Houston Astros utilityman Aledmys Diaz is likely headed to the 10-day injured list after hurting his hamstring on Sunday against the Boston Red Sox, manager AJ Hinch said.

Diaz has been starting at second base with All-Star Jose Altuve sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Diaz exited the Astros' 4-1 loss to the Red Sox with left hamstring discomfort in the first inning after scoring from second on a single.

He is hitting .286 with five home runs and 22 RBIs in 31 games this season and has started 14 games at second base, six at first base and two apiece at shortstop, third base and left field.

Altuve, who was placed on the injured list on May 11, could be nearing a return as he was set to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday night.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Mike Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, got his first major league hit on Sunday.

The San Francisco Giants rookie outfielder singled to left in the second inning Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks but was thrown out after rounding the base too far.

He made his major league debut on Saturday for the Giants after more than six years in the minor leagues. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a run scored in a 10-4 loss to the Diamondbacks.

He started in left field on both Saturday and Sunday.

Yastrzemski, 28, was traded to the Giants in March by the Baltimore Orioles, with whom he made his first big league spring training this year.

CHICAGO -- Cubs slugger Kris Bryant left Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds after colliding with center fielder Jason Heyward on a drive in the sixth inning.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said after his team's 10-2 loss that Bryant was being evaluated for a possible head or neck injury.

With two outs and a runner on first, Heyward and Bryant converged on Eugenio Suarez's fly ball toward the gap in right-center. It looked as if Heyward called off Bryant on the play, but they ran into each other and the ball went off Heyward's glove.

Bryant, a natural third baseman who occasionally plays the outfield, stayed down as Suarez hustled into third on the error. Maddon and a trainer ran out to take a look, and the 2016 National League MVP gingerly walked off the field after a short conversation.

Albert Almora Jr. came in to play center field, and Heyward moved to right to replace Bryant.

"I hope he feels great, but time will tell," Heyward said after the game. "We both went hard to make a play."

Sunday's start in right field was Bryant's ninth at that spot this season. He also has started six times in left field.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

‘I cried this morning, but mum told me to enjoy it and relax – she is my lucky charm’
By SEAN REUTHE in Hull

Egyptian duo Nouran Gohar and Mohamed ElShorbagy are the 2019 Allam British Open champions after they got the better of World No.4 Camille Serme and World No.1 Ali Farag in their respective final clashes at the Allam Sport Centre in Hull.

The British Open is the sport’s longest-running tournament, and Gohar, the World No.7, put her name into the history books with a sensational dismantling of Serme as she powered to an 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 victory in 30 minutes to win the women’s event.

Gohar came runner-up to World No.2 Nour El Sherbini in the final of this tournament in 2016, and the hard-hitting 21-year-old ensured that she went one further this year as she stormed to a comfortable victory over 2015 winner Serme to lift her first PSA World Tour Platinum title since the Hong Kong Open in August 2016.

“It means so much to me, especially because it is the British Open,” said an emotional Gohar after lifting the seventh PSA title of her career.

“I feel very comfortable. The environment, the city itself, it feels a bit like home. It is very cosy here and it really helps me to feel good on court. To have the accuracy, you have to be both relaxed and focused. I feel this attitude and environment really helped me.

“This morning after my hit, I started crying. I never did that before. Even in Hong Kong, I didn’t do that. I think I was very young, so maybe I couldn’t really comprehend how much it meant to me to be in the final of a major event. My mum kept telling me to enjoy the occasion and to relax. She told me to take the chance and if I played my best then I would take the win.

“When I won the Hong Kong Open, she [her mother] was there as well. I think she might be my lucky charm, and there is also someone who is not always with me, but he is the main reason for what I have. My dad is the reason why I play squash because he loves it so much.”

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The men’s final saw World No.2 ElShorbagy capture the third British Open title of his career after he overcame World No.1 Farag by an 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 scoreline in 66 minutes to add to his 2015 and 2016 triumphs.

ElShorbagy, who also finished as runner-up 12 months ago, had lost three of his four matches with Farag this season, but a fired-up performance from the 28-year-old saw him earn the win in the latest instalment of their rivalry.

Farag came through a brutal 77-minute semi-final with New Zealand’s Paul Coll in the semi-finals, while ElShorbagy hadn’t dropped a game throughout the tournament. And the latter hunted the ball down and engaged Farag in all four corners of the court to become the first Egyptian since Abdelfattah AbouTaleb in 1966 to win a trio of British Open crowns.

“I have such respect for Ali, what he achieved this season is unbelievable,” said ElShorbagy. “Our last match last season in Dubai, he told me that what I did last season was inspirational. This time is it my turn to say that what he has done this season was inspirational. Normally, winning the US Open, Hong Kong and British Open in one season would be enough to keep me at No.1.

“Ali just showed consistency throughout and he was the toughest I had to face. We are going to improve each other for the rest of our careers and after a lot of great players have retired, I think squash now needs a new rivalry. The people need a new rivalry and hopefully we can both give the people what they want and what they will enjoy.”

Gohar and ElShorbagy each take home $22,800 in prize money, while ElShorbagy moves joint seventh on the men’s all-time PSA title winners, with his 37th title putting him level with Canada’s Jonathon Power.

The culmination of the British Open means that the qualification spots for the next month’s PSA World Tour Finals – the season-ending tournament which takes place in Cairo between June 9-14 – have been confirmed.

Despite his defeat, Farag tops the men’s PSA World Tour Finals Leaderboard, with ElShorbagy, Tarek Momen, Karim Abdel Gawad, Coll, Simon Rösner, Mohamed Abouelghar and Diego Elias all joining him in qualifying.

World No.1 Raneem El Welily finishes in first place on the women’s leaderboard, and will be joined in Cairo next month by El Sherbini, Nour El Tayeb, Serme, Gohar, Joelle King, Sarah-Jane Perry and Tesni Evans. 

2019 Allam British Open, University of Hull Sports and Fitness Centre, Hull, England.

Men’s Final:
(2) Mohamed ElShorbagy (EGY) beat (1) Ali Farag (EGY) 3-1: 11-9, 5-11, 11-5, 11-9 (66m)

Women’s Final:
(7) Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt (4])Camille Serme (FRA) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 11-3 (30m)

Prize Money: Total fund $162,000 each for men and women.
Winners: $22,800. Runners-Up: $14,250.
Losing Semi-Finalists: $8,550.00

Report by SEAN REUTHE (PSA PR and Media Manager). Edited by ALAN THATCHER.

Pictures courtesy of PSA

"Suppressing the physical domination" of Exeter and Saracens is key to ending their stranglehold on the Premiership, says Northampton's Chris Boyd.

Chiefs and Sarries will contest the Premiership final for the third time in four seasons at Twickenham on 1 June.

Northampton, who finished 30 points behind leaders Exeter, lost 42-12 to the Chiefs in Saturday's semi-final.

"There is a significant gap to Exeter and Saracens, but it's not always there," said Saints' director of rugby.

"We finished fourth and we won 11 and lost 11. We had a 50% record, and there were a chunk of teams in the middle that were about the same. Even Exeter, who finished top, lost five games.

"Gloucester beat Exeter in a fairly critical European game, so they're not unbeatable, but you've got to work out how you suppress both of those sides' physical domination.

"Their games are around territory and physical domination more than possession, although Exeter hang onto the ball a lot and grind you down."

Boyd continued: "It's important that the clubs that play with a bit more optimism find a way to get closer to Exeter and Saracens.

"You can play the power game domestically - and Saracens have got to a point where the power game has been rewarding for them in Europe - but there are only one or two teams can play that style and be successful.

"Once you get that neutralised, you've got to find another way to play."

Exeter finished eight points clear of second-placed Saracens in the final table, with Gloucester a further 10 points behind in third and then a 12-point gap to the next three clubs - Northampton, Harlequins and Bath.

Boyd happy with Northampton progress

New Zealander Boyd's first season in charge of Northampton ended one step short of a Twickenham final, but the 60-year-old was able to reflect on a "vast improvement" from the team this term after a ninth-placed finish in 2017-18.

Saints also won the Premiership Rugby Cup in March.

"I was unsure what success would look like so we didn't quantify it greatly," said Boyd.

"In speaking to our board, CEO and senior players, we needed to get back into the top tier in Europe and so getting into the top six was going to be a pass mark.

"To get into the top four would be a very good year, and if we could find our way to get to Twickenham that would be an excellent year.

"It's a 'B' grade - it's not a great season, but it's certainly vastly improved. The trick for us is to build on what we've achieved this year and keep going north. That's the hope."

MONTE CARLO – Lewis Hamilton survived a race-long duel with Max Verstappen to win the Monaco Grand Prix for the third time in his career Sunday at Circuit de Monaco.

Hamilton started from the pole and led from start to finish, but he did so with Verstappen filling his mirrors for three quarters of the race.

“That was definitely, for me, the hardest race I think I’ve had,” Hamilton admitted.

Verstappen started third and slotted in behind Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, chasing the Mercedes pairing for the opening circuits. Behind them Charles Leclerc was trying to work through the field after a dismal qualifying effort, but contact with the wall while attempting an overtake cut down a tire and scattered debris across the track, requiring a safety car period.

All of the leaders hit the pits, but because Hamilton and Bottas were so close together the Mercedes crew was forced to doublestack the cars. Hamilton got away clean, but the delay for Bottas in the pits allowed Verstappen to get alongside him as they exited the pits. The two made contact leaving the pits, with Verstappen emerging in second place.

Hamilton restarted with the lead and he pulled clear of Verstappen, but the race was far from over. Mercedes had opted to put the Medium tires on Hamilton’s car while Red Bull put the Hard tires on Verstappen’s car, meaning Verstappen’s tires would have more life in them than Hamilton’s.

“I was never going to come in (to pit),” Hamilton acknowledged. “A couple of years ago I was in the lead and then I came in for a pit stop. I learned the hard way. I lost the race here. I wasn’t going to come in. I was either going to crash or finish.”

Slowly but surely Hamilton’s tires wore out and Verstappen got closer and closer, filling up Hamilton’s mirrors. However, officials soon announced that Verstappen had been penalized five seconds for an unsafe pit release. That mean that he had to get by Hamilton and pull clear by at least five seconds if he hoped to win the race.

With that in mind, Verstappen hounded Hamilton over the final 20 laps as he looked for a way past on the tight street circuit. Hamilton, clearly slowing as his tires wore out, struggled to keep Verstappen behind him lap after lap.

Finally, on lap 76, Verstappen made his move entering the chicane. He dove to Hamilton’s inside and locked up his tires, making contact with Hamilton’s left-rear tire and forcing both drivers to miss the chicane.

Despite the contact Hamilton held serve, holding the lead as Verstappen rejoined in second. Verstappen was never able to get close enough again to challenge him over the final two laps as Hamilton put Mercedes in victory lane less than a week after the passing of Mercedes Non-Executive Chairman Niki Lauda.

“I really was fighting with the spirit of Niki,” Hamilton said. “Niki’s been an influential person in our team helping us get to where we are. I know he’ll be looking down and I know he would take his hat off today. I just was trying to stay focused and trying to make him proud. That’s kind of been the goal all week and we’re going to try and continue that all week.”

Verstappen crossed the line second on track, but his five-second penalty for the pit road incident was enough to drop him off the podium to fourth. As a result, Sebastian Vettel finished second for Ferrari for the first time this year. Bottas was also elevated one position to third. Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly was scored fifth.

ANDERSON, Ind. – It was a performance that may never be equaled again in Pay Less Little 500 history turned in by Nolen Racing.

The two-car team of race winner Kody Swanson and Shane Hollingsworth led 499 of the 500 laps.

When told his team led 499 laps, team owner Gene Nolen was amazed at the feat.

“I didn’t realize that,” he said. “It was an incredible team effort.”

Swanson winning for the third time in four years and giving Gene Nolen a second career victory led 345 of the 500 laps.

The only time a Nolen car wasn’t on the point was when both drivers made their final pit stops on lap 354.

Swanson’s incredible performance of three wins in four races equaled the mark set by Tom Cherry from 1952 to 1955.

The California native has now led a total of 671 laps in his Little 500 career which places him 15th on the all-time leader board.

Swanson now joins Jeff Bloom, Jim Childers and Darl Harrison as three-time winners at Anderson Speedway. He trails Tom Cherry with four wins, Bob Frey with five victories and Eric Gordon at the top of the list with nine wins.

Swanson and Hollingsworth waged a spirited battle for the lead from laps 276 to 326.

“We were racing pretty hard, there was some bumping and banging,” Hollingsworth said. “I wasn’t going to let him get by, because I knew he would drive away.

“Kody and Bobby (Santos) right now are the best pavement racers,” he said.

– Of the six former winners of the Pay Less Little 500 only two were running at the end.

Chris Windom, coming off three crashes in two days in USAC Silver Crown and IndyLights competition, was able to drive to a fifth place finish.

“I’m just looking to finish,” Windom said before the start of the Little 500.

Gordon’s bid for a 10th Little 500 victory came to an end on lap 222 with an engine failure and was credited with a 19th place finish.

Kyle Hamilton the 2017 champion tangled with Aaron Pierce on lap 154 while battling for third. He was able to complete another 11 circuits before retiring in 23rd with a suspension problem.

Three-time winner Jeff Bloom, making his record 41st start, retired with a mechanical problem in lap 61.

Shane Cottle’s night came to an end against the turn two outside retaining wall on lap 30.

– Mississippi driver Joey Schmidt, driving a team car of Aaron Pierce, earned rookie of the race honors with a seventh-place finish after starting 31st and having to bump his way back into the field on Friday.

Trey Osborne, a former Mel Kenyon Midget Series champion, finished 28th after losing a right front tire following a pit stop.

Justin Grant’s night ended on lap 78 after making contact with the turn two wall after slight contact with another competitor.

ATTICA, Ohio – California native and Indiana resident Chad Boespflug showed up for the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions race at Attica Raceway Park to kick off the Memorial Day weekend on Friday evening.

It was a rough night for Boespflug, who failed to advance past the B-Main. However, it was a good learning experience for the 2011 Lawrenceburg Speedway track champion.

With more than 35 sprint car victories under his belt, Boespflug figures its time to bolt on the wing and get some winged racing experience.

“I want to do this some more,” said Boespflug. “The All Stars are a tough field, but I want to do some more wing racing, got to race with the best to get better. Definitely got better as the night went on, we had the car good, in the heat race I felt like a race car driver again. I was able to drive the car and do what I needed, we just did not make the good calls in the B-Main. We know where we need to be, just from the start of the night we got a lot better. Its fun, I was smiling, it’s something different, I been racing Sprint Cars for a while now and to do something different is just fun. No high expectations, just come have fun, get better, and make some laps. I passed some cars tonight.

With his usual crew working at the Little 500 at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway, Boespflug saw Friday’s race at Attica as an opportunity and have fun and try something a bit different.

“It’s a family affair tonight and this weekend as well,” Boespflug. “All my crew guys are busy this week at the Little 500 and stuff like that, so it was a chance to get out with my family, fiancée, and her parents as well and just have a good time.

“The track (Attica) is awesome, it’s a little dirty made it a little tuff for a guy like me who is not used to stuff like this starting in the back. Being in the back of the B-Main was a lot of dirty air, made it a little more difficult. I just don’t have much experience with this, and going from USAC to this, there’s not much that translates. I was telling Dad earlier, if the car gets really good around the bottom, that’s probably the only thing that translates from USAC is being able to turn the race car. But, typically, you don’t want to turn the race car. That’s why tracks (like) Haubstadt are tough for the a lot of those Outlaw guys, because they are not used to turning the race car and non-wing guys are used to turning the race car.”

Boespflug, who is chasing the USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series championship this year, said he hopes to hit a few more winged races this season as his schedule allows.

“Our primary focus is the USAC National Sprint Car tour, but we are going to keep dabbling with the wing stuff when nothing conflicts with that schedule and have some fun,” said Boespflug. “Contemplating right now going down to Nashville next week, but we will see. Just a great get away have fun weekend with the family, but learning a lot.”