SPORTS HEADLINES

Rory McIlroy surges with 4 birdies on the front nine to join the PGA Championship chase

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Rory McIlroy had four birdies and shot 3 under on the front nine to charge back into contention in Round 3 of the PGA Championship, one day after he complained about the setup at Aronimink Golf Club. He started Saturday five strokes behind leaders Alex Smalley and Maverick McNealy, who were set to tee off in the afternoon. McIlroy took advantage of his early start on moving day and cracked the top 10 to join a crowded leaderboard.

Man City beats Chelsea in FA Cup final after ‘1 in 100’ Antoine Semenyo goal

LONDON (AP) — Antoine Semenyo has produced a moment of magic for Manchester City to beat Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final. The forward’s spectacular back-heeled goal in the 72nd minute has sealed victory for City at Wembley and kept Pep Guardiola’s team in the hunt for a domestic trophy treble. City has already won the English League Cup and is second in the Premier League, two points behind Arsenal with two rounds to go.

These women are training to represent the US in an Olympic sport they’d never heard of

LOS ANGELES (AP) — With Los Angeles hosting the 2028 Olympics, the U.S. women’s handball team will be able to play in the Games for the first time since 1996. Hundreds of women from across California — many of whom had never played handball before — tried out for the team. Now they’re moving to Florida to train in the national residency. While handball is little known in the U.S., it is a popular team sport in Europe. The biggest challenge ahead is resources, as the women’s team does not receive any funding from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

Preakness Day is underway in a quiet scene at Laurel Park, which replaces Pimlico as host this year

LAUREL, Md. (AP) — A quieter Preakness Day is underway at Laurel Park. Previously a somewhat rowdy event with throngs of fans and live music on the infield, the second race of the Triple Crown is being contested in a more subdued atmosphere this year at Laurel. That’s because Pimlico in Baltimore is being rebuilt. Laurel has a rich horse racing history. But its future is in doubt. It may be converted into a training facility. Attendance for Saturday’s race has been capped at 4,800. There’s no possibility of a Triple Crown this year because Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo isn’t running in the Preakness. Instead the morning-line favorite was Iron Honor at 9-2.

Cardinals manager Marmol offers to buy tickets for fans to recreate shirtless revelry

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol believes in the “no shirt, no problem,” mantra. His club was boosted to a win Friday night by a group of college ball players in the right-field seats who took off and waved their shirts as they sang, chanted and drew others into the fray. Marmol wants the good times to continue. He announced on social media Saturday he’d buy tickets for fans who want to sit in the “right field Loge.” The start of Game 2 of the three-game series against the Kansas City Royals was delayed by rain on Saturday.

Sinner finishes off Medvedev to set up Italian Open final vs. Ruud

ROME (AP) — Jannik Sinner has extended his winning streak to 28 matches by defeating Daniil Medvedev to reach the Italian Open final. The match resumed Saturday after a rain delay, with Sinner winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. He is now set to face Casper Ruud in the final. Sinner is aiming to become the second man after Novak Djokovic to win all nine Masters 1000 titles. He has never won in Rome, the only Masters event missing from his collection. Sinner has a 4-0 record against Ruud. The men’s final is scheduled for Sunday, with Italian President Sergio Mattarella attending. Coco Gauff will play Elina Svitolina in the women’s final later Saturday.

What year is this? NASCAR’s All-Star prize remains stuck at $1 million 23 years after launch

DOVER, Del. (AP) — The NASCAR All-Star race is set to be held in the Northeast for the first time. The race will be held Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway. The winner prize is still $1 million, just as it was when it was first announced in 2003. The full 36-driver field will race in the first two segments of the All-Star race before a final 200-lap segment that will consist of 26 drivers. There are 19 drivers already locked into that final segment.

Stephon Castle gives the Spurs 32 points in a 139-109 blowout to eliminate Timberwolves in Game 6

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Stephon Castle had 32 points and 11 rebounds to highlight another dominant performance from the San Antonio backcourt, and Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs raced past the Minnesota Timberwolves 139-109 on Friday night to win the series in six games. De’Aaron Fox added 21 points and nine assists as the Spurs advance to face defending champion Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals. Anthony Edwards had 24 points to lead the Wolves, who got another spark from reserves Terrence Shannon and Naz Reid but were again flustered by the Spurs and their relentless switch-heavy defense.

Game 7s have been kind to Cavaliers, Pistons over the years. But one will fall on Sunday

Game 7. That’s a phrase that surely brings back a lot of good memories for fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons. Of course, only one of those groups will be happy on Sunday night. For the second consecutive round, the Cavaliers and Pistons are heading to a winner-take-all contest. Detroit plays host to Cleveland on Sunday night in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series, with the winner set to face New York in the East finals starting Tuesday. Detroit is 6-1 in Game 7s since 1990, while Cleveland is 5-0 in Game 7s since 2016.

Mets pitcher Clay Holmes sidelined indefinitely with broken leg after getting hit by line drive

NEW YORK (AP) — Clay Holmes has a broken right leg after getting hit on the mound by a 111 mph line drive, another devastating blow to the New York Mets in their miserable season so far. Perhaps the Mets’ best pitcher this year, Holmes got nailed just above the right foot on a leadoff single in the fourth inning by New York Yankees rookie Spencer Jones during the Subway Series opener at Citi Field. The ball caromed past the first-base line into foul territory, but Holmes remained in the game until being lifted with one out in the fifth. Following a 5-2 loss, manager Carlos Mendoza said X-rays showed a ‘fractured’ right fibula that will sideline Holmes indefinitely.