BALTIMORE (AP) — Samuel Basallo made a little history when the Baltimore catcher became the first major leaguer to end a game with a successful challenge via the Automated Ball-Strike System. Albert Suárez was on the mound for the Orioles in the top of the ninth inning against Texas when his 1-2 pitch to Evan Carter with two outs was called a ball by plate umpire Manny Gonzalez. Basallo challenged, the replay showed most of the ball catching the upper outside corner of the strike zone, and Baltimore’s 8-3 win was in the books.
Tiger Woods has formally turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy as he steps away from golf activities. And a Florida judge approved his motion to leave the country to seek treatment. These developments come a day after Woods entered a not guilty plea to suspicion of driving under the influence. His SUV clipped a trailer and flipped on its side last week near his home in Florida. Woods posted a statement Tuesday night saying he was stepping away indefinitely to focus on his health. His attorney, Douglas Duncan, said Woods needs comprehensive inpatient treatment that cannot be done safely in the United States.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Those who believe college sports is losing its heart — being overtaken by money —are not all wrong. But the shot by UConn's Braylon Mullins that filled out the bracket for the Final Four reminded everyone that there’s some magic left in those nets. Quite a lot of it, in fact. The teams open practice at Lucas Oil Stadium in preparation for Saturday's games. The Huskies will play Illinois and Michigan will face Arizona, with the winners heading to Monday night's final.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas basketball coach Bill Self is returning for a 24th season with the Jayhawks. The program released a statement Wednesday. That confirmed his return to a program where he has won 21 regular-season conference championships, reached four Final Fours and won two national championships. The Jayhawks fell in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. They lost on a buzzer-beater to St. John's and fellow Hall of Famer Rick Pitino. Health has been an issue for Self in recent years. He had two stents inserted in 2023 and two more last year. He made a precautionary hospital trip earlier this year.
FIFA raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales after the 48-team field for this year’s tournament was finalized. The price had been $8,680 when FIFA sold tickets after the tournament draw in December. FIFA’s category 2 tickets for the July 19 game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, were $7,380, up from $5,575, and category 3 cost $5,785, an increase $4,185. Tickets were listed for 17 of the 72 group-stage matches by Wednesday night and none of the knockout stage games.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Bob Knight's halftime speech on March 29, 1976, became legendary. Indiana was down 35-29 to Michigan. The late Hall of Fame coach issued a challenge that sparked a comeback. Indiana outscored Michigan 57-33 in the second half, winning 86-68 to win the school's third national championship. A half-century later, the Hoosiers are still the last undefeated champion in Division I men's basketball. The team will be honored before Monday night’s national championship game.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua was in rehab before he was sued for assault and battery by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder, his attorney said on Wednesday. Nacua issued an apology last December after performing a gesture that plays upon antisemitic tropes while appearing on an internet livestream. Nacua has been one of the most productive receivers in NFL history over his first three seasons with the Rams, who drafted him in the fifth round out of BYU in 2023.
MIAMI (AP) — The Boston Celtics had a first quarter like none other in their storied history. The Celtics scored 53 points for their biggest-scoring first quarter ever. They accomplished the feat in the opening 12 minutes of their game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Boston’s barrage is tied for the second-highest-scoring first quarter in NBA regular-season history. Golden State had a 55-point opening quarter at Portland on April 9, 2023 and Miami had a 53-point opening quarter against Charlotte on Nov. 7.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points for the second straight game, grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked three shots, and the San Antonio Spurs ran away from the injury-plagued Golden State Warriors for a 127-113 win. Wembanyama had 10 of his team’s initial 14 points just 3:36 into the game and San Antonio jumped ahead 17-3 and he finished 16 for 22 from the field in his fourth 40-point performance of the season. The Spurs extended their winning streak to 10 games — also the team’s 15th victory in the last 16 contests — as they try to chase the first-place and idle Thunder in the race for the top seed in the Western Conference.
TORONTO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan scored 14 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, Precious Achiuwa had 28 points and a season-high 19 rebounds and the Sacramento Kings beat the Toronto Raptors 123-115. DeRozan reached 26,688 career points to move past Dominique Wilkins into 17th place on the NBA’s all-time list. DeRozan shot 7 for 18 but went 12 for 12 at the foul line. Malik Monk scored 18 points, Devin Carter had 13 and Daeqwon Plowden 11 as the Kings snapped a four-game losing streak and ended a five-game road trip with a victory. RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles each scored 20 points for Toronto.
Finals
INTERLEAGUE
Final Atlanta 5 Athletics 1
Final Miami 10 Chicago White Sox 0
Final Colorado 2 Toronto 1
Final Milwaukee 8 Tampa Bay 2
Final Chicago Cubs 6 L.A. Angels 2
Final Arizona 1 Detroit 0
Final Cleveland 4 L.A. Dodgers 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Baltimore 8 Texas 3
Final Houston 6 Boston 4
Final N.Y. Yankees 5 Seattle 3
Final Kansas City 13 Minnesota 9
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Pittsburgh 8 Cincinnati 3
Final Philadelphia 6 Washington 5
Final St. Louis 2 N.Y. Mets 1
Final San Diego 7 San Francisco 1
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Final Vancouver 8 Colorado 6
Final San Jose 4 Anaheim 3
Final OT Los Angeles 2 St. Louis 1