SPORTS SHORTS

MLB: Harper hurts leg in Nationals’ loss to Rays Washington star Bryce Harper exited early after hurting his left leg while taking an awkward tumble making a throw, and the Nationals lost to the Rays 53 on Thursday in Washington.

Manager Matt Williams announced after the game that Harper suffered a mild left hamstring strain. He will be reevaluated Friday.

In Philadelphia, Ryan Howard hit a goahead, tworun homer off Bud Norris in the sixth inning, and the Phillies snapped a ninegame losing streak with a 21 victory over the Orioles.

In Atlanta, Clay Buchholz pitched seven strong innings and the Red Sox, after benching third baseman Pablo Sandoval, beat Atlanta 52 for their second win in 10 games. NHL: Blackhawks celebrate Stanley Cup win

Thousands of fans turned out Thursday in Chicago to cheer the Blackhawks as they celebrated their third Stanley Cup championship in the past six years with a downtown parade and a rally at Soldier Field. ETC.: TCU ousts LSU at College World Series

Trey Teakell pitched 4 ¹/₃ innings of nohit relief, Dane Steinhagen drove in three runs and TCU defeated LSU 84 in a College World Series elimination game in Omaha, Neb.

The Horned Frogs (5114), who beat the No. 2 national seed for the second time in five days, will play Vanderbilt on Friday night. TCU would have to beat the defending national champion Commodores twice to advance to next week’s bestofthree finals.

After saying the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park would probably be American Pharoah’s next start this past weekend, owner Ahmed Zayat changed his tune on Thursday.

Zayat tweeted in response to a fan asking about American Pharoah’s next race, “right [now] Saratoga is in the lead. [Ahead] of Haskell.” Pharoah would be pointed toward the Jim Dandy Stakes on Aug. 1 or — more likely — the Travers Stakes on Aug. 29.