Welcome to Play Smart, a regular GOLF.com game-improvement column that will help you become a smarter, better golfer.
The easiest ways to shoot lower scores for most recreational golfers come from fixing fundamentals — and the simple ones at that. That means dialing in your grip, ball position, aim, posture, etc. It may not be fun to work on these things, but getting them in a consistent place will do wonders for your game.
Aim may be the most consequential of these fundamentals once you get to the course. If you aren’t aimed where you think you are, you’re putting yourself in a poor position before you even swing the club.
If you’re anything like me, you’ve hit a terrible shot on the course only to discover you were aimed directly where you hit it. Sometimes, our brain will play tricks on us and make you feel like you’re aimed one way, when in reality you are aligned in a totally different spot.
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If that sounds like you, watch the video below. It’ll teach you an easy trick for alignment so you never have to worry about where you’re aimed again.
Try this aim trick
There are only two areas where you get to place your ball before you hit a shot (assuming you’re playing it down): the green and the tee box. When you’re on the green, you always line up your ball when you place it down, so why not do the same thing on the tee box?
When I go to tee up my ball, I always point the logo or my sharpie line down my target line. It doesn’t have to be super precise, but by having that line pointed down my target line, I can take my stance with confidence knowing I’m aimed properly.
If you want to get your ball lined up even more precisely, try choosing an intermediate target in between your ball and the distant target. I like finding a discoloration in the grass or divot and then using that as my intermediate target. With that spot picked out, I line my ball up pointing right at it.
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When you are having trouble with your aim, sometimes you’ll put the ball down aimed correctly only to find that when you step up to the ball it feels all wrong. That’s ok! So long as you orient the ball correctly when you place it, you can swing away knowing you’re aimed at your target.
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Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray won Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 and secured his second career win. The O’Reilly Series driver did so by holding off Haas Factory Team driver Sheldon Creed. Later, during a post-race interview, Gray expressed his views on the same.
The JGR driver qualified among the top ten drivers on the grid and began the 200-lap race from P10. Meanwhile, Creed was faster than him in the qualifying session and secured a P4 start. Gray made steady progress in stages one and two, securing sixth-place and seventh-place finishes, respectively.
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Following that, Taylor Gray secured the lead with a strategic move by his crew chief, Jason Ratcliff. The crew chief called Gray in the pits ahead of the dominant drivers Creed and Brandon Jones, giving him an advantage over his competitors with a set of fresh tires. As a result, the JGR driver took home his second career victory and told the media in the victory lane:
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“First of all, thank you to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Gray in Victory Lane. “How about (crew chief) Jason Ratcliffe? That pit call was awesome. I knew we had a car capable of winning. I thought the No. 20 (Jones) was a little better than us before the green-flag cycle, but you just have to stay locked in.”
“Jason made a really good adjustment on the car, a really good pit call, and got us the clean air. I can’t thank everybody enough. It’s been a long start to the year, man. Not that we’re not bringing speed to the race track, but things just haven’t gone our way. So it’s nice to finally be able to close one out,” he added.
Taylor Gray crossed the finish line with a small margin of 0.718 seconds ahead of Sheldon Creed. Meanwhile, JRM driver Justin Allgaier secured third place, followed by Jesse Love in fourth place and Brent Crews in fifth place.
“Originally, I was supposed to be the 19”: When Taylor Gray opened up about his future with Joe Gibbs Racing in stock car racing
In October 2024, stock car racing driver Taylor Gray revealed that he was initially set to drive the #19 Toyota in his sophomore season with Joe Gibbs Racing. However, the NASCAR team announced that it would bring back the #54 Toyota for the last season and named Gray as the full-time driver.
The stock car racing team was impressed by the 21-year-old driver’s performance in the 2024 season. Following that, the team offered Gray a full-time contract for the 2025 season in the O’Reilly Series. Later, the JGR driver told the media:
“We were kind of talking about next year a little bit. And he was asking me about number stuff and what number I was supposed to be. And originally, I was supposed to be the 19. Like that was what I was going to do with the 19. And he looks at me and goes, “No,” he said, “you’re going to run the 54.” And so they, they drug the 54 kind of out of retirement. I like to say. And yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Taylor Gray is currently ninth in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 294 points to his credit. He moved up three spots after the Kansas Speedway win. Additionally, he has secured one top-five and four top-ten finishes in ten starts so far.
KOLKATA : Vaibhav Sooryavanshi isn’t a normal 15-year-old kid. He is quite different and the Rajasthan Royals sensation has the cricket world watching him with great excitement. However, Kumar Sangakkara, the Royals head coach, wants this batting prodigy to be just like any other 15-year-old.“I just want him to be this 15-year-old kid that goes out and bats the way he wants,” Sangakkara said here on Saturday. “He has got to enjoy everything, whether it’s 100 off 35 balls, a 50 off 15 or a first-ball duck.”
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Bombay Sport Exchange: Munaf Patel on Gautam Gambhir, Virat vs Bumrah & Indian bowling.
Sooryavanshi had his first taste of failure this season in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, when he got out on the first ball he faced. The boy grimaced, perhaps a little angry at himself. “You’re allowed to score runs, you’re allowed to fail. It’s part and parcel of cricket,” was Sangakkara’s message to the youngster. “He must never lose the freedom he plays with.”
Oct 18, 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) warms up before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
The time has come. Every April, just before the draft, we ask our staff to predict the Minnesota Vikings’ first draft pick, whether the franchise stays at its organic spot of No. 18 or trades up or down. These are our writers’ official predictions.
Twelve predictions. One pick. Draft night is almost here.
The prognostications are scattered in 2026, probably because Minnesota has an interim general manager, Rob Brzezinski, and he doesn’t have a track record.
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The Prospects Dominating Minnesota’s Draft Outlook and Our Pick
Showtime is in five days.
San Diego State Aztecs cornerback Chris Johnson (1) celebrates after a play against Washington State during the first half, Sep 6, 2025, at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, showing visible energy and emotion as he reacts near teammates following a defensive stop in a tightly contested early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
1. Chris Johnson | CB, San Diego State
Predictor: Janik Eckardt
After botching recent drafts, the Vikings are in desperate need of hitting on several selections. To increase the odds, the front office adds even more picks in a trade-down. Johnson has an intriguing athletic profile and could be the young corner the Vikings have been looking for.
2. Caleb Banks | DT, Florida
Predictor: Josh Frey
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The Vikings need to recover at the defensive tackle position next season. Jalen Redmond blossomed into a very capable player in the middle of the defensive line, but Minnesota needs another player to line up alongside him. Caleb Banks is massive and strong, with an explosive first step that could make him a great pass rusher in the NFL.
3. Jermod McCoy | CB, Tennessee
Predictor: Kyle Joudry
The Vikings scoop up Jermod McCoy, doing so after a modest trade down.
4. Colton Hood | CB, Tennessee
Predictor: Brevan Bane
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It’s a trade-down with the San Francisco 49ers! The package looks a little something like this: MIN sends: Pick 18. SF sends: Pick 27, Pick 127, and a 2027 2nd Round Pick.
The Vikings trade down in the first round to pick up extra draft capital (including a 2nd in a very stacked 2027 draft), and keep the fifth year of control on their selection this year. That selection is Tennessee CB Colton Hood. The kid has fluid hips, natural ball skills, and an instinctual ability to play press-man at the line.
5. Peter Woods | DT, Clemson
Predictor: Dustin Baker
If you really want to get this prediction right, the process this year is not easy. The Vikings could bend in about five directions that would shock nobody. Usually, the draft pick, or at least the player’s position, is pretty damn evident.
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This year is different, mainly because Kwesi Adofo-Mensah isn’t employed in Minnesota.
In 2023, the Vikings needed a wide receiver. They drafted one. In 2024, they needed a quarterback. They drafted one. Last year, they needed a guard after the embarrassing playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. They drafted one.
In 2026, the Vikings have released defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. They need an interior defensive lineman. Whether sticking-and-picking at No. 18 or trading down, Woods will be the guy. He’s considered by most as the top DT in an otherwise weak class.
t6. Kenyon Sadiq | TE, Oregon
Predictor: Wesley Johnson
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The Vikings could go in a few different directions here and are really set up to take the best player available. While I would entertain DT Kayden McDonald, OT’s Monroe Freeling and Max Iheanachor, or one of the WRs that may fall, Sadiq fits a more immediate need. T..J Hockenson will, in all likelihood, be leaving the team next offseason, and finding a capable replacement now is smart football.
Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) catches a pass for a touchdown during the second half, Nov 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, securing the ball in stride as he breaks free from coverage and completes a scoring play that energizes the crowd in a late-season conference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
While an athletic freak at TE, fans should temper their expectations for Sadiq compared to other recent first-round TEs (Loveland, Warren, Bowers), as he is not as refined a pass-catcher.
t6. Kenyon Sadiq | TE, Oregon
Predictor: Cole Smith
The Vikings’ first pick will be Kenyon Sadiq. Everyone has thought that safety Dillon Thieneman was destined to be the pick, but his Oregon teammate gives the Vikings a unique offensive weapon in year one while providing them with their next TE1 after T.J. Hockenson leaves following the season.
t8. Kayden McDonald | DT, Ohio State
Predictor: Adam New
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The Vikings trade back to later in the first round and select Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald. Giving the interior of the Vikings’ defensive line a boost by adding a big nose tackle.
t8. Kayden McDonald | DT, Ohio State
Predictor: Sean Borman
The Vikings need iDL, and McDonald has no injury-related absences. In McDonald, they’d be getting more powerful up front. He’s a big run stuffer with some flash quickness
t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Tony Schultz
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So many are trying hard to figure out who the Vikings will draft. In some cases, maybe too hard. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and a third time to make it happen: Thieneman! Thieneman! Thieneman! Dillon Thieneman is the popular choice not just because of his skills but also his fit and need in the Vikings’ defense.
The sphere of pick 18 is where he projects in this draft, regardless of who’s picking. Recent rumors suggest there could be a run on offensive linemen, and teams might trade up to get ahead of others. It would not shock me if the Vikings trade down a bit and still get their man in the former Oregon Duck.
Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) reacts after defeating Penn State at Beaver Stadium, Sep 27, 2025, in University Park, Pennsylvania, displaying visible emotion following the final whistle as teammates celebrate a major road win against a ranked opponent in a high-stakes Big Ten matchup. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
Adding a 3rd rounder or maybe a low second, while still landing the best player available and a player of need, will look great for a team trying to get over past mistakes. Don’t overthink it. Draft him!
t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Ted Schwerzler
Every mock draft continues to say the same thing, and at this point, there’s no reason to believe they aren’t speaking it into existence. Dillon Thieneman, you are a Minnesota Viking.
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t10. Dillon Thieneman | S, Oregon
Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi
It’s one of the most common picks in mock drafts around the world, and for good reason. He’s a great prospect, safety is a position of need, and Thieneman could be an immediate heir to Harrison Smith.
It was a shocking move for multiple reasons. Who would have thought a 28-year-old defensive tackle coming off his worst NFL season and due a massive raise was worth a top 10 pick? And who would have guessed the conservative Bengals would be the ones to facilitate this change of scenery? ESPN reports it’s the first time the franchise has traded a top 10 pick for a player.
The Giants are now the sixth team to own multiple first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they are the only franchise to hold two selections in the top 10. New York could package the extra pick to move further up the draft board, or potentially move down depending on how the draft goes.
What happens at No. 10 overall depends on who the Giants take at No. 5 overall. If New York selects a wide receiver for example, the Giants wouldn’t take another wideout at No. 10. If the Giants go offense at No. 5, could they go defense at No. 10? When it comes to that top five pick, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Carnell Tate are a couple of players that have been commonly mocked to New York. Let’s take a look at the favorites to be selected at No. 5 overall, via DraftKings Sportsbook:
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Odds to be the No. 5 overall pick
LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
+160
OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
+400
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S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
+400
RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
+500
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WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
+800
WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
+1400
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Regardless of who the Giants take at No. 5 overall, who are some of the best options that could be available at No. 10 overall? Let’s take a look:
5. EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
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Miami pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. could fall to No. 10 overall due to his 30 7/8” arms. Pass rusher is not exactly the top need for New York, but Bain is CBS Sports’ No. 2 overall prospect in this entire class. He could also potentially move inside, and use his deep arsenal of pass-rush moves there.
Bain led all players last season with 83 pressures. He also stepped up his play in the College Football Playoff for the Hurricanes, recording 24 pressures and five sacks in those four games. If Bain does fall this far, he should be in consideration for the Giants.
Drafting an offensive guard at No. 10 overall could be considered a bit rich to some, but Vega Ioane is a clean prospect that fits a clear need for the Giants. At 6-foot-4, 323 pounds, he allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits and just four pressures in 2025. If we are talking about high-floor prospects in this class, Ioane should be mentioned.
I actually mocked Mansoor Delane to the Giants at No. 5 overall numerous times because I believe he’s arguably a top five talent in this class. He allowed the lowest passer rating (24.1) in the SEC, didn’t allow a single touchdown in coverage and had zero penalties. He reminded me a bit of Quinyon Mitchell, and I expect Delane to have that kind of immediate impact at the next level as well.
As soon as the Lawrence trade went down, it was Jordyn Tyson’s name that probably received the most buzz. In fact, Tyson is now listed at -360 to be a top 10 pick over at DraftKings. I guess that workout he had for NFL teams this past week went pretty well. ESPN reported that Giants general manager Joe Schoen was in Arizona on Thursday night, and had dinner with Tyson.
Tyson caught 61 passes for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in nine games played this past season, but had a 1,100-yard season in 2024. In fact, no Big 12 player has caught more passes than Tyson over the past two years. Yes, the injury history is worrisome. Over the past four years, Tyson suffered a knee injury where he tore his ACL, MCL and PCL, he broke his collarbone in 2024, and then had hamstring issues this past season. With all that being said, Tyson could be considered the top receiver in this class if we ignored the injury issues.
1. S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
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I don’t want to pretend that Caleb Downs is Ed Reed, but he may be underrated at this point. He was just the sixth college defensive back to be named a Unanimous All-American twice, and the only defensive back to record 250 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and five interceptions in the FBS over the past three seasons. Downs can play multiple positions in the secondary and potentially be John Harbaugh’s Kyle Hamilton.
Manchester City and Arsenal meet at the Etihad this afternoon in what is being billed as a Premier League title race decider.
Mikel Arteta started a fire at the training ground this week but if his Arsenal team fall at the Etihad tomorrow their season could go down in flames.
Manchester City have the momentum, the home advantage and the title-winning know-how. They’ve also seemingly clicked into gear at just the right time.
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Pep Guardiola oozed calm when he faced the media on Friday afternoon. The City boss, dressed in crisp white club attire, spoke at length on the match, the title race and how City must play the game and not the occasion.
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He referenced Arsenal’s 22-year wait for the title more than once, openly offered up an injury update on Nico O’Reilly when he often opts for caution, and seemed completely at ease with what is in front of him.
There is a sense at City that they have found their rhythm, that the team is settled and in sync, and that they are in the best possible place heading into the final few weeks of an absorbing campaign.
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Few gave City a chance of winning the league this year. Last season was way below par and they lost two of their first three this term. Liverpool set the early pace but quickly fell away and ever since it’s looked Arsenal’s to lose. It still is.
But the Gunners have looked frayed and frazzled in recent weeks, suffering a Carabao Cup final reverse to City and then exiting the FA Cup to Championship side Southampton. Defeat at Bournemouth followed in the Premier League and while the Gunners remain in the Champions League having progressed to a second successive semi-final, they were far from convincing in edging past Sporting Lisbon 1-0 on aggregate.
Mikel Arteta seemed calm enough in his media duties on Friday, engaging in a couple of jokes with journalists and insisting his side will not spend ‘one single second’ thinking about taking a draw at a place where they haven’t won in a decade.
City have had a full week on the training ground with no European commitments and the mood in the camp has been relaxed but buoyant. There is a confidence in the group that they are now comfortable with each other after 18 months of rebuilding.
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And yet there is an acceptance that even in three superb victories over Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, aspects of all three matches could have been better. But the manner in which they took the game away from those sides in devastating fashion has raised belief levels.
“We are ready,” declared Guardiola in the build-up. So is the Etihad, the Premier League and the football world.
Sunday could see one team’s title aspirations go up in smoke.
LOS ANGELES — The Houston Rockets were without star forward Kevin Durant for their 107-98 loss in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday due to a knee injury. Durant, who popped up as questionable on the injury report during the week, went through pre-game warmups at Crypto.com Arena but was ruled out with what the team called a right knee contusion.
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said before the game that Durant bumped his knee at practice on Wednesday. He hopes Durant’s absence is just a “one-game thing.”
“He tried it out and didn’t feel good enough,” Udoka said.
Udoka said Durant underwent imaging and “nothing major” came up. Durant’s “limited movement” was more the cause of him being out rather than pain tolerance. The Lakers were also shorthanded with Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) sidelined.
“It’s very tender, tough to bend certain ways,” Udoka said of Durant’s knee. “He hit it in a very awkward spot, I guess, more than anything. It could be a regular bumped knee and I think he could kind of play through that. But right above the knee, the patellar tendon area, up there, it’s just very tender and sore. Pain tolerance is one thing, but limited movement is more the cause.”
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In his first season with Houston, Durant missed just four games total during the regular season. The Rockets are 4-0 without Durant in the lineup.
Durant entered the playoffs averaging 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists since being traded from the Phoenix Suns last offseason. After losing in seven games to the Golden State Warriors in last year’s NBA Playoffs, Houston added Durant to give the team a go-to scoring punch.
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Durant’s postseason debut with Houston will have to wait at least a few more days. The Rockets face the Lakers in Game 2 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Whether it was a snowy Friday giving way to a sunny Saturday or the playoff vibes from the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche spilling over, the Mile High Magic was palpable across the city today.
For the cherry on top of a wonderful sports day in Denver, the Colorado Rockies got the best of the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 rollercoaster of a win.
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Runs early and often
It was a good night if you bet YRFI.
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Starting pitchers Ryan Feltner and Emmet Sheehan brought a pair of high ERAs into their matchup today (7.30 and 6.60, respectively). That showed as the scoreboard was lit up immediately in the first inning.
That’s sadly not out of character for the Rockies, who have given up 161 runs in the first inning since the start of last season — the most in MLB.
To start off the evening, Shohei Ohtani reached first base after a throwing error by Troy Johnston on the first pitch. Kyle Tucker followed immediately with a home run on the second pitch of the game, giving the Dodgers an early 2-0 lead.
The Rockies responded in the bottom of the inning. Mickey Moniak doubled to center and was brought home with a line-drive single from TJ Rumfield to bring the game to 2-1.
The Dodgers and Rockies would notch one more run each in the second inning. L.A.’s came on a Dalton Rushing homer knocked right above the out-of-town scoreboard in right on a 78 MPH curveball from Feltner. The Rockies’ run came after Johnston put himself in scoring position with a line-drive single, a stolen base, and a move to third on a Brenton Doyle ground out. Johnston ultimately came home on a Kyle Karros sacrifice fly to make it 3-2 Trolley Dodgers.
Pitchers dueling
That “early and often” hot start dried up pretty quickly. Despite some scattered chances, the offensive action calmed down and yielded scoreless third, fourth, and fifth innings as both pitchers found their rhythm.
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After walking Freddie Freeman in the top of the third, Feltner sat down eight straight batters. Among those eight, Feltner struck out Teoscar Hernández, Alex Freeland, and Andy Pages. Feltner looked in command of his four-seam fastball in particular across those punch outs. He also got a fly out to left from Ohtani, dropping Ohtani to 1-10 against Feltner across their last encounters.
Sheehan walked a couple of baserunners and gave up a double in the fourth inning, but otherwise looked sharp. He gathered strikeouts against Hunter Goodman, Brenton Doyle, and Edouard Julien across those three innings.
Feltner’s streak came to an end on a Freeman triple in the top of the sixth. Lucky for him, Karros would save a run with an incredible diving grab to stop a ball driven down the third base line, throwing out Hernández at first.
Following that, Brennan Bernardino came in to relieve Feltner with two outs and Freeman on third. Feltner finished his day with five strikeouts, five hits, and three runs surrendered via two home runs.
The Rockies got rolling
Despite a 1-2-3 fifth inning from Sheehan, the Dodgers pulled him at 77 pitches, swapping in Will Klein. That did not go well.
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The Rockies immediately pounced with a Goodman double to deep center. Up next, Ezequiel Tovar singled with a ball banked off of Klein over to Freeman, with Tovi winning the foot race to first. Johnston brought those two in with a double to center for his team-leading 10th RBI, giving the Rockies their first glorious lead over the Dodgers in what felt like an eternity.
Klein would get the next three batters out to keep Johnston at second and to limit the damage at 4-3 Rockies.
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Catching a crazy eighth
The top of the eighth inning got a little dicey for the Rockies, with much of the commotion centered around Goodman behind the dish.
Jaden Hill replaced Bernardino to kick off the inning with the Dodgers back at the top of the order. Hill worked to an 0-2 count against Ohtani. In an at-bat that looked like it might end in another Ohtani out, Goodman was called for catcher interference as hit glove bumped Ohtani’s swing, putting the batter on first.
Tucker singled next, putting two men on with no outs. Just when things felt like they were about to get worse, Goodman redeemed himself with a wonderful ABS challenge, overturning a ball and sitting Pages down on strikes.
Freeman flied out to center next, moving Ohtani and Tucker up a base. In a tense at-bat for Hernández, the Rockies would challenge a pitch again, but this time unsuccessfully. Hernández walked to load the bases.
Hill responded extremely well to cap off a nice relief pitching performance, throwing two strikes to Max Muncy before getting him to ground out on a changeup to end the (very stressful) inning.
No insurance needed
The Rockies wouldn’t get any insurance runs in the bottom of the eight, but luckily they wouldn’t need them (although that would have reduced some ninth inning stress).
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Victor Vodnik came in to close out the ninth, trying for his third save of the season. He sat Rushing and Hyeseong Kim out quickly. With two outs, Will Smith singled on a nice hit to second that made for a just-difficult-enough throw for Julien.
Santiago Espinal came in to pinch run and Ohtani got his first hit of the night to move the runner to second. With the game on the line, the energy in Coors felt exciting in a way it hasn’t felt too often is recent years. Tucker sent a routine flyball to left field, and Vodnik got his save.
There was a lot to be proud of for the Rockies today. Namely, the Rockies looked resilient.
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Feltner settled down after a shaky start. The bullpen was flawless in relief. Hits and baserunners came when they were needed most. Scoring chances were converted. Key defensive plays swung the game in Colorado’s favor.
It had been a rough week in the wake of a sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres and a series loss to the Houston Astros. After a 7-1 loss last night, it felt like an uphill battle to steal even one from Los Angeles.
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The Dodgers were 10-0 against the National League this season. Emphasis: were. Your Colorado Rockies just served up a tally mark in the L column.
The Rockies are having fun!
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Up Next
First and foremost, it’s Dinger Day at the ballpark! Our favorite purple dino and all of his friends will try to bring some good vibes and even better luck to the matchup.
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The Rockies and Dodgers square off for Game 3 of the wraparound series at 1:10 p.m. MT. Roki Sasaki (0-2, 6.23 ERA) is scheduled to start for Los Angeles, while Michael Lorenzen (1-2, 8.10) is slated to go for Colorado. The Rockies will try to take the series lead in a Sunday matinee matchup.
Local handler Pat Carey has rid himself of the longstanding Hareeba Stakes curse as Recon produced a spectacular finishing kick to prevail at Mornington.
For years, the Listed Hareeba Stakes (1200m) had eluded Carey despite persistent attempts, such as the 2006 second place with Kelthorpe and third by Dan Zephyr a decade later.
Another 10 years elapse, granting the stable of Pat Carey and Harris Walker the signature sprint on Mornington Cup Day via Recon.
Ridden by Patrick Moloney, the $4.80 shot Recon stormed to a 1-½ length success ahead of $4.40 top pick La Fracas, followed half a length back by $10 Pop Award in third.
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“This race has been a bit of a thorn in my side,” Carey said.
“We’ve had plenty of goes at this race, so it’s nice to win this race today.
“I’ve run a number of placings in it but Recon has always shown good ability.
“Steve Watkins, who owns him and bred him, always felt he was one of his better horses he has had and he’s had a number of good horses including Abaridy who won a Caulfield Guineas.
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“He got shuffled back to nearly last at one point just before the corner, but Pat didn’t panic and brought him out wide and gave him a clear run.
“He’s done nothing wrong since coming down to Melbourne, and he’s got a bit bigger and bit stronger. He’s still a lightly raced horse and he’s still learning his trade and open to good improvement.”
Upon transferring to Mornington after the Epsom Training Centre’s closure last century, Carey acquired the stalls previously occupied by Ken Newman, trainer of Hareeba.
“When Kenny wound down his training operation, I took over his stalls and I daresay the stall Recon sits in everyday is Hareeba’s old stall,” Carey said.
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Carey plans to digest the Saturday result before eyeing Recon’s future targets, with six victories in 11 starts to his name.
“I haven’t thought about anything other than today,” Carey said.
“He’s a lightly raced horse and there’s lots of races for a horse like him this year, next year and hopefully the year after.”
Visit premier betting sites to access racing odds for Hareeba Stakes events.
Sunrisers Hyderabad pulled off a brilliant win over Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling IPL 2026 encounter in Hyderabad on Saturday. CSK looked well on course for victory during their 195-run chase but Nitish Kumar Reddy and Eshan Malinga took five wickets among themselves to snatch the win from the jaws of defeat. The magnitude and importance of the victory was quite clear from SRH owner Kavya Maran’s reaction after the victory. In a video going viral on social media, Kavya Maran looked extremely excited as her team emerged victorious and she celebrated by punching the air and clapping for the players.
Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Ishan Kishan couldn’t have been more pleased with a group of young pacers, who are executing the bowling plans to the ‘T.
Chasing 195, Chennai Super Kings were kept down to 184 for 8 as pacers Eshan Malinga (3/29 in 4 overs), Sakib Hussain (1/32 in 4 overs), Nitish Reddy (2/31 in 4 overs) and spinner Shivang Kumar (1/18 in 3 overs) were bang on target.
“It is lovely when you have a bunch of young bowlers who are coming up with their own plans and executing the team plans as well. As a captain, it makes my job easier to set fields,” Kishan said after the end of the match.
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With Pat Cummins not available during first half, Kishan was happy to trust the young bunch.
“Looking at them at practice, seeing them get better day by day, they are keen on doing well, so you give them ball and let them do what they want to,” he said.
While he was happy with bowling, Kishan conceded that on this batting track, SRH were at least 20 runs short but bowlers covered for the batters.
CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad said that not having big overs at the start of the back-10 dented their chances.
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“It was just about 80 runs needed in 10 overs (with the bat). From there it was just about building a couple of partnerships. We scored just 4 runs in the next 2 overs after the 10-over mark. Chasing 12-13 at the death is going to be difficult,” said Gaikwad.
He lauded the bowlers for keeping SRH below 200.
“Looking at how their powerplay went, I was looking at a score around 220-230. To pull it back by 30 runs, I would have taken it any day under 200. It’s been three successive games that the bowling unit has been doing really well.
“Even the powerplay today I thought Abhishek played brilliantly. I think everyone did a good job (with the ball),” he added.
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(With PTI inputs)
Featured Video Of The Day
IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Playing his first-ever senior-level event, which follows an eight-month break, which was forced by being booted out of LIV Golf, Henrik Stenson is answering questions when a reporter wonders about his driving average.
“My average?” Stenson says.
“Yeah, I’ve trimmed it down to about 360 to go easy on the guys.”
He’s not finished. He has one more crack.
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“My carry distance is probably about 290, I’d say, with the driver.
“If I got a picture of you on the golf ball, I might be able to squeeze another 10 out of it.”
Consider Stenson’s mood light then, even after recent events. This week, the 2016 Open Championship winner is playing the Senior PGA Championship at the Concession Golf Club in Florida, and through two rounds, he was tied for 26th. He’s calling it a “new chapter.” Thing is, though, Stenson probably wouldn’t be playing his first event with the over-50 gang had his play gone just slightly differently last August.
He knows the details. He’d been with Saudi-backed LIV since the third event of its first season, in 2022, which he won. He’d been a team captain. Then he was out. He finished LIV’s last event where points were awarded to players in 49th place in the individual standings, just below close friend Ian Poulter, and 49th and worst were relegated.
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“That’s the way it goes,” Stenson said, “but I had it all in my own hands. and I didn’t finish it the way I wanted and should have.
“Yeah, I mean, it is what it is. It doesn’t really matter who’s the one that knocks you out or over-jump you by a shot. That’s just the nature of the sport. I got no one else to blame than myself for not playing better in the final round.”
From there, he paused. There was some plotting. In November, according to multiple outlets, he paid fines with the DP World Tour handed out due to his LIV play, clearing a return. Earlier this month, he turned 50, making him eligible for senior events. Next week, he’ll play on the Legends Tour, the DP World Tour’s senior circuit. In August, he said a suspension imposed by the PGA Tour will end, meaning he may play PGA Tour Champions tour tournaments. He’ll also try to qualify for the U.S. Open, and he’ll play in the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior Open.
But from last August to this week, Stenson played nowhere. He said he welcomed that, guessing that since 1989, when he first started playing, that he hadn’t taken more than five months off.
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“Relaxed, refreshed,” Stenson said when asked what a pro does with eight months off.
“I’ve toured the world for 28 years, and I felt during Covid that it was kind of nice to have — you feel like you can kind of land a little bit and have that extra bit of time. I’ve felt the same now.
“I probably needed it even more so this time around. I was definitely run down, and I think being in your own house eating well, sleeping well, working out, just like getting back into a good day-to-day rhythm has really helped me, and I’m in a much better place now than I was six months ago.
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“Yeah, I’m feeling like I really needed the time. In terms of the golf, like I said, I don’t think after 30 years you forget how to compete, but you might need a couple of rounds to get back into it. Also, it wasn’t like I played my best golf when I went on kind of this longer break, either.”
This week, at the Senior PGA, Stenson has started well. On Thursday, he shot even-par 72. On Friday, he was two shots better and made the weekend. He said he’s reconnected with old faces.
There was a time he thought he maybe didn’t want to play senior golf, but here he is.
;)
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