Deadspin | Chris Sale notches 150th win as Braves take rubber match from Phillies 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 #Deadspin #Chris #Sale #notches #150th #win #Braves #rubber #match #Phillies

Deadspin | Chris Sale notches 150th win as Braves take rubber match from Phillies
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

#Deadspin #Chris #Sale #notches #150th #win #Braves #rubber #match #Phillies

Sports news April 27, 2026

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

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#Deadspin #Chris #Sale #notches #150th #win #Braves #rubber #match #Phillies

NBA playoffs: Durant sidelined again as Houston Rockets extends series, coach Udoka calls return ’a possibility’ <div id="content-body-70913292" itemprop="articleBody">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.ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/basketball/nikola-jokic-fined-julius-randle-minnesota-timberwolves-denver-nuggets-fight-amount-nba-playoff-series/article70912681.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NBA: Nikola Jokic, Julius Randle fined for altercation during Game 4 of Nuggets vs Timberwolves playoff series</a>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</div> #NBA #playoffs #Durant #sidelined #Houston #Rockets #extends #series #coach #Udoka #calls #return #possibility

IPL 2026: ‘For a first-time captain, Riyan Parag is doing a very good job,’ says RR’s Sandeep Sharma <div id="content-body-70913228" itemprop="articleBody">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.<h4 class="sub_head">Room for improvement</h4>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</div> #IPL #firsttime #captain #Riyan #Parag #good #job #RRs #Sandeep #Sharma

Miami football isn’t back yet, but it’s close

Plenty of discussion last winter was reserved for dissecting if the Miami Hurricanes were, in fact, back. For as the much of The U being back has been a topic, predating the 2025 Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship Game, what being back actually means can have vastly different definitions.

Surely, had Miami knocked off an unbeaten Indiana — and the Hurricanes came a Jamari Sharpe interception away from doing just that — it would have constituted The U being back. Right?

Well…

Miami’s run to the finale of last season’s College Football Playoff was remarkable; so, too, was it taking Indiana to the wire in a 27-21 classic, with the Hurricanes playing the Hoosiers closer than most of the national champions’ competition in the 2025 campaign.

That run was also unprecedented in the history of college football. Of course, there have been only two instances in which a team like Miami, which went 10-2 in the regular season and missed its own conference championship game, could win a national championship in such fashion.

The 2025 Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunities afforded them by a much different landscape than that which existed during the program’s roughly 20-year heyday, and that’s commendable. But it’s not comparable to that heyday, unofficially spanning from 1983 when the late legend Howard Schnellenberger coached The U to its first championship and ending on Ohio State’s improbable win in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.

Incredibly, as we head into the silver anniversary of Miami’s last national championship, it’s been almost as long since a Hurricanes team won a conference title. That came in 2003, the program’s final season in the Big East, when The U shared the crown with West Virginia (albeit having survived a 22-20 struggle with the Mountaineers in the head-to-head matchup).

For context, Miami’s conference championship drought is going on five years longer than the span between its first national championship and last.

As a program-first ACC title continued to elude Miami, with losses to Louisville and SMU instead landing Virginia and Duke in Charlotte, the Hurricanes’ 2025 postseason run isn’t in the same category as the 2001 title won in dominant fashion by arguably the most talented collegiate roster ever assembled.

It’s not the 1987 or 1991 crowns when Miami ran the table, nor is it 1983 and 1989 when the Hurricanes rallied from regular-season losses to in-state rivals to finish on top. But 2025 could be the foundation on which Miami is back.

Although none of the 2026 Hurricanes when Miami was Miami, the mystique never faded. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., Offensive MVP of last year’s Cotton Bowl, offered commentary on Adam Breneman’s “Next Up” podcast to this end:

“’Ive seen how great Miami was, seen the great players that they’ve had, and I could help Miami at least a little closer to that, and I’ve got one more year to do it,” Fletcher said. “I would love to do that.”

Fletcher and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both products of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale and Miami’s Liberty City), provide the 2026 Hurricanes with one of the nation’s most potent skill-position combos. And while Miami has no ACC championship experience, its quarterback does.

Adding ACC Championship Game MVP and the conference’s passing yards leader a season ago, Darian Mensah, sets up the Hurricane offense nicely. A key transfer likewise provides the pillar for Miami’s 2026 title outlook on defense, with Damon Wilson II coming to Coral Gables off of a nine-sack season at Missouri.

There’s plenty to like about Miami’s chances of returning to past glory in 2026 — and doing so in a fashion that unambiguously declares the Hurricanes as being back by any definition.

#Miami #Football #Poised #Return #College #Footballs #Elite #Deadspin.com">

Why Miami Football Is Poised to Return to College Football’s Elite | Deadspin.com Miami football isn’t back yet, but it’s closePlenty of discussion last winter was reserved for dissecting if the Miami Hurricanes were, in fact, back. For as the much of The U being back has been a topic, predating the 2025 Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship Game, what being back actually means can have vastly different definitions.Surely, had Miami knocked off an unbeaten Indiana — and the Hurricanes came a Jamari Sharpe interception away from doing just that — it would have constituted The U being back. Right?Well…Miami’s run to the finale of last season’s College Football Playoff was remarkable; so, too, was it taking Indiana to the wire in a 27-21 classic, with the Hurricanes playing the Hoosiers closer than most of the national champions’ competition in the 2025 campaign.That run was also unprecedented in the history of college football. Of course, there have been only two instances in which a team like Miami, which went 10-2 in the regular season and missed its own conference championship game, could win a national championship in such fashion.The 2025 Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunities afforded them by a much different landscape than that which existed during the program’s roughly 20-year heyday, and that’s commendable. But it’s not comparable to that heyday, unofficially spanning from 1983 when the late legend Howard Schnellenberger coached The U to its first championship and ending on Ohio State’s improbable win in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.Incredibly, as we head into the silver anniversary of Miami’s last national championship, it’s been almost as long since a Hurricanes team won a conference title. That came in 2003, the program’s final season in the Big East, when The U shared the crown with West Virginia (albeit having survived a 22-20 struggle with the Mountaineers in the head-to-head matchup).For context, Miami’s conference championship drought is going on five years longer than the span between its first national championship and last.As a program-first ACC title continued to elude Miami, with losses to Louisville and SMU instead landing Virginia and Duke in Charlotte, the Hurricanes’ 2025 postseason run isn’t in the same category as the 2001 title won in dominant fashion by arguably the most talented collegiate roster ever assembled.It’s not the 1987 or 1991 crowns when Miami ran the table, nor is it 1983 and 1989 when the Hurricanes rallied from regular-season losses to in-state rivals to finish on top. But 2025 could be the foundation on which Miami is back.Although none of the 2026 Hurricanes when Miami was Miami, the mystique never faded. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., Offensive MVP of last year’s Cotton Bowl, offered commentary on Adam Breneman’s “Next Up” podcast to this end:“’Ive seen how great Miami was, seen the great players that they’ve had, and I could help Miami at least a little closer to that, and I’ve got one more year to do it,” Fletcher said. “I would love to do that.”Fletcher and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both products of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale and Miami’s Liberty City), provide the 2026 Hurricanes with one of the nation’s most potent skill-position combos. And while Miami has no ACC championship experience, its quarterback does.Adding ACC Championship Game MVP and the conference’s passing yards leader a season ago, Darian Mensah, sets up the Hurricane offense nicely. A key transfer likewise provides the pillar for Miami’s 2026 title outlook on defense, with Damon Wilson II coming to Coral Gables off of a nine-sack season at Missouri.There’s plenty to like about Miami’s chances of returning to past glory in 2026 — and doing so in a fashion that unambiguously declares the Hurricanes as being back by any definition. #Miami #Football #Poised #Return #College #Footballs #Elite #Deadspin.com

mwasimuddin125 0

Miami football isn’t back yet, but it’s close
Plenty of discussion last winter was reserved for dissecting if the Miami Hurricanes were, in fact, back. For as the much of The U being back has been a topic, predating the 2025 Hurricanes’ run to the National Championship Game, what being back actually means can have vastly different definitions.
Surely, had Miami knocked off an unbeaten Indiana — and the Hurricanes came a Jamari Sharpe interception away from doing just that — it would have constituted The U being back. Right?
Well…
Miami’s run to the finale of last season’s College Football Playoff was remarkable; so, too, was it taking Indiana to the wire in a 27-21 classic, with the Hurricanes playing the Hoosiers closer than most of the national champions’ competition in the 2025 campaign.
That run was also unprecedented in the history of college football. Of course, there have been only two instances in which a team like Miami, which went 10-2 in the regular season and missed its own conference championship game, could win a national championship in such fashion.
The 2025 Hurricanes capitalized on the opportunities afforded them by a much different landscape than that which existed during the program’s roughly 20-year heyday, and that’s commendable. But it’s not comparable to that heyday, unofficially spanning from 1983 when the late legend Howard Schnellenberger coached The U to its first championship and ending on Ohio State’s improbable win in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl.
Incredibly, as we head into the silver anniversary of Miami’s last national championship, it’s been almost as long since a Hurricanes team won a conference title. That came in 2003, the program’s final season in the Big East, when The U shared the crown with West Virginia (albeit having survived a 22-20 struggle with the Mountaineers in the head-to-head matchup).
For context, Miami’s conference championship drought is going on five years longer than the span between its first national championship and last.
As a program-first ACC title continued to elude Miami, with losses to Louisville and SMU instead landing Virginia and Duke in Charlotte, the Hurricanes’ 2025 postseason run isn’t in the same category as the 2001 title won in dominant fashion by arguably the most talented collegiate roster ever assembled.
It’s not the 1987 or 1991 crowns when Miami ran the table, nor is it 1983 and 1989 when the Hurricanes rallied from regular-season losses to in-state rivals to finish on top. But 2025 could be the foundation on which Miami is back.
Although none of the 2026 Hurricanes when Miami was Miami, the mystique never faded. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr., Offensive MVP of last year’s Cotton Bowl, offered commentary on Adam Breneman’s “Next Up” podcast to this end:
“’Ive seen how great Miami was, seen the great players that they’ve had, and I could help Miami at least a little closer to that, and I’ve got one more year to do it,” Fletcher said. “I would love to do that.”
Fletcher and wide receiver Malachi Toney, both products of South Florida (Fort Lauderdale and Miami’s Liberty City), provide the 2026 Hurricanes with one of the nation’s most potent skill-position combos. And while Miami has no ACC championship experience, its quarterback does.
Adding ACC Championship Game MVP and the conference’s passing yards leader a season ago, Darian Mensah, sets up the Hurricane offense nicely. A key transfer likewise provides the pillar for Miami’s 2026 title outlook on defense, with Damon Wilson II coming to Coral Gables off of a nine-sack season at Missouri.
There’s plenty to like about Miami’s chances of returning to past glory in 2026 — and doing so in a fashion that unambiguously declares the Hurricanes as being back by any definition.

#Miami #Football #Poised #Return #College #Footballs #Elite #Deadspin.com">Why Miami Football Is Poised to Return to College Football’s Elite | Deadspin.com

Miami football isn’t back yet, but it’s close

Surely, had Miami knocked off an unbeaten Indiana — and the Hurricanes came a Jamari Sharpe interception away from doing just that — it would have constituted The U being back. Right?

Well…

For context, Miami’s conference championship drought is going on five years longer than the span between its first national championship and last.

There’s plenty to like about Miami’s chances of returning to past glory in 2026 — and doing so in a fashion that unambiguously declares the Hurricanes as being back by any definition.

#Miami #Football #Poised #Return #College #Footballs #Elite #Deadspin.com