Sports News Roundup: Dodgers bounce back to beat Rays, lead series 3-2; NFL hits Titans with $350,000 fine for COVID-19 violations and more

Dodgers bounce back to beat Rays, lead series 3-2 Max Muncy hit a towering home run in the fifth after Clayton Kershaw escaped a jam to protect a one-run lead an inning prior as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved a win away from ending their 32-year championship drought with a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night at Arlington, Texas.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Sabalenka outguns Azarenka to win inaugural Ostrava Open

Third seed Aryna Sabalenka stormed to a 6-2 6-2 victory over compatriot Victoria Azarenka to win the inaugural J&T Banka Ostrava Open and the first all-Belarusian WTA final on Sunday. Former world number one Azarenka, who has been in top form since tennis restarted following its pandemic-enforced hiatus, needed a medical timeout in the second set and ended up losing the match in 68 minutes.

Geoghegan Hart a worthy Giro champ, says Wiggins

Tao Geoghegan Hart's extraordinary Giro d'Italia win was no fluke and the Ineos Grenadiers rider should be given the chance to challenge for the Tour de France, 2012 Tour winner Bradley Wiggins said. Briton Hart won the Giro after beating Maglia Rosa holder Jai Hindley in the final-stage time trial on Sunday.

What a time to be alive, says Hamilton after record 92nd win

Lewis Hamilton put no limits on what he could achieve after roaring past retired Ferrari great Michael Schumacher on Sunday as the Formula One driver with most wins in the history of the sport. The Mercedes driver's 92nd victory was one of his most crushing, Hamilton lapping all but three rivals at the Portuguese Grand Prix.

Cycling: Britain's Geoghegan Hart wins Giro d'Italia as Ineos-Grenadiers bounce back

Briton Tao Geoghegan Hart won the Giro d'Italia after beating Maglia Rosa holder Jai Hindley in the final-stage time trial on Sunday as Ineos-Grenadiers turned around a dismal season in spectacular fashion. The 25-year-old started the day 0.86 seconds behind Hindley but he beat the Australian to win the race by 39 seconds and give Ineos-Grenadiers their second Giro title after Chris Froome's 2018 triumph.

Zverev destroys Schwartzman to complete Cologne double

Top seed Alexander Zverev won his second ATP title in Cologne in the space of a week with a quickfire 6-2 6-1 demolition of Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the final of the bett1HULKS Championship on Sunday. The German world number seven had claimed his first ATP crown of the year by besting Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3 6-3 to win the bett1HULKS Indoor title at the same venue last Sunday.

McGowan wins Italian Open for first European Tour title in 11 years

England's Ross McGowan kept his cool to win the Italian Open by a single stroke on Sunday to clinch his second European Tour title -- 11 years after his maiden win in Madrid. McGowan started the day tied for the lead along with compatriot Laurie Canter, three shots clear and despite a topsy-turvy final round, a one-under-par 71 was enough to keep Canter and Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts at bay.

NFL roundup: Steelers stay unbeaten, hand Titans first loss

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 268 yards and two touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers rode a big first half to a 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Nashville. The Steelers built a 20-point lead in the third quarter, then held on as Stephen Gostkowski missed wide right on a potential tying 45-yard field goal with 19 seconds left.

NFL hits Titans with $350,000 fine for COVID-19 violations

The NFL fined the Tennessee Titans $350,000 after an investigation into what led to a COVID-19 outbreak within the organization, the league announced on Sunday. The NFL and the NFL Players Association recently completed a review of the Titans' actions amid the outbreak, which started in late September and stretched into early October. The Titans had at least 24 players or staff members test positive for COVID-19 and needed to reschedule a pair of games because of it.

Dodgers bounce back to beat Rays, lead series 3-2

Max Muncy hit a towering home run in the fifth after Clayton Kershaw escaped a jam to protect a one-run lead an inning prior as the Los Angeles Dodgers moved a win away from ending their 32-year championship drought with a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night at Arlington, Texas. Joc Pederson also homered as the Dodgers rebounded from a disastrous walk-off loss in Game 4 just 24 hours prior. Kershaw (4-1) gave up two runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking two.

Cantlay charges on back nine to win Zozo Championship

Patrick Cantlay staged a back-nine charge to speed past world number two Jon Rahm and number three Justin Thomas and claim a one-shot win at the Zozo Championship in Thousand Oaks, California on Sunday. American Cantlay, who began the day three back of overnight leader Thomas, carded a final round seven-under-par 65 at the Sherwood Country Club to collect his third career PGA Tour title with a winning total of 23-under 265.