>>Earnhardt Jr. To Retire After Season
(Charlotte, NC) — NASCAR’s most popular driver is stepping away from the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced yesterday he is retiring at the end of 2017 Monster Cup season. The 42-year-old has 603 career starts and 26 wins on NASCAR’s top circuit. He missed 18 races due to concussion-like symptoms last year.
>>Rockets Take Out Thunder
(Houston, TX) — The Rockets are moving on to the second round of the NBA playoffs. James Harden had 34 points and eight rebounds as the Rockets stormed past the Thunder 105-99 in Game Five of their West quarterfinal series. Russell Westbrook finished with 47 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in defeat.
>>Celtics Clash With Bulls In Game Five
(Boston, MA) — The Celtics clash with the Bulls in the pivotal Game Five of their first-round series tonight at TD Garden. The Celtics evened the best-of-seven set at two games apiece with a 104-95 win in Chicago on Sunday. The road team has won the first four games in a playoff series for the first time since 2005.
>>Bulls’ Rondo Hoping To Play Tonight
(Boston, MA) — Bulls guard Rajon Rondo is making an effort to play in tonight’s game. ESPN reports Rondo held a workout last night to see if he’s healthy enough to be back on the floor for Game Five. Rondo hasn’t played since suffering a thumb injury in Game Two.
>>Cubs Clip Pirates
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Kyle Hendricks tossed six innings of four-hit ball to lead the Cubs to a 1-0 win over the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Hendricks struck out three and walked two en route to improving to 2-and-1. Wade Davis earned his fifth save. Addison Russell scored the game’s only run on an error in the second. Chicago has won six of its last seven.
>>White Sox Hammer Reeling Royals
(Chicago, IL) — Todd Frazier plated three runs and scored three more as the White Sox drilled Danny Duffy and the reeling Royals 10-5 in Chicago. Leury Garcia went 3-for-4 with a run and two RBI for Chicago, which has won three straight. Dan Jennings picked up the victory in relief.
>>Cardinals Lose To Blue Jays On Throwing Error In 11th
(St. Louis, MO) — A throwing error by Aledmys Diaz in the 11th inning allowed the go-ahead run to score as the Cardinals lost 6-5 to the Blue Jays at Busch Stadium. Dexter Fowler’s infield single had tied the game in the ninth for St. Louis. Jose Martinez hit a two-run homer for the Cards in defeat.
>>Brewers’ Thames Sets Franchise Record In Rout Of Reds
(Milwaukee, WI) — Eric Thames set a franchise record with his 11th home run in April as the Brewers blasted the Reds 9-1 in Milwaukee. Eight of Thames’ MLB-leading 11 homers have come against Cincinnati. He joins Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell as the only players to go deep against a single team eight times in April.
>>Saints Reach Two-Year Deal With Peterson
(New Orleans, LA) — Adrian Peterson is joining fellow potential future Hall-of-Famer Drew Brees in New Orleans. The running back and the Saints agreed to a two-year deal yesterday. The 32-year-old spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Vikings, who host the Saints in Week One of the upcoming season.
>>Earnhardt Jr. To Retire After Season
(Charlotte, NC) — NASCAR’s most popular driver is stepping away from the track. Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced yesterday he is retiring at the end of the 2017 Monster Cup season. The 42-year-old has 603 career starts and 26 wins on NASCAR’s top circuit. He missed 18 races due to concussion-like symptoms last year.
>>Stanley Cup Second Round Begins Tonight
(Undated) — The second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins tonight. The Blues host the Predators in Game One of their Western Conference semifinal, while the Ducks entertain the Oilers in their Western semifinal opener. Tomorrow, the Rangers play the Senators and the Penguins face the Capitals.