National Sports

OTTAWA — It has been said that defence wins championships, but one must first make the playoffs before that can happen.

Torpedo bats are all the rage this season, and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred believes all that chatter is positive for the sport.

MOOSE JAW — Determined to go out on a high after falling in the semifinals, Canada lead Ben Hebert said his team had a simple plan for Sunday's bronze-medal game against China's Xiaoming Xu at the BKT World Men's Curling Championship.

OTTAWA — Linus Ullmark made 30 saves for the shutout and two first-period goals stood up for the Ottawa Senators as they won for the third straight game, defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 Sunday.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Brian Harman handled the wind and the chill Sunday with a pair of key birdies on the back nine Sunday in the Valero Texas Open, closing with a 3-over 75 for a three-shot victory, his first title since the 2023 British Open.

NEW YORK (AP) — Rookie Jonathan Mogbo tied his career highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors beat the Brookyn Nets 120-109 on Sunday. Mogbo also had a season-high seven assists for the Raptors.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — UConn is back on top of women’s basketball, winning its 12th national championship by routing defending champion South Carolina 82-59 on Sunday behind Azzi Fudd’s 24 points.

BRAMPTON — Owen Griffin had two goals and one assist as the Oshawa Generals topped the Brampton Steelheads 4-1 on Sunday to advance to the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a go-ahead single in the third inning and the New York Mets beat Toronto 2-1 on Sunday for their first series sweep of the Blue Jays in 24 years.

NEW YORK (AP) — A day after leaving a game because of lower back spasms, George Springer entered as a pinch runner for the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning Sunday and stole second base against the New York Mets.