Dave Parker, hard-hitting Hall of Fame outfielder nicknamed ‘the Cobra,’ dies at 74
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dave Parker, a hard-hitting outfielder who was set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame next month, has died. He was 74. The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Parker’s death on Saturday, and no further details were immediately available. Nicknamed “the Cobra,” the 6-foot-5 Parker played 19 major league seasons, 11 for the Pirates. He was the NL MVP in 1978, won a World Series with Pittsburgh a year later and then won another championship in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics. Parker won back-to-back batting titles in 1977 and ’78. He finished his career as a .290 hitter with 339 homers and 1,493 RBIs.
Shohei Ohtani throws fastest pitch of career at 101.7 mph in 3rd mound start for Dodgers
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Sbohei Ohtani threw the fastest pitch of his career at 101.7 mph and worked two efficient innings in his third mound start for the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing one hit and one walk against the Kansas City Royals. It was the first start of more than one inning this season for the two-way superstar, who is working as an opener as he eases his way back into pitching. The three-time MVP did not pitch last season, his first with the Dodgers, while recovering from Tommy John surgery. On Saturday, Ohtani threw first-pitch strikes to all seven batters he faced and finished with 27 pitches, 20 for strikes.
Novak Djokovic figures Wimbledon gives him his best chance at a record 25th Grand Slam title
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic says he would like to keep playing tennis for several more years. But he also acknowledges it’s impossible to know for sure whether he will even be back at Wimbledon again. What Djokovic did concede on Saturday is that he figures the All England Club probably gives him the best shot at what would be a record 25th Grand Slam singles title. He has won seven championships at the grass-court major and made it to the final each of the last six times the tournament was held. Djokovic was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024.
Harrington’s chip-in on 18 leaves him tied (again) with Hensby, Cink at US Senior Open
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Padraig Harrington chipped in from 20 yards off the green on the 18th hole to salvage a floundering round and pull back into a tie for the lead with Stewart Cink and Mark Hensby at the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington’s chip-in for birdie capped a round of 2-under 68 and put him in the same spot he was in to start — tied with the same two opponents he played with over a day at the Broadmoor that included wind, rain, even a flash of lightning that pulled the players off the course for a half-hour.
Aldrich Potgieter, PGA Tour’s youngest player and biggest hitter, leads Rocket Classic by 2 strokes
DETROIT (AP) — Aldrich Potgieter had five straight birdies to surge into the third-round lead and finished with a 7-under 65 on Saturday for a two-shot edge. The 20-year-old rookie started the week averaging 326.6 yards off the tee, several yards longer than Rory McIlroy. The PGA Tour’s youngest player will be shooting for his first win on the tour Sunday. Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp, Mark Hubbard, Andrew Putnam and Chris Kirk were two shots back. Fifth-ranked Collin Morikawa shot a 68 to start the final round four shots back, hoping to rally for his first win since 2023.
Red Wings acquire goalie John Gibson from the Ducks in a trade at the NHL draft
The Detroit Red Wings have acquired veteran goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks. Detroit sent backup goalie Petr Mrazek, a 2027 second-round pick and a 2026 fourth-rounder to Anaheim for a player whose name has been in trade rumors for several years. No salary was retained. Gibson getting moved is the first domino to fall in offseason market in net with several NHL teams from Edmonton to Philadelphia and beyond looking for help at hockey’s most important position.
Simon Wang becomes highest-drafted player born in China, going 33rd to Sharks in NHL draft
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft. Wang’s family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6-foot-5 defenseman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL. Wang walked the red carpet with his mother, and he got to see his brother for the first time in nearly two years.
Yanks’ Ian Hamilton, frustrated with himself, stares down A’s rookie Jacob Wilson
NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton and Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson had a weird stare down at the end of the top of the seventh inning of New York’s 7-0 loss. With the Yankees trailing 4-0, Hamilton gave up a two-out single to Denzel Clarke and walked Lawrence Butler. Wilson followed with a comebacker and Hamilton, after making an underhand toss to first, stared at Wilson. The 23-year-old stared back at the 30-year-old right-hander. Hamilton says: “He just wasn’t running out of the box. I was upset with the inning.” Wilson is hitting .340, second in the major leagues He says: “Sometimes things get hot.”
Sam Bennett says he’s staying in Florida with hopes Panthers turn into a dynasty
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Sam Bennett could have gone to free agency and picked his landing spot, plus probably could have signed for much more money than the Florida Panthers were able to offer. Instead, he chose winning. Bennett, the reigning Conn Smythe Award winner as playoff MVP of Florida’s most recent run to the Stanley Cup, spoke out Saturday about his decision to sign an eight-year, $64 million deal with the Panthers. His reasoning was actually quite simple.
Search and annoy: Harrington, NBC’s Maltbie caught in tiff over lost ball at US Senior Open
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A video of Padraig Harrington arguing with NBC reporter Roger Maltbie for not helping him look for a lost ball during his opening round is generating buzz at the U.S. Senior Open. Harrington teed off into a thicket of trees in the first round, and after about a dozen people unsuccessfully searched for the allowed three minutes, Harrington went back to the tee box for his third shot. Harrington is seen in the video telling Maltbie that, as a former pro he should understand that it’s bad etiquette not to help someone search for their ball. Maltbie argued that he was being asked to deliver a report for TV on what was happening on the hole.