Sergio Garcia Breaks Through, Wins Masters Tournament
(Augusta, GA) — Sergio Garcia is the 2017 Masters Tournament champion. He nipped Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff to take home his first major victory and the “Green Jacket” at Augusta National Golf Club. Garcia shot a three-under 69 in Sunday’s final round but missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole which forced the playoff. He would make a birdie in the playoff to become just the third Spanish born player to win the tournament. Runner-up Justin Rose also shot a three-under in the final round but came up short with a bogey on the playoff hole. Charl Schwartzel finished third at six-under, while Matt Kuchar and Thomas Pieters tied for fourth at minus-five.
Twins Top White Sox In Rubber Match
(Chicago, IL) — Miguel Sano smacked a two-run homer and Jorge Polanco hit a solo shot as the Twins topped the White Sox 4-1 in the rubber match of a three-game set in Chicago. Joe Mauer also drove in a run to back six scoreless innings from Ervin Santana, who improved to 2-and-0. Brandon Kintzler recorded the final four outs for his third save. Minnesota is 5-and-1. Avisail Garcia’s hit-by-pitch in the eighth plated the lone run for the Sox. Jose Quintana allowed two runs in six-and-a-third frames as he fell to 0-and-2.
Cubs Down Brewers
(Milwaukee, WI) — The Cubs held a four-run lead after one inning as they downed the Brewers, 7-4, in Milwaukee. Addison Russell and Jason Heyward each clubbed two-run base hits in the first. Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist added solo shots for the Cubbies. Jake Arrieta struck out 10 over seven innings to get the win as Chicago took the rubber match. Domingo Santana and Ryan Braun homered in defeat for Milwaukee. Zach Davies was charged with the loss.
Astros Edge Royals In 12
(Houston, TX) — Evan Gattis walked in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Astros past the Royals 5-4 at Minute Maid Park. Jake Marisnick hit a game-tying solo homer in the ninth for the Astros, who avoided a three-game sweep. George Springer and Marwin Gonzalez also went deep in the victory. Salvador Perez, Mike Moustakas, and Brandon Moss homered for KC. Matt Strahm suffered his second loss.
Reds Blank Cardinals
(St. Louis, MO) — Scott Feldman and two relievers pitched a six-hit shutout as the Reds blanked the Cardinals, 8-0, in St. Louis. Feldman struck out six over six-plus frames and gave up four hits. Adam Duvall and Joey Votto left the yard, and Zack Cozart had an RBI-triple. The Reds took the rubber match, improving to 4-and-2. Carlos Martinez gave up six hits and six runs, five earned, in five-plus to take the loss for St. Louis. The Cards have dropped four of their past five games.
Hawks Clip Cavaliers In OT
(Atlanta, GA) — The Hawks erased a 26-point fourth quarter deficit as they came back to clip the Cavaliers in overtime, 126-125, in Atlanta. Paul Millsap finished with 22 points including a jumper at the buzzer to force OT. Tim Hardaway Junior added 21 points in the winning effort. The Hawks moved to 42-and-38, one game clear of Milwaukee for the fifth seed in the East. Kyrie Irving scored 45 points and LeBron James finished with 32 in defeat. The Cavs fell into a tie with Boston for the top-spot in the Eastern Conference at 51-and-29.
OKC’s Westbrook Sets Triple-Double Mark In Dramatic Win
(Denver, CO) — Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s record for most triple-doubles in a season in the Thunder’s dramatic 106-105 win over the Nuggets. Westbrook capped the historic performance with a 36-foot game-winner at the buzzer. Westbrook had 50 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists in his 42nd triple-double of the year. Danilo Gallinari finished with 34 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss.
Blues Drop Avalanche
(St. Louis, MO) — Vladimir Tarasenko scored the winning goal in the third period as the Blues dropped the Avalanche, 3-2, in St. Louis. Vladimir Sobotka scored the tying goal in the third before Tarasenko added the winning goal less than 90 seconds later. Zach Sanford scored in the first for St. Louis, which ends the regular season at 46-29-and-7. Francois Beauchemin and Mikko Rantanen lit the lamp for Colorado. The Avs end the season at 22-56-and-4 on the year, good for the worst record in the league.