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Matt Wallner, Willi Castro propel Twins past Guardians

MLB: Minnesota Twins at Cleveland GuardiansSep 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Brooks Lee (72) turns a double play beside Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (23) in the fifth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Matt Wallner had a pair of RBI singles and Willi Castro provided some insurance with a late two-run homer as the visiting Minnesota Twins beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 on Tuesday night.

The Twins (80-71) extended a 2-1 advantage when Castro went deep with a man on and two outs in the eighth inning. Wallner set the stage with a two-out RBI single in the third and by repeating the feat in the fifth as the Twins helped their cause while holding the third and final American League wild-card spot.

Twins starter Zebby Matthews allowed five hits but yielded only one run in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one. Cole Irvin, Cole Sands (9-1), Ronny Henriquez, Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax (ninth save) combined to hold the AL Central-leading Guardians (87-65) to three hits in 4 1/3 shutout innings.

Jax, who allowed Kyle Manzardo’s two-run, go-ahead eighth-inning homer in Minnesota’s 4-3 loss on Monday in the series opener, got the final out with the bases loaded on Tuesday.

Lane Thomas homered and Gavin Williams (3-10) allowed two runs, five hits, two walks and fanned seven in five innings for Guardians, who must wait a bit to clinch their postseason berth.

Minnesota struck first in the third. Ryan Jeffers reached on an infield single, but Williams posted back-to-back strikeouts of Brooks Lee and Edouard Julien. After Byron Buxton drew a walk, Wallner sent a single into right field that plated Jeffers.

Cleveland answered in the fourth. With one out, Thomas sent Matthews fastball just over the 19-foot-high wall in left-center field to tie the contest. It was Thomas’ 13th homer of the year.

The Twins went back ahead with more two-out production in the fifth. Buxton doubled and scored when Wallner came through again, this time dropping a single into right field for a 2-1 Minnesota lead.

Castro then gave the Twins a needed cushion, something they could not do while trying to hold a 3-2 lead on Monday, with his first homer since Aug. 25. The blast, off Nick Sandlin, was Castro’s 12th of the season.

The Guardians placed All-Star left fielder Steve Kwan on the 10-day injured list with mid-back inflammation before the game. Outfielder Myles Straw was promoted from Triple-A Columbus to fill the roster spot.

–Field Level Media

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SoFi workers reach agreement to avoid strike ahead of World Cup

May 25, 2026; Inglewood, CA, USA; A general overall view of Sofi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.  Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesMay 25, 2026; Inglewood, CA, USA; A general overall view of Sofi Stadium (Los Angeles Stadium), a host site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

A potential strike by SoFi Stadium workers, ahead of the United States’ World Cup opening match at the venue Friday, was averted when an estimated 2,000 employees reached a tentative agreement Tuesday through their union.

The union representing hospitality workers at the stadium in Inglewood, Calif., had voted to authorize a strike last Friday, a week before the United States men’s national team was set to play against Paraguay.

Mostly composed of concessions workers as well as cashiers, dishwashers, bartenders and food attendants, the union had voted 96% in favor of the strike, which had been looming for the last few months since the existing deal with stadium operators Legends Global expired.

The new agreement earned workers a 40% pay increase for concession stands attendants and also has a clause allowing workers to walk off the job if the union believes that the presence of federal agents, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), creates a “reasonable apprehension of harm to the safety and security of workers,” The Athletic reported.

The agreement, which the union announced at a news conference, still has to be ratified by workers on Wednesday.

Kurt Peterson, co-president of the union, said the agreement will make the venue’s concessions workers the highest paid at NFL stadiums, according to a report in The Athletic, with most earning “more than $40 per hour, and many of them significantly more than that.”

Workers also will be able to earn “premium pay for mega-events, including all eight World Cup games,” Peterson told The Athletic.

SoFi Stadium is scheduled to host two of the United States’ three group-stage matches, against Paraguay (Friday) and Turkey (June 25), as well as three tournament knockout-stage matches, one of which is a quarterfinal on July 10.

The venue is the home of both the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers of the NFL. It also is slated to be a co-host for the Opening Ceremonies during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as well as the home for the swimming competitions.

The new agreement lasts until April 30, 2028, giving the union leverage for renegotiations before the Olympics begin.

–Field Level Media

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Rangers activate RHP Cole Winn from 15-day injured list

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Winn (60) throws against Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, May 1, 2026.Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Winn (60) throws against Detroit Tigers during the fourth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, May 1, 2026.

The Texas Rangers activated right-handed reliever Cole Winn from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday after he was sidelined since May 23 by arm fatigue.

Winn, 26, takes the spot on the 26-man roster vacated by right-hander Luis Curvelo, who was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Winn allowed two runs on two hits in a third of an inning of his most recent outing that came during a 5-2 loss to the host Los Angeles Angels. He exited the game after three batters with fatigue and soreness in his right shoulder.

In 22 appearances this season, he is 2-1 with one save, a 5.59 ERA, seven walks and 23 strikeouts in 19 1/3 innings.

In 68 career relief appearances, Winn is 2-3 with one save, a 3.91 ERA, 28 walks and 72 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.

Texas made Winn the 15th overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft.

Curvelo, 25, had a scoreless inning Sunday in the Rangers’ 10-0 victory over the visiting Guardians. He has a 4.91 ERA, two walks and four strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings over seven relief appearances.

He was on the 15-day injured list with a right biceps strain from April 15 to May 19.

In 24 career relief appearances since 2025, Curvelo is 1-1 with a 5.47 ERA over 26 1/3 innings

–Field Level Media

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Frances Tiafoe outlasts Daniel Altmaier in first round at Stuttgart

Jun 1, 2026; Paris, France;  Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during his match against Matteo Arnaldi of Italy on day nine at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn ImagesJun 1, 2026; Paris, France; Frances Tiafoe of the United States returns a shot during his match against Matteo Arnaldi of Italy on day nine at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images

Sixth-seeded Frances Tiafoe saved 7 of 9 break points and outlasted Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-4 to post a first-round victory at the BOSS Open Tuesday in Stuttgart, Germany.

Tiafoe had 24 winners and 30 unforced errors while prevailing on the grass surface after the end of the clay-court season. Altmaier had 15 aces among his 40 winners but committed 42 unforced errors.

Tiafoe next faces Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, who rallied for a 6-7 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3 victory over German wild card Tom Gentzsch. Australia’s Nick Kyrgios beat the only other seeded player in action, prevailing 6-3, 6-4 over No. 8 Corentin Moutet of France.

The other winners Tuesday were Marcos Giron, Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff and Yannick Hanfmann, Australia’s James Duckworth, France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Japan’s Sho Shimabukuro.

Libema Open

Adrian Mannarino of France hit 25 winners while posting a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory over defending champion Gabriel Diallo of Canada in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands.

Mannarino ended a nine-match drought in singles play dating back to the Miami Open in mid-March. Diallo had 52 unforced errors against just 20 winners. Mannarino committed 44 miscues.

Martin Damm advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Spain’s Jaume Munar. Also, China’s Zhang Zhizhen registered a 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-1 victory over Jenson Brooksby.

–Field Level Media

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