AP Sports Digest

The highlights of the AP Sports report. An up-to-the minute listing of all stories planned, including games and events, is available in Coverage Plan on AP Newsroom, https://newsroom.ap.org/coverageplan. You can also find a link to Coverage Plan on the left navigation of the Newsroom home page, https://newsroom.ap.org. Sports content can be found at http://newsroom.ap.org/page/APSports.

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AUDIO HEADLINES

Santana, Contreras power Brewers to 5-3 win over Nationals https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/SantanaContreraspowerBrewersto5-3winoverNationals/8e7e5df699d74ff59f9b42ded1970b6e

Lucas Giolito strikes out a season-high 12 for Cleveland in a 12-3 win over playoff hopeful Texas https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/LucasGiolitostrikesoutaseason-high12forClevelandina12-3winoverplayoffhopefulTexas/6efd1c8cee2040cb913f567674eae8ed

Zach Eflin and the Rays limit the Orioles to 2 hits, win 7-1 to pull even in AL East https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/ZachEflinandtheRayslimittheOriolesto2hitswin7-1topulleveninALEast/fd1b722fe7be4e15a10e5204bc4cda0a

Dodgers on the cusp of NL West title after topping Mariners 6-3 https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/DodgersonthecuspofNLWesttitleaftertoppingMariners6-3/efef496311a042fc954ad9e0c31e9d0a

All times EDT

TOP STORIES

BBA--RAYS-ORIOLES BALTIMORE — Zach Eflin and two relievers combined on a two-hitter, Brandon Lowe and Harold Ramírez homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-1 to pull into a virtual tie atop the AL East. Tampa Bay has won nine of 11 and 18 of 24. The Rays erased a season-high four-game deficit in a span of six days thanks in part to winning the first two of a four-game series against Baltimore. The Orioles have dropped four straight, matching their longest skid of the season. Baltimore’s Heston Kjerstad homered leading off the sixth for his first major league hit. SENT: 785 words, photos.

BBO--DODGERS-MARINERS SEATTLE — Miguel Rojas and James Outman homered, J.D. Martinez had two key run-scoring singles and the Los Angeles Dodgers moved closer to the NL West title with a 6-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night. Los Angeles can wrap up the NL West for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons on Saturday with a win over Seattle or help elsewhere. Rojas hit a two-run homer off Seattle starter George Kirby to give Los Angeles the lead in the fifth inning. Max Muncy added an RBI triple, and Martinez had RBI singles in the sixth and eighth innings. Outman hit his 20th homer of the season in the ninth inning. By Tim Booth. SENT: 825 words, photos.

BBA--OHTANI'S LOCKER ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been mostly cleared out at Angel Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels declined to say why. The two-way superstar missed his 11th consecutive game with an oblique muscle injury Friday night when the Angels lost 11-2 to Detroit. Although Ohtani was at the stadium before the game, his locker was largely empty afterward. An Angels spokesman said the team will give more information about the development Saturday. By Greg Beacham. SENT: 300 words, photos.

TEN--CHINA-WTA RETURNS A four-year absence of elite women’s tennis in China is set to end with the Women’s Tennis Association holding seven tournaments in the next six weeks as part of the tour’s Asian swing. After tournaments in China were cancelled due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2020, the WTA suspended events in the country in December 2021 over concerns about Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai’s well-being after the Chinese player made sexual assault accusations against a high-ranking Chinese government official. Peng dropped out of sight after the accusation against former Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli briefly appeared on her verified Weibo social media before being swiftly removed. Screen shots of the post were shared across the internet, drawing widespread concern about Peng’s safety. By Keiran Smith. SENT: 660 words, photos.

NOTABLE

BBN--CUBS-DIAMONDBACKS PHOENIX — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas hit three-run homers, rookie Brandon Pfaadt delivered 5 1/3 quality innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Friday night. The two clubs are in the middle of a six-team dogfight for three National League wild-card spots. Arizona moved into a tie with the Cincinnati Reds for the final spot, while the Cubs are in the second position, 1 1/2 games in front of the D-backs and Reds. Gurriel’s homer to deep left off Cubs ace Justin Steele in the first gave Arizona an early 3-0 lead. It was his 24th homer of the season. Thomas connected in the sixth off Steele, delivering a two-out homer that barely cleared the right-field wall. By David Brandt. SENT: 630 words, photos.

GLF--BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP VIRGINIA WATER, England — Ludvig Åberg birdied No. 18 in fading light to take a share of the lead and Rory McIlroy did the same to almost certainly make the cut in a chaotic finish to the second round of the BMW PGA Championship. Åberg and McIlroy won their own personal battles down the storied par-5 last hole at Wentworth where nine balls were in play for a while as players backed up to complete their rounds in close-to-dark conditions. Most of the light shining on the green came from the bright scoreboard as the 23-year-old Åberg rolled in a putt from 4 feet for a 6-under 66 to tie for the lead with compatriot Sebastian Soderberg (64) on 10-under par. SENT: 580 words, photos.

GLF--FORTINET CHAMPIONSHIP NAPA, Calif. — Justin Thomas committed to a driver change, tinkered a little with his swing and got immediate results with a 5-under 67 that left him four strokes off the pace Friday in the Fortinet Championship. It was exactly what the former top-ranked player needed after going winless during the FedEx Cup season, taking some time off and then struggling through the first round in Napa. One of four U.S. Ryder Cup team members at Silverado Resort, Thomas feels much better about his game than he did a short time ago. S.H. Kim played in the afternoon and made six birdies and one bogey for a 67 and a share of the lead with Sahith Theegala (64) at 12-under 132. SENT: 620 words, photos.

HKW--PWHL-TAKING SHAPE The newly launched Professional Women’s Hockey League has its coaches in place and stars signed. Next up is its first draft on Monday, with Minnesota having the No. 1 pick. U.S. national team forward Taylor Heise is a candidate to be the first player selected in part due to her many Minnesota connections and decorated college career with the Golden Gophers. The league also unveiled its head coaching hires for its yet-to-be-named six franchises. Canadian national team coach Troy Ryan is the most notable hire in taking over in Toronto. Two of his assistants were also hired, with Courtney Kessel landing in Boston and Kori Cheverie in Montreal. By John Wawrow. SENT: 840 words, photos.

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Saturday’s Time Schedule

COLLEGE FOOTBALL Top 25 No. 1 Georgia vs. South Carolina, 3:30 p.m. No. 2 Michigan vs. Bowling Green, 7:30 p.m. No. 3 Florida St. at Boston College, Noon No. 4 Texas vs. Wyoming, 8 p.m. No. 6 Ohio St. vs. W. Kentucky, 4 p.m. No. 7 Penn St. at Illinois, Noon No. 8 Washington at Michigan St., 5 p.m. No. 9 Notre Dame vs. Cent. Michigan, 2:30 p.m. No. 10 Alabama at South Florida, 3:30 p.m. No. 11 Tennessee at Florida, 7 p.m. No. 12 Utah vs. Weber St., 2 p.m. No. 13 Oregon vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m. No. 14 LSU at Mississippi St., Noon No. 15 Kansas St. at Missouri, Noon No. 16 Oregon St. vs. San Diego St., 3:30 p.m. No. 17 Mississippi vs. Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m. No. 18 Colorado vs. Colorado St., 10 p.m. No. 19 Oklahoma at Tulsa, 3:30 p.m. No. 20 North Carolina vs. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. No. 21 Duke vs. Northwestern, 3:30 p.m. No. 23 Washington St. vs. N. Colorado, 5 p.m. No. 24 UCLA vs. NC Central, 5 p.m. No. 25 Iowa vs. W. Michigan, 3:30 p.m.

BASEBALL San Francisco at Colorado, 2:10 p.m., 1st game Boston at Toronto, 3:07 p.m. San Diego at Oakland, 4:07 p.m. Atlanta at Miami, 4:10 p.m. Texas at Cleveland, 6:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees at Pittsburgh, 6:35 p.m. Tampa Bay at Baltimore, 7:05 p.m. Cincinnati at N.Y. Mets, 7:10 p.m. Houston at Kansas City, 7:10 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago White Sox, 7:10 p.m. Washington at Milwaukee, 7:10 p.m. Philadelphia at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m. Chicago Cubs at Arizona, 8:10 p.m. San Francisco at Colorado, 8:10 p.m., 2nd game Detroit at L.A. Angels, 9:07 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.

MLS New York at New York City FC, 3:30 p.m. Miami at Atlanta, 5 p.m. D.C. United at Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. Chicago at CF Montréal, 7:30 p.m. Columbus at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m. Seattle at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Saint Louis City SC at Houston, 8:30 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. New England at Colorado, 9:30 p.m. LA Galaxy at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m. Real Salt Lake at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.