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
Report: Syracuse hero Gerry McNamara returning as coach
Siena Saints head coach Gerry McNamara calls a play Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the Duke Blue Devils at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Gerry McNamara, who led Syracuse to its lone national title in 2003 as the starting point guard, is close to finalizing a deal to be the school’s next head coach, ESPN reported on Sunday.
McNamara, 42, has been the head coach at Siena the last two seasons, guiding the Saints to the NCAA Tournament this season after winning the MAAC conference tournament. As a No. 16 seed, Siena gave top-seeded Duke a scare in the first round on Thursday before losing 71-65.
Before taking over at Siena, McNamara served as an assistant coach under Jim Boeheim and Adrian Autry for 15 seasons.
Per the report, McNamara has had multiple discussions — virtually and in person — with Syracuse athletic director Bryan Blair over the past week.
During the process, school officials reportedly emphasized a commitment to being among the top third of ACC schools in terms of NIL.
Along with helping Syracuse win the national title during his freshman year alongside Carmelo Anthony, McNamara holds the program records for 3-pointers (400), 3-point attempts (1,131), free-throw percentage (88.8%) and minutes played (4,799). An All-Big East honoree three times, he started all 135 games of his career from 2002-06 and had his No. 3 jersey retired in 2023.
McNamara returned to his alma mater in 2009 as a graduate assistant, then was elevated to an assistant in 2011 under Boeheim. He received another promotion, to associate head coach, when Autry was named Boeheim’s successor in 2023.
McNamara left for Siena in 2024, posting a 37-30 record in two seasons. Before this spring, the Saints had not made the NCAA Tournament since 2010.
Autry, also a former star player at Syracuse, was fired earlier this month after the Orange missed out on the NCAA Tournament in his three seasons at the helm.
Syracuse did not qualify for each of the last five NCAA Tournaments, which represents the school’s longest dry spell since 1967-72. From 1973 to 2021, the Orange participated in 39 of the 48 tournaments.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jets end skid by beating Rangers in OT
Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) passes the puck while defended by New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Kyle Connor and Gabriel Villardi scored in the first two rounds of the shootout and the visiting Winnipeg Jets ended a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 victory over the host New York Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
Connor scored when he got a shot to trickle under rookie Dylan Garand’s pads and his shootout goal occurred after he had 11 shot attempts in regulation and overtime. Vilardi scored when he cut to the right and flicked a wrist shot by Garand.
Backup goalie Eric Comrie stopped Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller in the shootout after making three saves during an interference penalty on Mark Scheifele in overtime.
The Jets (29-29-12, 70 points) snapped their skid after blowing a pair of one-goal leads. Winnipeg began Sunday five points behind the Nashville Predators for the final wild-card spot.
Adam Lowry and Vilardi scored in regulation for the Jets, who could not score during a late power play in overtime. Comrie made 27 saves and prevented the Jets from another loss.
Tye Kartye and Mika Zibanejad scored tying goals in the second period as the Rangers (28-33-9, 65 points) lost their fourth straight. Garand made 35 saves in a solid NHL debut after being called up to replace backup goalie Jonathan Quick (upper-body injury).
Lowry opened the scoring with 6:54 left in the first period when he got a step on New York defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov and buried a tap-in after getting to the front of the net. Kartye tied it 41 seconds into the second period after Miller pried the puck away from Vilardi.
Vilardi gave the Jets the lead again with 13:17 left when he finished off a one-timer in between the circle after being left open by Braden Schneider and Kartye. Zibanejad tied when he took a pass from Adam Fox and blasted a one-timer from the right circle past Comrie with 5:57 remaining.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lionel Messi scores as Inter Miami rally past NYCFC
Mar 22, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder Keaton Parks (55) and New York City FC midfielder Maximiliano Moralez (10) fight for the ball challenged by Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) during the first half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images Micael Dos Santos’ go-ahead goal in the 74th minute lifted Inter Miami to a 3-2 comeback victory over host New York City FC on Sunday afternoon.
Dos Santos headed home a beautiful ball from fellow defender Noah Allen, which found its way past NYCFC keeper Matt Freese and gave Inter Miami (3-1-1, 10 points) its first MLS win since March 7.
Lionel Messi scored his 901st career goal and Gonzalo Lujan scored his first career MLS goal for Inter Miami, which bounced back after being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday after a pair of draws against Nashville and that side advancing on the away goals tiebreaker.
NYCFC (3-1-1, 10 points) suffered its first defeat of the season and snapped a three-game winning streak despite goals from Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Agustin Ojeda.
Maxi Moralez delivered his own stellar assist to Ojeda in the 59th minute to put NYCFC briefly ahead 2-1.
Moralez sent a great ball through traffic down the middle of the field to Ojeda, who was uncontested, and flipped the ball past Inter Miami goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair.
But two minutes later, Inter Miami earned a free kick and Messi delivered. His shot deflected off NYCFC’s Hannes Wolf and redirected past Freese (five saves) to tie the game at 2.
Messi nearly had a multi-goal match as he came close on several chances. He hit the post in the 31st minute and the crossbar in the 42nd minute. He also had a late opportunity to pad Miami’s lead but missed wide.
German Berterame appeared to extend Miami’s lead in the 79th minute, but what would have been his first goal with his new club was nullified after he was ruled offside.
After Lujan scored in the fourth minute, NYCFC leveled the match on a fantastic free kick goal by Fernandez Mercau, who lifted a high shot that bounced just under the crossbar and in, freezing St. Clair in place in the 17th minute.
NYCFC used Moralez as a decoy, having him approach as if he would take the shot and then Fernandez Mercau ran up and booted it.
St. Clair (three saves) made a huge save late in stoppage time to preserve Inter Miami’s win.
–Field Level Media
Report: Syracuse hero Gerry McNamara returning as coach
NYT Strands hints, answers for March 22, 2026
