National Sports - The Morning Sun

United States forward Mallory Swanson signals to fans as she is taken off the field after an injury during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Ireland in Austin, Texas, Saturday, April 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

US regroups for Women's World Cup with Swanson sidelined

The United States is facing some uncertainty as it prepares for the approaching Women’s World Cup with forward Mallory Swanson sidelined by a serious knee injury for the foreseeable future. Swanson … more

By ANNE M. PETERSON | 4/11/23

Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid looks over the ice during the second period of the team's NHL hockey game against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Lucas Peltier)

McDavid for MVP? Assessing the choices for top NHL awards

Edmonton captain Connor McDavid could again be the unanimous choice for the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP. He could also win the Ted Lindsay Award voted on by his peers. San Jose's Erik Karlsson is the … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/11/23

Canada forward Jamie Lee Rattray (47) celebrates with teammate Brianne Jenner (19) after defeating the United States in a shootout of a women's world hockey championships game in Brampton, Ontario, Monday, April 10, 2023. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada beats U.S. 4-3 in 9th round of SO at women's worlds

Jamie Lee Rattray scored the winner in the ninth round of the shootout and Canada beat the United States 4-3 Monday night in the final preliminary round game for both teams at the women’s world … more

4/11/23

New York Mets' Max Scherzer pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Monday, April 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Scherzer rebounds, Mets blank Padres 5-0 in playoff rematch

Max Scherzer shut down the San Diego Padres for five innings, rebounding from his postseason flop against them last year, and the New York Mets won 5-0 in a playoff rematch between National League … more

By MIKE FITZPATRICK | 4/10/23

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney throws to the Kansas City Royals in the first inning of a baseball game, April 10, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Rangers' Heaney ties AL mark with 9 straight Ks vs. Royals

Texas Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney tied an AL record by striking out nine consecutive batters against the Kansas City Royals. Heaney matched a record shared by Detroit reliever Tyler Alexander … more

4/10/23

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Manuel Margot celebrates with shortstop Wander Franco (5) after the Rays defeated the Boston Red Sox during a baseball game Monday, April 10, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Rays top Red Sox 1-0, extend season-opening win streak to 10

The Tampa Bay Rays became the first major league team since the 1987 Milwaukee Brewers to open the season with 10 straight wins, getting a solo homer from Brandon Lowe in the eighth inning to beat … more

By MARK DIDTLER | 4/10/23

Will Zalatoris walks off the 12th tee during a practice for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Will Zalatoris out for PGA Tour season with back surgery

Will Zalatoris is out for the rest of the PGA Tour season after back surgery. He says he had surgery on the Saturday of the Masters. Zalatoris was at Augusta National for practice rounds and withdrew … more

By The Associated Press | 4/10/23

Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) is injured as he is tagged out attempting to score by Chicago White Sox catcher Seby Zavala during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 9, 2023. A bench clearing brawl ensued as a result of the play. The Pirates won 1-0. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pirates' Oneil Cruz out at least 4 months with broken ankle

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz will miss at least four months after having surgery to repair a fractured left ankle. Cruz sustained the injury while sliding home awkwardly during a 1-0 … more

By WILL GRAVES | 4/10/23

Jon Rahm, of Spain, celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

Jon Rahm a Masters champion everyone saw coming

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Jon Rahm is a Masters champion, and he can say he saw this coming based on the message in a fortune cookie from a Chinese fast-food chain nearly 10 years ago. Rahm was starting his … more

By Doug Ferguson / AP Golf Writer | 4/10/23

Boston Red Sox center fielder Adam Duvall loses the ball on a Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson fly ball in the ninth inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Sunday, April 9, 2023. Duvall was injured on the play and left the game. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Red Sox slugger Adam Duvall going on IL with fractured wrist

Boston Red Sox slugger Adam Duvall is going on the injured list with a fractured left wrist. The team said infielder Bobby Dalbec is being recalled from Triple-A Worcester. Duvall was hurt while … more

4/10/23

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Wolves suspend Gobert post-punch for play-in game vs. Lakers

The Minnesota Timberwolves have suspended center Rudy Gobert for their play-in game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The 10-year veteran threw a punch at teammate Kyle Anderson in an argument in the … more

By DAVE CAMPBELL | 4/10/23

Boston Bruins' David Pastrnak, center, celebrates his third goal of the game with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Bruins' David Pastrnak accomplishes lofty goal of scoring 60

David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins has scored 60 goals in a season for the first time in his 9-year NHL career. The Czech winger got to 60 with a hat trick at Philadelphia that gave Boston sole … more

By STEPHEN WHYNO | 4/10/23

The pitch clock counts down as Washington Nationals' Victor Robles waits in the on-deck circle in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, April 8, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MLB batting average up 16 points, game time down 31 minutes

The major league batting average rose 16 points to .249 over the first 1 1/2 weeks of this season with new shift limits in place, while game time dropped 31 minutes to 2:38 in the first year of the … more

By RONALD BLUM | 4/10/23

Jon Rahm, of Spain, celebrates winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Jon Rahm a Masters champion everyone saw coming

Jon Rahm is the Masters champion. He predicted that would happen when he opened a fortune cookie nearly 10 years ago. And while the tweet showing his fortune was all good fun, everyone could see what … more

By DOUG FERGUSON | 4/10/23

Jon Rahm, of Spain, celebrates holding the Masters trophy winning the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday, April 9, 2023, in Augusta, Ga.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Memorable Masters ends with Rahm slipping into green jacket

Jon Rahm slipped into the green jacket on Sunday to wrap up a memorable Masters. It began with questions about how LIV Golf players and their PGA Tour counterparts would get along at Augusta … more

By DAVE SKRETTA | 4/10/23

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts on the sideline during the first half an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, April 6, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Play-in tournament starts Tuesday, giving 8 teams new life

Getting to the play-in tournament probably wasn’t the goal of any team when training camps opened back in September. But it beats the alternative. There are 12 teams with playoff spots right now, … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/10/23

Liverpool's Andrew Robertson appeals to assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, Sunday April 9, 2023. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)

Official stood down after clash with Liverpool's Robertson

Assistant referee Constantine Hatzidakis has been stood down from officiating matches while the FA looks into his clash with Liverpool defender Andy Robertson. The official appeared to raise his arm … more

4/10/23

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) scores past Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 26, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Season of NBA moments: LeBron, Lillard, Mitchell and more

The NBA regular season had no shortage of moments that stood out. LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and became the NBA's all-time scoring leader. Donovan Mitchell and Damian Lillard each had … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/10/23

Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum, right, and Derrick White react during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Friday, April 7, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Inside the NBA numbers: A look at the season's stats

Scoring was up in the NBA this season, to a level not seen in more than a half-century. NBA teams averaged 114.7 points per game. That’s the ninth-highest figure in the league’s 77 seasons and … more

By TIM REYNOLDS | 4/10/23

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe high fives third baseman Isaac Paredes (17) after the team defeated the Oakland Athletics during a baseball game Sunday, April 9, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Unbeaten Rays making some early history with dominant start

The Tampa Bay Rays are on such a roll, the only question is which of their stats is most impressive. They’re the first team to start 9-0 since the 2003 Kansas City Royals. They’ve scored the most … more

By NOAH TRISTER | 4/10/23