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Nashville SC maintains early East lead with road shutout of Atlanta

MLS: Nashville SC at Atlanta United FCApr 18, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Nashville SC forward Cristian Espinoza (7) kick the ball towards the goal against Atlanta United defender Enea Mihaj (4) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Cristian Espinoza and Abdul Shakur Mohammed each scored second-half goals – both assisted by Hany Mukhtar – for Nashville SC, who defeated host Atlanta United 2-0 on Saturday night.

Despite missing leading scorer Sam Surridge (seven goals) to a hamstring injury for the second straight match, Nashville (6-1-1, 19 points) extended its win streak to three matches across all competitions while maintaining its lead atop the Eastern Conference standings. It also improved to 3-1-1 on the road in MLS play.

Atlanta (1-6-1, 4 points) saw its winless streak in MLS play reach four matches (0-3-1).

Nashville pulled ahead in the 61st minute after Atlanta’s Emmanuel Latte Lath lost possession in the attacking half.

After the ball reached Mukhtar on the resulting counterattack, his pass near the scoring area found the foot of Espinoza, whose shot sailed past Lucas Hoyos and just inside the left post to make it 1-0. It was Espinoza’s third goal of the season.

Nashville grabbed an insurance goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time when Mohammed made it 2-0, his first goal in MLS.

Atlanta and Nashville played an even first half, though Nashville had a couple of opportunities to pull ahead late in the period.

In the 39th minute, Hoyos turned aside a header from Daniel Lovitz. Then, in the 41st minute, Mukhtar found himself one-on-one with Hoyos, but was denied by the goalkeeper for the go-ahead goal.

Ultimately, Nashville SC pulled away in the second half while keeping its fourth clean sheet in MLS play. Brian Schwake was credited with three saves in the win. Hoyos finished with six saves.

Atlanta United fell to 1-3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with the loss. They also entered Saturday’s match without Miguel Almiron, who was dealing with a knee injury sustained during the team’s win over Chattanooga FC in Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 32.

–Field Level Media

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Matt Fitzpatrick builds 3-shot lead at RBC Heritage, but Scottie Scheffler lurks

PGA: RBC Heritage - Third RoundApr 18, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick and Viktor Hovland at the end of their round during the third round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Another strong finish from England’s Matt Fitzpatrick would put him where he wants to be in the RBC Heritage.

Fitzpatrick turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

“I felt like I was making good enough swings to make a turnaround on the back nine,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, some nice momentum with the hole-outs on 14 and 15.”

Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler stands as his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.

Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.

“It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well and you are struggling a little bit and not scoring as well as you want,” Fitzpatrick said.

Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.

Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.

Saturday’s turnaround was rewarding.

“I was pleased the way I hit the ball off the tee coming in,” Fitzpatrick said. “Obviously, then just some good putting on that back nine to take advantage of it.”

He rolled in a putt from off the green — 26 feet away — the par-3 14th. On the next hole, he chipped from off the green for the eagle on a shot from just inside 30 feet.

Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.

“I was a little bit behind the 8-ball going into today but had a nice round to put myself back in position,” Scheffler said. “… As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun.”

Fitzpatrick said he understands there will be a pro-Scheffler tone in Sunday’s galleries.

“We’re in America, so I wouldn’t expect any different,” Fitzpatrick said. “Yeah, they’ve got to support their guy, and that’s totally fine.”

Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to finish at 13 under.

“Just tried to keep the pedal down,” Harman said. “It’s going to take a low number to win. The weather is going to turn a little bit (Sunday), so it was nice to get out there with some good conditions.”

Still, Harman said the setup could work to his advantage.

“You really have to think your way around this place,” he said. “It’s not just a bomb-and-gouge. I’m not a bomber.”

The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).

“I think I kind of got to go in with the same kind of attack mentality as today and get it going, go post a number, and see how guys handle the wind late,” Novak said.

–Field Level Media

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Giants rally from early 4-run deficit, top Nats in 12

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Washington NationalsApr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Heliot Ramos (17) hits a double against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Matt Chapman drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th inning and the San Francisco Giants beat the Nationals 7-6 Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Chapman led off the 12th against Cionel Perez (0-2) and grounded a single to left, scoring automatic runner Luis Arraez.

Caleb Kilian (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. The automatic runner did not advance in either inning and Kilian only allowed one base runner on an intentional walk.

The Nationals loaded the bases with no outs in the tenth, but Ryan Walker got two strikeouts and a ground out.

Heliot Ramos had three hits including his second home run in two games as San Francisco won its third straight.

Wood hit his seventh homer of the season and scored three runs for the Nationals.

With Washington trailing 6-5 in the ninth, Jorbit Vivas doubled against Walker leading off and went to third on a fly out. After Wood was walked intentionally, Curtis Mead hit a grounder and Vivas was thrown out at home. Brady House tied the game when he blooped single to center and Wood scored before Mead was thrown out at third.

Wood led off the bottom of the first and homered to give Washington a 1-0 lead.

Jung Hoo Lee singled with one out in the second and Ramos doubled, but Lee was thrown out at home. Drew Gilbert followed with a single to right, plating Ramos with the tying run.

The Nationals loaded the bases as the first batters reached in the second. Drew Millas grounded into a force at home, but Wood was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Luis Garcia, Jr. singled in two runs and Jose Tena singled in another to make it 5-1.

An error by third baseman Vivas gave the Giants runners on first and second with one out in the third and Casey Schmitt lined a two-out double to left that scored two runs, one coming across on a fielding error by Daylen Lile.

Lee singled off Parker with one out in the sixth and Ramos followed with a shot to left to tie it.

Willy Adames singled leading off the seventh and went to second on a wild pitch. Rafael Devers lined a two-out single to left, scoring Adames to give the Giants a 6-5 lead.

Giants starter Adrian Houser gave up five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. His Nats counterpart Cade Cavalli gave up three runs (one earned) on seven hits in four innings.

–Field Level Media

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Athletics win in 11th as White Sox squander 5-run lead

MLB: Chicago White Sox at AthleticsApr 18, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) hits a game-tying two-run homer during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Marshall-Imagn Images

Nick Kurtz hit a game-tying home run in the seventh inning and Max Muncy was the walk-off hero in the 11th as the Athletics overcame an early 5-0 deficit to beat the Chicago White Sox 7-6 on Saturday afternoon in West Sacramento, Calif.

Muncy hit a game-winning sacrifice fly to left field off Lucas Sims (0-2) to score Jacob Wilson and complete the comeback.

The White Sox had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the 11th, but Jack Perkins (2-0) pitched out of trouble to give the A’s a chance to end the game in the bottom half.

The game went to extras after Kurtz’s two-run shot off Jordan Leasure in the seventh.

Colson Montgomery, Andrew Benintendi and Munetaka Murakami hit home runs in a losing effort for Chicago. The White Sox missed countless chances to build on their lead, finishing 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Chicago was in control after a five-run second. Montgomery’s fourth home run came on the first pitch of the inning. The barrage continued with a bloop RBI single for Reese McGuire and Benintendi’s three-run homer.

Athletics starter Luis Severino settled down after that, allowing no further damage over the remainder of his 5 1/3 innings. He finished with five runs, five hits and four walks allowed to go with three whiffs.

Jacob Wilson started the home team’s reply with a solo home run to left with one out in the second.

Lawrence Butler went station-to-station to add a run in the third. He drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on an Austin Wynns groundout and scored on Jeff McNeil’s sac fly.

White Sox starter Erick Fedde was pulled after 4 2/3 innings. He had an erratic outing with four walks, one wild pitch and three runs allowed.

Sean Newcomb relieved Fedde with two runners on base and allowed a third unanswered A’s run when Tyler Soderstrom hit an RBI single.

Muncy hit a one-out triple in the bottom of the inning and scored when Newcomb couldn’t field a slow roller by Butler cleanly, cutting the White Sox advantage to 5-4.

Chicago added some breathing space when Murakami hit his second home run in as many games to lead off the seventh, but the Athletics answered swiftly as Shea Langeliers opened the bottom of the seventh with a single and Kurtz lined a rope over the right field fence to make it 6-6.

–Field Level Media

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