Sports
No. 23 Arkansas rides hot shooting to win over Oakland
Dec 30, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Boogie Fland (2) shoots a shot as time expires in the first half against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Bud Walton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images Adou Thiero tallied 16 first-half points, Boogie Fland scored 21 in the second, and the No. 23 Arkansas Razorbacks routed the Oakland Golden Grizzlies 92-62 Monday night in Fayetteville, Ark.
In winning its sixth consecutive game, Arkansas (11-2) got a game-high 22 points from each player and pulled away in the second half for the 30-point victory, its third all-time in three meetings against Oakland (4-10).
In crafting his sixth 20-point showing, Thiero added six rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks.
Fland, who had one point at halftime, made 8 of 15 field goals and dished out six assists.
Karter Knox added 17 points as the Razorbacks went 35 of 58 from the field (60.3 percent) while holding Oakland to 40 percent (24 of 60).
Trevon Brazile had seven rebounds and six blocks off the bench in the win.
Coach John Calipari’s Razorbacks will open Southeastern Conference play this Saturday at the No. 1-ranked Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville.
Oakland’s Tuburu Naivalurua recorded 18 points and a game-best nine rebounds. Allen Mukeba had 17 points and six boards as the Golden Grizzlies lost for the sixth time in seven games.
In a tight opening five minutes, Oakland and Arkansas traded baskets, including a trey by Malcolm Christie gave Oakland an 11-10 lead. But Jonas Aidoo made it 12-11 Arkansas immediately after, sparking a 15-6 Razorbacks run.
But after the home side built a 25-17 lead on two free throws by Fland at 9:53, the Horizon League school battled back and tied it on a dunk by Jaylen Jones at 6:55.
Both clubs were proficient on the offensive end in a first half that ended with a 42-39 Arkansas lead, but no one was better than Thiero.
The 6-foot-8 Thiero was tenacious on both ends of the court with three rebounds, two steals and a block to go with his 16 points, while Knox scored 10 in the first half.
Arkansas hit 16 of 28 field shots (57.1 percent) in the half. Oakland’s Mukeba and Naivalurua had 12 points apiece as the team had 16 makes but missed one more shot than did Arkansas (55.2 percent).
After missing his first six shots, Fland banked in a reverse layup and hit a jumper for a 51-43 edge nearly four minutes into the second half.
Arkansas built the lead to double digits and eventually 15, at 60-45, on Fland’s jump shot at 13:13.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Mar 29, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Didier Fuentes (72) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves promoted right-hander Didier Fuentes from Triple-A Gwinnett to start Wednesday’s road game against the Washington Nationals.
Right-handed reliever Ian Hamilton was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Fuentes.
The Braves pushed previously announced starter Martin Perez back to Thursday at Washington, giving fellow left-hander Chris Sale an additional day of rest before he takes the mound at home Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fuentes, who made his major league debut last season, started the season in the Atlanta bullpen before being sent down to Gwinnett to build up as a starter.
He had a 2.25 ERA in four major league innings with four strikeouts and one walk before he was sent down. In three Triple-A starts spanning 16 2/3 innings, he went 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA, 20 strikeouts and six walks.
Fuentes, who debuted three days after his 20th birthday last June, had a 13.85 ERA in four starts and 13 innings in 2025, allowing 20 earned runs on 23 hits. However, his 0.66 ERA, 18 strikeouts and one walk over 13 2/3 innings this spring helped him earn an Opening Day roster spot.
Hamilton, 30, allowed three runs in one inning of his Braves debut in Tuesday’s 11-4 loss to the Nationals. Over seven seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2018, 2020), Minnesota Twins (2022), New York Yankees (2023-25) and Braves, Hamilton is 6-6 with a 3.75 ERA over 151 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
Sep 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Right-hander Lucas Giolito signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the Padres, however there is a mutual option for the 2027 season. He’ll begin his major league buildup at Single-A Lake Elsinore, per MLB.com.
The addition of Giolito comes with San Diego nursing injuries to its starting rotation, namely right-hander Nick Pivetta (right flexor strain). Joe Musgrove (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Griffin Canning (Achilles) have yet to make their respective season debuts, and fellow right-hander Yu Darvish is on the Padres’ restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery.
Giolito, 31, posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 26 appearances (all starts) last season with the Boston Red Sox.
He is 71-66 with a 4.30 ERA over 206 appearances (204 starts) with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023) and Red Sox (2025). He was selected by the Nationals with the 16th overall pick in 2012.
San Diego transferred right-hander Bryan Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Germany F Serge Gnabry (thigh) to miss World Cup
Jul 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; FC Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry (7) warms up before a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Germany forward Serge Gnabry confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury.
His pro club Bayern Munich announced on Saturday that Gnabry, 30, had torn the adductor muscle in his right thigh.
“The last few days have been tough to process,” he posted on Instagram. “A Bayern season which still holds much to play for after securing another Bundesliga title on the weekend.
“As for the World Cup dream with Germany … That’s sadly over for me. Like the rest of the country, I’ll be supporting the boys from home. Now it’s time to focus on recovery and getting back for pre-season.”
Gnabry recorded eight goals and six assists this season for the Bundesliga champions in 2025-26, his eighth season with Bayern Munich.
Internationally, Gnabry has scored 26 goals in 59 caps since making his debut for Germany in 2016. He started every World Cup qualifier and two friendlies in March leading up to this summer’s tournament in North America.
Germany is No. 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings. The four-time World Cup champions are in Group E along with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Their opening match is against Curacao on June 14 in Houston.
–Field Level Media
Braves promote RHP Didier Fuentes, shuffle rotation
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
