Messi mania

Inter Milan's path to the Champions League final against Manchester City

MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan will play in its fifth Champions League final when it faces Manchester City in Istanbul on Saturday.

The three-time champion will be bidding for its first title since it won the treble of the Serie A, the Italian Cup and the Champions League under José Mourinho in 2010.

For current coach Simone Inzaghi it is a first Champions League final, as is the case for all of his players.

Few would have imagined the Nerazzurri would be in this position when the draw was made back in August.

But Inter progressed from a tough group containing European giants Bayern Munich and Barcelona, and it went on to eliminate Porto, Benfica and city rival AC Milan en route to the final.

Here's a look:

GROUP STAGE

As soon as the draw was made, Inter’s group was dubbed the group of death. Bayern, Barcelona and Inter had 14 titles between them. Czech team Viktoria Plze? completed the quartet. Inter’s Champions League future looked bleak when it lost 2-0 at home to Bayern in the opener. It was also the manner of that defeat that made progression seem unlikely as there was a clear gulf between the two teams. Inter would have lost by a more hefty scoreline had it not been for goalkeeper Andre Onana. Inter also lost by the same score in Germany, but by then it had already secured a spot in the last 16. A controversial victory at home over Barcelona had given it the advantage in what had been billed as the contest for second spot — as Bayern ran away with the group — and the Nerazzurri consolidated that with a 3-3 draw in Spain.

LAST 16

Inter beat Porto 1-0 on aggregate to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since going out at that stage in 2011 as defending champion. A late Romelu Lukaku goal in the first leg — and some fortune in the second — was enough to see Inter advance and perhaps save Inzaghi’s job. By the time Inter travelled to Porto in March it was already out of the Serie A title race as it had dropped 18 points behind leader and eventual champion Napoli. The pressure was on Inzaghi. Inter defended solidly in Portugal but Porto should have taken the match to extra time after a dramatic finale. Deep in stoppages, Porto had a shot cleared off the line and also hit the woodwork twice — all in the space of a minute.

QUARTERFINALS

Inzaghi and Inter were under even more pressure ahead of their second Portuguese test. Inter was without a win in more than a month when it travelled to Benfica. But it ended that six-match winless run with a 2-0 victory, thanks to a header from Nicolò Barella and a Lukaku penalty. Inter drew further criticism as it then lost at home to Monza in the Italian league, but it drew 3-3 against Benfica at San Siro to advance 5-3 on aggregate. The second leg was also more comfortable than the score suggests as Inter relinquished a two-goal lead late. Inter had been criticized for not being clinical enough in front of goal and failing to convert numerous chances but Barella netted early and Lautaro Martínez and Joaquín Correa scored in the second half to all but seal their team’s spot in the last four.

SEMIFINALS

Everything seemed to go right for Inter in the buildup to the semifinal against city rival AC Milan. Players returned from injuries, while others who had been putting in sub-par performances started hitting form — notably Lukaku. Inter beat Milan 2-0 in the first leg of the so-called “Euroderby,” with goals from Edin Džeko and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the opening 11 minutes. Martínez scored the only goal in a 1-0 win in the return match, where Inter was nominally the home team at the stadium both Milan teams share. Those victories came in the midst of an impressive run that saw Inter end the season with 11 wins in its final 12 matches — ahead of its last and most important match of the season on Saturday.

___

Man City's path to the Champions League final against Inter Milan

ISTANBUL (AP) — Manchester City will be playing in its second Champions League final in three years when the English team meets Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday.

Here's look at City's path to the final:

GROUP STAGE

City was handed a rather benign group containing Borussia Dortmund, a Sevilla team that had a poor start to the season, and Danish outsider FC Copenhagen. City coasted through it, winning its first three games — 4-0 at Sevilla, 2-1 at home to Dortmund and 5-0 at home to Copenhagen — before a 0-0 draw in Denmark secured a place in the round of 16 with two games to spare. That marked the first time City failed to score in a match this season, though the team did play more than an hour with 10 men after Sergio Gomez's red card and saw Riyad Mahrez have a penalty saved. City finished with a 0-0 draw at Dortmund and beat Sevilla 3-1 at home. The highlight of the group stage for City was Erling Haaland's flying volley for the winner against Dortmund, his former club.

LAST 16

The second leg against Leipzig was Haaland's most prolific match in a City shirt. The striker scored five goals before the hour mark in a 7-0 win to complete an 8-1 aggregate victory. Only two players — Argentina great Lionel Messi and Brazilian forward Luiz Adriano — had previously scored five goals in a single Champions League game. It was Leipzig's heaviest European loss and a shock given the way the German team troubled City at times in their 1-1 draw in the first leg, when Mahrez scored the opener. Leipzig was far too open in the return match, playing right into City's hands, with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne also scoring.

QUARTERFINALS

City's 4-1 aggregate win over Bayern Munich wasn't as convincing as the score suggests — as manager Pep Guardiola later said. City was clinical in a 3-0 victory in the first leg at Etihad Stadium, with Rodri's left-foot curler from outside the area breaking the deadlock in a high-quality first half before goals from Bernardo Silva and Haaland pressed home City's advantage in the final 20 minutes. City was wobbling early in the second leg but held on and managed to take the lead through Haaland following a length-of-the-field counterattack led by De Bruyne. By then, Haaland had already skied a penalty over the crossbar and Joshua Kimmich grabbed a late consolation for Bayern, also from the spot.

SEMIFINALS

City avenged last season's painful semifinal exit at the hands of Real Madrid, drawing 1-1 in the Spanish capital before producing arguably its best display under Guardiola to win the second leg 4-0 at home. De Bruyne's long-range second-half equalizer at the Santiago Bernabeu canceled out Vinicius Junior's equally sublime opener and gave City the platform to overpower Madrid a week later. Silva scored two first-half goals and there were more after halftime for Manuel Akanji and Julian Alvarez in a City performance brimming with power and confidence. “We feel unstoppable,” City winger Jack Grealish said.

___

Djokovic and Alcaraz meet in French Open semifinals; other matchup is Zverev vs. Ruud

PARIS (AP) — Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are scheduled to play against each other for the first time in more than a year when they meet in the French Open semifinals.

The much-anticipated showdown is the first singles match on Friday at Court Philippe Chatrier.

It is the 45th Grand Slam semifinal for Djokovic, a 36-year-old from Serbia, and the second for Alcaraz, a 20-year-old from Spain.

Djokovic is hoping to leave Roland Garros this year with his third title in Paris and his 23rd major championship overall, which would break a tie with rival Rafael Nadal for the most by a man in the history of tennis.

The other men's semifinal will follow, pitting No. 4 Casper Ruud, last year's runner-up at Roland Garros, against No. 22 Alexander Zverev. Neither has won a major trophy.

Alcaraz is seeded No. 1, and Djokovic is No. 3. Each has dropped just one set along the way to the semifinals.

They've only faced off once before on tour — on red clay at the Madrid Masters in May 2022. Alcaraz won, round after beating Nadal and one round before beating Zverev for the title there.

It is a matchup worthy of a final, but is happening earlier than that in Paris because they were placed on the same half of the 128-player bracket via a random draw.

How about this for unusual circumstances: Both Djokovic and Alcaraz enter on lengthy Grand Slam winning streaks. Djokovic has won 19 matches in a row at majors, which includes titles at Wimbledon last July and the Australian Open this January.

During that span, though, there also was the U.S. Open, where Djokovic could not play because he was not allowed to travel to the United States at the time as a foreigner who had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. Alcaraz won that tournament, so he is unbeaten in his past 12 Slam matches.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Adell homers in return to majors as Angels beat Cubs 3-1 to complete series sweep

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — This night was definitely a long time coming for Jo Adell and Reid Detmers.

Adell homered in his first game back in the majors, Detmers finally posted his first win of the season and the Los Angeles Angels defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Thursday to complete their third series sweep of the year.

“It feels good. I’d be lying if I told you guys I wasn’t thinking about it. It’s been on my mind for a long time,” Detmers said. “I think I’ve been pressing a little bit too much.”

Adell, who led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 18 homers before being called up, tied the game 1-all in the second inning when he hammered a sinker from Drew Smyly (5-4) a projected 455 feet down the left-field line. According to Statcast, it was the longest homer by an Angels player at home this season.

“It was real exciting to put up that type of swing,” said Adell, who was 1 for 3 and reached base twice. “I know I squared it up pretty well. I got a pitch to drive and didn't miss it.”

The 117.2 mph exit velocity also made it the sixth-hardest-hit ball in the majors this season.

“You don’t see many come close to that second deck and that’s as close as I’ve seen,” Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin said.

It is the first time the Angels, who have won four straight, have swept the Cubs in a three-game series.

Trey Mancini had an RBI double for Chicago, swept for the fourth time this year. The Cubs have dropped four in a row and 10 of 14.

Detmers (1-5) went 5 2/3 innings, lasting that long for only the third time in 11 starts this year. The left-hander struck out eight and walked two.

Carlos Estevez earned his 16th save.

Adell, the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft, had a .215 major league batting average in three seasons (2020-22). The 24-year-old outfielder got off to a great start this year at Salt Lake, setting a club record with homers in six straight games, but needed to continue to show consistency at the plate and on defense before coming back to the big leagues.

He was promoted Wednesday when outfielder Hunter Renfroe went on the paternity list. Renfroe is expected back Saturday.

Even with Adell's home run, he appears to be the odd man out when Renfroe comes back Saturday. Nevin, though, is trying to make sure Adell continues to remain confident.

“I’m not going to say he’s leaving tomorrow or the next day. Certainly that home run tonight was a big shot in the arm for everybody and really was our only damage for a long time,” Nevin said.

The Cubs managed five hits against four Angels pitchers and have scored in only three of their last 42 innings. Miguel Amaya singled with two outs in the second, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Mancini's double.

“We have to find a way to produce runs,” manager David Ross said. “When guys are struggling, the best thing we can do is try to help them find their way, whether it’s mechanical or mental.”

The Halos got three hits to start the second. Adell's leadoff homer was followed by base hits from Luis Rengifo and Chad Wallach. Los Angeles had runners at the corners with one out when Taylor Ward's sacrifice fly brought home Rengifo.

The Angels tacked on a run in the sixth when Zach Neto and Ward successfully executed a double steal. Neto stole third and scored when catcher Yan Gomes' throw to second trying to get Ward was wide of the bag.

Smyly allowed three runs (two earned) and struck out four in six innings. Chicago had runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth, but Chris Devenski came in and got Amaya to ground out.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: OF Cody Bellinger (bruised left knee) and RHP Brad Boxberger (right forearm strain) are heading to the team's complex in Arizona to continue workouts before going on rehab assignments.

Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon got the night off. He is 0 for 6 in two games since missing 21 due to a left groin strain.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Marcus Stroman (6-4, 2.39 ERA) has not allowed an earned run in 20 straight innings going into the start of a three-game set at San Francisco.

Angels: RHP Shohei Ohtani (5-2, 3.30 ERA) makes his seventh home start of the season when Los Angeles opens a weekend series against Seattle.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

In this youth baseball league, fans who mistreat umpires are sentenced to do the job themselves

DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — The April Facebook post hardly seemed like national news at the time for Deptford Little League president Don Bozzuffi. He’d lost patience when two umpires resigned in the wake of persistent spectator abuse. So he wrote an updated code of conduct.

It specified: Any spectator deemed in violation would be banned from the complex until three umpiring assignments were completed. If not, the person would be barred from any Deptford youth sports facilities for a year.

In G-rated terms (unlike the ones that will get you tossed), the mandate just wants helicopter parents to calm the heck down. No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. But how deep would be the cut of watching dad get tossed out of the game and banished for bad behavior?

The league doesn’t want to find out. “So far, it’s working like I’d hoped and just been a deterrent,” the 68-year-old Bozzuffi said.

The problem, though, isn’t limited to Deptford and its handful of unruly parents. Outbursts of bad behavior at sporting events for young people have had frightening consequences for officials at all youth levels. Pick a town, any town, and there are adults assaulting referees or chasing umpires into parking lots looking for a fight, all available on the social feed of your choice.

The videos pop up almost weekly: inane instances of aggressive behavior toward officials. Like in January, when a Florida basketball referee was punched in the face after one game. Or last month, when an enraged youth baseball coach stormed a baseball field in Alabama and wrestled an umpire to the ground. Other adults and kids tried to break up the melee that took place in a game — at an 11-and-under tournament.

Jim McDevitt has worked as a volunteer Deptford umpire for 20 years. But he turns 66 this month and won’t call games much longer. He wonders where the next generation of officials will come from, especially when the job description includes little pay and lots of crap.

Youth officiating is in crisis. According to a 2017 survey of by the National Association of Sports Officials, nearly 17,500 referees surveyed said parents caused the most problems with sportsmanship at 39%. Coaches came in at 29% and fans at 18%.

Barry Mano founded the association four decades ago to advocate for youth officials. Mano, whose brother Mark was an NBA referee, has watched fan conduct become “far worse” than he could have imagined.

“Sports is simply life with the volume turned up,” Mano says. “We’ve become louder and brasher. We always want a second opinion on things. That’s where the culture has gone. I don’t think we’re as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues.”

In Deptford, things seem to be working — at least in attracting non-mandatory umps. Bozzuffi says that since his rule grabbed national headlines, three umpires have joined the league and more volunteers want to be trained.

And those who might get sentenced to umping? McDevitt puts it less delicately. “We’ll see how their sphincter feels when they have to make a tight call and the parents are all screaming and hollering at them.”

The Deptford Little League playoffs, a time when tensions rise, are under way, and Bozzuffi has urged his umps to show restraint. Bozzuffi, who has served as league president for 14 years and been connected to the league for 40, doesn’t want any fan to get ejected. He just wants to get them thinking.

For many, every “safe!” when the tag is missed, every called strike on a pitch below the knees is one more reason to blow a fuse in a youth sports culture full of hefty fees for league play and travel teams that have already heightened the financial and emotional attachment and encouraged a sense of parents as constituents who have a right to be heeded.

And it’s getting attention all the way up the youth baseball chain. Little League President Stephen D. Keener had this to say: “We applaud the volunteers at Deptford Township Little League for coming up with a creative, fun solution to shine a light on the importance of treating everyone with respect, on and off the Little League field.”

OK. But here’s the fine print.

Beyond the headlines that suggest Fuming Father No. 1 is going to get the call from the bleachers and suddenly start ringing up strike three, there’s this: It’s too much effort. The risks! The potential safety problems! The insurance!

Bozzuffi and the town’s mayor teach a three-hour safety certification class each offender must complete before receiving an umpire assignment. Rookie umps must pass a background check and complete an online concussion course. After all that, a real, qualified umpire would be stationed next to the replacement ump to ensure accuracy and fairness.

It hasn’t happened — yet.

“The first person that we have to do this to, nobody is else is going to challenge this,” Bozzuffi said. “Nobody wants to go through all this.”

So for now, at least on a recent weeknight in Deptford, parents, grandparents and friends, were on their best behavior. Parent Dawn Nacke found it unfair that the town was labeled as “obnoxious parents when we’re just caring about our kids.”

“We know that they ump for free, but sometimes bad calls are made and they cost us the game,” she said.

Has she ever been guilty of popping off too much?

“Mouthy, yes. But we all have to bite our tongues over here because of the new rule,” she said. “I just have to keep my mouth shut more. Scared me straight. I’m more angry that they call us obnoxious parents. That really upset me when I read it in the news. But this is their rule and I’m going to follow it.”

Just the way Deptford drew it up.

___

Follow Philadelphia-based AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston on Twitter at http://twitter.com/apgelston

In this youth baseball league, fans who mistreat umpires are sentenced to do the job themselves

DEPTFORD, N.J. (AP) — Back in Mudville, when mighty Casey took an unheeded pitch for a strike, there went up a muffled roar: “`Kill him! Kill the umpire!' shouted someone on the stand."

Even in 1888, well before pitch clocks, $17 beers and instant replay, a common thread for the fans in baseball's most epic poem was how much they loved to threaten umpires.

These days, 135 or so years after writer Ernest Lawrence Thayer's renowned verse, one Little League in New Jersey is taking a hands-on approach. Its target: those watching 10- and 11-year-olds play baseball who curse at the volunteers behind the plate.

You want some of this? they're saying. Well, come get some. In Deptford, the umpire recruiting slogan sign may as well read: If you can’t berate them, join them.

___

The April Facebook post hardly seemed like national news at the time for league president Don Bozzuffi. He'd lost patience when two umpires resigned after persistent spectator abuse. So he wrote an updated code of conduct.

It specified: Any spectator deemed in violation would be banned from the complex until three umpiring assignments were completed. If not, the person would be barred from any Deptford youth sports facilities for a year.

In G-rated terms (unlike the ones that will get you tossed), the mandate just wants helicopter parents to calm the heck down. No 9-year-old will remember, as an adult, being safe or out on a bang-bang play at first. But how deep would be the cut of watching dad get tossed out of the game and banished for bad behavior?

The league doesn’t want to find out. “So far, it’s working like I’d hoped and just been a deterrent,” the 68-year-old Bozzuffi said.

The problem, though, isn't limited to Deptford and its handful of unruly parents.

Outbursts of bad behavior at sporting events for young people have had frightening consequences for officials at all youth levels. Pick a town, any town, and there are adults assaulting referees or chasing umpires into parking lots looking for a fight, all available on the social feed of your choice.

The videos pop up almost weekly: inane instances of aggressive behavior toward officials. Like in January, when a Florida basketball referee was punched in the face after one game. Or last month, when an enraged youth baseball coach stormed a baseball field in Alabama and wrestled an umpire to the ground. Other adults and kids tried to break up the melee that took place in a game — at an 11-and-under tournament.

Jim McDevitt has worked as a volunteer Deptford umpire for 20 years. But he turns 66 this month and won’t call games much longer. He wonders where the next generation of officials will come from, especially when the job description includes little pay and lots of crap.

Youth officiating is in crisis. According to a 2017 survey of by the National Association of Sports Officials, nearly 17,500 referees surveyed said parents caused the most problems with sportsmanship at 39%. Coaches came in at 29% and fans at 18%.

Barry Mano founded the association four decades ago to advocate for youth officials. Mano, whose brother Mark was an NBA referee, has watched fan conduct become “far worse” than he could have imagined.

“Sports is simply life with the volume turned up,” Mano says. “We've become louder and brasher. We always want a second opinion on things. That's where the culture has gone. I don't think we're as civil as we used to be toward each other, and it plays out in the sporting venues.”

___

In Deptford, things seem to be working — at least in attracting non-mandatory umps. Bozzuffi says that since his rule grabbed national headlines, three umpires have joined the league. More volunteers want to be trained.

And those who might get sentenced to umping? McDevitt puts it less delicately. “We’ll see how their sphincter feels when they have to make a tight call and the parents are all screaming and hollering at them."

The Deptford Little League playoffs, a time when tensions rise, are under way, and Bozzuffi has urged his umps to show restraint. Bozzuffi, who has served as league president for 14 years and been connected to the league for 40, doesn’t want any fan to get ejected. He just wants to get them thinking.

Because in a culture where violence visits schools, churches, movie theaters, clubs and many social gathering spots, the irate fan pressed against the fence spewing four-lettered tirades at the ump could easily escalate.

“People are just a little bit more sensitive to it,” said Sherrie Spencer, a lifelong Deptford resident who had two sons and grandsons play. She has noticed an uptick in abusive language to umpires through the years. “Now," she says, "you have things that are going on in our world that people are more fearful when you see someone getting upset like that.”

Part of the problem is this: Thanks to technological advances, perfection in baseball can sometimes seem more attainable than ever.

In the major leagues, computers and their precision have become a vital part of baseball’s fabric. Gone are the days when a manager like Billy Martin or Earl Weaver would burst out of the dugout and kick up a cloud of dirt, curse a blue streak and maybe even walk away with a base or chuck one into the outfield over a missed call.

Blow one now? The manager barely reacts, asking for a replay review while a command center makes the dispassionate final call. Oh, and robo umps are coming. They’re already calling the shots in the minor leagues, with computerized strike zones that leave no room for argument. Where’s the messiness, the fallibility, the human emotion steeped in baseball tradition? Where’s the fun of baseball in umpire perfection?

That's not the way some parents see it. For many, every “safe!” when the tag is missed, every called strike on a pitch below the knees is another reason to blow a fuse in a youth sports culture full of hefty fees and travel teams that have already heightened financial and emotional attachment and encouraged a sense of parents as constituents who have a right to be heeded.

That’s why Deptford is experimenting with its attempt at preventative medicine. This is interdicting the parents before the kids get older. This is, at its core, potential assault prevention.

It's getting attention all the way up the youth baseball chain. Little League President Stephen D. Keener had this to say: “We applaud the volunteers at Deptford Township Little League for coming up with a creative, fun solution to shine a light on the importance of treating everyone with respect, on and off the Little League field."

___

OK. But here’s the fine print.

Beyond the headlines that suggest Fuming Father No. 1 is going to get the call from the bleachers and suddenly start ringing up strike three, there's this: It’s too much effort. The risks! The potential safety problems! The insurance!

Bozzuffi and the town's mayor teach a three-hour safety certification class each offender must complete before receiving an assignment. Rookie umps must pass a background check and complete an online concussion course. After all that, a qualified umpire would be stationed next to the replacement ump to ensure accuracy and fairness.

It hasn't happened — yet.

“The first person that we have to do this to, nobody is else is going to challenge this," Bozzuffi said. “Nobody wants to go through all this.”

So for now, at least on a recent weeknight in Deptford, parents, grandparents and friends, were on their best behavior. They cheered. They clapped. They caught up with neighbors.

They groused a bit, too. While other Little League officials across America reached out to Bozzuffi for input into their own policies, some fans in Deptford are sick of the perception that’s it’s a town full of baseball bullies.

One fan waved off an interview request because he “didn't want to hear anymore about how bad we all are." Parent Dawn Nacke found it unfair that the town was labeled as “obnoxious parents when we’re just caring about our kids.”

“We know that they ump for free," she said, “but sometimes bad calls are made and they cost us the game.”

Has she ever been guilty of popping off too much?

“Mouthy, yes. But we all have to bite our tongues over here because of the new rule,” she said. “I just have to keep my mouth shut more. Scared me straight. I’m more angry that they call us obnoxious parents. That really upset me when I read it in the news. But this is their rule and I’m going to follow it.”

Just the way Deptford drew it up.

___

Follow Philadelphia-based AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston on Twitter at http://twitter.com/apgelston

Adams Jr., Rhymes in sync in B.C. Lions' 25-15 win over Calgary Stampeders

CALGARY — Vernon Adams Jr. and Dominique Rhymes clicked early for the B.C. Lions in a 25-15 win over the Calgary Stampeders to open the CFL season Thursday.

Rhymes caught two touchdown passes and totalled 100 receiving yards in the game.

He picked up where he left off in 2022 when his 1,401 yards ranked second among CFL receivers behind Winnipeg's Dalton Schoen and earned Rhymes a league all-star designation.

B.C.'s quarterback was efficient early Thursday. 

Adams threw for 176 yards in a pair of touchdown drives — one on B.C.'s first possession of the game and the other in the first minute of the second quarter. 

He capped those drives with throws to Rhymes in the end zone.

"It's the work we've been doing as a whole offence together," Rhymes said. "When they give me opportunities to make plays, I've got to make plays for him. 

"He's our quarterback and he's our leader and I want to be the best person I can be for him, so I can make our offence successful."

Adams was effective with his feet as well as his arm. 

The quarterback rushed for 35 yards on 10 carries and also ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

B.C. kicker Sean Whyte's 44-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining put the game out of reach for the Stampeders. 

"Starting fast was big," Lions head coach Rick Campbell said. "It's a 60-minute game, but playing Calgary here is tough. 

"If they get momentum early, it's really hard. You fight an uphill battle. It was good to get ahead on the scoreboard and Vernon and our offence was a big part of that."

Tre Odoms-Dukes caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Jake Maier for Calgary's lone touchdown in front of an announced crowd of 17,942 at McMahon Stadium.

Calgary's Rene Paredes kicked three field goals on five attempts. 

He missed his first two from 39 and 45 yards, but was successful from 22, 39 and 52 yards.

Adams completed 27 of 35 passes for 270 yards and two touchdown throws in the game. He was intercepted by Mike Rose.

The Lions acquired Adams, a 2019 CFL all-star, from the Montreal Alouettes midway through last season when Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke was injured.

With Rourke now property of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, the Lions looked to the 30-year-old Adams to lead their offence.

"I am feeling a lot more comfortable than I was last year getting thrown in the fire," Adams said.

Maier struggled in Thursday's first half in completing just seven of 15 passes for 56 yards. 

The 26-year-old was under pressure several times and sacked late in the second quarter by Mathieu Betts.

Maier finished 20-for-36 in pass attempts for 154 yards and a touchdown pass. He was intercepted once.

"There's no excuses," Maier said. "I'm never going to be an excuse guy. 

"We didn't play that well, especially on offence in the first half and we're on to Week 2."

Calgary's Ka'Deem Carey, the CFL's leading rusher last season, ran for 42 yards on seven carries.

B.C.'s defence held top Stampeder receivers Reggie Begelton and Malik Henry to a combined 58 yards.

The Lions generated more first downs than the Stampeders over the first three quarters.

"We've got to stay ahead of the sticks, meaning we can't be a second-and-long team," Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson said. 

"We weren't able to necessarily give Jake the extra time to make that extra read, make that extra play.

"It's early. I'm not going to beat them up. I understand what it is. Look in the mirror. We've got to be better. Coaches as well."

Paredes' field goal from 52 yards late in the fourth quarter pulled the hosts within four points of B.C., but Whyte's 44-yarder sealed B.C.'s victory.

The Lions and Stampeders both posted 12-6 records in 2022.

B.C. downed Calgary 30-16 in last year's West Division semifinal before falling 28-20 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the division final.

"Last year, we went to the game before the final, so we know what type of team we have," Lions defensive back Garry Peters said. "We came into the camp a lot further ahead.

"We have a lot of veteran guys, so that's just a testament of what type of team we have and that's what we put on the field today."

The Stampeders next face the host Ottawa Redblacks in a second straight Thursday night game to open their season.

The Lions are at home against the Edmonton Elks on June 17 with a pre-game concert by LL Cool J scheduled for B.C. Place

Campbell hopes bringing a win home from Calgary adds to the home-opener buzz.

"We're trying to do our part on the field," Campbell said. "Hopefully we get a huge crowd next week." 

Notes: The Stampeders had nine rookies in their game-day lineup, including three receivers, compared to seven for the Lions . . . Since the CFL returned to a nine-team league in 2014, Calgary is 4-4-1 and the Lions are 4-5 in season openers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.

Florida back in Stanley Cup Final after taking advantage of matchups at home vs. Vegas

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Before the puck dropped Thursday night for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice tipped his hand, at least a little bit.

For the first time since the second round of the playoffs, Matthew Tkachuk’s line alongside Sam Bennett and Nick Cousins did not start. Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy already tabbed his shutdown trio of William Carrier, Nicolas Roy and Keegan Kolesar to open the game — the line that had shut down Tkachuk and Bennett so far.

Despite saying earlier Thursday he “didn’t feel it was a matchup series,” Maurice abandoned his starting lineup for 11 games in a row in search of the best possible matchups to try to turn around the final. It took Tkachuk's tying goal and Carter Verhaeghe's overtime winner, but it paid dividends in Florida getting right back in the series.

“We have a lot of confidence in our team to produce offense,” Tkachuk said. “We’ve been a top team all year at 5 on 5, so just because we’re playing in the Stanley Cup Final doesn’t mean we need to change up a whole bunch of things. But we definitely had to make some tweaks going into this game that were going to make us more successful than we were in Vegas. We definitely were.”

Each of the Panthers' goals in regulation came with the players on the ice Maurice wanted: Tkachuk and Co. against Vegas' second line of captain Mark Stone, center Chandler Stephenson and depth forward Brett Howden. That offense from defenseman Brandon Montour early in the first period and then Tkachuk late in the third was enough to offset two Vegas power-play goals resulting from eight Florida penalties.

“We’ve bounced a bunch of people around,” Maurice said. “We had a bunch of adjustments we had to make because of Matthews’ (absence) and then the 475 penalties that were called in the game tonight, so we had to make some adjusments.”

Then Verhaeghe's goal — also against Stone, Stephenson and Howden — finished off the 3-2 comeback victory.

“We have four lines who can play against anyone,” captain Aleksander Barkov said.

The Panthers, for stretches, outplayed the Golden Knights at even strength, able to get churning on their relentless attack that got them through the Eastern Conference and put opponents on their heels.

Much as Cassidy pushed all the right buttons in the first two games of the series his team won, Maurice found a winning recipe to make the final 2-1. There's little doubt Vegas is a deeper team and more talented, something that has been on display much of the season with a first-place finish in the West and then into the playoffs — and confidence remains with the Golden Knights.

"Nobody said it was going to be easy," center Jack Eichel said.

But the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes all looked better on paper than the Panthers, who kept finding ways to win. While some of that is Tkachuk and also goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who was brilliant again Thursday night bouncing back from being pulled in Game 2, Maurice deserves credit for making decisions that led to the ideal matchups — and made the Cup Final finally look competitive.

“At the end of the day, nobody cares how we got here,” Tkachuk said. “It’s a 2-1 series.”

___

Follow AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SWhyno

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Vegas unable to capitalize on Florida's mistakes in Game 3 of Stanley Cup Final

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The power play that had carried the Vegas Golden Knights to a 2-0 series lead in the Stanley Cup Final wasn't enough to power them to a victory Thursday night.

Florida's Matthew Tkachuk did what he has done all playoffs, and what the Panthers had been missing so far this series, scoring the tying goal with 2:13 left in regulation. Then Carter Verhaeghe ended it 4:27 of overtime, giving Florida a 3-2 victory.

Vegas, which had outscored the Panthers by eight goals entering Game 3, was limited to just two Thursday night. Both were on the power play. With all pressure on the Panthers, the Golden Knights let them back in the series by missing opportunities to pull away when Florida gave away one advantage after another.

“I thought we did a lot of things correct," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We just couldn't get the next one to, you know, put the nail in the coffin, so to speak. And they hung around and did a good job. They got to the front of the net. They've done it before. You've got to give them their sure credit. And overtime, you never know.”

Vegas center Jack Eichel said he felt the team's five-on-five game was good only in spurts.

The Golden Knights' power play saved them after they faced a 1-0 deficit in the first period as Florida capitalized on an eager crowd that hasn't seen a Stanley Cup Final game live since 1996.

Mark Stone tied it 1-1 at 16:03 in the first with his seventh goal of the playoffs.

“Special teams is a big part of things," Eichel said, "and our power play got us a few, but you obviously would like to have one to start the third there, but it didn’t happen. Here we are. We’re moving on the Game 4. We had some chances, but their goalie made a lot of stops.”

Eichel rifled a pass through the box to set up a go-ahead goal by Jonathan Marchessault in the second period on the Golden Knights' fifth man advantage of the game.

Vegas had gotten there after Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov interfered with Zach Whitecloud at 14:13 in the period. The play was indicative of how puzzlingly undisciplined the Panthers have been the entire series — and a reminder of how good the Golden Knights have been at capitalizing on Florida’s mistakes.

The Panthers entered what a few players described as a must-win game harping on the need to play smarter after penalties have dominated their play in the first two games.

They're the most penalized team in the playoffs with 100 through 18 games. Tkachuk has as many misconducts (3) as points (3) this series.

Despite being whistled eight times Thursday, when the Panthers players needed to be smart, they were.

“We have a lot of confidence in our team to produce offense,” Tkachuk said. “We've been a top team all year at five-on-five, so just because we're playing in the Stanley Cup Final doesn't mean we need to change up a whole lot of things. We definitely had to make some tweaks going int this game that were going to make us more successful than we were in Vegas. And we definitely were.”

Vegas was given another opportunity to capitalize on its potent power play late in the game after Florida's Gustav Forsling was whistled for tripping Chandler Stephenson with 11.2 seconds left in regulation.

“I'll have to go back and look at it,” Eichel said. "Obviously, we didn't score, so it wasn't good enough."

Vegas was 2 for 6 on the power play Thursday, making it 6 of 17 in the series.

Goalie Adin Hill, whose big play helped fuel Vegas to its first two wins, allowed three goals for the first time in the series.

“I hope it leaves a sour taste in your mouth, at least for the night,” Cassidy said. “We had a chance to put the game away, talk about winning hockey, closing out hockey games, how important it is this time of year. So I hope they’re upset with certain things that transpired. That’s OK. It’s an emotional game. But not tomorrow. Can’t be tomorrow. Get your night’s rest and be ready, as they say, get better tomorrow.”

___

AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/

Albies hits 3-run homer in 10th, Braves rally to beat reeling Mets 13-10 for 3-game sweep

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies' walk-off homer for the Braves did more than just complete their three-game sweep of the NL East-rival New York Mets.

The win also made Atlanta comeback history.

Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and the Braves rallied to beat the reeling Mets 13-10 on Thursday night.

The Braves trailed 9-5 and 10-7 after erasing three-run deficits in each of the first two games of the series. It marked the first time since moving to Atlanta in 1966 that the team won three straight games after trailing by three or more.

What did it mean for that to come against the $355 million Mets?

“I don't have to say,” a smiling Albies said in the clubhouse.

“I think the best thing we do is don't give up,” he added. “Yes, we expect to win. That's the way we play.”

It also marked the first time in Mets history (since 1962) they lost three consecutive games they led by at least three runs.

Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.

“We're going to continue to fight and battle,” Arcia said. “That's who we are.”

New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings — dating to a defeat at Washington on Sept. 6, 2021.

The franchise-record streak had been the longest active run for any team in the majors.

The Mets wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander was ineffective.

New York (30-33) matched a season low at three games under .500, falling 8 1/2 games behind the first-place Braves. The fourth-place Mets have lost seven straight and nine of 10 in Atlanta.

But manager Buck Showalter sought consolation in his team scoring eight runs off Spencer Strider.

“Guys came in here and competed as good as you want to see,” Showalter said. “They came in here tonight against one of the best pitchers in the league and I’m real proud of them. There were a lot of opportunities there to fold the tent and these guys aren’t going to do that.”

Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1) to drive in pinch-runner Sam Hilliard, who entered as the automatic runner at second base, and Travis d'Arnaud, who walked. Albies' homer, his 14th, sent Braves players spilling out of their dugout for an on-field celebration capped by a shower at the plate.

New York led 10-7 entering the eighth before d'Arnaud hit a two-run homer off Drew Smith. Robertson was summoned to try to get a five-out save but gave up Arcia's one-out homer in the ninth. It was his second blown save in 12 chances.

Nimmo's grand slam in the second gave New York a 5-3 lead and Álvarez drove in three runs with his two homers. The Mets had 14 hits, including three by Starling Marte, but it wasn't enough as Atlanta launched four homers.

Braves closer Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.

Strider was given a 3-0 lead in the first, when Austin Riley hit a two-run homer, his first of four hits. Strider gave up the lead in the Mets' five-run second and allowed a career-high eight runs in four innings.

Despite the absence of slugger Pete Alonso, scoring was not the problem for the Mets. Alonso returned to New York for further tests after his left wrist was hit by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of Atlanta’s 7-5 win Wednesday night. The team said Alonso had a bruise, and X-rays revealed no broken bones.

Strider was touched up for five runs on five hits in the second. Nimmo hit a 96 mph fastball over the middle of the plate into the right-field seats for his first career slam.

Strider's struggles continued in the fourth when Álvarez hit a two-run homer. He added a solo shot in the sixth.

Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna hit his 12th homer in the fifth.

STRUGGLES FOR VERLANDER

The 40-year-old Verlander lasted only three innings, allowing five runs — four earned. He issued four walks in his first career outing at Truist Park, the 34th stadium in which he has started.

“Not many first-pitch strikes,” Showalter said. “That’s not like him.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves RHP Michael Tomkin (strained neck) allowed two runs over two innings in relief of Strider after he was recalled from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett. RHP Roddery Muñoz was optioned to Gwinnett.

UP NEXT

Mets: RHP Tylor Megill (5-3, 4.40 ERA) will face Pirates LHP Rich Hill (5-5, 4.41) in Friday night's series opener at Pittsburgh.

Braves: Rookie RHP AJ Smith-Shawver makes his first career start against Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (3-4, 3.66). The 20-year-old Smith-Shawver will be Atlanta’s 12th starting pitcher this season. Gore allowed three hits over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-1 home win against the Braves on April 2.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Panthers rally, top Golden Knights 3-2 in OT in Game 3 of Stanley Cup final

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Overtime. Season basically on the line. The Florida Panthers keep finding ways to flourish in those moments.

And for the first time, they’ve won a game in the Stanley Cup Final.

Carter Verhaeghe snapped a wrister from the slot high into the back of the net 4:27 into overtime and the Panthers rallied to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Thursday night in Game 3. Vegas still leads the title series 2-1, but Florida has life and found a way to turn overtime into its favorite time once again.

“We’re the Cats,” said Verhaeghe, after his fourth career playoff overtime goal. “We have whatever lives we have, but it’s awesome. It shows how great our team is and the guys on our team have no quit in them.”

The Panthers are 7-0 in these playoffs in OT — actually winning more games in extra sessions than they’ve won in regulation.

“We don't know how we're going to get there,” said Matthew Tkachuk, who tied the game with 2:13 left in regulation. “But we're going to do everything we can to get there.”

Tkachuk gave Florida a chance, and the Panthers won their first title-series game in seven tries. Florida had to fend off a power play to start overtime, and Verhaeghe got the winner with Tkachuk providing some traffic in front of the net.

“I had a little bit of time to walk in and shoot,” Verhaeghe said. “I’m so happy it went in.”

Game 4 is Saturday night.

“There's a little bit of collective confidence,” said Florida coach Paul Maurice, whose teams are 19-7 in overtime games over his playoff career.

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 25 shots for Florida. Adin Hill made 20 saves for Vegas, but got beat on the only shot that came his way in overtime.

"Normally that’s a shot that we’re going to give up, get the save and move on," Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “It wasn’t like an odd-man rush through the middle so I didn’t mind the way we defended it. ... I mean, they've got good players. They're going to make some plays.”

Brandon Montour also scored for Florida, which pulled Bobrovsky down 2-1 late in the third for the extra attacker and Tkachuk — who left for parts of the first and second periods after taking a big hit and needing to be cleared by the NHL's concussion protocol program — made that move pay off when he tied the game.

His goal breathed life into a very nervous building. But the Panthers were furious — and replays showed they had a case — when Gustav Forsling was sent to the box with 11.2 seconds remaining for tripping. Florida survived that scare, and a few minutes later, had life in the series again.

“Nobody cares how we got here,” Tkachuk said. “It's a 2-1 series.”

The odds are still long, but the Panthers at least have a bit more statistical hope now. Of the previous 55 teams to trail 2-1 at this point of the Stanley Cup Final, 11 have actually rallied to hoist the trophy.

It’s improbable, sure. So are the Panthers, who were the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, were down 3-1 to Boston in Round 1, were 133 seconds away from trailing this series 3-0 — and now have tons of reasons for optimism.

“We found our legs a little bit,” Florida's San Reinhart said.

Jonathan Marchessault and Mark Stone had power-play goals for Vegas.

Marchessault's goal was his 13th in his last 13 playoff games, his fourth of this series and his third with the man advantage.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there was a little history in there as well. Vegas joined the 1980 New York Islanders as the only team with at least two power-play goals in three consecutive games in the Cup final. And Marchessault became the third player in the last 35 years to score in each of the first three games of a title series — joining Steve Yzerman in 1997 with Detroit and Jake Guentzel with Pittsburgh in 2017.

But it wasn't enough to give Vegas a 3-0 lead in the series.

“I didn't mind our game,” Cassidy said. “They made a play in overtime. ... Sometimes that happens to you.”

AROUND THE RINK

Florida's 0-6 record in Stanley Cup Final games before Thursday was well short of the record for franchise futility in the title series. St. Louis lost its first 13 games in the Cup final. ... Before Thursday, Florida’s last home game in the title series was June 10, 1996, when Uwe Krupp scored in the third overtime for a 1-0 win as Colorado finished off a four-game sweep of the Panthers for the Cup. ... Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was in the crowd, as was NBA great Charles Barkley, and former Dolphins star Dan Marino was the celebrity drummer to welcome the Panthers onto the ice.

___

AP NHL Playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Kershaw strikes out 9 in 7 innings, Dodgers blank Reds to stop 4-game slide

CINCINNATI (AP) — Clayton Kershaw pitched seven sharp innings, Chris Taylor hit his 10th home run and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-0 on Thursday.

Kershaw (8-4) scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked two to help Los Angeles snap its four-game losing streak and avoid a three-game sweep against the Reds, who won the previous two games in walk-off fashion.

Los Angeles improved to 10-3 against Cincinnati dating to September 2021.

The Dodgers scored three runs in the third against starter Graham Ashcraft (3-5).

GUARDIANS 10, RED SOX 3

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez homered in his first three at-bats — and from both sides of the plate — to power Cleveland past Boston.

Ramírez connected for a solo shot in the first inning off Matt Dermody (0-1), belted a two-run shot — his 200th career homer — in the third and added another solo drive in the sixth when the Guardians hit for the cycle, had eight straight hits and scored five times.

Ramírez came up a second time in the sixth bidding for a rare four-homer game, but struck out swinging. The four-time All-Star third baseman had another chance in the eighth, but grounded to third.

There have only been 16 four-homer games in the majors since 1901.

Will Brennan added a home run as the Guardians won the series and handed the Red Sox their fifth loss in six games.

Aaron Civale (2-1) had his second solid outing for Cleveland after spending 46 games on the injured list with an oblique strain.

BRAVES 13, METS 10, 10 INNINGS

ATLANTA (AP) — Ozzie Albies lined a three-run homer with two outs in the 10th inning and Atlanta rallied to beat reeling New York for a three-game sweep.

Orlando Arcia hit a tying solo homer off Mets closer David Robertson in the ninth to help the NL East leaders win their fifth straight.

New York, which has dropped six in a row for the first time since August 2019, had won a franchise-record 122 consecutive games when leading after eight innings — the longest active streak in the majors.

The Mets (30-33) wasted two home runs from rookie Francisco Álvarez and an early grand slam from Brandon Nimmo as three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander struggled.

Atlanta erased deficits of 9-5 and 10-7 and came back from at least three runs down to win all three games in the series. It marked the first time in Mets history they lost three consecutive games they led by three runs or more.

Albies homered off Tommy Hunter (0-1). Travis d'Arnaud hit a two-run shot against Drew Smith in the eighth to cut it to 10-9. Austin Riley and Marcell Ozuna also went deep for the Braves.

Raisel Iglesias (2-2) struck out Álvarez and Jeff McNeil in a perfect 10th.

RAYS 4, TWINS 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yonny Chirinos pitched well into the sixth inning, Harold Ramírez homered during a three-run fourth and the MLB-best Tampa Bay Rays completed a three-game sweep of AL Central-leading Minnesota.

Chirinos (3-1), recalled from Triple-A Durham before the game, allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings in his first big league appearance since April 29. Jason Adam, the third Rays reliever, worked the ninth for his 10th save.

Tampa Bay (46-19) is 29-6 at home and has won six in a row overall.

Carlos Correa and Michael A. Taylor homered for the Twins (31-32), who have lost a season-high five consecutive games. They have totaled seven runs in the past six games.

Bailey Ober (3-3) retired his first 11 batters, including six straight strikeouts, before losing his perfect game and the lead in a span of three batters.

PHILLIES 3, TIGERS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zack Wheeler took a no-hitter into the eighth inning, Kody Clemens came through with a game-ending single and Philadelphia rallied past Detroit for its fifth victory in a row.

Brandon Marsh tied it in the ninth with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly for the defending NL champion Phillies (30-32).

Nick Maton hit a go-ahead single in the top of the ninth after Tyler Nevin broke up Wheeler’s no-hit bid on a single with one out in the eighth for the Tigers, who lost their sixth straight and eighth in the last nine.

Bryce Harper's leadoff double in the ninth against Alex Lange (3-2) sparked Philadelphia's rally. Craig Kimbrel (4-1) got the win.

The game originally was scheduled for Wednesday night but was postponed due to poor air quality caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

ORIOLES 6, BREWERS 3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning to put Baltimore ahead for good and the Orioles rallied from a three-run deficit to beat Milwaukee.

The Brewers took a 3-0 lead in the first and were in control for much of the game until the Orioles scored six runs over the final three innings against Milwaukee's bullpen. The comeback enabled the Orioles to avoid a three-game sweep.

Anthony Santander’s one-out RBI double off Peter Strzelecki (3-5) cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-2 in the eighth.

Adam Frazier had a two-run double in the ninth for Baltimore. Ramón Urías started the comeback by hitting a two-out homer off Joel Payamps in the seventh.

Bryan Baker, Keegan Akin (2-1), Yennier Cano and Félix Bautista combined for four innings of scoreless relief. Bautista earned his 16th save in 20 opportunities.

BLUE JAYS 3, ASTROS 2

TORONTO (AP) — Brandon Belt had a tiebreaking single, José Berríos pitched six steady innings to win his third straight decision and Toronto defeated Houston.

Alejandro Kirk added an RBI double as the Blue Jays took three of four from the defending World Series champions and won the season series 4-3.

Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez left after one at-bat because of a sore right oblique.

Berríos (6-4) allowed two runs and four hits. Jordan Romano finished for his 17th save in 20 chances.

Houston left-hander Framber Valdez (6-5) gave up three runs in five innings.

WHITE SOX 6, YANKEES 5, GAME 1

YANKEES 3, WHITE SOX 0, GAME 2

NEW YORK (AP) — Randy Vásquez pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning for his first major league win, Billy McKinney hit his first home run with the Yankees and New York blanked Chicago for a doubleheader split.

McKinney was called up from the minors Wednesday when star slugger Aaron Judge went on the injured list with a sprained and bruised right big toe.

The White Sox extended their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 6-5 victory in the opener, when Eloy Jiménez hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh off Michael King (1-2).

Jake Burger had a two-run shot off Yankees starter Luis Severino before Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada also went deep against the right-hander.

After Wednesday’s game was postponed by Major League Baseball because of hazardous air quality from Canadian wildfires, conditions in the Bronx had improved by Thursday’s first pitch.

In the second game, Gleyber Torres hit a two-run homer off starter Mike Clevinger (3-4).

Making his second big league start, Vásquez (1-1) retired 15 straight hitters and was pulled with two outs in the sixth. Ron Marinaccio worked 2 2/3 innings and Clay Holmes got his seventh save as the Yankees avoided a three-game sweep.

Willie Calhoun homered and drove in three runs for the Yankees in the opener.

Gregory Santos (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 sixth for the win. Kendall Graveman earned his sixth save by getting Anthony Rizzo to ground into a game-ending double play with two on.

GIANTS 6, ROCKIES 4

DENVER (AP) — Brandon Crawford had a pinch-hit RBI double to spark a three-run ninth inning and San Francisco beat Colorado for the 11th straight time.

Michael Conforto and Thairo Estrada homered to help the Giants sweep their seventh straight series from Colorado. Scott Alexander (5-0) won in relief and Camilo Doval finished for his 16th save.

Nolan Jones had three hits for the Rockies, who have lost four straight.

San Francisco is 16-3 at Coors Field dating to Sept. 6, 2021, and has won eight straight in Denver. That streak was in jeopardy until a late rally against closer Pierce Johnson (0-3).

ANGELS 3, CUBS 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jo Adell homered in his first game back in the majors, Reid Detmers posted his first win of the season and Los Angeles defeated Chicago to complete its third series sweep of the season.

It is the first time the Angels, who have won four straight, have swept the Cubs in a three-game series.

Trey Mancini had an RBI double for Chicago, swept for the fourth time this year. The Cubs have dropped four in a row and 10 of 14.

Adell, who led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 18 homers before being called up, tied it 1-all in the second inning when he hammered a sinker from Drew Smyly (5-4).

Detmers (1-5) struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. Carlos Estevez got his 16th save.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports