Last Update on May 23, 2013 05:36 GMT

REDS-METS

NEW YORK (AP) -- Brandon Phillips bounced a bizarre double over first base to snap a ninth-inning tie, and the Cincinnati Reds completed a three-game sweep of the struggling New York Mets with a 7-4 victory Wednesday.

Joey Votto homered and Zack Cozart had a career-high four hits, all off Matt Harvey, in a game that featured a little bit of everything -- including a testy exchange in the dugout between Cincinnati starter Mat Latos and teammate Jay Bruce.

Still, the Reds regrouped and won for the 10th time in 12 games. They finished a 7-2 trip against the bottom three teams in the NL East, moving a season-best 11 games over .500 at 29-18.

Harvey appeared headed for his first defeat of the season before the Mets rallied in the seventh. But they fell to 2-11 in their last 13 home games.

TIGERS-INDIANS

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Justin Verlander overcame a rocky start and rain delay to get his fifth win and Miguel Cabrera hit another homer as the Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 11-7 on Wednesday night, sweeping the two-game series between the AL Central's top teams.

Verlander (5-4) was two outs from qualifying for a victory, when the game was stopped with the Tigers leading 9-5 in the fifth. The right-hander came back after the weather break and finished the inning to get the win, ending a run of five straight victories by the Indians over former Cy Young winners.

The game was delayed 62 minutes by rain in the fifth and another 48 minutes in the eighth.

INDIANS-FRANCONA HOMECOMING

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Indians manager Terry Francona is returning to Boston for the first time as an opposing manager and expects an emotional homecoming.

Francona won two World Series titles during eight seasons with the Red Sox, who ended an 86-year drought under his leadership in 2004. Francona is sure he will "have a lot of emotions" on Thursday when his AL Central-leading Indians open a four-game series at Fenway Park.

Francona doesn't want to be a distraction to his team in Boston and made it clear that he's "proud to go back there as an Indian. I don't want that to ever get lost in the shuffle."

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson, who played parts of two seasons for Francona in Boston, hopes Red Sox fans welcome back their former manager warmly.

NBA DRAFT

UNDATED (AP) -- The Cleveland Cavaliers are on the clock.

The first big NBA draft question was answered Tuesday night when the Cavaliers won the lottery for the No. 1 overall pick. But there are still plenty of questions left with a draft that many talent evaluators believe lacks the star power of previous years. And they start right at the top.

There is no consensus No. 1 selection. Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel might come the closest, but he's recovering from a torn ACL that will likely keep him out until at least December.

Kansas guard Ben McLemore, Indiana guard Victor Oladipo and Georgetown forward Otto Porter also are considered some of the top players in the draft.

Last Update on May 23, 2013 14:54 GMT

NHL PLAYOFFS

UNDATED (AP) -- The Boston Bruins can clinch a spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference final with a win tonight in New York. The Bruins top the Rangers 3-0 in their best-of-seven series. If a fifth a game is called for, it will be played in Boston Saturday afternoon.

In Western Conference play this evening the Blackhawks will attempt to square things at 2-2 in their best-of-seven semifinal with Detroit. After winning the opening game 4-1, the Blackhawks have dropped the last two games, 4-1 and 3-1. Tonight's game is being played in Detroit's Joe Louis Arena.

And in Los Angeles this evening the Kings and Sharks are facing off in the fifth game of their Western semi. The home team has won every game, which means the series is tied at 2-2. The sixth game is slated for Sunday in San Jose.

MLB-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) -- Terry Francona is back in Boston. The former Red Sox skipper brings his new team, the Indians, to town tonight for the first of a three-game weekend series. Francona managed the Sox in 2011 and sat out last season working for ESPN. Both teams are doing well this year. The Indians lead the American League Central while the Sox are a half-game back of first-place New York in the East.

Joe Blanton of the Angels is hoping for a good outing tonight. He starts the day looking for his first win of the season after losing his first seven decisions. The Angels are facing the Royals in Kansas City.

It's a light schedule of play as just five games are on the schedule. The lone day game has Chicago's Cubs playing the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The other two night games have Baltimore at Toronto and Minnesota at Detroit.

PGA-COLONIAL

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- The first round of the PGA's Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, has begun. A year ago Zach Johnson finished first for the first of two wins on the PGA Tour last year. The winner last week at the Byron Nelson was South Korea's Sang-Moon Bae.