Oneil Cruz homered twice and Ryan O’Hearn hit a three-run shot as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-3. O’Hearn and Bryan Reynolds went back-to-back in the second inning. Cruz finished with three hits and three RBIs. He also scored three times. The Reds were held hitless until Jose Trevino singled off reliever Hunter Barco with one out in the seventh. Pirates rookie starter Bubba Chandler tossed 4 1/3 innings with six strikeouts, but also walked six.Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz hit consecutive homers off Barco to trim the Pirates’ lead to 6-3 in the eighth.Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was ejected in the eighth for arguing with plate umpire Jordan Baker.

The NFL is moving forward with plans to begin hiring and training replacement officials in the next several weeks because negotiations with the referees’ union have been unsuccessful, two people with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press. Both people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the conversations are private. The league and the NFL Referees Association have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement since the summer of 2024. The current CBA expires on May 31. The NFL has increased its offer to a 6.45% annual growth rate in compensation over a six-year labor deal, but the NFLRA wants 10% plus $2.5 million for marketing fees, the people said.

Replacement officials, potential rule changes, artificial intelligence, health and safety issues, international growth and flag football will be among many topics discussed when NFL owners, executives and coaches gather for their annual meeting this week in Arizona. One topic that dominated the conversation this time last year — the tush push — isn’t on the agenda because there is no proposal to eliminate the play even though it was nearly banned in a close vote in 2025. NFC coaches will speak to reporters on Monday, AFC coaches will do so on Tuesday and Commissioner Roger Goodell closes it out.

Sebastian Fundora easily retained his WBC super welterweight champion, knocking out Keith Thurman at 1:17 of the sixth round. Referee Thomas Taylor stopped Saturday night's fight after Fundora battered Thurman repeatedly, the former unified welterweight champion's bloody face showing the damage. The 6-foot-5 Fundora (24-1-1, 16 knockouts) used his nine-inch height and reach advantage to pepper Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) with a series of hard lefts and combinations. Thurman managed to get into the occasional blow, but had to pick his spots.

Managers have less to argue about as Major League Baseball starts ball-and-strike challenges this season with so-called robot umpires. Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash says he likes using technology but figures there still will be reasons to argue because each team is allowed only two unsuccessful challenges. Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton expects less complaining early in games, but he wonders what happens after challenges run out. New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone also points out that teams have to prepare pitchers for returning to the mound when they thought the inning was over only to have an opponent win a challenge.

IndyCar officials had to throw a red flag to freeze the cars as they were pulling out of the pit area for a practice session in Texas when three workers were spotted on the hot track. No one was injured. Practice resumed for the inaugural Grand Prix of Arlington after a delay of several minutes as IndyCar officials checked the temporary 2.73-mile, 14-turn temporary course on the streets around the stadiums of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers. The television broadcast showed the trio of workers who appeared to be part of a catering crew. The race is Sunday.

Australia has granted asylum to 5 members of the Iranian women's soccer team, Australian official says.