Sports
Red Sox's Tanner Houck looks to shake off rusty spring in matchup vs. Rangers
Sep 18, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Tanner Houck (89) throws a pitch in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images There is plenty for the new-look Boston Red Sox to feel good about heading into the second contest of a four-game series against the Texas Rangers on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.
The Red Sox earned a 5-2 Thursday win, starting on a high note for the second straight season.
Wilyer Abreu hit a deciding three-run shot in the ninth inning to cap a two-homer, 3-for-3 performance. New ace Garrett Crochet dealt five solid innings (two runs, five hits) in his Boston debut, and three relievers allowed just two hits over four scoreless innings.
“Good at-bats, 3-2 counts. We battled, we took our walks, and then (Abreu) had the big game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We struck out (13 times). The pitch mix by (Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi) was different than we expected. We kept fighting, and the two big swings were huge.”
The owner of the top slugging percentage among qualifying American League rookies last season, Abreu became the first Red Sox player to go deep twice on Opening Day since Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez in 2015.
“It’s a very important day to win because it’s the first one,” Abreu said.
Looking to follow Crochet’s debut will be Tanner Houck, who was one of the best starting pitchers in the American League last season. He posted a 9-10 record with a 3.12 ERA.
Like Abreu (1-for-20), Houck had a tough spring. The 28-year-old finished with an 11.20 ERA in 13 2/3 tune-up innings after allowing 10 earned runs last Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
“Obviously, the results (stink), I’ll be the first one to say it,” Houck said. “I feel healthy and strong, and that’s all you can take from it. … It just comes down to executing a little bit finer. All in all, ready for the start of the season.”
Houck is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA in three career starts against Texas.
There were positives on Thursday on the Rangers’ side, too, particularly from Eovaldi, who struck out nine over six innings of three-hit ball. Eovaldi, however, allowed his former team to erase 1-0 and 2-1 leads a half-inning after they were established.
Robert Garcia and Chris Martin combined for two innings of scoreless relief, but Luke Jackson was tagged for the final runs.
“I think we’re going to win most of those games,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “When you look at this bullpen, this is kind of how we had it mapped out.”
Right-hander Jack Leiter (0-3, 8.83 ERA last season) falls next in the injury-riddled Texas rotation, which also includes fellow Vanderbilt product Kumar Rocker. Leiter will make his first career start against Boston on Friday.
“At Vandy that last year, I don’t think we ever could have imagined that this would be happening — same team, same rotation, Opening Day roster. It’s awesome,” Leiter said.
The third-ranked Rangers’ prospect, according to MLB.com, Leiter, 24, had a scare on Opening Day as he was hit on the head during batting practice. He returned to the field quickly after an evaluation.
The Rangers out-hit the Red Sox 7-6, with Josh Jung and Kevin Pillar each recording two singles.
Pillar aims to build on a strong Texas debut. The 36-year-old center fielder, who initially planned on retirement, cracked the roster despite signing a minor league deal last month.
“I think for me, that’s a perfect place for me to be,” Pillar said. “I just go out, do my job, be one of nine guys and not be so concerned about what I did, but how I can help this team win games.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
