Update on the latest sports
PGA-MASTERS
Rose sizzles at Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — A Rose looked very good amid the azaleas at Augusta national.
Justin Rose opened with a 5-under 65 to grab a four-stroke lead in The Masters. He played the last 11 holes at 9 under and shot 30 on the back side, one off the tournament record shared by Mark Calcaveccia (kal-kah-VEH’-kee-uh) and David Toms.
Rose’s 65 looked even better on a day so tough only 12 players broke par, and the average score was 74.5.
He tied a Masters record by taking at least a share of first-round lead for the fourth time. Rose has a pair of runner-up finishes at Augusta, including a playoff loss to Sergio Garcia four years ago.
Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama (maht-soo-YAH’mah) share second, one ahead of Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Will Zalatoris, Christiaan Bezuidenhout. Harman was the last player to get into the 88-man field.
Defending champion Dustin Johnson struggled after setting the record last year at 20-under 268. He failed to break par at Augusta for the first time since the opening round in 2018, closing with a three-putt for double bogey on the 18th to complete a 74.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Mets win on questionable call
UNDATED (AP) — The New York Mets received a gift in their home opener.
Michael Conforto was credited with a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded by plate umpire Ron Kulpa, bringing home the winning run in the Mets’ 3-2 decision over the Marlins. The pitch was in the strike zone, and Conforto made no attempt to avoid the pitch. Certain camera angles made it unclear he was hit by the pitch.
Kulpa admitted to a pool reporter after the game that he should have called Conforto out.
The Mets filled the bases after Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the ninth with a homer.
Taijaun (TY’-wahn) Walker looked good in his Mets debut, throwing shutout ball before Miami nicked up for two runs in the sixth.
Also on major league diamonds:
— Nolan Arenado (ar-eh-NAH’-doh) hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the eighth inning of his home debut with the Cardinals to lead a 3-1 win over the Brewers. Adam Wainwright allowed a run over five innings while starting his sixth home opener, tying the franchise record set by the late Bob Gibson. Alex Reyes finished the six-hitter for his third save, allowing a leadoff single to Omar Narváez (nahr-VY’-ehz) in the ninth and stranding him at third.
— Jayy (HAH’-vee) Baez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the sixth inning to send the Cubs past the Pirates, 4-2. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo also homered as the Cubs pounded out a season-high 11 hits against Tyler Anderson and four relievers. Baez, Rizzo, Bryant and Jake Marisnick had two hits each for Chicago, which raised its major-league worst team batting average from .143 to .157.
— Eduardo Rodríguez won in his return from heart inflammation that caused him to miss the 2020 season, allowing three runs over five innings to lead the Red Sox over the Orioles, 7-3 in Baltimore. Rodríguez gave up four hits, including a two-run homer by Ryan Mountcastle and a solo shot by Pedro Severino. Rafael Devers (DEH’-vurz) and Kiké (KEE’-kay) Hernández homered for the Red Sox, who have won four consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 14-18, 2019.
— Homers by Mitch Garver, Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez backed another strong start by José Berríos (beh-REE’-ohs) as the Twins ripped the Mariners, 10-2. Garver had the three-run shot that got the Twins going in their home opener. Berrios was reached for two runs over 5 2/3 innings, one start after no-hitting the Brewers over six innings.
— Jon Gray took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and got his first win of the season in pitching the Rockies over the Diamondbacks, 7-3. Gray allowed three runners through six innings, helped in the sixth when third baseman Ryan McMahon made a barehanded grab of Tim Locastro’s grounder. Trevor Story hit a run-scoring double and an RBI triple before Dom Nunez hit a three-run homer.
MLB-NEWS
Mets put Betances on injured list
UNDATED (AP) — New York Mets reliever Dellin Betances (DEH’-lihn beh-TAN’-sehs) has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement.
The oft-injured Betances made his season debut yesterday in an 8-2 loss to the Phillies. The former flame-thrower failed to reach 92 mph on the radar gun.
New York selected right-hander Trevor Hildenberger to the major league roster and added him to a bullpen that struggled during the first three games of the season in Philadelphia.
In other MLB news:
— Infielder Ketel Marte (keh-TEHL’ mahr-TAY’) was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Diamondbacks, a day after hurting his right hamstring against the Rockies. Arizona recalled Andrew Young, who had been with its taxi squad. Marte was injured in the sixth inning of the Diamondbacks’ 8-0 loss.
— Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was not in the starting lineup against Milwaukee Thursday because of lower back tightness. St. Louis said the move was made for precautionary reasons.
NBA-NEWS
Van Vleet, Bembry, Horton-Tucker suspended for fighting
UNDATED (AP) — Toronto Raptors guards DeAndre’ Bembry and Fred Van Vleet and Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker have been suspended one game without pay following their fight in Tuesday night’s game. The suspensions were the result of the three players leaving their bench areas during the scuffle in the Lakers’ 110-101 win.
Also, Toronto’s OG Anunoby (an-oo-NOH’-bee) and Montrezl (MAHN’-trehz) Harrell of Los Angeles were fined for their roles, leading to their ejections.
The altercation came in the first quarter after Dennis Schroder (SHROO’-dur) fouled Anunoby’s layup attempt. Schroder and Anunoby squared off and other players became involved.
In other NBA news:
— Hawks forward John Collins will be out at least another 7-to-10 days with a sprained left ankle. The team announced that Collins has progressed to drills such lateral shuffling and individual court work. Collins was injured in a March 30 loss at Phoenix.
— Golden State Warriors President and chief operating officer Rick Welts will leave his job after this season but stay with the organization as an adviser. The Warriors said Thursday they expect to name a successor within a week.
NFL-LIONS MOVES
Lions sign Marlowe
ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions have signed safety Dean Marlowe, hoping he can help a defense that was one of the worst in NFL history last season.
Marlowe just completed its third NFL season, playing 15 games for the Buffalo Bills last year. He had a career-high two interceptions along with 16 tackles and a fumble recovery last season.
Detroit gave up 519 points and 6,716 yards last season, breaking team records set by its winless team in 2008.
SOUTH CAROLINA-SHOOTING
Authorities: Former NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself
ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) — Authorities in South Carolina say former NFL player Phillip Adams fatally shot five people including a prominent doctor, his wife and their two grandchildren before killing himself.
York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson told a news conference Thursday that investigators had not yet determined a motive.
Tolson said evidence at the scene of Wednesday’s shootings led authorities to Adams at his parents’ nearby home. He was later found dead in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head.
Adams played in 78 NFL games over five seasons for six teams. He joined the 49ers in 2010 as a seventh-round draft pick out of South Carolina State.
MAC-TRANSFER RULES
MAC eliminates intraconference transfer restrictions
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Mid-American Conference is eliminating its policies regarding intraconference transfers and no longer requiring athletes to sit out a season of competition after switching from one MAC school to another.
The announcement comes about a week before the NCAA Division I Council is expected to move toward allowing all college athletes to transfer one time as an undergraduate and be immediately eligible to play.
Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher says going forward the MAC will be governed solely by NCAA transfer regulations.
TENNIS-FRENCH OPEN-DELAY
French Open postponed by 1 week because of pandemic
PARIS (AP) — For the second year in a row, the traditional French Open schedule is being disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The clay-court Grand Slam tennis tournament said Thursday it will push back the start of this season’s event by one week because of surging virus cases in France. It was scheduled to start on May 23, but first-round matches will now get underway on May 30.
This year’s Australian Open was delayed by three weeks because of the virus, and quarantine restrictions affected the preparations of several players.
