The Columbian

National Sports

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (17) leads the pack to finish line for his first Cup win during the Camping World 500 auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, May 7, 2017, in Talladega, Ala.

Stenhouse scores 1st career NASCAR Cup victory

May 7, 2017, 4:02pm National Sports

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. used a strong Ford engine to blow past Kyle Busch in overtime at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for his first NASCAR Cup victory. Read story

Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) goes to the net past Toronto Raptors forwards P.J. Tucker (2) and Serge Ibaka (9) during the second half of Game 4 of a second-round NBA basketball playoff series in Toronto, Sunday, May 7, 2017.

James scores 35 as Cavs complete sweep of Raptors

May 7, 2017, 3:39pm National Sports

LeBron James scored 35 points, Kyrie Irving added 27 and the Cleveland Cavaliers completed a four-game sweep of Toronto, beating the Raptors 109-102 on Sunday. Read story

Seattle Mariners closing pitcher Dan Altavilla, left, and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch share congratulations with teammates after the team beat the Texas Rangers in a baseball game Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Seattle. The Mariners won 8-2.

Seven-run 7th inning propels Mariners

May 6, 2017, 11:00pm National Sports

Danny Valencia drove in two during Seattle’s seven-run seventh inning and the Mariners beat the Texas Rangers 8-2 on Saturday night. Read story

Portland Timbers forward Dairon Asprilla, left, eyes the ball as San Jose Earthquakes defender Kofi Sarkodie, right, chases during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Saturday, May 6, 2017, in San Jose, Calif.

Earthquakes rattle Timbers 3-0

May 6, 2017, 10:01pm National Sports

Chris Wondolowski scored two goals, reaching 125 for his career, and the San Jose Earthquakes smothered the Portland Timbers 3-0 on Saturday night. Read story

Thorns, Reign play to 2-2 draw in NWSL

May 6, 2017, 9:49pm National Sports

Allie Long scored on a header in the 82nd minute and the Portland Thorns pulled into a 2-2 draw with the rival Seattle Reign in the National Women’s Soccer League on Saturday night. Read story

John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming to victory in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.

Always Dreaming wins Kentucky Derby in slop

May 6, 2017, 5:24pm National Sports

Always Dreaming splashed through the slop to win the Kentucky Derby by 2 3/4 lengths on Saturday, giving trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez their second victories in the race. Read story

Steven Holcomb poses with his gold medal in the men's four-man bobsled during the medal ceremony at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia. Holcomb, the longtime U.S. bobsledding star who drove to three Olympic medals after beating a disease that nearly robbed him of his eyesight, was found dead in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Saturday, May 6, 2017. He was 37.

U.S. bobsledder Steven Holcomb, 37, found dead

May 6, 2017, 3:41pm National Sports

Steven Holcomb, the longtime U.S. bobsledding star who drove to three Olympic medals after beating a disease that nearly robbed him of his eyesight, was found dead in Lake Placid, N.Y., on Saturday. Read story

Texas Rangers' Rougned Odor hits a go-ahead two-run home run in the 13th inning of a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, May 5, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S.

Rangers beat Mariners 3-1 in 13 innings

May 6, 2017, 12:58am National Sports

Rougned Odor hit a two-run home run in the 13th inning and the Texas Rangers got six innings of shutout relief pitching to beat the Seattle Mariners 3-1 early Saturday. Read story

Seattle Mariners right fielder Ben Gamel catches a line drive hit by Los Angeles Angels left fielder Cameron Maybin in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, May 4, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S.

Valencia, Miranda lift Seattle past Angels

May 4, 2017, 10:59pm National Sports

Danny Valencia homered and had four hits, Ariel Miranda pitched seven strong innings and the Seattle Mariners beat the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Thursday night. Read story

Former Australia and Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson has spoken of her "nightmare" as she weaned herself off painkillers and sleeping pills when injury forced her retirement from basketball in 2016.

WNBA star Lauren Jackson speaks of dependence on painkillers

May 1, 2017, 6:01pm National Sports

Former Australia and Seattle Storm star Lauren Jackson has spoken of her “nightmare” as she weaned herself off painkillers and sleeping pills when injury forced her retirement from basketball last year. Read story