SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: A young fan holds a sign during game two of the 2026 Colorado Rockies spring training at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 21, 2026. The Colorado Rockies took on the Arizona Diamondbacks. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
After losing their spring training home opener, the Colorado Rockies came back to soundly defeat their Salt River Fields roomies, the Arizona Diamondbacks, 11-6. For more details, go here.
We’re not yet to the point in the season where we’re doing game recaps, but we wanted to share manager Warren Schaeffer’s postgame comments and some other Rockies comments.
First, here’s Schaeffer:
And here’s Tanner Gordon on his outing today as well as his evolving pitch arsenal:
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Xavier Edmonds had 14 points and 13 rebounds and TCU closed the game with a 17-5 run, defeating West Virginia 60-54 on Saturday.
It was the third straight double-double for Edmonds and his eighth in the last nine games, raising his season averages to 12.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
TCU missed eight of nine shots to open the second half and later missed eight in a row. West Virginia led 49-43 with eight minutes remaining before the Horned Frogs cut it to one when David Punch finally hit a jumper. Brock Harding and Punch each made two layups two give TCU a 56-52 lead with 1:36 to go and the Horned Frogs made four free throws in the final seconds to wrap up the win.
West Virginia scored only two points in the final four minutes, finishing the game in a 1-for-6 shooting slump.
West Virginia shot 41% for the game compared to 34% for TCU.
Liutauras Lelevicius scored 14 points off the bench, Punch added 12 and Harding scored 11 for TCU (17-10, 7-7 Big 12).
Honor Huff scored 13 and Brenen Lorient 10 for West Virginia (16-11, 7-7).
TCU missed seven of nine shots in the first eight minutes but trailed only 9-4. The Horned Frogs regrouped and a 14-2 run late in the half led to a 30-25 lead at halftime. Lelevicius hit three 3-pointers and scored 14 points in the half.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 07: Paul Reed #7 of the Detroit Pistons tries to drive around Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on January 07, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jalen Duren is back, but Jaden Ivey is not. The Detroit Pistons face the Chicago Bulls tonight, and they will see the return of their All-Star big man after serving a two-game suspension for an on-court altercation. Ivey, meanwhile, is out tonight due to knee soreness. It’s a bummer not to see Ivey suit up and play 30-plus minutes, but it is no easy road coming back from a major knee injury. I hope we can see the old, explosive Ivey again soon.
The Pistons are on quite a roll, and star point guard Cade Cunningham is finally getting some legitimate MVP buzz. All it takes is for his 3-pointer to start falling and one stellar showing on the grand stage of Madison Square Garden. Cunningham scored 42 points and hit five 3-pointers in a 126-111 win over the Knicks. It would be fabulous if he didn’t follow that up with a stinker against the Bulls, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Game Vitals
When: 8 p.m. ET Where: United Center, Chicago, Illinois Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -10.5
LOS ANGELES — Jayson Tatum appeared on the floor moments before Celtics practice on Saturday and addressed photos showing him seemingly taking part in team activities in San Francisco. He clarified that he didn’t take part in a practice, and rather participated in an optional workout with several Celtics teammates, including Luka Garza.
Joe Mazzulla would not say whether Tatum, who added that he hasn’t practiced since his Maine session, would practice with the team on Saturday as he continues to progress in his on-court work and overall recovery process.
“He’s just continuing to get better,” Mazzulla said. “Working on his reads and then continuing to hit his checkmarks in the weight room and then in the treatment room as well. The main goal is just making sure he gets 100% healthy and continues to get better and better.”
“It’s just trusting the group that we have around him,” he continued. “And taking it step-by-step. So, just making sure we stick to that as much as we can. He came out of the Maine practice pretty well, and so we’ll continue to see it from there. It just depends as he continues to hit those check marks, whatever they may be.”
The latest comments from Tatum and Mazzulla maintain the secrecy the Celtics and Tatum’s team have operated with through the final stages of his Achilles recovery. Several reports indicated over the past week that Tatum’s still uncertain whether he’ll return or not this year, and despite speculation around an NBC-flexed Celtics start time on March 1 against the Sixers, he said that he does not have a return date in mind at the moment.
Mazzulla said the Celtics hadn’t practiced since Tatum’s Maine Celtics session, which went well. Boston doesn’t have a plan for him to join their actual practice activity other than continuing along his normal progression. That would seemingly indicate that there’s no imminent return expected for the Celtics star in the near future.
“Work out, see how you recover the next day and then you just make a plan from there,” Tatum said. “It was a little five-on-five (on Wednesday). It’s tough to go into detail on every single thing I’m doing every day, but I will say I’m just getting acclimated more and doing little things with some of the guys out there, but it’s all part of rehab and just going with the plan.”
Tatum added that he feels better than he did the previous day, and that’s all he’s focused on at the moment rather than a specific return date. He stressed that it’s important that he put himself in position to have a return be a conversation, and continued stressing he won’t play until he’s 100% and he wouldn’t indicate what percent he’s currently at.
The Celtics arrived at Santa Barbara Prep for practice alongside Tatum, who took some light shots on the court before the session began. He sported a team-issued shirt and sweatpants, put on his sneakers and spoke to the media before the practice closed once it began.
“I feel like I’m beating a dead horse,” Tatum said. “I’m taking it one day at a time. This is something that’s very serious. The injury that I had is just a long journey. For me, it’s just easier to take it one day at a time and see how I progress from there.”
SAN ANTONIO, TX - NOVEMBER 16: De'Aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs and DeMar DeRozan #10 of the Sacramento Kings embrace at the end of the game at Frost Bank Center on November 16, 2025 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to the Game Thread. Veterans of the Game Thread know how we do things around here, but for all you newbies we have a few rules. Our community guidelines apply and basically say be cool, no personal attacks, don’t troll and don’t swear too much.
The Spurs have never won both games in the Moody Center series that’s been played in Austin the last four years, and they have a great chance to do it tonight, after blowing out the Suns on Thursday night 121-94. The Suns were without their emotional leader Dillon Brooks due to a league suspension and lost Devin Booker in the first half with hip soreness, and the Spurs took advantage, taking a huge lead in the second half and resting their starters for most of the fourth quarter. The Kings have the worst record in the NBA, and shut down Damontas Sabonis for the rest of the season as he’s getting surgery on his knee for a meniscus tear that wouldn’t heal on its own. Zach Levine and new acquisition De’Andre Hunter are also out for the season, and ethical tanking seems to be fully deployed in central California. The roster for the Kings is now Demar DeRozan, Russ Westbrook, and a bunch of young guys. Two of those guys are Maxime Raynaud, who has been playing well recently, and Keegan Murray, who is turning into a very effective power forward in the league. Westbrook and DeRozan will definitely be in the hall of fame, but they’re a bit past their prime as players. The thing is that they’re still good enough to cause the Spurs issues if they do not play with the kind of effort and commitment that they brought against the Suns. It would be advantageous for the Silver and Black to put this game away early so they could rest players late in the game, because the Spurs will be heading out on the road again for a key contest against Cade Cunningham and the Eastern Conference leading Pistons on Monday night.
The Spurs can make this game less stressful if they take control early and take a big lead at the half. Neither DeRozan or Westbrook are great three point shooters, and Victor should be able to limit their offense when he’s in the game by creating a no-shooting zone in the paint. The team needs to be focused and not look forward to Monday night, because that kind of thinking can lead to a bad Saturday night. It will be interesting to see whether Castle ends up defending DeMar or Russ, because either matchup will be fun to watch. It will be either DeMar’s crafty moves or Russell’s quickness and strength, and each one will provide unique challenges for Castle as he prepares his game for playoff basketball. It’s going to be fun to watch, let’s GOO SPURS!!
Game Prediction:
Matthew McConaughey will show up in the announcer booth, and will make the call of the game as he screams “alright, alright, alright!” as Victor Wembanyama dunks the ball.
San Antonio Spurs vs Sacramento Kings (Austin) February 21, 2026 | 7:00 PM CT Streaming: NBA League Pass TV: KENS5 Reminder: It is against site policy to post links to illegal streams in the comments.
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit two homers in his spring debut as he prepares for the World Baseball Classic next month.
The three-time Most Valuable Player hit a pair of two-run shots, one in the third inning and another in the fourth against the Detroit Tigers. He finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs.
The 33-year-old has won the MVP in three of the past four seasons, including last year when he hit .331 with 53 homers and 114 RBIs.
“We’ve got the WBC coming up, which I’m excited about, and an exciting Yankees season,” Judge said after his performance. “We’ve got a lot of unfinished business from last season, especially the way it ended for us. I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to help this team win a lot of ballgames.”
Judge will be part of what looks like a loaded Team USA lineup in the WBC. The position player group also includes Bryce Harper, Gunnar Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr., Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber.
The WBC’s pool play round runs from March 5-11 at four sites in Tokyo, Houston, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The championship game will be on March 17 in Miami.
Lenni Hameenaho was recalled to the New Jersey Devils from the American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets on Tuesday, February 17.
The forward was recalled by the Devils on February 17, just before the end of the Olympic break. Earlier this season, he made his NHL debut on January 19. The 2023 second-round selection for the Devils played in nine games with the team this season. Hameenaho earned four points in nine games, two goals and two assists.
At just 21 years old, Hameenaho has transitioned to the NHL well. Head coach Sheldon Keefe spoke about his adjustment to the big leagues on NJD.tv on Thursday.
"It's been obvious that he belongs here,” Keefe said. “He’s a young player who has the ability to go up and down without requiring waivers. You don’t really know what it’s going to be like day-to-day, but his play before the break showed that he can help our team and play in the NHL."
Despite his easy adaptation to the NHL, there is still just under half the season to play. Keefe acknowledged that it will be a long road for Hameenaho.
“We’ve got to keep working with him as a coaching staff to keep adapting to the league as the sort of honeymoon phase wears off, there’s a long list of guys that come up to the NHL for a short period of time and have success, but can’t really sustain it. It’s a reason why you want to keep guys in the American League longer, especially prospects, so that when they come up, they show that they’re ready and they don’t have to go back,” Keefe said. “That’s what we hope to be the case, and from what we saw before the break, there’s no reason to believe otherwise.”
Hammehao will re-join the Devils after logging one game with the Comets.
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 29: Oakland Athletics hat sitting on top of a glove in the dugout before the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 29, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well we got baseball. Some ugly baseball for A’s fans but baseball nonetheless. The Athletics dropped their first game of the 2026 season this afternoon, dropping the first Cactus League game to the Chicago White Sox 11-2 to kick things off down in Arizona.
Right-hander Jack Perkins was on the bump this afternoon, hoping to impress the coaching staff and put himself into real consideration for a rotation job. He was already facing an uphill battle in that regard and didn’t really help himself today. He allowed a leadoff double and a pair of walks to load the bases, then gave up a two-run single that actually chased him from today’s contest. He got to 26 pitches which is where the team probably wanted him to reach this afternoon but it was a lot of work to get there and he didn’t even finish the frame. Shaky spring debut for Perkins to be sure.
Right-hander Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang came next and only made one mistake in his outing, allowing a solo home run to give the White Sox a lead they wouldn’t relinquish all day. Top prospect Wei-En Lin came on next and pitched a full inning but not before allowing a pair of runs himself. The game was already getting out of hand at this point and it’d only get worse as the day went on.
Relievers Eduarneil Nunez and Nick Anderson pitched an inning apiece, with Nunez collecting a pair of punchouts and Anderson one. Nunez has a high ceiling but he’ll need to really learn how to harness his stuff if he wants to reach those heights.
On the offensive side of things, the A’s didn’t have much going for them today. They were able to push across their first run of the game in the second thanks to a pair of singles, a productive out and a wild pitch. Not exactly small ball but a run is a run.
The team scored their second and final run in the top of the fifth thanks to some more poor White Sox defense, but that was it from the A’s offense today. The Sox ended up scoring five more times over the final few frames against some depth arms trying to crack the bullpen to push the score to the eventual final of 11-2. Not a great day in the runs department but wins are meaningless this time of year anyway.
Here’s a wrap up of some of the most notable lines from today’s contest:
Third-string catcher is one of the camp battles going on this spring thanks to the departure of former first-round pick Daniel Susac, but glove-first backstop BrianServen is fighting for that spot and had himself a day at the plate, collecting a pair of doubles to cap a 3-for-3 day in the batter’s box.
And third base. Man, this could be a spring-long battle we have on our hands. Max Muncy, Darell Hernaiz, and Brett Harris, all of whom are fighting for that job, all collected hits today. No one seperated themselves from the pack but we are off to a good start at that positional battle.
Elsewhere outfield prospect Junior Perez collected a single this afternoon while fellow outfielders Henry Bolte and Colby Thomas went hitless. It’d take a massive camp for Perez to sneak his way onto the Opening Day roster but if he’s going to do it then today was a good start.
That’s about it folks. The A’s got their butt handed to them today but we do it all again tomorrow! The Cleveland Guardians roll into town for the A’s first home game of Spring Training tomorrow. The club plans to go with veteran Luis Severino for tomorrow’s contest, likely following Perkins in only doing one inning or so. Sevy will be followed by fellow starter Luis Morales, relievers Brady Basso and Michael Kelly, and at some point we’ll also get to see prospect Kade Morris on the bump. Hopefully tomorrow goes much better than today’s game! Baseball is back and everything is right in the world again.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) addresses media at the Conclusion of a Cactus League game against the Cleveland Guardians, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. Guardians won 2-4. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Chase Burns got the start in Saturday afternoon’s contest between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians in the two teams’ combined complex in Goodyear, Arizona, and in doing so officially began their Cactus League campaign.
Burns kept the Guardians off the board in a pair of scoreless frames, doing so without so much as allowing a hit. He did walk a trio against a pair of strikeouts before handing the ball over to Rhett Lowder, a fellow Wake Forest product who’s also very much in the mix for a spot in the team’s Opening Day rotation. Lowder fanned 4 in his pair of IP, though he did get dinged for a pair of hits, a walk, and a run allowed. Julian Aguiar, himself an outside candidate for the team’s starting rotation, similarly allowed a run in a pair of IP.
On the offensive side of things, it was once again Will Benson haunting his former club. Cleveland’s former 1st round pick slugged a 2-run homer off righty Colin Holderman after lefty Logan Allen – Cleveland’s starter on the day – departed after a pair of scoreless frames. in a battle for a spot on the Opening Day roster himself alongside the likes of JJ Bleday and Nathaniel Lowe as one of the team’s lefty bats with some pop, it was once again a reminder that Benson still owns a wealth of yet-to-be-tapped potential that he showed, at times, in 2025 during a horribly unlucky campaign on the surface.
Edwin Arroyo chipped in with a double and a run scored for the lone other extra-base hit on the day for Cincinnati, while Hagen Danner – a former 2nd round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays – was tagged for a pair of ER in a lone IP out of the bullpen to wrap up the pertinent portions of Cincinnati’s box score.
Jose Franco will take the ball to start tomorrow’s game against the Seattle Mariners as the Reds play host at Goodyear for the first time (they were the road team against Cleveland on Saturday). First pitch in that one is set for 3:05 PM ET, though it will only be able to be perceived with your ears via 700 WLW and the MLB At-Bat app.
Kévin Denkey and Nick Hagglund scored late goals to lead FC Cincinnati to a 2-0 win over Atlanta United FC in an MLS regular season opener for both teams on Saturday.
In the 80th minute, Denkey received an assist from Ender Echenique, faking out goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos before finishing with his left foot between a pair of defenders.
Hagglund doubled their tally with a header from a Bryan Ramírez corner in the 90th minute. Hagglund suffered two broken ribs and a collapsed lung against Atlanta in on May 25 last year, missing more than two months.
Cincinnati lost 2025 MVP finalist Evander due to a hamstring injury 13 minutes into the game. He was replaced by Gerardo Valenzuela.
Denkey missed a golden chance in the 56th minute. After a turnover from center back Juan Berrocal fell to Denkey, he had a one-on-one chance with Hoyos, but hit the outside of the right post.
It was the first game for Atlanta United manager Gerardo “Tato” Martino, the former Argentina and Barcelona manager who most recently managed Inter Miami from 2023-24 and coached Lionel Messi at all three stops.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kwame Evans Jr. scored 21 points and Oregon's 7-0 run in the last 59 seconds helped the Ducks steal a 71-70 win over USC on Saturday.
Nate Bittle scored 14 points to go with 11 rebounds and four steals. His two foul shots with 10 seconds left were Oregon's go-ahead points. Takai Simpkins scored 12 and Drew Carter 11 for the Ducks (10-17, 3-13 Big Ten).
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 21 points before fouling out, Ezra Ausar scored 15 points to go with 11 rebounds before fouling out, and Alijah Arenas had 13 for the Trojans (18-9, 7-9 Big Ten).
With Baker-Mazara and Ausar on the bench, Arenas attempted to split defenders before Oregon's Dezdrick Lindsay swiped the ball and threw it into the front court as time expired.
Jacob Cofie made 1 of 2 foul shots to give USC a 70-64 lead with 1:10 left. Evans responded with a layup and drew Ausar's fifth foul to reduce Oregon's deficit to four.
Evans missed the foul shot, and in a scramble for the ball, Oregon's Carter threw it out to Evans who buried a 3 to make it 70-69. Arenas missed his shot attempt and Kam Woods missed the follow-up tip-in before Bittle collected the rebound.
Out of a timeout, Bittle caught a lob pass in the lane before getting fouled by Baker-Mazara — his fifth — and made the game's final points.
Oregon has won its last four road games at USC.
Up Next
Oregon: Hosts 24th-ranked Wisconsin on Wednesday.
USC: Will make the 30-minute cross-town jaunt to Westwood to face UCLA on Tuesday.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 24: Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards shoots the ball while guarded by Moussa Diabate #14 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on January 24, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Washington Wizards host the Charlotte Hornets tomorrow night. Let’s get to the preview
Game info
When: Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. ET
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
How to watch: Monumental Sports Network, League Pass
Injuries: For the Wizards, Trae Young (knee, quad), Anthony Davis (hand, groin), Cam Whitmore (shoulder), Alex Sarr (hamstring), and D’Angelo Russell (not with team) are out.
For the Hornets, Liam McNeely and Coby White are out. Grant Williams is day-to-day.
What to watch for
The Wizards are looking to win their third straight game, this time against their Southeast Division foes in Charlotte. The Hornets have lose three of their last four games but had a recent nine game winning streak and are 26-31 heading into tomorrow’s game.
With the immediate Washington area under a winter weather advisory and a winter storm warning in some of the surrounding suburbs, do not expect this game to be postponed tomorrow. It is rare for NBA games to be postponed due to snow unless there are blizzard or near such conditions. The Washington area is not expected to get the worst effects. The northeast United States is expected to get such conditions, but all the northeast USA teams (Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics) and the Toronto Raptors are on the road in cities not affected by the storm.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 21: Baseball fan watch game two of the Colorado Rockies and the Arizona Diamondbacks 2026 spring training at Salt River Field at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 21, 2026.(Photo by RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images) | Denver Post via Getty Images
Record: 1-1. Change on 2025: +1. 5-inning record: 0-2.
Yeah, after yesterday’s well-pitched endeavor, this was very much the opposite. It was probably worse than the score actually indicates, since the Diamondbacks put up a crooked number in both the eighth and ninth innings, to leave the final tallies looking more respectable than they deserved to be. After a scoreless first inning for Mitch Bratt, things got out of hand quickly. Colorado scored five in the second though to be fair, Bratt wasn’t helped by two misplays at the hot corner from LuJames Groover (only one being scored an error). His replacement out of the pen, Zane Russell, then faced four batters without retiring anyone, and that was the end of this as a contest.
All told, the D-backs needed ten pitchers to get through the game. Casey Anderson, who replaced Russell in the second, was a rare bright spot, striking out both hitters he faced. Alfred Morillo, Yu-Min Lin and Spencer Giesting were all charged with multiple runs, though Lin did come back out for a seven-pitch second inning, after initially being lifted with two outs in the fourth. I got quite excited seeing Diaz work a clean seventh with a pair of K’s, though turns out this was Indigo rather than Yilber. All told, Arizona pitchers struck out thirteen, but walked eight, all in the first six innings. Must do better there.
With all the attention on Jordan Lawlar's position, people forget about his pop 💥
On offense, Jordan Lawlar got the team on the board with a home-run in the second (above). Though he may not be a fan of the new ABS system getting rung up on three straight called strikes his next time up – two of which were successfully appealed balls! He also walked, while Tim Tawa also had a hit and a walk. Tawa’s replacement, Tommy Troy, went 2-for-2, including an RBI double in the ninth. And keeping up with the ABS score, there were eight challenges during today’s game, five of which proved successful. Rockies’ catcher Hunter Goodman was particularly effective, being perfect in his three challenges.
Tomorrow, the team gets to face someone apart from the Rockies for the first time. They face the Angels at Salt River, with another 1:05 pm start, and Kohl Drake the scheduled starter.
Feb 21, 2026; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Dodgers scored nine runs in the first two innings, turning their Cactus League opener into an 15-2 drubbing of the Angels on Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Things were going so well offensively for the Dodgers that they chased starter José Soriano with two outs in the second at 31 pitches. But, this being spring training, that wasn’t a full hook by new Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, and Soriano was right back on the hill to begin the second inning. But after a five-pitch walk to open the frame, Soriano’s day was done.
That didn’t stop the scoring, as the Dodgers scored six runs in the second inning after a three-run first, turning this one into a laugher from the jump.
Shohei Ohtani was only expected to bat three times, the norm for regulars, especially this early in spring training. He got that work in by the top of the second inning, leading to an early exit. Ohtani had an infield single and scored to lead off the game, and made the first and third outs in the extended second inning.
The mention this week of Teoscar Hernández aiming for a Gold Glove Award was farfetched, even before he dropped a fly ball at the left field wall in the second inning. Though this was mostly due to the sun wreaking havoc in that part of the field. Bread and butter for Hernández though is at the plate, and he collected a hit in each of the first three innings, including a double, and scored three times.
Andy Pages doubled and tripled in his three at-bats. Non-roster invitee Santiago Espinal started and played three innings at third base, with an RBI single, two walks, and two runs scored in his three trips to the plate.
One more time
In between the outbursts in the top of innings, Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the ball for his first start in camp. After a perfect first inning with two strikeouts and a long layoff in between, Yamamoto was less sharp in the bottom of the second, giving up a double and two singles for two runs, one earned.
Zyhir Hope in left field and 100-steal man Kendall George in left got into the game in the third inning, with Josue De Paula in right field and James Tibbs III at first base by the fourth inning. Hope doubled and scored in the ninth, and made a diving catch to save two runs and end the sixth inning.
Luke Fox, a 2023 draft pick who ended last season with Double-A Tulsa, struck out three with a walk in a scoreless eighth inning.
Up next
The Dodgers have another road game on Sunday, battling the San Diego Padres in Peoria (12:10 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA). Jackson Ferris starts on the mound for Los Angeles. Sadly, the Padres aren’t turning to a recent non-roster invitee addition, robbing us of a Ferris-Buehler pitching matchup. Instead, Randy Vásquez starts for San Diego.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out three and gave up one earned run while throwing 30 pitches in 1 2/3 innings of work. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto toed the rubber Saturday for the team's Cactus League opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium with the expectation that it would be his only start before joining Team Japan for next month's World Baseball Classic.
Even manager Dave Roberts believed that was the case as he came out to lift his star pitcher with two outs in the bottom of the second inning of the Dodgers' eventual 15-2 win.
“Doc came to the mound, and he said, 'Good luck in the WBC,'” Yamamoto said via interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda. “But actually, I have one more game to pitch."
After giving up one earned run, three hits and striking out three in his 30-pitch outing, Yamamoto said he believes his next start will be on Friday against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium.
Yamamoto cruised through the first inning, striking out third baseman Yoan Moncado swinging and getting shortstop Zach Neto to look at a called strike three on a darting sinker.
But then the Dodgers, who had scored three runs in the top of the first, sent 11 men to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batter in a half-inning that took nearly 30 minutes. Yamamoto believes the long break between innings may have disrupted his workflow, contributing to a messy second inning.
A dropped fly ball on the warning track in left field by Teoscar Hernández spelled trouble for Yamamoto, scoring a run and allowing Jo Adell to reach second base with nobody out. Yamamoto struck out the next hitter, getting left fielder Josh Lowe to swing through a splitter, before allowing back-to-back outfield line drives to catcher Logan O’Hoppe and second baseman Christian Moore. After Bryce Teodosio flied out for the second out of the inning, Yamamoto's day was done.
Yamamoto reached into his five-pitch repertoire Saturday, mixing in six fastballs, eight splitters, five sinkers, four cutters, four curveballs and three sliders. His fastball sat between 91 and 93 mph, topping out at 94.9 mph.
"I was looking for some stuff I needed to get back before I go back to Japan and join the team,” Yamamoto said. “I was looking forward to the feeling, the delivery and those things.”
Fans pack Diablo Stadium for Saturday's game between the Angels and Dodgers. (Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
He added: "Yesterday's practice, I was already feeling good. And then, somehow I was able to carry that to today's game, especially the first inning. I think I was great, but due to the gap between innings, that affected me a little bit."
With Yamamoto’s time being limited with the Dodgers before the WBC, Roberts spoke pregame Saturday about what he hopes to see from his star pitcher in the time leading up to the event.
“I think that obviously, him going and pitching for Team Japan, he’s going to be trying to ramp it up and get prepared,” Roberts said. “So, I think it’s just more of what he does [on] strike one, [how he] uses secondaries, and be efficient and get some outs.”
Though Yamamoto will pitch once more before leaving for the WBC, Roberts told reporters that he isn’t concerned about the WBC interrupting Yamamoto’s preparation for the regular season.
“I think I’m confident because there’s no exact science on ramping up early and success, or being methodical and not participating to result in success during the season,” Roberts said. “There’s just no exact science. For me, and for all of us, you’re just believing in the player, knowing that he knows what it takes to be ready for a season and he takes care of himself, so I think for me, it’s an easy way to think and wrap my head around, just kind of believing in him, trusting him.”
Etc.
Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez hugs Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after scoring in the first inning. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
Just over a week into camp, utilityman Hyeseong Kim has already made a strong first impression, as he vies for more playing time in his second season. On Saturday, he went two for three with three RBIs to help spark the Dodgers' offensive outburst. Elsewhere, the top three hitters in the lineup — Shohei Ohtani, Hernández and Andy Pages — combined for six hits in nine at-bats with two RBIs. ... The Dodgers claimed outfielder Jack Suwinski from the Pittsburgh Pirates. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred utilityman Kiké Hernández to the 60-day injured list.
