Sports
D-backs can't afford another slip-up vs. Giants
Sep 23, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; San Francisco Giants third base Matt Chapman (26) hits a RBI triple in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images The San Francisco Giants are playing terrific baseball at a time when it doesn’t matter for them.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to make sure back-to-back setbacks don’t turn into an extended slide that could hinder their playoff aspirations.
The Giants, who are 6-1 on a nine-game road trip, will look to continue the hot streak when they face the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Tuesday night in the middle contest of a three-game set.
San Francisco (78-79) has outscored opponents 37-12 during the trek, including a 6-3 victory on Monday in the series opener. A team that underachieved this season is suddenly scorching hot.
Arizona (87-70) fell into third place in the National League wild-card chase with the Monday loss. The Diamondbacks are a half-game behind the New York Mets, but they are 1 1/2 games ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the final spot. Complicating matters: The Diamondbacks host the red-hot San Diego Padres for three games in the final series of the regular season.
Arizona won four straight games before blowing an 8-0 lead against Milwaukee on Sunday. The Brewers rallied for a 10-9 win.
“I don’t think there’s any pressing,” Diamondbacks center fielder Jake McCarthy said after the Monday defeat. “We’ve had our foot on the gas pedal the whole season, so just chalk it up to baseball. We’re going to bounce back (Tuesday).”
Giants third baseman Matt Chapman drove in three runs on a two-run inside-the-park homer and an RBI triple on Monday. He is the franchise’s first player to have an inside-the-parker and a triple in the same game since Hall of Famer Monte Irvin managed both for the 1953 New York Giants.
In the third inning, Chapman hit a deep drive to left-center that caromed off the wall back into deep center. McCarthy attempted to make the grab, so left fielder Pavin Smith had to retrieve the ball as Chapman circled the bases for San Francisco’s first inside-the-park homer since Denard Span hit one in 2017.
“It was tiring. It was a lot of fun,” Chapman said. “… Once I saw he missed that ball, I turned it on and I was really hoping Matty (third base coach Matt Williams) was going to wave me and I was digging. That was a lot of fun.”
Diamondbacks All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte (ankle, back) was limited to pinch-hitting duties in the opener. He struck out in the eighth inning.
Arizona catcher Gabriel Moreno (adductor) didn’t play but is expected to return Tuesday.
San Francisco’s Logan Webb (12-10, 3.58 ERA) will oppose Arizona’s Brandon Pfaadt (10-9, 4.66) on Tuesday in a battle of right-handers.
Webb struck out eight in five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday during a no-decision. He allowed three runs and four hits.
Webb dominated the Diamondbacks on April 18 when he gave up just two hits over seven innings during a 5-0 victory.
Webb, 27, is 6-3 with a 2.51 ERA in 11 career starts against Arizona. Corbin Carroll (5-for-14), McCarthy (6-for-18), Moreno (4-for-11) and Christian Walker (6-for-19) have fared well against Webb, while Marte (4-for-22, one homer), Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-16) and Randal Grichuk (1-for-12) have struggled against him.
Pfaadt is coming off a superb outing in which he struck out a career-best 12 in a Thursday victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. He allowed one run and two hits and didn’t walk anyone in seven innings.
The 25-year-old has struck out 10 or more batters in three of his past seven starts and four times overall this season.
Pfaadt is 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two career starts against San Francisco, both of them last season.
Michael Conforto (2-for-5) and LaMonte Wade Jr. (1-for-6) have both homered against Pfaadt.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa
May 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.
“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”
147 It’s time! i will be 2 division world champ Real Soon , I’ve outgrown 140 and My days at the weight is done Let’s go !!!! ????
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) April 21, 2026
The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.
“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.
“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”
Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.
The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.
Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.
Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.
Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
