Convenience Big Store: Ronel Blanco has a winning return for Astros

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Today's starting lineup

We hope you are having a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.

The Astros finished up their series in Oakland on a high note as Ronel Blanco returned from his 10-game suspension for a foreign substance on his glove and looked just as sharp in a 5-2 win.

With a four-game series starting on Monday at Seattle against the first-place Mariners, the Astros are expected to welcome back first baseman José Abreu but have questions about how their pitching rotation will shake out after Monday's start by Framber Valdez.

Texas is going to the Women's College World Series after the Longhorns softball team held off Texas A&M in the third game of a super regional series in Austin. It was an intense three games for the rivals.

Perhaps the situation could repeat itself in baseball. A&M was named one of 16 hosts for the NCAA tournament and many projections have the Longhorns traveling to College Station. The selection show is Monday at 10 a.m.

In high school softball, Kingwood will open the state tournament on Friday against Waco Midway. The high school baseball playoffs enter the regional round this week with six Houston-area teams still alive to make state.

And up I-45 in Dallas, the Mavericks are one win away from the NBA Finals after taking Game 3 over the Timberwolves with another dominant effort down the stretch.

Stat of the day: 0. NBA teams who have come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven playoff series. Minnesota and Indiana each trail by that margin in the conference finals.

Reid Laymance, Sports Editor

reid.laymance@houstonchronicle.com

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) smiles as he walks toward the dugout with third baseman Alex Bregman (2) after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, May 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Photo by: Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Ronel Blanco makes triumphant return

In his return from a 10-game suspension, right-hander helped Astros take series in Oakland.

Insider: What we learned about Astros in series in Oakland.
Welcome back: José Abreu is set to return to Astros in Seattle after a time to work on his swing in minor-league camp.
A new concern: Astros starter Cristian Javier's next outing figures to be pushed back because of arm discomfort.
Rotation questions: The Astros' rotation for Seattle series is unclear beyond Framber Valdez, who will start on Monday.
Tough test: Houston, which trails the Mariners by 3½ games in the AL West, will face the pitching staff with the majors' best WHIP in a four-game series in Seattle.

Colleges

Viviana Martinez drove in two runs in Texas' Game 3 win over A&M on Sunday.

Photo by: Stephen Spillman/Associated Press

Texas softball advances to Women's College World Series

Viviana Martinez had three hits and drove in two runs to lead Texas into the WCWS with a win over Texas A&M in the Austin Super Regional.

Texas A&M will be a regional host site for NCAA baseball tournament: Texas A&M was named one of 16 regional hosts for NCAA baseball tournament ahead of Monday's selection show.

NBA

Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, left, and guard Kyrie Irving, right, embrace after their win over theMinnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals, Sunday, May 26, 2024, in Dallas.

Photo by: Gareth Patterson, AP

Mavericks one win away from Finals

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving scored 33 points apiece and the Mavericks made all the big plays late again, beating the Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107 for a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.