National Sports - The Morning Sun

New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer hands the ball to manager Buck Showalter during the sixth inning of the team's baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Scherzer exits with injury to side, Mets deck Cards 11-4

Max Scherzer pulled himself from a start with discomfort in his left side before the New York Mets finished off an 11-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Pete Alonso homered and drove in four … more

By MIKE FITZPATRICK | 5/19/22

Carolina Hurricanes celebrate an overtime goal by Ian Cole against the New York Rangers in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Cole's OT goal lift Hurricanes past Rangers for Game 1 win

Ian Cole beat Igor Shesterkin at 3:12 of overtime to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 2-1 to take Game 1 of their second-round playoff series. The defenseman’s second career … more

By AARON BEARD | 5/18/22

Mets ace Max Scherzer exits start with injury to left side

Mets ace Max Scherzer removed himself from a start against the St. Louis Cardinals with discomfort in left side. He will have an MRI on Thursday. The three-time Cy Young Award winner left with two … more

By MIKE FITZPATRICK | 5/18/22

FILE - Utah players celebrate with the trophy after their victory over Oregon to win the Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA football game Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, in Las Vegas. The Pac-12 announced, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, it was scrapping its divisional format for the coming season Wednesday, May 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens, File)

Pac-12 scraps divisions moments after NCAA paves way

The Pac-12 is scrapping its divisional format for the upcoming college football season. The Pac-12 will now match the teams with the highest conference winning percentages in its title game after 11 … more

By RALPH D. RUSSO | 5/18/22

Barnes, Mobley, Cunningham unanimous NBA All-Rookie picks

Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes, Cleveland forward Evan Mobley and Detroit guard Cade Cunningham were unanimously voted to the NBA All-Rookie first team. Orlando’s Franz Wagner and Houston’s … more

5/18/22

Colorado Rockies' Brian Sevren flies out against San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb in the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Rockies rook fouls 1st MLB pitch near family, mom gets ball

Colorado Rockies catcher Brian Serven fouled off the first pitch in his first major league at-bat in the direction of his family sitting behind the plate at Coors Field. And his mother ended up with … more

By MIKE CRANSTON | 5/18/22

Jordan Spieth hits from the bunker on the 13th hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Spieth among PGA favorites in quest for career Grand Slam

History is not on Jordan Spieth’s side as he arrives at Southern Hills for the PGA Championship this week. Of the five players who have won the career Grand Slam, none had to wait more than three … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 5/18/22

Milwaukee Brewers' Keston Hiura celebrates after hitting a walkoff two-run home run in the 11th inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 7-6. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Hiura's HR in 11th gives Brewers 7-6 victory over Braves

Keston Hiura hit a two-run, winning homer off Jesse Chavez in the 11th inning as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6. The Brewers had tied the game on … more

By STEVE MEGARGEE | 5/18/22

Horse trainer D. Wayne Lukas, right, rides atop Riff as he helps exercise rider Oscar Quevedo and Preakness entrant Secret Oath off the track after a morning workout ahead of the Preakness Horse Race at Pimlico Race Course, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Baltimore. Lukas could have entered the filly in the Black-Eyed Susan on Friday. Instead, the 86-year-old Hall of Fame trainer chose the Preakness for the Kentucky Oaks winner, who has done well facing off against male horses in previous opportunities. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Old Man & The Filly: Lukas saddling Secret Oath in Preakness

Secret Oath could give D. Wayne Lukas a record-tying seventh Preakness victory if she beats the boys in the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown. Secret Oath would also be the seventh filly to … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 5/18/22

With umbrellas and ponchos, IndyCar fans walk down a rain-soaked pit area at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Indianapolis, as wet weather postponed practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race. (Mykal McEldowney/The Indianapolis Star via AP)

INDY DAY 2: Chips, dip and paper boats on washout day

Rain washed out all activity on Day 2 of preparations for the Indianapolis 500. It meant the highlight was the trio of drivers from Arrow McLaren SP entertaining fans on both social media and then … more

By JENNA FRYER | 5/18/22

Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker (17) and forward Jimmy Butler (22) celebrate during the second half of Game 1 of an NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jimmy Butler, Heat seeking to take a 2-0 lead over Celtics

Things have been working out just fine so far in this postseason for Jimmy Butler and the top-seeded Miami Heat. They'll look to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals when they play host … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 5/18/22

Fans watch Tiger Woods on the seventh hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Dustin Johnson looking to get back on track at PGA

Jordan Spieth is going for the final leg of the career Grand Slam at the PGA Championship. Dustin Johnson would take any trophy at this point. Johnson has gone 15 months since his last win. A year … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 5/18/22

Scott Dixon, of New Zealand, waits in his pit box during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Dixon looking to jumpstart season with strong Indy 500

Scott Dixon says he's had a horrendous start to the IndyCar season. The six-time series champion has a shot to turn it around at the Indianapolis 500. He had a very fast car on opening day at … more

By JENNA FRYER | 5/18/22

Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) and Nazem Kadri (91) celebrate an overtime goal by Josh Manson (42) against St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Denver. The Avalanche won 3-2. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Support cast guides Avs in Game 1 win, stars spark Lightning

Colorado defenseman Cale Makar got a little help from his friends as the Avalanche took a 1-0 lead in their second-round playoff series with St. Louis. Makar wasn't at his best, but didn't need to be … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/18/22

Phillies slugger Harper won't play right field for 6 weeks

Bryce Harper sat out a third straight game as he recovers from a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow and the Phillies slugger may not play right field again until late July. Harper said … more

5/18/22

Eintracht supporters react in downtown Seville, Spain, Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Eintracht Frankfurt will play Glasgow Rangers in the Europa League final Wednesday evening in Seville. (AP Photo/Angel Fernandez)

5 German soccer fans detained in Spain following clashes

Spanish authorities say five German soccer fans have been detained following clashes ahead of the Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers. Spanish police say the Frankfurt fans … more

5/18/22

FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day directs his team during an NCAA college spring football game on April 16, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State is hiking Day's annual salary to $9.5 million, as part of a two-year contract extension that will put him among the nation's highest-paid college football coaches. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

Raise makes Ohio State's Day one of highest-paid coaches

Ohio State plans to hike Ryan Day’s annual salary to $9.5 million as part of a two-year contract extension that will put him among the nation’s highest-paid college football coaches. Day’s … more

By MITCH STACY | 5/18/22

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay touches his eye after spraying sparkling wine on the podium to celebrate winning the 10th stage of the Giro D'Italia cycling race from Pescara to Jesi, Italy, Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Girmay was then taken to a local hospital after getting injured when he popped a champagne cork into his eye during the podium celebration. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Girmay out of Giro after eye injury caused by prosecco cork

An accident with a prosecco cork while celebrating his historic stage victory at the Giro d’Italia has forced Biniam Girmay to pull out of the race. The Eritrean rider became the first Black … more

5/18/22

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save against Colorado Avalanche defenseman Erik Johnson (6) during the second period in Game 1 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Manson scores 8:02 into OT, Avs beat Blues 3-2 in Game 1

Josh Manson scored 8:02 into overtime, Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves in his return to the net from an eye injury, and the Colorado Avalanche beat the St. Louis Blues 3-2 in Game 1 of their second-round … more

By PAT GRAHAM | 5/18/22

FILE - Tiger Woods walks down the fifth fairway during the final round of the 89th PGA Golf Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., Aug. 12, 2007. Woods is expected back as the PGA returns to Southern Hills for the fifth time, May 19-22. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Restored to glory, Southern Hills ready for PGA showcase

Southern Hills has undergone an extensive restoration effort ahead of this week's PGA Championship, helping to return the venerable Tulsa layout into what its designer Perry Maxwell had in mind. The … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 5/18/22