April 11, 2026 4:36 am
SEATTLE (AP) — A statue has been unveiled of Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki at the Seattle Mariners’ T-Mobile Park. There was just one problem at the ceremony Friday — a broken bat. As the club pulled the curtain off the statue, the bat in bronze snapped and flopped down as confetti sprouted up. Suzuki joked through an interpreter that Mariano Rivera got the best of him again. It did not take long for the Mariners to fix the statue. Suzuki’s bat was soon turned upright and reconnected at the handle. Suzuki last year became the third Mariners player to have his number retired by the franchise.
April 10, 2026 5:42 pm
CHICAGO (AP) — Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run homer and Carmen Mlodzinski pitched six-hit ball into the sixth inning, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 2-0. Pittsburgh was shut down by Shota Imanaga before breaking through against Caleb Thielbar in the seventh. Ryan O’Hearn hit a leadoff single for the Pirates’ first hit of the chilly afternoon, and Reynolds drove Thielbar’s next pitch deep to left for his third homer. Pittsburgh won for the seventh time in nine games since its 1-3 start. Chicago went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 runners on base.
April 10, 2026 4:29 am
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Evgeni Malkin scored as part of his two-point game, Sidney Crosby set up two goals and Kris Letang had an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched a playoff spot by defeating the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night. The Penguins are playoff-bound for the first time since 2022, ending a three-year drought that followed a streak of qualifying 16 seasons in a row. Crosby, Malkin and Letang have been around for all of it, including Stanley Cup runs in 2009, ‘16 and ’17.
April 10, 2026 4:31 am
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Rory McIlroy has been savoring his Masters win all week at Augusta National. And now he has found something else to celebrate. He shot a 67 for his best start in the Masters in 15 years and shares the lead with Sam Burns. The weather looks perfect, but the players remain concerned. Augusta National can be frightening when it gets dry and fast. McIlroy found some freedom in his swing and had five birdies in an eight-hole stretch. Sam Burns played the par 5s in 5-under par for his best Masters score. Scottie Scheffler opened with a 70.
April 10, 2026 4:32 am
The Justice Department is investigating the NFL for potential anticompetitive practices, according to a government official. The official, who was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the investigation is “about affordability for consumers and creating an even playing field for providers.” The NFL has not received a notification that the league is being investigated, according to two other people with knowledge of the situation. Those people spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak on possible legal matters.
April 10, 2026 2:38 am
The Pirates have unveiled their new City Connect uniform. The team says the Nike uniform embraces the city’s unmistakable black and gold identity, celebrating a unified visual language shared across Pittsburgh’s sports culture. They will be worn for the first time on Friday, April 17, when the Pirates take on the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park. The team will wear the new uniforms for every Friday home game throughout the 2026 season. The all-black uniforms and unique gold lettering are intentional. The uniform was made to embody the grit, toughness, and pride that define Pittsburgh and its people. The detailing is full of subtle nods to the region that is so closely connected to its baseball team. The uniform combination will include two New Era hat variations: the primary hat is gold with a black brim, and the secondary is black with a gold brim. Each prominently displays a unique Jolly Roger logo with swords in the background to reflect the spirit of a pirate always ready for battle.
April 9, 2026 10:49 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Davey Lopes, a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers infielder and premier base stealer, has died. He was 80. The Dodgers say they learned of his death on Wednesday from his former wife, Lin Lopes. Lopes was a four-time All-Star during his 10 years with the Dodgers, playing in four World Series and winning the 1981 championship. He holds the franchise record for most games played at second base and was known for his base-stealing prowess, with 418 steals for the Dodgers. After his playing career, Lopes managed the Milwaukee Brewers and coached for several teams, winning another World Series with the Phillies.
April 8, 2026 2:39 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Castellanos hit a two-run double, Jake Cronenworth added a two-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2. Castellanos’ double began a four-run seventh inning that broke open a scoreless game and helped San Diego clinch the three-game series. Michael King (1-1) allowed two runs on four hits over six innings while striking out four and walking three for San Diego. Justin Lawrence (0-1) took the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in one inning for Pittsburgh. The game remained scoreless through six innings. Mitch Keller worked six scoreless frames while King limited Pittsburgh to two hits through six innings.
April 9, 2026 4:29 am
The Associated Press has learned an NCAA panel is scheduled to discuss potential changes to eligibility rules that would incorporate age into the process. Two people with knowledge of the situation told AP the proposal would give athletes five years of eligibility with the clock starting at the earliest of two dates: either when they turn 19 or graduate high school. The people did not want their names used because the NCAA hasn’t publicly discussed the proposal.
April 9, 2026 4:27 am
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler has two kids and two Masters titles. He’s the favorite in this week’s tournament, as he tends to be for all majors these days. But his family life has been more exciting than his golf recently. His son Bennett turns 2 next month, and Remy was born less than two weeks ago. It was hard to tell which of the kids was more of a hit at Wednesday’s family friendly Par 3 Contest at Augusta National. Remy was carried by Meredith in a baby wrap, and Bennett knocked the ball around with a blue toy club.
