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Deadspin | MLB roundup: Phillies trounce Giants after making managerial change  Apr 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) in the dugout before start of game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images   Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday, hours after firing manager Rob Thomson.  With a 9-19 record entering Tuesday that was tied for the worst mark in the major leagues, the Phillies opted to part ways with Thomson, who had managed the squad for nearly four years. Bench coach Don Mattingly was promoted to interim skipper and enjoyed a victorious debut thanks to Luzardo’s gem and a four-run sixth from the Philadelphia offense.  Trea Turner went 4-for-5 with two runs for the Phillies, while Adolis Garcia drove in two runs. Luzardo (2-3) took care of the rest, striking out eight without a walk to help Philadelphia win for just the second time in its past 13 games.  San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle (1-4) allowed five runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Matt Chapman accounted for four of the 12 strikeouts by the Giants, who had won seven of their previous 10 games.  Marlins 2, Dodgers 1  Janson Junk (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings, Otto Lopez had three hits and visiting Miami held on to beat Los Angeles.  Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each drove in a run as the Marlins improved to 2-3 on a six-game West Coast road trip. Tyler Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save after closer Pete Fairbanks went on the injured list earlier in the day.  Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani (2-1) gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. Will Smith had three of Los Angeles’ seven hits.  Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0  Trey Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 sharp innings in his season debut and Toronto shut out visiting Boston to even a three-game series.  Yesavage (1-0) allowed just four hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI while Kazuma Okamoto had a two-run single to help the Blue Jays end Boston’s three-game winning streak. Louis Varland struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.  Boston starter Payton Tolle (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.  Rays 1, Guardians 0  Jonathan Aranda had an RBI single in the fifth inning and Nick Martinez and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the visiting Tampa Bay edged Cleveland.  Martinez (2-1) worked seven-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.70. Cole Sulser tossed the ninth for his first save since 2022 with the Miami Marlins. The Rays are a season-best seven games above .500 at 18-11.  The first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Travis Bazzana, made his major league debut for Cleveland, and he went 0-for-2 with two walks. Tanner Bibee (0-4) allowed one run on four hits over five innings.  Yankees 3, Rangers 2  Cam Schlittler pitched six shutout innings to best Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Judge homered for the third straight game as New York hung on for a victory in Arlington, Texas.  The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games as Schlittler (4-1) allowed just three hits. Austin Wells added a homer for New York.  deGrom (2-1) gave up a run on three hits in six innings. Danny Jansen (triple) and Josh Jung (single) had RBI hits in the ninth inning before David Bednar got Corey Seager to bounce into a game-ending double play, sealing his ninth save.  Reds 7, Rockies 2  Elly De La Cruz went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs while Spencer Steer belted a two-run homer as Cincinnati beat visiting Colorado.  With his eighth inning two-run shot, De La Cruz now has 10 homers, tied with three others for the most by any switch hitter before May since 1900. Chase Burns (3-1) allowed just two runs in six innings as the Reds won for the eighth time in 10 games.  Edouard Julien went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and drove in both runs for the Rockies, who went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and had their three-game win streak snapped. Kyle Freeland (1-2) yielded four runs on five hits over five innings.  Royals 4, Athletics 1 (10 innings)  Bobby Witt Jr. smacked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and Kansas City stretched its winning streak to a season-best four games by beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.  Salvador Perez also homered for the Royals. Nick Mears (2-1) worked a perfect ninth, and Lucas Erceg escaped a jam in the bottom of the 10th for his seventh save.  Jacob Wilson had an RBI single and Shea Langeliers contributed three hits for the Athletics, who left 14 runners on base. Justin Sterner (1-3) served up Witt’s homer.  Orioles 5, Astros 3  Shane Baz earned his first victory with Baltimore and Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer as the host Orioles handed struggling Houston another loss.  Baz (1-2) held the Astros to one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alonso connected with two outs in the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 4-1 as the Orioles ended a two-game skid.   Brice Matthews homered among his three hits from the No. 9 spot in the order for the American League-worst Astros. Houston, which is 3-8 across its last 11 games, went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.  Braves 5, Tigers 2  Martin Perez pitched five scoreless innings and Ozzie Albies homered to help Atlanta defeat visiting Detroit in the opener of a three-series between division-leading clubs.  Perez (2-1) logged his first win over the Tigers since Aug. 25, 2019. The Braves’ nine-hit attack was led by Mike Yastrzemski, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.  Detroit starter Casey Mize had to leave the game with right groin tightness, and he was charged with two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Wenceel Perez homered for the Tigers in the ninth inning.  Cardinals 11, Pirates 7  Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II homered and Gorman, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson each knocked in three runs as visiting St. Louis outslugged Pittsburgh.  The Cardinals scored multiple runs in four different innings, finishing with 12 hits and a season-high run total. Kyle Leahy (3-3) scattered nine hits and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.  Oneil Cruz, Ryan O’Hearn and Konnor Griffin went deep for the Pirates, and O’Hearn knocked in three runs. Braxton Ashcraft (1-2) permitted six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.  Brewers 13, Diamondbacks 2  Sal Frelick went deep to snap Milwaukee’s seven-game homerless streak and propel the Brewers to a rout of visiting Arizona. The seven-game streak without a homer was the Brewers’ longest since a franchise record 13 games in August 1999.  Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick (2-1) allowed two runs on one hit in five innings. Tyler Black produced three hits and three RBIs, and four other Brewers had two RBIs apiece.  Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly (1-2) surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings. James McCann singled in two runs.  Mets 8, Nationals 0  Clay Holmes threw six scoreless innings as New York rolled to a victory over visiting Washington.  Bo Bichette homered leading off the first and Juan Soto’s two-run blast closed out a seven-run fourth-inning outburst for the Mets, who are just 3-15 since April 8.  Three players had a hit apiece for the Nationals, who have lost seven of 11. Zack Littell (0-4) yielded eight runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings.  White Sox 5, Angels 2  Drew Romo homered from both sides of the plate, Colson Montgomery also went deep and Davis Martin pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the host Chicago defeated Los Angeles.  The White Sox have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Angels, who have lost five in a row and nine of 10. Martin (4-1) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.  Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (5-1), who entered with a 0.24 ERA, permitted three runs in five innings. Josh Lowe hit a solo homer.  Mariners 7, Twins 1  Josh Naylor went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs, leading Seattle past Minnesota in Minneapolis.  Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs for the Mariners, who evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Cole Young finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Eduard Bazardo (2-1) threw one scoreless inning of relief.  Twins starter Joe Ryan (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in six-plus innings. Byron Buxton went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base.  Cubs 8, Padres 3  Nico Hoerner’s two-run double snapped a sixth-inning tie and Pete Crow-Armstrong broke open the game with a three-run homer in the seventh as visiting Chicago stopped San Diego.  Cubs starter Edward Cabrera (3-0) lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double before exiting the game due to a left glute cramp.  Xander Bogaerts homered for the Padres, who have lost two of three, and Ty France had two hits and an RBI. Kyle Hart (0-1) was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Phillies #trounce #Giants #making #managerial #change

Deadspin | MLB roundup: Phillies trounce Giants after making managerial change
Deadspin | MLB roundup: Phillies trounce Giants after making managerial change  Apr 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) in the dugout before start of game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images   Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday, hours after firing manager Rob Thomson.  With a 9-19 record entering Tuesday that was tied for the worst mark in the major leagues, the Phillies opted to part ways with Thomson, who had managed the squad for nearly four years. Bench coach Don Mattingly was promoted to interim skipper and enjoyed a victorious debut thanks to Luzardo’s gem and a four-run sixth from the Philadelphia offense.  Trea Turner went 4-for-5 with two runs for the Phillies, while Adolis Garcia drove in two runs. Luzardo (2-3) took care of the rest, striking out eight without a walk to help Philadelphia win for just the second time in its past 13 games.  San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle (1-4) allowed five runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Matt Chapman accounted for four of the 12 strikeouts by the Giants, who had won seven of their previous 10 games.  Marlins 2, Dodgers 1  Janson Junk (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings, Otto Lopez had three hits and visiting Miami held on to beat Los Angeles.  Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each drove in a run as the Marlins improved to 2-3 on a six-game West Coast road trip. Tyler Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save after closer Pete Fairbanks went on the injured list earlier in the day.  Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani (2-1) gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. Will Smith had three of Los Angeles’ seven hits.  Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0  Trey Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 sharp innings in his season debut and Toronto shut out visiting Boston to even a three-game series.  Yesavage (1-0) allowed just four hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI while Kazuma Okamoto had a two-run single to help the Blue Jays end Boston’s three-game winning streak. Louis Varland struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.  Boston starter Payton Tolle (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.  Rays 1, Guardians 0  Jonathan Aranda had an RBI single in the fifth inning and Nick Martinez and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the visiting Tampa Bay edged Cleveland.  Martinez (2-1) worked seven-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.70. Cole Sulser tossed the ninth for his first save since 2022 with the Miami Marlins. The Rays are a season-best seven games above .500 at 18-11.  The first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Travis Bazzana, made his major league debut for Cleveland, and he went 0-for-2 with two walks. Tanner Bibee (0-4) allowed one run on four hits over five innings.  Yankees 3, Rangers 2  Cam Schlittler pitched six shutout innings to best Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Judge homered for the third straight game as New York hung on for a victory in Arlington, Texas.  The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games as Schlittler (4-1) allowed just three hits. Austin Wells added a homer for New York.  deGrom (2-1) gave up a run on three hits in six innings. Danny Jansen (triple) and Josh Jung (single) had RBI hits in the ninth inning before David Bednar got Corey Seager to bounce into a game-ending double play, sealing his ninth save.  Reds 7, Rockies 2  Elly De La Cruz went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs while Spencer Steer belted a two-run homer as Cincinnati beat visiting Colorado.  With his eighth inning two-run shot, De La Cruz now has 10 homers, tied with three others for the most by any switch hitter before May since 1900. Chase Burns (3-1) allowed just two runs in six innings as the Reds won for the eighth time in 10 games.  Edouard Julien went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and drove in both runs for the Rockies, who went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and had their three-game win streak snapped. Kyle Freeland (1-2) yielded four runs on five hits over five innings.  Royals 4, Athletics 1 (10 innings)  Bobby Witt Jr. smacked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and Kansas City stretched its winning streak to a season-best four games by beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.  Salvador Perez also homered for the Royals. Nick Mears (2-1) worked a perfect ninth, and Lucas Erceg escaped a jam in the bottom of the 10th for his seventh save.  Jacob Wilson had an RBI single and Shea Langeliers contributed three hits for the Athletics, who left 14 runners on base. Justin Sterner (1-3) served up Witt’s homer.  Orioles 5, Astros 3  Shane Baz earned his first victory with Baltimore and Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer as the host Orioles handed struggling Houston another loss.  Baz (1-2) held the Astros to one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alonso connected with two outs in the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 4-1 as the Orioles ended a two-game skid.   Brice Matthews homered among his three hits from the No. 9 spot in the order for the American League-worst Astros. Houston, which is 3-8 across its last 11 games, went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.  Braves 5, Tigers 2  Martin Perez pitched five scoreless innings and Ozzie Albies homered to help Atlanta defeat visiting Detroit in the opener of a three-series between division-leading clubs.  Perez (2-1) logged his first win over the Tigers since Aug. 25, 2019. The Braves’ nine-hit attack was led by Mike Yastrzemski, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.  Detroit starter Casey Mize had to leave the game with right groin tightness, and he was charged with two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Wenceel Perez homered for the Tigers in the ninth inning.  Cardinals 11, Pirates 7  Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II homered and Gorman, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson each knocked in three runs as visiting St. Louis outslugged Pittsburgh.  The Cardinals scored multiple runs in four different innings, finishing with 12 hits and a season-high run total. Kyle Leahy (3-3) scattered nine hits and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.  Oneil Cruz, Ryan O’Hearn and Konnor Griffin went deep for the Pirates, and O’Hearn knocked in three runs. Braxton Ashcraft (1-2) permitted six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.  Brewers 13, Diamondbacks 2  Sal Frelick went deep to snap Milwaukee’s seven-game homerless streak and propel the Brewers to a rout of visiting Arizona. The seven-game streak without a homer was the Brewers’ longest since a franchise record 13 games in August 1999.  Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick (2-1) allowed two runs on one hit in five innings. Tyler Black produced three hits and three RBIs, and four other Brewers had two RBIs apiece.  Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly (1-2) surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings. James McCann singled in two runs.  Mets 8, Nationals 0  Clay Holmes threw six scoreless innings as New York rolled to a victory over visiting Washington.  Bo Bichette homered leading off the first and Juan Soto’s two-run blast closed out a seven-run fourth-inning outburst for the Mets, who are just 3-15 since April 8.  Three players had a hit apiece for the Nationals, who have lost seven of 11. Zack Littell (0-4) yielded eight runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings.  White Sox 5, Angels 2  Drew Romo homered from both sides of the plate, Colson Montgomery also went deep and Davis Martin pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the host Chicago defeated Los Angeles.  The White Sox have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Angels, who have lost five in a row and nine of 10. Martin (4-1) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.  Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (5-1), who entered with a 0.24 ERA, permitted three runs in five innings. Josh Lowe hit a solo homer.  Mariners 7, Twins 1  Josh Naylor went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs, leading Seattle past Minnesota in Minneapolis.  Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs for the Mariners, who evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Cole Young finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Eduard Bazardo (2-1) threw one scoreless inning of relief.  Twins starter Joe Ryan (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in six-plus innings. Byron Buxton went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base.  Cubs 8, Padres 3  Nico Hoerner’s two-run double snapped a sixth-inning tie and Pete Crow-Armstrong broke open the game with a three-run homer in the seventh as visiting Chicago stopped San Diego.  Cubs starter Edward Cabrera (3-0) lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double before exiting the game due to a left glute cramp.  Xander Bogaerts homered for the Padres, who have lost two of three, and Ty France had two hits and an RBI. Kyle Hart (0-1) was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Phillies #trounce #Giants #making #managerial #changeApr 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) in the dugout before start of game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday, hours after firing manager Rob Thomson.

With a 9-19 record entering Tuesday that was tied for the worst mark in the major leagues, the Phillies opted to part ways with Thomson, who had managed the squad for nearly four years. Bench coach Don Mattingly was promoted to interim skipper and enjoyed a victorious debut thanks to Luzardo’s gem and a four-run sixth from the Philadelphia offense.

Trea Turner went 4-for-5 with two runs for the Phillies, while Adolis Garcia drove in two runs. Luzardo (2-3) took care of the rest, striking out eight without a walk to help Philadelphia win for just the second time in its past 13 games.

San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle (1-4) allowed five runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Matt Chapman accounted for four of the 12 strikeouts by the Giants, who had won seven of their previous 10 games.

Marlins 2, Dodgers 1

Janson Junk (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings, Otto Lopez had three hits and visiting Miami held on to beat Los Angeles.

Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each drove in a run as the Marlins improved to 2-3 on a six-game West Coast road trip. Tyler Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save after closer Pete Fairbanks went on the injured list earlier in the day.

Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani (2-1) gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. Will Smith had three of Los Angeles’ seven hits.

Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0

Trey Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 sharp innings in his season debut and Toronto shut out visiting Boston to even a three-game series.

Yesavage (1-0) allowed just four hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI while Kazuma Okamoto had a two-run single to help the Blue Jays end Boston’s three-game winning streak. Louis Varland struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.

Boston starter Payton Tolle (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Rays 1, Guardians 0

Jonathan Aranda had an RBI single in the fifth inning and Nick Martinez and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the visiting Tampa Bay edged Cleveland.

Martinez (2-1) worked seven-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.70. Cole Sulser tossed the ninth for his first save since 2022 with the Miami Marlins. The Rays are a season-best seven games above .500 at 18-11.

The first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Travis Bazzana, made his major league debut for Cleveland, and he went 0-for-2 with two walks. Tanner Bibee (0-4) allowed one run on four hits over five innings.

Yankees 3, Rangers 2

Cam Schlittler pitched six shutout innings to best Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Judge homered for the third straight game as New York hung on for a victory in Arlington, Texas.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games as Schlittler (4-1) allowed just three hits. Austin Wells added a homer for New York.

deGrom (2-1) gave up a run on three hits in six innings. Danny Jansen (triple) and Josh Jung (single) had RBI hits in the ninth inning before David Bednar got Corey Seager to bounce into a game-ending double play, sealing his ninth save.

Reds 7, Rockies 2

Elly De La Cruz went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs while Spencer Steer belted a two-run homer as Cincinnati beat visiting Colorado.

With his eighth inning two-run shot, De La Cruz now has 10 homers, tied with three others for the most by any switch hitter before May since 1900. Chase Burns (3-1) allowed just two runs in six innings as the Reds won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Edouard Julien went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and drove in both runs for the Rockies, who went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and had their three-game win streak snapped. Kyle Freeland (1-2) yielded four runs on five hits over five innings.

Royals 4, Athletics 1 (10 innings)

Bobby Witt Jr. smacked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and Kansas City stretched its winning streak to a season-best four games by beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Salvador Perez also homered for the Royals. Nick Mears (2-1) worked a perfect ninth, and Lucas Erceg escaped a jam in the bottom of the 10th for his seventh save.

Jacob Wilson had an RBI single and Shea Langeliers contributed three hits for the Athletics, who left 14 runners on base. Justin Sterner (1-3) served up Witt’s homer.

Orioles 5, Astros 3

Shane Baz earned his first victory with Baltimore and Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer as the host Orioles handed struggling Houston another loss.


Baz (1-2) held the Astros to one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alonso connected with two outs in the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 4-1 as the Orioles ended a two-game skid.

Brice Matthews homered among his three hits from the No. 9 spot in the order for the American League-worst Astros. Houston, which is 3-8 across its last 11 games, went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Braves 5, Tigers 2

Martin Perez pitched five scoreless innings and Ozzie Albies homered to help Atlanta defeat visiting Detroit in the opener of a three-series between division-leading clubs.

Perez (2-1) logged his first win over the Tigers since Aug. 25, 2019. The Braves’ nine-hit attack was led by Mike Yastrzemski, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Detroit starter Casey Mize had to leave the game with right groin tightness, and he was charged with two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Wenceel Perez homered for the Tigers in the ninth inning.

Cardinals 11, Pirates 7

Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II homered and Gorman, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson each knocked in three runs as visiting St. Louis outslugged Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals scored multiple runs in four different innings, finishing with 12 hits and a season-high run total. Kyle Leahy (3-3) scattered nine hits and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Oneil Cruz, Ryan O’Hearn and Konnor Griffin went deep for the Pirates, and O’Hearn knocked in three runs. Braxton Ashcraft (1-2) permitted six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Brewers 13, Diamondbacks 2

Sal Frelick went deep to snap Milwaukee’s seven-game homerless streak and propel the Brewers to a rout of visiting Arizona. The seven-game streak without a homer was the Brewers’ longest since a franchise record 13 games in August 1999.

Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick (2-1) allowed two runs on one hit in five innings. Tyler Black produced three hits and three RBIs, and four other Brewers had two RBIs apiece.

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly (1-2) surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings. James McCann singled in two runs.

Mets 8, Nationals 0

Clay Holmes threw six scoreless innings as New York rolled to a victory over visiting Washington.

Bo Bichette homered leading off the first and Juan Soto’s two-run blast closed out a seven-run fourth-inning outburst for the Mets, who are just 3-15 since April 8.

Three players had a hit apiece for the Nationals, who have lost seven of 11. Zack Littell (0-4) yielded eight runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

White Sox 5, Angels 2

Drew Romo homered from both sides of the plate, Colson Montgomery also went deep and Davis Martin pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the host Chicago defeated Los Angeles.

The White Sox have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Angels, who have lost five in a row and nine of 10. Martin (4-1) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.

Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (5-1), who entered with a 0.24 ERA, permitted three runs in five innings. Josh Lowe hit a solo homer.

Mariners 7, Twins 1

Josh Naylor went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs, leading Seattle past Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs for the Mariners, who evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Cole Young finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Eduard Bazardo (2-1) threw one scoreless inning of relief.

Twins starter Joe Ryan (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in six-plus innings. Byron Buxton went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base.

Cubs 8, Padres 3

Nico Hoerner’s two-run double snapped a sixth-inning tie and Pete Crow-Armstrong broke open the game with a three-run homer in the seventh as visiting Chicago stopped San Diego.

Cubs starter Edward Cabrera (3-0) lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double before exiting the game due to a left glute cramp.

Xander Bogaerts homered for the Padres, who have lost two of three, and Ty France had two hits and an RBI. Kyle Hart (0-1) was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Phillies #trounce #Giants #making #managerial #change

Apr 28, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly (8) in the dugout before start of game against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Jesus Luzardo allowed just two hits over seven innings as the Philadelphia Phillies topped the visiting San Francisco Giants 7-0 on Tuesday, hours after firing manager Rob Thomson.

With a 9-19 record entering Tuesday that was tied for the worst mark in the major leagues, the Phillies opted to part ways with Thomson, who had managed the squad for nearly four years. Bench coach Don Mattingly was promoted to interim skipper and enjoyed a victorious debut thanks to Luzardo’s gem and a four-run sixth from the Philadelphia offense.

Trea Turner went 4-for-5 with two runs for the Phillies, while Adolis Garcia drove in two runs. Luzardo (2-3) took care of the rest, striking out eight without a walk to help Philadelphia win for just the second time in its past 13 games.

San Francisco starter Tyler Mahle (1-4) allowed five runs and six hits in five-plus innings. Matt Chapman accounted for four of the 12 strikeouts by the Giants, who had won seven of their previous 10 games.

Marlins 2, Dodgers 1

Janson Junk (2-2) pitched six scoreless innings, Otto Lopez had three hits and visiting Miami held on to beat Los Angeles.

Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers each drove in a run as the Marlins improved to 2-3 on a six-game West Coast road trip. Tyler Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his second save after closer Pete Fairbanks went on the injured list earlier in the day.

Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani (2-1) gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. Will Smith had three of Los Angeles’ seven hits.

Blue Jays 3, Red Sox 0

Trey Yesavage pitched 5 1/3 sharp innings in his season debut and Toronto shut out visiting Boston to even a three-game series.

Yesavage (1-0) allowed just four hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had two hits and an RBI while Kazuma Okamoto had a two-run single to help the Blue Jays end Boston’s three-game winning streak. Louis Varland struck out the side in the ninth to earn his fourth save.

Boston starter Payton Tolle (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Rays 1, Guardians 0

Jonathan Aranda had an RBI single in the fifth inning and Nick Martinez and three relievers combined on a four-hitter as the visiting Tampa Bay edged Cleveland.

Martinez (2-1) worked seven-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.70. Cole Sulser tossed the ninth for his first save since 2022 with the Miami Marlins. The Rays are a season-best seven games above .500 at 18-11.

The first overall pick in the 2024 draft, Travis Bazzana, made his major league debut for Cleveland, and he went 0-for-2 with two walks. Tanner Bibee (0-4) allowed one run on four hits over five innings.

Yankees 3, Rangers 2

Cam Schlittler pitched six shutout innings to best Jacob deGrom, and Aaron Judge homered for the third straight game as New York hung on for a victory in Arlington, Texas.

The Yankees won for the 10th time in 11 games as Schlittler (4-1) allowed just three hits. Austin Wells added a homer for New York.

deGrom (2-1) gave up a run on three hits in six innings. Danny Jansen (triple) and Josh Jung (single) had RBI hits in the ninth inning before David Bednar got Corey Seager to bounce into a game-ending double play, sealing his ninth save.

Reds 7, Rockies 2

Elly De La Cruz went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs while Spencer Steer belted a two-run homer as Cincinnati beat visiting Colorado.

With his eighth inning two-run shot, De La Cruz now has 10 homers, tied with three others for the most by any switch hitter before May since 1900. Chase Burns (3-1) allowed just two runs in six innings as the Reds won for the eighth time in 10 games.

Edouard Julien went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and drove in both runs for the Rockies, who went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and had their three-game win streak snapped. Kyle Freeland (1-2) yielded four runs on five hits over five innings.

Royals 4, Athletics 1 (10 innings)

Bobby Witt Jr. smacked a tiebreaking three-run homer in the top of the 10th inning and Kansas City stretched its winning streak to a season-best four games by beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Salvador Perez also homered for the Royals. Nick Mears (2-1) worked a perfect ninth, and Lucas Erceg escaped a jam in the bottom of the 10th for his seventh save.

Jacob Wilson had an RBI single and Shea Langeliers contributed three hits for the Athletics, who left 14 runners on base. Justin Sterner (1-3) served up Witt’s homer.

Orioles 5, Astros 3

Shane Baz earned his first victory with Baltimore and Pete Alonso smacked a two-run homer as the host Orioles handed struggling Houston another loss.

Baz (1-2) held the Astros to one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Alonso connected with two outs in the fifth inning to stretch the lead to 4-1 as the Orioles ended a two-game skid.

Brice Matthews homered among his three hits from the No. 9 spot in the order for the American League-worst Astros. Houston, which is 3-8 across its last 11 games, went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Braves 5, Tigers 2

Martin Perez pitched five scoreless innings and Ozzie Albies homered to help Atlanta defeat visiting Detroit in the opener of a three-series between division-leading clubs.

Perez (2-1) logged his first win over the Tigers since Aug. 25, 2019. The Braves’ nine-hit attack was led by Mike Yastrzemski, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Detroit starter Casey Mize had to leave the game with right groin tightness, and he was charged with two runs in 2 1/3 innings. Wenceel Perez homered for the Tigers in the ninth inning.

Cardinals 11, Pirates 7

Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II homered and Gorman, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson each knocked in three runs as visiting St. Louis outslugged Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals scored multiple runs in four different innings, finishing with 12 hits and a season-high run total. Kyle Leahy (3-3) scattered nine hits and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Oneil Cruz, Ryan O’Hearn and Konnor Griffin went deep for the Pirates, and O’Hearn knocked in three runs. Braxton Ashcraft (1-2) permitted six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Brewers 13, Diamondbacks 2

Sal Frelick went deep to snap Milwaukee’s seven-game homerless streak and propel the Brewers to a rout of visiting Arizona. The seven-game streak without a homer was the Brewers’ longest since a franchise record 13 games in August 1999.

Milwaukee starter Chad Patrick (2-1) allowed two runs on one hit in five innings. Tyler Black produced three hits and three RBIs, and four other Brewers had two RBIs apiece.

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly (1-2) surrendered five runs on six hits in five innings. James McCann singled in two runs.

Mets 8, Nationals 0

Clay Holmes threw six scoreless innings as New York rolled to a victory over visiting Washington.

Bo Bichette homered leading off the first and Juan Soto’s two-run blast closed out a seven-run fourth-inning outburst for the Mets, who are just 3-15 since April 8.

Three players had a hit apiece for the Nationals, who have lost seven of 11. Zack Littell (0-4) yielded eight runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

White Sox 5, Angels 2

Drew Romo homered from both sides of the plate, Colson Montgomery also went deep and Davis Martin pitched effectively into the sixth inning as the host Chicago defeated Los Angeles.

The White Sox have won the first two games of the three-game series against the Angels, who have lost five in a row and nine of 10. Martin (4-1) allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings. Seranthony Dominguez pitched the ninth inning for his seventh save.

Los Angeles starter Jose Soriano (5-1), who entered with a 0.24 ERA, permitted three runs in five innings. Josh Lowe hit a solo homer.

Mariners 7, Twins 1

Josh Naylor went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs, leading Seattle past Minnesota in Minneapolis.

Julio Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with three doubles and two RBIs for the Mariners, who evened the three-game series at one win apiece. Cole Young finished 3-for-4 with an RBI. Eduard Bazardo (2-1) threw one scoreless inning of relief.

Twins starter Joe Ryan (2-3) gave up two runs on six hits in six-plus innings. Byron Buxton went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base.

Cubs 8, Padres 3

Nico Hoerner’s two-run double snapped a sixth-inning tie and Pete Crow-Armstrong broke open the game with a three-run homer in the seventh as visiting Chicago stopped San Diego.

Cubs starter Edward Cabrera (3-0) lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Dansby Swanson hit a two-run double before exiting the game due to a left glute cramp.

Xander Bogaerts homered for the Padres, who have lost two of three, and Ty France had two hits and an RBI. Kyle Hart (0-1) was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | De’Aaron Fox’s big fourth quarter helps Spurs close out Blazers <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28835249.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28835249.jpg" alt="NBA: Playoffs-Portland Trail Blazers at San Antonio Spurs" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 28, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell (24) dunks ahead of Portland Trail Blazers forward Sidy Cissoko (91) during the first half of game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>De’Aaron Fox scored 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter as the host San Antonio Spurs defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 114-95 on Tuesday to close out a 4-1 victory in the teams’ first-round Western Conference playoff series.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Victor Wembanyama racked up 17 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots as the second-seeded Spurs secured a berth in the conference semifinals vs. either third-seeded Denver Nuggets or sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. It is San Antonio’s first trip to the second round of the playoffs since the 2016-17 season.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>San Antonio was in cruise control from the opening minutes and led by 28 points in the first half, by 20 at halftime and by 21 points after three quarters.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Trail Blazers pulled within 97-88 on a three-point play by Jrue Holiday with 5:46 to play but never made a serious run the rest of the way as Fox made big play after big play to help San Antonio close out the victory.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Julian Champagnie added 19 points for the Spurs, with Dylan Harper scoring 17, Stephon Castle hitting for 15 before fouling out with 4:36 remaining and Devin Vassell tallying 10 points. Fox dished out a game-high nine assists.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>Deni Avdija’s 22 points paced Portland. Jerami Grant added 12, Robert Williams III and Sidy Cissoko scored 11 points each, and Donovan Clingan hit for 10.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Champagnie hit three 3-pointers, and had his toe on the line for a fourth, while scoring 11 points in the first quarter and helping the Spurs to a 36-24 advantage after 12 minutes of action.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>San Antonio poured in on the second period, pushing its lead to 54-28 after a Wembanyama 3-pointer at the 6:45 mark. The Trail Blazers reeled off nine straight points capped by a dunk from Clingan to cull the margin to 17, but San Antonio swung back, with a three-point play by Luke Kornet highlighting a 12-2 run that built the lead to 65-37.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Spurs were up 65-45 at the break even though Wembanyama took just three shots (and made them all) while scoring seven first-half points. Champagnie led the way with 14 points and Fox dished out seven assists in a first half that San Antonio outshot the Trail Blazers 66.7% to 36.5%.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Avdija’s 16 points led all scorers before halftime.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #DeAaron #Foxs #big #fourth #quarter #helps #Spurs #close #Blazers

I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.

Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.

Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.

Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.

Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.

BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.

Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.

Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.

Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!

Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.

Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.

It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.

The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.

The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged">The FIFA World Cup halftime show was so unhinged you need to see it to believe it  I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.  #FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged

Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.

Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.

Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.

BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.

Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.

Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.

Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!

Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.

Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.

It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.

The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.

The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged">The FIFA World Cup halftime show was so unhinged you need to see it to believe it

I can’t stop thinking about the halftime show of the World Cup final. It was one of those things you just had to see to believe. It was so weird, so improbable, so nonsensical that part of me is in awe of what took place, and part wonders how many people it took to greenlight this and assume it was a good idea.

Truthfully, here’s how I presented the halftime show to my non-soccer watching friends in our group chat.

Let’s expand beyond the group chat to examine the key elements of all this. It begins with Madonna emerging from a disco ball amidst roller skaters before jumping in a dune buggy being driven by Ronaldo (R9) and Ronaldinho. Poor R9 seemed frozen while driving the dune buggy. He was smiling as if he was trapped in a hostage video and didn’t seem relaxed for one second until he was off camera altogether.

Madonna represented the USA element of this halftime show. This is important, because we’re going to come back to this.

Then we got the Muppets playing “Seven Nation Army,” with Gustavo Dudamel leading the New York Philharmonic, which was a delight. I don’t know why exactly they were playing “Seven Nation Army, but I didn’t care because it was cool.

BTS were great because they’re BTS. Look, I am a 41-year-old man, and yes, my view of K-Pop might be extremely skewed due to my nine-year-old daughter’s love of K-Pop — but it was rad. BTS put on a great show, and are still my pick (along with Blackpink and others) to be the Super Bowl halftime show this year.

Next up was a Ted Lasso interlude, because of course there was. It made me wonder how much Ted Lasso resonates outside the USA at all. I know the show has fans in England, but is this something that has really gone global? If not this would be wildly confusing, but nonetheless it led to the Canadian element of the halftime show: Justin Bieber.

Never really cared for Biebs. It was fine. I’m not gonna lie though, the “BELIEBE” sign made me giggle.

Okay then, we’re well past the halfway point and we’ve had USA’s artist and Canada’s artist representing two of the host nations — now we just need a performer from Mexico to bring it home. Introducing … SHAKIRA?!

Look, I know Shakira is intimately involved in all things FIFA, but she is very well known and established to be Colombian. You can’t just replace Mexico’s place in all this by grabbing another Latin artist and calling it a day. Sure, the theme of all this was supposed to be global, but it was extremely weird to have two host nation countries represented and not a third.

Shakira did what Shakira has done for 20 years.

It was time to close out the show by remembering the children are our future. Dozens of kids were on the field, and incredible props to some of these youngsters for performing solos in front of an entire stadium, with hundreds-of-millions of people watching around the globe. I could have never.

The Muppets were back, this time in their Sesame St. variant forms, because children and Sesame St. Chris Martin and Coldplay were in the background offering support. It was technically their number, but nobody puts Miss Piggy in the corner.

The prevailing theme of the whole show was love across the world, which I could be really jaded about — and normally I would be, but damn did it feel needed right now. This was joyous anarchy, and while the world might not be accustomed to the halftime show, it was a really nice breather. The big misstep was not having a performer representing Mexico, however.

#FIFA #World #Cup #halftime #show #unhinged

A high-performance national coach for rifle shooters, who is involved in preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, is facing an inquiry by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for allegedly conducting private coaching at the government-owned Karni Singh Range and discriminating against those who do not attend his sessions.

Manoj Kumar, the head coach for 50m rifle events, is under investigation, and it has been reliably learnt that a hearing was held at the headquarters here on Monday in which grievances from the affected shooters and their guardians were heard.

“We have received not one, but several complaints against this individual and therefore an inquiry is underway right now,” a well-placed SAI source told PTI.

The hearing on Monday was conducted by SAI Deputy Director General Manjushree Dayanand, who heads the SAI’s operations division. Manoj, however, was not in attendance during the hearing but was spoken to individually by SAI officials at an earlier date. He is currently in Hangzhou with the Indian team for the upcoming World Cup starting July 22.

When contacted by PTI, he said, “I have given my reply to SAI, and I have nothing more to say on this.” One of the complainants is the mother of a shooter, who has competed in multiple World Championships, World Cups and Asian Championships.

“We had sent an email to SAI (listing our grievances), and based on that, they called us and our ward. We had written against the High-Performance Coach for rifle shooting,” she told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“We have provided evidence to SAI that the coach in question conducts private coaching at the Karni Singh Range. Even during the national squad camp, he provides personal coaching to select shooters and pressures them into naming him as their coach, insisting that they state he is their official coach,” she asserted.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary general, Pawan Singh, refuted the charge against the coach and claimed that he was not aware of any ongoing inquiry.

“I am unaware of the matter. Talking about conflict of interest, I don’t think it is true. He is a High-Performance coach appointed by SAI. Definitely, there should be an inquiry to know the truth,” he said.

The mother of the affected shooter also alleged that her daughter had been mentally affected by the coach’s handling of the camp.

“When my ward was part of the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) before 2025, shooters were required to submit a requisition for a specified quantity of ammunition for practice, competition and the finals.

“When my ward requested 500 rounds, she was allotted only 300. However, when she went to sign the register, she noticed that some TOPS shooters, who were personally coached by the said coach and attended his private coaching sessions, had been allotted 800 rounds of ammunition,” she said.

According to a source, this is not the only case of private coaching at the government facility, as even foreign coaches are indulging in the practice.

Published on Jul 20, 2026

#Rifle #coach #faces #SAI #inquiry #private #coaching #discrimination #Karni #Singh #Range">Rifle coach faces SAI inquiry for private coaching, discrimination at Karni Singh Range  A high-performance national coach for rifle shooters, who is involved in preparations for the upcoming Asian Games, is facing an inquiry by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for allegedly conducting private coaching at the government-owned Karni Singh Range and discriminating against those who do not attend his sessions.Manoj Kumar, the head coach for 50m rifle events, is under investigation, and it has been reliably learnt that a hearing was held at the headquarters here on Monday in which grievances from the affected shooters and their guardians were heard.“We have received not one, but several complaints against this individual and therefore an inquiry is underway right now,” a well-placed SAI source told PTI.The hearing on Monday was conducted by SAI Deputy Director General Manjushree Dayanand, who heads the SAI’s operations division. Manoj, however, was not in attendance during the hearing but was spoken to individually by SAI officials at an earlier date. He is currently in Hangzhou with the Indian team for the upcoming World Cup starting July 22.When contacted by        PTI, he said, “I have given my reply to SAI, and I have nothing more to say on this.” One of the complainants is the mother of a shooter, who has competed in multiple World Championships, World Cups and Asian Championships.“We had sent an email to SAI (listing our grievances), and based on that, they called us and our ward. We had written against the High-Performance Coach for rifle shooting,” she told PTI on condition of anonymity.“We have provided evidence to SAI that the coach in question conducts private coaching at the Karni Singh Range. Even during the national squad camp, he provides personal coaching to select shooters and pressures them into naming him as their coach, insisting that they state he is their official coach,” she asserted.The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary general, Pawan Singh, refuted the charge against the coach and claimed that he was not aware of any ongoing inquiry.“I am unaware of the matter. Talking about conflict of interest, I don’t think it is true. He is a High-Performance coach appointed by SAI. Definitely, there should be an inquiry to know the truth,” he said.The mother of the affected shooter also alleged that her daughter had been mentally affected by the coach’s handling of the camp.“When my ward was part of the TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) before 2025, shooters were required to submit a requisition for a specified quantity of ammunition for practice, competition and the finals.“When my ward requested 500 rounds, she was allotted only 300. However, when she went to sign the register, she noticed that some TOPS shooters, who were personally coached by the said coach and attended his private coaching sessions, had been allotted 800 rounds of ammunition,” she said.According to a source, this is not the only case of private coaching at the government facility, as even foreign coaches are indulging in the practice.Published on Jul 20, 2026  #Rifle #coach #faces #SAI #inquiry #private #coaching #discrimination #Karni #Singh #Range

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