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Sports

Chicago Fire’s winless streak reaches 9 games with a 1-0 loss to New York City FC

NEW YORK — Héber Araujo dos Santos scored on a penalty kick in the 28th minute and Sean Johnson made it stand up as New York City FC defeated the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Sunday.NYCFC (7-3-2) at least temporarily moved two points ahead of the Philadelphia Union for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. The Union visited the Portland Timbers on Sunday night. NYCFC began the day in a four-way tie for second with Orlando, Montreal and the New York Red Bulls.AdvertisementJohnson, a former Fire goalkeeper (2010-16), didn’t have to make a save until the 90th minute. Jhon Duran got off the lone shot on goal for the Fire (2-6-5), whose winless streak reached nine games since a 2-0-2 start.NYCFC outshot the Fire 15-10 and had five shots on goal.AdvertisementValentín Castellanos, the defending Golden Boot winner, did not play for NYCFC because of a card-accumulation suspension.

Sports

Justin Thomas wins the PGA Championship in a playoff after leader Mito Pereira double-bogeys the 72nd hole

TULSA, Okla. — Justin Thomas is a major champion again when he least expected it.Thomas matched a PGA Championship record Sunday when he rallied from a seven-shot deficit at Southern Hills, then saved his most exquisite shot-making for a three-hole playoff to defeat Will Zalatoris.AdvertisementHe closed with a 3-under 67, matching the low score of a final round made difficult more by nerves than the wind. He seized control in the playoff with a 3-wood to 35 feet on the 301-yard 17th hole for a two-putt birdie.He tapped in for par at No. 18 for his second major — added to the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow — and stood erect with a smile, a mixture of joy and disbelief.Advertisement“I was asked early in the week what lead is safe and I said, ‘No lead,’” Thomas said. “I can’t believe I found myself in a playoff.”Thomas needed plenty of help, and Mito Pereira provided it in a tragic finish. The 27-year-old from Chile, playing in only his second major, took a one-shot lead to the final hole and drove into a creek to make double bogey.It was the first time since Phil Mickelson in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot that a player lost a one-shot lead on the final hole to lose a major.Zalatoris looked like he had thrown away his chances for a first major — and first PGA Tour victory — when he three-putted from just outside 20 feet on the 16th hole. But he responded with a birdie from the bunker at the 17th and holed an 8-foot par putt on the 18th for a 71.He joined Thomas at 5-under 275, and they played on when Pereira faltered.Justin Thomas poses with the Wanamaker Trophy with his dad, Mike, after winning the PGA Championship in a playoff against Will Zalatoris at Southern Hills Country Club on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (Sue Ogrocki/AP)Thomas, who had gone 14 months since his last victory at The Players Championship, now has a PGA Tour victory in each of his last eight years and moves to No. 5 in the world.John Mahaffey in the 1978 PGA Championship at Oakmont was the other player to come from seven shots behind on the final day. He also won in a playoff over Tom Watson and Jerry Pate.Thomas was still seven shots behind when he made his remarkable run, a mixture of key birdies and keeping mistakes off his card. It started with a 65-foot birdie putt from just short of the green to a back pin on the par-3 11th. He edged closer with an 18-foot birdie on the next hole.AdvertisementHe was lurking, while the leading pack behind him was leaking oil.Zalatoris and Cameron Young each caught Pereira, ever so briefly. All of them found trouble in the rough and in the sand. Thomas nearly holed a long bunker shot on the 16th, made birdie from a left bunker on the reachable 17th and had a 10-foot birdie putt he thought he needed at the end.He missed — but got a reprieve.Pereira was on the cusp of becoming Chile’s first major champion and giving South America the career Grand Slam.Even after five bogeys, he never lost the lead and delivered clutch par saves from the bunker left of the ninth green and from well behind the 10th green. None was bigger than his 12-foot putt on the 16th to stay one shot ahead.It all came undone with one swing.AdvertisementHis sawed-off swing with the driver, so effective on the previous hole, peeled to the right and into the creek down the right side of the 18th fairway. After a penalty drop, his approach up the hill started left and never cut back, landing in the rough. His chip rolled off the back edge of the green.Mito Pereira leaves the 18th green after his final round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. (Matt York/AP)His double bogey gave him a 75, a hard-luck end to such a promising week.“On Monday, I just wanted to make the cut. On Sunday, I wanted to win,” Pereira said. “I’ll take this to learn for the future.”Young, whose father is a longtime PGA professional, also will look back at missed chances. Playing with Zalatoris, a former roommate at Wake Forest, Young was in the mix all day and was briefly tied for the lead. His hopes ended on the 16th went he found a bunker right of the green, blasted out weakly to 30 feet and three-putted for a double bogey. He closed with a 71.Matt Fitzpatrick of England, who played in the final group with Pereira, also stayed in range, two shots behind until his sloppy bogey on the 17th. He shot 73 and tied for fifth with Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Chris Kirk (68).Rory McIlroy made a brief run with four straight birdies on the front nine, putting him at 4 under for the tournament. He was 2 over the rest of the way and finished eighth.AdvertisementIn eight majors at Southern Hills, it was the first time a player rallied from any margin to win, and it was only the second playoff. Retief Goosen won the other in the 2001 U.S. Open after he three-putted from 12 feet on the final hole. At least he got another chance, unlike Pereira.Six of the seven previous major champions at Southern Hills are in the World Golf Hall of Fame. The 29-year-old Thomas, now with two majors among his 15 career PGA Tour victories, is surely headed there one day.

Sports

AJ Pollock’s homer in the 9th helps the Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees 3-1 in Game 1 of a doubleheader

NEW YORK — Johnny Cueto was terrific in his Chicago White Sox debut last Monday in Kansas City.He was even more impressive in his second start of the season Sunday against the New York Yankees.AdvertisementThe veteran right-hander allowed six hits in six-plus scoreless innings at Yankee Stadium but did not factor in the decision. The Sox gave up a late lead only to respond with two in the ninth for a 3-1 victory in Game 1 of a doubleheader.“He’s an artist,” Sox manager Tony La Russa said. “It’s fun to watch him pitch a game. And that’s what he’s been, an outstanding starting pitcher, because he gives you a different look four times in a game.”AdvertisementAJ Pollock put the Sox ahead in the ninth with a leadoff homer to left on a 1-0 fastball from Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman.“You’ve got to stay short to him,” Pollock said. “He’s got some good velocity, good cut on his fastball, so just trying to hit a line drive and it worked out.”Andrew Vaughn drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball before scoring on a double by Adam Engel, making it 3-1. Liam Hendriks struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 13th save.It was a nice bounce-back performance by the Sox after the Yankees tied the score at 1 in the eighth when Aaron Judge homered to left on an 0-2 sinker against reliever Kendall Graveman.The Yankees put two on with one out in the inning, but Graveman rebounded to get Josh Donaldson to fly out to center and Aaron Hicks to pop out to third.“Most times when you do that, (you) lose your concentration and there is another run on the board,” La Russa said of Graveman. “He got the zero afterward, gave us a chance to win.”Cueto put the Sox in an excellent position early.“I had good command of all my pitches today and they had very good movement and I was able to locate them up and down the zone,” Cueto, who was receiving fluids in the aftermath of Game 1, said in a statement. “That was the key to keep the Yankees off-balanced today.”AdvertisementThe Sox went ahead 1-0 on an RBI single by Yasmani Grandal in the fourth.And Cueto kept “dealing,” as Pollock said. He struck out five and walked two in the 95-pitch outing.“He’s been awesome for us,” Pollock said. “Works fast and has all sorts of pitches to get them off-balanced. Shimmy shake (delivery). It’s awesome to play behind him. It’s great having him out there for the first game of a doubleheader because of the tone he just set for us.”Cueto has pitched 12 scoreless innings, the third-longest streak for a Sox starter at the beginning of his tenure with the team since 1974, according to STATS. Ken Brett pitched 17 scoreless innings in 1976 and Jack McDowell went 13 innings in 1987.Cueto allowed two hits and struck out seven in six scoreless innings against the Royals.“When (general manager) Rick (Hahn) mentioned that we were going to be able to bring him into the organization, he has a special relationship with our pitching coach (Ethan Katz) because they were in San Francisco together (in 2020),” La Russa said. “Ethan was watching the videos (before Cueto’s arrival from Triple-A Charlotte) and said, ‘Man, he’s throwing free and easy. That’s vintage stuff.’”AdvertisementCueto exited after allowing two singles to begin the seventh. Joe Kelly struck out Marwin Gonzalez, picked off Hicks at second and struck out Jose Trevino to maintain the one-run lead.“Kelly was just perfect,” La Russa said.The Yankees got the run in the eighth, but Pollock came though with the big hit in the ninth to give the Sox what La Russa called a “hard-earned” victory.

Sports

Back-to-back homers by Patrick Wisdom and Frank Schwindel help Chicago Cubs avoid a 4-game sweep

Patrick Wisdom grinned as he pulled on a gray T-shirt that read “SCHWISDOM” across the front.Nothing more needed to be said.AdvertisementWisdom and Frank Schwindel hit consecutive homers against Ian Kennedy in the eighth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Sunday at Wrigley Field to avoid a four-game sweep.Wisdom had a bouncer go just foul right before he connected for his ninth homer, sending a leadoff shot deep to center field. Schwindel then drove a 1-0 pitch from Kennedy (3-3) into the bleachers in left for his fourth homer.Advertisement“I was riding the momentum right there,” Schwindel said. “So I think that was the intent on the swing.”Cubs designated hitter Frank Schwindel (18) celebrates his home run with Patrick Wisdom in the eighth inning Sunday, May 22, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Schwindel and Wisdom also hit consecutive homers during the Cubs’ 7-6 loss Saturday. The last time the same two Cubs hit back-to-back homers in consecutive games was Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and Jim Hickman on Aug. 23-24, 1969, according to the team.“We feed off each other’s energy, so it’s been great,” Wisdom said.P.J. Higgins drove in three runs with his first career triple for the Cubs. Keegan Thompson (4-0) worked three innings of one-run ball for the win.The Cubs had dropped four in a row, blowing a 4-0 lead Saturday.Ketel Marte and Pavin Smith each had two hits for the Diamondbacks, who were trying for their first sweep at Wrigley Field since Aug. 9-11, 1999. David Peralta snapped a tie with a fielder’s choice that drove in Geraldo Perdomo in the seventh.The Diamondbacks had lost six in a row before they arrived in Chicago, including a four-game sweep by the Dodgers.“I thought overall these past four games, I was proud of the way we came back after what we did in (Los Angeles),” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We were in a position to sweep a team on the road. We just couldn’t get it done.”AdvertisementThe Cubs grabbed the lead in the second. With two out and the bases loaded, Higgins lined his second big-league hit into the corner in right and used a headfirst slide to beat the throw into third.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Before Higgins’ clutch swing, it looked as if Merrill Kelly might escape the inning unscathed. After the first three batters reached — including Wisdom’s infield single on a popup that dropped in front of third baseman Drew Ellis — Alfonso Rivas struck out looking and Andrelton Simmons fouled out.“Huge knock for us,” manager David Ross said. “Huge.”The Diamondbacks rallied in the sixth, tying it at 3-3 on two-out RBI singles by Marte, Smith and Jake McCarthy. Marte’s hit drove in Ellis, who led off with a double to center for the team’s first extra-base hit against Wade Miley.Cubs starting pitcher Wade Miley reacts as he allows three Diamondbacks runs in the sixth inning Sunday, May 22, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Diamondbacks: 3B Josh Rojas (bruised left hand) was held out. Lovullo said he doesn’t think Rojas will need a stint on the injured list. Ellis was recalled from Triple-A Reno and INF Yonny Hernandez was sent down. … Lovullo said he talked to SS Nick Ahmed on Saturday, and he has a text chain going with C Jose Herrera, LHP Kyle Nelson and OF Cooper Hummel. Herrera, Nelson and Hummel are on the IL because of COVID-19 protocol, and Ahmed also is on the IL with an unspecified issue. Lovullo said all four players are doing well.Cubs: C Willson Contreras (right hamstring) is day to day after he left Saturday’s 7-6 loss in the third inning. Higgins was promoted from Triple-A Iowa, and INF Ildemaro Vargas was designated for assignment. … INF Nico Hoerner (right ankle) hit on the field, and Ross said Hoerner planned to take some ground balls. INF Nick Madrigal (low back strain) played catch. Ross said he thinks Madrigal will need a rehab stint in the minors, but Hoerner could return as soon as the upcoming series in Cincinnati.AdvertisementDiamondbacks: RHP Zach Davies (2-2, 4.35 ERA) starts Monday night against the Kansas City Royals in the opener of a nine-game homestand. RHP Zack Greinke (0-2, 3.48 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals.Cubs: LHP Drew Smyly (1-5, 3.97 ERA) pitches Monday night in Cincinnati in the opener of a four-game series. The Reds have not announced their starter.

Sports

Candace Parker’s 2nd triple-double — the 11th in WNBA history — leads the Chicago Sky to an 82-73 win

WASHINGTON — Candace Parker finished with her second career triple-double and the Chicago Sky pulled away in the second half to beat the Washington Mystics 82-73 on Sunday.Parker totaled 16 points, 13 rebounds and picked up a 10th assist on a basket by Allie Quigley with 21.2 seconds remaining.AdvertisementIt was the 11th triple-double in WNBA history. Parker joins Sheryl Swoopes and Sky teammate Courtney Vandersloot as the only players to accomplish the feat twice.“It means a lot,” Parker said. “To be in the company with Sloot, who does it on a regular basis and will end up leading the league in assists, and Sheryl Swoopes — I grew up watching her play and idolizing her. To be in that company. I realize there are more that are coming behind me. Hoping coaches are watching post players, point forwards, that’s where it’s at.”AdvertisementParker was the sixth player to post a triple-double when she pulled it off in 2017 against the San Antonio Stars. Sabrina Ionescu of the New York Liberty was the last to record a triple-double, accomplishing the feat in May 2021 against the Minnesota Lynx.Azurá Stevens scored 13 off the bench for the Sky (3-2). Quigley and Kahleah Copper added 12 points apiece, while Emma Meesseman and reserve Rebekah Gardner scored 11.Ariel Atkins had 20 points to lead the Mystics (5-2), who led 42-38 at halftime before being outscored 23-13 in the third quarter.Elena Delle Donne pitched in with 17 points, seven rebounds and three steals for the Mystics, who fell a game behind the first-place Las Vegas Aces.