Sports
Spring training roundup: Chris Sale completes 6 innings as Braves rout Rays
Mar 5, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Chris Sale pounded the strike zone and completed six innings as the host Atlanta Braves routed the Tampa Bay Rays, 11-2, on Monday in North Port, Fla.
The rangy southpaw, who just signed a contract extension through 2027, allowed five hits, did not walk a batter and fanned three. Sale threw 53 of his 75 pitches for strikes and only permitted one run, a homer by Nick Fortes with one out in the sixth.
The Braves scored four runs in the second and led 8-0 after five innings. Eli White, who hit a career-best 10 home runs in 2025, connected for a two-run blast in the fourth after singling in the second. He is hitting .414 this spring. Mike Yastrzemski went 3-for-4 with two runs and raised his batting average to .448, while Drake Baldwin slugged a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.
Rays starting pitcher Nick Martinez, who was signed to a one-year, $13 million deal last month, was hit hard, allowing seven runs and 10 hits in four innings. The versatile 35-year old now has a 9.90 ERA this spring.
Blue Jays 5, Marlins 4 (6 innings)
George Springer led off the game with a home run and Toronto tacked on four runs in the third inning to edge host Miami in a rain-shortened game called in the bottom of the sixth in Jupiter, Fla.
Daulton Varsho keyed the four-run outburst with a two-run double down the right-field line. It was the fifth double of the spring for the veteran outfielder, who is hitting .432 in Florida.
Two Marlins went deep — Otto Lopez hit a solo homer in the first and Daniel Johnson connected for a solo shot in the fifth. Janson Junk, who emerged as a reliable starter for Miami in 2025, allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in two innings.
Twins 5, Pirates 1
In only his second start of the spring, likely Opening Day starter Joe Ryan completed four innings as Minnesota defeated Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Fla.
Ryan gave up one run on five hits and one walk, but fanned six Pirates in a 68-pitch effort. Luke Keaschall broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the third inning and, two batters later, Victor Caratini blasted a solo shot.
Pirates starter Noah Davis, who pitched four games with Boston in 2025, allowed all five Twins’ runs in four innings. Henry Davis contributed a run-scoring single in the top of the third for Pittsburgh.
Tigers 13, Phillies 6
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle blasted a three-run home run to highlight a seven-run Detroit first inning and the hosts cruised to victory over Philadelphia in Lakeland, Fla.
Spencer Torkelson hit a solo shot in the second inning and Jahmai Jones (2-for-4, 5 RBIs) added a bases-clearing double in the third. Starter Jack Flaherty allowed five runs and five hits in five innings.
Phillies’ minor leaguer Charles King was touched up for 10 earned runs in 1 2/3 innings. Felix Reyes and Otto Kemp hit three-run homers for all of the Philadelphia offense.
Red Sox, Orioles, cancelled
The scheduled evening game between Boston and Baltimore was cancelled due to impending weather in Sarasota, Fla. There will be no make-up date.
Padres 3, Giants 1
A pair of veteran starters wearing new uniforms this spring excelled as San Diego edged San Francisco in Peoria, Ariz.
Two-time All-Star Walker Buehler blanked the Giants for five innings, fanning seven and allowing three hits and two walks for the Padres. San Francisco newcomer Tyler Mahle continued his string of scoreless baseball, blanking the Padres on just one hit through four innings while striking out six.
San Diego broke a scoreless tie with a three-run sixth. Ty France capped the rally with an RBI single. Journeyman Buddy Kennedy and minor leaguer Jesus Rodriguez each had two hits for the Giants.
Athletics 3, Angels 0
Jeffrey Springs worked around six baserunners on and blanked Los Angeles for 4 2/3 innings as the Athletics prevailed in Mesa, Ariz.
Springs, who allowed six runs in 2 2/3 innings vs. the Chicago White Sox six days ago, walked three and permitted three hits, but fanned four and lowered his ERA to 7.94. Max Muncy belted his fourth home run of the spring in the fourth inning.
Angels minor leaguer George Klassen got the start and allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Jo Adell went 2-for-3, but Los Angeles stranded 12 baserunners.
Diamondbacks 11, Reds 6
James McCann doubled, homered and drove in three runs as Arizona outslugged Cincinnati in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (13.85 ERA this spring) did not retire a batter in either the Diamondbacks’ five-run third or four-run fourth. He pitched to four batters before being replaced in the third, then re-entered in the fourth, only to come out again after the first three hitters reached base in the fourth. He was charged with eight earned runs in two innings.
Gino Groover also went deep for Arizona, tagging a three-run shot in the fourth that made it 10-1. JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe, Garrett Hampson and Rece Hinds all homered for Cincinnati.
Brewers 24, Dodgers 9
Milwaukee scored 10 times in the fifth inning and added nine more runs in the seventh, pummeling Los Angeles in Phoenix.
Brandon Lockridge singled and scored early in the fifth, then blasted a grand slam to center field to cap the first deluge. Lockridge went 3-for-5 and Brady Ebel added a late home run, while Jett Williams, Luis Rengifo and Luis Lara each delivered two hits. Starter Chad Patrick struggled, allowing six Dodger runs, including a pair of home runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez both hit their third home runs of the spring for Los Angeles. Hernandez’s blast came with two on in the third inning. Pitchers Tyler Glasnow (three runs), Jerming Rosario (five) and Blake Treinen (two) all worked in the Brewers’ fifth inning.
Nationals 12, Mets 6
Joey Weimer kicked off a six-run ninth inning with an RBI double and a run on a wild pitch, and Washington defeated host New York in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Viandel Pena contributed a two-run single to the late uprising and James Wood hit his first homer of the spring earlier on for the Nationals.
Cristian Pache and Christian Arroyo went yard for the Mets, with Arroyo’s two-run shot in the eighth tying the game at 6. David Peterson scattered four runs in a four-inning start.
Rangers 3, White Sox 2
Danny Jansen drove in all of host Texas’ runs with two doubles in a victory over Chicago at Surprise, Ariz.
Jansen’s second-inning hit drove in Josh Jung to open the scoring, and his eighth-inning drive knocked in Alejandro Osuna and Cooper Johnson. MacKenzie Gore threw 4 1/3 shutout innings for the Rangers.
Oliver Dunn hit a two-run homer for the White Sox in the ninth, but Chicago managed just four hits. Sean Burke permitted one run in 4 2/3 innings.
Cubs 5, Guardians 2
Cade Horton fanned 10 in five innings of one-run ball as Chicago downed host Cleveland in Goodyear, Ariz.
Scott Kingery’s two-run, second-inning homer put the Cubs on top for good. Matt Shaw added two hits and an RBI for Chicago, and Colin Rea got a four-inning save, yielding one run.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings, but he was tagged for five runs. Juan Benjamin hit a solo homer.
Red Sox-Orioles (canceled)
The game between Boston and host Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla., was canceled due to inclement weather.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stingy Sabres finally permit a goal, but topple Kings
Mar 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg (31) blocks a shot against Buffalo Sabres right wing Josh Doan (91) during the first period at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Tage Thompson and Zach Benson each had a goal and an assist for the visiting Buffalo Sabres in a 4-1 win against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Carrick and Rasmus Dahlin scored 59 seconds apart midway through the third period, Josh Norris had two assists, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves for the Sabres (44-20-6, 94 points), who have won four in a row, seven straight on the road, and 12 of 13 since the Olympic break.
Buffalo has allowed one goal in the past three games.
Artemi Panarin scored and Anton Forsberg made 28 saves for the Kings (28-25-16, 72 points), who had earned points in five of the previous six games (3-1-2).
Carrick retrieved the puck along the wall after two Kings players converged on Benson. He carried it above the goal line before lifting a backhand over the right shoulder of Forsberg to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead at 11:12 of the third period.
The Kings challenged for a missed game stoppage on a high stick by Benson just prior to the goal, but it was determined there was no high sticking and Buffalo went on a power play for delay of game on the failed challenge.
Dahlin was then credited with a power play goal after a rebound went off Kings defenseman Cody Ceci, between Forsberg’s pads and across the goal line to make it 3-1 at 12:11.
Benson scored into an empty net to make it 4-1 with 2:25 left.
The Kings took a 1-0 lead on the first of their three power plays in the game.
Anze Kopitar had the puck in the right face-off circle when he made a backhand pass to Panarin in the left circle and he scored with a one-timer at 10:48 of the first period.
It was the fourth straight game the Kings scored a power-play goal and ended Buffalo’s shutout streak at 174:55.
It was also Panarin’s fifth goal and 14th point in 12 games since he was acquired from the New York Rangers on Feb. 4, although his first game in black and silver did not occur until Feb. 26.
The Sabres tied it 1-1 at 4:05 of the second.
Forsberg made a save on a wrist shot by Peyton Krebs, but the rebound came to Thompson alone in front of the crease. Forsberg lunged at Thompson to try and poke the puck away, but Thompson dragged the puck around Forsberg and slid it into the open net for his team-leading 36th goal of the season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Flyers take down Sharks as road win streak hits 8
Mar 21, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) reacts to a goal scored by center Christian Dvorak (not pictured) against San Jose Sharks goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic (33) during the third period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images Christian Dvorak scored a power-play goal early in the third period, helping the Philadelphia Flyers extend their season-high road winning streak to seven games with a 4-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
Philadelphia’s road winning streak is tied for the second-longest in franchise history (1985-86, 2017-18 seasons), one shy of the eight-game run from 1982-83.
Owen Tippett scored in the second period and defenseman Travis Sanheim and Noah Cates each found the empty net 36 seconds apart in the third.
Dan Vladar made 24 saves for the Flyers (34-23-12, 80 points), who completed a sweep of their three-game California road trip and improved to 5-0-1 in their last six games overall. Philadelphia also finished off a season sweep of San Jose after posting a 4-1 home victory on Dec. 9.
Macklin Celebrini notched an assist on defenseman Dmitry Orlov’s power-play goal, boosting the former’s career total to 99. Celebrini (19 years, 281 days) is one assist shy of becoming the second-youngest player in NHL history to reach that milestone behind only Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby (19 years, 134 days on Dec. 19, 2006).
Alex Nedeljkovic turned aside 24 shots for the Sharks (32-30-6, 70 points), who have lost four in a row and seven of their last nine (2-5-2).
Philadelphia fourth-liner Garnet Hathaway unloaded on Celebrini, prompting San Jose defenseman Mario Ferraro to come to his teammate’s defense and earn a roughing penalty to boot. The Flyers made the Sharks pay, as Dvorak one-timed Travis Konecny’s cross-slot feed past Nedeljkovic for a 2-1 lead at 1:47 of the third period.
Tippett reeled in a diagonal pass from Trevor Zegras, maneuvered around San Jose defenseman Nick Leddy and wired a shot past Nedeljkovic to open the scoring 2:26 into the second period. The goal was Tippett’s 24th of the season and fifth in his last eight games.
Celebrini worked along the left-wing boards before advancing the puck to William Eklund, who skated in from the left circle. Eklund alertly delivered a centering feed to an unmarked Orlov, who made no mistake from the slot to forge a 1-1 tie with 6:48 remaining in the second period.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Fire earns road win as Union stays in Eastern Conference basement
Mar 21, 2026; Chester, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Union forward Bruno Damiani (9) is tripped up by Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi (4) while going for the ball during the first half at Subaru Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Jonathan Bamba scored his second goal early in the second half and the visiting Chicago Fire earned a 2-1 victory on Saturday against struggling Philadelphia Union.
Hugo Cuypers added his fourth goal late in the first half for the Fire (2-2-1, 7 points) who earned their first away victory of the season after leading the Eastern Conference with nine in 2025.
Chris Brady made three saves as Chicago avenged its elimination by Philadelphia in last year’s first-round playoff series and snapped a four-match winless run against the Union in all competitions.
Milan Iloski scored his first goal for Philadelphia just before halftime. But the Union (0-5-0, 0 points) extended the worst start for a reigning Supporters’ Shield holder, less than 72 hours after their elimination from the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a 1-1 draw at Mexico City’s Club America and a 2-1 aggregate defeat.
Bamba put Chicago in front in the 58th minute.
From near midfield, Cuypers spotted Robin Lod down the right. Lod eventually dribbled into the right edge of the penalty area on his right foot, before cutting back onto his left to cross.
With Cuyper in the center of the box, the cross sailed beyond just him, where Bamba connected with an excellent side-footed volley to beat Andre Blake inside the left post.
Philadelphia pressured for an equalizer, but Chicago came closest to scoring the game’s fourth goal. Maren Haile-Selassie missed narrowly wide on the break in the 63rd minute, then Lod rattled the crossbar from a similar attack in the 82nd.
Both teams scored during the more than seven minutes of first-half stoppage time.
First, it was Chicago through Cuypers.
Lod’s initial pass was deflected out wide, where Andrew Gutman reached it on the left flank.
Gutman drove forward and curled in an outswinging, left-footed cross. Cuypers ran between Philadelphia’s center backs to meet it with a powerful header past Blake from six yards out.
Philadelphia leveled from a long throw-in four minutes later. Alejandro Bedoya flicked on Frankie Westfield’s throw from the right, then Iloski won the second ball as he somehow generated enough power to loop his header over Brady and under the crossbar from near the penalty spot.
–Field Level Media
Stingy Sabres finally permit a goal, but topple Kings
Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 22, 2026
