Sports
Royals avoid sweep behind Seth Lugo's strong start over Braves
Mar 29, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Seth Lugo (67) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Seth Lugo pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Bobby Witt Jr. hit safely for the third straight game to help the visiting Kansas City Royals defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-1 on Sunday and salvage a win in the three-game series.
The victory helped the Royals avoid their first sweep since June 24-26 against Tampa Bay.
Lugo (1-0) allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three. Lucas Erceg pitched the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.
Witt was 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk, a run and an RBI, his first of the season. He hit .364 for the series, going 4-for-11. He turned a double play in the ninth inning to end the game.
The losing pitcher was Grant Holmes (0-1), who pitched five innings and allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Rookie Didier Fuentes worked the final four innings and allowed one run on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
In the third inning, Kansas City’s Nick Loftin appeared to have grounded into a double play, but the play was challenged and reversed, allowing Loftin to remain on first base. He took third on a throwing error by Jorge Mateo and scored on a single by Witt. The Royals had been 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in the series.
Kansas City added a solo homer from Carter Jensen in the fourth. It was Jensen’s first homer and settled in the first row of the seats in right field.
The Royals upped the lead to 3-0 with a run in the fifth. Vinnie Pasquantino singled home Nick Loftin, who opened the inning with a double.
Kansas City added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Witt led off with a walk and came around to score on Jensen’s sacrifice fly.
The Braves spoiled the shutout in the eighth inning as Drake Baldwin, who homered on opening night, drilled a solo shot off reliever John Schreiber.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Teen wolf: Kimi Antonelli captures win at Japanese Grand Prix
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli (12) is introduced before the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli overcame a slow start to record his second straight win on Sunday at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, Japan.
Antonelli dropped to sixth place before steadily working his way into contention and benefiting from a safety car that was deployed due to a crash for Haas’ Ollie Bearman. That safety car allowed the 19-year-old Italian to pit and re-emerge in first place.
Antonelli, who recorded his maiden win two weeks ago in China, became the youngest-ever person to lead the drivers’ standings after finishing the race in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 3.403 seconds.
“It’s been a big step,” said Antonelli, whose 72 points in the driver’s standings are nine more than teammate George Russell.
“Experience does a lot — obviously last year I’ve gone through a lot and it taught me massively more than what I anticipated, and for sure it’s helping so far this year. Of course there’s still a lot of work to do, but I definitely feel much more in control of the situation.”
Antonelli finished 13.722 seconds ahead of second place Oscar Piastri of McLaren and 15.270 seconds in front of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Russell finished in fourth place, 15.754 seconds behind Antonelli.
Russell trailed then-leader Piastri before the safety car issue, giving the latter the chance to make a pit stop and pushing Mercedes’ hand to make the former use the pit as well. This move effectively handed Antontelli the victory on Lap 22.
“I think obviously we were very lucky with (the) safety car, but on the medium (tire), we were really strong once I got some free air, and then on the hard (tire) the pace was just incredible,” Antonelli said. “I don’t know what would have happened, how the outcome would have been, without the safety car, but yeah, it definitely made my life a lot easier.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Former Vikings Pro Bowl S Joey Browner dies
Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Former Minnesota Vikings safety Joey Browner smiles as his was honored before the game with the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers win 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Former Minnesota Vikings’ six-time Pro Bowl safety Joey Browner died on Saturday. He was 65.
The Vikings announced the passing of Browner on Sunday, one day after the team announced former middle linebacker Jeff Siemon had died. The team did not announce the cause of death of either former player.
Selected by Minnesota with the 19th overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Southern California, Browner spent nine of his 10 NFL seasons with the Vikings.
Browner had 37 interceptions with 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries in 145 career games (117 starts) for the Vikings (1983-91) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992). He was a first-team All-Pro performer four times and was part of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team.
In 2010, Browner was named one of the 50 greatest Vikings players of all time and was inducted into the team’s ring of honor in 2013.
“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan said. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Verstappen says he is considering F1 retirement
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory of the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Max Verstappen said his current unhappiness has left all options on the table, including retirement once the current Formula 1 season ends.
A winner of 71 career F1 races, which trails only Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91) all time, Verstappen finished eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The four-time F1 drivers’ champion from 2021 to 2024 for Red Bull relinquished his seat at the top of the sport when McLaren’s Lando Norris won the title last season.
Verstappen, 29, has bemoaned recent technical changes to F1 cars and reiterated his disappointment Sunday, according to the BBC. New F1 engines now have a 50-50 split between electrical power and fuel combustion.
On the record as critical of the changes, the Dutch driver was asked if there was a chance he would walk away from his Red Bull contract that runs through the 2028 season.
“That’s what I’m saying,” said Verstappen, who finished sixth in the season-opening race at Australia, did not finish at China and had his worst finish of the season Sunday.
With races at Bahrain and Saudi Arabia canceled this season because of conflict in the Middle East, the F1 schedule now heads into a one-month pause and will return May 3 at Miami. It is widely believed that Verstappen will weigh his future before racing resumes, while expecting to finish out the season regardless of what he decides.
“Privately I’m very happy,” Verstappen said, according to the BBC. “You also wait for 24 races. This (season) it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
Verstappen is not only struggling in races, he failed to emerge from the second stage of pole qualifying Saturday when only the best 10 lap times move on to the third and final stage.
–Field Level Media
Teen wolf: Kimi Antonelli captures win at Japanese Grand Prix
Former Vikings Pro Bowl S Joey Browner dies
