NEW YORK (AP) — Max Scherzer pulled himself from a start with discomfort in his left side before the New York Mets finished off an 11-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Pete Alonso homered and drove in four runs for the Mets, who improved to 13-1 following a loss. The only time they dropped consecutive games this season was April 10-11. Jeff McNeil had an early two-run single and Alonso snapped a 2-all tie with an RBI single off rookie reliever Jake Walsh in a four-run fifth. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer for the Cardinals. Albert Pujols got two hits to pass Eddie Collins for 10th place on the career list with 3,314.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. and MJ Melendez homered and fellow rookie Emmanuel Rivera hit a go-ahead triple to lead the Kansas City Royals over the Chicago White Sox 6-2. Witt, Melendez and Rivera each had two hits. Rivera’s sinking liner escaped a diving Adam Engel for a triple that drove in Melendez with the tiebreaking run in the sixth. In his return from the COVID-19-related injured list, Giolito labored early, needing 54 pitches to complete the first two innings, allowing four hits and two walks. After Witt’s leadoff homer in the third, Giolito struck out six of the next seven batters and permitted only a pair of singles before being lifted after five innings.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama coach Nick Saban called out Texas A&M, saying the school was “buying” players with name, image and likeness deals. The Aggies signed the top recruiting class in the country earlier this year. While speaking at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, Saban also mention Jackson State and Miami as schools that have used NIL deals to lure players. Jackson State coach Deion Sanders responded by calling Saban's comments about a $1 million NIL deal for a highly touted recruit a lie. Saban said Alabama players earned more than $3 million from sponsorship and endorsement deals “the right way.”
UNDATED (AP) — The Pac-12 is scrapping its divisional format for the upcoming college football season. The Pac-12 will now match the teams with the highest conference winning percentages in its title game after 11 seasons of matching winners of the North and South divisions. Other conferences are expected to follow. The moves come after NCAA official threw out requirements dictating how conferences can determine their champions.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Warriors have opened the NBA’s Western Conference finals with a 112-87 rout of Dallas. Steph Curry had 21 points and a game-high 12 rebounds while helping the Warriors hold Luka Doncic to 20 points on 6 of 18 shooting. Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole each had 19 points for the winners.
UNDATED (AP) — Colorado defenseman Cale Makar got a little help from his friends as the Avalanche took a 1-0 lead in their second-round playoff series with St. Louis. Makar wasn't at his best, but didn't need to be with his supporting cast. Game 2 is Thursday night in Denver. The Tampa Bay Lightning saw their top players perform in taking a 1-0 advantage in their series with Florida. Nikita Kucherov and Corey Perry each had a goal and an assist. The Panthers are trying to fix their power play going into Game 2 at home.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Daniel Salloi scored two goals to spark Sporting Kansas City to a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids. Salloi gave Sporting KC (3-7-3) a 1-0 lead in the 24th minute. Lucas Esteves pulled the Rapids (4-5-3) even with a goal in the 29th minute. Salloi’s game-winner came five minutes into the second half.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
Cincinnati at Cleveland 1:10 p.m. (Postponed)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 6 Detroit 1
Final Minnesota 14 Oakland 4
Final Boston 5 Houston 1
Final N.Y. Yankees 3 Baltimore 2
Final Seattle 5 Toronto 1
Final Kansas City 6 Chicago White Sox 2
Final Texas 6 L.A. Angels 5
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Milwaukee 7 Atlanta 6
Final Colorado 5 San Francisco 3
Final L.A. Dodgers 5 Arizona 3
Final Philadelphia 3 San Diego 0
Final Washington 5 Miami 4
Final N.Y. Mets 11 St. Louis 4
Final Pittsburgh 3 Chicago Cubs 2
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Final Golden State 112 Dallas 87
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Final OT Carolina 2 N-Y Rangers 1
Final Calgary 9 Edmonton 6