>>Raiders Acquire Lynch From Seattle
(Oakland, CA) — “Beast Mode” is back in the NFL. Running back Marshawn Lynch is coming out of retirement after the Seahawks traded him to his hometown Raiders. The 31-year-old has agreed to a two-year deal with Oakland. Lynch did not play at all last season.
>>NFL Draft Begins Tonight
(Philadelphia, PA) — It’s draft night in the NFL. The 2017 NFL Draft kicks off with the first round tonight in Philadelphia. It’s the first time the league’s annual selection meeting will be held outdoors. The Browns are on the clock with the top pick. The 49ers, Bears, Jaguars and Titans round out the top-five.
>>Celtics Pull Away For Pivotal Win Over Bulls
(Boston, MA) — The Celtics are a win away from the second round of the NBA playoffs. Boston pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 108-97 victory over the visiting Bulls in Game Five of their first-round series. The Celtics have battled back from an 0-2 deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven set.
>>Blues’ Rally Goes For Naught In Game One
(St. Louis, MO) — Vernon Fiddler scored with just over five minutes left as the Blues lost to the Predators 4-3 in Game One of their second-round series at Scottrade Center. Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Sobotka got St. Louis even in the third after trailing 3-1. The Blues host Game Two tomorrow.
>>Preds’ Fiala Stretchered Off With Leg Injury
(St. Louis, MO) — The Predators played most of last night’s game without forward Kevin Fiala. He was taken off the ice on a stretcher with an injured left leg after being checked into the boards early in the second period by Blues defenseman Robert Bortuzzo. Fiala went to the hospital by ambulance.
>>White Sox Sweep Royals
(Chicago, IL) — Avisail Garcia and Leury Garcia both homered as the White Sox finished off a three-game sweep of the Royals with a 5-2 win. Jose Abreu doubled twice, drove in a run and scored before leaving in the fifth with a hip injury. Jose Quintana struck out 10 over six innings to improve to 1-and-4. David Robertson earned his fifth save.
>>Cardinals, Blue Jays Rained Out; Doubleheader Today
(St. Louis, MO) — The Cardinals and Blue Jays were rained out last night at Busch Stadium. They’ll make that up today as part of a day-night doubleheader. Carlos Martinez opposes Mat Latos in the first game at 12:45 p.m. Adam Wainwright and Casey Lawrence will start the nightcap at 6:15 p.m.
>>Cubs, Lester Lit Up Early By Bucs
(Pittsburgh, PA) — Jon Lester gave up five runs over the first two innings and the Cubs couldn’t quite recover in a 6-5 loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer and drove in four for Chicago. Kris Bryant went 3-for-4 with an RBI. The Cubs open a three-game set in Boston tomorrow.
>>Ed Werder Among ESPN Layoffs
(Bristol, CT) — ESPN is parting ways with some familiar faces. NFL reporter Ed Werder, veteran baseball reporter Jayson Stark and NFL analyst Trent Dilfer were among 100 laid off by the network yesterday. Basketball analyst Len Elmore, who had been with ESPN for more than two decades, was also let go.