Sports
Speed skating: Jorrit Bergsma, 40, takes mass start gold; Jordan Stolz fourth
Jorrit Bergsma of Netherlands celebrates with the national flag after winning gold in the Men’s Mass Start Final. MILAN — Jorrit Bergsma turned back the clock to claim men’s mass start gold at the Winter Games on Saturday, securing the second Olympic title of his career at the age of 40, while Marijke Groenewoud triumphed in the women’s race to seal a Dutch double.
As Bergsma approached the final straight, he allowed himself a smile and celebrated before crossing the line.
With the two mass start races bringing the speed skating program to a close, the Netherlands finished Milan Cortina with five gold medals in the sport, the most of any nation at these Games.
Dane Viktor Hald Thorup claimed silver in the men’s race for his country’s second ever Winter Olympics medal, while Italy’s Andrea Giovannini delighted home fans with bronze.
In the women’s event, Canada’s Ivanie Blondin secured silver, matching her Beijing 2022 result, and American Mia Manganello took bronze.
DARING ATTACK
Bergsma and Thorup stunned the field with a daring attack on the third lap of the 16-lap men’s race, but Bergsma launched another blistering move with a couple of laps to go, decisively shaking off Thorup.
Bergsma’s win added to an exceptional Olympic resume that includes 10,000m gold at Sochi 2014, silver at Pyeongchang 2018, bronzes in the 5,000m at Sochi and 10,000m at Milan Cortina.
“That was crazy, mind-blowing,” Bergsma said. “I was expecting a really hard final, but nobody wanted to do the first attack. I did it. I had a gap together with Viktor and that was it.
“We had a gap in no time, and then I knew, ‘OK, I have a big, big chance right now.’ I just wanted to keep the gap with the peloton and keep the speed in it a bit. I had to keep my cool and finish it.”
Bart Swings’ title defense ended in disappointment. The 35-year-old Belgian, who captured his country’s first Winter Olympic gold in 74 years at Beijing 2022, finished ninth.
American Jordan Stolz, the Olympic 500m and 1,000m champion, ended fourth. He also won silver in the 1,500m.
“I would say it was pretty successful,” Stolz said of his Olympics. “There’s things that could have gone better, but two golds and a silver, I’m pretty happy with that.”
‘DREAM COME TRUE’ FOR GROENEWOUD
With Dutch great Irene Schouten now retired, the women’s mass start began without its defending champion but Groenewoud timed her final-lap surge to perfection to claim her first Olympic gold.
“Maybe it (Bergsma’s race) brought some more pressure on my shoulders, but there was also a lot of energy I got out of it. It’s nice to see your teammate win. Then you have to do it yourself, too,” Groenewoud said.
“I stood up and thought, ‘this mass start is my mass start and I did it’. It’s a dream come true. As a child I dreamed of Olympic gold and now I got it.”
The 27-year-old left the arena with more than one piece of hardware after her boyfriend proposed moments after her victory.
“I got a gold medal and a silver ring,” Groenewoud said. “Really happy with it. I didn’t expect it. It’s a perfect day.”
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Clay Holmes to start against Angels for first time
Apr 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images National League ERA leader Clay Holmes will start against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon as the New York Mets try for just their second road series win of the season.
When Holmes takes the mound in Anaheim, Calif., it will be his first career start against the Angels.
The right-handed Holmes (3-2, 1.75 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his six starts. He comes in off an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday that saw him allow three hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.
“He’s been doing it since last year,” teammate Juan Soto told the New York Post. “No surprise what he’s been doing. He’s a grinder. He’s been putting in the work every day, so I’m really happy to see that.”
Holmes is 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career relief appearances against the Angels.
New York’s only road series victory came April 2-5 when it took three of four games at San Francisco. The Mets defeated Arizona in their next game to improve to 7-4 on the season but since have lost 18 of their next 22 games.
The Mets won the series opener, 4-3, on Friday on Ronny Mauricio’s go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. They had several excellent scoring chances to win Saturday’s game and the series before losing 4-3 in 10 innings on Oswald Peraza’s walk-off bases-loaded single off reliever Austin Warren.
It was Peraza’s first career walk-off hit and snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Angels.
“It feels amazing,” Peraza said after lining an 0-2 curveball into the gap in left-center to drive in automatic runner Adam Frazier from third. “We needed that win, and thank God. I was looking for a good pitch to hit and see the ball, and I feel so happy for the win.”
It was just the second win in 13 games for the Angels, who — like the Mets — have won only three series this season.
“I guess there was no other way to do it than a walk off,” Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki said. “It hasn’t been easy. So really proud of them. They grinded, they battled.”
Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-0, 3.09) gets the start for Los Angeles and will try to give the Angels their first series victory since April 10-12 at Cincinnati. That also was the last time Kochanowicz picked up a victory, allowing two hits and one run over seven innings in a 10-2 win in the series opener.
A big question going into Sunday’s finale is who will be playing shortstop for the Mets.
Mauricio, filling in for injured All-Star Francisco Lindor, broke his left thumb on a head-first slide into first base, beating out an infield single in the seventh inning of Saturday’s loss.
“He’s going on the IL,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s tough obviously. You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy that comes up that is getting the everyday opportunity here now is hurt. Somebody else is going to have an opportunity.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put RF Ronald Acuna Jr. on IL, recall P Spencer Strider
May 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Atlanta Braves star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. went on the injured list on Sunday, with right-hander Spencer Strider returning from the IL to make his season debut against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.
Acuna was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. The Braves selected fellow outfielder Jose Azocar from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Acuna’s spot on the roster.
Acuna exited in the second inning after limping toward first base on a groundout in Atlanta’s 9-1 victory over Colorado.
“It didn’t look great, him coming off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I am hoping it’s just some cramping and that type of thing, but he’s getting an MRI. That’s never good when you have to get an MRI.”
Acuna, 28, grabbed at his hamstring and pulled up when attempting to run out a grounder he hit in the second inning. He limped off the field under his own power after being examined by the team’s medical staff.
A five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is hitting .252 with two homers and nine RBIs in 34 games.
Acuna was replaced in right field by Eli White, who is hitting .196 with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 games.
Strider returned from his rehabilitation assignment and was reinstated to the roster to take the spot of fellow right-hander Hunter Stratton, who was optioned to Gwinnett following Saturday’s game.
After becoming the fastest pitcher to record 100 strikeouts (61 innings) in a season in modern MLB history in 2023, Strider made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing season-ending UCL surgery.
Last season, Strider went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA across 23 starts in his return from injury.
Strider, 27, began this season on the injured list with an oblique strain but is prepared to rejoin the sizzling Braves. They have won both games of the weekend series to expand on the best record (24-10) in the majors.
Strider, meanwhile, has dominated the Rockies in three career appearances (two starts), going 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA. He struck out 16 batters and scattered two hits over eight innings in a 3-0 win over Colorado on Sept. 1, 2022, before striking out 13 Rockies in a six-inning win last June 14.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers recall RHP Logan Henderson to start vs. Nationals
Apr 4, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Logan Henderson (43) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers recalled right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville and announced him as the starter for their Sunday afternoon road game against the Washington Nationals.
Henderson, 24, will be inserted into the lineup immediately, starting on the mound for the Brewers. Milwaukee has won five of its past six games.
Ranked as the No. 6 prospect and the top pitcher in the Brewers’ system by MLB Pipeline, Henderson will be making his second big league start of the season on Sunday.
He is 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in one appearance. He gave up two runs on three hits in two innings as an opener in an 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on April 4.
Last season, Henderson started five games for the Brewers and was 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA.
In five games (three starts) for Nashville this season, Henderson is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA. He has struck out 26 batters in 17 2/3 innings.
In a corresponding move, the Brewers sent right-hander Easton McGee, 28, to Nashville. He pitched two innings of relief this season in two games and allowed just one base hit.
Washington left-hander Peter Poulin (2-0, 4.11 ERA) will oppose McGee in the series finale.
–Field Level Media
Mets' Clay Holmes to start against Angels for first time
Braves put RF Ronald Acuna Jr. on IL, recall P Spencer Strider
