Category: Sports

Aaron Judge homered for a second straight day to nearly the same left-field spot, Ben Rice hit a two-run double in the third inning, and the New York Yankees beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Saturday for a three-game sweep.

San Francisco matched a franchise record dating to 1909 by going 20 straight innings without a run to start the season before Matt Chapman’s RBI single in the third finally got the Giants — and new manager Tony Vitello — on the scoreboard in 2026.

Meanwhile, Aaron Boone won his 700th game as the Yankees’ manager.

Seven automated ball-strike challenges of calls by plate umpire Chad Whitson were all overturned — four by San Francisco, three by New York.

Judge connected with two outs in the fifth, a 383-foot drive that ricocheted off the roof of an ambulance parked in the tunnel just inside the foul pole.

Aaron Judge crushes solo home run, extending Yankees’ lead over Giants

Rice put New York ahead in the third against right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-1), done after four innings in his San Francisco debut.

Jake Bird (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief and David Bednar finished for his second save after surrendering two straight singles to start the inning before getting Patrick Bailey to ground into a game-ending double play.

The Giants were shut out by New York 7-0 and 3-0 with only four hits over their initial two games — the first time that had happened in baseball history to start a season.

Jung Hoo Lee began the third with a double to right off Will Warren. Chapman followed with an RBI single, and the crowd cheered as many fans jumped to their feet in obvious relief.

Vitello, hired from the University of Tennessee despite no professional playing or coaching experience, became the ninth manager in baseball history to be shut out in each of his first two games with a team, and seventh to do so in his first two games overall, according to Sportradar.

The 20 consecutive scoreless innings matched the previous franchise mark from 1909, when the Giants were scoreless for 13 innings in their opener and the first seven in Game 2.

Up next

After Sunday’s off day in this quirky opening-week schedule, LHP Ryan Weathers pitches the series opener at Seattle for the Yankees. The Giants hadn’t announced a starter for their series opener Monday at San Diego.

Senegal’s national team stars have made a defiant statement by parading the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in front of a sold-out crowd at the Stade de France. Despite a recent ruling that officially stripped them of their continental crown, the Lions of Teranga clearly still consider themselves the rightful champions of Africa.

Defiant scenes in Saint-Denis

In a remarkable display of defiance, Senegal players and staff presented the AFCON trophy to their supporters ahead of a friendly match against Peru on Saturday. Captain Kalidou Koulibaly led the squad in a lap of honour, while goalkeeper Edouard Mendy held the silverware aloft to thunderous cheers from the stands. The squad even took a formal group photo with the trophy, signalling their refusal to accept the governing body’s recent intervention.

This public celebration comes just 10 days after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) shook the continent by revising the tournament history books. Senegal had initially secured a 1-0 victory on the pitch in January, but they are now operating under a cloud of administrative controversy that has seen the title handed to their final opponents, Morocco.

The walk-off that changed everything

The controversy stems from the dramatic final in Rabat, where coach Pape Thiaw ordered his players to return to the dressing room in protest. The Lions of Teranga were incensed when the referee awarded Morocco a last-minute penalty following a VAR review for a foul on Brahim Diaz. Although Sadio Mane eventually convinced his teammates to return to the field after a 17-minute delay, the damage was done in the eyes of the regulators.

While the match continued and Pape Gueye eventually scored an extra-time winner after Diaz missed the penalty, the

Legal battle moves to Lausanne

The Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the CAF ruling, branding it an “administrative robbery.” FSF President Abdoulaye Fall is seeking reinstatement as champions, and while the legal process could take months, the federation has already added a second star to the national team’s jerseys to mark their contested victory.

Statement from CAF

The CAF Appeal Board was explicit in its justification for the ruling, stating: “The CAF Appeal Board decided today that in application of Article 84 of the Regulations of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Senegal National Team is declared to have forfeited the Final Match of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 (“the Match”), with the result of the Match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football (FRMF).”

Only a handful of teams remain in the women’s NCAA Tournament.

Check out the odds for each game at DraftKings Sportsbook as of March 28, as well as what to know about each matchup.

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SUNDAY, MARCH 29

No. 6 Notre Dame vs. No. 1 UConn

Spread: UConn -27.5
Moneyline: UConn -100000, ND +5000
O/U: 141.5

What to know: We saw this matchup during the regular season, and if you can’t tell by the spread, it didn’t go well for Notre Dame. UConn beat the Irish 85-47, with all five of its starters scoring in double figures. There are some silver linings for Notre Dame, depending on how you look at things. The Irish only trailed by nine at half, after a 16-16 second quarter. In addition, N.D. shot a dreadful 1-for-16 from 3 in that game. Also, that game took place way back on Jan. 19. Is it possible the Irish can make things a little more pressurized for the Huskies? Unlikely, but you never know. 

No. 3 Duke vs. No. 1 UCLA

Spread: UCLA -11.5
Moneyline: UCLA -675, Duke +490
O/U: 130.5

What to know: This is another one that we’ve seen before that didn’t go well for the losing team. UCLA and Duke shared the court on Nov. 27, and after the first quarter, it was a 30-7 lead for the Bruins, en route to an 89-59 win. However, the spread is not as large as one might think, most likely because the Blue Devils have completely turned their season around. Consider this: Duke lost six of its first nine games, before winning 17 straight and eventually winning the ACC Tournament. Then it beat 6-seed Baylor in the Round of 32 (lost to Baylor by six in its regular-season opener) and beat 2-seed LSU by two in the Sweet 16 (lost to LSU by 16 on Dec. 4). Can the Blue Devils avenge a regular-season loss for a third time when they face UCLA? 

MONDAY, MARCH 30

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 1 Texas

Spread: Texas -10.5
Moneyline: Texas -575, Michigan +425
O/U: 139.5

What to know: Arguably no team in the country is more battle-tested than Texas, which played 17 ranked teams during the regular season and Big 12 Tournament. It went 14-3 in those games, including wins over UCLA (the Bruins’ only loss of the season) and South Carolina three times (Texas won twice). The Longhorns and Wolverines did not cross paths this season, and although Michigan went 6-5 against ranked opponents in the regular season and Big Ten Tournament, it can say something that no other team this season can say: It was the only team to challenge UConn, losing to the Huskies by only three back on Nov. 21. UConn won every other game this season by at least 13 points, including 30 wins by 25 or more. Point is, Michigan can hang with the biggest dogs. 

No. 3 TCU vs. No. 1 South Carolina

Spread: SC -13.5
Moneyline: SC -1200, TCU +750
O/U: 131.5

What to know: South Carolina has made the last five Final Fours, three of the last five championship games, and has won the national title twice in the past five years. Dominant, much? It will be a tall task for TCU to take down the Gamecocks, considering the Horned Frogs have won their three Tournament games by a combined 59, and South Carolina has won its three games by a combined 135 points. Talk about hitting your stride. TCU got 10-seed Virginia in the Sweet after the Cavaliers upset 2-seed Iowa in the Round of 32. This will be a step-up in competition for the Horned Frogs, to say the least. 

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ATLANTA) — The final score of the U.S. men’s national team game on Saturday, a 5-2 defeat to Belgium, wasn’t the only thing everyone was talking about. 

You couldn’t tell which team was which on the pitch because of similar jersey colors between the two sides.

“It was very difficult,” USA star forward Christian Pulisic told reporters after the game, after noting, “that’s not an excuse at all, because both teams deal with that. But that was a bit strange.”

The USA wore its new Nike-designed red-and-white home “Stripes” kit that is supposed to look like a waving American flag. Belgium wore their newly released World Cup away jersey, which is a pink-and-light-blue tribute (designed by adidas) that was inspired by Belgian artist René Magritte the country’s surrealist movement.

Photos of the jerseys look different enough, but in person it caused issues. 

A clash of styles, both in fashion and performance. (Getty)

It made following the game a challenge, whether you were watching at home on TV or in the 300-level of the stadium.

It was even more frustrating for the players. Pulisic, who plays for Italian club AC Milan, said he and his USA teammates had no idea before kickoff that there would be a problem.

“We took off [our warmup shirts] and then saw it,” Pulisic said. “Everyone was a bit shocked.”

Having comparable colored jerseys on the field can impact decision-making and the ability to react quickly.

“It’s difficult, it’s difficult,” Pulisic said. “A lot of times, you get the ball, you look up, like, you can’t really lock in on someone, and you can only base it on the color of the shirt. That’s how it works. When it’s very similar, it’s difficult.”

– USA Kits Revealed: ‘Stars’ and ‘Stripes’
– Jamaica Kits Highlight Bob Marley
– Home Kits For Mexico, Argentina, Spain

Weston McKennie, the star Juventus midfielder who scored the USA’s first goal on Saturday, also agreed about the clash of colors. 

“It was definitely a little bit difficult whenever you do a quick glance to tell which was which,” McKennie said. “It was almost a 50-50 thing so you definitely had to maybe take a little more time on the ball before you make a decision or play one touch to a player.

“But obviously we’re not looking for any excuses at all.”

Beautiful designs, but one could see why this combo could get confusing (Getty). 

A U.S. Soccer spokesperson said there’s a process that starts well in advance of the game to avoid this kind of situation. In this case, as the home team, the U.S. chose which uniform it was going to wear and asked Belgium to wear its away one. Photos of the jerseys were sent to the referee, which was followed by a match coordination meeting. 

That allowed everybody to see what the jerseys looked like, and then the referee checked the locker room before the game for an inspection to ensure everything was good to go.

Would this have been a more pleasing uniform combination? (Getty)

Once it became apparent that the colors were too close during Saturday’s match, the question was asked if Belgium could switch to their signature home red jerseys. But the team’s equipment, which included alternate jerseys, had already been sent to Chicago for Belgium’s next match vs. Mexico at Soldier Field on Tuesday.

If they had their other jerseys, would Belgium have switched?

“It certainly would have been an option,” the U.S. Soccer spokesperson said.

Which jersey should Portugal, the USA’s next opponent, wear on Tuesday? (Getty)

The USA faces Portugal on Tuesday in its final match before the World Cup roster is announced on May 26. If the USA dons its home kit again and asks Portugal to wear its away one – a white jersey with a frosty-looking blue and green wave on the front – that could create a similar visual clash.

England legend David Beckham has confessed he would find it “very hard” to overlook Trent Alexander-Arnold for a World Cup squad after the Real Madrid star was hit with another international snub. He waded into the debate after Alexander-Arnold became the headline omission from Thomas Tuchel’s latest 35-man selection for clashes against Uruguay and Japan.

Alexander-Arnold snubbed from England squad

Alexander-Arnold, who joined Real Madrid last summer, is considered one of the world’s top right full-backs, making his absence from such a large Three Lions group particularly notable. The 27-year-old continues to be a polarizing figure in the national team setup due to the perceived imbalance between his attacking output and defensive consistency. Beckham has thrown his weight behind Alexander-Arnold, insisting that the former Liverpool man remains a unique talent despite his struggles to convince Tuchel.

Beckham backs Real Madrid star

Speaking to talkSPORT, Beckham made it clear where he stands on the debate, even if he is glad the final decision doesn’t rest on his shoulders. “That’s why I’m not England manager, because I don’t have to make those decisions. But, I’m a massive fan of Trent. I’ve heard so many times about, ‘Well, he’s not as good at defending as he is [attacking]’. Well, sometimes you have to accept that. Roberto Carlos was an unbelievable defender, but also unbelievable going forward,” the former Three Lions captain explained.

World Cup selection dilemmas for Tuchel

With the World Cup on the horizon, the pressure is on Tuchel to finalize a squad capable of winning the tournament. Alexander-Arnold’s absence from the latest squad, which saw a recall for Ben White, has raised questions about his role in Tuchel plans.

 Beckham, however, believes the door isn’t closed yet. “With Trent, would I take him? I’d find it very hard not to take someone like Trent,” he admitted. “But then Thomas, he’s come out and said, I think I read it this morning, that there are other players that are ahead of him at the moment. But he said ‘at the moment’, so that could change.

“I think you said it, tonight [Friday] might prove that other players are playing that might not get in the squad, so you don’t know. This is very close to picking a final squad, but I still think that Thomas is probably still considering about Trent as well.”

Confidence in the current England crop

Under the guidance of Tuchel, England are among the favorites to lift the trophy this summer. Beckham is optimistic about the Three Lions’ chances, citing the balance of youth and experience within the group, spearheaded by captain Harry Kane. “I think we’re in the best place that we can be, in all honesty. I think we’ve got a very young, talented squad with a great captain leading us in the best of form, probably, of his life with Harry (Kane). Obviously, he’s a great leader, and I think Thomas is so meticulous with how he picks the squad, how he runs the squad,” the Inter Miami co-owner explained.

Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos is preparing a definitive offer to seize control of his boyhood club Sevilla alongside First Eleven Capital. However, the move hinges on the side’s top-flight status as they battle to avoid a disastrous relegation to the second tier. Ramos twice played for Sevilla to bookend an immensely successful career with Los Blancos.

A boardroom battle in the ’93rd minute’

The legendary defender entered his own personal “93rd minute” into the final stages of his plan to acquire Sevilla. Working alongside First Eleven Capital, Ramos has completed a rigorous due-diligence process to assess the club’s financial health. With the numbers now clear, a formal offer is being prepared to transform the hierarchy at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

This transition from pitch to boardroom represents a massive shift for the Camas-born star. After returning for a sentimental second playing stint, Ramos is now focused on a long-term vision that would see him become the primary decision-maker for the Andalusian giants.

Survival dictates the final valuation

The timing of the official bid remains sensitive to the club’s sporting results. Sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone, Sevilla’s market value fluctuates based on their league status. According to AS, Ramos and his partners are currently in a “standby” phase, waiting for mathematical certainty regarding survival before committing to a final price tag.

The recent appointment of Luis Garcia as head coach until 2027 highlights the current instability. While a drop to the second tier would significantly lower the acquisition cost, it would also complicate the massive rebuilding project Ramos intends to lead.

Financing secured for a majority stake

The buying bloc ensures that there is already sufficient financing in place, with an investment that will eventually range between $345 million to $520m. However, the main selling families are not entirely convinced yet. In a short space of time, until the Letter of Intent (LOI) expires, there will have to be hard cash on the table, and that remains the most difficult movement in the entire operation.

Ramos intends to secure a commanding stake in the club to ensure he has the final word on all major sporting and commercial decisions. According to the reports, the Camas native would own more than 70 percent of the shares, which is more than enough to govern Sevilla and implement his long-term vision for the institution.

Clearing the debts for a new era

While the focus is on the majority stake, the approximately 13 percent of shares belonging to the insurer A-CAP, formerly of 777 Partners, would not be included in the acquisition package. This leaves Ramos and his partners with a clear path to dominance without needing to consolidate every minor shareholder under their umbrella.

In any case, besides the initial investment for the purchase of the shares, the new owners will need to make a significant capital increase of around €100 million to sanitize the entity’s damaged accounts. This cash injection is seen as vital for the club’s future stability, ensuring that if Ramos does take the reigns, he does so with the financial flexibility required to restore Sevilla to the upper echelons of European football.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (ATLANTA) — The United States men’s national team impressed early against Belgium. Then the wheels fell off.

A first-half lead in Saturday’s high-profile World Cup warmup match against Belgium — FIFA’s No. 9 ranked squad — melted away as the UA conceded four straight goals in front of a heavily pro-USA crowd of 66,867 fans at the home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United.

Weston McKennie put coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team ahead in the 39th minute by deftly redirecting an Antonee Robinson corner kick past Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens. The visitors equalized before the first half was over, though, when fullback Zeno Debast’s low rocket flew through a sea of bodies, past the outstretched hand of USA keeper Matt Turner and into the bottom corner of the net.

Belgium got another shortly after the break, then scored three more as they ran away with the second-to-last match before Pochettino must select his final 26-player World Cup roster, though the Americans did pull one back late via second half substitute Patrick Agyemang. 

Here are my takeaways:

1. USA Faltered In the Second Half

Pochettino’s side entered the match on a three-match winning streak, all against World Cup-bound foes. But Belgium is better than any of those teams by some distance. Still, the USA matched them almost evenly in the first half, even if the guests had almost 60 percent of possession and one more shot on target. Only a brilliant (and lucky) save by Senne Lammens on McKennie’s earlier shot in the opening stanza kept the game scoreless almost until the intermission.

With former Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and current Man City star forward Jeremy Doku leading coach Rudi Garcia’s attack, Belgium tested a USA backline missing injured center back Chris Richards repeatedly, mostly to no avail. Central midfielders Tanner Tessmann and Johnny Cardoso covered when fullbacks Robinson and Tim Weah bombed forward, repeatedly frustrating the Red Devils. Tim Ream and Mark McKenzie held firm, while Turner made a series of acrobatic saves in his first start since losing the No. 1 job to Matt Freese last June.

The winning streak is over. A 5-2 loss is unsightly, at best. But based on the performance, the lopsided scoreline was probably both a little bit harsh on the home squad and a crucial reminder that there are no moral victories at the highest level. For the U.S., it’s better to learn that lesson now than in June.

2. ‘Jedi’ and Matt Turner among the silver linings

Turner played every minute of the USA’s four matches at the 2022 World Cup. Antonee “Jedi” Robinson was on the field for all but the final moments of the round of loss to the Netherlands in Qatar. But both veterans had been out of Pochettino’s lineup for most of the Argentine’s tenure — Robinson because of injury, Turner because of the emergence of Freese. But both returned to Poch’s 11 on Saturday. And while Jedi’s return — U.S. Soccer’s male player of the year in 2024 didn’t make a single appearance last year because of knee issues — was expected, Turner’s was the biggest surprise before the match against the Red Devils kicked off.

Jedi looked as good as ever, just as he has done with Fulham in the Premier League. And Turner justified Pochettino’s decision by making a series of fine stops during an overall confident display, even if his poor clearance led to a goal that was only ruled out because it inadvertently deflected in off forward Charles De Ketelaere’s arm. Turner’s best save of all might have been on the play that led to De Bruyne’s successful penalty, with Turner tipping the ball over his crossbar after it hit Ream’s hand and changed trajectory.

3. Pochettino went with his best available players

Richards wasn’t the only projected World Cup starter missing on Saturday. Tyler Adams, who captained the Americans at the last World Cup in Qatar, is injured. So is right back/winger Sergiño Dest. Yet Poch still got his best available players on the field, deploying Weah as an outside defender even with natural right back Joe Scally available. (Scally came on late in the second half.) At his core, Poch is a pragmatist. His lineup choices on Saturday confirmed as much — and provided a preview of what U.S. fans can expect in terms of personnel decisions when their World Cup campaign begins in earnest on June 12 versus Paraguay in Los Angeles. Who fills those spots is another matter. With just three more tuneup games to go before then, there are still plenty of lineup questions remaining.

4. Another big test awaits

Belgium is good. Very good. Reigning UEFA Nations League champions Portugal — FIFA’s sixth ranked side and the team that the USA will close out the March window in Tuesday’s match in Atlanta — is even better. That’s a scary thought. Yet it’s also an opportunity to right Saturday’s wrongs almost immediately and end this month on a decidedly brighter note.

The Texas Rangers scratched two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom from his scheduled start Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies because of neck stiffness.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said he expected deGrom to start Tuesday or Wednesday on the road against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Rangers gave left-hander Jacob Latz the start.

Latz failed to win a spot in the rotation out of spring training. He’s pitched mostly out of the bullpen in parts of four seasons with the Rangers.

deGrom’s final two years with the New York Mets were plagued by injury before he left in free agency after the 2022 season. He then had Tommy John surgery after only six starts in his Rangers debut in 2023, the season of their only World Series title. They won each of his starts that all came before the end of April that year.

The $185 million, five-year deal deGrom signed with Texas included a conditional sixth-year club option worth at least $20 million and up to $37 million for 2028 that has been triggered because of the time missed injured.

Reporting by The Associated Press.