ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis rookie Jordan Walker’s hitting streak ended at 12 games when he went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in the Cardinals’ 5-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 20-year-old tied the record for longest hitting streak at the start of a career by a player 20 or younger, set by Eddie Murphy, who hit in 12 straight games with the Philadelphia Athletics from Aug. 26, 1912, to Sept. 5, 1912. Carlos Santana doubled twice, and Connor Joe and Rodolfo Castro hit consecutive homers in the eighth against Génesis Cabrera.
UNDATED (AP) — Prospects no longer will have limits on the number of schools they can officially visit during their college selection process. The NCAA Division I Council approved the policy change that will take effect on July 1. Prospects previously could make official visits to five schools. Prospects can only make one official visit to each school, unless that program has a head coaching change.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays tied Major League Baseball’s post-1900 record of 13 consecutive wins at a season’s start, rallying to beat the Boston Red Sox 9-3 behind a seven-run fifth inning that Harold Ramirez began and capped with doubles. Tampa Bay matched the 13-0 start of the 1982 Atlanta Braves and 1987 Milwaukee Brewers. The only longer opening streak was a 20-0 start by the 1884 St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association. Playing before a crowd of 21,175, the largest at Tropicana Field since opening day, the Rays set a team record for wins at any point in a season.
UNDATED (AP) — Two people with knowledge of the situation tell The Associated Press that a group led by Josh Harris and Mitchell Rales and including Magic Johnson has an agreement in principle to buy the Washington Commanders from longtime owner Dan Snyder. Harris and Rales are set to pay $6.05 billion for the storied NFL franchise. It's the most money a professional sports franchise in North American has been sold for, topping the $4.65 billion paid by Walmart heir Rob Walton's group for the Denver Broncos last year. The sale of the Commanders is pending approval from the rest of the league's owners. That could happen as soon as their next meeting in Minnesota in May.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens acquired receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on a one-year deal worth up to $18 million including $15 million guaranteed. That agreement led to some obvious questions: Was this a sign that Beckham knew Lamar Jackson would be the quarterback in Baltimore this season? Or would the addition of a star wide receiver make it easier for the Ravens to keep their franchise quarterback? Beckham says he can’t make any promises about Jackson’s future. The Ravens used the franchise tag on Jackson, who then announced that he’d requested a trade in early March.
BOSTON (AP) — In the decade since the Boston Marathon bombing, the streets and sidewalks have been repaired, and memorials stand at the site of the explosions to remember the three who died. But the healing continues. And, for many, the race itself is an important part. Bombing survivors with no previous interest in distance running made it a bucket-list goal. For others, friends and family entered on their behalf. Doctors and first responders and others affected by the attacks on April 15, 2013, have also been drawn back to the race on the Massachusetts holiday of Patriots’ Day. The 127th Boston Marathon is Monday.
UNDATED (AP) — The first quarterback-specific helmet designed to help reduce concussions has been approved for use by the NFL and NFLPA, the AP has learned. The helmet, manufactured by Vicis, reduces severity of helmet-to-ground impacts, which league data says account for approximately half of quarterback concussions, including the one suffered by Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa last season when his head slammed violently against the turf during a Thursday night game against Cincinnati. The helmet performed 7% better than the most popular helmet worn by quarterbacks last season, the league said in a memo sent to team executives on Thursday.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Viktor Hovland shot a 7-under 64 to take the first-round lead at the rain-delayed RBC Heritage. Masters champion Jon Rahm was eight shots back after a frustrating 1-over 72 and acknowledged the fatigue from his win at Augusta National affected him. Hovland also shared the first-round lead at the Masters and finished tied for seventh. He led Brian Harman by one shot at Harbour Town. Aaron Rai and Jimmy Walker were also 6 under but did not finish their rounds before darkness halted play. The RBC Heritage is a designated event on the PGA Tour this year, giving it a $20 million purse and a strong field.
THURSDAY SCORES
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 9 Boston 3
Final Baltimore 8 Oakland 7
Final Minnesota 11 N.Y. Yankees 2
Final Detroit 3 Toronto 1
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Cincinnati 6 Philadelphia 2
Final Pittsburgh 5 St. Louis 0
Final Milwaukee 4 San Diego 3
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final OT Columbus 3 Pittsburgh 2
Final Toronto 3 N-Y Rangers 2
Final Tampa Bay 5 Detroit 0
Final OT Buffalo 4 Ottawa 3
Final Carolina 6 Florida 4
Final Boston 5 Montreal 4
Final OT New Jersey 5 Washington 4
Final OT Nashville 4 Minnesota 3
Final Dallas 1 St. Louis 0
Final Colorado 4 Winnipeg 2
Final OT Philadelphia 5 Chicago 4
Final Edmonton 5 San Jose 2
Final OT Vancouver 5 Arizona 4
Final Los Angeles 5 Anaheim 3
Final Vegas 3 Seattle 1