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Dream facing 'win and in' scenario against host Liberty

Syndication: The Indianapolis StarIndiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) rushes in for a lay-up against Atlanta Dream center Tina Charles (31) on Thursday, June 13, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Tina Charles, the all-time scoring leader for the New York Liberty, is on the verge of becoming the WNBA’s all-time leader in double-doubles.

Five years after her final game for the Liberty, Charles attempts to reach the milestone and help the Atlanta Dream clinch the final playoff spot in Thursday’s visit to New York.

The Dream (14-25) hold the No. 8 seed and enter their regular-season finale one game ahead of the Washington Mystics and Chicago Sky. A win gets them into the postseason but a loss brings tiebreakers into play.

If the Dream lose, they will be eliminated if Washington and Chicago both win. With a loss along with a Chicago loss and a Washington win, Atlanta gets into the postseason because of its better record versus opponents with at least a .500 record.

Atlanta moved to the cusp of clinching with Tuesday’s 86-70 home win over Chicago. Charles finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds for her 20th double-double this season and the 193rd of her career, tying Sylvia Fowles for the most in league history.

“That’s all we’ve been talking about is trying to control our own destiny and picking up wins when we needed to,” Charles said. “In the second half of the season (we weren’t) holding our heads low about injuries or anything that happened in the first half of the season. We’re just locking in on who we need to be out there on the court.”

The Liberty (32-7) are 3-0 against the Dream this season and head into the final game with the league’s top spot secured after Tuesday’s 87-71 win at Washington.

Breanna Stewart totaled 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead five players in double figures against the Mystics. The Liberty led by 11 after the first quarter and by as many 22.

“(The No. 1 seed) was one of our goals. We set out trying to get that home court advantage,” New York coach Sandy Brondello said. “We know it’s going to be extremely hard, but getting home court … we want to play in front of our fans as much as we can.”

–Field Level Media

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Phillies' 4-run eighth fuels rally past Athletics

MLB: Athletics at Philadelphia PhilliesMay 6, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) celebrates his home run with second baseman Edmundo Sosa (33) against the Athletics during the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Edmundo Sosa delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as the Philadelphia Phillies rallied to notch a 6-3 victory over the visiting Athletics on Wednesday.

Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI for Philadelphia, which improved to 8-1 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Adolis Garcia homered for the Phillies while J.T. Realmuto, Garcia and Sosa each had two hits.

A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs, who exited his last outing with hip soreness, gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no walks in a crisp 75-pitch performance. Nick Kurtz finished with two hits and an RBI as he reached base for the 30th straight game.

In his third start since returning from a blood clot in his shoulder, Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler allowed three runs and five hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Phillies trailed 3-2 in the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber drew a leadoff walk against Jack Perkins (2-1). Bryce Harper reached on an error by second baseman Jeff McNeil that spoiled a potential double play, then Garcia singled to load the bases.

Sosa grounded his two-run single up the middle to give Philadelphia the lead. The Athletics brought in Hogan Harris for the platoon advantage against Brandon Marsh, but Marsh stroked an RBI single before Justin Crawford’s RBI groundout made it 6-3 as the Phillies’ four-run frame featured two unearned runs.

The A’s loaded the bases against Brad Keller with two outs in the ninth, but the veteran right-hander got Jacob Wilson on a grounder back to the mound to end it. Orion Kerkering (1-0) recorded the final out of the eighth.

Kurtz’s RBI single in the fifth made it 2-0, but Philadelphia got a run back in the bottom half as Marsh tripled and scored on a grounder by Felix Reyes. Tyler Soderstrom led off the sixth with a homer against Wheeler to make it 3-1.

The Phillies answered again, this time with Garcia’s solo homer in their half of the sixth.

Perkins pitched the seventh for the A’s, striking out a pair, before the right-hander ran into trouble in the eighth.

–Field Level Media

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Pete Alonso helps power Orioles past Marlins

MLB: Baltimore Orioles at Miami MarlinsMay 6, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman (35) congratulates Pete Alonso (25) on his three-run home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Pete Alonso hammered a three-run home run and Adley Rutschman smacked two run-scoring doubles as the Baltimore Orioles beat the host Miami Marlins 7-4 on Wednesday night.

It’s the second victory in a row following a five-game skid for the Orioles, who will go for a series sweep on Thursday.

Orioles starter Brandon Young (3-1) worked six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Rico Garcia pitched the ninth for his second save as four pitchers combined on a six-hitter.

Baltimore won despite being limited to seven hits, though the Orioles drew seven walks. Taylor Ward picked up three of the walks and scored three runs.

Jakob Marsee drove in two runs, but the Marlins lost their fourth game in a row and for the fifth time in six games.

Marlins starter Eury Perez (2-4) lasted five-plus innings and was charged with a season-high five earned runs on four hits and five walks with six strikeouts.

Dax Fulton entered to pitch for Miami in the sixth inning in his major league debut, striking out Dylan Beavers and Coby Mayo as the first batters he faced with two runners on base.

Both teams scored in the first inning.

Alonso’s seventh homer of the season was a three-run blast that came with one out after Ward walked and Rutschman was hit by a pitch.

The first two Marlins were retired before two runners reached base and Marsee knocked them in with a double on an 0-2 splitter. Owen Caissie’s single drove in Marsee.

The Orioles went back ahead in the fourth on Beavers’ two-out double. Rutschman doubled in Ward in the fifth with two outs.

Rutschman’s seventh-inning double stretched the lead to 6-3.

The Marlins got a run in the seventh, with pinch hitter Otto Lopez doubling and scoring on Xavier Edwards’ groundout.

–Field Level Media

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Royals' Cole Ragans leave game with triceps, elbow soreness

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at Kansas City RoyalsApr 26, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Kansas City starting pitcher Cole Ragans left the Royals’ Wednesday game against the Cleveland Guardians after the third inning due to left triceps and elbow soreness, the team announced.

Ragans gave up no runs and a hit while striking out four and walking two. He threw 58 pitches. He is 1-4 with a 4.84 ERA in eight starts this season, with 45 strikeouts and 23 walks in 35 1/3 innings.

An All-Star in 2024, Ragans, 28, was drafted in the first round in 2016 by the Texas Rangers. He was traded to Kansas City in 2023 in a deal that sent closer Aroldis Champman to Texas.

Ragans is 22-24 overall in his career with a 3.76 ERA in 91 appearances (74 starts).

–Field Level Media

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