By The Associated Press undefined A look at what's happening around the majors today: CLOSER NEEDED The Braves have a big hole in their bullpen now that closer Arodys Vizcaino will miss the rest of the season after having right shoulder surgery. General manager Alex Anthopoulos has heard ...

By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Brett Gardner smiled through the fog left from a gaudy celebration in the New York Yankees clubhouse, part of the new postgame routine that includes the razzle-dazzle of a smoke machine and strobe lights. "I think the idea was to play it ...

By The Associated Press undefined BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 37 points and the Boston Celtics rallied late in the fourth quarter to beat the Indiana Pacers 99-91 on Wednesday night for a 2-0 lead in the first-round series Coming out of a timeout with a chance for Indiana to tie it, ...

By TIM BOOTH AP Sports Writer SEATTLE (AP) — After one of the worst starts of his career, Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco spent several days tinkering to try and find solution. All it took was Carrasco picking up his tempo and believing in what he was throwing. "The last game I didn't have ...

By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer DETROIT (AP) — At this point, Clint Hurdle is probably used to managing for more than nine innings. Colin Moran hit an RBI single in the top of the 10th, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night. It was the second straight ...

By Rich Rovito Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 13 of his 26 points in Milwaukee’s big third quarter and the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 120-99 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series. Eric Bledsoe led the Bucks with 27 ...

TORONTO (AP) — David Pastrnak scored twice in quick succession, Brad Marchand had a goal and two assists and the Boston Bruins held off the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-4 on Wednesday night to tie the first-round series 2-2. Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist, Zdeno Chara and Joakim Nordstrom ...

By Kyle Hightower AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — Kyrie Irving scored 37 points and the Boston Celtics rallied late in the fourth quarter to beat the Indiana Pacers 99-91 on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven, first-round series. Coming out of a timeout and with a ...

By Joe Totoraitis Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Michael Wacha cooled off NL MVP Christian Yelich, Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna each went deep, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 on Wednesday to avoid being swept. Yelich came in batting .556 with four home ...

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Alliance of American Football is officially out of business. The eight-team league that folded after eight games of its initial season ceased all business operations and filed for bankruptcy Wednesday. "The AAF is committed to ensuring that our bankruptcy proceeds in ...

By Mitch Stacy AP Sports Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Tampa Bay Lightning ended up on the wrong side of NHL history, getting swept in the first round of the playoffs after one of the best regular seasons ever. The Columbus Blue Jackets capped a stunning sweep of the Presidents Trophy ...

CHICAGO (AP) — Bears tight end Zach Miller has decided to retire after nearly losing his left leg on a gruesome play two years ago. Miller had nine surgeries to address his injuries after he dislocated his knee and tore an artery on a potential touchdown reception in New Orleans on Oct. 29, ...

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford did not join his teammates at voluntary workouts Tuesday. Stafford's wife, Kelly, announced earlier this month she plans to have surgery to remove a brain tumor. She posted on Instagram two days later, thanking everyone for ...

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Starting Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins' postseason could be in jeopardy after he injured his left quadriceps muscle in the first quarter of Monday night's 135-131 Game 2 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the ...

By The Associated Press undefined A look at what's happening around the majors today: RIVALRY RENEWED Mookie Betts tries to get going at the plate when the Red Sox (6-11) visit the Yankees (6-9) in the first meeting this season between the longtime rivals. Boston knocked New York out of the ...

By The Associated Press undefined RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Rookie forward Warren Foegele had two goals and an assist, Petr Mrazek earned his fourth career postseason shutout and the Carolina Hurricanes won their first home playoff game in a decade, routing the Washington Capitals 5-0 on Monday ...

By JIM HOEHN Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Christian Yelich got a big reward for a little extra early work. Yelich hit three homers, including a pair of three-run shots, and drove in a career-high seven runs to power the Milwaukee Brewers past the St. Louis Cardinals 10-7 on Monday ...

By BETH HARRIS AP Sports Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yasiel Puig's homer stole the show early against his former Los Angeles teammates. But Joc Pederson had the last word for the Dodgers. Pederson hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, pointing into the Dodger dugout and thumping his ...

By JIMMY GOLEN AP Sports Writer BOSTON (AP) — The two-time Boston Marathon champion turned onto Boylston Street with a sliver of a lead, leaning in front of two others with the finish line in sight. But one of them was Lawrence Cherono, the fastest man in the field. And he needed every bit ...

By The Associated Press undefined A look at what's happening around the majors Monday: JACKIE ROBINSON DAY Major League Baseball observes Jackie Robinson Day at ballparks all over the country. Robinson broke baseball's color barrier when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, ...