Jul 23, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas (23) hits an RBI single against the Boston Red Sox in the eleventh inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Yesterday, there was a report that Johan Rojas had been removed from the Dominican Republic WBC roster for “personal decisions” as termed by Nelson Cruz, decisions that have now been given a little more clarification.
Phillies OF Johan Rojas did fail a test for PEDs. He, like Profar, is appealing the positive test. @wilberdata 1st reported Rojas’ failed test.
As said above, Rojas is reportedly appealing said failed test.
This is sad news for a few reasons, number one of which that Rojas would consider taking PEDs. We knew that his place in the organization had slipped quite a bit from being the center fielder of the future to “maybe he’ll make the roster?” Perhaps that fall had led to his apparent decision to partake in PED usage, but now he is facing an 80 game suspension from MLB as well as not being able to participate in this or the next World Baseball Classic.
Mar 3, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Nathan Lukes (38) singles during the fourth inning against Team Canada at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Canada 7 Blue Jays 10
It looked like a runaway, early, the Jays were up 7-0 after 2 innings. But Team Canada tied things in the top of the eighth. Then the Jays scored three more in the bottom of the inning.
Kevin Gausman cruised through his two innings, allowing a hit and a walk with two strikeouts. He looked good.
Other Jays pitchers:
Angel Bastardo: 1 inning, 1 hit.
Braydon Fisher: 1 inning, 3 strikeouts.
Mason Fluharty: 1 inning, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts.
Lazaro Estrada: Got 2 outs, gave up 3 hits, 2 earned.
Gage Stanifer: Gave up 3 hits, 4 earned, 1 walk, 1 home run, and hit a batter, without getting an out.
Jack Cushing: 2 innings, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts.
Hitting, Jays starters:
George Springer: 0 for 2, walk, RBI, strikeout.
Nathan Lukes: 2 for 2, 2 RBI, 1 walk.
Daulton Varsho: 1 for 3, 2 runs.
Addison Barger: 0 for 2, walk, k.
Davis Schneider: 0 for 2, walk, k.
Jesús Sánchez: 2 for 3, 3 RBI and a caught stealing and picked off.
Brandon Valenzuela: 0 for 2, walk, k.
Arjun Nimmala: 0 for 2, walk, k.
Sean Keys: 0 for 2, walk, 2 k.
Others:
Josh Kasevish: 1 for 2, double.
Yohendrick Pinango: 0 for 3, k.
Jonatan Clase: 0 for 1.
Rafael Lantigua: Walk.
Carlos Mendoza: 0 for 1.
Eloy Jiménez: 1 for 1.
Geovanny Planchart: 0 for 1.
Josh Rivera: Walk.
Riley Tirotta: 1 for 1, home run, 3 RBI.
On the Canada side:
Adam Macko pitched a scoreless inning with a hit against.
Jacob Robson hit a home run.
Josh Naylor: 1 for 2 with a walk and stole a base.
Otto Lopez: 1 for 3, walk.
Tyler Black: 1 for 3, walk.
Denzel Clarke: 1 for 4, double.
The Jays have tomorrow off from spring training games, then a game against the Braves on Thursday, a 1:00 Eastern start time. The Jays will be on MLB TV as their Free Game of the Day
Last year Sunderland departed West Yorkshire on a snowy February night with their hopes of automatic promotion from the Championship in tatters. Leeds had come from behind to clinch a 95th‑minute win that would take them top of the second tier and only the most optimistic visiting fans expected a rematch this season.
Fast forward to a balmy March evening, though, and Régis Le Bris’s well‑executed gameplan lifted an injury hit yet streetwise Sunderland and their debutant goalkeeper Melker Ellborg to 11th in the Premier League.
Hearing that the Flames have their eye on Xhekaj is easy to understand. With the Flames rebuilding, they should be looking to add young talent with good upside. At 25 years old, Xhekaj would have the potential to fit in nicely on a team that is focused on the future, like the Flames.
If the Flames acquired Xhekaj, he would have a far better chance of receiving consistent playing time. This is because the left side of the Flames' defense is weaker than Montreal's. With this, Xhekaj could even be a potential option for Calgary's second pairing if brought in.
Yet, while Xhekaj is generating interest from the Flames, the Canadiens trading him would come with some real risk. Xhekaj is exactly the mean and bruising defenseman that contenders need to have when the games get tougher during the playoffs. As a result, the Canadiens may be better off holding on to him rather than trading him.
Nevertheless, it is going to be interesting to see what happens between the Canadiens and Xhekaj leading up to the deadline.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins checks Marat Khusnutdinov #92 of the Boston Bruins in the first period at the TD Garden on January 11, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday Night Hockey, folks!
After a disappointing showing in Philadelphia, the Bruins will face another team from the Keystone State as they welcome the Penguins to TD Garden.
The Penguins are having a surprisingly good year and are fresh off of a thorough beating of the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday.
The Bruins have been great at home lately and will look to recover from Saturday’s (hopefully) blip.
The standings are getting tighter too, with Washington, Columbus, Philadelphia, and Ottawa all within four points of the Bruins for that second wild card spot.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 23: Pitcher Cristian Javier #53 of the Houston Astros exits the game against the Athletics in the bottom of the fifth inning at Sutter Health Park on September 23, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Astros will host Team Venezuela for an exhibition this evening at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches ahead of this year’s World Baseball Classic.
RHP Cristian Javier is set to make his Spring debut while Team Venezuela will start SEA RHP Eduard Bazardo, who’s been scoreless through two appearances (1.1 IP) this Spring.
Isaac Paredes will make his spring debut at first base.
Tonight will mark the Spring debut for RHP Cristian Javier. In his return from Tommy John surgery in 2025, Javier made eight starts, going 2-4 with a 4.62 ERA (19ER/37IP), 34 strikeouts and a .230 opponent average. In his career, Javier has held opponents to a .203 (397×1956) batting average. Among AL pitchers to toss 525.0-plus innings between the 202025 seasons, Javier ranks first in the AL in that category. He’s also helped author several notable moments in his career, starting a combined no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, as well as a combined no-hitter in June of that season at Yankee Stadium.
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP Sam Carlson, LHP Bryan King, RHP Michael Knorr, RHP Jayden Murray, RHP Ryan Weiss, LHP Tom Cosgrove and RHP Christian Roa.
ABOUT TEAM VENEZUELA: For the second straight World Baseball Classic, Team Venezuela will be managed by Astros bench coach Omar López. Team Venezuela advanced to the quarterfinals in the 2023 WBC prior to being eliminated by the United States in the quarterfinals. The Astros and Team Venezuela also met during Spring Training in 2023, with the Astros hanging on for a 9-8 win at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Notable players on Team Venezuela include: LHP Eduardo Rodríguez, LHP Ranger Suárez, C Salvador Pérez, C William Contreras, IF Luis Arráez, IF Eugenio Suárez, IF Willson Contreras, IF Gleyber Torres, OF Jackson Chourio and OF Ronald Acuña Jr.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, March 3, 5:05 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, West Palm Beach, FL.
Joe Espada said he asked Omar López to keep his Team Venezuela starters in for a while and hopes to get Ryan Weiss and Bryan King into the game against the lineup after Cristian Javier. https://t.co/UnhBxtNpEr
PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 16: Jonah Tong #21 of the New York Mets looks on during spring training workouts at Clover Park on February 16, 2026 in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Mets decisively won their exhibition match against Nicaragua 6-3, with 26 different players entering the game for the Mets over the nine innings.
Jonah Tong went 2.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits and tallying three strikeouts in the process.
Brett Banks got a single out, a strikeout to end the third inning.
Craig Kimbrel gave up a run in one inning, giving up three hits and getting a strikeout to boot.
Brooks Raley gave up a run on a walk one hit in one inning, getting two strikeouts.
Luis García, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, and Jefry Yan each had a scoreless inning, with Yan getting the save as well.
Marcus Semien went 1-for-2 with a walk and scoring twice.
Bo Bichette went 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI.
Francisco Alvarez went 1-for-3, driving in a run on a single.
Vidal Bruján went 1-for-2, hitting a two-run single that put the Mets up for good.
Chris Suero hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his first of the spring.
The Mets play again tomorrow in another exhibition match, this time against Team Israel. David Peterson will be making his first start of the spring. The game is at 1:10 PM ET, but will once again go unbroadcast, leaving box score watching as the only option.
Puerto Rico has long been one of the most exciting teams to watch in the World Baseball Classic. This year, even though it's missing some of its biggest star power, it should still be a force.
The runner-up in 2017 after losing 8-0 to the United States in the final, Team Rubio went home early in 2023 in a dramatic 5-4 quarterfinal loss to Mexico. The lasting image from the last Classic, however, is closer Edwin Díaz being carried off the field after tearing his ACL while celebrating after striking out the side against the Dominican Republic to send Puerto Rico to the knockout rounds.
Díaz, who signed a three-year, $69 million deal with the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason, will be back on the mound for Puerto Rico this year. But the team is missing some notable faces, most notably former captain Francisco Lindor. Several members of Team Rubio's longtime core, including Lindor, will miss the Classic due to insurance constraints that have restricted several big-name players across multiple countries from competing this year. Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny offered to pay the insurance for Carlos Correa, but the Houston Astros infielder ultimately declined.
That opened the door for Nolan Arenado, who played for Team USA in 2017 and '23, to switch teams. He played a major role in USA's run to the finals in the most recent WBC, batting .385 and going 10-for-26 with four extra-base hits and five RBIs. Arenado is of Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage on his mother's side.
With Puerto Rico set to play in its first exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox at 6:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, here's everything you need to know about Team Rubio, including the full roster, schedule and how to watch.
While the score didn't go Los Angeles' way - and neither did the shot clock or puck possession time - the Kings looked slightly different on the ice with Smith now calling the shots.
For starters, the Kings had three players make their NHL debuts in this contest. Defenseman Angus Booth, right winger Jared Wright and center Kenny Connors were fairly noticeable in what was their first taste of action in The Show.
Before Monday's game, that trio, who have spent all of this season in the AHL with the Ontario Reign. With that, they are also the first players to make their NHL debuts among Kings players who were drafted in 2022 or later.
Even though the Kings were undermanned with injuries, that statistic says a lot about D.J. Smith and the trust he has in the youngsters of the organization.
With the injection of youth into the Kings' lineup, not only did the lineup look different on paper, but they played differently, too.
The defense-first mindset was still there, but there was far more pushback on the mighty Avalanche. There was a clear step up in the team's aggression, specifically on the forecheck, and there was some noticeable speed on the rush.
"What we wanted to establish is a sense of work ethic, a sense of physicality, a sense of we’re not going to sit back, we’re going to come get you," coach Smith told reporters after the game. "I think we did all those things tonight. So, you need the points for sure, but at this point, you can’t fault the effort, and we’re going to need that every game.
"Now, it didn’t look good early. We made some mistakes, we gave up too many odd man rushes, but what you saw from that group is a real effort to forecheck, a real effort to get pucks back, to hunt, to hit people, and you’re going to see that the rest of the way," the interim bench boss added.
Taylor Ward (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Smith wasn't afraid to make tweaks to the Kings' lineup throughout the game, either. Alex Laferriere started the game on the right wing with Alex Turcotte in the middle and Warren Foegele on the left wing. But later, Smith brought Laferriere back to the middle, and Corey Perry was bumped up to that line on the right flank.
Additionally, there was a relatively even distribution of ice time for the majority of the team's forward group. Anze Kopitar's line with Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe on his flanks had a positive influence on the game, despite no even-strength scoring from them.
Furthermore, the Kings' bottom six earned some regular ice time in the second half of the contest and imposed their will physically, especially the fourth line of Samuel Helenius, Jeff Malott, and Taylor Ward.
Like Smith said after the game, it's too late for moral victories. However, there are some promising developments from a Smith-flavored performance.
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TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Carlos Lagrange #84 of the New York Yankees takes the field before the game against the Detroit Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 21, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across Major League Baseball. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Yankees fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Spring training is all about two things: staying healthy and staying optimistic. There’s nothing that we can do from the outside about ensuring that the Yankees avoid the injured list, but we can allow ourselves to be hopeful with a clean slate for the new year of baseball.
Tracking prospects goes hand-in-hand with optimism—at least if the entire enterprise hasn’t jaded you too much—so our Reacts survey this week zeroes in on a trio of young Yankees starters who have caught eyes early in camp: hard-throwing Carlos Lagrange, ascendant 2025 arm Elmer Rodríguez, and 2024 first-round draft pick Ben Hess. Across their six combined starts, the trio has thrown 16.2 innings of 2.16 ERA ball, striking out a little over a batter per inning (17 total) and walking five. But which has wowed you the most?
As a secondary question, we’re just doing a quick pulse check on how you’re feeling about the Yankees deciding to retire No. 52 in honor of 2025 Hall of Famer CC Sabathia. Are you in favor?
The United States came up just short in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, losing the championship game against Japan with Shohei Ohtani famously striking out Mike Trout to secure his country's third title.
The Americans were hoping to repeat, having won the tournament for the first time in 2017. Team USA's 2023 squad was loaded on offense but short on starting pitching, which the 2026 roster hopes to correct with the inclusions of Cy Young winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal.
The Americans went 3-1 in the group stage held at Chase Field in Phoenix, losing to Mexico. Team USA faced a tough path in the knockout stage, beating Venezuela in the quarterfinals and Cuba in the semifinals to set up the showdown with Japan.
Trea Turner led Team USA with a .391 average (9-for-23) with five home runs and 11 RBIs in six games.
By now, we’re all begrudgingly used to Topps’ takeover of the NBA license. The flagship series wasn’t priced terribly, and Chrome made its triumphant return—at $50/blaster. What a country.
But for all the skepticism behind our new sports card overlords, there’s one major benefit fans can’t ignore: the Topps buyback program.
Whether you’re new to the hobby or a hardwood veteran, here’s the deal: Topps offers cold hard cash (in the form of store credit) for 2025-26 Topps Chrome cards of the player who wins the MVP. The payout rates are locked in:
Base Cards: $20
Refractors: $40
Numbered >/100: $100
Numbered </100: $200
Not bad, right? The only question left is: Who is actually winning the Michael Jordan Trophy?
The Usual Suspects
The international big three—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama—are the obvious heavy hitters.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC): The reigning MVP has the Thunder sitting pretty at first in the West with a 47-15 record. He’s averaging a cool 31.8 points per game and remains the safe money favorite at -275.
Nikola Jokić (DEN): The three-time MVP is currently averaging a triple-double (28.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG, 10.5 APG), but the Nuggets have slid to fifth in the West.
Victor Wembanyama (SAS): The alien has landed. At just 22, he leads the league with nearly 4 blocks per game and has dragged the Spurs to the second seed in the West.
Think one of these three will win the Michael Jordan MVP Trophy this spring? Here’s the profit you stand to make if you head to eBay to buy up singles today:
Enough about the favorites. We’re here to talk about the guard who could become the first American-born player to win the award since James Harden in 2018: Cade Cunningham.
Context is king. Two seasons ago, the Pistons won just 14 games. Before Cade was drafted in 2021, Detroit hadn’t cracked 40 wins since the Obama administration. Today? The Motor City sits atop the Eastern Conference at 45-14, easily qualifying for Phil Jackson’s famous “40-20 rule” (winning 40 games before losing 20), a hallmark of true title contenders.
Introduced recently, players must appear in at least 65 games (playing 20+ minutes) to be eligible for MVP.
Nikola Jokić is currently just 2 missed games away from disqualification.
Victor Wembanyama is only 4 missed games away.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander is only 7 missed games away.
Cade Cunningham, meanwhile, has been an ironman, missing just six games all season.
That doesn’t make Cade’s MVP chances a safe bet by any means, but it’s certainly a kicker fans—and collectors—should be aware of when making Topps Chrome buyback decisions. If Shai, Jokić or Wemby tweak an ankle down the stretch, the MVP race is blown wide open.
For those that love an underdog, the chance to scoop up Cade’s Chrome cards for less than if/when he keeps the MotorCade humming to his first-ever MVP win is certainly appealing. For example, right now Cade’s Topps Chrome cards are sitting at the following prices:
The regular season isn’t over yet, and it’s going to be a race to the finish in what is shaping up to be the most unpredictable playoff stretch in years. While the NBA’s stars duke it out on the court, it’s time for you to begin collecting the league’s next MVP.
Want more tips and tricks on how to scoop up NBA cards? Head over to Mantel to learn how to start buying rookies, strategically round up key cards, and create a collection your friends—and the Internet—will be jealous of.
DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 23: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Detroit Pistons on February 23, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Player of the Month and Defensive Player of the Month for February, the league announced. It’s Wembanyama’s first time getting Player of the Month honors in his career. It’s the second time in a row he’s gotten the Defensive Player of the Month, and he’s the only player to repeat this season.
The Spurs had a perfect February, winning all 11 games they played, and Wembanyama’s performance played a major part in their success. The big man averaged 22.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.4 steals, and a league-leading 3.5 blocks during the stretch. San Antonio, which had the best net rating for the month, was almost 27 points better with him on the floor than off. He had some ups and downs on offense despite posting good numbers during the month, but his defense remained game-changing.
It’s Wembanyama’s first time winning Western Conference Player of the Month in his career. The selection shows he’s in the MVP conversation, as he’s now received the same distinction as past 2025/26 winners Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Doncic. He’s the first Spur to get the honor since Tony Parker in January of 2013.
It’s the second time in a row Wembanyama has been named Western Conference Player of the Month after getting the distinction in January. He’s the only player to get the nod twice this year in either conference, which cements his status as the favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, provided he can play the minimum 65 games to be eligible. He can only miss three games the rest of the way before he is disqualified from awards.
Cade Cunningham was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month in February, as he led his Pistons to a 9-2 record and the second-best net rating in the league.
Former Spur Derrick White won Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month in February, with his Celtics posting the best defensive rating in the league for the month.
Victor Wembanyama is averaging 23.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, a steal, and a league-leading 2.9 blocks per game this season.
Mar 3, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Max Schueman (30) talks to Panama shortstop Jose Caballero (77) in the third inning during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Yankees faced an unconventional opponent at George M. Steinbrenner Field today: the Panamanian national team. With the World Baseball Classic on the horizon, the majority of the tournament’s participants played against MLB teams in exhibition contests today. This was one of the more lopsided results: the Yankees had little trouble scoring against Panama’s pitching staff as they cruised to an 11-1 victory in eight innings. Max Fried also threw three scoreless frames in his first Grapefruit League start; friend-turned-foe José Caballero went 0-for-2 with a walk.
The Yankees wasted no time grabbing the initiative this afternoon. A Trent Grisham walk and Jasson Domínguez single set the table with two outs for Ryan McMahon, who lined a single to center to plate both runners and give the Bombers an early 2-0 advantage against Panama starter Jorge Garcia.
Meanwhile, Fried evidently had his groundball stuff working today, as he forced inning-ending double plays in each of the first two innings. The latter twin killing against Christian Bethancourt came with two runners on base as Panama attempted to respond to the Yankees’ scoring outburst. In the third, Fried battled current Yankee teammate José Caballero with two outs; Caballero fouled off several consecutive 3-2 offerings before working a walk on Fried’ ninth pitch. He then went straight back to the dugout when Fried struck out Allen Córdoba to retire the side.
Garcia was relieved by Miguel Cienfuegos, a journeyman reliever in the Padres organization who was actually born in Quebec. Cienfuegos did an excellent job in relief of Garcia, facing the minimum in scoreless two innings of work.
Tim Hill took over for Fried in the fourth inning. Mission accomplished for No. 54, whose fastball topped out at 97 mph this afternoon. He issued three walks, but his ability to keep Panama on the ground prevented any of those free passes from haunting him. The rest of the overall line was three scoreless innings with one hit and one strikeout.
The scrappy Panamanian lineup kept getting runners aboard, but couldn’t find a way to get them in. In the fourth they got two more men on-base against Hill, but Bethancourt flew out on a first-pitch sinker.
Cienfuegos may have had the key to neutralizing the Yankees’ lineup today, but that boon did not extend to the rest of Panama’s pitchers. In the fourth, Erian Rodriguez took over and immediately surrendered a pair of singles to Giancarlo Stanton and McMahon, the former cracking it off the bat at 114.3 mph:
After a walk loaded the bases, J.C. Escarra plated Stanton on a sac fly, then a Max Schuemann 4-6 fielder’s choice ushered in McMahon.
Rodriguez’s troubles continued when he issued two walks to reload the bags for Ben Rice. That forced manager Jose Mayorga to make a change for Kentucky native Mason Vinyard (he’s not actually on Team Panama, he’s in the Yankees’ organization and was made available to Panama if they didn’t want to push their pitching staff). The new hurler was no more capable of throwing strikes; Rice worked a walk to score Schuemann and extend the lead to 5-0 before Domínguez finally rolled over to first.
By this point the Yanks had found plenty of different ways to score, but they had yet to leave the yard until the fifth, when J.C. Escarra pulled his hands in on an Alberto Baldonado fastball and pulled it to right for a line drive homer. Escarra’s first homer of the spring made it 7-0 Bombers.
By the sixth inning, all of the Yankees’ substitutions were in the game, but that didn’t stop the scoring. They loaded the bases again and Jorbit Vivas made good on the rally with a sac fly. Then catcher Ali Sánchez poked an RBI single to left for good measure, growing the margin to 9-0.
Team Panama finally got themselves off the board in the top of the eighth inning thanks to the speed of Orioles prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. Bradfield got aboard on an infield single against Osvaldo Bido, then promptly stole second and third in quick succession. Then Rubén Tejada—yes, that Rubén Tejada—brought him in on a groundball to first. That speed from Bradfield is what Panama is looking to exploit in the tournament; and frankly, few if any of the lineups they’ll face in Pool A will be as threatening as the Yankee lineup they battled today (even without Aaron Judge).
Then again, that only really extends to the starters—the reserves had their way with these pitchers, too. The defense wasn’t helping matters either. Panama got into their third bases-loaded jam of the game in the eighth thanks to an error on a fielder’s choice. That set up Vivas again, and he stroked a single the other way to score two runs and … end the ballgame.
So this is where I found out the game was being played by World Baseball Classic rules, with a 10-run mercy rule after seven. There was of course no TV or radio broadcast to clue me into this fact. Once the score got to 11-1, the game was marked final on MLB.com. So technically, Vivas got himself a walk-off single in the eighth.
By the way, over in Team USA’s exhibition against the Giants that began a couple hours later, the captain Judge kept himself busy with an RBI single in the first. He walked and singled again before departing as scheduled.
The Yankees will return to traditional Grapefruit League play tomorrow when they head to Fort Myers and take on the Red Sox in the first rivalry game of the spring. Luis Gil will oppose Boston ace Garrett Crochet, with coverage on ESPN and first pitch at 1:05 PM.
