Ciezki scores 22, Indiana women rally from 20-point deficit, beat Nebraska at Big Ten tourney

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Shay Ciezki had 22 points and seven assists, Nevaeh Caffey scored nine of her 13 in the fourth quarter, and No. 13 seed Indiana overcame a 20-point deficit to beat Nebraska 72-69 on Wednesday in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.

Indiana (18-14) has won four in a row and is 7-2 following its 0-10 start in Big Ten play.

No. 12 seed Nebraska (18-12) has lost seven of its last nine games and may have seen its NCAA Tournament bubble burst.

Amiah Hargrove led the Cornhuskers with 23 points on 10-of-14 shooting and Britt Prince had 20 points and eight assists. Logan Nissley scored 12 and Jessica Petrie added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Ciezki had her 21st game this season with at least 20 points and passed Mackenzie Holmes (692 points, 2022-23) for second on Indiana’s single-season scoring list with 694 points this season.

Lenee Beaumont made two 3s in an 8-0 spurt that gave Indiana a 68-67 lead — its first of the game — with 1:06 left. Prince missed a pull-up jumper before Ciezki darted to the rim for a layup with 32 seconds to go. Hargrove had an offensive rebound and putback that made it a one-point game with 17 seconds remaining before Caffey made two free throws to cap the scoring.

Prince and Nissley missed potential tying 3-point shots in the closing seconds.

Beaumont scored 11 of her 14 in the second half and Edessa Noyan had 12 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, which trailed 45-25 late in the second quarter.

Then-No. 25 Nebraska beat the Hoosiers 78-73 at home Jan. 8 to snap an eight-game skid in the series, which Indiana leads 14-7.

Up next

Indiana: Plays 11th-ranked and fifth-seeded Ohio State in the second round on Thursday.

Nebraska: Awaits a potential postseason invitation.

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Arizona Diamondbacks 3, Athletics 1

MESA, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: General view of action as starting pitcher Mike Fiers #50 of the Oakland Athletics pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the third inning of the MLB spring training game at HoHoKam Stadium on March 10, 2020 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Record 7-4. Change on 2025: +1.5. 5-inning record: 3-7-1.

The Diamondbacks rolled their spring winning streak to five games, with a well-pitched victory over the Athletics in Hohokam. Their pitchers held the opposition to six hits, just one (a double) for extra bases, and a pair of walks. The sole run came against former (and hopefully not future) Arizona closer Paul Sewald, who allowed two hits and a sacrifice fly in the fourth. Starter Brandon Pfaadt in his spring debut, still went 2.1 innings, allowing a hit and a walk with one K. He needed only 25 pitches for that, thanks in particular to a four-pitch first frame. Brandyn Garcia was the pick of the relievers, striking out two of the three batters faced. Isaiah Campbell pitched a clean ninth inning for the save.

Arizona certainly had chances to score more than three, but went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position – and one of those hits didn’t even bring across a run. The Diamondbacks got two in the fourth as Jacob Amaya’s first home-run of spring scored him and Luken Baker. The pair were also responsible for the D-backs’ third and final run in the fifth, Baker being driven in by an Amaya sacrifice fly. Jacob singled in addition to his home-run, and drove in all three Arizona runs. Tommy Troy went 3-for-4 and got his spring average up to .524, while also stealing his first base; Baker walked in addition to his hit.

ABS challenges went 2-for-3 on the day, and the D-backs will be on the road again tomorrow. They will face the Cubs at Sloan Park: first pitch is at 1:05 pm, with Ryne Nelson scheduled to start for Arizona.

Bettman Impressed by Calgary’s $1.2B Scotia Place Arena

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman got a firsthand look at the ongoing construction of Calgary’s new $1.2 billion event center, Scotia Place, and came away visibly impressed.

Touring the site on Tuesday alongside NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and Calgary Flames ownership, Bettman highlighted the arena’s advanced progress, which is not immediately apparent from the exterior.

“The building, by the way, is a lot further along than it looks, because you see the steel coming out of the ground, it doesn’t go all the way around,” Bettman said during a media availability at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Flames’ current home. “There’s interior work already going on below the ground that you don’t see.

“Actually, when I drove up today, I was surprised when I saw it from a distance. ‘Oh, that’s all that was done.’ And then I was surprised when I got into the construction site. I thought, ‘Wow, there’s a lot of work going on here, and it’s much further along than it looks.’”

Bettman also praised the careful planning and research that went into the arena’s design, noting the team’s study of other modern NHL facilities.

“They’ve taken that into account and they’ve been able to look at best practices in terms of the layout,” he said. “The new arena’s twice as large in square footage (as the Saddledome). It has more bathrooms. It has more amenities. It’s just going to be incredible.

“This building has been well thought-out and as a result, it’s going to work very well for its intended purposes.”

Scheduled to open in fall 2027, Scotia Place is also in contention to host games for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. While no final decision has been made on host cities, Bettman confirmed that Calgary and Edmonton have submitted a joint bid.

“I’m aware of the bid,” he said. “Bids are being evaluated. Nothing has been finalized, but it was a good bid. I’m not prepared to tell you today that it was or was not the winning bid, but certainly it’s a bid that people could be very proud of.

“Things still need to be finalized, which is why there has yet to be an announcement, but at some point in the not-too-distant future -- a couple weeks or so -- we should be in a position to finalize and announce.”

Should Scotia Place be selected to host World Cup games, Bettman expressed confidence in Calgary’s ability to deliver as a host city.

“Millions of tourists come through here a year,” he said. “This is a place that knows hospitality. This is a place that has a rabid fan base and would attract fans from other places. Look at the Stampede every year. The first time I came to Calgary was in ’88 for the Winter Olympics. I get Calgary and I get what a terrific city it is and a great place to visit.”

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Former Penguins' Goalie Signs With Panthers

Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue has signed with the Florida Panthers.

Domingue signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Panthers on Wednesday. He will be with the organization for the rest of the season, though he was put on waivers

Domingue spent the 2021-22 season in the Penguins' organization, serving as the third goaltender behind Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. He spent most of that season in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He appeared in 22 games for WBS, finishing with a .924 save percentage and a 2.41 goals-against average. 

Domingue had to play in six games for the Penguins against the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Playoffs because Jarry and DeSmith were injured. He finished the series with a 3.65 goals-against average and a .898 save percentage. 

The Penguins lost that series in seven games after Artemi Panarin scored the game-winner in overtime. 


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Cubs 4, Brewers 1: Moisés Ballesteros is good at challenges

The Cubs got some good pitching performances Wednesday afternoon against the Brewers, but a potentially even bigger story was four ABS challenges made by Moisés Ballesteros, all of which he got right!

That’s a skill that can definitely translate to MLB regular season games. Perhaps there’s hope for Ballesteros to do some MLB catching after all.

The Cubs won the game 4-1. Let’s first look at the Ballesteros challenges. Two of them were on the same at-bat to Luis Lara:

Here’s the first call, and you can see how close it was [VIDEO].

Here’s a call made while Jesús Made was at bat, also in the second [VIDEO].

And one more, with David Hamilton at bat in the fourth [VIDEO].

Good work by Ballesteros, who’s getting a bit more catching time with Miguel Amaya away at the World Baseball Classic. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Edward Cabrera threw efficiently in 2.2 innings and 45 pitches, striking out a pair. Here are the two K’s [VIDEO].

James Triantos went 2-for-3 and drove in a run with this single [VIDEO].

Cubs prospect Jefferson Rojas, who’s been impressive this spring, homered in the sixth, his second [VIDEO].

Non-roster outfielders Dylan Carlson and Chas McCormick both went 1-for-3 in this game.

Jaxon Wiggins, who got lit up in his first spring outing over the weekend, looked much better in this game, throwing two scoreless innings, also with two strikeouts. Vince Velasquez, a late NRI add, threw for the first time this spring and also put together two scoreless innings, with three strikeouts.

So overall, a lot of small things were done well by the Cubs in this game. I was especially impressed by Ballesteros’ strike zone judgment.

The Cubs return to Sloan Park Thursday to face the Diamondbacks. Colin Rea will start for the Cubs and Ryne Nelson will go for Arizona. Game time is 2:05 p.m. CT. No TV or radio for Thursday’s game.

Should Rangers Trade Sam Carrick Ahead Of Trade Deadline?

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Does trading a player like Sam Carrick make sense for the New York Rangers ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline?

Carrick has exceeded all expectations since the Rangers signed him to a three-year, $3 million contract in the summer of 2024. 

In a limited bottom-six role, Carrick has still been able to etch his mark with the Rangers, making his money off of playing a scrappy, physical brand of hockey. 

Despite standing at about 6’0’’, Carrick has stepped up as the Rangers’ primary enforcer. 

“I think it's certainly needed. It's a necessary role in this league,” Carrick said of the enforcer role.“You're not going to have your A game every night. Sometimes you're looking for other ways to get a spark and get either the crowd into it, or get your team into it, or get yourself into it, whatever it is. There's different situations, a lot of the time that's (fighting) an easy way to do it, and sometimes it sparks the team.”

Through Carrick’s fearless attitude on the ice, he’s gained the recognition of both the team’s coaching staff and his teammates. 

“I think he's an important part of this team with the role he plays,” Sullivan said of Carrick. “He gets defensive zone starts, he's conscientious defensively, he's part of the penalty kill. He's a huge momentum guy for us, whether it be his physicality and sticking up for his teammates, or just by nature, how he plays the game with the line that he's on.”

With More Trust Comes More Responsibility For Gabe PerreaultWith More Trust Comes More Responsibility For Gabe PerreaultThe emergence of Gabe Perreault is something for New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/">Rangers</a> fans to be excited about.&nbsp;

While Carrick’s physical style of play and hard-nose persona fit what Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury is attempting to build, he doesn't exactly fit the franchise’s current timeline. 

Drury’s Jan. 16 letter issued to fans outlining the Rangers’ plan to retool the roster indicates that the team will be looking to trade veteran players with the goal of getting younger. 

Contending teams certainly covet what Carrick brings to the table in terms of his two-way abilities, while his physical nature perfectly translates to playoff hockey. 

If the Rangers make Carrick available, he’ll be a desirable candidate on the trade market and could garner a hefty return. 

He still has one year remaining on his current contract after the 2025-26 campaign and a reasonable $1 million cap hit. 

If the Rangers want to make room for some of the young talent for the remainder of this season and into next year, on top of accumulating more draft picks, trading Carrick would be a decision worth considering.

Osula wonder goal for 10-man Newcastle ends Carrick’s unbeaten Manchester United start

Eddie Howe accepts his Newcastle side are at their best when they create chaos and no one in black and white is better at conjuring it than Will Osula.

The maverick Denmark Under-21 striker is, to say the least, unpredictable. No one, least of all Osula himself, ever seems quite sure what he will do at any given moment. Here though he stepped off the substitutes’ bench to score a fabulous, virtuoso 90th-minute winner for a home team reduced to 10 men by Jacob Ramsey’s controversial 45th-minute sending off for a perceived dive.

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2026 MLB Team Preview Series: Tampa Bay Rays

Feb 27, 2026; Port Charlotte, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) hits a two-run single during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Charlotte Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

In the cage match known as the American League East, the Tampa Bay Rays stand apart — and not for a good reason. After more than half a decade as regular contenders in the Junior Circuit, including two AL East titles and a trip to the 2020 World Series, the Rays have fallen to the wayside over the past two years. Only unexpected disaster seasons from the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 and the Baltimore Orioles in 2025 have saved them from the division basement the last two years, as the Rays finished these seasons with just 80 and 77 wins, respectively.

That being said, this is the Rays we’re talking about, and even if they hadn’t finished the 2025 season with a run differential giving a projected record of 84-78, only a fool would truly count them out.

2025 record: 77-85 (4th, AL East)
2026 FanGraphs projection: 81-81 (5th, AL East)

The Tampa Bay Rays run the organization like they’re playing Out of the Park Baseball, shipping out established Major League vets for prospects right at the moment they’re about to start costing money, all in the effort to keep the payroll down and keep the farm system stocked. This winter was absolutely no different, as they flipped Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe, Jake Mangum and Shane Baz, a quartet of players who were major contributors to last year’s squad. Meanwhile, their three major free agent acquisitions — Steven Matz, Cedric Mullins, and Jake Fraley — don’t exactly break the bank financially. Furthermore, they inserted themselves into a pair of three-team trades in January, reeling in Gavin Lux from the Reds to play second base and Ben Williamson from the Mariners to back up Junior Caminero at the hot corner.

As it currently stands, the Rays lineup depends on three players: the 22-year-old Caminero (128 projected wRC+), the 27-year-old Jonathan Aranda (119 projected wRC+), and the 35-year-old Yandy Diaz (128 projected wRC+). Besides this trio, FanGraphs only expects Lux to have an above-average bat, and even there, he’s projected to only have a 101 wRC+; the rest of the lineup is filled out with players who have their best baseball in the rearview mirror (e.g., Mullins) or those who have made Anthony Volpe look like a dominant hitter (e.g., shortstop Taylor Walls).

Of course, the Rays have never been built on offensive prowess, but on pitching, and that remains the same this year. Even after trading Baz to the Orioles, Tampa Bay has quite a bit of depth here, as Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot give them a pair of quality starters atop the rotation. If Shane McClanahan is healthy—something which hasn’t been the case since August 2, 2023—that ostensibly gives the team a trio of quality starters 30 years of age or younger — something that few teams would say no to. Behind them, Nick Martinez and Matz should be quality depth. And despite losing Pete Fairbanks in free agency, the bullpen — headlined by Griffin Jax — has considerable veteran depth, albeit no truly dominant relievers.

All in all, the Tampa Bay Rays are a solid team, and in any other division, would likely be in a position to win enough games to challenge for a Wild Card spot. But as Dan Szymborski said back in January, “this is a tough division,” and because of that, the Rays “need some good fortune” to sneak into the playoffs.

At least this year, they’ll be able to play in their own stadium, and not the Yankees’ minor league complex.


More Pinstripe Alley MLB team season previews can be found here.

Washington Nationals vs Venezuela Game Thread

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 25: José Tena #8 of the Washington Nationals turns a double play over Kenedy Corona #87 of the New York Yankees in the second inning during a Grapefruit League spring training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 25, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Tonight, the Nationals are taking part in an exciting and unique exhibition. They are facing Team Venezuela as they get ready for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. The Venezuelans have a stacked roster, especially offensively. Tonight will be a good test for the young Nats, who are rolling out a strong lineup.

Speaking of that lineup, it is the closest thing we have seen to a potential Opening Day lineup. I don’t think it will look exactly like this, but it will be close. James Wood, CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, Daylen Lile and Brady House all feature. Interestingly, Luis Garcia Jr. will be playing first base for the first time this spring. We will also get to see Foster Griffin for the first time. The crafty lefty signed with the Nats after three highly successful seasons in Japan.

The Venezuelan lineup is loaded with well-known names. Ronald Acuna Jr., Salvador Perez and Luis Arraez are just a few notable names in this star studded lineup. While Jose Altuve will not be playing this WBC, the Venezuelans have more than enough fire power to make a surprise run in the competition. On the mound, Venezuela will be featuring Eduardo Rodriguez. The veteran lefty has not been the same since signing a big contract in Arizona, but he is still a serviceable big league innings eater.

Game Info:

Stadium: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches

Time: 6:05 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV

Radio: N/A

This is a really exciting game that I am really looking forward to. It will be interesting to see how Foster Griffin fares against such a strong lineup. I am also interested to see how the boys can match up with a really solid Venezuela team. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Lazio and Atalanta draw 2-2 in 1st leg of Italian Cup semifinals

ROME (AP) — Lazio and Atalanta traded four second-half goals in a 2-2 draw in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals Wednesday.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru took advantage of a through pass from former Atalanta midfielder Daniel Maldini to put Lazio ahead two minutes after the break.

Mario Pasalic equalized four minutes later for Atalanta by knocking in a rebound.

Boulaye Dia took advantage of a defensive error by Pasalic and quickly found the target from the center of the area in the 87th. Then United States international Yunus Musah equalized again for Atalanta in the 90th.

Como and Inter Milan drew 0-0 in the other semifinal on Tuesday.

The second legs are scheduled for April 21-22 and the final is May 13.

Atalanta has reached the final three times in the last seven seasons but has won the trophy only once — back in 1963. Lazio is a seven-time champion, having beat Atalanta for its most recent title in 2019.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Signing Kiefer Sherwood Is a Smart Move for the Sharks

The San Jose Sharks strengthened their lineup and added instant impact by locking up Kiefer Sherwood to a five-year deal. 

Sherwood, who has already made a noticeable impact in his first games with the Sharks—including scoring his first goal off a gorgeous feed from Phillip Kurashev and adding a slick assist last night—brings the rare combination of goal-scoring ability, physicality, and relentless energy that makes him a perfect fit for the team’s evolving core.

“We are very excited to have Kiefer remain in San Jose and be part of the group that we are building,” said Grier. “The ingredients he brings to our line-up on a nightly basis blend extremely well with the skillsets of his teammates and we look forward to his contributions in the years to come.” 

The 30-year-old Sherwood was acquired by the Sharks on Jan. 19, 2026, from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for prospect Cole Clayton and San Jose’s 2026 and 2027 second-round picks. Since debuting with the Sharks on Feb. 4 against the Colorado Avalanche, he has led the team in hits (28) and tied a team-high with nine hits on Mar. 1 versus the Winnipeg Jets, showcasing the physical edge that makes him a two-way threat.

Prior to joining San Jose, Sherwood tallied 23 points (17 goals, six assists) in 44 games for Vancouver, leading the team in goals and ranking third in overall points. At the time of the trade, he also ranked second in the NHL in hits (210). Sherwood has already recorded two hat tricks this season—Oct. 30, 2025 at St. Louis, and Dec. 19, 2025 at the New York Islanders—and is coming off three consecutive 10-goal seasons, just two shy of his career-best 19 goals from last year.

Sherwood Proved His Worth Against Montreal

Sherwood is a dynamic, high-energy forward who brings a relentless physical presence to the ice. Known for his hard hits, tenacious forechecking, and competitive drive, he also possesses an effective shot and has demonstrated solid hands and passing ability.

We saw all of that against the Canadiens. While scoring his first goal as a Shark was certainly a highlight, the real story was his energy on every shift. Sherwood’s effort and intensity were palpable, showing that he not only wanted this new deal but had truly earned this contract through his play.

With the Sharks expected to fight for a playoff spot, this was a huge win for the organization. 

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Will Steve Kerr coach the Warriors next season? GM Dunleavy says, 'I don’t see why not'

Steve Kerr is in the final year of his contract, but he's not exactly stressing about it. After a dozen years and four rings coaching Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, Kerr's reaction whenever asked about his contract is some variation of what he said before the season, that he likely would want to continue coaching Curry "for another few years, but I think it makes sense for the organization and for me just to see where this thing is at the end of the year, where they are, where I am."

Warriors General Manager Michael Dunleavy Jr. said he expects him to come back, during an appearance on “The TK Show,” featuring long-time Bay Area writer Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard.

"I don't see why not. I think Steve's mentioned wanting to get to the end of the season and figure it out. I think things, for him, are going well. We'll figure all that out when it comes. I think it's been interesting, like the focus for us internally between myself, (team owner) Joe (Lacob), the players, Steve, has really been on like getting this thing right the rest of the season. So we haven't put a whole bunch of thought into it.

"But you know, obviously, on a personal level, (I) love having Steve here. Yeah, I would project that he's our coach next year. But again, we're going down to absolute certainties, and a lot of it's in his court, so we'll have to see."

Nobody is stressing about this.

While Kerr would have his choice of jobs, the expectation in league circles is that he will only coach the Warriors, then step away whenever the 37-year-old Curry does, likely moving into the Warriors front office in some capacity. But nothing is certain, so everyone's eyes will be on Kerr this summer.

Just expect him to be back on the Warriors' sideline next season.

Cavalier punished for flopping in win over Pistons

Mar 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Jaylon Tyson (20) throws a pass beside Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) in the third quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, thanks in part to 22 points from Jaylon Tyson and how well he defended MVP candidate Cade Cunningham. Tyson stepped up admirably on defense as he was physical at the point of attack and did a good job of shadowing Cunningham everywhere he went on the court.

There was, however, one exception to this.

The league office took offense at a second-quarter play where Tyson comically embellished some contact from Cunningham. Tyson threw his head back and staggered from just inside the free-throw line to the baseline, trying to get a call that didn’t come. Fortunately for the Cavs, Evan Mobley was there to provide a late contest.

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The league office deemed that Tyson’s embellishment of the contact rose to the level of a “flop.” He was fined by the league $2,000 on Wednesday evening. It’s worth noting that Tyson’s antics weren’t rewarded with an offensive foul in the moment.

It was a ridiculous flop from Tyson, but whether or not it was worthy of the $2,000 fine is up for debate. Tyson obviously oversold the call, but not in a believable way. Would he have been fined if he were slightly better at flopping? Is that the lesson here? And if so, is that what we should be enforcing?

Either way, it was still a great night for Tyson, who had a standout performance with his brother Jordyn, who’s getting ready to be a top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, in attendance.

Tyson finished the game with 22 points on 5-12 shooting from three to go along with four assists and three rebounds.

Young players impress as Leverkusen gets a much-needed win at Hamburg in Bundesliga

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Two of Bayer Leverkusen's young players combined for a breakthrough goal to beat Hamburger SV 1-0 in the Bundesliga on Wednesday and boost the team's fading challenge for Champions League qualification.

Leverkusen was having a frustrating game, with a goal ruled out for handball and a penalty decision overturned on video review, before 20-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Maza and 19-year-old forward Christian Kofane combined for the only goal in the 73rd minute.

Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.

Hamburg's own young star Luka Vušković threw his boots against the bench in frustration at the end. The 19-year-old defender, on loan from Tottenham, had a shot blocked by Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich in the final seconds and headed the rebound onto the crossbar. Hamburg is 11th and winless in three games.

Leverkusen remained sixth in the Bundesliga but cut the gap to fourth-place Stuttgart, the last team in the Champions League places, to three points.

Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand made five changes to his lineup, partly due to injuries, and handed a first senior start to 18-year-old German-American winger Montrell Culbreath, who played 80 minutes.

The game was originally meant to be played in January but it was rescheduled when Hamburg’s stadium roof suffered structural damage following heavy snow and required urgent repairs.

The win over Hamburg is part of a crucial run of games for Leverkusen, which faces Arsenal in the Champions League round of 16 next week and is struggling to qualify for next season's Champions League after winning one of its previous four Bundesliga games prior to Wednesday.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer