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Sports

Boston Celtics win Game 7 of Eastern Conference finals and will meet Golden State Warriors in NBA Finals

MIAMI — Jayson Tatum scored 26 points, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each added 24 and the Boston Celtics held off a frantic rally in the final seconds to beat the Miami Heat 100-96 on Sunday night and reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010.Al Horford added 14 rebounds for the Celtics, who never trailed on the way to pulling off a Game 7 win on the road — not including the bubble, the first such victory for the storied franchise since beating the Milwaukee Bucks for the 1974 NBA title.AdvertisementNext up for the Celtics: the Golden State Warriors in a series that starts Thursday in San Francisco.Jimmy Butler, who willed the Heat into Game 7 by scoring 47 points Friday in Boston, led the Heat with 35 points in what became their season finale. Bam Adebayo added 25 for the Heat, who were down 11 with less than 3 minutes to go before trying one last rally.AdvertisementAn 9-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Max Strus with 51 seconds left, got the Heat within 98-96. They had a chance for the lead with about 17 seconds to go when Butler tried a 3-pointer from the right wing, but it missed — and the Celtics escaped.The Celtics forced the Heat into nine consecutive misses during a crucial stretch of the fourth quarter, using that stretch to turn an 82-79 lead into a 90-79 edge — and the Celtics, who had lost each of their last four trips to the East finals, found a way to hold on.Kyle Lowry scored 15 for the Heat. Grant Williams finished with 11 for the Celtics.

Sports

Marcus Stroman’s best start as a Cub ‘by far’ goes to waste as the right-hander closes out an impressive month

In the back of Marcus Stroman’s mind, he prepared to go to third base.Stroman did not hesitate during the sixth inning of a scoreless game Sunday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox. The Cubs pitcher aggressively fielded his position on Danny Mendick’s sacrifice bunt attempt with nobody out — charging off the mound, barehanding the ball and firing a strike to third baseman Patrick Wisdom, who tagged out Josh Harrison.Advertisement“I‘m usually off the mound pretty quick,” Stroman said, “so if it’s not a perfect bunt, I usually feel like I have an opportunity to get the guy at third. And I kind of peeked real quick while I was running over there and I knew I had a chance, and Wizzy made a great play.”The sequence was part of a stellar performance from Stroman that featured seven shutout innings — which the Cubs wasted in a 5-4 loss in 12 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Column: Despite comeback win, White Sox fans still seeking a reason to believe in this team — and its manager ]Holding a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh thanks to sloppy Sox defense, Stroman successfully navigated a bases-loaded, one-out spot. He attacked Sox catcher Reese McGuire and got him to whiff on three pitches out of the zone. Two pitches later, Harrison lined out to second to end the threat.An amped Stroman slapped his mitt walking off the field.“We had a really good mix of pitches going on, keeping them very off balance, getting weak contact,” Stroman said. “Defense was amazing as well. So just being aggressive and taking that same mentality into each start.”Cubs starter Marcus Stroman stands on the mound in the seventh inning against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 29, 2022. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)Manager David Ross called Stroman’s start “by far” his best outing with the Cubs. For most of the afternoon, Stroman pounded the zone and took advantage of the Sox’s aggressiveness. He recorded 17 outs on three pitches or fewer.“He mixes well and changes his timing and stuff,” Sox third baseman Jake Burger said. “It was keep the same process going, look for something over the middle of the plate. He threw well, though, I’ve got to give him credit for that.”The Cubs, however, didn’t capitalize on Stroman’s start. Catcher P.J. Higgins didn’t block a swinging strike that David Robertson induced in the bottom of the ninth, allowing the Sox to tie the game. And the Sox tallied two runs apiece off Scott Effross and Robert Gsellman in extra innings to prevent the Cubs from a two-game sweep.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Playing three extra innings was not ideal for the Cubs ahead of nine games in the next seven days, including a doubleheader Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cubs will call up right-hander Michael Swarmer from Triple-A Iowa to start Game 1. Left-hander Drew Smyly will get the ball for Game 2.Swarmer, a 19th-round pick in 2016, has pitched well for Iowa. In nine games (five starts), the 28-year-old has a 2.08 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 14 walks in 39 innings.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Analysis: Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs must learn from mistakes to build the franchise’s next title contender ]Stroman still is looking to get in a rhythm and isn’t where he wants to be mechanically. Despite that, he finished May with a 1.50 ERA (four earned runs in 24 innings) in four starts while also being sidelined by COVID-19 during the month.It’s encouraging Stroman is able to put the Cubs in position to win while not being at his best. The Cubs will be relying more on their veteran starters with Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list.The bullpen has been reliable two months in, but the group will wear down quickly if the Cubs don’t get consistent innings from the rotation.“I feel like I’m someone who’s always going to go out there and compete regardless of how I feel,” Stroman said. “I’m always going to throw myself out there every fifth day regardless of anything and do my best to put everything aside and to compete.“I just know I can be better. So that’s what’s frustrating is that I know that I can be better each and every time out. I’m just trying to get to that point.”

Sports

Marcus Ericsson wins Indianapolis 500 — it’s the 5th victory for team owner Chip Ganassi

INDIANAPOLIS — Marcus Ericsson had to leave Formula One to become a global superstar — a goal achieved Sunday when the Swedish driver won the Indianapolis 500.Ericsson took control of Sunday’s race late and had it under control for Chip Ganassi Racing until a crash by teammate Jimmie Johnson with four laps remaining brought out a rare red-flag stoppage at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.AdvertisementIndyCar is among the purest forms of motorsports and rarely throws artificial cautions or issues stoppages that might change the outcome. But a crowd of more than 300,000 — only a few thousand shy of a sellout and the largest sporting event since the pandemic began — roared when IndyCar called the cars to pit road.The stoppage gave Pato O’Ward and the rest of the challengers almost 12 minutes on pit road to strategize how to catch Ericsson for the win. The race resumed with two laps remaining and Ericsson easily got the jump on O’Ward, but the Mexican got one final look for the lead that Ericsson defended.AdvertisementA crash back in traffic brought out the caution and Ericsson coasted to the victory podium under yellow.It is the fifth Indy 500 victory for team owner Chip Ganassi, who caught a ride to the victory podium on the side of Ericsson’s car. Ericsson is the second Swede to win the Indy 500 in 106 runnings, joining 1999 winner Kenny Brack.He poured his jug of milk all over his face, then handed the bottle to Ganassi so the boss could take his own swig. Ganassi had not won the 500 in 10 years and sent five legitimate contenders to Indy to end the drought.O’Ward, who signed an extension with Arrow McLaren SP on Friday, finished second. The Mexican was trying to give his country a banner celebration on the biggest day in motorsports; Sergio Perez opened Sunday with a win in the Monaco Grand Prix.Tony Kanaan was third in a Ganassi car and followed by Felix Rosenqvist, another Swede, who was fourth for McLaren.American drivers Alexander Rossi and Conor Daly finished fifth and sixth, Rossi for Andretti Autosport and Daly for Ed Carpenter Racing.Helio Castroneves, last year’s winner, finished seventh and one spot ahead of Meyer Shank Racing teammate Simon Pagenaud. Reigning IndyCar champion Alex Palou finished 10th in another Ganassi entry.Honda drivers took six of the top nine spots, along with the win.

Sports

Chicago Cubs put left-hander Wade Miley (left shoulder strain) on injured list after just 3 starts

Wade Miley’s return from the injured list was short lived.The veteran left-hander landed on the 15-day IL Sunday with a left shoulder strain. The move comes after just three starts for the Chicago Cubs after he was sidelined all of spring training with left elbow inflammation. Miley, 35, made one rehab start before his Cubs debut May 10.AdvertisementTo replace him, the Cubs recalled right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. Miley expressed optimism to the Tribune Saturday when discussing his shoulder discomfort. He felt something during his last start May 22 but was able to pitch through it. Ultimately, the Cubs opted to let Miley fully heal on the IL rather than risk it lingering.“I don’t think it’s that big of a deal,” manager David Ross said of Miley’s injury. “He’ll be back soon. I’m not too worried.”AdvertisementLeiter can give the Cubs innings, which the pitching staff will need with two doubleheaders this week and no off days.Right-handed reliever Chris Martin went on the bereavement list before Sunday’s game and Triple-A outfield prospect Nelson Velázquez shared on Instagram that received his first big-league call up, which should become official Monday. The Cubs will need a 27th man for the doubleheader in addition to Martin’s replacement.“You have to take each game individually and give your self a chance to win that game,” Ross said. “And if it doesn’t look like that’s a possibility, you try to mentally also have tomorrow in mind with all of the innings we could have coming up.”Right fielder Seiya Suzuki did not start Sunday because of his sprained left ring finger. He played catch pregame and was expected to hit in the cage to test the finger. Ross said Suzuki would be available to pinch hit if he came out of pregame activities feeling OK.

Sports

‘Just have to be careful with him’: Right leg soreness slows down Eloy Jiménez in rehab assignment for the Chicago White Sox OF

Eloy Jiménez’s rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte got off to a less than ideal start when the outfielder exited Saturday’s game in Durham, N.C., with right leg soreness.He left after singling to right field in the second inning.Advertisement“He did feel a tug in one of his swings, not running,” Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa said Sunday. “So after a couple at-bats, they backed him out. I talked to (head athletic trainer James) Kruk. It’s not perfect, it’s not what you would hope, but it still doesn’t change the expectation that he’s healing and on his way. Just have to be careful with him.”Jiménez has been out since April 23 when he suffered an injury that required surgery to repair a torn hamstring tendon behind his right knee.AdvertisementHe went 1-for-2 before leaving Saturday’s game. La Russa said it was described to him as “part of the healing.”“He’s just not completely 100% yet,” La Russa said of Jiménez, who is now day to day. “He knows what he feels, and we have to rely on it.”White Sox pitcher Lance Lynn walks back to the team’s complex after his morning workout at Camelback Ranch on March 17, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Sox pitcher Lance Lynn has joined Jiménez with the Knights and is the scheduled starter Sunday night against Durham.Lynn is working his way back from right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon. He is eligible to be reinstated from the injured list June 6.Back at Guaranteed Rate Field, Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada was not in the starting lineup for a third consecutive game. General manager Rick Hahn said Moncada, who last played May 25, was “dealing with a quad.” “It’s not an IL situation but something we want to nip in the bud sooner than later before it becomes something large,” Hahn said Saturday.La Russa said, “Our expectation is — and we’re hopeful — that he would be able to play Tuesday (at Toronto). But he doesn’t feel right yet, so it may not be Tuesday.”Luis Robert singles in the fifth inning against the Angels at Guaranteed Rate Field on May 2, 2022. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Center fielder Luis Robert might be back by then. He has been on the COVID-19 related injured list since Tuesday.Advertisement“He was much improved today,” La Russa said. “And if we get the go ahead, it’s likely that he would be OK to make the trip to Toronto with us. He’s made that much of an improvement. And he feels a lot better, a little tired when he does some work. It would be good to see him.“He has done some work so hopefully we get the green light and he can work out here (Monday morning) before we take off.”