Tony Bellew has considered whether Oleksandr Usyk, who dealt him an eighth-round stoppage defeat in 2018, can be beaten by heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma.
Having become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion, there is little more the Ukrainian can achieve to further cement his greatness in the sport.
He has, after all, beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois on two occasions, respectively, and therefore solidified himself as the greatest heavyweight of this era.
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The only way he can go one step further, it seems, is by making his mark on the next generation, which many predict will be dominated by Itauma.
But while the dynamic southpaw has expressed an interest in facing the heavyweight king, Usyk is understandably less eager to present him with this opportunity.
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Instead, the 39-year-old is gearing up to face Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23, defending his WBC world title at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.
Even if his next opponent happened to be Itauma, though, former world champion Bellew has told Seconds Out that he doubts Usyk would be defeated.
“He’s beaten everybody in front of him – there’s nothing more he can do.
“He’s entitled to what he’s doing in this next fight [against Verhoeven] and he’s earned the right to call the shots. He’s the boss.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – APRIL 06: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks dunks against Dyson Daniels #5 and Gabe Vincent #4 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first quarter at State Farm Arena on April 06, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The New York Knicks made a good start to their playoff run, beating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points and seven assists, setting the tone early with 22 of those points coming in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns took over after the break, finishing with 25 points, while OG Anunoby added 18. Josh Hart filled in everywhere, contributing 11 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.
The Knicks were sharper at the free throw line, outscoring Atlanta 25-12, and made better use of their depth. Their bench gave them energy and helped them maintain control.
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Defensively, New York tightened up as the game went on. The third quarter proved decisive, with the Knicks limiting the Hawks’ rhythm, forcing turnovers, and making scoring difficult. Even when Atlanta found success from three, they struggled to get consistent.
After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out what his team needs to improve.
“The formula for us and our identity has been to run and move the ball… we need to do more of it.”
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Game 1 goes to the Knicks, who now have the early advantage as the series moves forward.
With needs on both sides of the ball, the Giants can now take care of the offense and defense with blue-chip prospects inside the top 10 of the draft later this week.
And that’s exactly what we have them doing in our new mock draft in the wake of the Lawrence trade with the Bengals.
“Staying at No. 5, the three players who seem to be most squarely on their radar are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and (Ohio State safety Caleb) Downs,” Raanan wrote.
Styles is a freak athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and great length. He’s a strong tackler, good in run defense and has shown elite skills in coverage after posting an 87.4 Pro Football Focus grade in that area last season.
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The Ohio State product can wear the green dot and will be a leader in New York’s defense for a decade.
“I think Jordyn Tyson goes much higher than earlier expected,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said. “Teams are comfortable with the INJ history. Conversation for him starts at 5 but he’s off the board no later than 16.”
If not for his injury history, Tyson would likely be the undisputed No. 1 receiver in this class. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound pass-catcher can line up anywhere on the field, is a polished route-runner and can even block.
After losing Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, the Giants need another weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart across from star wideout Malik Nabers. Not only would Tyson check that box, he could very well provide an upgrade over Robinson.
Round 2, Pick 37: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
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kayden mcdonald
The loss of Lawrence will leave a void in the middle of the Giants’ defense, hurting both the pass-rush and run defense. Making matters worse, New York was already weak upfront, even with Lawrence on the roster.
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While McDonald isn’t much of a pass-rusher, he showed improvement in that area last season with a career-high three sacks. He really shines as a run defender, with the Ohio State product posting the best PFF grade in the nation in run defense.
Once viewed as a first-round pick, the belief is most teams now have him with a second-round grade because of his lack of pass-rush prowess.
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That’s just fine for the Giants, as McDonald can provide the kind of boost to the run defense from Day 1 that New York needs.
The loss of Cor’Dale Flott leaves the Giants with a big void after the team failed to adequately address the position in free agency, leaving a potential starting duo of Paulson Adebo and uninspiring free-agent signing Greg Newsome outside.
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After taking a step back in 2024, Davis rebounded with a strong showing after he transferred to Washington. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound cornerback gave up a passer rating of just 50.6 in coverage, notched a personal bests two interceptions and he showed out in the run game with an impressive PFF grade of 81.8.
Davis can offer some competition for Newsome on the boundary, and it’s not crazy to think he could win that competition in Year 1.
Tournament: Bavarian International Tennis Championships
Round: Final
Venue: MTTC Iphitos e.V. tennis club in Munich, Germany
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Category: ATP 500
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €2,561,110
Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN
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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview
Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Second seed Ben Shelton will face off against fourth seed Flavio Cobolli in the final of the 2026 BMW Open on Sunday, April 19.
Shelton started his season with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic and followed it up with another quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He then went on to win the Dallas Open and reached the quarterfinals in Houston before arriving in Munich. There, he defeated Emilio Nava, Alexander Blockx, Joao Fonseca, and Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.
Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Meanwhile, Cobolli’s standout result this season is his title run at the Mexican Open. He also made the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open, losing to Sebastian Korda, but hasn’t had many other notable results. In Munich, he beat Diego Dedura, Zizou Bergs, Vit Kopriva, and Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to set up a clash with Shelton.
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli head-to-head
Shelton leads Cobolli 3–2 in their head-to-head. Cobolli won their first two meetings in Geneva and Washington in 2024, while Shelton has taken the last three in Acapulco, the Canadian Open, and the Paris Masters in 2025.
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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli odds
Player
Moneyline
Handicap Bets
Total Games
Ben Shelton
-525
-4.5 (-105)
Over 21.5 (-115)
Flavio Cobolli
+360
+4.5 (-140)
Under 21.5 (-125)
(Odds via BetMGM)
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli prediction
Shelton plays with clear intent. The serve sets the tone, the forehand follows, and he looks to finish points before rallies really take shape. When he’s confident, everything happens quickly and on his terms.
Cobolli is more about structure and balance. He moves well, absorbs pace, and is comfortable building points rather than rushing them. He’s willing to stay in rallies and wait for openings instead of forcing them.
The key is whether Shelton can keep control early. If he’s landing first serves and dictating with his forehand, Cobolli may struggle to settle. But if rallies extend, Cobolli’s consistency and movement can start to make things uncomfortable. The American’s firepower gives him the edge, but he’ll need to stay disciplined to avoid letting the match drift.
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Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.
Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli betting tips
Tip 1: The match will have over 21 games.
Tip 2: Shelton to win at least one set with a score of 7-5 or better.
Apr 14, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (17) reacts to an inside pitch during the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
There was a glaring lack of contact from Baltimore Orioles’ hitters on Saturday.
The Orioles had four hits — two of them homers — while striking out a stunning 16 times.
Baltimore will look to have their bats smack the ball more often in Sunday’s finale of a four-game series against the host Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians have won two of the first three games, including Saturday’s 4-2 victory when right-hander Gavin Williams dominated the Orioles.
Williams struck out 11 in seven innings and allowed one run, three hits and one walk. He leads the majors with 40 strikeouts.
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“That’s not the biggest goal for me,” Williams said of the strikeouts. “I’m just trying to help the team win games. It’s cool, but I don’t think it’s necessary to have to punch that many people out. I’m just trying to win games.”
Meanwhile, Baltimore’s Pete Alonso and Colton Cowser struck out in all four at-bats and Dylan Beavers fanned three times on Saturday.
That breeze inside the ballpark wasn’t necessarily coming from the nearby lake.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz pointed to Williams’ dominance as the reason for Alonso and Cowser’s difficulties.
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“They couldn’t see the breaking ball early enough to either make an adjustment or hold off on it,” Albernaz said.
Alonzo was the club’s marquee offseason acquisition and signed a five-year, $155 million contract. But so far, he has fizzled with a .208 average, two homers and eight RBIs to go with 26 strikeouts in 78 at-bats.
Cowser has yet to go deep and is batting .178 with 16 strikeouts in 45 at-bats. The fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft continues to struggle with big-league pitching.
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“Colton, he’s our guy, and he has to figure it out how he wants to approach guys and what he’s trying to feel,” Albernaz said. “But with Colton at the plate, he’s dangerous. He’s a guy where, if he’s not feeling great, he can still get one pitch and do damage on, and that’s something where we feel very confident in.”
Leody Taveras and Gunnar Henderson hit the homers for Baltimore’s runs.
All of Cleveland’s runs also came on homers on Saturday. Brayan Rocchio smacked a three-run homer and Bo Naylor hit a solo blast.
Rocchio said a more patient approach is paying off for him. He has three homers in 63 at-bats after having five in 344 at-bats in 2025.
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“That’s impressive for me, too,” Rocchio said. “Last year, I was struggling at hitting. Now I’m able to help the team with my at-bats and to see more pitches is pretty cool.”
Left-hander Joey Cantillo (1-0, 2.61 ERA) will start the finale for the Guardians.
Cantillo, 26, received a no-decision against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday when he gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. Both runs came on solo homers.
Cantillo is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in four appearances (two starts) against Baltimore. Cowser is 2-for-4 with one strikeout against Cantillo.
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Left-hander Trevor Rogers (2-1, 3.04) will take the mound for Baltimore.
Rogers, 28, was roughed up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday and took the loss. He gave up four runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Rogers is 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA in two career starts against the Guardians. Rhys Hoskins is 9-for-21 (.429) with four homers off Rogers while David Fry (1-for-4) also has taken him deep.
Atotal of 78 players from schools in the West have been taken in the Top 5 overall picks in the NFL Draft since it premiered in 1936.
USC leads the way with 20 top picks, followed by Stanford with 8, and Cal and Oregon with 7 each.
We have included UTEP on this list because, beginning in 2026, the Miners are playing in the Mountain West, and the City of El Paso is in a direct line with Albuquerque and west of Boulder, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne.
Here is a table of all the players from the region who have been drafted in the top five.
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There is a breakdown by program at the bottom.
Top 5 Overall NFL Draft Picks for Programs from the West
Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; UConn Huskies guard Braylon Mullins (24) controls the ball against Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) during the second half in the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament between the and the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UConn’s sharp-shooting wing Braylon Mullins announced Saturday on social media that he is passing on entering the NBA draft and returning to the Huskies for his sophomore season.
Mullins, regarded as a first-round and possible lottery pick in the 2026 draft in June, made the announcement on Instagram on his 20th birthday.
The slender 6-foot-6 Mullins, a five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American out of Greenfield, Ind., was a unanimous pick for the Big East All-Freshman Team after averaging 12.0 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 33 games after missing the first six with an ankle injury. He started 29 of UConn’s final 30 games.
His 72 3-pointers were second most for a freshman in UConn history. He shot 33.5% (72 of 215), with his most famous the shot of the NCAA Tournament.
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Mullins’ 35-footer with 0.3 seconds left beat Duke 73-72 in the Elite Eight, sending UConn to the Final Four. The Huskies (34-6) later lost 69-63 to No. 1 Michigan in the national championship game.
Earlier on Saturday, rising sophomore Nikolas Khamenia announced he was transferring from Duke. The 6-foot-8 wing joins a squad returning Mullins and point guard Silas Demary Jr., wing Jayden Ross, transfer Najai Hines (Seton Hall) and incoming freshmen Colben Landrew and Junior County.
UConn is waiting on guard Solo Ball to announce his plans and has lost forward Jaylin Stewart and center Eric Reibe to the transfer portal.
The Boston Celtics look to win their second championship in three years as they open up their 2026 NBA playoff run against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their first-round series on Sunday. Philadelphia is coming off a 109-97 play-in game win over Orlando on Wednesday, while Boston defeated the Magic 113-108 on Sunday. The Sixers (45-37), the seventh seed in the East, are 22-19 on the road this season. The Celtics (56-26), the second seed, are 30-11 on their home court. Philadelphia will be without Joel Embiid (appendectomy).
Tipoff from TD Garden in Boston is set for 1 p.m. ET. The Celtics lead the all-time series 275-200, but the teams split four meetings this season. Boston is a 12.5-point favorite in the latest 76ers vs. Celtics odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 213.5. Before making any 76ers vs. Celtics picks, check out the 76ers vs. Celtics predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 23-9 roll (72%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following its NBA betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
After 10,000 simulations of 76ers vs. Celtics, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (213.5). Embiid’s absence should open the lane for the Celtics, a team that finished the regular season fourth in offensive rating. The Sixers, meanwhile, have enough offensive capability with Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and VJ Edgecombe all available.
The SportsLine model is projecting the 76ers to have four players scoring in double figures, led by Maxey’s 25.7 points. Jaylen Brown is projected to lead the Celtics with 28.3 points scored, but only three Boston players will score 15 or more points. The teams are projected to combine for 215 total points, making it a great selection for anybody targeting NBA parlay betting. See the 76ers vs. Celtics spread pick at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Celtics vs. 76ers at FanDuel here:
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was on target for Atlético Madrid, but they suffered a painful penalty shootout defeat to Real Sociedad in the final of the Copa del Rey.
Atleti started the match as slight favourites under coach Diego Simeone, but they were shocked early on. Ander Barrenetxea gave Real Sociedad the lead in the opening minute, heading home a fine cross from Gonçalo Guedes.
Lookman responded in style in the 18th minute. The Nigerian attacker calmly controlled a pass from Antoine Griezmann before firing a low shot past goalkeeper Unai Simón to level the score at 1-1.
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The 26-year-old remained lively and nearly turned provider in the 31st minute, but Griezmann failed to hit the target from a good position. Lookman also came close again before the break, narrowly missing the post after another neat exchange with the Frenchman.
Despite Atleti’s efforts, Real Sociedad regained the lead just before half-time. Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the penalty spot after Guedes was fouled in the box.
Atletico Madrid pushed hard in the second half, with Lookman again going close in the 60th minute, but his effort drifted wide. Shortly after, Simeone replaced him with Nicolás González.
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Atleti eventually found an equaliser in the 83rd minute through Julián Álvarez, sending the match into extra time. However, neither side could find a winner after 120 minutes.
The final was decided on penalties, where Real Sociedad held their nerve to score four spot-kicks, while Atletico Madrid managed only three.
Despite the defeat, Lookman made history with his goal. He became the first Nigerian to score in a Copa del Rey final since Finidi George achieved the feat in 1997.
However, the result means Atletico Madrid must now turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League as they continue their search for silverware this season.
PHOENIX — Nathan Lukes has quietly grinded through the first three weeks of the season in more ways than one. So, when his pinch-hit single snuck through the right side Friday night to end an 0-for-23 slide, and the Toronto Blue Jays outfielder saw his teammates in the dugout happy for him as he reached first base, “it was just what I needed,” he said.
“I looked at Bud (first base coach Mark Budzinski) and I go, ‘I kind of want to hug you,’” Lukes recalled. “And he was like, ‘We can hug.’ It was good. I feel like I’ve been due for a cheap one. Hopefully they keep coming.”
Three more did in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, one leading to a first-inning run, and he added a sixth-inning outfield assist, throwing out Geraldo Perdomo trying to stretch a single. It was the type of outing by the 31-year-old the Blue Jays became accustomed to last season, and the kind of effort Lukes aims to deliver more regularly now that he has a handle on the vertigo that’s dogged him since the middle of spring training.
Lukes visited with a Phoenix-area vertigo specialist Friday morning and doubled down on some head-movement exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms, which include dizziness, unsteadiness and nausea. Since arriving in Arizona, he’s had a couple of “the better days with my vision that I’ve had in the past month,” which played a big role in him getting better results.
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“I don’t know where (the vertigo) came from and how it happened, but it’s hard to hit when the world is spinning and when you feel like you could throw up at any second,” said Lukes. “I never want to take myself out of the game, whether I’m feeling good or feeling bad. So, I’ve been grinding.”
As have the Blue Jays, of course, who lost their fourth straight game when Jeff Hoffman, pitching in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game to ensure he got some work in, allowed singles to Ildemaro Vargas and Alek Thomas and a Ketel Marte walk before Corbin Carroll cleared the bases with his third home run of the season.
It was the second straight poor outing for Hoffman, who allowed two earned runs during a messy ninth in Tuesday’s 9-7, 10-inning win at Milwaukee and adds yet another concern to a roster filled with them, even if manager John Schneider insisted there are no changes in role coming.
“If there’s a situation to close out of game, I’ll take Jeff Hoffman,” said Schneider, adding later: “There may be people that don’t want to hear this, but I’ve got a lot of trust and a lot of confidence in Jeff Hoffman. And I’ve said that for as long as he’s been here. He’s going to continue to be a big part of our team. And my job is to find spots to put him in and have success. I’m very confident that he will continue to have success, so we’ll just make the best decisions going forward.”
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That’s what the Blue Jays are also trying to do with Daulton Varsho, who left Friday night’s 6-3 loss after two innings with left knee discomfort and sat out Saturday, Schneider noting that “with the way we’ve been rolling,” they are simply “trying to just be extra careful.”
“I don’t think there’s any need for a roster move or anything,” Schneider added, noting that Varsho had been checked out and there wasn’t any concern about anything structural.
Max Scherzer steadied after two short outings tied to his forearm tendinitis with six innings of two-run ball — “I’m definitely better, I’m fighting through this. I felt like the ball can come out of my hand a little bit cleaner, I’ve got to recover,” he said — but the ongoing offensive issues remained, despite 12 hits.
The Blue Jays went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, getting only Jesus Sanchez’s RBI single in the first, bringing home Lukes to open the scoring, and a Kazuma Okamoto RBI single in the sixth that made it a 2-2 game.
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Then, as so often has been the case for the Blue Jays so far, the key blow belonged to their opponent.
“We’ve got to make our own luck,” said Scherzer. “We’ve got to find a way to go out there and take it to some teams and find a way to punch through. This can happen in July, but it’s happening to us now, so we have to respond to it. … Everybody can be reflective. And that’s what it takes. It takes a total team effort to win one ball game. I know we can. Obviously, it’s going to be great when we do. Right now, we’ve just got to find that winning recipe.”
One a healthy Lukes can be a big part of, as he showed Saturday.
“Nate’s a damn good baseball player,” said Schneider. “And when he’s at his full capabilities, that’s the kind of game he can have.”
Apr 18, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll (7) steals secondbase under the tag by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Andrés Giménez (0) in the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Corbin Carroll broke a tie with an opposite-field grand slam in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their winning streak to four games with a 6-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in Phoenix on Saturday.
Ildemaro Vargas singled off Jeff Hoffman (1-2) to open the eighth, extending his season-opening hitting streak to a franchise-record 14 games.
Alek Thomas singled and Ketel Marte walked to bring up Carroll, who hit his fourth career grand slam on a 3-1 fastball.
The D-backs, who have won eight of 10, lead the majors with 10 comeback victories.
Geraldo Perdomo had three singles and an RBI and Thomas had two hits and an RBI for the Diamondbacks, who had eight hits.
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Nathan Lukes had three hits, Kazuma Okamoto had two hits and an RBI and Ernie Clement and Eloy Jimenez had two hits apiece for the Blue Jays, who have lost four straight, six of seven and 12 of 15.
Juan Morillo (1-1) struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on a 100 mph fastball with a runner on first to end the seventh and keep the game tied at 2. He allowed one hit and struck out two over 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Toronto starter Max Scherzer gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, with one strikeout and one walk.
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Arizona starter Zac Gallen permitted two runs and nine hits, leaving after Okamato’s single tied the game at 2 with two outs in the sixth. He struck out three with no walks.
Lukes, Guerrero and Jesus Sanchez singled in the top of the first, with Sanchez’s one-out single driving in Lukes for a 1-0 lead. Guerrero has a nine-game hitting streak.
The D-backs tied it in their half of the first when Carroll walked, stole second and scored on Perdomo’s single. Thomas grounded a two-out double inside the bag at first to drive in Jose Fernandez, who had singled, to give Arizona a 2-1 lead in the fifth.
Toronto tied it in the sixth after an apparent double play was changed after a review. Jimenez singled with one out, and Gallen appeared to get out of the inning when Andres Gimenez grounded to Fernandez to start what originally was called an inning-ending double play.
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Perdomo was ruled to have missed the bag on the play, leaving Jimenez at second, and he scored on Okamoto’s single to tie the game.
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