MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, the White Sox topped Boston 8-6, Detroit bested Seattle 5-1, Houston beat the Angels 3-2, and it was Cleveland over Tampa Bay 6-1.
In the National League, Miami blanked Atlanta 3-0, St. Louis won against the Cubs 7-2, San Francisco beat Pittsburgh 7-6, and it was the Dodgers over Washington 4-3.
In interleague play, the Yankees edged Colorado 9-8, the Mets slid past Kansas City 4-3, Milwaukee doubled up Oakland 4-2, Toronto bested Arizona 5-2, Baltimore topped San Diego 7-2, Texas beat Cincinnati 6-4, and it was Minnesota over Philadelphia 6-5.
A former postal service worker who stole sports cards valued at $68,000 while working at a Boston post office has been sentenced to three years of probation. Masslive.com reports that Venecia McLaren also was ordered by a federal judge Tuesday to pay nearly $11,000 in restitution for stealing and selling many of the cards taken in January 2015. The 23 cards she stole included a LeBron James card valued at $25,000, which the judge said is likely worth more now, an apparent reference to the Cleveland Cavaliers' NBA championship.
NHL:
The NHL will expand to Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season after awarding its 31st franchise to billionaire businessman Bill Foley. The league board of governors met on a 109-degree day and unanimously voted to put an ice hockey team in the Mojave Desert's gambling mecca. Foley will pay $500 million to the NHL's other owners as an expansion fee.
Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane was the big winner at the NHL Awards ceremony in Las Vegas on Wednesday, receiving the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. Washington netminder Braden Holtby claimed the Vezina Trophy, Kings defenseman Drew Doughty picked up the Norris Trophy and Capitals coach Barry Trotz took the Jack Adams Award. Chicago's Artemi Panarin is the Calder Trophy winner, and Kings forward Anze Kopitar captured the Lady Byng and Selke trophies.
The Arizona Coyotes have signed defenseman Alex Goligoski (goh-lih-GAHS'-kee) to a five-year package worth almost $27.4 million. Goligoski was scheduled to become a free agent on July 1 after scoring five goals and 37 points in 82 games for Dallas last season. The Stars dealt his negotiating rights to the Coyotes last week for a fifth-round pick in this weekend's NHL draft.
Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are keeping Keith Yandle after they acquired the defenseman's negotiating rights from the Rangers on Monday. Yandle and the Panthers have worked out a reported seven-year package worth $6.35 million a season, with the first six years containing a no-move clause. Yandle had five goals and 47 points in 82 regular-season games last season for the Rangers, who will receive a fourth-round pick in next year's draft for the Boston native.
NBA:
The NBA draft comes this evening with little drama expected around the top two picks -- Ben Simmons is expected to be picked first by Philadelphia, with Brandon Ingram then expected to go to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Boston Celtics hold the number 3 pick and have not hinted at who they'll take, with Providence's Kris Dunn and Cal's Jaylen Brown both possibilities.
The New York Knicks have acquired former NBA most valuable player Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls in a multi-player swap. Rose averaged 16.4 points in 66 games last season after appearing in just 100 games the last four years. The Knicks also received Justin Holiday and a 2017 second-round pick from the Bulls for center Robin Lopez and guards Jose Calderon and Jerian Grant.
WNBA:
In the WNBA, the Liberty beat Atlanta in double overtime 90-79 and it was Washington over Indiana 76-62.
PGA:
Rory McIlroy has decided against competing in the upcoming Rio Olympics because of the Zika virus. The four-time major champion says he may want to start a family in the future, and that going to the Olympics is "a risk I am unwilling to take."
Tennis:
Wimbledon organizers have announced the seedings and draws, with recently-crowned French Open champ Novak Djokovic leading the way for the men and Serena Williams No. 1 for the women. Andy Murray is No. 2 on the men's side, followed by 17-time major winner Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. For the women, reigning French Open champion Garbine Muguruza holds the second seed, just in front of Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber.
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