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Denny Hamlin edges William Byron to win pole at Martinsville

NASCAR: Cup Series-Practice & QualifyingMar 29, 2026; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) takes the pole during qualifying at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin claimed the 49th Busch Light Pole Award of his career Saturday afternoon, claiming the number one starting spot for Sunday’s Cook Out 400 (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Martinsville Speedway, a track where he has long established himself as one of the best.

Hamlin’s JGR No. 11 Toyota turned a lap of 98.241 mph around the half-mile Martinsville oval — .056-second faster than another one of the track’s recent best performers, William Byron in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. They will lead the field to green on Sunday, with Hamlin racing for his second victory of the season and Byron hoping to put a Chevrolet in victory lane for the first time in 2026.

“I knew it was possible simply from where my car was in practice,” said Hamlin who now has five career Martinsville pole awards. “Any time you’ve got fast lap speed in practice here that’s in the top 12, you’re close enough there that qualifying trim doesn’t change your car that much.”

“You’ve got enough speed to where you nail it and do a good enough job as a driver you’ve got a chance at the pole, so I knew it was very possible but truthfully, I approached the lap to get in the top eight. I think I’d go faster if I went and did it again right now, but I think I’ll go on and stand on my time,” he added with a smile.

Hamlin now ties Bobby Issac for the 10th most pole awards in cup series history, a mark that genuinely seemed to surprise Hamlin, who answered questions about it with an immediate and competitive response, “Who has the next most on the list?” Ryan Newman is next with 51.

“I never really go into any weekend thinking about qualifying on pole, it’s really kind of a sidebar to how my Saturday goes,” Hamlin said. “It’s pretty awesome, and really, with age, the hardest part is actually still having a fast time. It’s one thing to be able to manage races and use your experience to your advantage. But usually, the first thing to go is your raw speed and we’re still knocking off poles, which is really good.”

Wood Brothers Racing’s Josh Berry was third quickest in the No. 21 Ford and will share the second row with Hamlin’s JGR teammate Ty Gibbs in the No. 54 Toyota.

Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen turned an impressive oval qualifying effort with a fifth-place showing in the No. 97 Chevrolet.

Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, championship leader Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano and Chase Elliott round out the top 10 in the starting grid.

–Field Level Media

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Gary Woodland nearing 1st victory since 2019 at Texas Children’s Houston Open

PGA: Texas Children's Houston Open - Third RoundMar 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Gary Woodland reacts after putting on the green on the 18th hole during the third round of the Texas Children’s Houston Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Now it’s about finishing the task for Gary Woodland in the Texas Children’s Houston Open.

He shot 5-under-par 65 on Saturday to maintain the lead through three rounds as he seeks his first victory in nearly seven years in Houston.

“I’m here, I put myself in this position for a reason, so take a deep breath and maintain what I’m doing,” Woodland said.

Woodland is at 18-under despite his highest score of the tournament Saturday.

Hard-charging Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark posted the best round of the day with a 63, so he’s one stroke back going into Sunday’s final round at Memorial Park Golf Course.

“There’s still a lot of players in the field that can win the tournament,” Hojgaard said. “But, obviously, Gary and I have a good chance. I’m going to go out, try to build up the round like I did today.”

Hojgaard has never won on the PGA Tour in 62 previous tournaments. His last international tournament title came in 2023.

Woodland tied for second place in the tournament a year ago. The galleries have been supportive this week, and he has noticed.

“Crowd (has) been amazing,” Woodland said. “Energy was so good. Definitely helped me. Something I fed off of and hopefully that’s the same (Sunday).”

Woodland had four birdies on a six-hole stretch on the backside to maintain the lead. The last three of those birdies came with putts inside of 7 feet.

“Once I settled in, I hit some great shots on the back nine,” Woodland said. “It was a good fight, for sure.”

Hojgaard also was 4-under on that same six-hole stretch, with a 14-foot putt his longest birdie among those holes.

Both golfers had pars on No. 18.

“The course is playing into my strengths,” Hojgaard said. “Good driving length off the tee and approach play, and then I felt like I had good pace with the putter all day.”

Defending champion Min Woo Lee of Australia shot 67 to sit at 12-under, joined by Michael Thorbjornsen (66). Lee might be a long shot to make up enough ground, but he hasn’t dismissed that from happening.

“Just got to stick to the process and hopefully make a lot of birdies,” Lee said. “You’ll probably need help from them to come backwards. I think I’m in the final group, so I’ll have a nice show (Sunday).”

As one of the highlights from Saturday, Lee took a bunker shot on one knee on No. 17, rolling the ball close enough for a birdie putt.

“It wasn’t the most pleasing lie when I first got there,” Lee said. “It was nearly very unplayable because it was on such a steep hill. Luckily, I’m somewhat flexible and I can get low and, yeah, play that shot.”

Combined with the 16th hole, that gave Lee birdies on consecutive holes for the second time during the round.

Thorbjornsen said he has been encouraged by his play this week.

“I think we’re just trying to play smart golf, play to the numbers, just whatever will produce the best score on average,” Thorbjornsen said. “That’s kind of the strategy we’re going to take.”

Sam Stevens (67) and Australia’s Jason Day (68) are at 11-under.

First-round leader Paul Waring of England moved back into contention by shooting 66. He’s at 10-under with Sahith Theegala (66) and Canada’s Sudarshan Yellamaraju (65).

–Field Level Media

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Owen Caissie delivers as Marlins knock out Rockies

MLB: Colorado Rockies at Miami MarlinsMar 28, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins relief pitcher Pete Fairbanks (29) pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Rookie Owen Caissie drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and Liam Hicks posted three RBIs as the host Miami Marlins rallied to defeat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Saturday afternoon.

Pete Fairbanks, acquired as an offseason free agent, earned his second save in two games for the Marlins.

Caissie, acquired in January from the Cubs as part of the package for Edward Cabrera, went 3-for-4 with a double, a steal and one RBI. Hicks had a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly.

Colorado hit a pair of homers: a two-run shot by Ezequiel Tovar and TJ Rumfield’s solo blast. Rumfield’s homer was the first of his major-league career in just his second game.

Neither starting pitcher earned a decision, although Miami’s Eury Perez delivered a quality start by allowed three runs, five hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out eight.

Colorado’s Michael Lorenzen allowed three runs, seven hits and no walks with four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Calvin Faucher (1-0) earned the win with one inning of scoreless relief.

Jaden Hill (0-1) took the loss, allowing one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings.

The Rockies opened the scoring in the second inning as Rumfield pulled a 98-mph fastball over the fence at right, a shot estimated at 423 feet.

Colorado somehow escaped a jam in the bottom of the second as Miami put runners on second and third with one out. Catcher Hunter Goodman saved a run with a stellar pitch block before Lorenzen struck out Griffin Conine. After a hit-by-pitch, Rumfield made a nice fielding play at first base to end the inning.

The Marlins tied the score 1-1 in the third as Xavier Edwards singled and went to third on Agustin Ramirez’s single. Edwards scored on Hicks’ sacrifice fly.

Colorado surged ahead in the fourth as Willi Castro singled, and Tovar blasted his 401-foot homer.

Miami tied the score again, this time in the fifth as Ramirez singled, and Hicks pulled a two-run homer to right to make it 3.

In the eighth, Otto Lopez singled, stole second and scored on Caissie’s single, giving the Marlins their second straight one-run win to start the season.

–Field Level Media

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Blue Jays notch second straight walk-off in comeback over Athletics

MLB: Athletics at Toronto Blue JaysMar 28, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (22) hits a walk off single against the Athletics during the eleventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images

Ernie Clement stroked an RBI single to left in the 11th inning and the Toronto Blue Jays came back to defeat the visiting Athletics 8-7 on Saturday in extra innings.

Clement’s hit against Luis Medina (0-1) gave the Blue Jays their second straight walk-off win to open the season.

Spencer Miles (1-0) made his major league debut in the 11th and pitched around a walk to earn the win.

Shea Langeliers hit his third career grand slam in the seventh inning to give the Athletics a 6-2 lead.

Alejandro Kirk tied the game at six with a one-out solo homer in the ninth against Michael Kelly.

Brent Rooker delivered an RBI single against Louis Varland in the 10th, but Toronto tied it on Addison Barger’s sacrifice fly against Scott Barlow in the home 10th.

Toronto scored in the third against starter Jeffrey Springs with Myles Straw and Andres Gimenez singling to left and George Springer slicing an RBI double to left.

Toronto starter Dylan Cease struck out seven straight before Kurtz led off the sixth with a walk. Kurtz stole second and scored on Tyler Soderstrom’s bloop double to left.

Cease struck out 12 in 5 1/3 innings while allowing one run, three hits and two walks in his Blue Jays’ debut.

Mark Leiter Jr. replaced Springs with one out and a runner at first in the home sixth and allowed a Daulton Varsho RBI single.

Springs allowed two runs, five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

The Athletics opened the seventh with consecutive infield singles on comebackers by Jeff McNeil and Max Muncy. Both deflected off Mason Fluharty’s right leg and he was replaced by Brendon Little. After a double steal, McNeil scored on Denzel Clarke’s infield single. Kurtz walked to load the bases and Langeliers homered to center.

Langeliers hit two homers in Toronto’s 3-2 Opening Day win on Friday.

Leiter plunked pinch hitter Jesus Sanchez with a pitch and Gimenez singled to open the home seventh. Elvis Alvarado replaced Leiter and allowed Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out RBI single.

Alvarado walked Kirk and Varsho to open the eighth and was replaced by Hogan Harris. Kirk took third on a flyout to right and scored on Sanchez’s infield single to third. Gimenez grounded an RBI single to center.

–Field Level Media

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