MEXICO CITY (AP) — Alex Bowman wasn't sure he was going to make the trip to Mexico City because o...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Alex Bowman wasn't sure he was going to make the trip to Mexico City because of lower back pain suffered in “the hardest hit of my career” at Michigan last week.As late as Wednesday — the day before he was scheduled to leave for NASCAR's first points-paying Cup Series race of the modern era outside the United States — the Hendrick Motorsports driver was so sore he didn't know if he'd be able to get in the car.He was still sore after two days of practice at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, but it was after he got out of his No. 48 Chevrolet and not while he was driving. Bowman said his hit registered 50 G-force.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I don't know if on paper that's the biggest (hit) I've ever taken, but it's the most painful one I've ever taken, for sure,” Bowman said Saturday. “Even compared to when I broke my back, it's way more pain than that was.”Bowman last Sunday slammed hard into the wall at Michigan in a head-on impact at approximately 150 mph. The hit was so fierce that it lifted the rear wheels in the air. Although nothing was broken, he has severe lower back pain on his right side that shoots into his leg.The 32-year-old kidded he's been a bit of a “crash dummy” of late: Bowman missed five races in 2022 with a concussion suffered at Texas, and he broke his back in a 2023 sprint car crash that led Rick Hendrick to ban him from further extracurricular racing.Although he's ranked 13th in the Cup Series standings, he didn't want to miss a race considering the recent slump Bowman is going through. He has finished 27th or worse in seven of the last nine races and has five finishes of 35th or worse.Even though Bowman made it to Mexico City and says he feels fit enough inside the car, Anthony Alfredo is on standby in case Bowman can't complete Sunday's race on the 15-turn, 2.42-mile layout.Alfredo, a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series, does simulator work for Hendrick Motorsports. He has 42 starts in the Cup Series, including one start earlier this year at Talladega Superspeedway.Bowman, who qualified 29th, hopes to be able to complete the race.“The goal is to get all the laps in and go from there,” Bowman said. “It hasn't been a fun week at all. Wednesday was probably the worst day, but we're here and ready to go. It's all in the right side of my lower back and then through my lower right leg. Everything is really tight. It's all muscular. Definitely a lot of pain.”Shane in the rainShane Van Gisbergen won the pole for Sunday's race in Mexico City in a rain-shortened qualifying session.The New Zealander got in three qualifying laps and took the top spot with a lap of 93.904 mph to put his No. 88 Chevrolet from Trackhouse Racing out front.Van Gisbergen proved to be a master of racing on a wet road course in his NASCAR debut when he won on the rain-drenched street course in Chicago in 2023. That victory led to a career change for Van Gisbergen, who was an Australian V8 Supercars champion but made the move to NASCAR after shocking the Cup Series with his Chicago win.<remove></remove>“I don’t know, that’s your guys’ jobs, but I do know that we will be competitive if we get everything right,” he said. "It’s so hard to know what the car’s going to be like — it’s a different track, how it’s going to be affected by the altitude and the surface. We should be up front. These are the types of tracks I’m good at, so we’ll see.”But, he added he actually despises racing in the rain despite his superior skills at maneuvering slick surfaces.“I absolutely hate racing in the rain, but I’m good at it," he said. "I’d rather it didn’t rain, but if it happens, we put the wets on and go. I just don’t enjoy it. It’s just never fun. You’re always sliding around, and it just turns stuff into chaos. It’s fun to watch, but I don’t really enjoy driving.”Ryan Preece in a Ford for RFK Racing qualified second and was followed by Ross Chastain, Van Gisbergen's teammate at Trackhouse. Ty Gibbs in fourth was the highest qualifying Toyota driver.Suarez homecoming spoiledDaniel Suarez has been feted as a hero since arriving home in Mexico for this weekend's race, but the joy was spoiled when he demolished his car during qualifying for the Xfinity Series race.The Saturday crash caused JR Motorsports to unload a backup for Suarez to race later in the day. The native of Monterrey is doing double duty this weekend, racing in both the Xfinity Series race and the Cup Series race for Trackhouse.He qualified 10th for the Cup race.But because of his crash, he had to start at the back of the Xfinity field.Suarez said his Chevrolet had some brake issues in practice that led to a debate over skipping qualifying. He ultimately went out on the track but his brakes failed in Turn 11 and the car did not stop or turn.Instead, it slid across the track and slammed nose-first into the barrier. The crash buried the No. 9 into the firewall, and Suarez climbed out of his mangled car unscathed.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 14: Alex Bowman, driver of the #48 Ally Chevrolet, drives during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan forward Mehdi Taremi will not be able to join his teammates at the Club ...

MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan forward Mehdi Taremi will not be able to join his teammates at the Club World Cup in the United States as he is stuck in Tehran amid the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.Flights from all Iranian airports have been grounded following an exchange of military strikes between Iran and Israel over the last two days.That meant the Iran international was unable to take his scheduled flight on Saturday to join his Inter teammates in Los Angeles.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Taremi will miss Inter's opening match against Monterrey on Wednesday and Italian media reports the 32-year-old will not feature in the other matches either regardless of whether Iranian airspace reopens.Taremi joined Inter from Porto last year.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

COMO, ITALY - MAY 23: Mehdi Taremi of FC Internazionale looks dejected during the Serie A match between Como and FC Internazionale at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on May 23, 2025 in Como, Italy.

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HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros placed rookie outfielder Jacob Melton on the 10-day injured lis...

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Astros placed rookie outfielder Jacob Melton on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a sprained right ankle.Melton was injured playing defense in Friday night's win over Minnesota. The 24-year-old Melton hit .241 with a triple and six RBIs in 11 games this season.The Astros also optioned utility player Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Houston selected the contracts of outfielder Cooper Hummel and infielder Luis Guillorme from Sugar Land to take their spots on the roster.To make room on the 40-man roster, the Astros transferred right-hander Spencer Arrighetti to the 60-day injured list. Arrighetti is recovering from fracturing his right thumb in a batting practice mishap on April 7.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jacob Melton #31 of the Houston Astros runs after hitting a two-run triple against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Daikin Park on June 13, 2025 in Houston, Texas.

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BRIGHTON, England (AP) — James Milner will get another chance to become the player with the most ...

BRIGHTON, England (AP) — James Milner will get another chance to become the player with the most appearances in the Premier League era.The 39-year-old midfielder, who is 15 appearances short of Gareth Barry's record (653), has signed a one-year contract extension with Brighton.Milner sustained a serious knee injury that limited him to just four league games last season. He made his 638th appearance on the last day of the season, coming off the bench in a 4-1 victory over Tottenham.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"Last season he wasn't able to help the team on the pitch as much as he would have liked, but around the squad his experience is invaluable, especially for the younger players," Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said in the team's announcement Friday."He's a great guy to have in our environment, who is always there for me and the team," said Hurzeler, who is seven years younger than Milner. "I'm looking forward to working with him again."Milner, who will turn 40 in January, made his debut at age 16 for Leeds in November 2002.He's entering his record-extending 24th season overall and third at Brighton — he made 15 league appearances in the 2023-24 season — after eight years at Liverpool. Milner has also played for Manchester City, Aston Villa and Newcastle.Milner made 61 international appearances for England from 2009-16.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: James Milner of Brighton & Hove Albion reacts after the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Brighton & Hove Albion FC at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 25, 2025 in London, England.

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MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged U.S. officials on Friday not to targ...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged U.S. officials on Friday not to target individuals attending a Gold Cup soccer match in Los Angeles between the Mexican national team and the Dominican Republic.Dozens of workers have been detained by federal immigration authorities in a series of raids in LA’s fashion district and at Home Depot parking lots in Southern California. More than 100 people have been detained."We don't believe that there will be any raids if there's a soccer game," Sheinbaum said in a news conference. "We hope there won't be any. We call for no action from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Mexico is scheduled to play the Dominican Republic on Saturday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, in a group stage match of the Gold Cup.Usually, the Mexican national team matches attract thousands of fans whenever they play in Southern California. Their last match there was in March, when more than 50,000 fans attended a League of Nations semifinal against Canada.In the most recent measure in the administration's immigration crackdown, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and Marines to the Los Angeles area after the raids sparked days of tumultuous protests throughout the city. The city's downtown has seen a variety of protests, from quiet to boisterous. Over the weekend, protesters blocked a key freeway and set cars on fire.For safety concerns, the Mexican national team decided to change hotels earlier in the week and moved from downtown to Long Beach.Sheinbaum also said that the Mexican consulates in the United States have implemented an information campaign guide for Mexicans in the event of unjust detention by immigration authorities."This campaign we are carrying out through the consulates will provide all the information on what to do if detained, as well as ongoing contact with families," the Sheinbaum said.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 11: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her daily press conference at the National Palace, in Mexico City, Mexico on June 11, 2025. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied Kristi Noem's allegation that she encouraged violent protests in Los Angeles.

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MIAMI (AP) — The Club World Cup will take Inter Miami from start-up to the global stage.  Just fi...

MIAMI (AP) — The Club World Cup will take Inter Miami from start-up to the global stage.Just five years after its MLS debut, the team co-owned by David Beckham and starring Lionel Messi will have the eyes of the world on it as it kicks off soccer's newest competition with the chance to be crowned world champion.It's been a wild ride.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"This is a competition that will let us see where we are standing as a team," coach Javier Mascherano said Friday as Miami enters the unknown in a competition featuring 32 of the best teams from around the globe. "No one expects us to go far, but this should be an advantage. We don't have that in our national league when people expect Miami to be the winning team."Up first for Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday is Africa's most successful team — Al Ahly from Egypt, which has won a record 12 African championships.When it comes to winning heritage, there is no competition. Al Ahly, founded in 1907, has won a record 45 national league titles and 39 domestic cups — another record. It qualified for the Club World Cup three times over by winning three of the last four African Champions League titles.<h3>Questions over Miami's place</h3>Miami, meanwhile, is taking part in the tournament by more questionable means. Its place was secured as a result of winning the MLS Supporters' Shield, a decision that was greeted with some surprise when announced by FIFA president Gianni Infantino last year, and looked even more curious when Miami failed to go on and lift the MLS Cup that season.A tournament devised to determine the best team in the world by largely bringing together continental champions managed to shoehorn in a team that hadn't even managed to win its own national title.No wonder questions were raised.Miami, however, has made a habit of pulling off the unlikely and setting its sights high."Our club will have a global vision," managing owner and CEO Jorge Mas said when Miami was launched in 2018 — at that time without a team or even a name.<h3>Led by Messi, a classy pedigree</h3>Miami has lived up to that billing — luring star players like former Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain and eventually landing the biggest of them all two years ago when signing Messi. It is no surprise Infantino wanted the Argentine great in his inaugural tournament. The presence of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner adds glamour and interest, and boosts the chances of FIFA selling out more stadiums like the 65,000-seat Hard Rock."Everyone's talking about Messi 24/7 every day," said former Italy striker Christian Vieri, who is an analyst for broadcaster DAZN. "The whole world's going to be watching the first game and everyone wants to watch Messi, so it's just going be an incredible night."Messi has not just raised the profile of Miami, but also MLS, with clips of his goals shared around the world on social media."The league was growing before, but ever since his arrival it's grown a lot faster. What he's done for this sport in the States is huge," said Miami teammate Benjamin Cremaschi.With him in the team, Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023 and the Supporters' Shield last year, setting an MLS record for the most points in a single season.<h3>Optimism in South Florida</h3>And it is the presence of arguably the greatest player of all time, along with other star names like Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, that is driving belief Miami can make a statement over the next month."This club has had a short life, but this is the most important competition in the history of our club," Mascherano said. "It is only normal that a European team should win the competition, but these tournaments can spring a surprise. Why can we not be excited that we can spring a surprise?"Miami is likely to have to win its opening game to have a real chance of advancing beyond the first stage, with Brazilian giant Palmeiras and Portuguese side Porto also in Group A.For Messi, the tournament presents him with the unusual experience of being an underdog."The expectations I have are different to the ones I had when I played for other teams, but I'm eager and I look forward to competing against the best and doing well," he said.Win or lose, Suarez believes Miami's rapid rise is just the beginning."We know how the club is improving now," Suarez said. "The last two years we've had so many people here to see us. We keeping going up and the next two or three years Inter Miami will become bigger and bigger."___James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - JUNE 13: Lionel Messi (10) of Inter Miami CF attends an Inter Miami Training Session at Florida Blue Training Center on June 13, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil will have four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club W...

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil will have four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup kicking off this weekend in the United States. But for Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption.Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup, and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles.The only major trophy missing is a world champions' title.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense and Botafogo, also in the tournament, have never won it either. But the problem for Palmeiras and its 16 million fans stems from its three local rivals, Corinthians, Sao Paulo, and Santos, having all won it at least twice.That has led to over two decades of memes, jokes, and insults. It could all come back for the third time in five years for Palmeiras."It's true that we have a 10% chance of winning this tournament," Ferreira said in early May. "So we'll fight for these 10% starting with our first goal, getting through the group stage. We deserve to be there."<h3>Tough group rivals</h3>Palmeiras qualified as 2021 Copa Libertadores winners. Its group stage rivals are Portugal's Porto, Egypt's Al Ahly, and Lionel Messi's Inter Miami.Fans like Matheus Flor sees a better chance of "ending the world title curse" later this year in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, a shorter format with fewer teams, if Palmeiras wins its fourth Copa Libertadores title."The shortened version is more feasible; playing a European team just once in a final gives us more hope," Flor said. "I'd spend money to go to Dubai, Tokyo, wherever, if I saw a chance of winning. This time, I think we're not too excited because we know the joke will likely continue."Key Palmeiras players, like 18-year-old winger Estevao, midfielder Raphael Veiga, and defender Gustavo Gomez, might not remain after the tournament.<h3>Previous chances</h3>Palmeiras has had three earlier shots at a world title. In 1999, they lost the Intercontinental Cup 1-0 to Manchester United. Twenty-two years later, they suffered a 1-0 semifinal defeat to Mexico's Tigres in the Club World Cup, finishing fourth. A year later, more heartbreak came with a 2-1 extra time loss to Chelsea.Many Palmeiras fans cling to the 1951 Copa Rio title as world champion status, though FIFA doesn't officially equate it with the Intercontinental Cup and modern Club World Cup. That tournament saw Palmeiras beat Juventus 3-2 on aggregate.Palmeiras finished the current Copa Libertadores group stage with the most points and is also contending for the league title.Its first Club World Cup match is Sunday against Porto in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Most soccer fans in Sao Paulo will likely be watching.Ever-hopeful Palmeiras fan Flor is pleased his team is once again the focus of rivals."Of course we want to end the joke forever, but no club's greatness depends on lifting this title. We're already great, the biggest winner in Brazil for a very long time," Flor said. "One day we'll get it, and they'll all shut up."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Palmeiras' Uruguayan forward #17 Facundo Torres (C) celebrates with teammates forward #10 Paulinho (L) and forward #40 Allan after scoring during the Copa Libertadores group stage football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and Peru's Sporting Cristal at the Allianz Parque stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on May 28, 2025.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Preston Judd scored a shorthanded goal in the third minute of second-half s...

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Preston Judd scored a shorthanded goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to rally the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers on Friday night.Judd subbed into the match for Beau Leroux in the 75th minute and scored for the second time this season and the sixth of his career when Portland goalkeeper Daniel De Sousa Britto stopped but couldn’t wrap up a shot by Ousseni Bouda. Judd was there to tap the deflection in for the equalizer.San Jose (6-7-5) earned a point despite being forced to play a man down from the 52nd minute on after midfielder Ian Harkes was tagged with a second yellow card.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Portland (8-4-6) took a 1-0 lead in the 71st minute on a goal by defender Juan Mosquera. It was his first goal this season and his fourth in his 80th career appearance — all with the Timbers. Felipe Mora notched his third assist of the campaign.James Pantemis finished with six saves in goal for the Timbers.Daniel De Sousa Britto saved four shots for the Earthquakes.Portland is 14-0-5 all time at home against San Jose.The Earthquakes beat the visiting Timbers 1-0 in May.The Earthquakes travel to play FC Dallas on June 25. The Timbers return to league play on June 28 at Toronto FC.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

PORTLAND, OREGON - JUNE 13: Preston Judd #19 of San Jose Earthquakes celebrates his goal against the Portland Timbers during a game between Portland Timbers and San Jose Earthquakes at Providence Park on June 13, 2025 in Portland, Oregon.

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Judd scores late to rally 10-man San Jose to draw at Portland

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Game on the line, season quite possibly on the line, the Oklahoma City Thunde...

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Game on the line, season quite possibly on the line, the Oklahoma City Thunder had only one place to turn.They went to the MVP.And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivered, scoring 15 of his 35 points in the final 4:38, capping Oklahoma City’s rally from a 10-point, second-half deficit and sealing a 111-104 win over the Indiana Pacers 111-104 on Friday night to tie the NBA Finals at two games apiece.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He definitely showed who he is tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said.It was all SGA for OKC down the stretch. The Thunder closed the game on a 16-7 run; he had all but one of those points.“We played with desperation to end the game,” Gilgeous-Alexander said, “and that’s why we won.”Jalen Williams added 27, Alex Caruso had 20 and Chet Holmgren finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds for the Thunder. They did it the hard way — with a season-low three 3-pointers, and no assists from Gilgeous-Alexander for the first time all season.Pascal Siakam scored 20 for Indiana, which got 18 from Tyrese Haliburton and 17 from Obi Toppin.Game 5 of the series — now essentially a best-of-three — is at Oklahoma City on Monday night, with the Thunder now having reclaimed home-court advantage.“This kind of a challenge is going to have extreme highs and extreme lows,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “This is a low right now and we’re going to have to bounce back from it.”The Thunder basically saved their realistic chance at winning the title. Teams with a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the championship 37 times in 38 past chances. The Pacers looked well on their way to being the 39th team with such an edge, before Gilgeous-Alexander saved the day.“We knew it when we woke up this morning; 3-1 is a lot different than 2-2 going back home,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.The Pacers came out flying, scoring 20 points in the first 4:59 — only the second time all season the Thunder gave up so many so quickly. They led by as many as nine early, but were unable to pull away.And things got chippy for the first time in the series: Toppin was called for a Flagrant 1 on Caruso midway through the second quarter, then Toppin was the recipient of a Flagrant 1 from Lu Dort just before the half. The Pacers closed on a 15-6 run, taking a 60-57 lead into the break.Toppin’s baseline dunk late in the third put Indiana up 86-76, its first double-digit lead of the series coming late in the 15th quarter of the series. Back came OKC: A 13-3 run tied the game early in the fourth at 89, the first of a handful of those down the stretch.Tied at 91. Tied at 95. Tied at 97. And, finally, the lead: Gilgeous-Alexander’s step-back with 2:23 left put the Thunder up 104-103, their first lead of the second half.They kept it the rest of the way.“We wanted to win,” Siakam said. “I thought we played well enough for some stretches ... but unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”___AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - JUNE 13: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks to pass the ball during the game against Andrew Nembhard #2 of the Indiana Pacers during Game Four of the 2025 NBA Finals on June 13, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Aiva Arquette scored from first base on Gavin Turley’s drive into the left-fie...

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Aiva Arquette scored from first base on Gavin Turley’s drive into the left-field corner in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Oregon State a 4-3 walk-off victory over Louisville in the College World Series on Friday night.The Cardinals had tied the game with two runs in the top half before Oregon State recorded its fourth walk-off win of the season and second in four games.The Beavers (48-14-1), back in Omaha for the first time since they won the national title in 2018, will play Coastal Carolina on Sunday after the Cardinals (40-22) meet Arizona in an elimination game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Arquette, a projected first-round pick in the MLB amateur draft next month, had had a rough night in the field before delivering his third base hit of the game with one out in the ninth. Turley then sent the first pitch from Jake Schweitzer (4-2) on a line into the corner. Left fielder Zion Rose tried to cut the ball off but couldn’t come up with it, allowing Arquette to be waved home.Oregon State’s dugout emptied, and Turley was drenched with a bucket of sports drink in the on-field celebration. In the Beavers’ super regional opener last week, Turley scored the winning run on AJ Singer’s walk-off single in a 5-4, 10-inning win over Florida State.The Cardinals, who trailed 3-1, stranded runners at third base in the sixth and seventh innings and couldn’t score after getting their leadoff man on base in the eighth.They broke through to tie it in the ninth against Kellan Oakes (5-0). Rose tripled to left when the ball got past Turley and rolled to the wall and Tague Davis followed with an RBI single. Alex Alicea reached on shortstop Arquette’s throwing error and ended up on third when catcher Wilson Weber lost his grip on the ball as he tried to get Alicea at second.Kamau Neighbors drove in Alicea for the tying run with his liner to center before Oakes got a strikeout and groundout to end the inning.Oregon State starter Dax Whitney was nearly untouchable the first two times through the Louisville order. He mixed mid-90 mph fastballs with knee-buckling curveballs and changeups to strike out eight of the first 11 batters he faced, and the only hits against him through five innings were a couple balls poked through the infield.The 6-foot-5 right-hander from Blackfoot, Idaho, finished with nine strikeouts and left with one out in the sixth and two runners on base.Louisville starter Patrick Forbes matched zeroes with Whitney through three innings, fanning five of the first nine he faced. He finished with 10 strikeouts and was replaced by Justin West with bases loaded in the sixth after he issued his only walk.West ended the inning with two strikeouts, but not before Canon Reeder made it 3-1 when Alicea couldn’t pick up his sharply hit grounder.___AP college sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports">https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports</a>

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Gavin Turley #1 of the Oregon State Beavers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the eighth inning at Jackie Robinson Stadium on May 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Coastal Carolina broke open a tie game with three runs in the eighth inning, D...

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Coastal Carolina broke open a tie game with three runs in the eighth inning, Dominick Carbone shut down an Arizona threat in the ninth, and the Chanticleers opened the College World Series with a 7-4 victory Friday.The Chanticleers (54-11) extended their winning streak to 24 games in their first appearance in Omaha since they beat Arizona in the 2016 finals. They’ll play Sunday against the winner of Friday night’s game between Louisville and No. 8 national seed Oregon State.Arizona (44-20), in the CWS for the first time since 2021, will play the Louisville-Oregon State loser on Sunday.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Coastal Carolina scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to forge a 4-all tie with the Wildcats and took the lead in the eighth after reliever Garrett Hicks (5-1) retired the first two batters.Wells Skyes sliced a ball just inside the right-field line for a double and Caden Bodine was intentionally walked before Sebastian Alexander singled in the go-ahead run. Arizona closer Tony Pluta came on and gave up Blake Barthol’s two-run double.The Wildcats had runners on the corners with none out in the ninth. Carbone struck out pinch-hitter Dom Rodriguez and then got Brendan Summerhill to hit into a game-ending double play.The Chanticleers of the Sun Belt Conference arrived with the most wins and on the longest winning streak ever entering a CWS.Gary Gilmore, who coached the 2016 national championship team and retired after last season, accepted Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall’s invitation to fly with the team to Omaha. He watched the game from the stands.Chanticleers reliever Cameron Flukey (8-1) went four innings in relief of Riley Eikhoff and allowed two runs on two hits and a walk.Coastal Carolina finished with 14 hits against four pitchers. Blagen Pado, who entered the NCAA Tournament batting .225, continued his postseason tear. He went 2 for 4 and is now 10 of 21 (.476) with three homers and eight RBIs over six tournament games.Arizona’s Mason White hit his 20th homer of the season, and 49th of his career, in the fourth inning, with Alexander leaping at the left-field fence and having the ball soar just over his outstretched glove.The Wildcats’ Owen Kramkowski, coming off his worst start of the season in an 18-2 loss at North Carolina in Game 1 of super regionals, scattered nine singles and a walk while giving up three runs in five innings. He struck out seven.___AP college sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports">https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports</a>

CLEMSON, SC - JUNE 02: Coastal Carolina Chanticleer pitcher Dominick Carbone (40) throws a pitch during the NCAA Division 1 Regional College Baseball game between the High Point Panthers and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers on June 2, 2024, at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C.

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Coastal Carolina beats Arizona in CWS opener 

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two Mexican clubs seeking to reinstate promotion and relegation say the Mexica...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Two Mexican clubs seeking to reinstate promotion and relegation say the Mexican Football Association is trying to silence and punish them after they appealed to sport's highest court.Last month, 10 of the 15 clubs in Mexico's second division filed the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Since then, four of them have opted out leaving six in it: Leones Negros, Venados FC, Atletico Morelia, Cancun FC, Club Atletico La Paz and Mineros.The FMF halted promotion in 2019 and agreed with the second division teams to reinstate it in 2026, but there are no current plans to do it and that is why the clubs went to CAS.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"We can't ascend to the first division because the league is kidnapped," Giovanni Solazzi, the Cancun FC vice president said this week. "If there is sporting justice, promotion must return."Alberto Castellanos, the Leones Negros president, also criticized the federation for what he called "monopolistic practices."On Wednesday, the federation wrote to Solazzi and Castellanos informing them they were being investigated because their statements may have breached the code of ethics. The clubs could be fined up to 450,000 pesos (about $23,000), stated the letter, seen by the Associated Press."The FMF is clearly pursuing an intimidatory process intended to silence and punish the clubs for appealing to CAS," said Eduardo Carlezzo, the owner of the legal firm representing the clubs in the appeal.The owners of the 18 top flight teams voted to halt promotion and relegation for six seasons, arguing it would help to consolidate the second-division clubs. As a payoff, the second tier clubs share an $8 million pot.Since the CAS appeal, the second division teams claim they have not received any payments."The federation suspended the financial compensation the day after the appeal was launched and is now threatening disciplinary sanction over comment," Carlezzo said. "These actions constitute a serious and blatant infringement of the freedom of expression and the access to justice guaranteed by the Mexican constitution."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

TOLUCA, MEXICO - MAY 25: General view as the smoke of red flares fill the stadium during the Torneo Clausura 2025 Liga MX Final second leg match between Toluca and Club America at Nemesio Diez Stadium on May 25, 2025 in Toluca, Mexico.

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Mexican FA accused of silencing clubs seeking promotion reinstatement

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise has been named winner of the Dick Howser T...

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Florida State shortstop Alex Lodise has been named winner of the Dick Howser Trophy as the national player of the year, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced Friday.Lodise is the third player in program history to win the Howser, joining J.D. Drew in 1997 and Buster Posey in 2008. The award has been presented annually since 1987 and is named after former FSU All-American and head coach Dick Howser.Lodise was named Atlantic Coast Conference player and defensive player of the year, and he also is a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as the top amateur player in the nation and Brooks Wallace Award as the nation’s top shortstop.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Lodise ranked among the national leaders with a .394 batting average, 17 home runs, 18 doubles, 68 RBIs and .705 slugging percentage. He committed only five errors on 216 fielding chances (.977) and was part of 34 double plays.The junior from Jacksonville, Florida, had at least one hit in 48 of his 58 games. He had 31 multi-hit games and 13 games with three or more hits. Among his season highlights was hitting for the cycle in a March 25 game against Florida — finishing it with a walk-off grand slam.___AP college sports: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports">https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports</a>

CORAL GABLES, FL - MARCH 22: FSU infielder Alex Lodise (1) hits a single in the first inning as the Miami Hurricanes faced the Florida State Seminoles on March 22, 2025, at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park in Coral Gables, Florida.

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Florida State's Lodise wins Dick Howser Trophy as top college player

Former NFL player Antonio Brown is facing an attempted murder charge stemming from a shooting tha...

Former NFL player Antonio Brown is facing an attempted murder charge stemming from a shooting that took place <a href="https://apnews.com/article/antonio-brown-gunshots-adin-ross-bea21d312928850618ea894f5dabae53">during an altercation</a> outside an amateur boxing event in Miami, according to an arrest warrant.Brown, 36, is accused of grabbing a handgun from a security staffer and firing two shots at a man he had gotten into a fistfight with earlier. The victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, told investigators one of the bullets grazed his neck.The warrant does not list an attorney for Brown, an All-Pro wide receiver who last played in the NFL in 2021 for Tampa Bay but spent most of his 12-year career with Pittsburgh. Brown did not respond to messages sent to his social media accounts.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The second-degree attempted murder charge carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence and up to a $10,000 fine.It is the latest in a series of legal problems for Brown, who has previously been accused of <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-domestic-news-domestic-news-4a03a6fe1f2b521819510f040a6b3ce6">battery of a moving truck driver,</a> several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support and other incidents. During a 2021 game with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-tampa-bay-buccaneers-new-york-jets-antonio-brown-c48ae18f37f1c92709ca446df4bbfcef">Tampa Bay against the New York Jets</a>, Brown took off his jersey, shoulder pads and gloves and ran off the field, leading to his release by the Buccaneers.After that incident, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady said people should show some compassion for Brown, who lived at Brady's home during his time in Tampa Bay."It’s a difficult situation,” Brady said then. “Everybody should do what they can to help him in ways that he really needs it. We all love him. We care about him deeply. We want to see him be at his best. Unfortunately, it won’t be with our team."According to the arrest warrant, Brown attended a celebrity boxing event in Miami on May 16. Police were called to the location after other patrons reported hearing shots fired. Several of them told officers Brown was the shooter, but when he was detained in the parking lot no weapon was found, but two bullet casings were located.Brown was released then because the victim was not found immediately, according to the warrant. Later, investigators learned Nantambu was the victim.Based on surveillance video, the altercation outside the boxing event involving Brown, Nantambu and others was broken up by security staff, one of whom got into a struggle with Brown, the warrant says.“Mr. Brown appears to retrieve a black firearm from the right hip area” of the security official, the warrant says. “Cellphone video obtained from social media showed Mr. Brown with the firearm in his hand advancing toward Mr. Nantambu on the outside sidewalk. The video captures two shots which occur as Mr. Brown is within several feet of Mr. Nantambu.”Nantambu identified Brown as the shooter and told investigators he had known Brown since 2022.In a social media post after the altercation, Brown said he was “jumped by multiple individuals who tried to steal my jewelry and cause physical harm to me.”During his playing career, Brown caught 928 passes for 12,291 yards and 88 touchdowns. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning the 2021 Super Bowl along with Brady. Brown was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 23: NFL wide reciever Antonio Brown looks on courtside during the second half between the Miami Heat and the Memphis Grizzlies at American Airlines Arena on October 23, 2019 in Miami, Florida. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement.

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Police looking to arrest Antonio Brown on attempted murder charge

MEXICO CITY (AP) — NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the United States was off to a bumpy st...

<div>
MEXICO CITY (AP) — NASCAR's first Cup Series race outside the United States was off to a bumpy start Friday with several teams yet to arrive in Mexico City because of travel issues in North Carolina.
At least one chartered flight to Mexico City was grounded Thursday with an engine issue, leaving teams scrambling to find alternative routes to get to Mexico. Some drove to Atlanta to catch a commercial flight.
But when the track opened Friday, many were not at Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Trackhouse Racing was among them — Daniel Suarez arrived Tuesday with some support personnel so he was not affected — but the communications director for the Cup team had been summoned to help unload the Trackhouse cars off the truck because no crew members were available.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
The trucks came directly from last Sunday's race in Michigan and arrived at the Mexico City track on Thursday.
NASCAR said only “a select few” teams aren't on site Friday morning. But, it seems most are Xfinity Series teams based on a revamping of the weekend schedule.
“Due to two aircraft issues that grounded multiple race teams in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, NASCAR has adjusted the on-track schedule for this weekend’s activities at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez,” NASCAR said in a statement.
NASCAR delayed Friday's originally planned Cup Series practice to later in the afternoon. NASCAR also pushed all Xfinity Series practice sessions from Friday to Saturday. And, the first of two NASCAR Mexico Series races will run earlier than originally scheduled on Friday.
The Xfinity Series will lose some practice time, with just one 50-minute session on Saturday morning, right before qualifying. There are other slight adjustments as well, but Cup teams will not lose any practice.
___
AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>
</div>

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 13: Rodrigo Rejon driver of the #95 Chevrolet drives during practice for the NASCAR Mexico Series at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 13, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.

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1st Cup Series race outside U.S. hits travel snags on way to Mexico City

If slashed ticket prices, closed stadium sections and moved seats are any indication, fans aren’t...

If slashed ticket prices, closed stadium sections and moved seats are any indication, fans aren’t exactly clamoring to attend the <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-club-world-cup">Club World Cup.</a>The tournament opens Saturday with Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami facing Al Ahly at Florida’s Hard Rock Stadium. Thirty-two teams are taking part in the newly expanded tournament that will be played across 11 U.S. cities. The final is set for July 13 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.On Ticketmaster, FIFA’s official ticketing partner for the Club World Cup, the least expensive tickets to the opener were $349 in December. As of Thursday, there were tickets available for just under $80.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Upper deck seats for certain games at Seattle’s Lumen Field and Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field were no longer available. Links to a smattering of resale tickets in those sections did not work.A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Associated Press that some sections of Lumen Field in Seattle had been closed, but did not offer details. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak on the record.In Philadelphia, some ticketholders received messages that said they were moved.“As we continue preparations to deliver a world-class event, we are making a few enhancements inside the stadium to optimize operations and ensure the best possible matchday experience for fans, players and the global broadcast audience,” the message said. “As a result of these stadium optimizations, some seats, including yours, will be relocated. We want to ensure you that your new seat will be in the same or better value zone than your original one.”Ticketmaster used dynamic pricing for ticket sales, which is based on demand and other factors. They referred all questions about sales to FIFA.FIFA did not respond to questions about whether sections were closed due to slow ticket sales, or whether fans who originally bought tickets in those sections were moved or offered refunds.But soccer’s international governing body did offer a general statement.“We anticipate great attendances and electric atmospheres at its inaugural edition, with excitement growing with every round of matches and the tournament ultimately standing as the undisputed pinnacle of club world football,” the statement said in part. “The appetite speaks for itself: fans from over 130 countries have already purchased tickets. The top 10 markets are led by the United States, followed by Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, France, Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal — a clear sign of global anticipation and reach.”With 32 international teams, there are undoubtedly some clubs that are unfamiliar to American audiences. There are also 63 total matches, meaning not all can occur in prime hours for fans.Argentine club River Plate is playing Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds at Lumen Field on Tuesday at noon local time ($24 tickets), while a noon game between Brazil’s Fluminense and Germany’s Borussia Dortmund had tickets available via Ticketmaster for $23.However, some matches were drawing fans, including Paris Saint-Germain’s opener against Atletico Madrid on Sunday at the Rose Bowl, where the least expensive seats were $100.The least expensive ticket for July’s tournament final available through Ticketmaster was $769.FIFA President Gianni Infantino urged fans to buy tickets at a hype event in the leadup to the tournament this week.“Be part of history,” he said. “Football is such an important sport all over the world. We have billions of people watching this Club World Cup from home who would love to club and to attend.”___AP soccer: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/soccer">https://apnews.com/hub/soccer</a>

People work at the Rose Bowl Stadium ahead of the Club World Cup 2025 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico de Madrid in Pasadena, California, on June 12, 2025.

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Prices slashed amid low Club World Cup ticket sales

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Daniel Suarez has become the unofficial tour guide for all things Mexico City ...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Daniel Suarez has become the unofficial tour guide for all things Mexico City as NASCAR prepares to race internationally this Sunday for the first international points-paying Cup Series event of the modern era.From where to eat, what to do, how to navigate the city and even basic conversation in Spanish, Suarez has been the go-to guy in the garage since NASCAR said it would take the Cup Series outside the United States for just the third time in 77 years.The Monterrey native has made multiple trips to NASCAR as the face of Sunday's race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, where he's raced on a different course layout 13 times, with three wins in NASCAR's Mexico Series.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>He'd like to win at the Cup level — if he pulls it out in his home country Sunday it will be his first victory of this season — but Suarez is juggling a very difficult balancing act. He's elated to be racing in front of a home crowd, honored to show of the culture and magic of Mexico City, but at the same time tremendously concerned about his NASCAR future.Suarez is in a contract year with Trackhouse Racing, which has Ross Chastain and Shane van Ginsberg under contract while Connor Zilisch is its development driver and on loan to several teams at lower national levels of NASCAR racing.Trackhouse only has three Cup Series seats, math Suarez can't ignore as he heads into Sunday ranked 28th in the standings.“It’s not the first time that I’ve been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it’s not the first time that I’ve been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,” Suarez said. “It’s definitely a distraction. I won’t sit here and tell you that it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and to put all this stuff on the side and just do my thing on the track.”Return to MexicoSuarez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, has two Cup victories, three Xfinity Series wins and one Truck Series win. His 2016 championship in the second-tier Xfinity Series made him the only foreign-born driver to win a national series title.Suarez has faced adversity before, but never like the pressure he's feeling hoping to deliver in front of the local crowd. This weekend in Mexico is special to Suarez, who expects well over 100 of the spectators in attendance Sunday to be friends and family.They've watched from afar as he's worked his way into the NASCAR spotlight, a journey full of ups and downs that have seen Suarez drive for four different Cup teams. He joined Trackhouse Racing in 2021 and last year signed a one-year extension through 2025.At the time, he said he wanted to reassess where the program was before signing a long-term deal. But it's been a disappointing start to the season and his average finish of 21st is three spots worse than last year.“The Mexico race is something that I’ve been hoping and waiting on for many, many years, and I’m not going to let anything else from outside take that week and that moment from myself,” Suarez said. “We have to just continue to put one foot in front of the other and continue to move forward. I think that in Trackhouse, we have found some decent speed in the last few weeks, so that’s promising, and hopefully we can continue to move in that direction.”Suarez will have Mexican communication company Telcel on his car this weekend.“For many years, I never had a sponsor deal with a company from Mexico because I wasn’t racing there,” Suarez said. “So right now that we’re going to be having an event down there, it opens a whole new world of opportunities and that’s great, obviously for me, but for the entire sport.”Contract DistractionsIt's another layer of pressure for Suarez, who wants nothing more than to balance the demands of being the star of Sunday's show with delivering a strong showing."Once we get into the race, we don’t want to deal with any of this stuff, and I just want to focus and have fun driving race cars,” he said. “There is going to be more on my plate just by nature, just being the local guy, the very first race ever in Mexico City in the Cup Series. I have to accept that. With that being said, I have to protect my space for the competition stuff because if we don’t do the competition stuff right, everything else doesn’t really matter. So we have to put a balance on everything.”As Suarez noted, a win on Sunday would dramatically improve his hopes of remaining with Trackhouse on a contract extension. It could happen: Suarez's first Cup victory came on the road course at Sonoma, and the next five Cup races include road-course races at Mexico City, Sonoma and the Chicago street course.He admitted “honestly, I don't know” about what he'd like out of a contract extension, but said he speaks regularly with team owner Justin Marks.“The trajectory of Trackhouse has been tremendous,” Suárez said. “We have learned so many things. I really want to help Justin bring Trackhouse to the next level. I believe that 2022 has been our best year as a company, still. So why is that? Are we missing something? Do we have to change something? What do we need to do better? As a new team, to have your best years that early, it’s kind of uncommon. One of the reasons, I believe, was because of the new car. So I believe that we have to continue to grow.“Ross just won a race a couple weeks ago, and that’s brought a lot of energy to the team and some more momentum. Before that, it was a little bit of a struggle. So we have to continue to find that speed in a consistent basis, just like the big teams," he continued. "So we’re having all these conversations. I wish I didn’t have to have these conversations, and I didn’t have these distractions, but it’s part of life, right? Sometimes you have to do several things at the same time. But I’m trying not to think about it too much and trying to work in my job and push as hard as possible for competition and trying to help the team slowly get better and better.”___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - JUNE 08: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #99 Jockey Infinite Cool Underwear Chevrolet, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 08, 2025 in Brooklyn, Michigan.

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SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — This is becoming Leon Draisaitl’s Stanley Cup Final for the Edmonton Oilers....

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — This is becoming Leon Draisaitl’s Stanley Cup Final for the Edmonton Oilers.The standout German forward has scored the overtime goal in each of their two wins in the championship series rematch against the Florida Panthers, including Thursday night in Game 4 to pull Edmonton even. He’s just the fifth player in NHL history and first in more than three decades to score twice in overtime in the final.“He’s as clutch as it gets," goaltender Calvin Pickard said while sitting next to Draisaitl, who also had a pair of assists for a three-point performance. “Always scores big goals at big times.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Draisaitl’s four OT goals this playoffs are the most in a single postseason. John LeClair was the last to score two OT goals in a final for Montreal back in 1993, the last time a Canadian team won the Cup.Edmonton is two victories away from ending that drought thanks in large part to Draisaitl delivering when it matters most.“It’s incredible," longtime teammate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins said. "He’s a horse out there for us — just always. It’s just constant. It’s consistent. We always can lean on him, and he always finds a way to get those big ones.”It's also nothing new. Among modern day players with at least 40 games of playoff experience, only Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux and teammate Connor McDavid have produced at a higher rate at the toughest time of the year to put the puck in the net.Draisaitl is averaging 1.49 points a game, and this series has been a showcase for him after being far less than 100% a year ago when he and the Oilers lost in the final. All the overtimes aren't bothering him.“I feel great," Draisaitl said. "It’s a long season, of course, for either side. We’ve played the same amount of minutes in this series. Fatigue kicks in at some point, but your adrenaline usually takes over and you just chip away at it, chip away at it.”Draisaitl addressed teammates after a 6-1 loss in Game 3 on Monday night, an uncharacteristic effort from the oldest team in the league. He was equally as unpleased after Edmonton fell behind 3-0 in the first period of Game 4."We were kind of lollygagging around a little bit," Draisaitl said. “It’s certainly not the time to lollygag around, especially after getting spanked in Game 3.”The Oilers rallied to tie it, took the lead and then gave up the tying goal with 19.5 seconds left in regulation. That set the stage for Draisaitl to lead the way with his play, not just his words.“He not only says what he’s going to do, he backs it up with his play and his actions,” defenseman Darnell Nurse said. "That’s what makes him an amazing leader. We get into overtime, those tense moments and he has an ability to relax in them and just make plays. He gets rewarded for working hard.”Draisaitl accurately called his goal “a fortunate bounce — no secret about it.” But there were enough plays throughout the night that he did not finish, so call it even.With the Panthers putting all their energy into stopping McDavid, Draisaitl is taking over just about any time he's on the ice.“Leon, I don't know what could be said that really conveys what he brings to our team — not only the leadership but the play,” coach Kris Knoblauch said. “He has just elevated his game in the toughest moments.”Draisaitl is making his case for the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, the award McDavid won last year in a losing effort and refused to leave the locker room to accept. He pulled even with McDavid as the favorite on BetMGM Sportsbook after scoring in overtime and tying him for the postseason scoring lead with 32 points.Asked how Draisaitl seems to be so automatic in overtime and other clutch situations, teammate Vasily Podkolzin responded: "Because he’s one of the best players in the world. That’s why."___AP NHL playoffs: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup">https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a>

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - JUNE 12: Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates after scoring during overtime to beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in Game Four of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on June 12, 2025 in Sunrise, Florida.

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Stanley Cup Final becoming a showcase for Draisaitl

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Denny Hamlin will miss NASCAR's first international race of the modern era to ...

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Denny Hamlin will miss NASCAR's first international race of the modern era to remain in North Carolina following the birth of his child. Ryan Truex will replace him Sunday in Mexico City. "See you guys in Pocono," Hamlin posted on social media. "We are happy to announce the birth of our son. Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Hamlin and fiancee Jordan Fish now have three children, two daughters and a son born Wednesday. Hamlin had been on baby watch the last 12 days as Fish went nearly two weeks past her predicted due date. He had planned to get out of the car at Michigan last Sunday if she went into labor early in the race, but when the first stage passed with no word, he went on to score his third win of the season. The victory was the 57th of his career and made him the all-time winningest driver at Joe Gibbs Racing.Through 15 races this season, Hamlin ranks third in the overall Cup Series standings. Truex, younger brother of former JGR full-time driver Martin Truex Jr., is Gibbs' reserve driver. His last Cup Series start was in 2014 and he has 26 starts at NASCAR's top level. Hamlin will need NASCAR to grant him a waiver to be eligible to compete in the playoffs for the Cup Series championship. NASCAR during the offseason tightened the rules for granting waivers, but said it would permit a driver skipping an event for the birth of a child.The 44-year-old Hamlin will snap his streak of 406 consecutive starts. Hamlin last missed a race in 2014 at California Speedway because of an eye irritation.___AP auto racing: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing">https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing</a>

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota, celebrates with Jordan Fish and daughter, Molly Hamlin in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina.

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Hamlin to miss NASCAR's 1st international race after birth of son

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it regularly provides security at big sporting events in ...

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it regularly provides security at big sporting events in response to questions about the agency's presence at the FIFA Club World Cup amid President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown."U.S. Customs and Border Protection is committed to working with our local and federal partners to ensure the FIFA Club World Cup 26 is safe for everyone involved, as we do with every major sporting event, including the Super Bowl. Our mission remains unchanged," the agency said Thursday in response to an inquiry by The Associated Press.The agency had previously deleted a social media post that said its officers would be "suited and booted" for the opening round this weekend of Club World Cup games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed questions about CBP involvement during an event earlier this week promoting Saturday's opener between Inter Miami and Al Ahly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida."No, I don't have any concerns about anything in the sense that we are already attentive on any security question," Infantino said. "Of course, the most important for us is to guarantee security for all fans who come to the games. And this is our priority."Border Patrol agents have routinely been called in to help with security for large events, including the Super Bowl. They handle things like screening cargo shipments into stadiums for hazardous materials and contribute to emergency planning.At last year's Copa America final at Hard Rock Stadium, throngs of fans breached security gates and forced the game to be delayed.The Club World Cup opener Saturday comes amid protests in several cities over actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.The Club World Cup features 32 teams from across the globe playing in 11 cities nationwide through July 13.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 10: General view of Hard Rock Stadium on June 10, 2025 in Miami, Florida.

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Border Patrol says presence at Club World Cup is normal

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