The Kansas City Royals are displaying signs they have moved on from their early-season struggles as they begin a three-game series against the Athletics on Tuesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Kansas City scored 29 runs during a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels and has won four of its past five contests.

The Royals are still six games below .500 as they enter a stretch of six road games against the Athletics and Seattle Mariners, but encouragement is rising after Sunday’s 11-9, 10-inning victory over the Angels.

The start of the game was moved up three hours, there was an 89-minute rain delay during the seventh inning and Kansas City was down to its final out in both the ninth and 10th innings.

Jac Caglianone hit a tying two-run homer in a three-run ninth, and the Royals prevailed on Lane Thomas’ three-run, walk-off homer in the 10th.

“That’s why no one should ever give up on us,” said Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who also hit his first homer of the season. “The guys we have in here. Because of how relentless we are and how we know who we are, we know what type of team we are, and we’re just going to keep proving it.”

Kansas City is hoping Salvador Perez is about to go on a sustained hot streak. The nine-time All-Star has two three-hit outings in his last six appearances to raise his average to .187, and he belted his fourth homer of the season in Saturday’s 12-1 rout of the Angels.

While pleased with Sunday’s comeback win, veteran right-hander Seth Lugo said more improvement is needed.

“We got a long way to go,” Lugo said. “We’re not quite where we want to be this year. But (Sunday) showed the resilience that we’ve shown for the last few years. … We’re never done until the last out’s made.”

The Athletics are in first place in the American League West after taking two of three from the host Texas Rangers. The A’s also took two of three on the road from the Mariners during the trip.

The Athletics needed 5 2/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen in Sunday’s 2-1 victory as starter J.T. Ginn left with shoulder issues after 3 1/3 frames.

The bullpen gave up just three hits and struck out eight. Justin Sterner entered with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth inning and protected the one-run lead, while Jack Perkins worked two innings to record the save.

“Our bullpen’s been doing a good job,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “There’s a real confidence down there, when the phone rings, that it can be any one of them to come in and pitch.”

The Athletics are starting right-hander Aaron Civale (2-1, 3.86 ERA) in the series opener.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez threw 25 pitches in relief Sunday and won’t start during the Kansas City series. Monday’s off day allowed the A’s to move Civale up.

Civale, 30, received a no-decision against the Mariners last Wednesday when he gave up three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings.

He is 4-3 with a 3.73 ERA in 12 career starts against the Royals. Perez is 7-for-21 with three homers against Civale.

The Royals are countering with left-hander Kris Bubic (2-1, 4.08).

Bubic, 28, took a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on April 21. He gave up three runs and five hits over six innings.

In his lone career start against the Athletics in 2021, Bubic allowed five earned runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings while taking the loss. He served up three homers in the game played in Oakland.

Austin Wynns (1-for-6) and Brent Rooker (0-for-5) are the only Athletics who have faced Bubic.

–Field Level Media

The Anaheim Ducks are one victory away from winning their first Stanley Cup playoff series in nine years.

Finishing off the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers, especially on the road, won’t come easily.

The Ducks own a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven first-round series heading into Game 5 on Tuesday night.

Anaheim has won three in a row after blowing a late lead and dropping the series opener 4-3 on April 20.

The Ducks answered back with a 6-4 win last Wednesday and a 7-4 victory Friday. Overtime was needed Sunday before the Ducks came away with a 4-3 victory.

“We’re up 3-1, and every game has been a toss-up,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Hanging in there and finding different ways, different guys against an excellent hockey team. We’re in a position now to look ahead and only think of one game.”

Quenneville is well aware that the Oilers have made a habit of coming back during the playoffs in recent years. They lost the first two games of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings last season before winning four straight.

Two years ago, Edmonton came back from 2-1 series deficits in the second and third rounds and then dropped the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers before forcing a Game 7.

“We’re in a hole, no doubt about it,” Oilers star Connor McDavid said. “We have to find a way to get a win at home.”

McDavid, who led the NHL with 138 points during the regular season, hasn’t been as dangerous since tweaking his right ankle in Game 2. He did manage to produce two points in each of the past two games after going scoreless in the first two, however.

“We’re all doing the best we can out there,” McDavid said. “We’re all working and trying to get it done.”

Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch likely will start Tristan Jarry in goal for the second straight game.

Jarry started Game 4 in place of Connor Ingram, who surrendered 14 goals on 93 shots in the first three games of the series (.849).

Jarry made 34 saves in his first postseason start since a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round on May 15, 2022, when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“Tristan played really well,” Knoblauch said. “Two of the goals, one went off our defenseman’s stick and the other was an unfortunate bounce that went off a skate. He made some big saves, and that’s what we wanted from him, a solid performance, and he played well. “

On the other side, Lukas Dostal played his best game of the series, making 24 saves. He used the blade of his right skate to turn away McDavid after he got behind the defense in the final minutes of regulation.

“He’s the rock of our team,” Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said of Dostal. “It doesn’t really surprise me how well he performs in high-pressure situations like that.”

The Ducks will also look to stay hot on the power play, which is 6-for-12 in the series.

“Our execution has been excellent,” Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “Similar to our 5-on-5 play, we’ve been working more and recovering more pucks, being in better spots for each other and being more available. That’s leading to more time and success, too.”

–Field Level Media

Luka Modric’s season for AC Milan is over after he suffered a facial fracture against Juventus on Sunday, but the Croatian midfielder is aiming to be fit in time to play in the World Cup.

Modric collided with Juventus’ Manuel Locatelli while both were contesting a header in the 80th minute of what ended as a 0-0 draw. Modric was hit in the left side of the face and forced to leave the pitch.

Tests revealed a “complex, multi-fragment fracture of the left zygomatic bone,” according to a statement, with the club adding that Modric had already undergone “completely successful” surgery.

Modric, 40, will miss the final four games of AC Milan’s season as he is expected to be sidelined until late May. It is a setback for the club, with Milan third in the Serie A standings with 67 points, only three ahead of Juventus. Seven points over the final four games would ensure Milan’s spot in the Champions League.

Croatia’s opening World Cup match is against England on June 17, with their other Group L games against Panama and Ghana. However, it is uncertain whether Modric will be fit in time for friendlies against Belgium on June 2 and Slovenia five days later.

“I’ve been talking to Luka, and wished him a successful surgery and a quality and speedy recovery. I am convinced that he will do everything to be ready for the @FIFAWorldCup, and we’ll provide full support,” coach Zlatko Dalic said in a post by the Croatian federation on X. “I am confident that the recovery will go according to plan and that Luka, as team captain, will lead us at another major competition this summer.”

–Field Level Media