Sports
Kazuma Okamoto's first 2-homer game guides Blue Jays past Twins
May 1, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Yohendrick Pinango (24) catches a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins right fielder Austin Martin (16) in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Kazuma Okamoto hit two homers and drove in three runs as the Toronto Blue Jays pulled away for a 7-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Yohendrick Pinango finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Toronto, which evened the series at one win apiece. Lenyn Sosa went 3-for-4 with a double.
Byron Buxton went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer to lead Minnesota. Ryan Jeffers tallied the other RBI for the Twins.
Blue Jays left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out four.
Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5) gave up six runs (four earned) on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and fanned two.
The Blue Jays started the scoring in the second inning.
Daulton Varsho and Sosa hit back-to-back singles with one out, and they advanced on a wild pitch by Woods Richardson. Pinango hit a ground ball moments later, and Twins first baseman Josh Bell fired an errant throw past home plate that allowed the Blue Jays to take a 2-0 lead.
The Twins pulled even at 2-all in the third.
Brooks Lee led off the inning with a single, and Buxton followed two batters later with a home run just past the wall in left field. The shot was Buxton’s fourth home run in the past five games and his ninth of the season.
Toronto quickly responded to grab a 4-2 lead in the fourth.
Okamoto put the Blue Jays on top with a leadoff homer to left. Sosa hit a one-out double and scored the second run of the inning on Pinango’s single to center.
In the fifth, Okamoto struck again, this time with a two-run homer that increased the Blue Jays’ lead to 6-2. The blast gave the 29-year-old rookie from Japan his first career multi-homer game and seven long balls on the season.
Pinango hit another RBI single in the seventh to put Toronto ahead 7-2.
Jeffers pulled the Twins within 7-3 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stars captain Jamie Benn returning for 18th season
Jan 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Captain Jamie Benn is returning for his 18th season with the Dallas Stars in 2026-27, the team announced Friday.
The soon-to-be 37-year-old forward ranks second in franchise history in goals, points and games played.
He agreed to a one-year, $850,000 deal worth up to an additional $1.15 million in potential performance bonuses.
“Jamie’s leadership and commitment to this organization is truly unmatched and he has helped define our culture,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He continues to set the standard on and off the ice, and we’re excited to have him leading our team for another season.”
Benn registered 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists), a plus-8 rating and 53 penalty minutes in 60 games in 2025-26, missing 20 games due to injuries.
He has 992 points (414 goals, 578 assists), a plus-89 rating and 932 penalty minutes in 1,252 regular-season games with the Stars, who drafted him in the fifth round (129th overall) in 2007. Benn has 80 points (28 goals, 52 assists) in 126 playoff games, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Final in 2020.
Only Mike Modano has more goals, points and games in Minnesota North Stars/Dallas history than Benn, a three-time All-Star who won the Art Ross Trophy with a league-high 87 points in 2014-15.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Courage transfer M Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea
May 8, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Courage midfielder Manaka Matsukubo (34) controls the ball against the Orlando Pride in the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images The North Carolina Courage transferred 2025 NWSL Midfielder of the Year Manaka Matsukubo to Chelsea FC on Friday.
The 21-year-old Japan international signed a five-year contract with the English club, which competes in the Women’s Super League.
“I’m so excited to be joining Chelsea, a club with a lot of history,” Matsukubo said in a Chelsea press release. “As a small child, I followed Chelsea because it is a club everyone in the world knows about.
“The club has a strong history of winning trophies and has done so well at the top of the game, so I couldn’t pass up this opportunity, and I want to help continue this club’s tradition of winning trophies for years to come.”
Matsukubo joined the Courage on loan in 2023. She tallied 19 goals and 10 assists in 58 matches with North Carolina, including 11 goals last season and five goals through nine matches in 2026.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees place Carlos Rodon on IL, reinstate Trent Grisham, Ryan McMahon
Jun 23, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) takes the ball to relieve pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The New York Yankees returned center fielder Trent Grisham and third baseman Ryan McMahon to their active roster prior to Friday’s home game against the Minnesota Twins.
To make room for them on the 26-man roster, left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation and utility man Oswaldo Cabrera was sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Grisham, 29, has not played since June 12 due to a hamstring strain and was on the 10-day IL. The Yankees’ frequent leadoff hitter has posted a .232/.341/.406 slash line with eight home runs, 35 RBIs and six stolen bases in 66 games this season.
McMahon, 31, has not been in the Yankees’ lineup since June 21 due to ear and throat issues and was on the 10-day IL. An All-Star in 2024 with the Colorado Rockies, McMahon has delivered a .210 batting average, eight homers and 23 RBIs in 69 games this year.
Rodon, a three-time All-Star including in 2025, hits the injured list after one of his best starts of the year. The 33-year-old surrendered one hit and no earned runs over five innings on Sunday at Boston. In nine starts this season, Rodon has fashioned a 4-2 record and 3.30 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 26 walks over 46 1/3 innings. He began the season on the IL following offseason elbow surgery and later injured his hamstring in March before making his season debut on May 10.
He was slated to start Saturday against the Twins.
Cabrera, 27, appeared in three games while McMahon was sidelined. He went 0-for-9 with two sacrifice bunts in his 11 plate appearances.
–Field Level Media
Stars captain Jamie Benn returning for 18th season
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