CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Kopech gave up one hit over a career-high eight innings, and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 2-0. Kopech simply toyed with the Royals as the White Sox opened a weekend series between teams with two of the majors’ worst records on a winning note. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 10 on 98 pitches, and bounced back from a loss to Houston to win for the second time in three starts. Kopech retired the the first 16 batters before giving up a single to Michael Massey, who was erased on a double play. Massey also broke up a no-hit bid by the Padres’ Michael Wacha on Monday at San Diego when he lined a single leading off the eighth. The Royals did not get another runner.
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mookie Betts hit a three-run homer, Tony Gonsolin combined with four relievers on a two-hitter as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0. Gonsolin continued his comeback from his spring training ankle injury. He allowed just one hit and two walks in five innings. The 2022 All-Star had picked up his first win of the season Sunday against San Diego after firing five scoreless innings. One day after slugging seven home runs and scoring 16 runs, the Cardinals were shut out while managing only two singles. Brusdar Graterol, Shelby Miller, Caleb Ferguson and Tyler Cyr followed Gonsolin to the mound and shut down the Cardinals. Steven Matz allowed six hits, including four doubles, in 4 2/ 3 innings.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis Garcia homered for the fifth time in as many games, Corey Seager and Josh Jung hit two-run doubles in a five-run fifth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Friday night. Martin Perez (5-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in a season-high seven innings and matched a season high with seven strikeouts, including five looking, and walked none. His 104 pitches were also the most he has thrown this season. The Rangers have won nine of their last 13 games.
BOSTON (AP) — Jimmy Butler scored 27 points, hitting a pair of buckets to give the Heat the lead after they erased a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit and Miami beat Boston 111-105 to take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Bam Adebayo had 22 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists, and Caleb Martin came off the bench to score 25 points for eighth-seeded Miami, which won twice in Boston to earn a chance to complete the sweep at home. Game 3 is Sunday. Jayson Tatum had 34 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists for Boston. But the Celtics star went 0 for 3 with two turnovers in the fourth quarter, when Boston blew an 89-77 lead.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Brett Howden scored from behind the net off Dallas Stars goalie Jake Oettinger 1:35 into overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 4-3 victory in Game 1 of their Western Conference final. Jamie Benn forced the extra time when he scored on a 6-on-5 with 1:59 left in regulation. William Karlsson scored two goals for Vegas. Teddy Blueger also scored a goal, Zach Whitecloud had two assists and Adin Hill stopped 33 shots. Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson each had a goal and an assist for Stars. Joe Pavelski recorded two assists, and Oettinger made 33 saves. Game 2 is Sunday in Las Vegas.
BALTIMORE (AP) — Preakness day has arrived with horse racing in the spotlight and a Triple Crown still a possibility. It's not the spotlight the sport would like after seven horses died at Churchill Downs in the leadup to the Kentucky Derby. But with new national medication and doping rules set to go into effect next week, the industry is at somewhat of a crossroads. Derby winner Mage is the Preakness favorite. If he wins, he'll have a chance at the Belmont on June 10 to be the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018.
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is part of a three-way tie for the lead going into the weekend at the PGA Championship. Oak Hill over two days has provided a little of everything — freezing temperatures, warm wind and rain. It also has unlimited possibilities on the weekend. Nine players are under par. Eighteen players are separated by five shots. Bryson DeChambeau is two back. Brooks Koepka ran off birdies on rain-softened greens for a 66 to get within three. Rory McIlroy was stunned to be only five behind the way he's hitting the ball. Rain is in the forecast for Saturday.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Scott Dixon and Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Alex Palou made late engine swaps before the start of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 on Saturday. Both of them were somewhat surprising given how strong Ganassi has been this month. Jack Harvey also got a new Honda engine, but that was expected after his Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing ride showed smoke out the rear in the closing minutes of Friday’s practice session. Callum Ilott also made it onto the track for a brief practice before the start of qualifying after his Junco Hollinger Racing team was forced to put together a backup car in just over 12 hours.
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jim Brown was both extraordinary and extraordinarily complicated. One man. Many versions. His greatness on the football field is beyond reproach. For generations, Brown, who died Thursday night peacefully at his home in Los Angeles, has long been the standard of excellence for running backs, a freakish blend of brute power and blazing speed who in many ways changed the NFL forever. But Brown, who retired to pursue a film career, was also a civil rights pioneer whose image was tarnished by accusations of domestic violence against women.
FRIDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 1 Milwaukee 0
Final N.Y. Yankees 6 Cincinnati 2
Final Atlanta 6 Seattle 2
Final Detroit 8 Washington 6
Final N.Y. Mets 10 Cleveland 9
Final Texas 7 Colorado 2
Final Boston 6 San Diego 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 6 Toronto 2
Final Chicago White Sox 2 Kansas City 0
Final Houston 5 Oakland 1
Final L.A. Angels 5 Minnesota 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 13 Arizona 3
Final Chicago Cubs 10 Philadelphia 1
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 St. Louis 0
Final San Francisco 4 Miami 3
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Miami 111 Boston 105
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final OT Vegas 4 Dallas 3