In a tense sport between the Boston Crimson Sox and the Angels, shortstop Trevor Story endured a setback within the fourth inning, pressured to exit the sport as a consequence of an obvious damage to his left arm/shoulder.

The damage occurred as he tried to halt a strong hit by Mike Trout.

Regardless of managing to get his glove on Trout’s grounder, Story grimaced in ache upon hitting the turf arduous, displaying seen indicators of misery. His departure from the sport leaves a notable void in each the Crimson Sox’s defensive and offensive methods, elevating issues about his availability for future video games and its potential influence on the group’s efficiency all through the season.

Crimson Sox followers are eagerly awaiting updates on Story’s situation, looking forward to a swift restoration that might allow his return to the sphere, the place he has been an important contributor to the group’s success.

Reactions to the damage

Throughout the sport, third baseman Rafael Devers expressed solidarity with Story, visibly affected by his teammate’s damage. Devers’ empathetic gesture, putting his palms on his head, mirrored the priority felt all through the group as Story remained on the turf earlier than retiring to the dugout. Pablo Reyes stepped in to fill Story’s position at shortstop following his departure.

Earlier than his damage, Story had a subdued efficiency on the plate, going 0-for-2 in opposition to Los Angeles. Regardless of his decrease batting common this season, Story remained a major presence within the Crimson Sox lineup, sharing the group lead with 4 RBIs previous to the sport.

Whereas Trout’s hit leading to Story’s damage marked the Angels’ first in opposition to pitcher Kutter Crawford, the Crimson Sox maintained a robust place, main 4-0 after a collection of dwelling runs within the second inning.

Though Story’s damage poses a problem for the Crimson Sox, the group stays targeted on sustaining their lead and sustaining their efficiency. Followers are optimistic that Story’s absence is not going to considerably alter the sport’s final result and anticipate his immediate restoration to rejoin the group on the sphere.

Boston Crimson Sox shortstop Trevor Story departed Friday evening’s 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels (field rating) after struggling an obvious left shoulder harm on a diving play. Story incurred the harm in the course of the fourth inning, when he tried to corral a Mike Trout batted ball. He stayed down and acquired consideration from the coaching workers earlier than leaving the sector.

The Crimson Sox categorized the obvious harm as “left shoulder ache,” and supervisor Alex Cora instructed reporters submit recreation that the shortstop will bear an MRI on Saturday. The staff will know extra concerning the extent of the harm then, together with whether or not Story will have to be positioned on the IL. 

“Irritating, man,” Story instructed reporters after the sport. “Numerous feelings. We do not understand how extreme it’s simply but, however lots of frustration. … Fairly painful.”

Veteran utility infielder Pablo Reyes took over on the shortstop place for the rest of the sport. 

Story, 31, entered Friday evening hitting .241/.313/.345 (94 OPS+) with 4 runs batted in over the course of his first seven video games this season. Friday evening’s contest marked simply the 145th look for Story since he signed with the Crimson Sox previous to the 2022 marketing campaign. He missed vital time final season following surgical procedure to put in an inside brace in assist of his ulnar collateral ligament. He additionally missed a piece of time in 2022 with a hairline fracture in his wrist.

“You go on the market and he is in ache and all that, and also you begin fascinated with all the pieces he did within the offseason to get up to now,” Cora mentioned. “He is a man that very quietly has turn out to be the chief of this staff. He took possession of what we had been attempting to perform. 

“It isn’t going to cease, and hopefully nothing is occurring and he’ll be with us quickly. However you begin fascinated with that. That is the robust a part of this job.”

Previous to becoming a member of the Crimson Sox, Story had loved a productive profession as a member of the Colorado Rockies. Over components of six seasons he batted .272/.340/.523 (112 OPS+) with 158 residence runs and 100 stolen bases. His total profession contributions have been price an estimated 30.4 Wins Above Substitute and he is a two-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner.

If the Crimson Sox are with out Story for any size of time, it is unclear who they’d flip to on the shortstop place. Reyes represents the trail of least resistance, however the Crimson Sox might additionally deliver up infielder Romy Gonzalez from Triple-A Worcester. The very best shortstop prospect within the system, Marcelo Mayer, started his season on the Double-A degree on Friday. 

The Crimson Sox closed Friday evening with a 6-2 document, placing them in a tie with the New York Yankees for first place within the American League East.

Caitlin Clark takes to the school basketball court docket for the final time, because the Iowa Hawkeyes chases NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Championship title in opposition to Kamilla Cardoso and the South Carolina Gamecocks. The sport takes place at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio with tip-off at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.

In case you’re trying to rating last-minute tickets to the NCAA Nationwide Championship recreation, you’re in luck. Whereas costs for the ladies’s match have been hovering, there are a few methods to get a reduction on choose seats.

The place to Discover Iowa vs. South Carolina Tickets On-line

Tickets to the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks nationwide championship recreation are transferring shortly with excessive demand. The most affordable tickets we’re seeing begin at $409, as of this writing, on VividSeats.com. Use promo code VAR2024 to avoid wasting $20 off your buy. As well as, the ticket reseller runs a rewards program the place you should buy ten tickets and get your eleventh ticket free.

We additionally noticed NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Championship tickets on-line at SeatGeek, with seats beginning at $467, as of this writing. In search of a SeatGeek low cost code? Use promo code VARIETY10 to avoid wasting $10 off your buy within the SeatGeek app.

And you’ll attempt Stubhub.com, the place seats begin at $407, as of this writing. Stubhub is without doubt one of the hottest resale websites for Iowa vs. South Carolina tickets on-line, although they don’t have any energetic low cost codes (as of this writing).

Need extra choices? Tickets for the NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Championship are additionally obtainable at Ticket Liquidator, Ticket Community and GameTime with costs beginning at $365, as of this writing. Use low cost code TNTIX to avoid wasting you $10 off any ticketing buy of $200 or extra at TicketNetwork.com.

The way to Watch Ladies’s March Insanity Ultimate On-line: Livestream Iowa vs. South Carolina

Meantime, if you wish to watch the NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Championship on-line, the school basketball recreation is stay streaming on ABC with DirecTV Stream.

Get DirecTV Stream to look at a livestream of the Iowa Hawkeyes vs. South Carolina Gamecocks beginning at $84.98 for the primary three months of service ($94.98 monthly afterward) for subscribers. You may also use the streaming service to look at nationwide championship recreation at no cost, due to DirecTV Stream’s five-day free trial.

You may also get an Iowa-South Carolina stay feed on Fubo, which carries ABC. Actually, you will get a seven-day free trial to Fubo to stream NCAA Ladies’s Nationwide Championship recreation stay on ABC at no cost.

Primary cable subscribers can even watch Iowa vs. South Carolina on TV via your native ABC affiliate.

On the very first possession of final season’s Remaining 4 matchup between Iowa and South Carolina, the Hawkeyes arrange in a triangle-and-two to pack the paint towards the larger, extra athletic Gamecocks. They continued in that vein all evening lengthy, daring the Gamecocks to make open 3-pointers. 

At one level, Caitlin Clark merely gave Raven Johnson a dismissive wave from 10 ft away as a substitute of guarding her on the prime of the important thing. Johnson refused to shoot and the possession finally resulted in a turnover. The Gamecocks completed the sport 4-of-20 from behind the arc in a four-point loss. 

When the 2 groups meet once more within the nationwide championship recreation Sunday in Cleveland, you may anticipate extra of the identical from the Hawkeyes. 6-foot-2 Hannah Stuelke is the lone starter over six ft, and seldom-used Addison O’Grady (6-foot-4) is the one taller choice that sees any minutes. They merely do not have the dimensions to protect Kamilla Cardoso one-on-one and can subsequently must play in depth stretches of zone. 

The onus will once more be on the Gamecocks to make them pay, and Johnson and Co. have been making ready all yr for this state of affairs. 

“I believe final yr was one of the best factor that ever occurred to me,” Johnson mentioned throughout her press convention Saturday. “Lots of people most likely could not deal with what occurred to me. I believe it made me higher, it bought me within the fitness center to work on my weak point, which is 3-point capturing. I believe I am exhibiting that I can shoot the ball.” 

After capturing 24.1% from downtown final season, Johnson improved to 36.8% on this marketing campaign, and the Gamecocks adopted swimsuit. This is a take a look at their general per-game 3-point capturing splits over the previous two seasons. 

Whereas the Gamecocks nonetheless choose to function inside-out, they’re much extra ready to make you pay if you happen to depart them open this season. Nothing makes that extra clear than their splits on unguarded 3-point makes an attempt. After capturing 32.8% on such seems to be final season, they made 41.1% of them this time round. 

Inner enchancment from the likes of Johnson and Bree Corridor has helped, however the Gamecocks’ new recruits have made the most important affect. Switch Te-Hina Paopao leads the workforce at 46.2% on 5.1 makes an attempt per recreation, and freshman Tessa Johnson (42.7%) and MiLaysia Fulwiley (34.3%) have added much-needed capturing depth. Of the Gamecocks’ top-eight rotation gamers, 5 of them take a minimum of two 3s per recreation, and Fulwiley’s 34.3% mark is the worst of that group. 

We noticed an ideal instance of the Gamecocks’ enhanced offense Friday through the Remaining 4, when NC State switched to a zone late within the third quarter in a determined try to stem an enormous run. The Gamecocks promptly knocked down a couple of 3s to extend their lead and successfully finish the sport. 

Like all workforce, the Gamecocks can go chilly, as we noticed within the Elite Eight once they shot 4-of-20 from the surface towards Oregon State. Typically, although, they’ve dealt with the strain of the match nicely and are 34-of-79 (43.0%) from 3 within the different 4 video games. 

They will must preserve that up Sunday as a result of the zone protection will probably be coming from Iowa. The Hawkeyes have spent 38.3% of their defensive possessions in zone through the match, and that quantity might be even larger within the nationwide championship recreation. Whereas the Hawkeyes will certainly have extra respect for the Gamecocks’ shooters this time, they’re going to give up some 3s to assist on Cardoso and shield the paint. 

If the Gamecocks could make them pay, there is a good likelihood they will win the third nationwide title at school historical past and second in three years. If not, Clark and Co. can have an opportunity to tug off one other upset and elevate the trophy for the primary time. 

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider has a broken ulnar collateral ligament — the Tommy John surgical procedure ligament — and can endure additional analysis, the staff introduced Saturday. Strider reported that his elbow was bothering him throughout Friday night time’s 10-inning win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (ATL 6, ARI 5), according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

“It wasn’t good,” supervisor Brian Snitker mentioned about Strider’s MRI (via The Athletic).

Strider had Tommy John surgical procedure in February 2019, throughout his sophomore season at Clemson. The severity of the tear will decide whether or not Strider wants a second Tommy John surgical procedure, the much less invasive inner brace process, or can rehab the harm.

The 25-year-old Strider had an uncharacteristic outing Friday. For starters, his fastball confirmed diminished velocity. He averaged 95.9 mph, greater than a half tick decrease than his first begin (96.7) and nicely beneath his 97.2 mph common from 2023. Strider additionally had decreased effectiveness: he surrendered 5 runs on seven hits and three walks over the course of 4 innings pitched.

“I believed it was simply a kind of nights,” Braves supervisor Brian Snitker instructed reporters after the staff’s residence opener on Friday. “Then [Strider] got here in and was complaining about his elbow … He was uncomfortable with the way it was feeling.”

Strider, now in his third full big-league season, has established himself as one of many league’s prime beginning pitchers. He entered Friday with a profession 3.37 ERA (128 ERA+) and a 4.63 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He completed fourth in Nationwide League Cy Younger Award voting final season after compiling a 115 ERA+ and a 13.5 strikeouts per 9 fee over 186⅔ frames.

Even when he avoids surgical procedure, UCL harm means Strider is prone to miss an prolonged time frame. The Braves have a number of choices for filling his rotation spot. These embody younger right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver and 2023 All-Star Bryce Elder together with varied pitchers who’ve made MLB begins previously, together with Dylan Dodd, Allan Winans, and Huascar Ynoa.

The Braves trailed for many of Friday night time. They compelled further innings by scoring three mixed runs within the backside of the eighth and ninth innings. Atlanta then secured its fourth victory of the 12 months within the tenth inning, when a Travis d’Arnaud single introduced within the successful run.

The Braves will proceed their collection with the Diamondbacks on Saturday.

Roberto de Zerbi spoke to Sky Sports activities after Brighton’s first dwelling Premier League loss since August: “The hassle was good, adequate to resolve this recreation. We performed a great first half. Till the second purpose we had been within the recreation.

“This second with out a whole lot of necessary gamers, it’s powerful to create an opportunity to attain.

“We performed towards Arsenal and they’re prime of the desk. Particularly on this situation then we will lose towards Arsenal at dwelling. We’re sorry for ourselves and our followers.

“Possibly we is not going to shut the hole, I do not know. This hole to shut with Liverpool and Arsenal we’re not within the situation to shut this hole, particularly with all our injured gamers.

“I do not know what the membership needs to do (sooner or later). My drawback is on the pitch, to enhance my gamers and my workforce. The others issues should not my enterprise.”

At this time’s match marked the primary time below De Zerbi that Brighton have misplaced dwelling and away with out scoring towards an opponent within the Premier League in a single season.

BRIGHTON, England — If there may be credence to the concept Arsenal’s title probabilities may very well be determined by their away kind within the run-in to the top of the season, then the Gunners’ 3-0 win at Brighton on Saturday provides actual hope they won’t falter.

Each sport will likely be very important in what seems prefer it’ll be probably the most intently contested three-way Premier League title race in reminiscence, however Arsenal’s journey to the Amex Stadium is the second in a run of tough assessments on the highway that punctuate the ultimate few weeks like banana skins within the highway.

After displaying their defensive resilience to earn a draw at Manchester Metropolis final weekend, Arsenal once more confirmed their self-discipline at Brighton. Solely this time, the Gunners added efficiency of their assault paying homage to the beginning of 2024 after they have been emphatically beating opponents with ease. They’ve nonetheless not trailed for a single minute in a league sport this calendar yr.

• Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga & extra (U.S.)
• Learn on ESPN+: Why Arsenal are higher than they give the impression of being, and Man Utd worse

Arsenal did want a Thirty third-minute penalty from Bukayo Saka to edge a primary half. The Gunners created the higher probabilities by a long way, but nonetheless seemed in some jeopardy when Brighton aligned their clever press to extra incisive passing.

Nonetheless, Arsenal largely stored the house aspect at arm’s size, with their closest name coming when goalkeeper David Raya needed to make an outstanding save at full stretch to disclaim Julio Enciso shortly earlier than half-time. Within the second half, the Gunners took management with the type of authority often reserved for Manchester Metropolis or Liverpool given the stakes in play.

Kai Havertz continued his spectacular development of influencing video games in a decisive trend, slotting dwelling a second purpose on 62 minutes earlier than helping a late third as substitute Leandro Trossard surged clear on the counter assault earlier than lifting a intelligent end over Bart Verbruggen.

Successful right here doesn’t make subsequent away video games at Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United any simpler, in fact. However the conviction of their play in opposition to a Brighton workforce that hadn’t misplaced a league match since August serves as each a lift to their confidence and a benchmark to hit in these fixtures that stay.

This away win is very related to an Arsenal workforce that, in final season’s run-in, drew at Liverpool and West Ham earlier than dropping at Metropolis and Nottingham Forest.

Arteta was requested afterwards on Saturday whether or not a win like this can provide his gamers extra perception for these away days forward, and he clearly feels emboldened by their show.

“Sure, it does as a result of this can be a actually, actually powerful place to return,” he mentioned. “And to return right here and win within the method and the shape now we have accomplished. Hopefully sure and we will keep it up doing what we’re doing.

“On the finish it’s about performances. It’s important to earn the appropriate to win video games on this league. The groups, they ask you loads of questions and there are loads of issues it’s important to management in a Premier League match to win away from dwelling and the workforce appears to be controlling these moments a lot better.

“Now we have been snug in several phases of video games when the groups are demanding different stuff. That is an enormous step as workforce.”

Havertz received the 2021 Champions League with Chelsea — scoring the successful purpose within the remaining in opposition to Metropolis — however by no means totally satisfied at Stamford Bridge. Sources near the participant insist he suffered each with damage and likewise the calls for of differing types because the Blues switched managers from Thomas Tuchel to Graham Potter after which to Frank Lampard.

Arteta, nonetheless, has unlocked a consistency in Havertz’s play and within the centre-forward function he was typically derided for in a Chelsea shirt. It’s round two months because the 24-year-old started taking part in frequently by the center, and the returns have been extraordinarily worthwhile: 5 objectives and three assists now from his previous seven begins.

Havertz’s 9 league objectives is his finest return in an English season. He’s at risk of turning into the striker many demanded Arsenal register January.

“Lots of instances gamers determine the place they must play,” mentioned Arteta. “We will have sure concepts however then you definately see sure relationships and typically it flows.

“When it flows it’s important to let it go. I feel Kai in the meanwhile is flowing. He’s actually snug there and the workforce is admittedly snug with him there and the remainder of it’s occurring naturally.”

On the again, Arsenal proceed to look nearly impenetrable. Brighton managed 10 photographs however solely recorded an anticipated objectives determine of 0.53 with Danny Welbeck unable to unsettle the stoic centre-back partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes. Considerably, at present marked the primary time the Gunners have stored 5 consecutive clear sheets away from dwelling within the Premier League since April 1997.

Brighton’s Carlos Baleba did his finest to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm in midfield, however Declan Rice and Jorginho established a stage of management they by no means really seemed like relinquishing. In 11 league video games because the flip of the yr, Arsenal are unbeaten with 10 wins, scoring 38 objectives and conceding solely 4. They ended Saturday on the prime of the desk and bettering their purpose distinction even additional to carry a nine-goal benefit over Liverpool and 11 over Metropolis.

The assessments will proceed — and final season’s late droop when eight factors clear means there are nonetheless inquiries to reply — however Luton boss Rob Edwards mentioned after his workforce misplaced at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday that Arsenal “can play any type of sport — if it is a bodily sport, if it is a footballing sport, if it is a operating sport — no matter it’s, they have the reply.”

It’s troublesome to disagree on this proof, even when they’re nonetheless reliant on Liverpool dropping factors over the following few weeks to win their first title since 2004.

Shortly after full-time, a rainbow emerged over the stand the place Arsenal’s travelling assist have been housed. Time will inform if a pot of gold sits on the finish of it however the Gunners are at the moment having fun with these away days way more than many anticipated.

The participant that’s getting this shot now may be very totally different from the one who left North Carolina as a three-star recruit to play for the Redbirds of the Missouri Valley Convention. He took a second-year soar in manufacturing there to common 15.1 factors in 2020-21 whereas taking pictures 44.6% from the sector and 42.4% from 3-point vary, making him a pretty participant simply in time for NCAA laws clearing the way in which for gamers to switch with out having to sit down out at a brand new faculty.

That finally led Horne to Arizona State.

Horne averaged 12.5 factors whereas beginning 62 video games over two seasons for the Solar Devils, together with their return to March Insanity after lacking two straight NCAA fields. Horne additionally got here up huge in Arizona State’s lone match sport, crossing over defender Rondel Walker to create some house after which burying a straightaway 3-pointer to tie the sport with 15.6 seconds left and ending with a team-high 17 factors in a slender loss to TCU.

“DJ’s a fighter, he believes in himself,” Solar Devils coach Bobby Hurley mentioned. “Like a variety of small guards, he performs with a chip on a shoulder. When he will get going and begins making a pair photographs, man, you higher look out as a result of he’s a harmful man. I believe his confidence grows, his perception grows.”

Throughout the nation round that point, Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts was in search of backcourt assist as he retooled the roster after the lack of high-scoring duo Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith. Horne’s growth was completely timed. He turned the highest addition for the Wolfpack, who had reached the NCAAs final season.

“Coming in, (Keatts) mainly gave me the keys, man,” Horne mentioned.

Joel Justus, a Wolfpack assistant coach who works with the guards, mentioned Horne arrived with assured polish, strengthened by way of constructing profitable seasons on the mid-major after which the power-conference ranges to seem in 159 school video games.

Horne has risen to the problem, averaging a team-high 16.8 factors with a number of huge showings throughout N.C. State’s nine-game surge that led to an ACC Event title (the primary since 1987) and this unbelievable Last 4 journey. The spotlight was his 29 factors within the ACC title sport to take down eventual No. 1 NCAA regional seed North Carolina, then coming by way of with 39 factors and 6 3-pointers within the wins towards Marquette and Duke — the second of this March surge towards the Blue Devils — that superior the Eleventh-seeded Wolfpack out of the South bracket.

It’s a run that has harkened again to the Wolfpack’s miracle run 41 years earlier, incomes 2024 a spot in Wolfpack lore alongside 1983 and the 1974 squad that received the nationwide championship — a run that included beating UCLA within the Last 4 to finish John Wood’s run of seven straight championships.

Horne admitted he had allowed himself to dream a bit as he left Arizona State final 12 months about the potential of returning to the state to play within the Last 4. That’s precisely what he was doing yesterday because the Wolfpack took the courtroom for its open apply, breaking into huge smiles and bobbing his head together with music from the Wolfpack band through the festive occasion.

Like with all the things else, Horne will get to savor that wrinkle, too.

“I used to be already planning on coming again out right here to go to my guys and all the things,” Horne mentioned. “However expenses-paid journey and the Last 4, it doesn’t get any higher than that. Simply to see that it got here full circle and it’s proper right here in entrance of my face now, I’m able to make the most of it.”