Sports

Shohei Ohtani to make his long-awaited return to the mound in an abbreviated start for the Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is making his Los Angeles Dodgers pitching debut, 21 months after the two-way superstar had elbow surgery. Ohtani will start and pitch an inning or two against the San Diego Padres on Monday night in the series opener. The Japanese right-hander has been throwing simulated games recently in preparation for his return while still wielding his powerful bat in the lineup. Typically, pitchers returning from injuries go on minor-league rehab assignments, but Ohtani is an exception. The three-time MVP is batting .290 with 25 homers, which leads the National League, 41 RBIs and 11 stolen bases as the designated hitter in the leadoff spot.

Game 5: Pacers, Thunder set to play swing game, with winner grabbing 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The back-and-forth of these NBA Finals has been constant. Game 1 went to Indiana, so Oklahoma City had to bounce back in Game 2. Indiana reclaimed the series lead in Game 3, only to see Oklahoma City answer yet again in Game 4, knotting the series 2-2. And now, Game 5. The swing game, as some call it. The winner on Monday night between the Pacers and Thunder in Oklahoma City will take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals and move one win away from hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

US Open champion JJ Spaun turned a free fall into a title at rain-soaked Oakmont

OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — On a day built for umbrellas, J.J. Spaun reversed his own free fall, took advantage of everyone else’s and hit two shots that turned him into a major champion. The shots that will go down in history are the drive he hit on the reachable par-4 17th and the 65-foot putt he sank with the sun going down and the rain falling on 18. The first was for birdie that put him in the lead by himself. The second was for emphasis that ensured this U.S. Open would finish with one player under par. That player was Spaun, who won his first major title with a two-shot victory over Robert MacIntyre of Scotland.

Fans who hung effigy of Vinícius Júnior from a bridge convicted of hate crime in Spain

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league says four people who hung an effigy of Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior off a highway bridge two years ago have been convicted. The defendants were found guilty of hate crimes after hanging a black figure with Vinícius’ name on it in the Spanish capital before a Copa del Rey match against rival Atletico Madrid in January 2023. A defendant who disseminated images of the act online was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a hate crime, and seven months for threats. The other three defendants were each sentenced to seven months in prison for hate crimes and seven months for threats.

A penalty shattered Palestinian World Cup dreams for 2026. The squad has inspired hope

AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The Palestinian bid to qualify for the 2026 World Cup may have been snatched away with a contentious late penalty but the fact the team got so close is some comfort to the players and their supporters. The Palestinian team needed to win its last three Group B games in Asian qualifying to advance to another continental playoff round. The 101st-ranked team beat Iraq in Basra in March, Kuwait in Kuwait City on June 5 and then, five days later, was leading 1-0 against Oman in Jordan in the 97th minute. A place in the World Cup had never been closer. Then Oman was awarded a penalty and the Palestinian campaign was halted. Still, the squad has inspired hope.

The Red Sox called up their top prospect and swept the Yankees. Then they made a stunning trade

The week began with Boston calling up top prospect Roman Anthony. It ended with the Red Sox trading slugger Rafael Devers. In between, they swept the rival Yankees. What’s next for this team is anyone’s guess. Boston took two of three from the Rays and then swept the Yankees to pull a game above .500. The Red Sox are 9-17 in one-run games, but they won three of those in a row against Tampa Bay and New York. All of that seemed to signal a potential turning point for a team that’s struggled to sustain success since trading Mookie Betts after the 2019 season. But now the post-Betts era has become the post-Devers era.

Connor McDavid is producing in the Stanley Cup Final, but is it enough for the Oilers?

Connor McDavid scored his first goal of this Stanley Cup Final in Game 5, only after he and the Edmonton Oilers fell behind 3-0 on the way to getting pushed to the brink by the defending champion Florida Panthers. He has a series-best six assists, and only Leon Draisaitl has more points than McDavid’s seven. But the best hockey player in the world is always in the spotlight, and he hasn’t broken out thanks in large part to Aleksander Barkov and the Panthers defending him tightly.

Magic land Desmond Bane in a trade with the Grizzlies for Anthony, Caldwell-Pope and draft picks

The Orlando Magic have acquired Desmond Bane from Memphis in a deal that sends Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and draft capital to the Grizzlies. Memphis gets four first-round picks — one this year, another in 2026, then others in 2028 and 2030. The deal also included the option for a pick swap in 2029. Bane averaged 19.2 points this season for the Grizzlies. He would figure to be an upgrade for a Magic team that has made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons but has sought more shooting to pair with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Van Gisbergen’s emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track. This time the iconic Mexico City road course, where he won NASCAR’s first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era. The New Zealander led 60 laps at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago That victory changed his career trajectory and Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR. The win earned Van Gisbergen an automatic spot in NASCAR’s playoffs.

George Russell holds off Max Verstappen for Canadian GP win as McLarens collide

MONTREAL (AP) — George Russell won his first race of the Formula 1 season as the Mercedes driver held off defending race winner Max Verstappen at the Canadian Grand Prix. It was the fourth victory of Russell’s career, and the race ended under yellow when McLaren teammates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris staged a wheel-to-wheel late battle that ended with Norris hitting the wall. Russell started on pole for the second consecutive year in Montreal and held the advantage most of the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The British driver became the fourth race winner this year, joining points leader leader Piastri, Norris and Verstappen, the four-time reigning F1 champion.