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Spring training roundup: Shohei Ohtani homers in first at-bat

MLB: San Francisco Giants at Baltimore OriolesSep 19, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) drives in two runs on his fourth inning double against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani hit a leadoff homer in his first at-bat of the spring, and the Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels split squad on Friday in Phoenix.

Ohtani, who missed the beginning of the Cactus League schedule while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, ended the game 1-for-3.

The Angels took a 5-4 lead in the top of the ninth on an RBI double from Jorge Ruiz. In the bottom of the ninth, Dalton Rushing hit a two-run walk-off double.

Tommy Edman homered among his two hits for the Dodgers. The Angels’ Jo Adell hit a second-inning grand slam.

Orioles 13, Twins 10

Baltimore hammered out eight runs in the top of the ninth to erase a five-run deficit and stun Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.

Jackson Holliday went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer for the Orioles. Carlos Tavera (1-0) gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the eighth inning before Logan Rinehart worked around a hit and a walk for the save.

Trevor Larnach homered during a 5-0 Twins start and finished the game with three RBIs. The Twins out-hit the Orioles 17-14, with Byron Buxton going 3-for-3.

Phillies 7, Red Sox 5

Matt Kroon and Carson DeMartini put Philadelphia in front for good with seventh-inning homers and Carson Taylor added the key two-run blast in the eighth in a win over visiting Boston in Clearwater, Fla.

Kroon went deep to left and Taylor singled before DeMartini’s blast made it 5-4 in favor of the hosts. Bryce Harper added two hits and Jean Cabrera (1-0) struck out four in two scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

Abraham Toro had a two-run single early on for the Red Sox, and Tyler Miller drew a bases-loaded walk in the ninth to cut the deficit. Robert Stock (0-1) gave up the first two Philadelphia homers amid his two innings, finishing with four earned runs on five hits and a walk.

Astros 3, Cardinals 2

Isaac Paredes and Shay Whitcomb hit solo homers and Paredes added an RBI single for his new team as host Houston beat St. Louis in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Paredes had the only multi-hit game on a day when each sides mustered just five hits. Starter Hunter Brown (1-0) pitched two innings with one hit and two walks before six relievers continued to limit the Cardinals’ bats.

Michael Helman’s sacrifice fly in the eighth and Bryan Torres’ groundout in the ninth provided the Cardinals’ two runs. Erick Fedde (0-1) struck out three and allowed Paredes’ homer in a two-inning start.

Pirates 3, Rays 2

Bryan Reynolds went 2-for-3 and scored the eventual game-winning run on a throwing error in the fifth as Pittsburgh eked out a win over visiting Tampa Bay in Bradenton, Fla.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa had an RBI double as the Pirates won despite being out-hit 11-5. Starter Mitch Keller (1-0) went three scoreless innings with two hits and a walk.

Tres Barrera hit a two-run single for the Rays half an inning after the Pirates scored their third run. Starter Ryan Pepiot (0-1) gave up a run on two hits and a walk, striking out two in two innings.

Blue Jays (ss) 10, Tigers 7

George Springer’s two-run double capped an eight-run uprising in the fourth inning for Toronto’s split squad as it went on to beat visiting Detroit in Dunedin, Fla.

Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first before contributing an RBI apiece in the fourth for the Blue Jays. Yariel Rodriguez (1-0) was charged with a blown save when he allowed Kerry Carpenter’s tying two-run homer in the fourth, but he was the pitcher of record after 1 2/3 innings.

The Tigers cut a 10-2 deficit down to three runs thanks to Justyn-Henry Malloy’s two-run single, Dillon Dingler’s two-run double and Patrick Lee’s RBI triple. Chase Lee (0-1) lasted just one-third of an inning and allowed the first four runs of Toronto’s explosion on three hits.

Braves 7, Marlins 2

Drake Baldwin went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles and a run in visiting Atlanta’s win over Miami in Jupiter, Fla.

Ian Anderson (1-1) threw the first three innings and yielded just two walks before Grant Holmes pitched the next three innings, striking out three with two walks. Nick Allen and Will Verdung had two hits apiece for the Braves.

Jack Winkler broke up the shutout in the eighth with a solo homer and Nathan Martorella added an RBI double in the ninth for the Marlins. Robby Snelling (0-1) took the loss for yielding two runs in two-thirds of the third inning after Sandy Alcantara struck out three with two hits in the first two frames.

Mets 7, Nationals 0

Juan Soto hit his second home run of the spring and Francisco Lindor went 2-for-4 with two runs as New York blanked visiting Washington in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Luis Torrens had a two-run single to open the scoring in the first and finished 2-for-3. The Mets won via shutout for the second straight day, with starter Brandon Sproat (1-0) throwing two perfect innings.

The Nationals were held to five singles. Shinnosuke Ogasawara (1-1) was tagged for four runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings.

Cubs 8, Rangers 8

Jordan Nwogu hit the game-tying single in the top of the ninth as Chicago tied host Texas in Surprise, Ariz.

Haydn McGeary hit a three-run homer in the seventh and Moises Ballesteros scored on a throwing error in the ninth before Nwogu’s hit. Starter Justin Steele went three innings, yielding two runs on two hits with two strikeouts.

New Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka racked up six RBIs on two home runs and a sacrifice fly as the Rangers built an 8-2 lead. Leody Taveras also homered and starter Cody Bradford scattered three hits and three strikeouts over three innings.

Athletics 13, Reds 1

Lawrence Butler hit a three-run blast, Zack Gelof and Miguel Andujar also homered and the A’s bullied visiting Cincinnati in Mesa, Ariz.

Butler finished with four RBIs, Andujar was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs and Jacob Wilson was 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs as the A’s racked up 13 hits. Jeffrey Springs (1-0) limited the Reds to one run on three hits and two walks in a two-inning start.

Blake Dunn hit an RBI single in the second to put the Reds on the board first before it was all A’s. Starter Hunter Greene (0-1) was responsible for five runs on three hits and two walks in two innings.

Guardians 3, Rockies 1

Milan Tolentino hit a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth to lift Cleveland over visiting Colorado in Goodyear, Ariz.

Tolentino and Johnathan Rodriguez finished 2-for-2 for the Guardians and Steven Kwan drove in Rodriguez for their first run on a sacrifice fly. Doug Nikhazy (1-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings for the win, striking out two.

Sean Bouchard had a game-tying solo homer in the sixth for the Rockies. Justin Lawrence (0-1) pitched the fateful eighth, allowing a hit and two walks.

Giants 9, Brewers 2

Matt Chapman, Wilmer Flores, LaMonte Wade Jr. and Mike Yastrzemski all went deep as San Francisco beat visiting Milwaukee in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Wade finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs to pace the Giants. Logan Webb (1-0) made a three-inning start and struck out four, allowing a run on three hits.

Caleb Durbin went deep for the Brewers. Starter Freddy Peralta (0-1) was dinged for three runs on two hits and a walk, striking out three over two frames.

Angels (ss) 3, White Sox 2

Jorge Soler hit a run-scoring double and a solo home run as Los Angeles’ split squad held on to beat visiting Chicago in Tempe, Ariz.

Soler and Mickey Moniak hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning before Soler tacked on the crucial third run in the third inning by homering to left center. Angels starter Reid Detmers (1-1) went three scoreless innings, yielding a hit and two walks with two Ks.

Brooks Baldwin had an RBI and Cal Mitchell got a second run on the board via sacrifice fly in the ninth for the White Sox. Starter Jonathan Cannon (0-1) took the loss thanks to two runs on four hits in two frames.

Diamondbacks 6, Royals 1

Gino Groover and Corbin Carroll homered in the fifth inning, Carroll’s a two-run shot, as host Arizona beat Kansas City in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Carroll also drove in a run on a third-inning single and finished 3-for-3. Ryne Nelson (1-0), the second of seven pitchers, yielded a hit and two walks in two scoreless frames.

MJ Melendez homered in the sixth for the Royals’ only run and one of their four hits. Hunter Harvey (0-1) pitched the third inning and gave up one run on two hits.

Yankees 6, Blue Jays (ss) 3

Austin Wells and Cody Bellinger hit first-inning homers, Alex Jackson went deep in the fifth and New York defeated Toronto in Tampa.

Jackson added a two-run double, and Bellinger also doubled. Yankees starter Gerrit Cole struck out five while throwing 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball.

Will Wagner collected two of the Blue Jays’ six hits. Blue Jays starter Jake Bloss was tagged for two runs on three hits in two innings.

Mariners 2, Padres 1

Cole Young’s seventh-inning double drove in Spencer Packard with the tiebreaking run as Seattle edged San Diego in Peoria, Ariz.

Mariners starter Bryan Woo retired six of the seven batters he opposed, with the only baserunner coming on an error.

Luis Arraez singled home the lone run for the Padres, who got two innings of one-run ball from Braden Nett.

–Field Level Media

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Chris Sale stifles Rockies as Braves cruise in blowout

MLB: Atlanta Braves at Colorado RockiesMay 2, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Chris Sale tossed seven stellar innings and Drake Baldwin homered and drove in four runs on Saturday night to help the visiting Atlanta Braves post a 9-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

Sale (6-1) allowed one run on three hits, striking out 11 and walking three for Atlanta, which remains the only MLB team to have not lost a series. Austin Riley also homered for the Braves, who built on their commanding National League East division lead. Their 24-10 record is the best in baseball.

Brennan Bernardino (2-1) served as the opener for the Rockies, allowing two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Chase Dollander then took over, throwing 5 1/3 innings of eight-hit, six-run ball, striking out three and walking three for Colorado, which dropped their fourth game in five tries.

After Ronald Acuna Jr. began the game with a single, Baldwin launched his eighth homer of the year on a drive to left to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.

In the second, Jorge Mateo doubled before Baldwin’s RBI single extended the lead to 3-0.

Kyle Karros singled to begin the third and scored on Jordan Beck’s two-out double, cutting the Rockies’ deficit to 3-1.

Eli White hit a run-scoring single and Baldwin’s double drove in a run in the fourth, before Ozzie Albies’ sacrifice fly made it 6-1 for Atlanta.

Michael Harris II singled and advanced to second on right fielder Troy Johnston’s error in the fifth, then scored on Riley’s two-run homer to left-center to push the lead to 8-1.

Tanner Gordon threw three innings in relief, allowing Matt Olson’s 11th home run of the season in the ninth to give the Braves a 9-1 lead.

Hunter Stratton threw a scoreless ninth to seal the win for the red-hot Braves.

–Field Level Media

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Evander's hat trick, late PK winner give Cincinnati win over Chicago

MLS: FC Cincinnati at Chicago Fire FCMay 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Fire FC defender Jonathan Dean (24) and FC Cincinnati forward Bryan Ramirez (29) battle for control of the ball during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

Evander converted a penalty kick seven minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a hat trick and lift FC Cincinnati to a 3-2 road win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday.

Evander collected a brace in the first half and then added his third goal for the late winner. A yellow card was issued to Chicago’s Dje D’Avilla for a foul in the box on Pavel Bucha, leading to the deciding penalty kick.

The winning goal came six minutes after Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers missed his own chance to complete a hat trick with a penalty-kick strike. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano (eight saves) made a huge save to deny Cuypers and preserve the 2-2 score.

FC Cincinnati (4-4-3, 15 points) won despite playing with only 10 men for most of the second half. Defender Kyle Smith was issued a straight red card in the 56th minute for an accidental kick to the face of the Fire’s Robin Lod.

Cincinnati is unbeaten in its last five (2-0-3) matches, including a 3-3 draw with the Fire two weeks prior.

The victory was Cincinnati’s first win in six road matches this season (1-3-2). FC Cincinnati are 5-0-1 in their last six trips to Chicago.

The Fire (5-3-2, 17 points) have held leads in all three of their losses this season. Saturday’s defeat ended a five-match (4-0-1) unbeaten streak for the home side.

After going scoreless in his first six regular-season matches, Evander now has five goals in his last four matches.

Cuypers has 10 goals in seven league matches this season, scoring at least once in every appearance. Cuypers’ three straight matches with multiple goals ties the second-longest brace streak in MLS history.

The forward started early Saturday, as Cuypers converted a shot that deflected off Smith and into the net in the 16th minute.

Shaky defending also aided in Evander’s equalizer in the 24th minute. During a scramble in front of the Fire’s net, Chicago center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a poor touch on a clearance attempt that put the ball right at Evander’s feet for the finish.

Cuypers completed the brace four minutes later, but Evander provided another quick response in the 31st minute.

–Field Level Media

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Canes keep rolling, blank Flyers to open semifinal series

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Philadelphia Flyers at Carolina HurricanesMay 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) is congratulated by left wing Taylor Hall (71) and right wing Jackson Blake (53) after his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Logan Stankoven scored twice and goaltender Frederik Andersen collected his second shutout of this year’s playoffs as the host Carolina Hurricanes opened their playoff series against the Philadelphia Flyers with a 3-0 victory on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

Jackson Blake scored once and added an assist for the Hurricanes, who followed a first-round sweep of the Ottawa Senators with a decisive victory to kick off the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series.

Andersen made 18 saves for his seventh career playoff shutout.

Mike Reilly collected a pair of assists.

Dan Vladar stopped 20 shots for the Flyers, who will attempt to regroup when the series resumes Monday in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes, who finished atop the Eastern Conference standings in the regular season, are yet to trail in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs and continued that trend thanks to their hottest player.

Stankoven tallied for the fifth consecutive game to open the scoring only 91 seconds into the clash. Reilly fired a point shot that Stankoven deflected into the net. Stankoven, 23, is the youngest player in history to score goals in five consecutive games to open the playoffs.

Stankoven has scored first in four of Carolina’s five playoff outings.

Blake doubled the lead six minutes later with a highlight-reel worthy tally. He zipped around the defenders before tucking home the puck for his second tally of the playoffs.

The Flyers had managed only one shot on goal at the point.

Stankoven gave the Hurricanes a three-goal edge late in the second period. After a turnover, Seth Jarvis fed a pass to Stankoven in the slot and he immediately buried the chance with 3:44 remaining in the middle frame.

From there, the Hurricanes cruised to victory, amidst a string of message-sending infractions by the Flyers and retaliatory actions from Carolina’s skaters.

After a handful of players were sent to the dressing room with misconducts just past the midway point of the final frame, things quieted.

–Field Level Media

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