Only 3 Action Thrillers in the 2020s Can Be Considered True Masterpieces
The action genre has experienced a true peak throughout the 2020s. After coming back with…
The action genre has experienced a true peak throughout the 2020s. After coming back with…
रविवार शाम को चली तेज हवा और फिर हुई बारिश के कारण विमान सेवा प्रभावित…
Apr 10, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Shane Baz (34) delivers during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images The importance of getting off to a strong start is something the Houston Astros and host Baltimore Orioles are well aware of entering Tuesday night’s series opener.
“It just sets a different tone to your day (when) you score first,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “The momentum, you want to keep that on your side. … When we do that, we put ourselves in a really good spot to win games.”
The Astros have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games, but they beat the visiting New York Yankees 7-4 on Sunday to avoid being swept.
The Orioles have lost three of their last five games, including two in a row to visiting Boston. They fell behind in the last two games and weren’t able to recover.
The Astros and Orioles both had Monday off.
Right-hander Shane Baz (0-2, 5.08 ERA) will head to the mound Tuesday for the Orioles looking for his first victory in a Baltimore uniform in his sixth start. Baz has worked at least five innings in every outing, but he has been tagged for four runs in each of his last two starts.
In two home games, Baz has given up a total of seven runs in 10 1/3 innings. He has faced the Astros three times in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA across 18 innings.
An injury-riddled rotation is forcing the Astros to move right-hander Kai-Wai Teng (1-1, 2.16) from the bullpen to start Tuesday’s game as an opener. Teng, who spent the last two seasons with San Francisco and started seven games last season, has thrown 16 2/3 innings over 11 relief appearances, striking out 16 and walking six.
This will be his first appearance against Baltimore.
Christian Walker had a home run and a double for the Astros on Sunday. He has homered in back-to-back games and in three of his last six. By the end, Houston had scored seven runs to match their second-highest total in the last three weeks.
“Really good at-bats from the very beginning,” Espada said.
Baltimore scored a total of four runs in its last two games combined.
“We know we can put up as many runs as the best teams,” Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson said. “I know we’re one of the best teams at doing it. We just got to go out and do it. It’s just a matter of going out there and proving it.”
Henderson has smashed nine home runs this season. Catcher Samuel Basallo has homered in two of the last three games for Baltimore.
The Orioles have lost three of their four last home series, dropping two of three games in each case.
This will be the second consecutive opponent to visit Baltimore holding last place in its respective division. The Astros are 11-18, while Boston was 11-17 when it departed.
By the end of the Boston series, the Orioles had made roster moves that included designating right-hander Albert Suarez, who threw four innings Saturday, for assignment. Baltimore brought back reliever Ryan Helsley from the family emergency medical list.
–Field Level Media
Apr 10, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Shane Baz (34) delivers during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images The importance of getting off to a strong start is something the Houston Astros and host Baltimore Orioles are well aware of entering Tuesday night’s series opener.
“It just sets a different tone to your day (when) you score first,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “The momentum, you want to keep that on your side. … When we do that, we put ourselves in a really good spot to win games.”
The Astros have gone 3-7 in their last 10 games, but they beat the visiting New York Yankees 7-4 on Sunday to avoid being swept.
The Orioles have lost three of their last five games, including two in a row to visiting Boston. They fell behind in the last two games and weren’t able to recover.
The Astros and Orioles both had Monday off.
Right-hander Shane Baz (0-2, 5.08 ERA) will head to the mound Tuesday for the Orioles looking for his first victory in a Baltimore uniform in his sixth start. Baz has worked at least five innings in every outing, but he has been tagged for four runs in each of his last two starts.
In two home games, Baz has given up a total of seven runs in 10 1/3 innings. He has faced the Astros three times in his career, going 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA across 18 innings.
An injury-riddled rotation is forcing the Astros to move right-hander Kai-Wai Teng (1-1, 2.16) from the bullpen to start Tuesday’s game as an opener. Teng, who spent the last two seasons with San Francisco and started seven games last season, has thrown 16 2/3 innings over 11 relief appearances, striking out 16 and walking six.
This will be his first appearance against Baltimore.
Christian Walker had a home run and a double for the Astros on Sunday. He has homered in back-to-back games and in three of his last six. By the end, Houston had scored seven runs to match their second-highest total in the last three weeks.
“Really good at-bats from the very beginning,” Espada said.
Baltimore scored a total of four runs in its last two games combined.
“We know we can put up as many runs as the best teams,” Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson said. “I know we’re one of the best teams at doing it. We just got to go out and do it. It’s just a matter of going out there and proving it.”
Henderson has smashed nine home runs this season. Catcher Samuel Basallo has homered in two of the last three games for Baltimore.
The Orioles have lost three of their four last home series, dropping two of three games in each case.
This will be the second consecutive opponent to visit Baltimore holding last place in its respective division. The Astros are 11-18, while Boston was 11-17 when it departed.
By the end of the Boston series, the Orioles had made roster moves that included designating right-hander Albert Suarez, who threw four innings Saturday, for assignment. Baltimore brought back reliever Ryan Helsley from the family emergency medical list.
–Field Level Media
Apr 10, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Shane Baz (34) delivers during the…
The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the results of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) elections held on September 28, 2024, to stand, but directed that the elected body will function only as an interim arrangement under the supervision of a court-appointed Administrator, former Chief Justice Gita Mittal.
In its order, Justice Mini Pushkarna made it clear that while the outcome of the 2024 elections will not be disturbed at this stage, the executive committee will operate in a limited capacity and remain subject to the oversight of Justice (Retd.) Mittal.
It means that Chintan Parikh, who is from the Gujarat State Association, is the new AITA president while Maharashtra’s Sunder Iyer is general secretary. Dinesh Arora from Punjab Association is treasurer while KSLTA’s Sunil Yajman is one of the joint secretaries.
“It’s a great moment for tennis in India. All we want is to promote the game in the country and take it to the pinnacle. We want to do a lot for junior tennis as well. While we will work as an interim body for the time being, it still is a huge step forward to create a system through which the Indian tennis ecosystem will benefit,” Iyer told PTI.
The court tasked Justice Mittal with managing the affairs of AITA and ensuring that its functioning is aligned with the National Sports Code and the amended constitution and by-laws by June 30.
As of now AITA has a 25-member Executive Committee but as per the NSG Act, it needs to be a 15-member panel.
She has also been directed to conduct fresh elections within a period of three months after the constitution is aligned with the Sports Act, 2025 and Sports Governance Rules 2026.
Until then, the present office-bearers will continue only to handle routine affairs.
“I totally welcome the judgement of the Hon’ble court. Happy that the long standing impasse has ended and this is a big a step forward for AITA and Indian tennis,” Yajman told PTI, reacting to the development.
“It’s crucial for us to follow the Hon’ble court’s order and work on implementing it without any delay. We all need to come together and work towards settling this matter forever and focus on development of the sport in our country. It’s imperative to move forward positively,” he added.
The court placed restrictions on the interim body, directing that it shall not make any new financial commitments without prior approval of the Administrator. It also mandated that the executive committee must function strictly in consonance with the amended by-laws.
Further, the court directed AITA to provide necessary infrastructure and logistical support to the Administrator, including office space, staff and other facilities required for the discharge of duties.
The Administrator has also been given the liberty to engage additional personnel, with all expenses, including a monthly remuneration of Rs 10 lakh, to be borne by AITA.
The court disposed of the writ petition along with pending applications in terms of the directions issued, noting that certain prayers had become infructuous in view of its findings in a connected matter.
Background
The September 2024 elections had been challenged before the High Court by former India players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, who raised concerns over the conduct of polls, eligibility norms and adherence to the Sports Code.
Much before that, the infighting within the AITA had reached a level where the several member states had planned a no-confidence motion against president Anil Jain for misuse of his office but after interference from the ministry, the proposal was withdrawn.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the results of the All India Tennis Association (AITA) elections held on September 28, 2024, to stand, but directed that the elected body will function only as an interim arrangement under the supervision of a court-appointed Administrator, former Chief Justice Gita Mittal.
In its order, Justice Mini Pushkarna made it clear that while the outcome of the 2024 elections will not be disturbed at this stage, the executive committee will operate in a limited capacity and remain subject to the oversight of Justice (Retd.) Mittal.
It means that Chintan Parikh, who is from the Gujarat State Association, is the new AITA president while Maharashtra’s Sunder Iyer is general secretary. Dinesh Arora from Punjab Association is treasurer while KSLTA’s Sunil Yajman is one of the joint secretaries.
“It’s a great moment for tennis in India. All we want is to promote the game in the country and take it to the pinnacle. We want to do a lot for junior tennis as well. While we will work as an interim body for the time being, it still is a huge step forward to create a system through which the Indian tennis ecosystem will benefit,” Iyer told PTI.
The court tasked Justice Mittal with managing the affairs of AITA and ensuring that its functioning is aligned with the National Sports Code and the amended constitution and by-laws by June 30.
As of now AITA has a 25-member Executive Committee but as per the NSG Act, it needs to be a 15-member panel.
She has also been directed to conduct fresh elections within a period of three months after the constitution is aligned with the Sports Act, 2025 and Sports Governance Rules 2026.
Until then, the present office-bearers will continue only to handle routine affairs.
“I totally welcome the judgement of the Hon’ble court. Happy that the long standing impasse has ended and this is a big a step forward for AITA and Indian tennis,” Yajman told PTI, reacting to the development.
“It’s crucial for us to follow the Hon’ble court’s order and work on implementing it without any delay. We all need to come together and work towards settling this matter forever and focus on development of the sport in our country. It’s imperative to move forward positively,” he added.
The court placed restrictions on the interim body, directing that it shall not make any new financial commitments without prior approval of the Administrator. It also mandated that the executive committee must function strictly in consonance with the amended by-laws.
Further, the court directed AITA to provide necessary infrastructure and logistical support to the Administrator, including office space, staff and other facilities required for the discharge of duties.
The Administrator has also been given the liberty to engage additional personnel, with all expenses, including a monthly remuneration of Rs 10 lakh, to be borne by AITA.
The court disposed of the writ petition along with pending applications in terms of the directions issued, noting that certain prayers had become infructuous in view of its findings in a connected matter.
Background
The September 2024 elections had been challenged before the High Court by former India players Somdev Devvarman and Purav Raja, who raised concerns over the conduct of polls, eligibility norms and adherence to the Sports Code.
Much before that, the infighting within the AITA had reached a level where the several member states had planned a no-confidence motion against president Anil Jain for misuse of his office but after interference from the ministry, the proposal was withdrawn.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
The Delhi High Court on Monday allowed the results of the All India Tennis Association…
Indore demolishes 12 illegal houses, reclaims INR 30 crore government land in Khajrana Prop News Time…
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images April will go down as a month that manager Rob Thomson and the Philadelphia Phillies would prefer to forget.
With 11 losses in their last 12 games and only nine victories on the season, the Phillies are desperate for a win Tuesday when they host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game set.
Philadelphia enters the week with a 9-19 record, matching the New York Mets for the worst mark in baseball. The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, putting Thomson on the hot seat if things don’t turn around quickly.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images April will go down as a month that manager Rob Thomson and the Philadelphia Phillies would prefer to forget.
With 11 losses in their last 12 games and only nine victories on the season, the Phillies are desperate for a win Tuesday when they host the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game set.
Philadelphia enters the week with a 9-19 record, matching the New York Mets for the worst mark in baseball. The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, putting Thomson on the hot seat if things don’t turn around quickly.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks…
Being an Indian Premier League (IPL) captain is a tough job, and Riyan Parag has done a terrific job in his first year as Rajasthan Royals skipper to cope with the pressure, fast bowler Sandeep Sharma said on Monday ahead of a clash against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
“For a first-time captain, it’s a tough role, and he’s doing a very good job,” Sandeep said.
The experienced fast bowler also noted that Parag doesn’t have the luxury of leaning on senior pros like Sanju Samson did with Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin when they were at Rajasthan Royals.
“Riyan doesn’t have that same level of experience around him, but that can actually help him grow faster. He’ll learn a lot this season and come back as a much-improved captain in the future,” Sandeep said.
This year’s IPL has seen massive scores, often pushing bowlers out of the game, but Sandeep remains optimistic. “Hitting ability has improved massively over the last four or five years, especially with younger players coming in with a different range. I think the next lot of bowlers will also bring something new, and experienced bowlers will have to keep evolving. Even today, if you execute your plans well – whether it’s yorkers, slower balls or targeting a batter’s weakness – you can succeed,” he added.
According to Punjab’s assistant coach Brad Haddin, the bowler’s role is to find ways to slow the scoring even as modern batters continue to push the limits.
“From a coach’s point of view, you’re constantly trying to find ways to slow the game down – whether that’s through wickets or forcing batters into areas you want them to hit. Sometimes, you execute a perfect ball, and it still ends up in the stands. That’s just the power of the modern-day batter,” Haddin said.
At the halfway mark, Punjab is the only unbeaten team, with six wins and one no result. Asked how the side is avoiding complacency, Haddin said the focus remains on improvement.
“We’re lucky with this group. You watch them train: they all turn up, they know their roles, and they’re always trying to get better. That’s what we’ve enjoyed most as coaches – their appetite to improve,” he said.
“The job’s not done. We’re halfway through the tournament, and it’s about playing your best cricket at the back end. There’s still a lot of room for improvement with bat, ball, and in the field. That’s what we’re most pleased with – yes, we’re playing good cricket, but there are still areas we can get better in,” Haddin added.
The Australian also confirmed that fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who joined the Punjab Kings squad late, will be available for selection against the Royals.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Being an Indian Premier League (IPL) captain is a tough job, and Riyan Parag has done a terrific job in his first year as Rajasthan Royals skipper to cope with the pressure, fast bowler Sandeep Sharma said on Monday ahead of a clash against Punjab Kings at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
“For a first-time captain, it’s a tough role, and he’s doing a very good job,” Sandeep said.
The experienced fast bowler also noted that Parag doesn’t have the luxury of leaning on senior pros like Sanju Samson did with Jos Buttler and Ravichandran Ashwin when they were at Rajasthan Royals.
“Riyan doesn’t have that same level of experience around him, but that can actually help him grow faster. He’ll learn a lot this season and come back as a much-improved captain in the future,” Sandeep said.
This year’s IPL has seen massive scores, often pushing bowlers out of the game, but Sandeep remains optimistic. “Hitting ability has improved massively over the last four or five years, especially with younger players coming in with a different range. I think the next lot of bowlers will also bring something new, and experienced bowlers will have to keep evolving. Even today, if you execute your plans well – whether it’s yorkers, slower balls or targeting a batter’s weakness – you can succeed,” he added.
According to Punjab’s assistant coach Brad Haddin, the bowler’s role is to find ways to slow the scoring even as modern batters continue to push the limits.
“From a coach’s point of view, you’re constantly trying to find ways to slow the game down – whether that’s through wickets or forcing batters into areas you want them to hit. Sometimes, you execute a perfect ball, and it still ends up in the stands. That’s just the power of the modern-day batter,” Haddin said.
At the halfway mark, Punjab is the only unbeaten team, with six wins and one no result. Asked how the side is avoiding complacency, Haddin said the focus remains on improvement.
“We’re lucky with this group. You watch them train: they all turn up, they know their roles, and they’re always trying to get better. That’s what we’ve enjoyed most as coaches – their appetite to improve,” he said.
“The job’s not done. We’re halfway through the tournament, and it’s about playing your best cricket at the back end. There’s still a lot of room for improvement with bat, ball, and in the field. That’s what we’re most pleased with – yes, we’re playing good cricket, but there are still areas we can get better in,” Haddin added.
The Australian also confirmed that fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, who joined the Punjab Kings squad late, will be available for selection against the Royals.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Being an Indian Premier League (IPL) captain is a tough job, and Riyan Parag has…
Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a three run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617.
Sale became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).
Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18.
The Braves are 5-0 in rubber games and have not lost a series this season, improving to 8-0-1. They are 5-1 against Philadelphia; the National League East rivals don’t play again until September.
Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed some hard contact early but managed to work through 4 2/3 innings. He allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.
The Braves struck quickly in the first inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Drake Baldwin singled and Matt Olson hit a three-run homer, his eighth, deep into the right field seats.
Atlanta teed off on Nola again in the second. Mauricio Dubon walked, stole second and scored on Baldwin’s RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-0.
The Phillies threatened in the third inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Sale came back from a 3-0 count to strike out Bryce Harper and end the threat.
Philadelphia ended the shutout in the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber parked a two-run homer, his ninth, into the right field stands off left-hander Aaron Bummer.
–Field Level Media
Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a three run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as the Atlanta Braves beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617.
Sale became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).
Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18.
The Braves are 5-0 in rubber games and have not lost a series this season, improving to 8-0-1. They are 5-1 against Philadelphia; the National League East rivals don’t play again until September.
Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed some hard contact early but managed to work through 4 2/3 innings. He allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.
The Braves struck quickly in the first inning. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Drake Baldwin singled and Matt Olson hit a three-run homer, his eighth, deep into the right field seats.
Atlanta teed off on Nola again in the second. Mauricio Dubon walked, stole second and scored on Baldwin’s RBI single to stretch the lead to 6-0.
The Phillies threatened in the third inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Sale came back from a 3-0 count to strike out Bryce Harper and end the threat.
Philadelphia ended the shutout in the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber parked a two-run homer, his ninth, into the right field stands off left-hander Aaron Bummer.
–Field Level Media
Apr 26, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) hits a…
Kevin Durant missed Houston Rockets’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of a NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday night with an ankle injury, but coach Ime Udoka said Durant could return now that the series has been extended.
Udoka said Durant has a bone bruise on his ankle that is painful, and he has limited his mobility, but didn’t rule out his return this season.
“Yeah, a possibility, for sure,” Udoka said.
“I didn’t know how bad it was initially, and then we got that prognosis. But he’s doing what he can to get swelling out and mobility back. And just like the knee, we weren’t sure when he was going to come back, but he snapped back pretty quickly to be available for Game 2. So it is a true game-to-game, day-to-day thing,” he added.
Game 5 is on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Durant missed Game 3 on Friday night with the ankle injury, when the Rockets blew a six-point lead with less than 30 seconds to go in regulation of an eventual 112-108 overtime loss to fall to 0-3 in the series.
Sunday’s 115-96 win was the third game of the series that Durant has missed after he sat out the opener with a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2, scoring 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss, during which he injured his ankle late in the game.
His injury problems this postseason came after the 37-year-old ranked second in the league in the regular season by playing 2,840 minutes.
Durant, who is in his first season in Houston after an offseason trade from Phoenix, is the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Kevin Durant missed Houston Rockets’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of a NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday night with an ankle injury, but coach Ime Udoka said Durant could return now that the series has been extended.
Udoka said Durant has a bone bruise on his ankle that is painful, and he has limited his mobility, but didn’t rule out his return this season.
“Yeah, a possibility, for sure,” Udoka said.
“I didn’t know how bad it was initially, and then we got that prognosis. But he’s doing what he can to get swelling out and mobility back. And just like the knee, we weren’t sure when he was going to come back, but he snapped back pretty quickly to be available for Game 2. So it is a true game-to-game, day-to-day thing,” he added.
Game 5 is on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Durant missed Game 3 on Friday night with the ankle injury, when the Rockets blew a six-point lead with less than 30 seconds to go in regulation of an eventual 112-108 overtime loss to fall to 0-3 in the series.
Sunday’s 115-96 win was the third game of the series that Durant has missed after he sat out the opener with a bruised right knee. He returned for Game 2, scoring 23 points in 41 minutes of the 101-94 loss, during which he injured his ankle late in the game.
His injury problems this postseason came after the 37-year-old ranked second in the league in the regular season by playing 2,840 minutes.
Durant, who is in his first season in Houston after an offseason trade from Phoenix, is the fifth-leading scorer in NBA history.
Published on Apr 27, 2026
Kevin Durant missed Houston Rockets’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of…