ew Page 996 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

M's Mitch Garver capitalizing on chances as Royals visit
A return to his former stomping grounds turned out pretty well for Mitch Garver.,The Seattle Mariners' backup catcher drove in four runs Sunday, including a two-run homer in the 12th inning, in a 6-4 victory against his former team, the host Texas Rangers.,That capped a 6-4 trip for the Mariners, wh...

Rays aim to take advantage of visit from skidding Athletics
As they prepare to close out a June to remember, the Tampa Bay Rays will also hope to start off another great week.,Propelled into the American League playoff chase and pursuing the first-place New York Yankees in the East, the Rays will host the opener of a three-game series against the Athletics o...

Orioles' Trevor Rogers eyes 2nd win in a week vs. Rangers
The Baltimore Orioles will carry a modicum of confidence with them when they play the Texas Rangers on Monday in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas., ,Baltimore heads on the road after a 5-1 victory at home over Tampa Bay on Sunday to clinch a three-game series win over the Rays, ...

Reds start rookie Chase Burns against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet
Right-hander Chase Burns, the No. 2 pick in last summer's amateur draft, will be seeking his first major league victory in his second career start on Monday when the Cincinnati Reds open a three-game series at the Boston Red Sox.,Burns, 22, allowed three runs in five innings against the New York Yan...

Pursuing first-place Yankees, Jays turn to Max Scherzer
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer aims to take another step forward Monday night and help the host Toronto Blue Jays gain on the first-place New York Yankees.,Scherzer (0-0, 5.63 ERA) is scheduled to start the opener of a four-game series for the third-place Blue Jays, who are three game...

Bryce Harper may make his return for Phillies vs. Padres
Bryce Harper, who once enjoyed the greatest moment of his career against the San Diego Padres, could return to the lineup Monday when the Philadelphia Phillies host the Padres in the opener of a three-game set.,Harper had "the swing of his life" -- as FOX broadcaster Joe Davis exclaimed in the momen...

Cardinals, Pirates each riding hot streaks coming into 3-game series
The St. Louis Cardinals are firmly in contention for the postseason and the Pittsburgh Pirates are not.,But heading into a three-game series, which begins Monday night in Pittsburgh, both teams appear to be playing their best baseball of the season.,The Cardinals are coming off a three-game sweep of...

Blazers C Deandre Ayton to be free agent after buyout
The Portland Trail Blazers have reached an agreement to buy out the final year of Deandre Ayton's contract and have requested waivers on him, making the center a free agent, the team announced late Sunday night.,Ayton, 26, is owed $35 million for the coming season to complete a four-year, $132 milli...

Reports: Blazers C Deandre Ayton to be free agent after buyout
The Portland Trail Blazers will buy out the final year of center Deandre Ayton's contract and make him a free agent, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday night.,Ayton, 26, is owed $35 million for the coming season to complete a four-year, $132 million contract that he had signed while with the ...

After early low attendance, Atlanta fans turn out at CWC
ATLANTA -- At a FIFA Club World Cup match on June 19, Lionel Messi -- arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport -- scored a go-ahead free kick to give Inter Miami a 2-1 victory over FC Porto. ,While Messi delivering a winning goal is not surprising, what is unexpected is that the matc...

5-star LB Xavier Griffin commits to Alabama
Xavier Griffin, ranked by the 247Sports composite as the No. 2 linebacker in the Class of 2026, announced his commitment to Alabama on Sunday afternoon.,The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Griffin chose the Crimson Tide over finalists Florida State, Ohio State and Texas. He plays at Gainesville (Ga.) High Schoo...

Reds release INF Jeimer Candelario after struggles
The Cincinnati Reds officially released infielder Jeimer Candelario on Sunday after he cleared waivers following his designation for assignment on Monday.,Candelario, 31, was only halfway through a three-year, $45 million contract he signed before the 2024 season that made him the Reds' highest-pric...

Crew turn the tables by blanking Union
Mohamed Farsi scored in the second minute of first-half stoppage time Sunday night, and the Columbus Crew shut down the visiting Philadelphia Union for a 1-0 win.,Columbus (10-3-7, 37 points) pulled within three points of Philadelphia (12-4-4, 40 points) in the Eastern Conference standings behind a ...

Reports: Rockets reward Jabari Smith Jr. with 5-year, $122M extension
The Houston Rockets and forward Jabari Smith Jr. agreed to a five-year, $122 million extension of his rookie contract, ESPN and The Athletic reported Sunday.,Smith, 22, has averaged 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds across three NBA seasons since the Rockets selected him third overall in the 2022 draft. ...

Reports: BYU QB Jake Retzlaff to enter transfer portal amid allegations
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff plans to enter the transfer portal amid the controversy swirling around the signal-caller this offseason, the Salt Lake Tribune and ESPN reported Sunday.,Per the reports, Retzlaff is facing a seven-game suspension for violating the school's honor code stemming from a se...

Reports: Maple Leafs sign F Matthew Knies to 6-year, $46.5 contract extension
The Toronto Maple Leafs have kept forward Matthew Knies from entering free agency by signing him to a six-year contract extension worth $46.5 million, multiple media outlets reported Sunday.,Knies, 22, also posted news of the extension on social media. The Phoenix native was due to become a restrict...

Thunder reach deals with Jaylin Williams, Ajay Mitchell
The NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder have taken the first step toward keeping their roster together, agreeing with center/forward Jaylin Williams on a multi-year contract extension on the big man's 23rd birthday.,The team did not announce terms or other specifics of the deal, but it is a three-yea...

Reports: Bucks F Bobby Portis agrees to 3-year, $44M contract
Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis has declined his player option and will sign a three-year, $44 million contract to stay with the team, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday.,Portis, 30, had until Sunday to decide on the player option worth $13.4 million. The new deal includes a player optio...

Rockies tie game in ninth, beat Brewers in 11 innings
Kyle Farmer's RBI single in the 11th inning lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday that also snapped the visiting club's five-game losing streak.,Colorado trailed 2-0 after six innings but plated one run in each of the last four frames to notch its 13th com...

Report: James Harden gets new 2-year, $81.5M deal with Clippers
James Harden declined his player option in order to sign a new two-year contract with the Los Angeles Clippers worth $81.5 million, ESPN reported Sunday.,The 11-time All-Star guard will return to the Clippers after spending the past two seasons there. The second year of the new pact reportedly has a...