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Have consistently maintained that Ayush Shetty is a generational talent: P. V. Sindhu  Double Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu heaped praise on Ayush Shetty after the World No. 25 stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn at the Badminton Asia Championship 2026, becoming only the second Indian ever to reach the men’s singles final at the continental event.“I have consistently maintained that he is a generational talent. In terms of pure natural ability, he stands right up there with the very best young players I have come across. There is a prodigious level of talent in him, and it is something you immediately recognize when you see him on court,” Sindhu said in a social media post.Sindhu proceeded to dissect the technique of Ayush, who had also won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023. She said, “Physically, he has a strong presence on court. His height gives him excellent reach, and he already possesses a very deep, heavy smash that can put opponents under serious pressure.READ: Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush shocks World No. 1 Vitidsarn, becomes second Indian ever to reach men’s singles final“What also stands out is his defensive instinct. He stays very low, reads the shuttle well, and shows a natural ability to absorb pressure in rallies.”Ayush had been extensively training with Irwansyah Adi Pratama, Sindhu’s coach, and the 2019 world champion for three weeks in the lead-up to the tournament. His technical superiority was on full display as he took down Thailand’s Vitidsarn 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in an hour and 15 minutes in Ningbo.“Like any young athlete with immense potential, there are areas that will determine how far he ultimately goes,“ Sindhu said, before adding: “Fitness and the ability to remain injury-free will be absolutely critical in shaping his long-term career, and that is something we must continue to focus on carefully.”Published on Apr 11, 2026  #consistently #maintained #Ayush #Shetty #generational #talent #Sindhu

Have consistently maintained that Ayush Shetty is a generational talent: P. V. Sindhu

Double Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu heaped praise on Ayush Shetty after the World No. 25 stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn at the Badminton Asia Championship 2026, becoming only the second Indian ever to reach the men’s singles final at the continental event.

“I have consistently maintained that he is a generational talent. In terms of pure natural ability, he stands right up there with the very best young players I have come across. There is a prodigious level of talent in him, and it is something you immediately recognize when you see him on court,” Sindhu said in a social media post.

Sindhu proceeded to dissect the technique of Ayush, who had also won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023. She said, “Physically, he has a strong presence on court. His height gives him excellent reach, and he already possesses a very deep, heavy smash that can put opponents under serious pressure.

READ: Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush shocks World No. 1 Vitidsarn, becomes second Indian ever to reach men’s singles final

“What also stands out is his defensive instinct. He stays very low, reads the shuttle well, and shows a natural ability to absorb pressure in rallies.”

Ayush had been extensively training with Irwansyah Adi Pratama, Sindhu’s coach, and the 2019 world champion for three weeks in the lead-up to the tournament. His technical superiority was on full display as he took down Thailand’s Vitidsarn 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in an hour and 15 minutes in Ningbo.

“Like any young athlete with immense potential, there are areas that will determine how far he ultimately goes,“ Sindhu said, before adding: “Fitness and the ability to remain injury-free will be absolutely critical in shaping his long-term career, and that is something we must continue to focus on carefully.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#consistently #maintained #Ayush #Shetty #generational #talent #Sindhu

Double Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu heaped praise on Ayush Shetty after the World No. 25 stunned defending champion and World No. 1 Kunlavut Vitidsarn at the Badminton Asia Championship 2026, becoming only the second Indian ever to reach the men’s singles final at the continental event.

“I have consistently maintained that he is a generational talent. In terms of pure natural ability, he stands right up there with the very best young players I have come across. There is a prodigious level of talent in him, and it is something you immediately recognize when you see him on court,” Sindhu said in a social media post.

Sindhu proceeded to dissect the technique of Ayush, who had also won the BWF World Junior Championships bronze medal in 2023. She said, “Physically, he has a strong presence on court. His height gives him excellent reach, and he already possesses a very deep, heavy smash that can put opponents under serious pressure.

READ: Badminton Asia Championships 2026: Ayush shocks World No. 1 Vitidsarn, becomes second Indian ever to reach men’s singles final

“What also stands out is his defensive instinct. He stays very low, reads the shuttle well, and shows a natural ability to absorb pressure in rallies.”

Ayush had been extensively training with Irwansyah Adi Pratama, Sindhu’s coach, and the 2019 world champion for three weeks in the lead-up to the tournament. His technical superiority was on full display as he took down Thailand’s Vitidsarn 10-21, 21-19, 21-17 in an hour and 15 minutes in Ningbo.

“Like any young athlete with immense potential, there are areas that will determine how far he ultimately goes,“ Sindhu said, before adding: “Fitness and the ability to remain injury-free will be absolutely critical in shaping his long-term career, and that is something we must continue to focus on carefully.”

Published on Apr 11, 2026

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#consistently #maintained #Ayush #Shetty #generational #talent #Sindhu

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Deadspin | Spacestation, Fuel advance in OWCS NA Stage 1 playoffs <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-900/13070194.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/13070194.jpg" alt="ESports: Call of Duty League Finals" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Jul 19, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of custom PlayStation controllers sold by a vender during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Spacestation Gaming rallied past Team Liquid for a 3-2 win as Overwatch Champions Series’ North America Stage 1 playoffs got underway on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Awaiting Spacestation in the upper-bracket final will be the Dallas Fuel, who throttled LuneX Gaming 3-0 on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Team Liquid and LuneX Gaming will clash on Saturday in the lower-bracket semifinal of the double-elimination playoffs.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Overwatch 2 online competition, with a prize pool of $75,000, began with six teams playing a regular season with a round-robin format.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The top four teams advanced to the regional playoffs, which through Sunday, and all sealed berths in North America Stage 2. All playoff matches are first-to-three except for the grand final, which is first-to-four.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The championship team will receive $30,000, the runner-up $15,000, with both teams receiving berths in the OCS Champions Clash, scheduled for May 22-24 in Tokyo.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>On Friday, Spacestation Gaming opened with a 2-1 win on Busan Control before Team Liquid captured Blizzard World Hybrid 2-1 and Watchpoint: Gibraltar Escort 3-2. Spacestation pulled level by claiming Suravasa Flashpoint 3-1, then sealed the match by prevailing 144.86 meters to 67.6 meters on Runasapi Push.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>The Fuel cruised past LuneX 2-0 on Busan Control, 144.86m to 77.94m on Runasapi Push and 3-1 on Aatlis Flashpoint.</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Overwatch Champions Series’ North America Stage 1 prize pool</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>1. $30,000, qualifies for Champions Clash, NA Stage 2</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>2. $15,000, qualifies for Champions Clash, NA Stage 2</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>3. $12,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>4. $8,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>5-6. Extinction, Disguised — $5,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2 promotion/relegation</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Spacestation #Fuel #advance #OWCS #Stage #playoffs

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Deadspin | MLB roundup: Dodgers walk off Rangers on Max Muncy’s 3rd HR of night <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-900/28706150.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28706150.jpg" alt="MLB: Texas Rangers at Los Angeles Dodgers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy (13) watches the flight of the ball on a walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning to defeat the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Max Muncy hit a two-out solo shot in the bottom of the ninth to cap his second career three-homer game, giving the host Los Angeles Dodgers an 8-7 walk-off win over the Texas Rangers.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Andy Pages homered and collected his fourth three-hit game of the season for the Dodgers, who overcame the first blown save of the season from closer Edwin Diaz (1-0). Los Angeles won for the sixth time in seven games.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Rangers pulled even in the ninth on a two-run homer from Evan Carter and an RBI single from Ezequiel Duran with two outs. That set the stage for Muncy’s winner off Jacob Latz (0-1).</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford also went deep for Texas, which had a three-game winning streak end.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Padres 5, Rockies 2</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Gavin Sheets launched a game-ending three-run homer and San Diego walked off visiting Colorado for the second straight game.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Sheets crushed a 434-foot bomb to right-center off Juan Mejia (0-2), his second homer of the game and season, to clinch the Padres’ sixth win in seven games. Mason Miller (1-0) struck out the side in the ninth for the second straight night. The Rockies had evened the score with a pair of two-out runs in the eighth inning.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Rockies starter Tomoyuki Sugano tossed six innings, allowing four hits and two runs. San Diego’s Walker Buehler needed only 68 pitches to fire six scoreless innings, permitting three hits.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Pirates 2, Cubs 0</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run home run, Carmen Mlodzinski threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings and visiting Pittsburgh beat Chicago.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Cubs starter Shota Imanaga held Pittsburgh hitless in his six-inning stint. The third pitch from Cubs reliever Caleb Thielbar (1-1) in the seventh was singled to right by Ryan O’Hearn. Reynolds blasted the next pitch for his third homer of the season.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Pittsburgh’s Mason Montgomery (1-0) struck out two batters in relief. Dennis Santana pitched a perfect ninth inning for his first save. Ian Happ produced two hits and Carson Kelly had a single and three walks for the Cubs.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 4</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Ketel Marte and James McCann each drove in two runs as visiting Arizona beat Philadelphia for its fifth win in six games.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Michael Soroka (3-0) allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings, striking out 10. Paul Sewald worked around a two-out triple in the ninth to register his fourth save.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>Brandon Marsh hit a three-run home run for the Phillies, who have lost three in a row. Jesus Luzardo (1-2) was charged with five runs in 4 2/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>Tigers 2, Marlins 0</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>Keider Montero tossed six strong innings and three relievers completed the shutout as host Detroit snapped a five-game losing streak by blanking Miami.</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>Montero (1-1) allowed just two hits and a walk while recording seven strikeouts. Kenley Jansen recorded his second save of the season and the 478th of his career, tying him with Lee Smith for third place on the all-time list. </p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>Javier Baez homered, Spencer Torkelson drove in the other run with a single and Colt Keith had two hits for the Tigers. Marlins starter Chris Paddack (0-2) gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings.</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>Braves 11, Guardians 5</p> </section><section id="section-22"> <p>Ronald Acuna Jr., Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each hit home runs in the sixth inning as Atlanta picked up a win over visiting Cleveland.</p> </section><section id="section-23"> <p>Atlanta sent 10 batters to the plate, pounded out seven hits and scored six runs in the decisive sixth inning. Reliever Tyler Kinley (2-0) picked up the win with a scoreless sixth inning.</p> </section><section id="section-24"> <p>Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (0-2) threw 5 1/3 innings and yielded seven hits and, five runs (four earned).</p> </section><section id="section-25"> <p>Nationals 7, Brewers 3</p> </section><section id="section-26"> <p>James Wood highlighted a four-run ninth inning with a run-scoring double as Washington came from behind to beat host Milwaukee.</p> </section><section id="section-27"> <p>The Nationals used three bunts and a hit by pitch off Brewers closer Trevor Megill (0-2) to spark an unusual winning rally. PJ Poulin (1-0) tossed a perfect eighth inning. Nationals starter Jake Irvin gave up two hits and three runs in five innings.</p> </section><section id="section-28"> <p>The Brewers announced Chad Patrick as their starter, but switched up and used Aaron Ashby as an opener. Ashby gave up two runs in the first but settled down to go 2 1/3 innings, allowing three hits and the two runs.</p> </section><section id="section-29"> <p>Angels 10, Reds 2</p> </section><section id="section-30"> <p>Jorge Soler belted a grand slam and Jack Kochanowicz allowed one run over seven innings, fueling visiting Los Angeles to a victory over Cincinnati.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-31"> <p>Zach Neto launched a two-run homer, Josh Lowe also went deep and Yoan Moncada had an RBI single while reaching base four times for the Angels, who ended a two-game skid. Kochanowicz (2-0) permitted just two hits.</p> </section> <section id="section-32"> <p>Elly De La Cruz belted a solo homer for the Reds, who lost their third straight game. Chase Burns (1-1) yielded five runs in 5 1/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-33"> <p>Blue Jays 10, Twins 4</p> </section><section id="section-34"> <p>Brandon Valenzuela hit his first career home run, a two-run blast that capped a five-run fourth inning, and Toronto defeated visiting Minnesota.</p> </section><section id="section-35"> <p>Daulton Varsho added a solo shot and a double for the Blue Jays while Vladimir Guerrero had three hits, including two doubles, and an RBI. Davis Schneider contributed two hits and two RBIs as Toronto won its second straight after losing six in a row.</p> </section><section id="section-36"> <p>Ryan Jeffers hit a three-run home run and added two singles for the Twins, who had won their four previous games. Brooks Lee added a solo shot.</p> </section><section id="section-37"> <p>Athletics 4, Mets 0</p> </section><section id="section-38"> <p>A quintet of pitchers combined on a six-hit shutout for the visiting Athletics, who continued their surge with a win over New York.</p> </section><section id="section-39"> <p>Shea Langeliers laced a third-inning run-scoring single before Jeff McNeil (single) and Denzel Clarke (two-run single) added RBI hits in the ninth for the A’s, who have posted two straight shutouts and have won four of their past five. Reliever Jack Perkins (1-0) got the win after throwing 2 1/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-40"> <p>Clay Holmes (2-1) gave up one run in 5 1/3 innings for the Mets, exiting due to a left hamstring injury.</p> </section><section id="section-41"> <p>Royals 2, White Sox 0</p> </section><section id="section-42"> <p>Kris Bubic allowed two hits and struck out a career-high 11 over seven stellar shutout innings, and Carter Jensen clubbed a solo home run as Kansas City snapped a three-game skid with a victory over visiting Chicago.</p> </section><section id="section-43"> <p>Bubic (2-1) didn’t yield a hit until Lenyn Sosa led off the fifth inning with a double. The other hit Bubic surrendered came via Derek Hill’s single to open the sixth, as he went on to match the longest outing of his career.</p> </section><section id="section-44"> <p>White Sox starter Davis Martin (2-1) gave up two runs and seven hits without a walk over seven innings.</p> </section><section id="section-45"> <p>Cardinals 3, Red Sox 2</p> </section><section id="section-46"> <p>Dustin May pitched six solid innings as St. Louis edged visiting Boston.</p> </section><section id="section-47"> <p>Jordan Walker went 2-for-4 with a run for the Cardinals, who won thir third straight game. Jose Fermin knocked in the decisive run in the fifth inning. May (1-2), who entered the game with a 15.95 ERA through two starts, allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits.</p> </section><section id="section-48"> <p>Wilyer Abreu went 2-for-4 and Trevor Story drove in a run and stole home for the Red Sox, whose two-game winning streak ended.</p> </section><section id="section-49"> <p>Rays 5, Yankees 3</p> </section><section id="section-50"> <p>Yandy Diaz started an early comeback with a two-run homer to spoil Luis Gil’s season debut and spark Tampa Bay to a victory over New York in St. Petersburg, Fla.</p> </section><section id="section-51"> <p>Seeking more production, Rays manager Kevin Cash moved Diaz to the cleanup spot and elevated Chandler Simpson to the leadoff position. Simpson drove in two runs. Steven Matz (3-0) threw five innings of two-run ball, and Bryan Baker escaped a ninth-inning jam for his second save.</p> </section><section id="section-52"> <p>Gil (0-1) needed 88 pitches to get through his four-inning stint, allowing three runs. Ben Rice homered for the Yankees, who lost their third game in a row.</p> </section><section id="section-53"> <p>Mariners 9, Astros 6</p> </section><section id="section-54"> <p>Randy Arozarena hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth inning and Seattle snapped a five-game skid with a victory against visiting Houston.</p> </section><section id="section-55"> <p>Mariners starter Emerson Hancock (2-1) overcame one shaky frame to pitch five innings and allow three runs. Andres Munoz worked around two walks in the ninth for his first save.</p> </section><section id="section-56"> <p>Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who lost their fifth in a row. Reliever Ryan Weiss (0-2) yielded Arozarena’s blast.</p> </section><section id="section-57"> <p>Giants 6, Orioles 3</p> </section><section id="section-58"> <p>Willy Adames, Casey Schmitt and Jung Hoo Lee combined for four runs, five RBIs and seven extra-base hits as San Francisco won at Baltimore.</p> </section><section id="section-59"> <p>Adames and Lee each provided a homer, double and two RBIs while Schmitt drilled three doubles, scored twice and knocked in a run. Landen Roupp (2-1) permitted one run on five hits over six innings.</p> </section><section id="section-60"> <p>Gunnar Henderson hit a two-run homer, his third long ball in the past four games, and Adley Rutschman went 3-for-5 with two doubles for the Orioles, whose three-game winning streak ended. Shane Baz (0-1) gave up three runs in five innings.</p> </section><section id="section-61"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Dodgers #walk #Rangers #Max #Muncys #3rd #night

Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros  Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.   Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros.  The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday.    Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday.   “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”    The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings.     Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.    “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #AstrosWorcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.

Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros.

The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday.

Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday.

“Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”


The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings.

Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros">Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros  Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.   Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros.  The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday.    Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday.   “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”    The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings.     Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.    “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”    –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros

Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas  May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend.  With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime.  In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10.  “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule.  Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself.  In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies.  While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama.  On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap.  Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team.  Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start.   He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway.  It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level.  Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not.  He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago.  The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him.  The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24.  Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020.  Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #TexasMay 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend.

With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime.

In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10.

“It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule.

Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself.

In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies.

While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama.

On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap.

Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team.


Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start.

He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway.

It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level.

Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not.

He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago.

The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him.

The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24.

Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020.

Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas">Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas  May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images   Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend.  With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime.  In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10.  “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule.  Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself.  In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies.  While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama.  On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap.  Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team.  Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start.   He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway.  It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level.  Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not.  He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago.  The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him.  The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24.  Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020.  Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas

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