You may have noticed that more and more tour pros are wielding broomstick putters these days. But this equipment trend isn’t just helping golf’s elite players sink clutch putts. These super long putters can also help players like you develop a smooth, reliable stroke.
According to GOLF Top 100 Alumni Scott Munroe, the broomstick putter is more than just a reliable gamer — it’s also an effective training aid. The reason it’s such a powerful tool, Munroe says, is that it eliminates the hands from the stroke.
“What it does is it gets you rocking your shoulders, taking your hands out [of the movement],” Munroe said. “It’s a great way to calibrate your distances and get used to seeing the ball rolling perfectly.”
The key is the extended shaft. Because broomstick putters have a higher rotation point on the body, they naturally encourage you to move the putter with your larger muscles — rather than the small, twitchy muscles in your hands and wrists. This results in a more pendulum-like stroke that’s consistent and far less susceptible to nerves.
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Tuck your elbows to mimic that broomstick feel
Don’t have access to a broomstick putter? Don’t worry. Munroe says there’s an easy way to recreate the feel and effect of a broomstick putter:
Step 1. Set your hands: Place your hands on the club with your fingers underneath the grip.
Step 2. Create a pentagon: Raise the putter out in front of you. This should cause your arms to form a pentagon.
Step 3. Tuck your elbows: Pull your elbows in so they are touching your torso.
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Now, place the putter back down on the ground and get set up like you’re going to hit a putt. Starting with rehearsal swings, begin moving the club back and through, focusing on using your larger muscles.
“What you’re doing is recreating the long putter,” he said. “From this position, all you do is rock your shoulders. That’s going to help you putt really well.”
Once you feel comfortable with this pendulum-like motion, you can start incorporating a ball into your practice. Pay attention to how the ball rolls as you use Munroe’s drill. If you’re doing it right and using those bigger muscles, the ball should roll end-over-end every time.
Even if you’ve never considered adding one to your bag, practicing with a broomstick putter — or mimicking it with Munroe’s elbow drill — could be the key to unlocking better mechanics and getting your putts rolling true, especially under pressure.
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Short Game Gains Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror
It’s here and it’s perfect!
The Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror is our newest addition to the SGG family. We heard your feedback on the mirrors of the golf world, kept the good, improved the bad, and this mirror was born. Made of high strength stainless steel, this mirror won’t bend or warp just from being used the way some plastic mirrors do. That means your mirror will last longer and gives you picture perfect clarity (no weird distortion!) when you look down at the ball. It has an included ruler for measuring stance and setup, and the ruler doubles as a shoulder alignment mirror when you flip it over. Genius! It’s double sided for even longer use, so you’re getting TWO mirrors for the price of one- plus it comes with adhesive silicone protection strips to keep your putter from scratching the surface without affecting the roll of the ball. With slots in key points to make your own tee gates, you can work on setup, path, eye line, start line, and more at one single station. Indoor Practice? No problem. Use the included marbles for start line work in the off-season. Your golf practice just got way more effective!
A few SGG putting mirror features:
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eye line alignment
shoulder alignment
swing path
distance from ball
width of stance
ball position
center contact
starting the ball online
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows spent the night in a hospital following a frightening collision with teammate Riley Greene on Thursday.
Meadows was left bloodied in the outfield and had to be helped off the field in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins after appearing to hit his head during the collision with Greene.
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows collided with left fielder Riley Greene on a fly ball hit by Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on April 9, 2026. Meadows left the game after the collision.(Bruce Kluckhohn/Imagn Images)
“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game. “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”
The two collided when Twins first baseman Josh Bell, who already had one home run and two singles, hit a shallow fly to left-center field. Greene and Meadows collided hard enough that their caps flew off.
Greene made the catch as Meadows lay on the ground. The broadcast caught blood coming from Meadows’ mouth.
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows is helped off the field after colliding with left fielder Riley Greene during the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis on April 9, 2026.(Matt Krohn/AP)
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch joined medical personnel on the field as Meadows eventually got up and was taken off the field on a cart. MLB.com reported that he would be held for observation overnight.
“We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said, confirming that Meadows did suffer a concussion.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Parker Meadows bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 1, 2026.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. He went 0 for 3 in the 3-1 loss on Thursday and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.
Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby (8) defends Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics will have another chance to secure the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night.
Boston (54-26) could have clinched second place by beating New York on Thursday night, but the Knicks scored nine of the final 11 points to earn a 112-106 victory.
The Celtics and Knicks each have two games to play, and any Boston victory or New York loss will give Boston the No. 2 seed. The Knicks will host Toronto on Friday night.
“Obviously we have to take care of the first round first, and I don’t think we can play them (the Knicks) in the first round, so that’s where our focus is,” Boston guard Payton Pritchard said. “If we see them again, we’ll be ready.”
Baylor Scheierman’s performance was a bright spot for Boston in the loss to New York. On a night when the Celtics didn’t have leading scorer Jaylen Brown (left Achilles tendinitis), Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point attempts and tied his career high by scoring 20 points.
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“Obviously, shot-making is the easiest thing to see and helps us on the scoreboard, but he just does a lot for us,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “Whether it’s his crashing or his defense, but his instincts on both ends. … He just continues to get better and better, and that’s what we need, hitting that stretch there.”
Thursday’s game was the first time Jayson Tatum played at New York since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in a road game against New York during the playoffs last season. Tatum collected 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists in Thursday’s loss.
“It was a big moment, a big hurdle for me,” he said. “I was nervous and anxious to come back here.”
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New Orleans (26-54), meanwhile, is coming off Tuesday’s 156-137 feel-good win against Utah. The Pelicans set a franchise record for points scored in a game with the win, which ended an eight-game losing streak.
Jeremiah Fears scored 40 points against Utah to set a Pelicans record for most points in a game by a rookie. Fears, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, made 17 of 29 shots from the field.
“Really just proud of his growth,” New Orleans coach James Borrego said. “From training camp to where he’s at today — he’s taken a massive step. This franchise is in a really good place because of players like him. … I see a clear pathway for this team to be successful moving into the future.”
New Orleans won even though it played without starters Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones and Saddiq Bey.
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Murphy (right ankle sprain) and Murray (left hand contusion) were injured. Williamson, Jones and Bey were active but didn’t leave the bench in the team’s final home game.
The Pelicans have ruled out Williamson, Jones and Bey for Friday’s game.
New Orleans, which will miss the playoffs for the second straight season, will wrap up the regular season Sunday at Minnesota.
“We have two more games to play,” Borrego said. “I want to honor those two games. Go play the best basketball possible for those two games.”
Rain has returned to Guwahati right after the toss! The covers are being rushed back on, and the match will not start at 8:15 PM as scheduled. In the meantime, let’s take a look at the Playing XIs and Impact subs!
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting-first XI: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (capt), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Abhinandan Singh
Manchester United face a managerial decision at the end of the Premier League season, with Michael Carrick considered a strong contender to take the job permanently
David De Gea has praised his former Manchester United teammate and interim head coach Michael Carrick for the ‘unbelievable’ job he is doing at Old Trafford. United have lost only one game since Carrick took over in January and are on course to qualify for European football, sitting third in the table.
The Spanish goalkeeper returned to England on Thursday night as Fiorentina faced Crystal Palace in the Conference League quarter‑final at Selhurst Park. The Italian side have a mountain to climb in the return leg in Florence after a 3-0 defeat.
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Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, De Gea, who played alongside Carrick between 2011 and 2017, was asked about the 44‑year‑old’s return to United.
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“He’s doing unbelievable,” the shot-stopper began. He’s a great guy, he knows how the players feel, so it’s easy to talk with him.
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“He’s doing an amazing job, United is winning a lot of games now, playing well.
“Hopefully we can get the Champions League spot and keep growing, growing, and let’s see United again in the high positions and fighting for trophies.”
Carrick is a strong contender for the permanent manager’s job at M16, with winger Amad backing the former midfielder as the ‘right man’ for the role and hinting at similar feelings within the squad.
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“Obviously it’s not for us as a player to decide his future, but he’s been very good, he’s been doing so much for the team,” Amad said.
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“He has a lot of experience, he knows the club and has the DNA. We think he’s the right man.
“He knows the club, he played for the club, so he has great experience to manage this club. Sometimes this kind of manager can bring a club where they belong.”
United return to Premier League action on Monday after the March international break. Carrick’s side host Leeds United at Old Trafford, with kick-off at 8pm.
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Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.
The racehorse Gold Dancer has been put down after suffering a fatal injury while winning the Mildmay Novices’ Chase on Ladies Day at Aintree.
Gold Dancer had managed to stay on its feet following an awkward landing on the final fence, with the 100-30 joint-favourite under Paul Townend crossing the line ahead of Regent’s Stroll by four and three-quarter lengths.
It was immediately clear, however, that Gold Dancer had suffered a serious injury when the horse made a mistake going over the final fence.
Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins walk from the course (Getty Images)
The seven-year-old, trained by Willie Mullins, received on-course treatment by the Aintree veterinary team after crossing the line. But it was then confirmed that Gold Dancer had been put down.
“Unfortunately he broke his back and they put him down,” said Eddie O’Leary of Gigginstowns, the horse’s stud.
“Paul said he made one mistake and he felt nothing and he kept going to the line no problem. It was just when he pulled up, unfortunately.
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“It was an unbelievable performance, he jumped brilliantly bar one little mistake. It’s a hollow victory now, the poor horse didn’t deserve that.”
A statement from Aintree Racecourse said: “The winner of our second race of the day, Gold Dancer, was pulled up after the line and dismounted.
Gold Dancer after crossing the final hurdle (Action Images via Reuters)
“He was immediately attended to by our expert veterinary team but sadly he could not be saved. Our heartfelt condolences are with his connections.”
Last year, Celebre d’Allen died a few days after racing in the Grand National at Aintree, with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ruling that the 13-year-old was ridden “when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground” after the penultimate fence.
Tyson Fury returns to the ring on Saturday and he is planning to honour boxing legend Ricky Hatton.
Former world heavyweight champion Fury retired from the sport after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, but now stages a comeback after 16 months away when he goes up against Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
It will be the first time that ‘The Gypsy King’ has been back in action since the tragic passing of sporting icon Hatton in September, with the close friends having worked together in the past, including Fury’s clash against Deontay Wilder in December 2018.
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Hatton is arguably the most popular British boxer of all time, taking legions of supporters across the world as he became a two-weight world champion and competed against the likes of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Fury was in attendance at Hatton’s funeral in October, as thousands of those fans packed the streets to pay tribute to ‘The Hitman’ for everything he has done, and Fury has a tribute of his own planned for tomorrow night.
The heavyweight star is set to wear boots that feature Hatton’s logo, along with the sky blue colouring of Manchester City, the beloved football team of Hatton.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Tyson Fury will wear custom boots honoring the late Ricky Hatton in his fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in Tottenham.
Fury shared a close friendship with Hatton before his death and the boots feature Hatton’s logo, with blue accents promoting mental health… pic.twitter.com/rLAfwjD4lV
Fury’s clash against Makhmudov headlines a card that also features Conor Benn taking on Regis Prograis in the co-main event, along with Jeamie TKV facing Richard Riakporhe, and Frazer Clarke going up against Justis Huni, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.
Germany beat Switzerland and Ghana in their March friendlies and it’s now less than two months until their World Cup squad will be announced. Who will be in the final 26-man selection? The core group of players is clear, but who made the most of the last international break before World Cup preparation begins and who did not?
Winners
Kai Havertz — With nearly 60 caps, Havertz is a key part of this team. Having been out with injury for a long time, his starting place was no longer secure but a return to fitness and form is timely. His combination play in Switzerland was impressive, and his roar after confidently dispatching a penalty against Ghana was the sign of a player beginning to hit his stride again. If there were any doubts about his role in the starting eleven, Havertz dispelled them swiftly in these two games.
Florian Wirtz — Another player who is guaranteed a ticket to the United States this summer but who still excelled. His two goals and two assists in Basel speak for themselves. It was an exceptional display and in Stuttgart he helped set the tone, often brave with his choices on the ball. It felt significant that the 22-year-old delivered this display in the absence of Jamal Musiala, the player who he combined so well with at Euro 2024. It’s clear that even on his own, Wirtz can be the man for Germany when they need a spark.
Lennart Karl — The 18-year-old looked steady off the bench in Basel, but in Stuttgart he exploded into life. Bayern Munich’s newest jewel gave German coach Julian Nagelsmann a lot of good reasons to have him in the squad this summer. The agile playmaker worked hard to win the ball back and ran at the Ghana defense at every opportunity. His desire to take on players is exciting to watch and an all-too rare a sight for Germany these days. He should have capped his performance off with a goal, but he sent the ball wide. Nevertheless, Karl looks destined to be on the plane now.
Nathaniel Brown — Perhaps it is too generous to say a player who only played 60 minutes against a largely defensive Ghana side was a winner during this international break, but such is the concern around the left-back spot for Germany that it might just be enough. The Frankfurt defender looked more than competent when called upon. A spot in the squad looks almost certain for the 22-year-old now, and given David Raum has not exactly made the spot his own, there is a possibility that even more gametime awaits Brown.
Losers
Angelo Stiller — He might be Stuttgart’s midfield conductor and darts prodigy Luke Littler’s favorite German player, but Stiller did not make the most of an unexpected chance. Called up after injuries to others, Stiller started both games but looked a little uncertain with the ball at times. He was also slow to close down Switzerland for their opener in Basel, a point that did not go unnoticed by Julian Nagelsmann. Pascal Gross’s decent showing in Stuttgart means it looks like this World Cup might come too soon for Stiller.
Julian Nagelsmann knows the core of his squad but has some big decisions to makeImage: Tom Weller/dpa/picture alliance
Nico Schlotterbeck — Despite starting both games and clearly being one half of the favored central defensive pairing with Jonathan Tah, the Dortmund defender struggled. He was sloppy in Switzerland, twice making mistakes in the build-up play that proved costly. In Stuttgart he was a bit more stable, but still looked a little out of sorts at times. He will travel and will likely start, but this might have given Nagelsmann food for thought over the recent decision to make Antonio Rüdiger a back-up.
Nick Woltemade The plan was for the Newcastle striker to gain some confidence this break after enduring a tricky spell in England. Nagelsmann even spoke about how it made more sense to play a striker needing a boost rather than one in form (Deniz Undav). Sadly, the 24-year-old wasn’t able to make the most of it. In Switzerland, he did little with his 20 minutes off the bench other than head his one chance wide. In Stuttgart, he played almost 80 minutes but still couldn’t get on the scoresheet, missing a glorious chance in the first half and then hitting the bar in the second. He will almost certainly be in squad come May, but until then he needs to rediscover his form.
Oct 29, 2000; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) runs a route during game action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, showcasing his precise route-running and reliable hands in a matchup that highlighted his Hall of Fame-caliber consistency. Mandatory Credit: Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports
About three months ago, the Houston Texans walloped the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Wildcard Round of the postseason, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t made a decision about returning to Pittsburgh or retiring. According to former Minnesota Vikings wideout and Hall of Famer Cris Carter, that’s selfish and weird.
Rodgers’ drawn-out timeline keeps pulling fresh reactions from former NFL voices.
Carter teed off on Rodgers this week, speaking to the Fully Loaded podcast.
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Carter Zeroes In on the Odd Rhythm of Rodgers’ Offseason
Will Rodgers eventually return to the Steelers? If so, when?
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers runs onto the field during pregame introductions at Acrisure Stadium, with Nov 16, 2025 capturing the atmosphere as fans filled the stands ahead of a divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, highlighting the anticipation and energy surrounding the veteran quarterback before kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Carter on Rodgers
Carter discussed an array of topics on the show, even opining on CTE, a condition deemed “fake” by New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo.
On Rodgers, Carter opined, “You know he wants to play, but he just didn’t want to make up his mind. You need some time away from the game. It’s been a couple months from the Super Bowl. Now’s that time, before the draft, the minicamps. They’re an average team in the league. Aaron Rodgers is like a lot of these quarterbacks when they get to this stage.”
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“They’re so … so selfish. They never want to be called that, but they’re so selfish, and they’re so self-centered. Aaron Rodgers wants to play. He’s got one place that he can play. That’s in Pittsburgh, the place he played in last year, that happens to have his ex-coach.”
One might argue that sums up the general public’s sentiment regarding Rodgers’s bizarre waiting game.
This Is How It Always Goes for Rodgers
Since the 2021 offseason, Rodgers has done this annually, teasing his employer about his intentions, whether to stick around, retire, or ask for a ticket out of town. This go-round, Rodgers is holding the Steelers hostage, waiting at least three months before making his decision.
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He’s the only quarterback who currently does this. Before Rodgers, Hall of Famer Brett Favre did the same thing, creating a suspense thriller about his offseason outcome, dating back to the early 2000s in Green Bay and proceeding for about a decade — every offseason.
All other quarterbacks throughout NFL history either return or retire, but Rodgers and Favre prefer drama to the max. In fact, last summer, Rodgers declared that 2025 would probably be his last. The season came and went, and after this team stunk up the playoffs, he claimed it was way too early to make an emotional decision.
He must be feeling emotional three months later because nothing has happened on the Rodgers cliffhanger front.
The Current Rumor Mill
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Most believe that because Rodgers has not retired, he’ll return for one more run in Pittsburgh, mainly because he would’ve retired by now.
The Athletic’s Mike Silver said about the situation this week: “I think time has kind of made them feel like ‘hey, that was a pretty good thing. We’ve been through a lot.’ And so Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers have been talking about this.”
“I think the Steelers organizationally are reasonably upbeat about the possibility of Aaron coming back and playing another season. They still don’t really have a great option for 2026 if Aaron says no or if he says, ‘You know what, I need a few more months.’ Cautious optimism in the building that Aaron Rodgers will come back.”
Betting markets suggest there’s about an 85% chance that Rodgers will return for Year No. 22.
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Pro Football Hall of Famer Cris Carter speaks during the Winged Foot Scholarship Foundation’s 34th annual banquet, with May 15, 2023 in Naples, Florida marking the event at Naples Grande Beach Resort as attendees gathered to hear from the former Vikings star and keynote speaker. Mandatory Credit: Ed Reed-Naples Daily News / USA TODAY NETWORK
Steeler writer Tyler Maher added this week, “It’s April, and the NFL Draft is only two weeks away, but the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have a starting quarterback for next season. It sounds like they’re expecting it to be Aaron Rodgers, who is still debating whether he wants to return, retire or play elsewhere after spending 2025 with the Steelers.”
“That said, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a good backup plan in place if Rodgers doesn’t return, as Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are the only quarterbacks on the Steelers’ roster at the moment. The Steelers have done a good job improving their roster this offseason, so time will tell.”
Rodgers’ Performance in 2025
In 2025, Rodgers passed for 3,322 yards with the Steelers, despite their conservative, run-heavy offensive scheme. He completed 65.7% of his passes, throwing 24 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions.
However, while his traditional statistics appeared strong, his efficiency metrics suggested a different story. Rodgers ranked around 19th in the league in EPA+CPOE, putting him in a similar tier to players like Jacoby Brissett and rookie Tyler Shough.
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Sep 28, 2025; Dublin, Ireland, IRL; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) gestures after converting a first down during second-half action against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park, reacting to the moment as part of an NFL International Series game played overseas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The 2025 version of Rodgers was reliable, but he lacked the game-changing talent that defined his MVP seasons of 2020 and 2021.
Normally, one would surmise something to the effect of “Rodgers will likely notify the team of his plan before the draft on April 23rd,” but this is Rodgers, so all bets are off.
Apr 9, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off grand slam home run against Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Valente Bellozo (not pictured) in the twelfth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
Xander Bogaerts belted a grand slam in the bottom of the 12th inning Thursday night as the San Diego Padres rallied past the visiting Colorado Rockies 7-3.
Fernando Tatis Jr. started the inning with a sacrifice bunt that moved automatic runner Jake Cronenworth to third. After Valente Bellozo (0-1) intentionally walked Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado to fill the bases, Bogaerts lined a 1-0 pitch into the seats in left for his second homer of the year.
David Morgan (1-0) pitched 1 2/3 hitless innings of relief to earn the win. Colorado got the go-ahead run to third in the top of the 12th, but Willi Castro was cut down at the plate on Brenton Doyle’s bouncer to Cronenworth at second.
Each team scored a run in both the 10th and 11th innings.
Twins 3, Tigers 1
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Brooks Lee pulled an eighth-inning, two-run single through the right side of the infield, and Minnesota held on for a win over Detroit.
Josh Bell went 3-for-4 and hit a solo home run for the Twins to complete a four-game sweep over the Tigers. Garrett Acton (1-0) earned his first career win after allowing one run in two innings of relief. He followed starter Mick Abel, who pitched six scoreless innings. Eric Orze pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season.
Gleyber Torres drove in the lone run for Detroit, which has dropped five straight games. Will Vest (0-2) gave up two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Athletics 1, Yankees 0
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Jeffrey Springs allowed one hit in seven outstanding innings to lead the visiting Athletics past New York.
Springs (2-0) took a no-hit bid into the seventh, surrendering just two walks while striking out six. Max Muncy tripled and scored off a Tyler Soderstrom single to help the Athletics record their first series win over the Yankees since April 2016.
Ben Rice broke up Springs’ no-hit bid with a single for New York’s only hit of the day. Ryan Weathers (0-1) was the tough-luck loser despite surrendering just one run on seven hits in a season-high seven innings. The Yankees haven’t scored since taking a two-run lead on Luis Severino in the first inning of Wednesday’s 3-2 loss.
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White Sox 2, Royals 0
Anthony Kay struck out six to match a career high over 5 2/3 innings, and Colson Montgomery roped an RBI double as Chicago snapped its 14-game road losing streak to Kansas City.
Luisangel Acuna added a sacrifice fly for Chicago, which won for just the third time in the last 25 games at Kauffman Stadium, where its previous victory came on Sept. 6, 2003. Kay (1-0) was making just his ninth career start but third this season for the White Sox. He yielded three hits on a career-high 100 pitches.
Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (1-1) was charged with both runs while also giving up four hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings. Maikel Garcia and Bobby Witt Jr. each had two hits, but they struck out for the final two outs, respectively, for the Royals, who stranded 11 runners and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
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Diamondbacks 7, Mets 1
Jorge Barrosa’s RBI triple capped a four-run seventh inning for Arizona, which went on to rout host New York in the decisive game of a three-game series.
The Diamondbacks are 7-3 since being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in a season-opening three-game series. Arizona pinch hitter Gabriel Moreno tied the game with a run-scoring double in the seventh before Alek Thomas collected the go-ahead RBI on a fielder’s choice. Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed one run on five hits over six innings.
Luis Robert Jr. homered in the first inning for the Mets, whose consecutive losses to the Diamondbacks followed a four-game winning streak in which they outscored the opposition 28-8. Mets starter Nolan McLean (1-1) permitted two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings.
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Marlins 8, Reds 1
Owen Caissie and Javier Sanoja combined for six hits and five RBIs to lead host Miami to a defeat of Cincinnati, earning a split of the four-game set.
In a battle of former first-round picks, Miami’s Max Meyer (1-0) allowed four hits, three walks and one run in five innings, striking out four.
Reds starter Rhett Lowder (1-1) entered the game with the best eight-game ERA (1.30) in Reds history with a minimum of 30 innings. He had never allowed more than three runs in a game. On Thursday, he allowed eight hits and five runs (four earned) in 5 1/3 innings. Caissie (3-for-4, three RBIs) and Sanoja (3-for-4, two RBIs) led Miami’s offense. Agustin Ramirez went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Man Utd defender Harry Maguire signed a new contract this week to extend his stay at Old Trafford by at least another season.
Earlier this week, Harry Maguire shared an image signing his new contract, along with his two daughters, who wore Manchester United shirts with ‘Daddy’ on the back.
The caption alongside the picture read: “My club.” Maguire has spent more time at United than any other club, but you would have got long odds on his association potentially lasting as many as nine years when he was in the doldrums in 2023.
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Maguire signed a one-year deal, with the option of another 12 months, meaning he could stay in Manchester until 2028. The defender was born in Sheffield, but it’s across the Pennines where he now calls home.
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Maguire’s time at United looked set to end in the summer of 2023. He suffered a huge loss of form in 2021/22 and made eight league starts in the following campaign under Erik ten Hag, who stripped him of the captaincy.
West Ham were interested in signing him and, in another world, Maguire moved to the London Stadium. He stayed, fought for his place and enjoyed a renaissance instead. Who doesn’t love a comeback story?
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Maguire has become a fan favourite and there’s no doubt that the peaks and troughs have helped to endear him to supporters. He was mocked, once being booed by England ‘fans’ on international duty, and he showed extraordinary mental resilience to come through that period.
“Sometimes it did cross my mind at the time just thinking, ‘Why? I don’t know why it has done this. I don’t know where it’s come from’,” he said of dealing with the abuse during a chat with journalists last week.
“My form dipped a little bit, yeah, of course, everyone does that in their career. But I was in a situation where I was just a lad from Sheffield playing for such a huge club. I thought this is what happens – this is the fault of the club not performing well.
“But when you look back it probably did go a little bit too far. At the time, I can remember thinking I just don’t know how this has really happened. I don’t know how it’s changed so quickly.”
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Maguire’s mentality is the reason his situation has changed quickly. Not many players would be able to survive at United having reached such a low point, but the England international got his head down and worked hard.
The result is that he remains hugely important at United. The Reds needed to retain Maguire’s experience and quality, so it was a no-brainer to tie him down to a new deal on reduced terms.
There have been ringing endorsements since his contract was announced. “Harry has been here very long. I always say this in a way that is easy to understand. People like fresh meat, when you have the same meat for too long, you want a new one, and football is like that,” Bruno Fernandes told Men in Blazers.
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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
“You have the same players and people want to change them, but when you change them and it doesn’t work out, you want those players back. People want new names, they want excitement and different people with the shirt, and that’s normal. H has coped very well with that.
“He’s been very important in many moments for us, and he deserves this recognition from the club because he’s very important for the team and the dressing room. Losing someone of his experience and his voice for a season when things will change, you still need some pillars at the club.”
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Michael Carrick told Sky Sports: “We’re delighted that Harry’s agreed, and it’s been done, and I think stability and consistency [are] important. He’s been through everything at this club. He knows what it’s all about.
“The way he handles himself, his character and he’s been terrific since I’ve [come] back and credit to him for that, really. I think the experience is important. We got a really good mix within the squad of some really talented and high-end ability-wise, younger players.”
Carrick added: “We have a good number of players in what we kind of class as the peak years. And Harry’s obviously at that stage where he is getting a little bit further down the line in terms of career.
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“But it doesn’t diminish the importance of what he can be and the example and the understanding [he has]. And a little bit of just knowing what it feels like to be here and so to have him around for longer is fantastic.”
Jason Wilcox said: “Harry represents the mentality and resilience required to perform for United. He is the ultimate professional who brings invaluable experience and leadership to our young, ambitious squad. Harry is completely determined to help United to achieve regular and sustained success.”
Maguire has the backing of all the important figures at United.
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