The Texas Rangers began a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves, while the Dallas Stars continued their second-round playoff series with a winner-take-all Game 7.

MLB

Texas Rangers (25-16, first in American League West)

Last Game: Atlanta Braves 12, Rangers 0

The Braves hit five two-run home runs to run away with this one. Rangers rookie Cody Bradford, called up from Triple-A on Monday, lasted five innings and allowed six runs (two home runs) to take the loss in his Major League debut. Braves starter Charlie Morton struck out 10 Rangers through six and two-thirds to pick up his fifth win of the year.

Noteworthy: The Rangers were shut out for the fourth time this season.

— Bradford became the 10th Rangers’ pitcher to make his Major League debut as a starter since 2016. Those pitchers are now 1-9 in those games.

— Jonah Heim extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a single in the second inning, while Nathaniel Lowe’s 13-game streak ended with an 0-3 performance.

— Kevin Pillar and Ronald Acuña Jr. hit two-run home runs in the second inning for the Braves.

Next Up: Braves (26-15) at Rangers, 7:05 p.m. CT Tuesday

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NHL PLAYOFFS

Dallas Stars (win series, 4-3)

Last Game: Stars 2, Seattle Kraken 1

Roope Hintz broke a scoreless tie with 4:01 left in the second period, and Wyatt Johnston added some insurance with an impressive goal after gathering a bouncing puck off the boards. Seattle’s Oliver Bjorkstrand beat Jake Oettinger with a backhander off a rebound with 17.9 seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one, yet Oettinger kept the puck out of the net as the clock expired and the Stars advanced to the Western Conference Finals.

Noteworthy: Johnston became the youngest player in NHL history to score a series-clinching goal in Game 7. He was 75 days younger than Jaromir Jagr was when he set the previous mark in 1992.

— Dallas advances to the Conference Finals for the 12th time in franchise history and the first time since 2020.

— Coach Pete DeBoer improves to 7-0 in his career in Game 7s.

— The Stars are four wins from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals and will face one of DeBoer’s former clubs, the Vegas Golden Knights, to get there.

Next Up: Stars at Vegas Golden Knights, Game 1, 7:30 p.m. CT Friday