have a good game. ... Some success, it's contagious,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “You're hoping this is something these guys can build on, build some confidence.”For deGrom, he improved to 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in his 15 starts for the Rangers since signing a $185 million, five-year contract in December 2022. He is 85-58 in 224 career starts, the first 209 with the New York Mets from 2014-2022.“He was really good tonight. You know, I said when season started, it’s just going to get better with him as he builds up his strength and stamina,” Bochy said. “Really good command tonight, really good stuff. And it’s just getting better with him.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 29: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Globe Life Field on April 29, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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DeGrom gets 1st win in 2 years as Rangers rout A's

TORONTO (AP) — Natalie Spooner scored the shootout winner to help the Toronto Sceptres snap a two-game skid with a 2-1 victory over the New York Sirens on Tuesday night.Daryl Watts scored in regulation for Toronto, which now sits three points ahead of the Boston Fleet for second place in the PWHL with one regular-season game remaining.Carly Jackson made 25 saves in her first start in the PWHL in two seasons as the Sceptres’ backup.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Toronto entered Tuesday’s game having already clinched a playoff berth thanks to the Sirens’ 2-0 win over the Minnesota Frost on Sunday.Ella Shelton scored in regulation for New York, which had its three-game winning streak halted. Kayle Osborne stopped 34 shots.The Sirens were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday due to the Ottawa Charge’s 3-2 win over Montreal. With that, New York also locked up the first overall pick in the upcoming draft.TakeawaysSceptres: Sarah Nurse and Watts both missed prime scoring chances in overtime, which was a sore spot for Toronto. The Sceptres missed several scoring opportunities, including on the power play, late in regulation and were unable to avoid extra time.Sirens: New York showed it can play with second-place Toronto, with Osborne playing a big factor in the Sirens’ defensive effort. New York’s penalty kill was also a strong point on the night.Key momentSpooner beat Osborne for a second time in the shootout to seal Toronto’s win after also scoring on her first attempt.Key statThe Sirens just missed on a chance to better a record they set on Sunday. New York became the first team in PWHL history to record consecutive shutout victories in the regular season, backstopped by Corinne Schroeder in both games.Up nextThe Sceptres host the Ottawa Charge on Saturday in the regular-season finale, while the Sirens close the year hosting the league-leading Montreal Victoire.___AP Women’s Hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

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Sceptres' Carly Jackson shines in 1st PHWL start vs. Sirens

BOSTON (AP) — When Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with five fouls, the Boston Celtic...

BOSTON (AP) — When Magic star Paolo Banchero went to the bench with five fouls, the Boston Celtics pulled away and cruised into the Eastern Conference semifinals.Jayson Tatum had 35 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, and the Celtics abandoned their usual 3-point barrage to beat Orlando 120-89 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Tuesday night.The defending NBA champions will play either the New York Knicks or Detroit Pistons in the second round. The Knicks lead their series 3-2 despite <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-playoffs-2025-pistons-knicks-72bcd71fc9b8c3f4754aeeeffe59f7fc">falling 106-103</a> earlier Tuesday in New York.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“You just have to find different ways,” said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, whose team set NBA records in the regular season for the most 3-point baskets but made none at all in the first half — a first in almost four years.“That’s what this series called for. Every series calls for different things,” Mazzulla said. “You have to be able to win in different ways on both sides of the ball.”Franz Wagner scored 25 points, Banchero had 19 and Wendell Carter Jr. had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Magic, who have not won a playoff series since Dwight Howard, Vince Carter and coach Stan Van Gundy led them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010.Boston fell behind by nine in the first half, and Orlando still led 51-47 early in the third quarter when Banchero picked up his fourth foul; just 79 seconds later, he picked up his fifth, a call that sent an apoplectic coach Jamahl Mosley to the officials, demanding a review.The replay showed Banchero stepped into Jaylen Brown as he shot, and the Magic forward went to the bench, where he stayed for the rest of the quarter. In that time, Boston scored 31 of the next 40 points to open an 83-62 lead.“It definitely swung the series. It definitely swung the game,” Mosley said. “All I saw is Paolo getting an elbow to the face or back into the face — and he got the foul. That was a game-changer right there. Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It’s tough to come back from that moment.”Brown scored 23 points for Boston.Tatum, who injured his wrist on a hard foul in Game 1 and missed Game 2, returned with three straight games of at least 35 points. He was 11 for 11 from the free-throw line — he has not missed a foul shot since Game 1 — and 10 for 16 from the field, making four of five 3-point attempts.The Celtics attempted only six 3-pointers in the first half and made none. It was the first time they went into halftime without a 3 since 2021.Tatum made their first 3-pointer early in the third quarter, but it would be another seven minutes before he made their second. During the regular season, they made one, on average, every 2 minutes, 42 seconds.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 29: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a play during the third quarter in Game Five of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 29, 2025 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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Celtics advance to 2nd round with Game 5 rout of Magic

NEW YORK (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and the Detroit ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Cade Cunningham had 24 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, and the Detroit Pistons stayed alive in their first postseason appearance since 2019 by beating the New York Knicks 106-103 on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their first-round series.Ausar Thompson added 22 points and Tobias Harris had 17 for the Pistons, who will have a chance to even things up Thursday night at home in Game 6. If they win that, the deciding game would be back at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.Detroit, though, has lost an NBA record-tying nine straight home games since 2008.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>But the Pistons seem comfortable in New York, where they were 2-0 in the regular season and now 2-1 in this series, including their Game 2 victory that snapped their 15-game postseason losing streak, the longest in NBA history.OG Anunoby scored 19 points for the Knicks, who were trying to reach the Eastern Conference semifinals for the third straight season. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each had 17, but Jalen Brunson had his worst game of the postseason with 16 points on 4-for-16 shooting. The game was tied at 95 before Jalen Duren made consecutive baskets and Cunningham scored for a six-point lead. The Pistons got a good break when Brunson and Josh Hart both left the game with injuries with 2:57 remaining and play went on for a while without a stoppage when they were ready to return. By the time they could, there were only 27 seconds left.The Knicks cut it to 104-103 on Anunoby's 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds remaining before Cunningham made a pair from the line with 5.4 to play for the final margin.Brunson had scored 30 or more points in every game of the series and was averaging 33.3 through four games before not even getting halfway there Tuesday, when the Knicks were trying to win a series on their home floor for the first time since the 1999 Eastern Conference finals.Now they will try to do it in Detroit, where they won Games 3 and 4.Duren finished with nine points, 14 rebounds and six assists.___AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nba">https://apnews.com/hub/nba</a>

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 29: The Detroit Pistons huddle up during the game against the New York Knicks during Round 1 Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Pistons beat Knicks in Game 5 to stay alive

TORONTO (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 27 saves for the first playoff shutout of his career as the Ott...

TORONTO (AP) — Linus Ullmark made 27 saves for the first playoff shutout of his career as the Ottawa Senators edged the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-0 on Tuesday night to cut the deficit in the teams’ first-round series to 3-2.Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens gave the Senators a 2-0 lead before Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk added empty-net goals for Ottawa, which once again staved off elimination after picking up a 4-3 overtime victory in Game 4 at home Saturday. Tkachuk and Stutzle added two assists each for three-point performances.Anthony Stolarz stopped 15 shots for the Leafs.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Only four NHL teams have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a series — the 1942 Leafs, 1975 Islanders, the 2010 Flyers and the 2014 Kings.Game 6 is Thursday in Ottawa.Toronto, which beat Ottawa four times in a five-playoff span in the early 2000s, dropped to 1-13 in potential series-clinching games in the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner era dating back to the 2018 playoffs. That lone victory came in a first-round triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning two years ago.The Leafs took the opener of this series against its provincial rival 6-2 before back-to-back 3-2 overtime victories pushed them to a 3-0 lead. The Senators, meanwhile, picked up their first playoff victory since 2017 in Saturday’s extra-time decision that kept their season going.Ottawa opened the scoring at 3:46 of Tuesday’s second period on a Chabot point shot that found its way past Stolarz through traffic following an offensive zone faceoff win for the defenseman’s first-ever playoff goal.Toronto — with plenty of post-season baggage, including a blown 3-1 series lead in the 2021 playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens — looked disjointed as the period wore on before the home side finally started to push inside a tense Scotiabank Arena.The Leafs got a power play in the third period when Ridly Greig needlessly tackled Marner along the boards.The Senators, however, broke the other way and Cozens scored his first at 8:24 when he took a pass from Adam Gaudette on a 2-on-1 and fired past Stolarz as Ottawa scored short-handed for the second time in as many games against a five-forward man advantage.Matthews, who hit the post in OT on Saturday with the series on his stick, found iron again with five minutes to go in regulation before Stutzle sealed it into the empty net with 2:51 to play.___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/NHL</a>

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: Ottawa Senators Center Dylan Cozens (24) celebrates his goal with his team mates during the third period of the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs first round game five between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 29, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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Senators keep Battle of Ontario alive with shutout win over Leafs

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney scored as Al-Ahli beat Al-Hilal 3-1 to...

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney scored as Al-Ahli beat Al-Hilal 3-1 to reach the final of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday.The all-Saudi Arabian semifinal was played before more than 50,000 fans at King Abdullah Sports City stadium in Al-Ahli’s home city.Al-Ahli will take on the winner of Wednesday’s clash between Al-Nassr, also of Saudi Arabia, and Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in Sunday’s final.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Al-Ahli was the better team,” Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said. “This was a game between two good teams and while we had some good periods in the game, they outperformed us.”It took just nine minutes for Al-Ahli to open the scoring as Firmino, who joined the club from Liverpool in 2023, shot home from inside the area.Just before the half-hour, ex-Manchester City forward Riyad Mahrez set up Toney for the England striker to make it 2-0.Al-Hilal hit back after 42 minutes as Saudi Arabian international Salem Al-Dawsari scored his 10th goal of the tournament so far.On the hour, Al-Hilal was reduced to 10 men as former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly was shown a second yellow card.There was still time for former Barcelona and AC Milan star Franck Kessie to see his penalty saved by Hilal’s Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.In stoppage time, however, Firas Al-Buraikan made it 3-1 to seal a famous win for Al-Ahli and a first final appearance since 2012.“It was a great night for us and our fans,” Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle said. “We are now just one step away from the title and all our focus is on that. We don’t mind who we play, Al-Nassr or Kawasaki. We will be ready.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - APRIL 29: Roberto Firmino of Al-Ahli Saudi celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Franck Kessie during the AFC Champions League Elite Semi Final between Al Hilal and Al Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on April 29, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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Firmino, Toney score as Al-Ahli reach Asian Champions League final

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joey Logano wondered Tuesday if Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones had e...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joey Logano wondered Tuesday if Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones had ever driven a race car at Talladega after the former Atlanta Braves slugger criticized the NASCAR champion in a series of social media posts.Jones was defending Austin Cindric, winner of Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway, after Team Penske teammate Logano unleashed an expletive-laden rant about Cindric around the halfway mark of the race. Logano was furious he did not receive the help he needed from Cindric, which allowed rival Toyota driver Bubba Wallace to win the second stage and earn valuable bonus points.“Way to go Austin. Way to go. You dumb (expletive). Way to (expletive) go," Logano said on his team radio. "What a stupid (expletive). He just gave it to him. Gave Toyota a stage win. Nice job. Way to go. What the (expletive).”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jones was angered by Logano's rant and in six social media posts congratulated Cindric, called Logano selfish and celebrated Logano being disqualified for failing postrace inspection.“Good teammates are hard to come by, Boss! Remember that one of urs MFed u on national tv, when in all actuality, u did everything possible to keep from wrecking him,” Jones wrote. “Some people are ‘hooray for our team as long as I’m the star’ as every team has them. Hendrick, RCR, JGR, Penske, etc. Sometimes karma is glorious.”When told of Jones' comments on a Tuesday appearance of SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s “The Morning Drive," Logano said he was unaware of them. Once he was told, Logano asked: “Has Chipper Jones ever driven a race car at Talladega? That would be my first question. I’m pretty certain he hasn’t.“That’s like me saying something about baseball. I know nothing about baseball. That’s like me saying something that he did something in baseball that was wrong. That doesn’t matter."Logano continued by saying that as a former professional athlete, Jones should understand there was more to the situation than what he saw on television. Jones grew up outside Daytona International Speedway and was once the grand marshal for the Daytona 500.“Chipper Jones, he seems like a cool dude, he’s done a lot, right? He’s a pretty popular, good baseball player, but he’s not a race car driver, and I know he wasn’t in the room with us when we set in place the way things are supposed to go,” Logano said. "You would think somebody that has been in professional sports and has been in meetings like that would probably take a step back and say, ‘Man, there’s probably more to the story here than what there is.’ I’m surprised it went that way. Maybe he was just bored. I don’t know what his situation is. I tell you I don’t care.”Logano said he and Cindric cleared the air in Penske's Monday meeting.“Austin and I talked about it. We’ve got to move forward. That’s what it is," he said. "I explained my side. He understood. We move on. There’s no sense in airing our dirty laundry and airing out what the actual rules are because that’s private information that doesn’t need to be out to everybody. But the facts are that what we set in place wasn’t happening and that’s why I got frustrated. Like I said, we talked about it and we moved on.”Logano did acknowledge that he probably should not have hit the radio button and “spouted off so much.”“Probably blew up into a little bigger situation than it needed to, but the conversation, either way, needed to happen. Just more people are talking about it now,” he added. ___AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

TALLADEGA, AL - APRIL 26: Joey Logano (#22 Team Penske Shell Pennzoil Ford) sits on pit wall during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Jack Link's 500 on April 26, 2025 at Talladega SuperSpeedway in Talladega, AL.

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Logano responds to criticism from baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones

MADRID (AP) — Power was restored at the Caja Magica tennis complex Tuesday and the Madrid Open re...

MADRID (AP) — Power was restored at the Caja Magica tennis complex Tuesday and the Madrid Open resumed with a packed schedule following a day in which 22 matches had to be postponed.After a major blackout, most parts of Madrid regained power Monday night but organizers said the Caja Magica was still without electricity early Tuesday, prompting a delay in the opening of the gates for fans.But the power came back quickly, and organizers did not have to alter the day’s schedule of matches.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>There were huge lines outside the complex, and people with tickets for Monday's matches were not allowed back in. Organizers were yet to say how those ticket holders would be compensated.“Nobody said anything yet,” said Juan Duato, who was denied entry when he arrived on Monday during the power outage. “They said we couldn't come in and asked us to contact customer support. Apparently they will send us an email.”Fans already inside were asked to leave the Caja Magica a few hours after the outage happened shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time (1030 GMT) on Monday. Organizers said they wanted to “guarantee the safety of the players, fans and personnel.”Two ATP singles matches and one doubles match were underway at the time.Tuesday's schedule included second-ranked Alexander Zverev facing Francisco Cerundolo. On the women's side, the remaining six fourth-round matches were scheduled, including top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka facing Peyton Stearns and second-ranked Iga Swiatek taking on Diana Shnaider.The blackout brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, knocking out subway networks, phone lines, traffic lights and ATM machines.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 26: General view of the Men's Singles Second Round match between Jack Draper of Great Britain and Tallon Griekspoor of Netherlands during Day Five of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 26, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

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Power restored at Madrid Open as tournament resumes with packed schedule

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Butler converted three free throws with 58.7 seconds left, grabbed the...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Butler converted three free throws with 58.7 seconds left, grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds to go and then made two more free throws on the way to 27 points in his return from a pelvic injury, sending the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Monday night in a heated Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.Fred VanVleet missed a 3-pointer under pressure at the buzzer.The teams return to Houston for Game 5 in the best-of-seven series on Wednesday night as seventh-seeded Golden State tries to close out the No. 2 seed Rockets on their home floor.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points, Stephen Curry finished with 17 in the frantic finish and Buddy Hield hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:32 left and scored 15 after joining the starting lineup.Alperen Sengun scored with 40 seconds left for Houston to make it a one-point game. He had 31 points and 10 rebounds, while VanVleet hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:20 to play and scored 25 points.Butler was back after sitting out Game 3 with a pelvic contusion and deep gluteal muscle bruise suffered on a hard fall when he was fouled by Amen Thompson early in Game 2.The second quarter Monday featured four technical fouls and a flagrant 1 in two separate tussles, including shoving during one sequence involving Curry, Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks.With the game tied at 36, Curry dribbled down the sideline when Green put a hard screen on Houston’s Amen Thompson. Brooks fouled Curry and he appeared to become angry about the push before going at Curry and Green.Curry received a technical for “taunting” Brooks, who also received a technical along with Green. Warriors rookie Quinten Post and Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. flailed their arms at each other but avoided technicals upon replay review by the officials.Then with 2:44 left in the quarter, tempers flared again. Green received a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Tari Eason’s face to the ground and Eason also received a technical. Green was dribbling when Eason went for a steal and the ball got loose and both players hit the floor trying to corral it. Green’s left leg was on the Rockets forward’s neck.Butler shot 7 for 12 in 40 minutes after he watched Curry overcome a slow start to finish with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds in Golden State’s 104-93 victory Saturday night without him.___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 28: Jimmy Butler #10 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets during Round One Game Four of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2025 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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Warriors take 3-1 series lead over Rockets

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Laura Stacey scored with 4:17 into overtime to give the Montreal Victoire a ...

LAVAL, Quebec (AP) — Laura Stacey scored with 4:17 into overtime to give the Montreal Victoire a 3-2 victory over the Boston Fleet on Monday night.It was Stacey’s 11th goal of the season and fourth game-winner as Montreal secured home-ice advantage in the opening round of the Professional Women’s Hockey League playoffs. If the Toronto Sceptres lose on Tuesday against the New York Sirens, Montreal will clinch first place.Boston forced overtime with two late goals 39 seconds apart, but it wasn’t enough to pull out the victory.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Montreal opened the scoring on the power play when Jennifer Gardiner came off the bench to knock in the rebound after Abby Boreen’s shot rang off the post. The goal came on the Victoire’s third power play of the game.Montreal’s power play struck again 4:48 into the third period when Catherine Dubois tipped a shot by Maureen Murphy for her fifth goal of the season.Boston goaltender Klara Peslarova made 33 saves in the loss.Boston cut the lead to 2-1 with 2:46 remaining with a short-handed goal by Hannah Brandt. Hannah Bilka tied the game just 39 seconds later.Ann-Renee Desbiens, who made 27 saves, earned her league-leading 14th win of the season.TakeawaysFleet: The injury-riddled Fleet missed a chance to secure their playoff fate.Victoire: Montreal’s second power-play unit was on the ice for Montreal’s first two goals as they try to get their depth scoring going.Key momentBoston scored two goals in 39 seconds late in the third period to tie the game and send it to overtime.Key statWhen Gardiner opened the scoring, it was the first PWHL goal scored on Peslarova in her first 125:40 of game time spanning parts of three games.Up nextThe Fleet host the Minnesota Frost and the Victoire visit the New York Sirens to wrap up the regular season on Saturday.___AP Women’s Hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

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Victoire beat Fleet in overtime after blowing 2-goal lead

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam and matched a franchise record with nine RBIs, h...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam and matched a franchise record with nine RBIs, helping the New York Mets pound Washington Nationals 19-5 on Monday.Nimmo also hit a three-run drive in his seventh career multihomer game. The 32-year-old outfielder had four hits and scored four times after beginning the day with a .192 batting average.New York earned a split of the four-game series. The Mets have won nine of 11 overall to improve to a major league-best 20-9.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Jeff McNeil and Mark Vientos also homered for New York, which finished with 21 hits. Vientos connected for a three-run drive against Washington infielder Amed Rosario in the ninth.James Wood and Nathaniel Lowe homered for Washington in the eighth.The Mets had a 3-0 lead when Colin Poche replaced Nationals starter Trevor Williams (1-3) with two on in the sixth. Nimmo greeted the left-hander by ripping a 2-0 fastball deep to right-center.An inning later, the Mets had the bases loaded when Nimmo sent Cole Henry’s fastball into the right-field seats for his second career grand slam<a href="https://x.com/SNYtv/status/1916977841264091250">.</a>Nimmo added a two-run double in the eighth to tie the franchise record for RBIs set by Carlos Delgado in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on June 27, 2008.McNeil, who made his season debut Friday after missing 25 games with a right oblique strain, hit the first pitch of the fifth deep to right for his first home run of the year.Griffin Canning (4-1) pitched five innings of four-hit ball for New York. He has won four consecutive starts for the first time in his six-season career.José Ureña earned his first save of the season. He allowed five runs in three innings in his Mets debut.Key momentWilliams yielded five runs in a season-high 5 1/3 innings.Nimmo’s sixth-inning shot broke open the game. It was his first homer since April 12.Key statNimmo was mired in a 7-for-47 (.149) slump with no extra-base hits in his previous 12 games before Monday.Up nextNew York left-hander David Peterson (1-1, 3.29 ERA) starts Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series against Arizona.Lefty MacKenzie Gore (2-3, 3.34 ERA) starts Tuesday as Washington opens a three-game series at Philadelphia.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 19: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets celebrates after hitting a double during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on June 19, 2024 in Arlington, Texas.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump feted the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles a...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump feted the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, but several players, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, decided to skip the celebration.Hurts and other players cited scheduling conflicts as the reasons for their absences, according to a White House official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.Still, Trump called Hurts a “terrific guy and terrific player” who turned in “one stellar performance after another” in helping the Eagles to a 14-3 regular season and their Super Bowl run.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“The Eagles have turned out to be an incredible team, an incredible group,” Trump said.In his first term, Trump invited and then canceled a celebration for the Eagles in 2018 after the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. He instead threw his own brief “Celebration of America” after it became clear most players weren’t going to show up.Asked by a reporter on the red carpet of the Time magazine gala last week whether he would take part in the White House visit, Hurts responded with an awkward “um” and long silence before walking away.Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley visited Trump over the weekend at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and caught a ride with the president to Washington on Air Force One and then to the White House on Marine One. “He loved it,” Trump said of Barkley’s short flight on the presidential airplane. “He’s a great young guy and an incredible football player. Saquon had a season for the ages, running behind the most powerful offensive line in the NFL,” Trump said.Barkley, meanwhile, pushed back on social media criticism earlier Monday for spending time with Trump. He noted that he has golfed with former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.“Maybe I just respect the office, not a hard concept to understand,” Barkley posted on X.Barkley ran away with the Offensive Player of the Year award this past season after rushing for 2,005 yards, eighth-best in NFL history. It was his first season with the Eagles.Trump attended the Eagles’ decisive Super Bowl victory in New Orleans over the Kansas City Chiefs. He predicted ahead of the game the Chiefs would win, and offered lavish praise for Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.After the game, Trump mocked pop star Taylor Swift, who is dating Mahomes’ teammate Travis Kelce. Swift faced boos from some fans at one point during the game when she appeared on the Jumbotron.Swift had endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 election.“The only one that had a tougher night than the Kansas City Chiefs was Taylor Swift. She got BOOED out of the Stadium. MAGA is very unforgiving!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.Trump made a nod to the moment at Monday’s ceremony.“I watched in person, I was there along with Taylor Swift,” Trump said. “How did that work out?”

UNITED STATES - APRIL 28: President Donald Trump poses with offensive tackle Lane Johnson, right, and head coach Nick Sirianni, left, during a ceremony with the Philadelphia Eagles, winners of the 2025 Super Bowl, on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, April 28, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

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Eagles celebrate Super Bowl with Trump at White House; Hurts skips ceremony

NEW YORK (AP) — An Uber driver a little more than two years ago, J.C. Escarra gave a pitch a ride...

NEW YORK (AP) — An Uber driver a little more than two years ago, J.C. Escarra gave a pitch a ride into Yankee Stadium's bleachers for his first major league home run.“I didn't feel the ball off the bat,” the rookie said after his drive Sunday capped New York's 11-2, 5-1 doubleheader sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays. “I felt amazing — amazing. And it was special because the first MLB home run and I did it here at home at Yankee Stadium.”Escarra, who turned 30 on Thursday, was out of baseball when the Baltimore Orioles released him in 2022. He took detours to teams in Mexico and Puerto Rico, did part-time work as an Uber driver and substitute teacher and signed a minor league contract with the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He earned a job on the opening day roster as catcher Austin Wells' backup, got his first hit when he made his first start on April 3 and homered in his seventh start behind the plate. Escarra singled in a run against Brendon Little in the three-run sixth inning, then sent a Chad Green slider 415 feet into the right-center bleachers in the eighth.“You could see the glow. You could see the joy that he’s bringing in those moments," reliever Luke Weaver said. “Just letting him know, like, `Hey, sick homer." And it's like he just lights up.”Escarra got the ball back from a fan in exchange for an autographed bat and is giving the ball to his father, who grew up a Yankees fan in Yonkers.“This is my team. This is my family’s team. It’s a dream come true, and I’m doing everything as a Yankee so it can’t get better than this," Escarra said. “If you would have asked me two years ago that I’ll be here doing this, I’ll tell you that you’re lying.”Escarra is hitting .200 with three RBIs in 25-bats.“We were smiling, jumping around and just really excited for a guy like that who who works hard and obviously you can tell just appreciates the moment and just doesn’t take anything for granted," starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt said. "Those guys, they’re easy to root for.”Pitchers have praised Escarra's framing ability.“He’s got a really good presence behind the plate,” Weaver said. “You got to steal some strikes and get as many as we can because we sure appreciate it. He's a natural at it. He’s worked really hard at it and he’s right where he needs to be.”___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: J.C Escarra #25 of the New York Yankees celebrates his solo home run in the eighth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during game two of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on April 27, 2025 in New York City.

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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 37 points and 14 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 21 points and...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 37 points and 14 rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 21 points and 11 rebounds and the Boston Celtics took a 3-1 lead in their NBA playoff series with a 107-98 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday night.Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points, including a dunk of his own missed layup that put Boston ahead for keeps with 3:58 left.Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 31 points.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Game 5 of the best-of-7 first-round series will be played Tuesday night in Boston.“This was a big win on the road in a tough, physical environment against a team that’s been eager to take us out,” Brown said. “It’s not over. We’ve got to close it out because we don’t want to come back here.”Derrick White finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for the Celtics. Al Horford blocked five shots.Franz Wagner had 24 points and seven assists for Orlando. Corey Joseph added 12 points, the highest scoring output for a Magic guard in the series.The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, who played only 22 minutes due to foul trouble, helped Boston overcome shooting 9 for 31 from 3-point range with dominant inside play in the first half.“I think he set the tone for us in the half-court game,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought he got us off to a great start offensively with his screening and his ability to get to the rim.”The Magic shot 8 for 29 from behind the arc.A dunk by Porzingis started an 18-3 run midway through the first half. A 3-pointer by Porzingis gave the Celtics a nine-point lead, matching the largest lead of the game, with 7:45 left in the second quarter.The Magic never led after that, although a dunk by Wendell Carter Jr. tied the game at 91 with 4:18 remaining. The Celtics took over from there, winning for the first time in Orlando since October 2022. Tatum hit a 10-footer, three straight free throws and a layup to quickly restore a seven-point Boston lead.“Their experience showed,” said Banchero, who shot 12 for 32 but scored 30-plus points for the sixth time in his 11 postseason games. “They weren’t rattled at all. They were making big plays on both ends. They were really sharp over the last four minutes.”Boston guard Jrue Holiday sat out a second straight game with a strained right hamstring.AP NBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NBA">https://apnews.com/hub/NBA</a>

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - APRIL 27: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket against Cory Joseph #10 of the Orlando Magic in the first half of game 4 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center on April 27, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.

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