Sports
Shane McClanahan helps Rays blank hapless Giants
May 1, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch during the first inning against San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images Shane McClanahan crafted his second straight scoreless start, Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays opened a six-game homestand with a 3-0 win over the struggling San Francisco Giants on Friday night at St. Petersburg, Fla.
In a season-longest six inning, the left-handed McClanahan (3-2) allowed five hits, struck out five and did not issue a walk. He pitched five scoreless against the Minnesota Twins in his previous outing,
McClanahan was aided by two double plays to end his final two innings.
Diaz slugged a solo home run in the second, but the designated hitter left the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh. Caminero added a massive solo in the fourth.
Taylor Walls was 2-for-3 with a double, run and stolen base, though the Rays were outhit 6-5 by the visitors.
Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (2-4) allowed just four hits in 6 1/3 innings, but three runs came across. He struck out five without a walk.
Luis Arraez doubled for the club’s only extra-base hit as they lost their fourth straight game and were shutout for a majors-high seventh time.
Leading off the bottom of the second and facing a 2-0 offering from Ray, Diaz belted his fifth homer to right on Ray’s four-seam fastball, taking it the other way an estimated 364 feet.
The Giants failed to muster much against McClanahan through the first time through the order, but overaggressive baserunning by Arraez trying to turn his double into a triple led to right field Jake Fraley and shortstop combining to toss out the three-time batting champ at third base.
Just as Diaz did two frames prior, Caminero opened the fourth with a 432-foot rocket to left on another four-seamer from Ray for a 2-0 lead.
After Walls doubled to lead off the sixth and stole third, Chandler Simpson lifted a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 advantage.
Over the seventh and eighth inning, respectively, Tampa Bay relievers Ian Seymour and Cole Sulser kept the Giants off the board.
Closer Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth with a strikeout for his eighth save in 10 chances for the staff’s second shutout.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev advance to Madrid final
Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy is congratulated by Alexander Zverev of Germany after his victory in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Top-seeded Jannik Sinner recorded his 22nd consecutive victory and second-seeded Alexander Zverev also won his semifinal match on Friday to set up a top-flight title-match pairing at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Sinner cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 21 Arthur Fils of France in his semi to reach the Madrid championship match for the first time. On Sunday, the Italian will try to become the first men’s player to win five straight Masters 1000-level tournaments.
“I’m very happy about the general performance today. I’m trying to play the best possible tennis. Today was a very good day in the office,” Sinner said after prevailing in 86 minutes.
Zverev, a two-time Madrid champ, delivered 35 winners in a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s rising Alexander Blockx.
He is aiming to become the fourth men’s player to win three or more Madrid titles. The others are legends Rafael Nadal (five), Roger Federer (three) and Novak Djokovic (three).
“I am very happy to be in the final,” Zverev said. “There were a lot of tough battles, especially at the start of the tournament. I am looking forward to playing Jannik again and looking forward to a tough match. The better player will win on Sunday.”
Sinner has defeated Zverev eight consecutive times, including three semifinal wins in 2026 at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo.
“He is quite a relaxed guy and he is enjoying tennis right now,” Zverev said of Sinner. “I think tennis is very easy for him right now, the way he is playing. Maybe on Sunday I will make it a bit more difficult for him. … The last eight times I didn’t win much.
“He is the best player in the world for sure and I will try to give him a tough battle.”
Sinner’s victory over Fils was the 350th of his career. The 24-year-old is the first man born in the 2000s or later to reach the milestone.
He hit 17 winners and won 87.5% (21 of 24) of his first-serve points while taking down Fils.
“I tried to be very aggressive,” Sinner said. “I felt very comfortable on the return. In the second set, he started to serve better, so it was more difficult.”
Fils had just 10 winners and committed 24 unforced errors.
Zverev won 85% (34 of 40) of his first-serve points against Blockx. The German committed just 15 unforced errors.
Both players had six aces. Blockx, 21, saved 11 of 14 break-point opportunities.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev advance to Madrid final
Mar 27, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Jannik Sinner of Italy is congratulated by Alexander Zverev of Germany after his victory in the semi-finals of the men’s singles at the Miami Open at the Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images Top-seeded Jannik Sinner recorded his 22nd consecutive victory and second-seeded Alexander Zverev also won his semifinal match on Friday to set up a top-flight title-match pairing at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Sinner cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 21 Arthur Fils of France in his semi to reach the Madrid championship match for the first time. On Sunday, the Italian will try to become the first men’s player to win five straight Masters 1000-level tournaments.
“I’m very happy about the general performance today. I’m trying to play the best possible tennis. Today was a very good day in the office,” Sinner said after prevailing in 86 minutes.
Zverev, a two-time Madrid champ, delivered 35 winners in a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s rising Alexander Blockx.
He is aiming to become the fourth men’s player to win three or more Madrid titles. The others are legends Rafael Nadal (five), Roger Federer (three) and Novak Djokovic (three).
“I am very happy to be in the final,” Zverev said. “There were a lot of tough battles, especially at the start of the tournament. I am looking forward to playing Jannik again and looking forward to a tough match. The better player will win on Sunday.”
Sinner has defeated Zverev eight consecutive times, including three semifinal wins in 2026 at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo.
“He is quite a relaxed guy and he is enjoying tennis right now,” Zverev said of Sinner. “I think tennis is very easy for him right now, the way he is playing. Maybe on Sunday I will make it a bit more difficult for him. … The last eight times I didn’t win much.
“He is the best player in the world for sure and I will try to give him a tough battle.”
Sinner’s victory over Fils was the 350th of his career. The 24-year-old is the first man born in the 2000s or later to reach the milestone.
He hit 17 winners and won 87.5% (21 of 24) of his first-serve points while taking down Fils.
“I tried to be very aggressive,” Sinner said. “I felt very comfortable on the return. In the second set, he started to serve better, so it was more difficult.”
Fils had just 10 winners and committed 24 unforced errors.
Zverev won 85% (34 of 40) of his first-serve points against Blockx. The German committed just 15 unforced errors.
Both players had six aces. Blockx, 21, saved 11 of 14 break-point opportunities.
–Field Level Media
Sports
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, No. 345 Brianna Do share lead at Riviera
Apr 26, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Nelly Korda hits a tee shot on the first hole during the final round of The Chevron Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Nelly Korda is back on the hunt for another LPGA title, as the World No. 1 caught co-leader Brianna Do for the 36-hole lead at the Riviera May Open at Mayakoba on Friday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Korda — fresh off her third major victory at last week’s Chevron Championship and having regained the No. 1 ranking — shot a 5-under-par 67 in the second round at El Camaleon Golf Course to get to 9-under 135 entering the weekend.
She tied Do, who shared the first-round lead with Melanie Green and posted a 69 Friday. Do held the top spot at 10 under for most of her inward nine, but she committed her only flub on her final hole, a bogey at the par-4 ninth, to slip back to single figures.
Green (70) ended the day alone in third at 8 under, and Japan’s Minami Katsu (68) sits in fourth at 7 under.
Korda birdied three holes on the front nine and two more coming home without a bogey. She hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation, despite only finding 7 of 14 fairways.
“Overall just a solid day. You know, didn’t make any mistakes really. If I did, I bounced back really well,” Korda said.
In five starts before this week, Korda, 27, has two victories and three second-place finishes.
Do provides a sharp contrast. The 36-year-old has been grinding on tour since her rookie year in 2013 and has exactly one top-10 finish on her resume — which happened to come at this event last year.
Ranked No. 345 in the world, Do said she carried the momentum from her opening 66 into Friday, with birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 to kick off her round.
“I put myself in that position last year here and so I think I’m going to be a little more prepared for it this year,” Do said of contending. “I don’t think you’re ever very comfortable being in contention and leading, and so I’m going accept it and kind of just play within myself and feel the feels and kind of see what happens. Just accept what happens.”
Yu Liu of China eagled the par-5 18th to post the round of the day, a 66 that brought her to 6 under and a tie for fifth with Spain’s Carlota Ciganda (71).
Tied for seventh at 5 under are Olivia Cowan of Germany (68), Sofia Garcia of Paraguay (69), Arpichaya Yubol of Thailand (69) and Gaby Lopez of Mexico (71).
Lopez missed the cut at the Riviera May Open last year in its debut on the schedule. Now she is grateful to be in contention at the tournament in her home country while playing in a group with Korda.
“It’s been really, really fun to play in Mexico, play with Nelly,” Lopez said. “Today wasn’t exactly my day. I didn’t hit it as good off the tee. Got myself a little bit in trouble.
“But very happy how I’m hitting my irons. The putts are just patiently hoping to drop. Yeah, very happy with how I’m feeling inside the golf course.”
–Field Level Media
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev advance to Madrid final
Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev advance to Madrid final
