Sports
Marlins' Max Meyer, Mets' Freddy Peralta set for rematch
May 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer (23) throws in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images The fashion in which the New York Mets finally won a game Wednesday night probably is not sustainable.
All the Mets can do is hope the win provides the spark they desperately need to turn around a potentially lost season.
The Mets will look to build off Wednesday’s win when they host the Miami Marlins on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series between the National League East’s bottom two teams.
Freddy Peralta (3-4, 3.52 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against fellow right-hander Max Meyer (5-0, 2.52).
Both teams were off Thursday after playing low-scoring affairs Wednesday night. The host Mets avoided being swept by the Cincinnati Reds with a 4-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series. The visiting Marlins fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 in the rubber game of a three-game set.
The win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Mets, who were outscored 24-6 during the skid. New York has gone 2-7 in its last nine games, a span in which it has been outscored 44-22.
Only the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies have worse records in the NL than the Mets, who haven’t been over .500 since April 9 — the day they suffered the second loss in a 12-game losing streak, the longest for the franchise since 2002.
Not surprisingly, Wednesday’s much-needed win did not come easy for the Mets, whose six pitchers combined to allow eight hits and issue nine walks. The Reds, who were never retired in order in any inning, stranded 17 baserunners — including three in the ninth, when closer Devin Williams walked three and struck out three.
Williams threw 34 pitches, 12 more than his previous season-high and his most in an outing since throwing 34 pitches last Sept. 3.
“Obviously, he got in trouble, but he was able to make pitches and execute,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I’m glad he was able to get the job done. Good team win there.”
The loss to the Blue Jays ended a stretch of 16 games in as many days for the Marlins, who went 7-9 in that span while winning just one series — a three-game sweep of the Mets last weekend in Miami.
The Marlins, who previously lost series to the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays and Atlanta Braves, routed the Blue Jays 8-2 in Monday’s series opener but were limited to five hits in an 8-1 loss Tuesday. Miami had 11 hits Wednesday, but went 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners.
The Marlins were limited to four runs or fewer 12 times in the last 16 games.
“We had a little spurt there where we feel like we got ourselves back into a better place,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “We clawed back a little bit, but we’re going to need to just go and try to stack some series together to get ourselves back into a better position.”
Peralta and Meyer will oppose each other for the second time in seven days.
Meyer earned the win on Saturday, when he allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings in the Marlins’ 4-1 victory. Peralta took the loss after giving up four runs over a season-high seven innings.
Peralta is 3-5 with a 4.18 ERA in 12 career games (nine starts) against the Marlins. Meyer is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts against the Mets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Randal Grichuk helps White Sox continue dominance of Twins
May 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin (65) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Randal Grichuk delivered a bases-clearing double to punctuate a four-run third and Davis Martin worked six strong innings to lift the host Chicago White Sox to a 6-2 victory against the Minnesota Twins on Thursday.
Chicago out-hit Minnesota 8-5 to take three of four and win its fifth straight home series.
The White Sox have won nine of their past 10 games against Minnesota dating to last season.
After starting 4-1 on a 10-game road trip, the Twins were outscored 21-4 over the final two games at Rate Field.
Martin matched Cleveland’s Gavin Williams for the American League lead in victories, improving to 8-1 with his fourth win in five May starts. The right-hander contributed his fourth quality start during that span, spacing one run and two hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Tristan Peters had three hits and an RBI for the White Sox while Colson Montgomery added two hits and an RBI. Montgomery’s run-scoring single in the first inning gave Chicago an early lead after Miguel Vargas walked and stole second with two out.
More two-out success helped the White Sox put the game away in the third. Two walks and a single loaded the bases ahead of Peters’ RBI single against Twins right-hander Simeon Woods-Richardson. Grichuk put the game out of reach one batter later, hitting an opposite-field three-run double to chase the Minnesota starter.
Woods-Richardson (0-7) allowed five runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four. Five Twins combined for 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run relief.
Martin retired the first seven batters he faced before Tristan Gray’s one-out single in the third. Gray doubled and scored on Ryan Kreidler groundout in the fifth.
Victor Caratini added an RBI sacrifice fly for Minnesota in the seventh.
Twins leadoff hitter Byron Buxton reached base on a walk and single.
Chicago’s Munetaka Murakami contributed an RBI single in the fourth. He had five hits — including three home runs — and five RBIs in the series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
Mar 19, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCF Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins conducts a press conference during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images UCF coach Johnny Dawkins agreed to a three-year deal through the 2028-29 season, the school announced Thursday.
Dawkins, 62, guided the Knights to a second consecutive 20-win season in 2025-26 as well as appearances in the Top 25 poll and the NCAA Tournament.
“Johnny has led our men’s basketball program with outstanding poise and class,” athletic director Terry Mohajir said. “The stability and continuity he has provided have been, in my opinion, a major reason for the program’s growth. As a result, we’re excited to extend his contract. He is a strong leader and an outstanding role model for our young men. Johnny is highly deserving of this extension, and we’re excited about the future of UCF men’s basketball under his leadership.”
Dawkins reportedly had the lowest salary among Big 12 coaches last season at $2.1 million.
Dawkins has compiled a 189-132 record in 10 seasons at UCF, overseeing the Orlando-area school’s transition from the American Athletic Conference to the Big 12 Conference in 2023-24. His team also reached the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
The Knights were 21-12 last season, appearing at No. 25 in the Associated Press poll on Jan. 5. As a No. 10 seed, they lost to No. 7 seed UCLA 75-71 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
“What we accomplished this season was a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff as we continue establishing ourselves in the Big 12,” Dawkins said. “I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about where this program is headed. UCF has become home for my family, and I’m committed to continuing to build a program that our university and fans can be proud of.”
Dawkins was 156-115 with one NCAA Tournament appearance in eight seasons at Stanford from 2008-16, leading the Cardinal to NIT championships in 2011-12 and 2014-15. His overall record is 345-247.
Dawkins was a two-time All-American point guard and the Naismith National Player of the Year during a decorated career at Duke from 1982-86. A first-round pick (10th overall) by San Antonio in 1986, he played nine NBA seasons with the Spurs (1986-89), Philadelphia 76ers (1989-94) and Detroit Pistons (1994-95).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tennessee rides Elsa Morrison HR, tames Texas bats
Tennessee Lady Volunteers catcher Elsa Morrison (22) celebrates after hitting a home run in the second inning during a Women’s College World Series softball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 28, 2026. Tennessee won 6-3. Freshman Elsa Morrison smashed the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for a three-run home run in the second inning and Tennessee beat defending national champion Texas 6-3 in the Women’s College World Series at Oklahoma City on Thursday afternoon.
Sage Mardjetko (15-2) got the win for Tennessee in four shutout innings and muted the high-powered Texas offense. She has 16 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings this postseason.
SEC Player of the Year Katie Stewart went hitless for the Longhorns in three at-bats.
Morrison doubled off the top of the wall in the sixth and was 2-for-3 despite missing her second homer by a narrow margin.
Taelyn Holley scored two runs for Tennessee, which avenged a 2-0 loss to Texas in the 2025 WCWS semifinals.
Morrison’s heroics are becoming expected. She belted a tiebreaking homer to sink Northern Kentucky in the regional opener and now has seven homers this season.
Texas cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth. After Gold Glove senior catcher and cleanup hitter Reese Atwood got Texas on the board, second baseman Leighann Goode delivered with two outs. She roped a two-run home run to center field off the Volunteers’ Karlyn Pickens, who was clocked at a record 78 mph — the equivalent of 109 mph from an MLB regulation pitching mound.
Pickens and Tennessee (48-10) advance to meet Texas Tech and starter NiJaree Canady on Friday for a spot in the semifinals. The Red Raiders won 8-0 in five innings in the WCWS opener Thursday.
The Longhorns will face Mississippi State, which managed two hits and zero runs Thursday against Texas Tech, in an elimination game.
–Field Level Media
Randal Grichuk helps White Sox continue dominance of Twins
UCF extends coach Johnny Dawkins through 2028-29
