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Tom Dunn shines on record-breaking appearance as Bath crush Leicester

  • Bath 43-15 Leicester
  • Dunn scores try in 184th Premiership match for Bath

It could yet be that these two teams will meet again in this season’s Premiership final at Twickenham. If so Leicester will have to look for some different solutions. This meeting of the leagues’s top two was compared to a “heavyweight boxing clash” by Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, but even the ability of Leicester’s defence to soak up plenty of punishment could not save them in the end.

Bath’s first-choice forwards are increasingly taking no prisoners and this seven-try victory on a glorious early summer evening was the latest reason to fancy they will eventually end up as champions. The highlight was a memorable score from Tom Dunn, setting a new club record for the most Premiership appearances in the famous blue, black and white striped jersey. The hooker’s extravagant dummy and subsequent 20-metre sprint to the line would have been collector’s items even in a game of social tag rugby

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Yankees reliever Jake Cousins has injury setback, this time a pec issue

NEW YORK — Yankees reliever Jake Cousins felt pectoral discomfort after throwing a pair of batting practice sessions, another setback in his bid to return to the mound for the first time since last fall.

Cousins won’t throw again for four or five days, manager Aaron Boone said Saturday.

Boone said ahead of spring training’s opening workout that Cousins had a strained right forearm and was uncertain for the March 27 opener.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Cousins threw batting practice to injured slugger Giancarlo Stanton on May 6. Boone said Cousins pitched an additional session before the pec issue caused a shutdown.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious, but enough to hold him back a few days,” Boone said.

Boone said Cousins had tests and they didn’t show any shoulder issues.

Cousins had a 2.37 ERA in 37 relief appearances last year, striking out 53 and walking 20 in 38 innings.

Boone said a date has not been set for Stanton to start a minor league injury rehabilitation assignment. The five-time All-Star has been sidelined since spring training with pain in the tendons of both elbows.

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Crystal Palace stun Manchester City to win FA Cup and first-ever major trophy – as it happened

Eberechi Eze scored a fine winner and Dean Henderson – who might have been sent off earlier – saved a penalty on a famous day for Palace

Oliver Glasner’s pre-match thoughts

It’s a special moment for all of us and we’re really looking forward to the game.

We expect City to have more of the ball, as they do against most teams, especially as they have picked a very attacking line-up. It’s a little bit similar to how Villa played, with lots of attacking players, but that gives you space for transitions. That’s what we need to wait for. We have to be very efficient when we get chances.

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Abel didn't expect the call but pitched well enough to earn it

Abel didn't expect the call but pitched well enough to earn it originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Players nearing the major leagues can sometimes see the writing on the wall before their first call-up, but Mick Abel did not. 

He had no reason to. The Phillies had five starters plus Taijuan Walker in the bullpen. Aaron Nola had struggled mightily but hadn’t missed time with an injury in over eight years. 

“We were in Syracuse playing the Mets’ Triple A. I had no idea it was coming,” Abel said Saturday afternoon from the Phillies’ dugout during batting practice. 

“Our manager, Anthony Contreras, called a meeting and was talking about the team’s success, how we’re not riding the highs too much, and at the end he was like, ‘We’ve got a lot to celebrate today,’ and he said it. I was pretty surprised. 

“I was a little star stuck at first, like, he said my name? I put my head down and didn’t know how to feel, I was pretty overwhelmed. Once I stood up, emotions started flowing, I started dapping guys up. It was fun.”

Abel is up for one start and one start only. He will make his big-league debut Sunday opposite Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes in an exciting pitching matchup to end the Phillies’ six-game homestand.

Abel is up because Nola was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right ankle sprain. Nola suffered the injury last Thursday in Tampa and pitched through it for two starts, allowing four runs in five innings in Cleveland, then nine runs on 12 hits to the Cardinals at home. 

The ankle felt a little bit better after the Cleveland start, Nola said Friday, but it lingered into the outing against the Cardinals, which was the worst of his career.

Nola had to adjust his mechanics in that one, he said, because he couldn’t rotate his foot properly. His back then tightened up. The Phillies want to sit him down for a few weeks so he doesn’t adjust anything else to compensate and injure a different body part. 

The Phillies do not expect Nola (1-7, 6.16 ERA) to miss much time beyond the 15-day minimum, manager Rob Thomson said Friday. But Abel will make just this start, regardless. Walker will slot into the rotation spot on Wednesday at Coors Field. Thomson made this clear to Abel. 

Maybe it puts a little less pressure on the 23-year-old former first-round pick. 

“I think so,” Thomson said. “We did it with Sanchy a couple years ago. I FaceTimed him and said you’re coming up here and it’s just one start and you’re going right back, so just come up here and be yourself, pitch like you are right now, you’re gonna have success. Just relax and have fun, enjoy the moment. And he did, he pitched really well.”

These are the Phillies’ probable starters for the week ahead:

Sunday vs. Pit: Mick Abel

Monday at Col: Cristopher Sanchez

Tuesday at Col: Jesus Luzardo

Wednesday at Col: Taijuan Walker

Thursday at Col: Ranger Suarez

Friday at Sac: Zack Wheeler

Saturday at Sac: Cristopher Sanchez

Sunday at Sac: Jesus Luzardo

Abel was the Phillies’ top pick in the 2020 draft, the first high school pitcher selected. He’s made 92 starts in the Phils’ system since 2021 and has put together the best run of his mjnor-league career this year, going 5-2 with a 2.53 ERA in eight starts. He’s 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA in the last four. 

“Any time a guy makes his debut whether it’s a position player or pitchers, it’s always exciting. And he’s had a lot of focus on him since he signed because he’s a high draft pick,” Thomson said. 

“He’s had some struggles in the past but he’s really put together a nice season this year. I told him today just come in here, one start, be yourself and have fun. Enjoy the moment.”

Abel has always missed bats but control has been a consistent issue. He walked 143 batters in 222 innings in 2023 and 2024. He’s down from 5.8 walks per nine innings to 3.7 this season. Sometimes, it’s been nibbling. Sometimes, he’s admitted over the years, it’s been thinking too much. 

Right now, he’s trusting his stuff, pitching with confidence and intent. 

“I’m expecting all the nerves in the world,” he said, “but at the end of the day, it’s the same game, just a different place.”

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Jaylen has partial meniscus tear, played through injury: Report

Jaylen has partial meniscus tear, played through injury: Report originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jaylen Brown has been dealing with a right knee injury since March, and we now know severity of his ailment.

The Boston Celtics star has a partially torn right meniscus, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Saturday. Brown will be “evaluated this week to determine if surgery is needed,” per Shelburne.

Brown missed six games over a 13-game span in March as well as the final three games of the regular season due to a knee injury the team labeled as “right knee posterior impingement.” After an April 3 loss to the Miami Heat, Brown admitted he was dealing with consistent knee pain but planned to play through it.

“I’ve had to come to grips that every night I’m not gonna feel my normal self,” Brown said at the time, “but that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So, it’s just something that we are working through.”

Brown didn’t miss a game in the postseason, and while his typical explosiveness was limited, he still averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game.

With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to a ruptured Achilles suffered in Game 4, Brown helped keep Boston’s season alive in a Game 5 win over the New York Knicks with 26 points, eight rebounds and a playoff career-high 12 assists.

“I don’t make excuses,” Brown said after the Celtics’ season-ending loss in Game 6 on Friday. “Obviously, it’s tough the way we went out like tonight, but the way we finished the year, personally, the way I finished the year, persevering through some physical stuff that I was battling through, I’m proud of our group.”

How long Brown needs to recover remains unclear and will depend on whether he elects to have surgery, but his injury adds another wrinkle to an already uncertain offseason in Boston.

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US PGA Championship golf 2025: day three – as it happened

  • Scottie Scheffler opened up a possibly decisive lead with some almost flawless golf down the closing stretch at Quail Hollow
  • Official leaderboard

… so having given Scottie Scheffler the grandstand introduction, he double-crosses himself and sends his approach at 1 towards the gallery to the left of the green. He’ll have a hell of a chip from there, from thick rough over sand. A pleasing symmetry to this.

… so having given Rory McIlroy the grandstand introduction, he carves his second at 10 towards the gallery to the right of the green. He’ll have a hell of a chip from there, from thick rough over sand. Meanwhile his playing partner, the defending champion Xander Schauffele, leaves his approach short and right, and immediately hollers “Mud ball!” Ah yes, mud balls …

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Paolini storms to victory over Gauff to win Italian Open and make history

  • Home favourite wins 6-4, 6-2 at Foro Italico
  • Paolini is first Italian to win women’s singles in 40 years

Jasmine Paolini became the first home winner of the Italian Open for 40 years with a dominant victory over Coco Gauff. The 29-year-old, who reached the final of the French Open and Wimbledon last year in a breakthrough season, delighted the fans at the Foro Italico with a 6-4, 6-2 success.

No Italian had won the singles titles in Rome since Raffaella Reggi in 1985, but Paolini thoroughly merited her triumph. Jannik Sinner could make it a home double when he faces Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday. “It doesn’t seem real to me,” Paolini said. “I came here as a kid to see this tournament, but winning it and holding up this trophy wasn’t even in my dreams.”

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Mets Notes: What LHP Jose Castillo brings to NY, next steps for Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to reporters ahead of Saturday's Subway Series matchup against the Yankees, and gave some updates on the team...

Dedniel Núñez still "going to be a big part of this team"

New York optioned the relief pitcher to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday, SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino reported, as Mendoza said he needs to see more consistent strike-throwing from him.

"Feel like even though the past two outings he's been better, we just need to see consistency with the strike-throwing," Mendoza said. "That's what made this guy elite last year and became who he was last year for us. First couple of outings, we saw the inconsistencies with the strike-throwing.

"But it was good to see him yesterday, 98 (mph), and he was a lot better. He's just got to go down there and find that consistency, and just continue to throw strikes."

Mendoza was asked how Núñez received the message and made it clear he's still in the team's plans going forward.

"Nobody's happy when you tell them they're going back to the minor leagues, but he's a professional, he understood, he gets it," Mendoza said. "He was fine, he was professional. He just got to keep working. He's going to be a big part of this team and he'll be back."

What LHP Jose Castillo brings to NY

The Mets acquired Castillo from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, adding a second left-hander to their bullpen.

Mendoza discussed how the 29-year-old can help the team against lineups like the Yankees and Dodgers.

"It definitely helps, especially when you're going against a lineup like this (Yankees), or Boston, or the Dodgers coming up," Mendoza said. "We know the stuff is there. He's a lefty that throws hard, he's got a breaking ball, a slider. We saw him not too long ago.

"This is a guy that when he's healthy, he's got the talent. He's dealt a lot with injuries in the past, but he was a big-time prospect coming up with the Padres. We feel like there's more in the tank there and hopefully he can be a player for us out of the bullpen."

Castillo had struggled in five games for the Diamondbacks this season with a 11.37 ERA across 6.1 innings. Although he had a strong 2018 season in San Diego with a 3.29 ERA over 37 games with 52 strikeouts before injuries started to derail his career, including an ACL tear, causing him to miss all of 2024. Castillo pitched just three times from 2019 through 2024.

Latest on Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas

Blackburn made another rehab start on Friday night for Double-A Binghamton, allowing five runs (three earned) on one hit (a home run) over 4.1 IP. He struck out seven and walked one.

Mendoza was asked what the next steps are for Blackburn before returning to the bigs, saying he'll get at least another rehab start.

"He was good. Five ups, up to 73, 74 pitches. He's going one more, at least, in the minor leagues and then we'll have a decision there," Mendoza said. "As of right now, came out fine. We'll give him one more in the minor leagues."

Over five minor league starts during his rehab assignment, Blackburn owns a 0-2 record with a 5.63 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 16.0 IP.

As for Montas (lat), who threw a live bullpen session on Friday in Brooklyn, the starter is getting closer to a rehab assignment of his own.

"Good. So he's got another one Tuesday, I think it is and then we'll go from there," Mendoza said Saturday,

The 32-year-old has yet to make his Mets debut, but pitched to a 4.84 ERA last season with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.

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Last-place Orioles fire manager Brandon Hyde after falling 13 games under .500

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore Orioles fired manager Brandon Hyde on Saturday after a dismal start to the season by a team coming off two consecutive playoff appearances.

The Orioles are 15-28 and in last place in the AL East following a loss to Washington on Friday night. Hyde guided the team through an extensive rebuild and won manager of the year honors in 2023, but Baltimore’s performance slipped noticeably during the second half of last year, and the Orioles have put themselves in a significant hole so far in 2025.

“As the head of baseball operations, the poor start to our season is ultimately my responsibility,” Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. “Part of that responsibility is pursuing difficult changes in order to set a different course for the future. I want to thank Brandon for his hard work, dedication and passion all these years, and for returning the team to the playoffs and winning an AL East championship.”

Third base coach Tony Mansolino will serve as interim manager. The Orioles also fired major league field coordinator/catching instructor Tim Cossins.

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NBA Trade Rumors roundup: Lakers likely hang on to Reaves, Lonzo suggests LaMelo Ball move

With the NBA Draft next month and free agency a week after that, NBA trade rumors are starting to fly fast and furious around the league's back channels. Here are a few worth noting.

Lakers likely keep Austin Reaves

Rob Pelinka faces a challenge this offseason: He needs to upgrade the roster around Luka Doncic and LeBron James — landing a rim-protecting, vertical spacing center is at the top of the list — but has limited trade assets to do it.

One player a lot of teams want is Austin Reaves, who averaged 20.2 points and 5.8 rebounds a game last season, shot 37.7% on 3-pointers and is on a steal of a contract that will cost just $13.9 million next season. The Lakers, however, wisely like Reaves as the third option, and it will take a lot to get him, something Dan Woike put well at the Los Angeles Times.

"The team has shown no interest in using Reaves in a trade that nets them anything less than a top-tier big, and there really aren't any of those available, with the two most common names linked to them in the earliest stages of the offseason — Brooklyn's Nic Claxton and Dallas' Daniel Gafford.

Claxton would be the best available fit — he is just 26 and two seasons ago averaged 12.6 points a game on 70.5% shooting, grabbed 9.6 rebounds and blocked 2.5 shots a night. He's an athletic, switchable defender who J.J. Redick could employ a variety of ways, however, he's slight of build and with that not the screen setter that Gafford or others are. The cost for Claxton would be the Lakers' 2030 first-round pick (plus matching salary, such as Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent).

Whether the Lakers land one of those two centers or someone like Clint Capela from Atlanta, don't expect Reaves to be in that trade. It would take an All-Star level big to change that dynamic.

LaMelo Ball headed West?

Lonzo Ball was on the What an Experience podcast and dropped this:

"I lowkey got Dylan Harper going to the Hornets and I got Melo going to the Clips."

Um… no. First, there is zero chance Dylan Harper makes it past No. 2 on the board, he has put himself in his own tier on that front, and the Hornets pick at No. 4. San Antonio will take him (making their guard rotation an impressive De'Aaron Fox, Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, and Harper ho might be the best of the group in a couple of years). If the Spurs trade that pick (hello, Milwaukee), that team will be trading to get Harper (Charlotte could try to trade up to No. 2, but the cost would be exorbitant).

Second, LaMelo to the Clippers doesn't make much sense from the Clips' perspective. Los Angeles is looking to keep its long-term books clear to make a pivot after the Kawhi Leonard/James Harden era ends (likely the summer of 2027, maybe sooner). Ball has four years, $168.7 million remaining on his max extension, running through 2029. Having LaMelo would take the ball out of Harden's hands, and while the youngest Ball brother averaged 25.2 points and 7.4 assists a game he is not seen around the league as a guy who contributes to winning because of his lack of defense and style of play.

Other rumors of note:

• With Boston likely trimming payroll this summer, look for a lot of interest from playoff teams in Jrue Holiday, an elite defensive guard who has helped the Bucks and Celtics win rings. The Rockets and Spurs might be teams to watch.

• Interesting comment from the well-connected Sam Amick of The Athletic on any potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade and how the Bucks GM plans to play it (from his appearance on The Ringer NBA Podcast):

"Jon Horst is going to go for blood here, I'm telling you. He just got a new extension. He has the organization's backing. Jon is not going to just try to be on good terms with Giannis—he's trying to do right by the Bucks. And that means that if every scenario in play leaves the other team so gutted that Giannis might not actually be in that much better of a situation, then maybe that's where he looks at the room and says, "All right, let me stay put."

• Speaking of an Antetokounmpo trade, the buzz that the Warriors likely sit this one out — unless the Greek Freak pushes an "only to Golden State" agenda — has now been confirmed by multiple sources. The reality is the Warriors know they can't win a bidding war with Houston, San Antonio, and Brooklyn, so unless they can get a friendly deal, it's not happening. If you think the Warriors might get a friendly deal, reread the note above this one.

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Giants move Hicks back to bullpen, Birdsong to rotation

Giants move Hicks back to bullpen, Birdsong to rotation originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — It wasn’t hard to miss Jordan Hicks when the Giants took the field Saturday afternoon. The right-hander was wearing a bright orange long-sleeved shirt and surrounded by pitchers wearing black hoodies. The guys around him were all relievers, and Hicks now is, too. 

Manager Bob Melvin said young right-hander Hayden Birdsong will start Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals instead of Hicks, a longtime big league reliever who will move back to that role after struggling in his second season as a starting pitcher. 

“We’re just trying to get it right at a particular time,” Melvin said. “Jordan came in last year and signed here as a starter and came in here this year expecting to be a starter, and he was, but we’re just making adjustments a couple months into the season that we think are potentially going to make us better.”

Hicks has a 6.55 ERA through nine starts and Melvin was noncommittal when asked about his status on Wednesday, after Hicks got knocked out in the third inning. It seemed like an easy move to make, but the Giants were also well aware that some bad luck had been involved in those nine starts. Hicks has a 3.48 FIP and 3.75 xERA; he has mostly been undone by groundballs that have found holes, and his combination of throwing in the upper 90s and being among the league leaders in groundball rate is an intriguing one. But the results simply weren’t there. 

“He was great about it,” Melvin said of their conversation. “He just said, ‘Look, I want our team to win. I want to do whatever I can to help the team win.’ He thought the way he has pitched was better than the numbers and I agreed with him, but again, we have a lot of quality, we have a lot of good young arms, we have a lot of starters, and we’re just trying to get it right.”

Hicks had always been a reliever before signing a four-year, $44 million deal with the Giants before last season. He pitched well in the first half before running up against an innings limit, and he bulked up in the offseason to handle a greater workload this season.

Now, he’s back to a familiar role, although Melvin said it’s too soon to know exactly how Hicks might be used the rest of this season. He is stretched out and can provide length for the bullpen in the coming weeks, although ultimately he could be back in a late-inning role, similar to what he did in St. Louis. That’s to be decided, but Hicks certainly has shown the velocity this season to think he can be a big piece for what might be the league’s best bullpen.

“You look at our bullpen arms now … It’s a good problem to have that many plus arms and guys that have pitched late in games,” Melvin said. 

That mix includes Kyle Harrison, who was not in the conversation to take the rotation spot, Melvin said. Birdsong was always next in line after just missing out on Landen Roupp’s rotation spot this spring. He pitched well when the Giants asked him to become a reliever, and he’ll take a 2.31 ERA back to the rotation. 

“Hayden hasn’t been getting the type of regular work he was earlier in the season when the starters weren’t going as long,” Melvin said. “I don’t think Jordan’s numbers are as bad as they look. If you look at a lot of the internal numbers and FIP and so forth, he has pitched a lot better than his ERA and some numbers would suggest, but at this point in time that’s what we’re going to do, starting on Tuesday.”

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Astros’ Lance McCullers Jr. returns to mound after online threats that followed his previous start

ARLINGTON, Texas — Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. allowed two unearned runs over four innings against the Texas Rangers on Friday, six nights after the right-hander failed to get out of the first inning in a game that he said was followed by online threats.

“Honestly, a lot, a lot of prayer. And a lot of faith,” McCullers said when asked how he handled everything between those starts. “And my teammates were so supportive of me. I hope one day I’m able to repay the favor of what these guys in here have meant to me over the last couple years, and over the this last week.”

The 31-year-old right-hander made only his third start for the Astros since the 2022 World Series. He got a no-decision in their 6-3 win over the Rangers, who led 2-0 when he threw his last pitch.

McCullers, who is making a comeback after missing two full seasons with injuries, allowed seven runs while getting only one out in Houston’s 13-9 loss last Saturday, then said afterward that he had received online death threats directed at his children. The Astros said Houston police and Major League Baseball security were alerted to the threats.

“They’re on it,” McCullers said, adding that he was asked to not comment on any investigations. “These things aren’t taken lightly.”

Back on the mound, McCullers needed 83 pitches to get through his four innings and he threw 53 strikes. He struck out two, walked one and gave up four singles.

The only runs against McCullers came when Jonah Heim had a two-run single with two outs in the second inning. That was three batters after shortstop Jeremy Peña was charged with an error when he failed to catch a throw from McCullers, who was trying to get the lead runner at second base after fielding a comebacker.

“I’m sure if you ask Peña, he’s going to say he should have made the play. And I’m going to say I should have made a little bit of a better throw,” McCullers said. “I kind of joked with some of the guys, my best sinker all night was to Peña at second.”

Jake Burger, whose homer was the only run in the Rangers’ 1-0 win in the series opener Thursday night, then had an infield popout before Heim’s hit into the right field corner.

Astros manager Joe Espada said before Friday’s outing that McCullers was mentally in a good spot and fine physically, and he liked what he saw during the game.

“It was a really good bounce-back outing for him,” Espada said. “He came out throwing a ton of strikes. ... Where he was five or six starts ago, and where he’s at now is now, it’s a step in the right direction.”

McCullers had surgery in June 2023 to repair his right flexor tendon and remove a bone spur, and was rehabbing last June when he had a setback during a bullpen session that shut him down for the rest of the season. He made four starts in the minor leagues this year before rejoining the Astros’ rotation on May 4.

“We all have confidence he can do it. He just needs to go out there and do his thing,” Espada said. “It’s going to happen.”

McCullers is 49-33 with a 3.53 ERA in 133 games (130 starts) for the Astros since his big league debut with them in 2015.

An All-Star in 2017, McCullers went 10-6 with a 3.86 ERA in 25 games in 2018 before having Tommy John surgery. He was 13-5 with a 3.16 ERA in 28 starts in 2021, then signed a five-year, $85 million contract that goes through 2026.

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Bryce Harper reaches 1,000 RBIs in the Phillies’ 8-4 victory over the Pirates

PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper reached 1,000 RBIs and was part of a wild seventh inning rally in which the Philadelphia Phillies scored four runs on just one hit in an 8-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.

Harper, who had three hits and reached base four times, picked up his milestone RBI with a bloop single to left field off Pirates starter Andrew Heaney. Harper is one of eight active players with 1,000 RBIs.

The Phillies scored four runs in the seventh inning when six consecutive batters — including Harper — reached base against three relievers. Only one — Trea Turner — had a hit. The others all reached base via a walk or a hit by pitch and three of the four runs scored without a ball being put in play.

Philadelphia tacked on three more runs in the eighth inning. Turner had an RBI triple, and Harper added No. 1,001 with a single.

Ranger Suarez (2-0) pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Jose Alvarado retired the final two batters to clean up a bases loaded jam for his seventh save.

Alexander Canario provided most of the offense for Pittsburgh when he hit a three-run homer off Suarez.

Ryan Borucki (0-1) didn’t get an out and allowed two runs.

Key moment

Borucki hit Nick Castellanos with a pitch ahead in the count 0-2. It allowed the tying run to score in the middle of the Phillies’ rally.

Key stat

Pirates interim manager Don Kelly was ejected from the game by third base umpire John Libka after arguing Libka’s call of no swing on Harper that resulted in a walk to load the bases. Kelly has been Pittsburgh’s manager for seven games and has been tossed twice.

Up Next

Pittsburgh RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 5.20) was set to start Saturday against Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler (4-1, 2.95).

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Flores hits three home runs, drives in eight runs to back Webb as Giants thump A’s 9-1

SAN FRANCISCO — Wilmer Flores homered three times — including a grand slam — and drove in eight runs to back a strong start by Logan Webb, leading the San Francisco Giants past the Athletics 13-5 on Friday night.

Flores, who set single-game career highs for homers and RBIs, hit his seventh slam in the third inning off A’s starter JP Sears. He had a three-run shot against Michel Otañez in the sixth, then added a solo shot off Anthony Maldonado in the eighth.

That was more than enough support for Webb (5-3), who carried a shutout into the eighth inning. The 2024 All-Star allowed one run and five hits in eight innings with four strikeouts and two walks. The Giants ace has allowed two runs over his last four home starts covering 28 1/3 innings for a 0.64 ERA.

Camilo Doval struck out the side in the ninth to wrap up the win in the Giants’ first game against the A’s this season in the former Bay Bridge Series.

Sears (4-3), who gave up one run in 14 2/3 innings covering his previous two starts, allowed four runs and six hits in four innings.

It was the A’s first visit to the Bay Area since leaving Oakland for Sacramento while a new stadium in Las Vegas is built.

Key moment

The A’s had two on with one out in the eighth when Webb got A’s slugger Brent Rooker to ground into a 1-4-3 double play.

Key stat

The A’s got two runners to third base twice in the first three innings, but failed to score.

Up next

A’s RHP Luis Severino (1-4, 4.70 ERA) makes his league-leading 10th start against Giants RHP Landen Roupp (2-3, 4.95) on Saturday.

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Giro d’Italia: Luke Plapp powers to stage eight win while Diego Ulissi moves into pink

  • Australian escapes for remarkable solo win
  • Home hope Ulissi ousts Primoz Roglic from maglia rosa

Luke Plapp of Team Jayco Alula won stage eight of the Giro d’Italia on Saturday with a formidable solo effort on the 197km ride from Giulianova to Castelraimondo while Diego Ulissi became the first Italian in four years to take the pink jersey.

After nearly 20 riders formed a breakaway group with 100km to go, Plapp attacked the Montelago climb and the Australian rode to victory by a handsome margin and claim his first Grand Tour stage win.

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