SPORTS HEADLINES

Audio By Carbonatix

Shohei Ohtani injures left arm sliding into second during World Series Game 2, severity uncertain

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani injured his left arm during the seventh inning of Saturday’s Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees when he tried to steal second base. The severity of the injury wasn’t immediately clear. Ohtani clutched his left forearm after being tagged by shortstop Anthony Volpe for the final out in the inning on a feet-first slide. He laid near the bag for a couple minutes before being tended to by trainers and leaving the field. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported from the Dodgers dugout that the issue was with Ohtani’s left shoulder.

Aaron Judge is flailing in his first World Series, and the Yankees are sinking along with him

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Aaron Judge is sinking ever deeper into a gruesome postseason slump, and the New York Yankees’ championship chances are fading right along with him. The Yankees’ superstar slugger went 1 for 9 with six strikeouts in his first two World Series games at Dodger Stadium, dragging down New York’s offense in two losses to Los Angeles. Judge went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in Game 2 on Saturday night. He struggled even to make contact against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and reliever Blake Treinen, who fanned him with Juan Soto on second base in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 4-2 victory.

Will Howard throws for 3 touchdowns, but No. 4 Ohio State is sloppy in 21-17 win over Nebraska

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Will Howard tossed three touchdown passes, but No. 4 Ohio State needed an interception by cornerback Jordan Hancock’s with 1:16 left to seal its 21-17 win over Nebraska. The Buckeyes bounced back from their loss to Oregon two weeks ago but sure didn’t look like the well-oiled machine they are supposed to be in grappling with four-touchdown underdog Nebraska. The Cornhuskers had kept it close all day with three field goals by John Hohl. Ohio State punted five times, gave up the ball on downs, missed a field goal and survived a Howard interception.

Redick’s plan to give Davis an increased role has led to 2-0 start for Lakers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — When JJ Redick was hired as the Los Angeles Lakers coach, he said one of his early goals was to make Anthony Davis the offensive hub. Two games into Redick’s tenure, things are going according to plan. With 35 points Friday night in a 123-116 victory over the Phoenix Suns, Davis joined Jerry West and Elgin Baylor as the only Lakers to score at least 35 points in the first two games of a season. Davis also had eight rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots. He had 36 points and 16 rebounds in the Lakers’ 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. Redick is the Lakers’ first coach since Phil Jackson in 1999 to win his first two games.

Penn State QB Drew Allar leaves game after getting hurt late in 1st half

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Penn State quarterback Drew Allar didn’t play the second half of the third-ranked Nittany Lions’ game with Wisconsin after getting hurt late in the second quarter. Allar had gone into the locker room before the rest of his teammates in the final minute of the first half. He had gone down awkwardly while getting sacked. He was on the sideline in the second half wearing a brace on his left knee. Backup Beau Pribula was 11 of 13 for 98 yards and a touchdown and he ran six times for 28 yards in the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 win.

Miller rushes for 2 TDs, No. 15 Alabama picks off 3 passes in 34-0 win over No. 21 Missouri

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Jamarion Miller rushed for two touchdowns and No. 15 Alabama’s defense had three interceptions in a 34-0 victory over No. 21 Missouri, which played much of the way without starting quarterback Brady Cook. The Crimson Tide bounced back strongly from their second loss in three weeks. They had already lost multiple games before November for the first time since 2007 but took this one over after the Tigers lost Cook to an upper body injury late in the first half. It was 6-0 at the time. Jalen Milroe passed for 215 yards and ran for a score for Alabama.

Defending Homestead winner Christopher Bell looks to bounce back from disappointing Las Vegas race

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — It didn’t take long for Christopher Bell to move on from what he called a disappointing race last Sunday. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver lost to Joey Logano in Las Vegas last weekend despite dominating the race. Bell led a race-high 156 laps but was beaten by Logano, who stretched his fuel mileage to snatch the win after Bell had to pit for gas. The victory for Logano made him the first driver locked into the winner-take-all championship finale next month in Arizona. Bell, Kyle Larson and William Byron are above the cutline.

Frankie Muniz’s 1st race since landing full-time NASCAR ride spoiled by truck’s mechanical problems

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Frankie Muniz finished 33rd on Saturday in his first Truck Series race since the “Malcolm in the Middle” star announced he will become a full-time NASCAR racer next season. Muniz, who is 38, recently made the jump from part-time racer to a full slate in the No. 33 Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing. He made two starts for Reaume Brothers this season in the Truck Series. Muniz has said he is confident his team could be successful in this series, but Saturday’s race was marred by mechanical issues for his Toyota.

Carlos Sainz Jr. puts Ferrari on the pole in Mexico City as Perez’s miserable season continues

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. won his first pole of the season at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Sergio Perez’s miserable Formula 1 season continued when he failed to advance out of the first round of qualifying at the Mexico City Grand Prix. He will start 18th. Three-time reigning champion Max Verstappen had an engine change Saturday and recovered to qualify second for Red Bull. Verstappen is a five-time winner in Mexico City, including the last three consecutive races. Lando Norris of McLaren qualified third and was followed by Charles Leclerc of Ferrari.

Las Vegas fires general manager Natalie Williams of two-time WNBA champion Aces

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — The Las Vegas Aces announced Saturday they will not renew the contract of general manager Natalie Williams. She was hired in 2022 as part of a new regime that included Becky Hammon as coach. The Aces won titles in 2022 and 2023 to become the first WNBA team to claim back-to-back championships since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02. The Aces’ championship run ended in a recent semifinals loss to the New York Liberty. The next general manager will inherit a team with most of its core players intact, includes reigning MVP A’ja Wilson. Williams’ tenure wasn’t without controversy. The Aces are being sued by former player Dearica Hamby. She alleges discrimination and retaliation for becoming pregnant, which resulted in a trade to the Sparks.