Max Verstappen won Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix for his first victory of the young season and just the third in 17 races but needed a drive that his Red Bull team engineer called “perfection” to get it done.

It was Verstappen’s fourth straight victory on the Suzuka circuit in central Japan and breaks the momentum of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who won the season’s first two races in Australia and China.

The four-time defending Formula 1 champion, Verstappen started from pole position after setting a course-record time in qualifying. Norris placed second and Piastri was third. The track was dry despite rain earlier in the day to produce an incident-free race.

Hamlin wins race at Darlington >> Denny Hamlin took the lead coming out of the pits before a final overtime finish and held off William Byron to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway.

Hamlin won for a second straight week after his success at Martinsville and for the fifth time overall at Darlington, the most of any current driver.

Hamlin chose the outside lane for a final restart and shot out to the lead and pulled away from series points leader Byron and NASCAR wins leader Christopher Bell.

Baseball

Manfred speaks on torpedo bats >> Torpedo bats are all the rage this season, and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred believes all that chatter is positive for the sport.

“They’re absolutely good for baseball,” Manfred said in a Q&A published by The New York Times.

The interview covered multiple topics and included Manfred praising the testing of robot umpires during spring training. He said he’d like to see their use expanded to the regular season soon.

Dodgers place Snell on IL >> The Los Angeles Dodgers placed two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation.

Snell went 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his first two starts for the Dodgers this season.

The World Series champion Dodgers signed the left-handed Snell to a $182 million, five-year contract in the offseason.

Brewers’ Cortes placed on IL >> The Milwaukee Brewers placed left-hander Nestor Cortes on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain in his left elbow, further depleting the team’s starting pitching.

Cortes’ elbow problem surfaced last weekend following a rough outing that saw him give up three home runs on consecutive pitches and five overall in a 20-9 loss to the New York Yankees. Imaging tests revealed no structural damage, and Cortes threw six shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night.

Clementes mad >> The Pittsburgh Pirates have angered the family of the late Roberto Clemente by removing a sign honoring the franchise icon on the right-field wall at PNC Park.

The sign featured Clemente’s name and his No. 21. Replacing it is an advertisement for Surfside, an alcoholic drink.

The right-field wall at PNC Park stands 21 feet high in honor of Clemente.

The Pirates said in a statement that the sign, which had been on the wall since 2022, was meant to be a temporary adornment. However, Roberto Clemente Jr. expressed his unhappiness in a statement.

NFL

Raiders to release Jones >> The Las Vegas Raiders are expected to release cornerback Jack Jones.

The 27-year-old Jones had an up-and-down stint with the Raiders after the club claimed him off waivers when the New England Patriots released him two years ago.

He played in 24 games and started 19 for Las Vegas, intercepting five passes and returning three for touchdowns. But Jones also found himself out of position several times and allowed opposing receivers to make big plays.

Soccer

Fullham stuns Liverpool >> Liverpool fell to a shock defeat on its march to the Premier League title — losing 3-2 at Fulham.

Liverpool’s loss meant it missed the chance to move 14 points clear of second-placed Arsenal and a step closer to a record-equaling 20th English league title. A stunning first-half fightback from Fulham at Craven Cottage saw Arne Slot’s team lose for only the second time in the league this season.

Golf

Harman wins Texas Open >> Brian Harman handled the wind and the chill with a pair of key birdies on the back nine in the Valero Texas Open, closing with a 3-over 75 for a three-shot victory, his first title since the 2023 British Open.