Sports
Galaxy in need of 3 points vs. Whitecaps
Apr 26, 2026; Carson, California, USA; LA Galaxy midfielder Marco Reus (18) reacts after scoring a goal during the second half against Real Salt Lake at Dignity Health Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images While there’s a lot of time left in the MLS season, it’s also true that every result you book now means one less you need in October.
That’s why the Los Angeles Galaxy could use three points from Saturday night’s fixture with the Vancouver Whitecaps in Carson, Calif.
While Vancouver (8-1-0, 24 points) leads the league in goal differential and has more points than any team except San Jose, LA (3-4-3, 12 points) currently sits at 10th in the West standings. That would leave it out of the postseason if it started Saturday.
The two pieces of good news are that the postseason doesn’t start for nearly six months, and that the Galaxy are coming off a 2-1 win April 26 against Real Salt Lake. Marco Reus delivered both goals, including a penalty kick in the 85th minute to snap a 1-1 tie.
Reus, who helped take up the offensive slack left by injured striker Joao Klauss (foot), thinks Los Angeles learned a lesson.
“You don’t have to play nice to win games,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to play dirty to win games. It doesn’t matter if we’re defending or playing forward.”
While Los Angeles searches for consistency, the Whitecaps aim to keep their considerable off-field distractions off the field. The Athletic reported Friday morning that an investor group led by 30-year-old Grant Gustavson has made an offer to buy the team with the intention of moving it to Las Vegas.
The franchise has been up for sale since December 2024. The league said the team’s lease with BC Place, whose primary tenant is the CFL’s B.C. Lions, is untenable. The city has a site in mind for a soccer-specific stadium but lacks a bridge deal to get past this year, much less build the facility.
Despite that as the backdrop, Vancouver has steamrolled nearly everyone. It’s coming off a 3-1 home win April 25 against Colorado behind a brace from Brian White, whose eight goals trail only Petar Musa (Dallas) and Sam Surridge (Nashville).
“We believe in each other. We believe in the staff,” midfielder Sebastian Berhalter said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Always A Runner charges late to win Kentucky Oaks
Always A Runner, with Jose L. Ortiz up, leads Meaning, with Juan J. Hernandez up across the finish line to win the 152nd running of these Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026 in Louisville Ky. LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Always A Runner lived up to her name Friday evening as the Chad Brown-trained filly stormed down the stretch to take down rivals and claim the 152nd Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.
In just her third start, she overcame a rough start from the ninth gate as she bumped with Prom Queen to her outside. Always A Runner, sired by Gun Runner, settled into the middle of the pack, staying there alongside the 5-1 favorite Zany as Explora led the field with a half-mile time of 46.85 seconds.
Always A Runner was ninth out of 13 as the horses entered the final turn in the 1-1/8-mile race and started gaining ground. Jockey Jose Ortiz shuffled her wide at the top of the stretch, where she chased down Meaning and Counting Stars and pulled away to finish in 1:48.82 and stayed perfect for her young career.
Owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Douglas Scharbauer, Always A Runner was one of four horses to go off at 5-1, with her win-pool bets making her the third choice. She paid $13.04 to win, $7.46 to place and $5.44 to show. Meaning, the fourth choice, finished a length back and paid $7.44 and $5.62. Counting Stars paid $5.36.
This isn’t the only 3-year-old Brown is running off just two starts this weekend. He also has Emerging Market in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Should the colt win, he would be the first to win the Derby off just two starts since 1883.
The Kentucky Oaks was run at night for the first time.
–Field Level Media
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
Jacob Misiorowski, William Contreras power Brewers past Nationals
May 1, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Jacob Misiorowski took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before leaving with a cramp, William Contreras had four hits and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the host Washington Nationals 6-1 on Friday.
Misiorowski came out of the game with a right hamstring cramp after throwing a pitch to James Wood with one out in the sixth. Aaron Ashby came on and carried the no-hit bid into the seventh before Daylen Lile’s one-out bloop double.
Contreras had four hits for the second straight game and drove in three runs. Tyler Black had two doubles for Milwaukee, which has won four of five.
Misiorowski (2-2) was dominant, striking out eight and walking two. He retired the last 12 batters he faced, the final four by strikeout. Misiorowski threw 43 pitches of 100+ mph, the third-most in a game in the pitch-tracking era (2008), according to MLB.com.
After throwing a 98.9 mph swinging strike one to Wood, Misiorowski came off the mound and looked into the dugout. Manager Pat Murphy and the team trainer came out, and Misiorowski left the game.
Three Brewers pitchers combined on a two-hitter. Ashby went 2 2/3 frames and Easton McGee pitched a hitless ninth.
Washington starter Jake Irvin (1-4) gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits over five innings.
The Brewers took a quick 1-0 lead. Garrett Mitchell led off the game with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on passed ball.
In the third, David Hamilton walked and stole second. Brice Turang walked and Contreras lined a single to center, scoring Hamilton.
With one out in the fifth, Turang and Contreras singled and Jake Bauers walked. Luis Rengifo grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Turang, and Black doubled, bringing home Contreras to make it 4-0.
CJ Abrams walked in the eighth, went to third on Lile’s double and scored on a groundout by Brady House, pulling Washington within 4-1.
The Brewers loaded the bases on two singles and an error with no outs in the eighth. Andre Granillo struck out Mitchell and got Turang to pop out, but Contreras grounded a single to right, scoring two runs.
–Field Level Media
