Sports
Virginia Tech, Virginia hoping to catch late wave of success
Jan 11, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Virginia Cavaliers guard Isaac McKneely (11) dribbles against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Maples Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images It takes a deep dive into the history books at Virginia and Virginia Tech to discover that the last time both teams had losing records when they squared off was in 1970.
It’s happening again on Saturday as the Hokies (9-12, 4-6 ACC) travel to Charlottesville to face the Cavaliers (10-11, 3-7).
The teams have played 81 times since that meeting in January 1970, when a 3-7 Virginia squad topped 3-5 Virginia Tech in Charlottesville, 81-71.
Fifty-five years later, the teams are here again for the first of two meetings in a span of 15 days.
Despite their lowly records, both are coming off road victories and have reason for optimism as they face the final five weeks of the regular season.
Virginia has won two of its last three thanks largely to its 3-point marksmanship. In the three games, the Cavaliers have made 32 of 67 shots (47.8 percent) from deep.
Isaac McKneely has hit half of those triples for Virginia in 31 attempts (51.6 percent), while Taine Murray has drilled 5 of 7 (71.4 percent).
They were the standouts Wednesday in an 82-71 win at Miami. While McKneely had 26 points, Murray delivered career highs in both points (20) and assists (seven).
Their play helped the Cavaliers compensate for the absence of starters Elijah Saunders and Andrew Rohde, who both were seen this week in walking boots.
“We try to invest a lot of time into guys that don’t get an opportunity to play a big role,” Virginia interim coach Ron Sanchez said. “We coach them like they’re starters.”
Virginia Tech also is on an upswing, winning three of its last six, including a 76-66 victory Wednesday at Florida State. Tobi Lawal had 17 points and 13 rebounds to help deliver coach Mike Young his 400th win.
Lawal has improved as the season has progressed. In 10 games against ACC opponents, he has averaged 15.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 52.0 percent (13 of 25) from 3-point range.
“If you had told me back in September when we kicked it off that I’d be running a play for him to shoot the ball from 3, I’d give you an example that involves some ugly words,” Young joked this week. “I never thought I’d do that.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rafael Jodar continues ATP poll climb with win in Madrid debut
Aug 3, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; ATP Tour marking on the net at centre court during practice at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images Building on his recent ATP poll ascent, Madrid native Rafael Jodar battled back from one set down to knock out Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday in a 2-hour, 32-minute first-round clash at the Mutua Madrid Open.
The 19-year-old began the year ranked 168th, but has skyrocketed all the way to No. 42 as of Monday. Jodar returned to his hometown after claiming his first singles title April 5 at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakesh, Morocco, then narrowly losing in the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell semifinals last week.
On Wednesday, Jodar limped out the gates as De Jong broke each one of Jodar’s serves in the first set. From there Jodar hunkered down, saving three of the four break points he faced the rest of the match, and winning 14 of 19 first service points (74 percent) in the decisive final set.
Jodar, who grew up just 12 kilometers from the stadium, joined Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz as the only Spaniards to record a main-draw win in Madrid before turning 20. Jodar will face fifth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia in the round of 64.
“I try to handle the pressure as I have done since I was little,” Jodar said Monday before the tournament. “I’ve always been a very calm person both on and off the court. I know there’ll be moments when things don’t go as well as they have in recent tournaments. In those moments, you prove whether you’re mentally strong. Those moments will also make me stronger.”
A quartet of Italians lost in straight sets in the opening round — highlighted by former top 10 player Matteo Berrettini falling to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6-3, 6-4. Prizmic will face fourth-seeded Ben Shelton in the next round.
Lorenzo Sonego, a former top 25 player, lost to qualifier Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 7-6 (1), while Mattia Bellucci fell to Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-4. Federico Cina lost to qualifier Elmer Moller from Denmark 6-4, 7-6 (4).
French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi took down fellow French qualifier Titouan Droguet by a 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-4 count. Bonzi wasn’t broken once, but Droguet staved off Bonzi’s first eight break points before Bonzi finally cashed in to take a 5-4 lead in the final set. Bonzi’s reward? He’ll take on World No. 1 Italian Jannik Sinner in the next round.
Sinner has won all three times the two have faced off and the Italian will be looking for his fifth straight Masters 1000 title, which he has accomplished while dropping just one set.
In other three-set matches, Croatia’s Marin Cilic defeated Belgian Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Tomas Machac of Czechia came back to beat Francisco Comesana of Argentina 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-3.
In two-set territory, Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo took down France’s Valentin Royer 6-2, 6-4 to set up a Round of 64 meeting with 11th-seeded Jiri Lehecka of Czechia. Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2, 6-4 to advance to face 15th-seeded Tommy Paul.
Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff bested France’s Alexandre Muller 7-6 (3), 6-0, Emilio Nava topped Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 7-5, Austria’s Sebastian Ofner beat Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (5), 7-6 (0), Vit Kopriva of Czechia took down China’s Zhizhen Zhang 6-2, 6-0, Peru’s Ignacio Buse got past France’s Adrian Mannarino 6-4, 6-2 and Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz beat qualifier Jaime Faria of Portugal 6-3, 6-3.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets' Francisco Lindor (calf) exits vs. Twins
Apr 22, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after his RBI infield single against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor exited Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Minnesota Twins after the fourth inning due to left calf tightness
Lindor, who was on first base following a single, did not appear to be running at full speed as he circled the diamond and scored on Francisco Alvarez’s double.
The 32-year-old grimaced while rounding third and remained on the ground for a few seconds after sliding in ahead of Victor Caratini’s tag to give the Mets — who have lost 12 straight — a 2-1 lead.
Lindor was injured the same day Juan Soto returned from a 15-game absence due to a strained right calf. The Mets won their first three games after Soto was injured Apr. 3 before beginning their losing streak.
Lindor has missed just 15 games since his most recent IL stint in 2021, when he missed more than five weeks due to a right oblique strain.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves blast four homers to bypass Nationals
Apr 22, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II (23) celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Michael Harris II hit two home runs, Matt Olson smacked a three-run shot and the Atlanta Braves rallied from an early three-run deficit to claim an 8-6 win against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday night.
The seventh multi-homer game of Harris’ career helped Atlanta manager Walt Weiss earn his 300th victory. Drake Baldwin homered for the second straight game for the Braves, who have earned at least a split of the four-game series.
Dylan Lee (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win. Robert Suarez pitched the ninth for his second save. After walking 12 batters on Tuesday night, Braves pitchers issued only three free passes.
James Wood homered for the second straight game for Washington. Daylen Lile hit a three-run homer and Joey Wiemer had a pinch-hit solo shot.
Washington starter Zack Littell (0-3) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over six innings.
The Braves started in on Littell early as Baldwin homered to right center in the first to make it 1-0.
Washington jumped in front with a four-run first against Atlanta starter Didier Fuentes, who lasted just three innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.
Wood and Luis Garcia, Jr. opened the first with singles and, after two strikeouts, Lile delivered a homer to center. Jacob Young singled and scored when Jorbit Vivas doubled to right.
The Braves came right back. Ozzie Albies reached on a Vivas error and Harris homered to right. Mike Yastrzemski singled, went to third on a single by Jonah Heim and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ronald Acuna, Jr.
Harris struck again in the third as his solo shot gave the Braves a 5-4 lead.
Atlanta broke it open in the fourth. Heim and Acuna drew one-out walks and, with two outs, Olson homered to right to make it 8-4.
The Nationals cut the deficit in half in the sixth on solo homers by pinch-hitter Wiemer and Wood, whose 413-foot shot was his National League-leading ninth of the season.
Washington got the tying runs on with two outs in the eighth, but Tyler Kinley struck out Curtis Mead.
–Field Level Media
Rafael Jodar continues ATP poll climb with win in Madrid debut
Mets' Francisco Lindor (calf) exits vs. Twins
