Sports
Spring training roundup: Tyler Tolve's homer lifts Braves over Phillies
Mar 15, 2026; Clearwater, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves shortstop Brett Wisely (0) doubles against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Reliever JR Ritchie pitched a shutout over the final four innings and Tyler Tolve homered in the ninth as visiting Atlanta improved to an MLB-best 15-5 this spring with a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon over Philadelphia in Clearwater, Fla.
Ritchie (1-1) permitted no hits and struck out six. He walked none and lowered his spring ERA to 2.25 over four games and 12 innings.
Tolve’s home run came with one out in the top of the ninth, off Genesis Cabrera (0-2). Brett Wisely went 2-for-4 in the leadoff spot for the Braves.
The Phillies got five strong innings from starter Taijuan Walker. He gave up no runs and three hits, walking two and striking out three, to drop his ERA to 1.29 over two games and seven innings.
Tigers 12, Yankees (ss) 1
Visiting Detroit banged out 18 hits — including two apiece from Trei Cruz, Dillon Dingler and Javier Baez — and pinch hitter Jordan Yost hit a grand slam in the rout of a New York split squad in Tampa.
The Tigers had three other home runs — a three-run shot by Spencer Torkelson, a two-run blast by Matt Vierling, and a solo shot by Riley Greene.
For New York, starter Luis Gil (2-1) surrendered seven runs and nine hits over three innings. Jonathan Ornelas brought it in the lone run for the Yankees with a RBI single in the ninth.
Cardinals 6, Nationals 3
Nelson Velazquez hit his fourth home run of the spring and drove in four runs to lead host St. Louis past Washington in Jupiter, Fla.
Velazquez’s homer was a three-run shot in the first inning. He has nine RBIs this spring and is batting .333 in 33 at-bats. Winning pitcher Richard Fitts (2-1) gave up two runs and one hit over the first 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five.
The Nationals committed four errors. They were led by Joey Wiemer, who hit a three-run homer in the second inning.
Rays 6, Pirates 1
Cedric Mullins went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and four RBIs, while Jake Fraley went 3-for-3 with two runs as host Tampa Bay beat Pittsburgh in Port Charlotte, Fla.
Starter Shane McClanahan (2-0) earned the victory, surrendering no runs and no hits — with seven strikeouts — over 3 2/3 innings.
Pittsburgh had four hits and scored its run in the ninth inning on a homer by Konnor Griffin.
Red Sox 7, Twins 2
Caleb Durbin had two of Boston’s 10 hits, and Jason Delay hit a solo homer in his only at-bat as the Red Sox beat visiting Minnesota in Fort Myers, Fla.
Durbin is batting .400 in 30 at-bats this spring, with seven RBIs and three stolen bases.
For Minnesota, Alan Roden went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and starter Zebby Matthews (0-2) pitched five innings, giving up two runs (none earned) and four hits.
Astros 1, Marlins 0
Shay Whitcomb’s line-drive double in the eighth provided Houston with its only hit and run of the game, but it was enough to send the host Astros past Miami in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Houston starter Cristian Javier threw a shutout over four innings, giving up two hits and striking out five, with only one walk. AJ Blubaugh, the fifth Astros pitcher of the day, got his first decision of the spring after surrendering one hit over two shutout innings. He struck out three.
Marlins starter Eury Perez pitched hitless ball over four innings, walking one and striking out five.
Mets 8, Blue Jays 1
Mike Tauchman went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Marcus Semien homered and drove in three runs as host New York defeated Toronto in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in a game called after six innings because of rain.
Semien’s home run was a solo shot in the first inning.
Toronto had only four hits, and starting pitcher Grant Rogers gave up eight runs (five earned) and seven hits over 2 1/3 innings to drop to 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA this spring.
Dodgers (ss) 5, Rangers 3
After falling behind in the sixth inning, Los Angeles’ home squad wasted no time to retake the lead thanks to an Andy Pages RBI single to take down Texas in Phoenix, Ariz.
Dodgers starter River Ryan gave up four hits but allowed just one run, one walk and threw in five strikeouts to maintain his ERA at 1.86. Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the first inning one of two Los Angeles extra-base hits.
Marc Church took the loss for the Rangers in his first decision of the spring after allowing two hits and two runs in one inning of work. Mark Canha was 2-for-4 on the day with a two-run homer in the sixth.
Giants 7, Brewers 1
San Francisco was one out away from a combined perfect game and one strike away from a no-hitter that was headed by five dominant innings from Robbie Ray to subdue Milwaukee in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Ray lowered his ERA to 1.23 in his eight-strikeout showing with no walks or hits to get his first win of spring training. The Giants supported Ray with a six-run second inning that was sparked by a three-run homer from Jerar Encarnacion. Matt Chapman had three of San Francisco’s 11 hits.
Brewers starter Shane Drohan took the loss after giving up four runs (three earned), six hits and two walks across four innings.
Angels 6, Rockies 5
Zach Humphreys hit a two-run homer in the seventh to give Los Angeles its first lead and followed it up with a walk-off single to take down Colorado in Tempe, Ariz.
After being called up Tuesday, Humphreys’ pinch-hit homer in his first appearance this spring cemented the comeback from a 4-0 deficit that was also aided by Jeimer Candelario’s two-run homer in the fifth. The Angels bullpen allowed just three hits in the final six innings as Samy Natera Jr. got the win after a scoreless ninth.
Hunter Goodman hit a three-run homer in the third inning and Jake McCarthy hit a trio of singles for the Rockies.
Mariners 6, Reds 3
Brendan Donovan went 4-for-4 with three RBIs to push Seattle past Cincinnati in Peoria, Ariz.
Donovan drove in the first runs of the day for the Mariners with a 2-run double as part of a five-run fifth inning for Seattle, following it up with an RBI single in the sixth. Starter George Kirby went 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs and a walk with four strikeouts. Luke Raley and Rob Refsnyder also chipped in RBI doubles in the fifth.
Matt McLain hit a solo homer for the Reds and was 2-for-3 on the day. Cincinnati starter Brandon Williamson allowed just two hits and a walk and struck out four across four innings.
Royals 10, White Sox 4
Peyton Wilson and Luca Tresh hit two-run homers and Brandon Drury hit a solo shot as part of Kansas City’s 13 hits to take a game from Chicago in Surprise, Ariz.
Kansas City used a five-run seventh to blow the game open behind Gavin Cross’s three-run double and Wilson’s dinger. The Royals bullpen pitched a shutout as Alex Lange secured the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings. 12 different Royals logged a hit on the day.
Erick Fedde took the loss, giving up seven hits and three runs across 3 2/3 innings to go with four strikeouts.
Padres 4, Diamondbacks 4
San Diego erased a four-run deficit in the final two innings to salvage a stalemate with Arizona in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Romeo Sanabria and Pablo Reyes each had RBI doubles, the latter doing it with the Padres down to their last out, to force the tie. San Diego’s bullpen combined for 4 2/3 innings of no-hit work to wrap the game.
A four-run fourth was the only scoring on the day for the Diamondbacks as Jorge Barrosa headed the effort with a two-run triple. Starter Brandon Pfaadt didn’t allow a hit over five innings of work and struck out six.
Guardians 12, Athletics 6
Cleveland hit four home runs and used 15 hits to blow away the Athletics in Goodyear, Ariz.
David Fry hit a three-run homer in the first, Rhys Hoskins hit a two-run shot in the sixth and Stuart Fairchild hit back-to-back solo homers with CJ Kayfus in the seventh. Starter Tanner Bibee got pieced up by the Athletics, giving up 13 hits and six runs across 5 2/3 innings to raise his ERA to 4.42.
Colby Thomas and Cade Marlowe hit solo shots of their own for the Athletics. Starter Wei-En Lin was tagged for five hits and six runs across just 1 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out two.
Dodgers (ss) 14, Cubs 8
The Los Angeles road squad got the job done behind Jack Suwinski’s first inning, three-run homer to down Chicago in Mesa, Ariz.
Zachary Ehrhard and Damon Keith each had two-RBI triples as eight Dodgers collected at least one RBI. Starter Emmet Sheehan got the win after a solid 3 2/3 innings where he gave up three hits, two runs and one walk while striking out four.
Jameson Taillon’s rough spring continued as he gave up eight hits, 10 runs and four walks through 3 1/3 innings, raising his ERA to 22.18. Devin Ortiz attempted to give the Cubs a late spark with a ninth-inning grand slam.
Orioles-Yankees (canceled)
The game between New York’s split squad and Baltimore in Sarasota, Fla., was scratched due to inclement weather. There will be no makeup date.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Behind Jordan Staal's 2 goals, Hurricanes level Stanley Cup Final 2-2
Jun 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) carries the puck in front of Vegas Golden Knights center William Karlsson (71) during the 1st period in game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Jordan Staal scored two goals, including the go-ahead tally in the third period, and Nikolaj Ehlers had a goal and two assists as the Carolina Hurricanes evened the Stanley Cup Final at two wins apiece with a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.
It marked the fourth straight game that Staal scored a goal. He has five total in the finals after registering just two in Carolina’s first 13 playoff games this spring.
Jackson Blake had a goal and an assist and Logan Stankoven also scored for Carolina. Brandon Bussi, making his first NHL playoff start after coming off the bench in Game 3, made 18 saves.
William Karlsson had a goal and an assist and Brett Howden and Mark Stone also found the net for the Golden Knights. Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 23 of 27 shots.
Game 5 in the best-of-seven series is set for Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
The Hurricanes led 3-1 after one period, but the Golden Knights leveled the contest 3-3 in the middle frame.
Staal put Carolina back in front at 6:32 of the third period, flicking in the rebound of Ehlers’ shot over Hart’s glove while diving to the ice near the right post. The score came after the Hurricanes’ Seth Jarvis intercepted a clearing pass from Shea Theodore in the high slot, but Hart turned away Jarvis’ backhand try.
The Golden Knights pulled Hart for an extra attacker late in the game, and Ehlers sealed it with an empty-netter from behind his goal with 54.9 seconds remaining.
The Hurricanes needed only 66 seconds to take a 1-0 lead, and they did it with a goal similar to the one that beat them in double overtime on Saturday. Jalen Chatfield fired a point shot that, like Theodore’s winning tally in Game 3, bounced off the end boards. This one went to Stankoven, who beat Hart with a backhand shot.
Blake made it 2-0 at 3:28 of the first, firing in a wrist shot from the bottom of the left circle off a Taylor Hall crossing pass.
Vegas halved the deficit at 7:22 of the opening period. Stone took a long stretch pass from Theodore and broke in, faked a shot in the slot and then wrapped a wrist shot around Bussi’s right pad.
The Hurricanes, taking advantage of a Vegas penalty for too many men on the ice, extended the lead to 3-1 at 12:48 of the first period. Staal, stationed in front of the crease, knocked in a rebound of a Shayne Gostisbehere point shot.
Vegas nearly scored at the end of the period on a Brayden McNabb shot from the right circle at the buzzer, but the goal was waived off when replays showed time had expired before the puck crossed the goal line.
The Golden Knights battled back to tie it 3-3 in the second period on goals by Karlsson, a one-timer through traffic from the left circle at 4:22, and Howden, who finished an odd-man rush with a wrist shot through the legs of defenseman K’Andre Miller and over Bussi’s right shoulder at 17:08.
It was Howden’s league-leading 14th goal of the playoffs, setting a franchise record for most goals in a postseason campaign.
–Steve Guiremand, Field Level Media
Sports
Early homers propel Rockies to skid-ending win over Cubs
Jun 9, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman (15) reacts to his two run home run in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar homered as the Colorado Rockies beat the Chicago Cubs 7-3 in Denver on Tuesday.
Edouard Julien had two hits and drove in three runs, Willi Castro finished with three hits and Kyle Karros had two hits for Colorado, which snapped a four-game losing streak.
Tomoyuki Sugano (6-4) allowed three runs on six hits in five-plus innings for the Rockies. He struck out three and walked two.
Michael Busch homered and Alex Bregman had two hits and an RBI for Chicago, which has lost six of its past eight games.
Colorado jumped on top in the first inning against Colin Rea. TJ Rumfield was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Goodman followed with his team-leading 18th home run of the season to make it 2-0.
Tovar expanded the Rockies’ lead when he led off the second with his fifth long ball of the season, and the hosts tacked on two more in the frame. Karros hit a one-out single, Julien drove him home with a double and Jake McCarthy followed with an RBI single.
Chicago got one back in the third against Sugano. Dansby Swanson led off with a double, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Busch walked to load the bases, and Swanson scored on Bregman’s sacrifice fly.
Colorado responded in the bottom of the inning. Goodman led off with a walk and went to third on Troy Johnston’s double. Rea fanned Tovar and Cole Carrigg before walking Karros. Julien then laced a two-run single to center to make it 7-1.
Rea (5-4) lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing season-high totals of seven runs and nine hits. He walked three and fanned two.
The Cubs cut into the lead in the sixth inning. Busch led off with his seventh homer of the season, and Bregman singled. Seth Halvorsen relieved Sugano and walked Ian Happ, then threw a wild pitch that moved the runners to second and third with no outs.
Bregman scored on Seiya Suzuki’s groundout, but Halvorsen got out of the jam with two consecutive groundouts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marco Penge WDs from U.S. Open to continue focus on health
Marco Penge during the second round of the 2026 Masters Tournament. Marco Penge has withdrawn from next week’s U.S. Open as the English golfer continues to deal with nervous system issues along with ear and neck problems.
Penge, 28, suffered a viral infection in November 2025 but was enjoying a strong start to his rookie season on the PGA Tour until announcing last month that he was going to take a break from competition to focus on his health.
That came following the PGA Championship, where he missed the cut after contracting a sinus infection that caused vertigo symptoms. Penge hoped to return in time for next week’s major at Shinnecock Hills, but he announced his withdrawal on Tuesday.
“Unfortunately, myself and my team have decided that i am going to have to WD from the @usopengolf championship which Im gutted about,” Penge posted on X. “My health is the no.1 priority for now and until i get to the bottom of the issues i wont be competing. The plan is to return fully fit.
“I have had numerous scans and seen several specialists and we are getting close to resolving the issue that I’ve been struggling with for 8 months. I Appreciate the continued support as always and Ill be back soon!”
Penge posted on X on May 12 that he had been dealing with “ear/neck/nervous system” issues since the viral infection last November and that after continuing to deal with a sinus infection and vertigo, he underwent an MRI on his brain, head and neck.
“Thankfully the images were great and so a few of the doubts I have had have gone away which is a big relief,” he posted at the time.
After winning three times on the DP World Tour last season, Penge has made seven cuts in 12 starts this season, including a tie for fourth at the Valspar Championship. He has reached as high as 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking but has slipped to 47th since stepping away from competition.
–Field Level Media
