PORT ST. LUCIE — The idea of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing together in the same outfield is an intriguing proposition to Mets officials.
On Sunday, for the second time in three days, the team got that look.
Benge started in center field with Ewing in left against the Yankees.
Both contributed to the Mets’ 10-4 exhibition victory at Clover Park.
Benge, a top prospect competing for the starting right field job, finished 2-for-3.
Carson Benge is competing for the starting right field job. Corey Sipkin for the NY POSTA.J. Ewing rates among the organization’s top prospects. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
Ewing, who also rates among the organization’s top prospects, delivered a two-run single against lefty Ryan Weathers.
“They have the ability to impact the game in so many different ways,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It wasn’t an easy matchup there with left-on-left with Weathers and the way he was throwing the ball. A couple of two-strike approaches when they put the ball in play and just make things happen. The way they run the bases, the way they play defense, it’s just good baseball from them so far.”
Benge started in center just to receive a taste of the position in camp, according to Mendoza, with Luis Robert Jr. scheduled for his first Grapefruit League game in a Mets uniform on Thursday.
“I felt like I was on time with everything,” Benge said of his plate appearances against Weathers. “I saw him well, he had really good stuff, but I felt like I stuck to my plan and did my job.”
Robert Stock will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
The right-hander, who had discomfort after pitching three scoreless innings for Team Israel against the Marlins in a WBC scrimmage, said he could be back pitching before the season concludes.
Brandon Waddell was scratched from his scheduled Monday start because of shoulder fatigue, according to Mendoza, and will now pitch later in the week.
Zach Thornton will be summoned from minor league camp to start against the Marlins at Clover Park.
Mendoza is keeping tabs on his WBC pitchers from afar.
A day after Clay Holmes pitched three scoreless innings for Team USA against Great Britain, the Mets manager watched video of Holmes’ outing.
"The bottom line is they kicked our behind on the glass, we did not box out, their second-chance opportunities in terms of 15 points was something that we don't give up -- we can't get beat in that area, and it was due to our ability to put bodies on bodies and boxing out -- it's the first thing," Brown said of the Knicks (41-24), whom the Lakers (39-25) outrebounded by a 12-10 margin on the offensive boards. "The second thing is we fouled 'em. We got beat off the dribble often. We got beat middle and, being real lazy about it, we reach at the last second and send 'em to the free-throw line. And then, lastly, we didn't take care of the basketball.
"That's a recipe to get your behind kicked, especially on the road. If you're going to get beat in second-chance points like we did without boxing out, if you're going to reach because you can't contain the basketball for the 30 free throws and then having 18 turnovers -- that's a recipe for disaster on the road, no matter who you play. So you've got to give the Lakers credit."
The Lakers were 25 of 30 from the free-throw line, led by Luka Doncic's 8-for-10 clip.
"I'm always direct," Brown said of what he told his team after the game. "Whether it's this game or another game, I'm always direct. There's nothing to sugarcoat -- you just tell the truth."
New York's five-game road swing, which included this past Friday's 142-103 win at the Denver Nuggets, continues with Monday's 10 p.m. game against the Clippers in Los Angeles.
"Our guys have been playing well -- I'm just talking about tonight," Brown said of the Knicks, who won three straight games before this past Wednesday's 103-100 loss at the Oklahoma City Thunder. "And could it linger? Yeah, we could take another step back tomorrow. I don't know. But I'm talking about tonight. I did not like the way we played in those three areas. There's some games that you may say, 'You know what? Hey, they just shot the s--t out the ball and wasn't our night and we missed some shots.' Because we missed some shots tonight -- I thought we had some good looks that we've been normally knocking down.
"But to have a hand in losing the game yourself by not taking care of the things that are just effort and locked-in things ... those are things that we, in my opinion, could've controlled tonight, which we've done a pretty good job of, as of late, that we did not control. And the Lakers deserved to win, the way we played in those three areas."
Feb 16, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe (11) warms up during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
New York Post | Mark W. Sanchez: As he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum, shortstop Anthony Volpe addressed reporters this week. At the moment, the former top prospect, who may have suffered the injury last May, has progressed in his rehab from simply fielding grounders to diving, has yet to face live pitching, and has no current timeline for his return to game action. When he does, he will face competition for the starting job for the first time since he won the position battle with fellow prospect Oswald Peraza in 2023, as the Yankees — not to mention their fans — are high on José Caballero.
SNY | John Flanigan: Ever since watching the 2017 World Baseball Classic ahead of his rookie season, Aaron Judge has been eager to join Team USA for the international tournament. When asked about the experience, this year’s Captain America stressed the “lack of egos” in the group, noting that the roster is filled out with ace pitchers, closers, and star hitters willing to play supplemental roles. So far, this collection of All-Stars have worked out, as Team USA won their first two games and are currently all-but-guaranteed to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament.
MLB.com: We’re still a few weeks out from Opening Day, but that doesn’t mean it’s not time to think about the Opening Day lineups are going to look like. As is usual, the MLB.com projections are fairly cookie cutter — the Yankees’ projected lineup and rotation have absolutely no surprises — but the collection of all 30 teams in one place does provide a nice way to get up to speed on news throughout the league all in one spot.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Scoot Henderson scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the skidding Indiana Pacers 131-111 on Sunday night.
Jerami Grant and Jrue Holiday added 21 points apiece for the Blazers, who handed Indiana its ninth straight defeat. Henderson also had six assists with no turnovers.
Deni Avdija, who leads Portland in scoring (24.4 points per game) and assists (6.6), returned from a six-game absence caused by a lower back injury. He finished with 18 points and eight assists.
Indiana has dropped its past six games by an average of 20 points. This marks the team's third losing streak of at least eight games this season.
Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 22 points and Jay Huff had 16 points and five blocks. Andrew Nembhard added 14 points and nine assists, and Jarace Walker also scored 14.
Huff has an NBA-leading 39 games this season with at least two blocks, two more than San Antonio center Victor Wenbanyama, who had four in a 145-120 win over Houston earlier Sunday and leads the NBA in blocks.
Robert Williams III had his streak of 18 consecutive games with at least one block snapped. It had been the longest active streak in the league.
Henderson scored or assisted on 15 points in a 25-7 run over the final 5 1/2 minutes of the second quarter to help the Blazers take a 69-52 lead into halftime. The Pacers were 2-of-11 shooting with three turnovers during that stretch.
Henderson had 19 points and five assists while going 7 for 9 from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point range, before the break. Grant added 14 points, Holiday had 11 and Avdija scored 10.
Up next
Pacers: Wrap up a four-game trip Tuesday at Sacramento.
Trail Blazers: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Joel Hofer made 22 saves for his fifth shutout of the season, Jonathan Drouin scored in his Blues debut and St. Louis beat the Anaheim Ducks 4-0 on Sunday night to sweep a four-game trip.
Jordan Kyrou, Jimmy Snuggerud and Pius Suter also scored to help St. Louis win for the fifth time in six games since the Olympic break.
Drouin was acquired from the Islanders on Friday at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Blues captain Brayden Schenn to New York. The left wing scored the second of three second-period goals, firing a slap shot past Ville Husso on a power play with 9:53 left.
Kyrou opened the scoring at 4:22, snapping a shot from the right side to the far post on a 3-on-1 break. After helping set up Drouin's goal, Snuggerud added one of his own on a one-timer with 7:49 to go.
St. Louis failed to add to the lead on an extended power play that spilled into the third when Ross Johnston received a major penalty for boarding Justin Holl, the defenseman who also made his Blues debut after coming over from Detroit.
After Anaheim successfully challenged Snuggerud's apparent goal midway through the third for offsides, Suter scored into an empty net with 4:02 to go
Husso stopped 31 shots. The Ducks completed a nine-game homestand, splitting the last four after winning the first five. They were 0 for 6 on the power play against the Blues.
John Carlson, the defenseman acquired from Washington on Thursday, missed his fifth straight game because of lower-body injury. Ducks center Mikael Granlund returned after missing six games because of an upper-body injury sustained playing for Finland in the Olympic bronze-medal game.
Up next
Blues: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 8: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates during the game against the Houston Rockets on March 8, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t just beat the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, they buried them under an avalanche of offense.
San Antonio erupted for 145 points in a dominant 145-120 victory over their in-state rivals, delivering one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. The Spurs played with pace, passion, and purpose, turning what began as a competitive matchup into a one-sided showcase of firepower.
From the opening tip, the Spurs looked locked in. The ball moved with ease, shooters found space, and the Rockets struggled to keep up with San Antonio’s tempo. Victor Wembanyama set the tone early, attacking mismatches and controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. The Spurs’ young superstar finished with a strong all-around performance: 29 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks in 30 minutes.
Houston managed to hang around in the first quarter, trading baskets as both teams pushed the pace. But the game began to tilt heavily in San Antonio’s favor in the second quarter.
That’s when the Spurs caught fire and stayed hot the rest of the night.
“The pace has been really consistent recently,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said of his team’s offense. “When you play with the speed we have combined with the talent and moving off the basketball, it is really hard to guard.”
San Antonio poured in points from everywhere: transition buckets, cutting layups and open three-pointers; stretching the lead with a relentless offensive surge. By halftime, the Spurs had seized control, leaving the Rockets scrambling to find answers as they went to the locker room.
Any hopes of a Houston comeback faded quickly after the break.
San Antonio came out of the locker room just as aggressive, continuing to push the tempo and widen the gap. Every time the Rockets showed signs of life, the Spurs responded with another scoring burst. The lead ballooned to nearly 30 points midway through the third quarter as the game slipped firmly out of Houston’s reach. The Spurs’ balanced scoring made the night even more impressive. Multiple players crossed the 20-point mark as San Antonio’s offense hummed with rhythm and unselfishness, a reflection of the ball movement that has become a hallmark of the team’s recent play.
“I thought we were really sharp,” Johnson said. “I thought the only area you could nitpick is some of the fouls. You got to make sure you aren’t off balance or out of position, but for the most part, I thought we played a really solid game defensively.”
Despite solid individual performances, the Rockets simply couldn’t slow down San Antonio’s offense or match its efficiency. Stephon Castle and Keldon Johnson made life difficult as possible for Kevin Durant, who finished with 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, most of which came from the free throw line.
“Something clicked from the first quarter,” Wembanyama said of the Spurs’ offense onslaught. “We figured out their adjustments and decided to hurt them elsewhere.”
By the fourth quarter, the result was essentially decided. The Spurs continued to pour it on before eventually emptying the bench as the final minutes ticked away.
When the buzzer sounded, San Antonio had produced one of its highest scoring games of the season and sent a clear message about the level this team can reach when everything clicks. It was more than just another win for the Spurs. It was a reminder of the offensive potential of a young team that continues to grow more dangerous every time it steps on the floor.
“These guys are trustworthy. I can trust them to make the right play,” Wembanyama said. “I can trust them to play unselfishly. And I can trust that anybody here can choose that if they do the effort, the efforts, like my teammates, will do the right choice, and we’ll capitalize on it.”
Game Notes
Keldon Johnson finished with 20 points off the bench, his 10th game of the season with 20 or more points. The league better start enraving that 6th Man of the Year trophy for him.
Dylan Harper may be a rookie, but he isn’t playing like one. He stat line in the first half: 17 points, 7-8 FG (85%), 3 ast, +9 in 14 minutes. Overall, he had 19 points on the night. That will be very valuable come playoff time. “I think any open shot, I’m going to take it,” Harper said. “I have confidence, but I shoot those in warm ups. So why not take them?”
San Antonio’s ball movement is a page right out of the 2014 “Beautiful Game” Spurs. The Silver and Black had 38 assists on 51 made shots. Fox led the team with 10 helpers.
De’Aaron Fox had a nice evening with 20 points and 10 assists in 32 minutes. He’s now scored double digits in the paint in consecutive games since January. Fans have been waiting Fox to attack the paint more, and it appears he’s gotten the message from the coaching staff.
On a fun note: The Jackals and the French squad support sections have made the Frost Bank Center a madhouse. It is so loud inside and it translates well on the boradcast. I can’t wait to see what they do in the playoffs.
Overall, the Braves have got good production from their pitching this Spring, including Wentz and Elder. However, today was an all too familiar sight. The need for the Braves to add to the rotation remains clear as day, And with the additional money in place after Jurickson Profar’s suspension, the lack of urgency to strengthen the staff as the season draws closer is odd. Hopefully, at some point this week, common sense will prevail and a move will be made to strengthen the staff.
Vladislav Gavrikov #44 of the New York Rangers scores a goal during the first period when the New Jersey Devils played the New York Rangers Saturday, March 7, 2026.
Most of the words Chris Drury said in July about defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov centered around the defensive side of the $49 million defenseman’s game. The Rangers president and general manager wanted to be better in front of their goaltenders. He wanted improved coverage in high-danger areas. And Gavrikov, inked to a seven-year deal at the start of free agency that month to pair with Adam Fox, possessed “qualities of an elite shutdown guy.”
Access the Rangers beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting withMollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers.
But over the past eight months, another layer to Gavrikov’s game has started to emerge. He has become a scoring option for the Blueshirts, something that hadn’t necessarily been the case in past seasons with the Kings and Blue Jackets.
After scoring in a third consecutive game Saturday during the loss to the Devils, Gavrikov has collected 12 goals — shattering his previous career high of six — after recording just 11 the last two seasons combined.
He’ll have a chance to continue the longest goal streak of his career Monday against Philadelphia, but even if it ends, Gavrikov became just the third Blueshirts defenseman to have a three-game goal streak across the past 10 seasons, according to the team.
He’s also tied with Hy Buller, from the 1951-52 campaign, for the first-most goals by a defenseman in his first season on Broadway, too.
Vladislav Gavrikov of Rangers scored a goal during the first period when the Devils played the Rangers Saturday, March 7, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Those numbers have all been a bit unexpected for Gavrikov. But with uncertainty looming in the offseason after trade rumors involving Braden Schneider and cryptic comments from Fox about his desire to remain with the Blueshirts through their retool, Gavrikov — given the term remaining on his deal and the production in his first season — has emerged as one of the surest pieces the Rangers have on their blue line.
“From an offensive standpoint, I think he’s had a really, really good year,” head coach Mike Sullivan said Friday. “He’s everything we had hoped for defensively when we signed him, but his offensive game, I think, is something that’s been a welcomed addition to our group — and we think he’s been pretty good in that area of the rink.”
With Fox only skating in 35 games this season and missing extended time with a pair of stints on long-term injured reserve, and with Schneider also mostly struggling this season, Gavrikov has already become the anchor of the Rangers blue line in the present, too. He leads all Blueshirts in ice time. His 25 points lead all defensemen. He has filled roles on both the penalty-kill and power-play units.
And, recently, the goals have followed. Less than a minute into the third period during the March 2 game, Gavrikov slid a pass to Fox across the blue line and then veered toward the left post — collecting a return pass and sending a shot into the Blue Jackets net. Then, against the Maple Leafs, Gavrikov deposited a rebound. And to give the Blueshirts a temporary lead Saturday, he took an extra stride in from the point and ripped a shot past Jacob Markstrom.
These are the signs that teams looking to overhaul a roster need. The ones that contain glimmers of hope, that capture the notion that internal building blocks exist in addition to any of the external ones acquired or drafted.
Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) and New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (44) fight for the puck during the third period at Madison Square Garden. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
There’s Gabe Perreault, who’s up to 11 points and carved out a role on the first line. There’s Will Cuylle, in the middle of another productive season as a physical two-way forward. There’s Noah Laba, a rookie center. And then there’s Gavrikov, established in the NHL to the point where he was a commodity last summer but still in the early stages of his Rangers tenure.
Fox’s absences have forced some shuffling alongside Gavrikov throughout the season, but in the bigger-picture, the long-term status of their pairing has become murky. When asked if he wanted to remain with the Rangers through their retool, Fox said that’s a conversation for the offseason.
When given a chance to clarify those comments, he doubled down. Schneider’s name swirled in rumors, too, ahead of the deadline. It’s unclear just how eager Drury will be to move either of those pieces in the offseason with the Rangers sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference and committed to a retool — on paper — after issuing The Letter 2.0.
The Rangers know they’ll likely have Gavrikov, though. They’ll have someone who has delivered on the expectation to be a first-pair defenseman while unexpectedly adding offensive contributions, too. The next step involves ensuring that it’s just not a one-season fluke. That the production becomes sustainable.
But for now, in a lost season for the Rangers, it has certainly emerged as one of the bright spots.
TAMPA — Arguably the greatest strength of the Yankees this decade is their bullpen, which is consistently excellent in part because of the organization’s talent in identifying and maximizing talented arms who had failed elsewhere. They found Clay Holmes and Lucas Luetge in 2021, Ian Hamilton and Luke Weaver in ’23 and Tim Hill and Jake Cousins in ’24.
The discoveries largely halted last season, which helps explain why their bullpen was the 21st most valuable, according to FanGraphs, and not good enough in the postseason.
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
For the Yankees’ relief corps to bounce back this year, they would love to stumble across a difference-maker.
Perhaps that will be Dylan Coleman.
Coleman is a 29-year-old in camp as a non-roster invitee who has a big arm that can touch 100 mph and has been a quality major league reliever: In his first two seasons, 2021-22, the 6-foot-5 righty pitched to a 2.66 ERA in 74 ¹/₃ innings with the Royals.
But he had a poor 2023 campaign then was traded to the Astros for the 2024 season, struggled at Triple-A and was released in August.
He popped up with the Orioles last season, was ineffective in 11 minor league games and was cut in May.
Dylan Coleman is a 29-year-old in camp as a non-roster invitee . Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The turning point, Coleman believes, occurred next.
He stepped away from organized baseball and spent a few weeks with Mason Feole, who runs a pitching instruction company in Rhode Island.
In his last outing in the Baltimore organization, Coleman said he was throwing 93-94 mph and touching 95 mph.
“Went up there [to Rhode Island] after I got released,” Coleman said. “Five days later, I was like 99, 100 or so.”
The couple of weeks were encouraging enough for Coleman to then spend a couple of months training with Feole over the offseason, making small tweaks to feel and look like the pitcher he wanted to be.
They worked on small mechanical things that added up to big things: getting Coleman’s arm and body in sync, releasing the ball with ideal timing, and cleaning up the direction of his delivery—ensuring he moves straight to the plate rather than falling toward the left, a habit he had to kick.
Dylan Coleman pitches during the Yankees-Pirates spring training game on Feb. 23, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
“When my direction is good,” Coleman said, “the throw takes care of itself.”
He also added a sinker that he hopes can record quick outs to a repertoire that already included a hard four-seamer plus a sweeper and cutter.
The Yankees found him and took a flier on an impressive arm with a respectable résumé and one who can be optioned to the minor leagues.
In a pair of Grapefruit League games, Coleman has pitched two scoreless innings while allowing three hits and a walk and striking out two.
More importantly, Coleman is happy with how he feels, believes his mechanics are sound and is seeing the velocity begin to tick up.
“I’m in a way better spot than I’ve been in a while,” Coleman said after throwing a live batting practice at Steinbrenner Field on Sunday.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 08: Henry Bolte #33 of the Athletics reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Los Angeles Angels during a spring training game at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 08, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Athletics defeated the Angels 7-4. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following a rough day yesterday, the Athletics flipped the script today, winning both games of the spring training split-squad double-header to end the weekend on a positive note. The A’s in Arizona came back from a seven-run deficit to defeat the Las Angeles Dodgers 11-7, while the other half of the team beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-4, splitting the two-game preseason series in Las Vegas.
A’s vs Dodgers
Making his first start of the spring, A’s left-hander Jacob Lopez did not have his best performance, yet that was expected as he is getting back into the groove and likely had to shake off some rust. Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages hit a two-out solo home run off Lopez in the first inning and then Lopez allowed Nick Senzel and Ryan Ward to hit back-t0-back RBI doubles the next inning.
In the fourth inning, the Dodgers added to their lead, scoring three more runs off of A’s pitchers Matt Krook and Kenya Huggins. Up 7-0, it seemed like the Dodgers would coast to another Cactus League victory. However, the A’s top prospect, 19-year-old shortstop Leo De Vries, said not so fast. The best prospect the A’s acquired from the San Diego Padres in the Mason Miller trade singlehandedly willed the A’s comeback against the defending champions, with the caveat that it came against Dodgers minor league pitchers.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, De Vries hit his first homer in an A’s uniform, a two-run blast to right field. An inning later, he came up again, this time with the bases loaded and two outs. De Vries made more noise, hitting a grand slam over the right field fence to trim the A’s deficit to one.
It is hard to believe that the Padres traded this rising star for a reliever. That leaves them without a successor should their starting shortstop 33-year-old Xander Bogaerts start declining as he ages.
De Vries got the A’s back in the game and then his teammates picked up the slack to take the lead and secure the victory. Third baseman Andy Ibàñez’s RBI double tied the game in the sixth inning and then the A’s put up a four-spot in the eighth inning to take their first lead of the game. Minor league outfielder Clark Elliot’s single scored the go-ahead run and then Colby Thomas capped off the scoring with a two-run double. Ibàñez had another run-scoring hit in that inning, finishing the game an impressive 4-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Meanwhile, A’s pitching prospects Zane Taylor and Steven Echavarria shut down the Dodgers for the game’s final three innings. With all the attention on the lefties Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold, do not sleep on these two right-handers as they also have the talent to make waves in the A’s minor leagues this season.
A’s vs Angels
Taking the mound for the second time in an A’s uniform, offseason acquisition Aaron Civale put forth a solid performance. He accumulated four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings pitched. Civale’s lone blemish was Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s two-run home run in the fourth inning. O’Hoppe’s home run gave the Angels the lead, erasing the A’s 1-0 advantage which came courtesy of third base prospect Tommy White’s second home run of the spring in the second inning.
Angels starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz pitched well, only allowing White’s home run in his four inning outing. Once the Angels ended his day, the A’s took advantage, tying and then taking the lead against Angels relievers. The A’s tied the game in the fifth thanks to doubles by Henry Bolte and fellow prospect Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. Bolte, who finished the game with four hits in four at-bats, came up with another big hit later in the game. His two-run home run in the seventh inning gave the hosts a lead that they would not relinquish.
White added his third hit and second home run of the game an inning later to give the A’s a three-run cushion going into the ninth inning.
Relievers Wander Suero and Nick Hernandez protected the A’s late lead in this game, only allowing one run over the final three innings. While they are likely to start in Triple-A, it would not be surprising to see at least one of them with the MLB club this season, especially given the relative dearth of experienced bullpen arms on the A’s roster.
The fact that the A’s won two games today despite getting limited contributions from their core offensive starters bodes well, even if these are just meaningless spring training games. Tomorrow, the team coalesces back into one unit as they travel to Goodyear, AZ to take on the Cincinnati Reds. It will be a matchup of promising young right-handed pitchers with Jack Perkins to start for the A’s and Rhett Lowder for the Reds. Can the A’s make it three in a row or will their week get off to a losing start? Tune in tomorrow to find out.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Damari Wheeler-Thomas scored 19 points to lead top-seeded North Dakota State to a 70-62 victory over North Dakota on Sunday night, winning the Summit League Championship and earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament for the Bison.
Wheeler-Thomas made 8 of 16 shots with two 3-pointers for the Bison (27-7), who have made four previous trips to the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2019. He added six rebounds. Tay Smith scored 13 points off the bench and Andy Stefonowicz totaled 11 points and six rebounds.
Greyson Uelmen scored 24 to pace the third-seeded Fighting Hawks (18-17), whose only tournament appearance at the Division I level came in 2017. Uelmen sank 7 of 11 shots with two 3-pointers and made all eight of his free throws. Zach Kraft scored 19.
Smith hit a 3-pointer and Treyson Anderson scored on a tip-in to cap a 13-2 run as North Dakota State took a 15-9 lead in the first 8:19. Smith connected three more times from beyond the arc and the Bison built a 38-30 advantage in a first half that saw four ties and three lead changes.
Eli King had back-to-back baskets and Garrett Anderson added a layup in a 6-2 spurt to pull North Dakota within 41-36 four minutes into the second half.
Anderson answered with a layup and North Dakota State maintained a three-possession lead until Kraft had a layup and Uelmen added two free throws to cut it to 63-59 with 1:34 remaining.
Noah Feddersen buried a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 spurt and the Bison prevailed.
North Dakota State won both regular-season matchups by a combined 50 points.
You have to go back to Tampa Bay’s first season in the league, to Hall of Fame goaltender Dominik Hašek’s first season in Buffalo. To a time when Mario Lemieux had led the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back championships and Wayne Gretzky was on the verge of leading the Los Angeles Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final.
In the Sabres’ 8-7 win in Buffalo on Sunday night, the teams combined for 15 goals and 28 penalties, the most since the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals combined for 16 goals and 28 penalties on Feb. 11, 1993, according to OptaSTATS.
Six different players scored for the Lightning, while five players scored for the Sabres, and seven had at least three points. Jason Zucker scored two goals, and he assisted on Josh Doan’s second goal, the game-winner with 4:17 remaining in the third period. Nikita Kucherov recorded two goals and an assist to lead the Lightning.
Tampa Bay had 57 penalty minutes and Buffalo 45, with Lightning defenseman Charle-Edouard D'Astous and Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram leading the way with 12 apiece. The teams also had seven fights.
According to OptaStats, the 15 goals and 102 penalty minutes totals had not been reached since an NHL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on April 25, 1989 (17 goals and 130 penalty minutes).
The victory marked the seventh in a row for the Sabres, who moved into first place in the Atlantic Division. According to the NHL, the last time they were in first place in their division at this stage of a season or later was April 11, 2010.
Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) hits a two-rbi single against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning during spring training at Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium.
Observations from Yankees spring training on Sunday:
Access the Yankees beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Greg Joyce about the inside buzz on the Yankees.
George Lombard Jr., already considered good enough defensively at shortstop to play in the majors, showed off his versatility by playing third base in a 10-4 loss to the Mets at Clover Park. He also tripled as he tries to show he can hit well enough to get to The Bronx.
You Can’t Go Home Again
Ex-Mets prospect Dom Hamel, in Yankees camp as a non-roster invitee after finally breaking through to the majors last year with the Mets, allowed three runs — two earned — and made a throwing error in 2 ²/₃ innings in a disappointing return to Port St. Lucie.
Caught My Eye
Spencer Jones is known mostly for his power, but scouts also praise his speed, and he stole another base Sunday, his third of the spring.
Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) hits a two-rbi single against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning during spring training at Lee Health Sports Complex/Hammond Stadium. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Monday’s Schedule
Max Fried will take the mound for his spring training debut when the Yankees return to Steinbrenner Field to face the Pirates.
"It's exciting," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of the young players, including Benge's 2-for-3 afternoon at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie, Fla. "Again, I've been saying it for a few days now that their ability to impact the game in so many different ways. There wasn't an easy matchup there, left on left, with (Ryan) Weathers with the way he was throwing the ball. A couple two-strike-approach (hits) there where they're putting the ball in play and just make things happen. The way they run the bases, how they play defense. It's just good baseball from them so far."
Starting in center field and batting sixth, Benge had a pair of singles -- the first a second-inning knock that scored Francisco Alvarez and put the Mets on the board, 2-1 -- and made the most of his latest opportunity.
"For me, I don't really care -- if you throw it in the zone, I'm going to try to hit it, try my best to hit it," Benge said. "So, it doesn't really matter who's throwing -- I just look at it that way."
Through seven games this spring, the 23-year-old is slashing .350/.381/.350 with three runs, an RBI and a stolen base, and embracing what he can learn from his veteran teammates along the way.
"Definitely -- all of 'em, I'd say," Benge said. "Everyone -- Tyrone Taylor, (Juan) Soto, all the outfielders, even (Marcus) Semien a lot -- ut I'd say all those guys have been really kind to me."
Jordan Clarkson looks on during the Knicks-Lakers game on March 8, 2026.
LOS ANGELES — Desperately searching for offense, the Knicks dusted off little-used guard Jordan Clarkson on Sunday.
The guard logged 10 minutes — including eight in the fourth quarter — and was largely productive while scoring nine points on 3-for-4 shooting.
However, the Knicks were too deep in a hole by the time Clarkson was inserted. They were plus-four in Clarkson’s minutes but lost to the Lakers 110-97.
Jordan Clarkson looks on during the Knicks-Lakers game on March 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He’s a guy we can lean on. He can put the ball in the hole,” said Brown, whose team trailed by as many as 23 in the third quarter. “We were struggling to do that. So I threw him out there to see if we can mix it up. He definitely helped us. But it was too big of a deficit if you’re talking about 20 points to try to come back from versus a good team on their home court.”
Before Sunday, Clarkson was pulled from the rotation and hadn’t played meaningful minutes in weeks. It was a surprise since Clarkson was considered a significant part of the plans before the season, but Brown said he’s facing a numbers crunch.
“It’s hard to play 10 guys. It’s hard to play nine guys,” the coach said. “So right now we got our starting group, we got [Mitchell Robinson], Landry [Shamet] has been playing well. And we need a backup point guard and Jose [Alvarado] has played well. Now you’re talking nine, 10, 11. And we got a young kid in Mo Diawara who has played really, really well. … So it’s just a matter of circumstance based on available time.”
Brown said he’s more taken aback by seeing Bronny James in the NBA than his dad, LeBron James, still playing at 41 years old.
“The crazy part for me is when you see players who you’ve coached and then your kids are playing in the NBA, that’s a little freaky for me,” said Brown, who coached LeBron in Cleveland. “Because it tells me I’m old. But then I go to the bathroom, I shave all my gray hairs off so it helps me believe I’m not old. But his son playing in the NBA is mind-blowing and that impacts me more than him retiring.”
LeBron did not play Sunday because of a foot problem. Bronny was inactive after being sent to the G-League.
