Dodgers win MLB opener in Tokyo

Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw five strong innings, Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored twice, and the defending World Series champion Dodgers beat the Cubs 4-1 on Tuesday in Major League Baseball’s season opener at the Tokyo Dome. Playing in their home country, Yamamoto and Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga both pitched well in the first all-Japanese starting pitching matchup on opening day in MLB history. Imanaga threw four scoreless innings, allowing no hits but walking four. The Dodgers jumped on Cubs reliever Ben Brown (0-1) in the fifth, scoring three runs, partly because of a throwing error by second baseman Jon Berti. Tommy Edman and Will Smith had RBI singles. Ohtani was part of the rally, delivering a hard-hit single through the right side. He finished 2 for 5 at the plate, including a double to lead off the ninth, eventually scoring another run. Yamamoto (1-0), above, gave up one run on three hits and a walk, striking out four. Tanner Scott earned his first save. The second game of the series was scheduled for Wednesday.

Flagg, Broome lead All-America team

One is a fifth-year senior who began his career at a mid-major, the other a first-year wunderkind recruited by everyone. The first is a now leading a program on the rise, while the other is the unmistakable star for a traditional power. Johni Broome of Auburn and Cooper Flagg, above, of Duke do have something in common, though: The forwards were unanimous first-team picks for The Associated Press men’s college basketball All-America teams released Tuesday. They were joined on the first team by Alabama star Mark Sears, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida. Only Broome, a third-team pick a year ago, and Flagg were among the first five on the ballots of all 61 national media members who vote for the weekly AP Top 25. Sears was a second-team pick last season, when he helped to lead the Crimson Tide to their first Final Four. Smith was an honorable mention pick last year, when Purdue teammate Zach Edey was a unanimous first-team pick for the second straight season. Florida had never had a first-team All-American before Clayton.

Gray lifts Rose BC to Unrivaled title

Chelsea Gray came to Unrivaled with a mission. The veteran Aces guard suffered a foot injury in the 2023 WNBA Finals that sidelined her part of last season. When she came back, she felt overlooked by some. Underestimated by others. Unrivaled’s inaugural 3-on-3 women’s basketball season was Gray’s chance to finally put that injury behind her. “Last year was hard, man,” she said. “It was rough. Even when I came back (during the WNBA season), I still wasn’t 100%. I just put the work in. And then I talk after winning. I don’t talk before then. So I had a little chip on my shoulder.” Gray was named playoff MVP after helping her team Rose BC beat Vinyl in a thrilling Unrivaled final on Monday night in Medley, Florida. She averaged 28.5 points in two postseason games, including 39 in the semis. Each player on the title-winning club received $50,000 — part of Unrivaled’s goal of compensating its participants more than almost any other pro women’s sports league. Unrivaled has the highest average salary for players of any pro women’s sports league, with many earning six figures. —AP