Sports
Spring training roundup: Rangers hammer White Sox with 9-run first
Sep 13, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Josh Smith (8) waits for a pitch during an at-bat against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Josh Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, and Joc Pederson ended a nine-run outburst in the first inning with a three-run homer to left center as the visiting Texas Rangers beat the Chicago White Sox 11-3 in spring training action Monday in Phoenix.
Adolis Garcia singled home Smith for the first run of the game, and after an RBI sacrifice fly and a bases-loaded walk, Jonathan Ornelas and Smith hit run-scoring singles to get on base for Pederson’s shot. Abimelec Ortiz and Jax Biggers added solo shots in the ninth.
Jon Gray (1-0) made the start for Texas and threw two spotless innings with one strikeout.
Starter Shane Smith (0-1) and Chris Rodriguez split the woeful first inning for the White Sox before Smith returned to pitch the second. Andre Lipcius and Oscar Colas had RBI doubles.
Cardinals 7, Mets 4
Luken Baker hit a three-run home run and an RBI sacrifice fly that proved to be the winning run as St. Louis beat visiting New York in Jupiter, Fla., in the only Grapefruit League action of the day that wasn’t rained out.
Steven Matz pitched two hitless innings as the Cardinals’ starter before Kyle Leahy (1-0) got the win with an inning of relief. Jose Barrero added a solo shot.
Newly re-signed first baseman Pete Alonso had a two-run double and Jose Azocar and Chris Williams added solo homers for the Mets. Starter Blade Tidwell yielded three runs on four hits in two innings and Joander Suarez (0-1) allowed Jordan Walker’s go-ahead double and Baker’s sac fly in the sixth.
Athletics 1, Royals 1
Luis Urias tied the game with a single in the sixth and the A’s hung on to draw with host Kansas City in Surprise, Ariz.
Cavan Biggio went 2-for-3 and hit a solo home run for the Royals in the fifth before the visitors knotted the game.
The A’s outhit the Royals 6-5, led by Lawrence Butler’s two hits. Starters Osvaldo Bido (A’s) and Cole Ragans (Royals) each went two innings.
Rockies 2, Giants 2
Chanteyon Davidson hit an RBI double in the bottom of the ninth and host San Francisco’s split squad tied Colorado in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Jung Hoo Lee hit a solo shot for the Giants, and Justin Verlander made his team debut by pitching two innings and giving up one run with one strikeout.
Michael Toglia homered off Verlander in the top of the first and added an RBI single for the Rockies. Starter Chase Dollander fanned three and gave up a run on two hits in two innings.
Reds 8, Dodgers 1
Austin Hays finished a massive day 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs as host Cincinnati beat Los Angeles in Goodyear, Ariz.
Sal Stewart added a pinch-hit solo shot in the eighth for good measure. Brady Singer made the start for the Reds and fanned four with two hits over two innings, before Carson Spiers (1-0) took over for the next two frames and fanned five, yielding a run on two hits.
Tyler Glasnow (0-1) gave up three hits, including Hays’ two-run double, with two strikeouts in one inning. Eddie Rosario had the Dodgers’ only RBI.
Cubs 10, Padres 5
Michael Busch’s three-run homer highlighted a five-run sixth as visiting Chicago beat San Diego in Peoria, Ariz.
Parker Chavers hit an RBI double and a two-run triple for the Cubs, and James Triantos added two RBIs. Brad Keller (1-0) pitched two innings of perfect relief.
Eguy Rosario hit a two-run home run and Tirso Ornelas added a solo shot for the Padres. J.B. Wendelken (0-1) took the loss with five runs on four hits and a walk in 2/3 of an inning.
Diamondbacks 4, Guardians 3
Eugenio Suarez’s two-run double in the fifth inning completed the comeback as host Arizona rallied from down 3-0 to beat Cleveland in Scottsdale.
Corbin Carroll went yard in the fourth inning and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drew the Diamondbacks within one on a sac fly to set the table for Suarez. The win went to Zane Russell (1-0) for getting the final out of the fifth after starter Zac Gallen struck out two and gave up a home run in one frame.
Gabriel Arias homered off Gallen and Kyle Manzardo added a two-run shot for the Guardians. Andrew Walters (0-1) yielded three runs on a hit and two walks in 1/3 inning.
Mariners 12, Brewers 8
Hogan Windish hit the go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh as visiting Seattle rallied from down six to beat Milwaukee in Phoenix.
Lazaro Montes added a three-run shot for good measure in the eighth after Mitch Haniger went deep in the second for the Mariners, who scored six runs in the sixth to tie the game 7-7 before the Brewers eked ahead one more time. The win went to reliever Gabe Speier (1-0), who worked the sixth.
Rhys Hoskins and Oliver Dunn hit back-to-back solo jacks in the fifth to put the Brewers ahead 7-1. Kyle Hunt (0-1) gave up Windish’s homer.
Angels 7, Giants 4
Jorge Soler’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone as Los Angeles beat visiting San Francisco in Tempe, Ariz.
Taylor Ward hit an RBI double as the Angels piled up 12 hits. Mike Trout made his spring debut and finished with a walk, a run and a strikeout. Starter Kyle Hendricks (1-0) fanned three in two spotless innings.
Marco Luciano homered for the Giants. Starter Mason Black (0-1) was dinged for four runs on four hits and two walks over 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
UFC Abu Dhabi Best Bets: Top Picks for Ankalaev vs. Guskov Fight Night
Mar 28, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; UFC CEO Dana White talks to the press after the fight between Israel Adesanya (red gloves) and Joe Pyfer (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images We’re one day away from the UFC returning to its Fight Island home on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for another weekend Fight Night. It’s the first of what is expected to be two occasions this year where the Octagon lands in Abu Dhabi, with the annual late October numbered card in Abu Dhabi expected.
The main event will see former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev taking on Bogdan Guskov.
This will be Ankalaev’s first fight since dropping the title to Alex Pereira last year at UFC 320. Before that, Ankalaev went on a 14-fight unbeaten streak, culminating with his UFC 313 title win over Pereira.
Guskov takes this fight on short notice, only being announced for this bout on July 13 after an injury to Khalil Rountree Jr. Guskov dropped his UFC debut but then won four straight. He most recently fought at UFC 323, battling former champion Jan Blachowicz to a majority draw.
The co-main event will see former flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg battle Ramazan Temirov. After losing three straight, Erceg enters this bout with back-to-back wins, defeating Ode’ Osbourne last year and Tim Elliott this past May in Perth. Temirov, meanwhile, has won 11 straight, including his first two UFC bouts, finishing CJ Vergara and earning a decision over Charles Johnson.
The rest of the main card will see Islam Dulatov vs. Wellington Turman, Damian Rzepecki vs. Magomed Zaynukov, Rizvan Kuniev vs. Tyrell Fortune, and Abubakar Vagaev vs. Saygid Izagakhmaev.
ISLAM DULATOV VS WELLINGTON TURMAN
Unbeaten since dropping his pro debut, Islam Dulatov is a name the UFC has had its eye on. He’s 11-1, had a strong first-round finish on Dana White’s Contender Series, and quickly finished Adam Fugitt in his UFC debut last year. At 6’3” and with a 75-inch reach, Dulatov is a fairly big man for the welterweight division. Add in his high-volume striking and pressure, and his ability to finish by either KO/TKO or submission, and you can see the danger he presents.
Wellington Turman is an experienced veteran of the Octagon, and he’ll look to trouble Dulatov with his jiu-jitsu work. This will be Turman’s first fight since December 2023, however, and he enters this fight on a three-fight losing skid. Signs point to this being another Dulatov showcase.
BET: Dulatov to win via KO/TKO in Round 1 (FanDuel: -110)
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VALTER WALKER VS THOMAS PETERSEN
How Valter Walker is not on the main card of this event is downright criminal. He might be fighting an unranked fighter and the heavyweight division might be lackluster, but he’s probably this writer’s favorite thing about the division right now. The man gets submissions like crazy, and he’s developing into one of the most talented heavyweights in a UFC division that desperately needs talent.
Petersen has talent, but he’s been up and down since entering the UFC – and I prefer the competition Walker has faced. Point blank, a loss for Walker here would be devastating for not just Walker, but the division as a whole. The challenge for making a play here is that Petersen has a wrestling base and has never been submitted…and yet, the way Walker’s momentum has been, that might not matter.
BET: Walker via submission (DraftKings: +165)
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DUSTIN JACOBY VS MUHAMMAD SAID
Dustin Jacoby might not reach the upper echelon of the UFC light heavyweight rankings, but he’s tough competition for anyone who is put in front of him. The power in his strikes, which stem from his kickboxing days, translated well into the Octagon. Not only are his losses not bad, but he’s riding a three-fight KO/TKO streak entering this bout.
Said is going to have a hometown factor in this one, and he’s a strong striker and finisher in his own right. The question about him is the level of competition. Jacoby is the most experienced guy he’s going to have fought – in his first six fights, he fought fighters who had no more than four fights. He’s faced experienced fighters in his last three, but they didn’t have the greatest of records.
Some have felt this will be a difficult fight to predict, but I’ll trust in both fighters’ finishing abilities.
BET: Fight to end via KO/TKO/DQ (Caesars: -125)
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