Athletics: Major League Baseball will start a months-long approval process for the Athletics’ proposed move from Oakland, California, to Las Vegas, which appears set to become the second shift of a franchise in the last half-century. A day after the Nevada Legislature approved $380 million in public financing for a ballpark on the Las Vegas Strip, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred bemoaned the team’s inability to obtain a new stadium in Oakland and defended A’s owner John Fisher, who has maintained public silence. “I feel sorry for the fans in Oakland. I do not like this outcome. I understand why they feel the way they do,” Manfred said Thursday during a news conference following an owners meeting. “I think that the real question is what is it that Oakland was prepared to do? There is no Oakland offer. They never got to the point where they had a plan to build a stadium at any site.” Manfred said the team must submit a relocation application explaining its efforts in Oakland and why Las Vegas is a better market. A relocation committee will define the new operating territory and television territory, then makes a recommendation to Manfred and the eight-man executive council. The executive council formulates a recommendation to all clubs, which must approve the move by at least three-quarters vote. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio will chair the relocation committee. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao denied the claim the city had made no ballpark offer. Manfred said there will not be a relocation fee. Las Vegas would become the fourth home for a franchise that started in Philadelphia from 1901-54, moved to Kansas City for 13 seasons and arrived in Oakland for 1968. A new stadium likely would open in 2028 at the earliest. Before then, a possible home is the 10,000-capacity Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, Oakland’s top farm team.

Phillies: Bryson Stott hit his second homer in three games, Aaron Nola threw 6 2/3 innings and the Phillies moved over .500 for the first time in more than a month by beating the host Diamondbacks 5-4. Last season’s National League champions have won 10 of 12 and own a 34-33 record, jumping above .500 for the first time since May 13. They took three of four games from the NL West-leading D-backs this week. Nola (6-5) was terrific outside of a four-run third. The veteran right-hander gave up four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out nine. Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for his 10th save despite three pitch-clock violations, including two to one batter. The Phillies were 25-32 on June 2 after a five-game skid, but their star-filled lineup has started to produce the last few weeks. The Phillies scored 32 runs in four games vs. D-backs. All nine starters had at least one hit Thursday, led by two each from Stott, Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm. Jake McCarthy and Gabriel Moreno both had two hits for the D-backs.