Brewers, Pirates brawl

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Travis Snider were ejected Sunday after a shouting match quickly escalated into a full-scale brawl.

Several punches were thrown and a couple of players were tossed to the ground once the benches and bullpens emptied.

The problems started when Gomez paused at the plate and flipped his bat after hitting a two-out drive in the third inning off Pirates starter Gerrit Cole. The ball hit the wall and Gomez sped into third base, making a head-first slide for a triple.

Cole, who was near third base backing up the play, stormed toward Gomez and they exchanged words.

Dodgers’ Kershaw nearing return

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Clayton Kershaw threw a simulated game Sunday and reported no discomfort after topping out at 90 mph.

Kershaw, who is on the disabled list for the first time in his seven-year career, threw a combined total of 50 pitches from the windup and from the stretch. His bullpen session lasted for about 20 pitches.

The 26-year-old left-hander, who led the majors in ERA in each of the previous three seasons, hasn’t pitched since beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-1 in the season opener in Australia. He injured himself tossing a ball on the side a few days later.

Yankees’ Nova put on DL

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees right-hander Ivan Nova has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, an injury that often requires Tommy John surgery.

Nova left Saturday night’s game against Tampa Bay in the fifth inning. An MRI after the game revealed the injury and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Nova will be further examined Monday in New York by Yankees team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad. He had no discomfort in the elbow until his 82nd and final pitch Saturday when he felt a pop.

Boxer Rubin ”˜Hurricane’ Carter dies

Rubin “Hurricane” Carter never surrendered hope of regaining his freedom, not even after he was convicted of a triple murder, then convicted again and abandoned by many prominent supporters.

For 19 long years, the prizefighter was locked in a prison cell far away from the spotlight and the adulation of the boxing ring. But when he at last won his biggest fight ”“ for exoneration ”“ he betrayed little bitterness. Instead, Carter dedicated much of his remaining life to helping other prisoners and exposing other injustices.

The middleweight title contender, whose murder convictions became an international symbol of racial injustice and inspired a Bob Dylan song and a Hollywood film, died Sunday. He was 76.

The New Jersey native, who had suffered from prostate cancer, died in his sleep at his home in Toronto, said John Artis, his former co-defendant and longtime friend and caregiver.

Blackhawks’ Seabrook suspended 3 games

CHICAGO (AP) — Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook was suspended Sunday for three games for his hit on Blues center David Backes during their first-round playoff series.

Seabrook received a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for a vicious elbow to Backes’ head late in the third period of Saturday’s Game 2. Backes had to be helped off the ice and did not return during St. Louis’ 4-3 overtime victory.

Wie ends drought, wins LPGA tournament

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — Michelle Wie rallied from four strokes back entering the day to shoot a 5-under 67 Saturday and win the LPGA LOTTE Championship.

The 24-year-old from Hawaii finished at 14-under 274 after coming into the final round trailing third-round leader Angela Stanford by four shots. It was Wie’s third career victory on the LPGA Tour, and first since taking the CN Canadian Women’s Open in 2010 ”“ snapping a 79-event winless drought.

Liverpool closes in on Premier League crown

LONDON (AP) — Liverpool secured a return to the Champions League on Sunday and a much bigger prize is just around the corner.

A first English championship in 24 years is within Liverpool’s grasp after a 3-2 win at Norwich, which was paced by Raheem Sterling’s two goals and a 30th goal of the season by Luis Suarez.

An 11th straight league win also ensured that the Reds will return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2009-10 season.