Ken Holtzman, who along with Catfish Hunter and Vida Blue anchored the dominating rotation that helped lead the Oakland A’s to three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died. He was 78.

Holtzman’s death was confirmed by his brother, Bob, according to Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Holtzman’s hometown newspaper. His death was also reported by ESPN and MLB Network Radio’s Dani Wexelman. Holtzman had been hospitalized for the past three weeks due to heart issues, according to Hochman.

The A’s released a statement Monday saying, “We are saddened by the passing of former A’s pitcher Ken Holtzman. The two-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion with the Green and Gold, Holtzman created lasting memories for our franchise. We send our deepest condolences to his three daughters, Robyn, Stacy, and Lauren; his four grandchildren; and all who loved him.”

Robinson remembered on 77th anniversary of him breaking color barrier >> Major League Baseball marked the 77th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the sport’s color barrier on Monday.

Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947, beginning the end of the racial segregation that had relegated Black players to the Negro Leagues for decades.

Boston Marathon

Lemma wins Boston Marathon in runaway >> Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia set a blistering pace and held on to win the Boston Marathon, running alone through most of the course to finish in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 17 seconds — the 10th fastest time in the race’s 128-year history.

Hellen Obiri defended her title in the women’s race, outsprinting fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi down Boylston Street to win by eight seconds. Obiri is the first woman to win back-to-back Boston Marathons since 2005.

NFL

Chiefs’ Rice, facing charges from Texas car crash, will participate in offseason work >> Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is facing charges that include aggravated assault as a result of a sports car crash in Texas, would participate in the team’s voluntary offseason program beginning this week.

Dallas police allege that Rice, the Chiefs’ top wide receiver last season, and a friend, Theodore Knox, were driving at high speed in the far left lane of a freeway when they lost control. The Lamborghini that Rice has admitted to driving hit the center median, causing a chain reaction that involved six vehicles and resulted in injures to multiple people.