Sports
MLB roundup: Red Sox rout Orioles, fire manager Alex Cora
Apr 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) celebrates with his teammates after hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Garrett Crochet pitched six shutout innings and Andruw Monasterio drilled a late-game grand slam as the Boston Red Sox snapped a four-game losing streak in dominant fashion with a 17-1 win over the host Baltimore Orioles Saturday afternoon.
Later on Saturday, the Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five others on staff. Chad Tracy, the club’s manager at Triple-A Worcester since 2022, was named interim manager.
Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras (five RBIs in the game) joined Monasterio with ninth-inning home runs as part of Boston’s 10-run blitz in the final inning. Connor Wong drilled a three-run double in the fifth inning. Monasterio and Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits apiece.
The Orioles, who racked up 20 hits on Friday night, had one hit through five innings Saturday. Taylor Ward had two of Baltimore’s six hits.
Dodgers 12, Cubs 4
Max Muncy hit a two-run home run and Andy Pages had three RBIs as host Los Angeles snapped Chicago’s 10-game winning streak thanks in large part to a six-run fourth inning.
Teoscar Hernandez had two hits and two RBIs, Alex Freeland had two doubles, a run and an RBI, and Hyeseong Kim had two hits, a run and an RBI for the Dodgers.
Seiya Suzuki, Moises Ballesteros and Miguel Amaya hit solo home runs for Chicago. Suzuki also had a three-hit game.
Phillies 8, Braves 5 (10 innings)
Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked visiting Philadelphia to a win over Atlanta to end its 10-game losing streak.
Harper was 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since Aug. 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits.
Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits.
Nationals 6, White Sox 3 (10 innings)
Nasim Nunez had a pair of two-run singles, one of which capped off a breakout 10th inning to help Washington come away with a victory over host Chicago.
Nunez finished with four of Washington’s five RBIs, nearly doubling his total of six RBIs he had in his first 24 games this season. Cionel Perez (2-3) worked around two walks for a scoreless ninth inning and Brad Lord pitched the 10th for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak despite stranding 10 runners on base.
Only the automatic runner scored in the 10th for Chicago, which had won four of five. Miguel Vargas had a double and a pair of walks for the White Sox, who were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 runners.
Yankees 6, Astros 3
Austin Wells socked a leadoff home run to ignite a three-run seventh inning as New York claimed a three-game series against host Houston.
Wells’ second homer was the third of the game for the Yankees, who improved to 5-0 on their current nine-game road trip and have won eight straight overall. The Yankees were locked in a pitcher’s duel before Wells snapped a 2-2 tie by driving an inside fastball from Astros reliever Kai-Wei Teng (1-1) out to right field.
Astros starter Mike Burrows matched his career high of eight strikeouts while working five innings. Burrows surrendered a solo home run to Grisham, his fourth on the season, with one out in the third inning that enabled the Yankees to erase a 1-0 deficit.
Blue Jays 5, Guardians 3
Kevin Gausman pitched an effective 6 2/3 innings, Kazuma Okamoto homered and Toronto beat visiting Cleveland.
Gausman (2-1) allowed two runs, six hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Louis Varland allowed one run on two singles and a double in the ninth to pick up his second save. Andres Gimenez keyed a three-run sixth with a two-run double to help the Blue Jays gain a split of the first two games of the three-game series.
David Fry hit a solo homer for the Guardians. Joey Cantillo (1-1) allowed three runs and six hits in five-plus innings.
Mariners 11, Cardinals 9
Leo Rivas’ tie-breaking, two-run single in the ninth inning propelled Seattle to a victory over host St. Louis.
Julio Rodriguez, Will Wilson and Cole Young homered for the Mariners, who posted their third straight victory and sent the Cardinals to their third loss in a row, overcoming a poor start from Bryan Woo, who allowed seven runs on nine hits in three innings.
For St. Louis, Nathan Church hit two home runs and JJ Wetherholt, Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages also went deep. The Cardinals took a 9-7 lead into the eighth before Connor Joe’s pinch-hit two-run single tied the game.
Giants 6, Marlins 2
Casey Schmitt hit a two-run homer, Drew Gilbert and Heliot Ramos added solo shots, and San Francisco evened its three-game home series against Miami at a game apiece.
Robbie Ray combined with four relievers on a six-hitter, lifting the Giants to their first home win over the Marlins since August of 2024. Miami had won six straight in San Francisco, including 9-4 in the series opener Friday night.
Schmitt, Ramos, Jung Hoo Lee and Luis Arraez had two hits apiece for the Giants, who out-hit the Marlins 11-6 en route to snapping a two-game losing streak. Xavier Edwards and Agustin Ramirez collected two hits each for Miami.
Rays 6, Twins 1
Jake Fraley hit a two-run homer and Ben Williamson went 3-for-4 with a triple, double and two RBIs to power Tampa Bay Rays to a victory over slumping Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Junior Caminero extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single and Yandy Diaz scored two runs for Tampa Bay, which extended its winning streak to three games. Shane McClanahan (2-2) allowed three hits over five shutout innings.
Byron Buxton had two hits for Minnesota, which took its fourth straight loss and eighth in the past nine games. Bailey Ober (2-1) allowed two runs on three hits over six innings.
Rangers 4, Athletics 3
Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as Texas beat the Athletics in Arlington, Texas.
Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which rallied from a 3-0 hole to level the series and set up a Sunday rubber match. Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.
Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics saw Jeffrey Springs (3-2) give up four runs on five hits over six innings.
Padres 6, Diamondbacks 4
Ty France hit two bases-empty homers, Mason Miller recorded his major league-leading 10th save, and San Diego beat Arizona in the Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.
Miller has not allowed a run in 14 1/3 innings this season, and he extended his scoreless streak to a franchise-record 34 2/3 innings. France hit his second and third homers of the season and Gavin Sheets had a two-run single in a four-run seventh for the Padres, who overcame an early 4-0 deficit. They have won 13 of 15.
Alek Thomas homered in a four-run second inning, his second homer in three games, for the Diamondbacks, who are the designated home team in the two-game series. They have lost four of five. Arizona infielder Ildemaro Vargas extended his season-opening hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Vargas has a 22-game hitting streak dating to 2025.
Royals 12, Angels 1
Salvador Perez had three hits including a home run, Cole Ragans pitched six strong innings and Kansas City routed visiting Los Angeles.
Nick Loftin had two hits and drove in four runs for the Royals, who have won three of four. Ragans (1-4) allowed a run on five hits and struck out 11 batters without a walk. It was the third time this season he went six innings and allowed one run or less.
Jo Adell homered and Vaughn Grissom had three hits for the Angels, who have lost six of seven. Walbert Urena (0-3) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Los Angeles pitchers issued 10 walks, including two with the bases loaded.
Pirates 6, Brewers 3 (10 innings)
Bryan Reynolds singled in the go-ahead run to trigger a three-run 10th inning and lift Pittsburgh to victory and hand host Milwaukee its fourth consecutive loss.
Left-hander Angel Zerpa (0-2) started the 10th for the Brewers. Pinch hitter Marcell Ozuna drew a one-out walk. Nick Yorke ran for Ozuna and Reynolds singled to left, scoring automatic runner Henry Davis from second. Both runners advanced on a groundout. Grant Anderson relieved Zerpa, and Nick Gonzales delivered an RBI single to left, with Reynolds continuing home on a bobble by left fielder Greg Jones.
Yohan Ramirez kept Milwaukee off the board in the 10th for his first save. Gregory Soto (2-0) delivered a scoreless ninth. Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski struck out nine in six innings, allowing three runs on six hits.
Reds 9, Tigers 2
Sal Stewart homered and drove in five runs to help host Cincinnati clinch a series win over Detroit.
Brady Singer (2-1) allowed two runs on eight hits across 5 1/3 innings for the Reds, who have won nine of their last 11 games. Singer struck out three and TJ Friedl went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, as Cincinnati scored nine runs for the second straight day.
Jack Flaherty (0-2) lasted just two innings for the Tigers, yielding six runs on five hits. Spencer Torkelson homered in his fourth straight game for Detroit, which has dropped four of its last six.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Celtics return home with chance to finish off reeling Sixers
Apr 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The Boston Celtics can close out the Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
After splitting two games in Boston, the second-seeded Celtics took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series by beating the seventh-seeded 76ers twice in Philadelphia.
“Played another about-as-bad-as-you-can-play game,” Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse said following Boston’s 128-96 victory in Game 4. “That’s two out of four in this series. Played well in the other two and we got to get back to playing well quickly. Got to go get one.”
Philadelphia can point to defending the perimeter as one of the must-fix items on the 76ers’ list in order to stave off elimination. The Celtics made 24 3-pointers during Game 4, shooting 48.3% overall and 45.3% from 3-point range.
Payton Pritchard, Boston’s backup point guard, made 6 of 12 3-pointers and tossed in 32 points in the Game 4 victory. Pritchard was 2-of-13 from 3-point territory in the first two games of the series and then made 5 of 10 3-pointers in Boston’s Game 3 win.
“I don’t know if I saw anything different,” Pritchard said. “It’s just more playing with that aggression, playing with that spark. I felt it in Game 3. I was telling some of the coaches I thought it was a step in the right direction as far as my aggression and getting my rhythm back.”
Boston’s 24 3-point field goals set a franchise record for made 3-pointers in a playoff game. Jayson Tatum made five shots from beyond the 3-point arc.
“It was very bad,” Nurse said when asked about his team’s defensive effort in Game 4. “It just didn’t seem like any matchup could guard anybody one-on-one. We had them pushed out and bottled up and physical and really off kind of rhythm for a couple games, and there was none of that “
Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid returned to the court after missing the first three games in the series following an emergency appendectomy on April 9. He finished with a team-high 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, but didn’t get a lot of offensive support.
Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, but attempted only three shots in the first half. VJ Edgecombe was 2-of-9 from the field and had six points.
“That can’t happen,” Maxey said. “That’s on me. That absolutely can’t happen. That’s unacceptable by me. I was playing within the flow of the game and it kind of just happened that way.
” … We can’t win basketball games with that happening and I take full responsibility on that one.”
Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said the Celtics have to be prepared for Philadelphia’s best effort in Game 5.
“Regardless of who we’re playing against, we have to have an understanding that they are a really good team,” he said. “They can beat you on any given night. They’ve got great talent with the three stars that they have (Embiid, Maxey, and Paul George) and their role players when they are at their best … We’ve got to be disciplined on all the things that we can control – physical, mental, emotional, psychological, tactical, all of them.”
The winner of the Celtics/76ers series will meet either third-seeded New York or sixth-seeded Atlanta in the next round. That series is 2-2 headed back to New York for Game 5 Tuesday.
“We’ve got three chances to win one game,” Jaylen Brown said. “And the goal is just to get it done as soon as possible.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves' Reynaldo Lopez a reliever 'for now' to work on delivery flaw
Mar 28, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez (40) throws against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images Braves right-hander Reynaldo Lopez is moving to the bullpen “for now” to work out a mechanical flaw in his delivery, Atlanta manager Walt Weiss told reporters Sunday.
Lopez began the season as Atlanta’s No. 2 starter after making just one start in 2025 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. He had a 2.18 ERA through four starts this season before he gave up four runs on five hits and three walks in one inning of last Tuesday’s 11-4 loss at Washington.
“We see him as a starter,” Weiss said. “He’s working through some things, delivery wise, that type of thing, and he’s getting right there. And when he’s right, he’s one of our best starters. He was our No. 2 coming out of camp, even with some of the issues at the end of spring training.
“So we see him as a starter long term, but right now, trying to iron some things out. He’s going to help us out of the pen in the short term.”
Lopez has extensive experience both as a starter and reliever at the major league level. He’s posted a 48-55 career record and 3.93 ERA over 273 appearances (128 starts) over 11 seasons.
He earned his first All-Star nod and finished 11th in National League Cy Young Award voting during his first season with the Braves in 2024 when he finished with a 1.99 ERA, 148 strikeouts and 42 walks over 135 2/3 innings.
Atlanta kept 22-year-old right-hander JR Ritchie on its major league roster after he allowed two runs on five hits and struck out seven over seven innings in his major league debut Thursday vs. Washington. He’s set to make his first home start Wednesday against Detroit.
The Braves are also expecting right-hander Spencer Strider to make his season debut as soon as this weekend at Colorado after he started the season on the injured list with a strained oblique.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alex Fitzpatrick officially accepts PGA Tour membership
Apr 26, 2026; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Alex Fitzpatrick walks on the green on hole 18 during the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Alex Fitzpatrick officially accepted PGA Tour membership following his emotional victory alongside his brother, Matt, in last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
His decision hardly is a surprise, given he said as much following the win, which their parents were on hand to witness.
“I am, indeed, yeah, yeah. I signed as quick as I could. I’m still shaking, and yeah, it was crazy,” the 27-year-old Englishman said during a media interaction at TPC Louisiana on Sunday.
The win was the first on the PGA Tour in his 11th career start for Fitzpatrick, who is now exempt through the 2028 season and is eligible to compete in this week’s Cadillac Championship, the fifth of eight Signature Events this season. The DP World Tour player also qualified for the remaining three — the Truist Championship, the Memorial Tournament and the Travelers Championship — as well as the 2026 PGA Championship and the 2027 The Players Championship.
Fitzpatrick turned professional in 2022 after his collegiate career at Wake Forest.
–Field Level Media
