May 28, 2026 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ian Happ hit a tiebreaking three-run home run and drove in five runs on Wednesday night while playing in his hometown as the Chicago Cubs ended their 10-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Happ’s three-run shot snapped a 4-4 tie and started a six-run inning that helped the Cubs get their first win since May 15. Pinch-hitter Michael Conforto hit a two-run home run later in the inning to extend the lead to 10-4. Happ also hit a two-run single in the first inning to open the scoring and has reached base in each of his last 40 games in Pittsburgh.
May 28, 2026 4:33 am
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Former NL MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen has been designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers. The move before Wednesday’s game came after he hit .192 in his 37 games. The 39-year-old McCutchen was replaced by free agent infielder Nicky Cruz in a move spurred by the lingering absences of shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Josh Smith. Seager is out with lower back inflammation, and Smith still hasn’t rejoined the team since a stint in the hospital with viral meningitis. McCutchen joined the Rangers on a minor league contract midway through spring training and made their opening day roster.
May 28, 2026 4:34 am
MONTREAL (AP) — Sebastian Aho, Jordan Staal and Logan Stankoven scored in a 2:47 span late in the first period and the Carolina Hurricanes moved within a victory of the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 on Wednesday night. Frederik Andersen made 18 saves for his third shutout in 12 postseason games this year to help the Hurricanes take a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Game 5 is Friday night in North Carolina, with the series winner facing the Vegas Golden Knights. Aho scored on a one-timer on a power play with 5:02 left in the first. Staal followed with 3:53 to go, and Stankoven capped the spree with 2:14 remaining in the period.
May 27, 2026 4:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez hit a two-run home run to cap a five-run first inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates routed the skidding Cubs 12-1 to extend Chicago’s losing streak to 10 games. The Cubs are just the second team in major league history to have two 10-game winning streaks and one 10-game losing streak in the same season, joining the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Braxton Ashcraft (4-3) allowed one run on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings. Spencer Horwitz also homered for the Pirates. Alex Bregman and Carson Kelly had two hits each for Chicago.
May 27, 2026 4:35 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Evgeni Malkin is staying in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have re-signed the franchise icon to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. Malkin, who turns 40 in August, was due to become a free agent on July 1 but had expressed repeatedly a desire to stay. General Manager Kyle Dubas had been noncommittal but confirmed the team’s interest in keeping Malkin, though he said recently the club would “love” to have him back. The signing means Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Kris Letang will continue their historic partnership. All three are now under contract for a record 21st season together.
May 27, 2026 4:38 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored for Vegas and the Golden Knights suffocated Colorado’s high-powered offense to beat the Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night and for an unthinkable sweep to make their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons. The Golden Knights will get a break while they watch to see whether Carolina or Montreal emerge from the Eastern Conference Final. This is a crushing end for an Avalanche team that won the Presidents’ Trophy and had blown through the playoffs with an 8-1 record. Chicago in 2013 was the last team to claim the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.
May 27, 2026 4:36 am
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 points, Alex Caruso led another strong bench effort with 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder moved one win away from a return trip to the NBA Finals by beating the San Antonio Spurs 127-114 on Tuesday night. Jared McCain — getting the call with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell both sidelined — scored 20 in his first playoff start for the Thunder, who now lead the Western Conference finals 3-2. Stephon Castle scored 24 points for San Antonio, which got 22 points from Julian Champagnie and 20 points from Victor Wembanyama — who was held to 4 of 15 shooting.
May 26, 2026 5:54 pm
PITTSBURGH — Veteran Penguins center Evgeni Malkin has re-signed for one more year. The team confirmed on Tuesday, first in an email to season ticketholders, then in a release to the public, that 39-year-old Malkin is returning on a one-year contract extension with an AAV of $5.5 million. Insiders report that the contract could go up to $9 million with bonuses. The Penguins shared a video of Malkin signing his contract, where he says, “Best city, best fans, I stay one more year…Best day in my life.”
May 26, 2026 4:32 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Henry Davis hit a go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Davis turned on a 91 mph cutter from Cubs reliever Trent Thornton and sent it 427 feet over the fence in left field for his fourth homer of the season. Pittsburgh’s bullpen did the rest. Wilber Dotel earned his first big-league win with three innings of scoreless relief. Michael Busch homered for Chicago, but couldn’t stop the Cubs from dropping their ninth straight game, the club’s longest skid since a 10-game slide in 2022.
May 26, 2026 4:36 am
MONTREAL (AP) — Andrei Svechnikov scored at 14:06 of overtime as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 to take a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference Final. Shayne Gostisbehere and Taylor Hall scored in regulation for Carolina. Frederik Andersen made 11 saves. Mike Matheson and Lane Hutson scored for Montreal, which got 35 stops from Jakub Dobes. Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Wednesday at the Bell Centre.
