Sports Headlines – Oregon State Closes Out Arkansas to Win Title

Oregon State won the College World Series title Thursday night, with a 5-0 win over Arkansas in deciding Game Three, as the Beavers capped a remarkable run to the college baseball championship.

The Beavers are national champions despite losing the tournament opening game 12 days ago and facing six elimination games, including being down to their last strike against a Razorbacks team that had been 44-0 this season when leading after eight innings.

Freshman Kevin Abel went the distance on the mound for Oregon State to earn the shutout in the title-winning victory. He retired the last 20 batters he faced and also became the first pitcher to ever win four games in the College World Series.

- In the Majors, Lance McCullers pitched seven strong innings, Jake Marisnick homered and the Houston Astros beat the Tampa Bay Rays 1-0 to tie a franchise record with their 11th straight road win. McCullers gave up three hits while striking out seven. The Astros have won his last six starts and have won 18 of 21 overall. Their latest win matched the club record set last May 14-June 5 on the way to winning the franchise's first World Series title.

- The Texas Rangers are on an uptick with all their youngsters halfway through a development season. There are eight position players on the roster who are 25 or younger. The Rangers have won nine of their last 11 games to take their last four series. Rangers manager Jeff Banister says there are players trending in the right direction.

After a night off, Texas is at home tonight against the White Sox.

- The Rangers are progressing in Cole Hamels trade talks and may be able to move him before the All-Star break, MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported on Thursday. The 34 year-old Hamels is in the final year of a six-year, $144 million contract which includes a $20 million club option for 2019 with a $6 million buyout. He also has a partial no-trade clause that allows him to block a trade with 20 teams, although he may be willing to waive it in order to join a contender.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Red Sox 4, Angels 2

Mariners 4, Orioles 2 (10 innings)

Twins 2, White Sox 1 (13 innings)

A's 4, Tigers 2

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Phillies 4, Nationals 3

Rockies 9, Giants 8

Cubs 11, Dodgers 5

Diamondbacks 4, Marlins 0

Brewers 6, Reds 4

- LeBron James has until tonight at midnight to decide on a $35.6 million contract next season with the Cavaliers. James is expected to decline his option and become an unrestricted free agent with Cleveland and opening the door for the Los Angeles Lakers to be a possible destination. While reports abound about his future, James has kept a low profile and has been vacationing with his family, somewhat putting all of free agency on hold while the NBA awaits his next move.

- The NFL has suspended Tampa Bay Buccaneers' starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the first three regular season games of the season for violating the League’s personal conduct policy.

The NFL said it learned of an incident involving Winston and an Uber driver in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2016. The driver reported the incident to her employer which led to Winston being removed from the ride-sharing platform, the NFL said. Public reports claimed Winston groped an Uber driver.

Winston has advised the league office that he accepts this discipline and will not appeal the decision.

- On the PGA Tour, Andrew Landry and J.J. Spaun both shot 7-under-par 63 to take the lead after Thursday's first round in the Quicken Loans National in Potomac, Maryland.

Billy Horschel and Andrew Putnam are tied for second at 6 under. Amarillo native Ryan Palmer shot an even par 70 in round one.

- England, Belgium, Columbia and Japan claimed the final spots in the Round of 16 at the World Cup Soccer Tournament on Thursday.

The knockout stage begins on Saturday with two of the games’ top stars on the pitch. France Lionel Messi and Argentina meets France in the first match followed by Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo taking on Uruguay.