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Xander Bogaerts helps end skid as Padres top Giants

MLB: San Francisco Giants at San Diego PadresApr 29, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) is congratulated by center fielder Tyler Wade (14) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Xander Bogaerts homered and knocked in three runs as the San Diego Padres snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-4 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

After scoring just three runs in its previous 43 innings, going back to a 2-0 win on April 22 in Detroit, San Diego worked over Logan Webb (3-2) and three relievers for 11 hits. It was the Padres’ highest-scoring game since a 10-4 home win over the Chicago Cubs on April 14.

Bogaerts, who had knocked in just five runs in the Padres’ first 28 games, led the charge. His RBI single up the middle started a three-run rally in the first inning, and his two-run homer with two outs in the seventh, his first homer of the year, supplied valuable insurance.

Nick Pivetta (5-1) allowed five hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings, walking one and fanning nine to post his fourth straight win. Four relievers finished up from there, with Robert Suarez pitching a 1-2-3 ninth for his 11th save in as many chances.

Webb permitted nine hits and five runs in five innings, with a walk and six strikeouts. He was an out away from retiring the side in order in the first when game-shaping trouble arrived. Manny Machado singled and Gavin Sheets walked before Bogaerts produced his run-scoring single. Jose Iglesias made it 3-0 moments later on a two-run single to right-center.

Willy Adames got San Francisco on the board in the fourth with a solo homer, his second homer of the year. But San Diego upped its advantage to 5-1 in its half of the fourth inning. Luis Arraez, one of two players to return off the injured list, scored Jason Heyward with a sacrifice fly. Machado spanked a two-out RBI single.

The Giants chased Pivetta and got back into the game in the sixth with three runs. Adames doubled and scored on Jung Hoo Lee’s single to center, followed by LaMonte Wade’s two-run double into the left field corner.

–Field Level Media

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WTA roundup: Elena Rybakina wins at Stuttgart for second time

Tennis: US OpenAug 31, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic in the fourth round of the women’s singles at the US Open at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Second-seeded Elena Rybakina won 25 of her 32 first-serve points (78.1%) and needed just 78 minutes on Sunday to post a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Karolina Muchova to win the championship match of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, had three aces while winning her 13th career title and second in Stuttgart. She also won the event in 2024. This victory marks the first time she has won multiple titles at a tournament.

The Czech Republic’s Muchova, the No. 7 seed, was much less efficient on her first serves, winning just 52.3% (23 of 44). She saved four of eight break points.

Muchova trailed 5-2 in the first set before winning three straight games to knot the match. But Rybakina won the final two games and then sailed through the second set to win her fifth clay court title.

Rouen Metropolitan Open

Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk hit 34 winners against 23 unforced errors while claiming a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Veronika Podrez in the first all-Ukrainian WTA final at Rouen, France.

Kostyuk converted 6 of 9 break points against the 19-year-old Podrez to win her second singles title. Podrez, a qualifier, was playing in her first final.

“This match today was not just a match,” Kostyuk said during the trophy presentation. “It was a historical moment for Ukrainian tennis. First time two Ukrainians playing in the final. I know how much work, sacrifice, tears and sweat goes into this sport and to be able to be on this stage. So I’m incredibly proud of Ukrainian tennis right now.”

Podrez had just one ace while committing seven double faults.

–Field Level Media

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Former Georgia WR Zachariah Branch arrested

Syndication: The Clarion-LedgerGeorgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch (1) takes questions from the press during the Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinals Media Day at Sheraton New Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, La., on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. Players and coaches from Ole Miss and Georgia took questions from the press.

Wide receiver Zachariah Branch, a Georgia standout who was expected to be selected in the NFL Draft later this week, was arrested early Sunday in Athens, Ga., according to Athens-Clarke County jail records.

Branch, 22, was charged with obstructing public sidewalks/streets and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, both misdemeanors. He was booked at 1:26 a.m. and released on bond at 3:44 a.m.

Widely projected as a Day 2 NFL draft pick, estimates show Branch going as high as the second round on Friday.

In his first season at Georgia, following a transfer from Southern California, Branch led the Bulldogs with 81 receptions for 811 yards and six touchdowns last season. Georgia went 12-2 and lost 39-34 to Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl.

In three college seasons, the first two at USC, Branch had 159 receptions for 1,634 yards and nine touchdowns in 37 games.

–Field Level Media

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Cavs guard duo out for even more in Game 2 vs. Raptors

NBA: Playoffs-Toronto Raptors at Cleveland CavaliersApr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after hitting a three point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ starting backcourt of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden lived up to the hype in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series against the Toronto Raptors.

Mitchell scored 32 points in 31 minutes, and Harden dissected the defense for 22 points and 10 assists, leading the fourth-seeded Cavaliers to a 126-113 home victory Saturday. Cleveland built a 24-point lead before coasting home with the win.

Fifth-seeded Toronto must figure out how to slow them down Monday, when Game 2 takes place at Cleveland.

“Every scenario is on the table,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “We’ve got to take a look at the film. I have my own thoughts, just based on the game, but I want to watch it to see what adjustments we can make.”

Mitchell and Harden were the best players on the court in the opener, combining to make 19 of 38 field goal attempts, 8 of 14 from 3-point range and 8 of 9 free-throw opportunities. They also combined for four steals, as the Cavaliers forced 17 turnovers as a team.

It didn’t matter who Toronto used against the star guards defensively. The guards took turns beating the defense off the dribble, in transition and making pinpoint passes in half-court sets. Max Strus took advantage with a career playoff-high 24 points off the bench and four 3-pointers.

“Our job now is to stay in the moment and take one game at a time,” Harden said. “I’ve been in this (situation). Things happen fast. Our job is to focus on what we can do better.”

Harden, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Clippers, was especially proficient at slowing down the pace and feeding his big men. Seven of his 10 assists went to either center Jarrett Allen or forwards Evan Mobley and Keon Ellis.

Mitchell was much more aggressive, bypassing his heavy diet of 3-pointers in favor of slashing through the lane. Thirteen of his 20 shots were within the arc, which also led to him go 6 of 7 from the foul line.

“You’ve got to pick, right? Do you trap James? Do you trap me? Do you switch?” said Mitchell, who extended his league-record streak of 30-plus points in a series opener to nine straight. “There are so many different things you have to pick. James makes my life a lot easier.”

Being so efficient on offense allowed Cleveland to set up defensively, stopping the fast-paced Raptors from using their youth and athleticism to speed up the game.

Toronto couldn’t adapt and only managed to take 71 shots — a whopping 18 below the league average. The Cavaliers took 81 shots, making 54.3% of them, and were 16 of 32 on 3-pointers.

“They were getting back, stopping us from running,” Toronto power forward Scottie Barnes said. “They beat us at one of the things we do best, and that’s transition. We’ve got to be prepared and have some urgency.”

RJ Barrett scored 24 points, Barnes had 21 points and Brandon Ingram and Jamal Shead added 17 apiece, but none had more than 14 shots. Shead started in his playoff debut with point guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain) inactive.

Quickley did practice Sunday, when the Raptors worked out in the practice gym at the Cavaliers’ arena, but Rajakovic said his status won’t be known until the pregame.

Regardless of which point guard is playing, the coach will emphasize the importance of feeding Ingram. Toronto’s leading scorer in the regular season (21.5 points per game) only got off nine shots while being blanketed by Strus, Ellis and Dean Wade.

“We have a small margin of error,” Ingram said. “They knew everything (play-wise) we would run throughout the year. They tried to deny me the ball every time I ran down the floor.

“At the end of the day, me shooting nine shots is not going to win basketball games.”

–Field Level Media

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