AP Saturday Sports Roundup

Nats, Marlins in a day-night twinbill in Nation's Capital

UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Nationals, in a dogfight with the New York Mets for the NL East lead, can build on their fine start with a day-night doubleheader against the Miami Marlins. In the first game, it's 5-0 Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals against Marlins left-hander Justin Nicolino, who owns a 2-0 mark with a 2.79 ERA in the early going.

Last night the Nationals scored a come-from-behind 5-3 victory over the Marlins. Bryce Harper hit a two-run home run, and pinch-hitters Stephen Drew and Chris Heisey also delivered home runs for all the Nats scoring

That's one of five day games on the Major League schedule. In New York, the last-place Yankees host the AL Central Division-leading Chicago White Sox. It's 1-1 Ivan Nova for the Yankees against Jose Quintana, who is sporting a 5-1 mark and a microscopic 1.38 ERA. The White Sox beat the Yankees 7-1 last night as Chris Sale became baseball's first eight-game winner.

The Boston Red Sox continue their four-game weekend series against Houston. It's 2-3 Clay Buchholz for the Sox against Colin McHugh, who is 4-3 with a 5.50 ERA.

At Wrigley Field, the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs send out 6-0 Jake Arrieta against 1-2 Jeff Locke of the Pirates. The Cubs whacked the Pirates 9-4 yesterday to improve to 26-8, best record in the majors.

The final day game on the schedule has Minnesota at Cleveland. It's Corey Kluber, who is 2-4 with a 4.14 ERA for the Tribe, against 0-2 Erwin Santana for the Twins.

The rest of the baseball schedule is under the lights. Miami plays Washington in the second half of a doubleheader, Tampa Bay hosts Oakland, Baltimore is home against Detroit, San Diego visits Milwaukee, Philadelphia hosts Cincinnati, the Braves are in Kansas City, Texas is home to Toronto, the New York Mets are in Colorado, San Francisco is at Arizona, Seattle hosts the L.A. Angels and the St. Louis Cardinals are in Chavez Ravine to play the Dodgers.

NBA, NHL PLAYOFFS-DARK

Taking a breather

UNDATED (AP) — It's a rare Saturday in May when neither the NBA nor the NHL has a playoff game scheduled. But that's the case today as the action resumes in both leagues tomorrow.

PGA-PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

Day leads Lowry by 3

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — World No. 1 Jason Day heads into the weekend at The Players Championship with a three-shot lead over Shane Lowry entering today's third round.

Day was 5 under par through 14 holes yesterday when play was suspended due to darkness. Day is 14 under for the tourney.

Jonas Blixt, Alex Cejka and Cameron Tringale are four shots off the lead.

AUTO RACING-INDY GRAND PRIX

Pagenaud tries for 3 in a row

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — It'll be an odd sight today at the Brickyard. IndyCar racers will take over Indianapolis Speedway for the Grand Prix of Indianapolis.

Simon Pagenaud continued his early-season dominance by winning the pole. The French driver who leads the standings took the top spot with a fast lap of 1 minute, 8.6868 seconds in the final round of qualifying. He has won two straight poles and two consecutive races for Team Penske.

AUTO RACING-F1-SPANISH GP

Lewis Hamilton wins pole position for Spanish GP

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Lewis Hamilton edged Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg to win the pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday.

Hamilton trailed Rosberg all weekend until he qualified nearly three-tenths of a second faster than his teammate at the Barcelona track.

Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull was third, just ahead of new teammate Max Verstappen, who was making his team debut after a controversial driver switch that sent Daniil Kvyat back to Toro Rosso.

Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari will start fifth, and teammate Sebastian Vettel sixth.

SHANGHAI DIAMOND LEAGUE

Gatlin wins 100m at Shanghai Diamond League

SHANGHAI (AP) — American sprinter Justin Gatlin's preparations for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics got off to a solid start with a commanding win in the 100 meters at the Shanghai Diamond League meet on Saturday.

Olympic 800 champion David Rudisha of Kenya faded on the final straight and finished fifth after a poor start he blamed on field competitors crowding the track.

Gatlin easily won the 100 in 9.94 seconds, several strides ahead of Qatar's Femi Ogunode in second. His main rival in Rio, Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt, did not compete in Shanghai.

GOLF-OBIT-O'CONNOR

Top Irish golfer Christy O'Connor Sr. dies at 91

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Christy O'Connor Sr., the Irish golfer who played on 10 Ryder Cup teams and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, has died. He was 91.

The European Tour says O'Connor died Saturday morning.

O'Connor won 24 times on the European Tour and captured the Order of Merit in 1961 and 1962. The Irishman also played 15 times in what is now the World Cup, and he won in 1968 with Harry Bradshaw.

The closest he came to winning a major was finishing one shot out of a playoff in the 1958 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.

O'Connor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009.

His nephew, Christy O'Connor Jr., died this year at 67.