Blog

CORVALLIS – On a day when Oregon State accomplished a feat not seen in the 110 years since its baseball program launched, Luke Heimlich could only think about the coming days. The sophomore pitcher fired his first career complete game Sunday in a 6-0 win over UCLA to conclude the regular season at Goss Stadium. In doing so, the Beavers held their opponent scoreless in a three-game series for the first time in…

Time and history have long since confirmed Maxim Gorky’s dim view of the Soviet Union. So perhaps we ought to pay a little more attention to something the Russian novelist said about sports. “Sport,” Gorky wrote in 1928, “has a single clear purpose: to make people even more stupid than they are.” (Before anyone asks,…

Alexander Rossi celebrates after winning the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. (Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) INDIANAPOLIS — Running on fumes on the final laps of the race, rookie Alexander Rossi ran out of fuel coming out of Turn 4 — and still managed to win the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. Rossi, a 24-year-old native of California, coasted to…

USA TODAY Sports’ Jeff Gluck previews the story lines for NASCAR’s upcoming Coca-Cola 600.

Federal and state forces mounted a big search operation Sunday for Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido, who was abducted in the crime-plagued northern border state of Tamaulipas. The 25-year-old Pulido is a forward for Olympiakos of Greece and was part of Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, though he wasn’t called up for the Copa America tournament that starts this coming week. “We have information that he was intercepted by armed…

Michael Phelps speaks to the media at a press conference during the 2016 Team USA Media Summit on March 9, 2016.(Photo: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports) MESA, Ariz. — There are two things to know about Michael Phelps as he stands about one month until U.S. Olympic swim trials, and with almost two months until the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro: 1) He is svelte, sleek and powerful, and feeling as…

Update: The Beavers shut out UCLA 6-0 Sunday afternoon to complete the three-game sweep. They now await their NCAA Tournament fate Monday morning at 9 a.m. Stay tuned for a full game story. Check the comments section for a live updates recap and analysis. UCLA at Oregon State Where: Goss Stadium at Coleman Field When: 11:00 a.m. On air: Pac-12 Network Records: UCLA (25-30, 12-16 Pac-12) at Oregon State (34-19, 15-14 Pac-12) Pac-12 standings: Oregon State is…

To save articles or get newsletters, alerts or recommendations – all free. Don’t have an account yet?Create an account » Subscribed through iTunes and need an NYTimes.com account?Learn more » Need to connect your Home Delivery subscription to NYTimes.com?Link your subscription »

Caption Close CLEARWATER, Fla. – Joe Davis hit his third home run of the tournament, but the University of Houston produced little else at the plate in a 7-2 loss to Connecticut on Sunday in the American Athletic Conference championship game. The loss likely ends the season for the Cougars (36-23),who entered the game on the bubble to make the NCAA Tournament. The AAC is expected to receive only three…

Texas A&M beat Florida 12-5 on Sunday to win the SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover. See how the game unfolded. LIVE SCORE: Texas A&M 12, Florida 5. NINTH INNING * Florida goes 1-2-3 and Texas A&M wins. EIGHTH INNING * Gators don’t score. * With one out and 2 on, Eddy Demurias on to pitch. Bases loaded walk to the 9 hole hitter Homan makes it 8-5 and we’re at our 2nd pitching…

The best quality Central Missouri will have when it heads into its elimination game against Franklin Pierce 3 p.m. ET Tuesday in the Division II Baseball Championship in Cary, North Carolina, is its resiliency. The Mules are coming off a tough, 4-3 loss to Lander on Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in which the winning run scored with one out in the bottom of the…

Federal and state forces mounted an operation Sunday to find kidnapped Mexican soccer star Alan Pulido, who was abducted in the crime-plagued northern border state of Tamaulipas. The 25-year-old Pulido is a forward for Olympiacos of Greece and was part of Mexico’s 2014 World Cup team, though he wasn’t called up for the Copa America tournament that starts this coming week. The Tamaulipas Coordination Group that includes federal and state…

11:32 AM ET Close NASCAR • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com • 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year • More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Close ESPN F1 Editor • Previously worked in rugby union and British Superbikes • History graduate from Reading University • Joined ESPNF1 in February 2014 print The history. The pageantry. The walk through Gasoline Alley. The feeling of racing on a narrow path surrounded by fans. Those are some of…

CONCORD, N.C. — Juan Pablo Montoya was one of NASCAR’s most annoying drivers. He annoyed fans. He annoyed NASCAR. He sometimes annoyed the media. He even annoyed his own teammates. And he particularly annoyed other drivers. MORE: Charlotte lineup | Sunday’s racing tripleheader | Indy lineup | Winners Which was highly entertaining. Like the time he went helmet-to-helmet with Kevin Harvick after they wrecked each other at Watkins Glen. Or…

Kasey Kahne: The Coca-Cola 600 is such a different animal that rewards mental acuity, pure tenacity and physical fitness. Kasey Kahne has those qualities and won NASCAR’s endurance event three times, and with two top-five finishes already this season, this is where he breaks out of his 59-race winless rut. — Kathy Sheldon Joey Logano: It’ll be a clean Charlotte sweep for Sliced Bread, who got his mojo back during the Sprint All-Star Race. Last…

To save articles or get newsletters, alerts or recommendations – all free. Don’t have an account yet?Create an account » Subscribed through iTunes and need an NYTimes.com account?Learn more » Need to connect your Home Delivery subscription to NYTimes.com?Link your subscription »

It’s championship Sunday in the 2016 Big Ten Baseball Tournament at TD Ameritrade Park, home of the College World Series. Coming up at 2:20 p.m. ET: No. 4 Ohio State takes on No. 8 Iowa in the title game (watch on BTN2Go). In completed action, the Buckeyes knocked off No. 7 Michigan State, 7-3, for the second time in as many days to advance to play the Hawkeyes, the event’s…

Our daily fantasy baseball picks continue with starting pitcher rankings, strategy, and advice for Sunday’s MLB slate. Warning: Don’t get cute on the mound today. With Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale, Stephen Strasburg starting, and even David Price and Johnny Cueto in tough matchups, there are going to be some huge pitching performances today. Make sure you pay up to get your share of those points.  MORE FANTASY: Prospect rankings | Waiver wire  That means…

CHICAGO (AP) – Officials with the Illinois High School Association is considering a rule that would put a maximum on the number of pitches that can be thrown by a high school baseball player. The proposed rule also would set forth a minimum amount of rest, The Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/22pJTe6 ) reported. A limit of 105 pitches is favored by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Preston Wolin, who is on the IHSA’s…

It was a great day for the high school playoffs. In game one, undefeated 35-0 Deer Park took the lead with a 9-3 win over Strake Jesuit. In game 2, which was streamed live on abc13.com, Strake Jesuit’s tough defensive effort would hold off Deer Park and snap their winning streak. The Deer took the series in game three and their offense would combine for a total of 12 hits…