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EspañolVikings Release Pro Bowlers Hargrave, Jones; 49ers Eye Depth
The 49ers could sign Hargrave as a rotational interior pass rusher and Jones as a veteran backup running back. Both players offer value as depth pieces rather than starters, fitting San Francisco's needs for pass-rushing help and RB insurance.
A’s Net Their Second Spring Win, beat Reds 12-4
The Athletics ensured a good start to March, putting together their best team-wide spring training performance to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 12-4.
J.T Ginn started on the mound, picking up where he left off in his last outing. The A’s right-hander pitched three scoreless innings, continuing his impressive start to spring training. In the third inning, Ginn found himself in a bit of trouble as the Reds got runners on third and first with only one out. Ginn wiggled out of the jam by striking out Will Benson and then he got some help from his catcher Austin Wynns, who threw out a Reds player trying to steal second base to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the A’s catching tandem gave the team an early lead that they never relinquished. Starting catcher Shea Langeliers, who served as the designated hitter today, bashed a two-run home run to right field off of the Reds left-handed starting pitcher Andrew Abbot in the first inning. He added an RBI double in the third inning before coming around to score on Wynns’s three-run home run later that inning.
Up 6-0 after three frames, the A’s got their second glimpse at top pitching prospect Gage Jump. The highly-regarded left-hander sailed through the fourth and fifth innings, only allowing one hit while recording three strikeouts. If Jump continues pitching as well as he did today for the rest of spring training and first month or two of the minor league season, the pitching-needy A’s may not wait long to promote him to the Major Leagues.
Following Jump’s encouraging outing, four non-roster pitchers combined to pitch the rest of the game for the A’s. Cincinnati scored four unanswered runs via two home runs off relievers unlikely to make the A’s bullpen, making what was shaping up to be a blowout A’s win less certain.
With their seven-run lead cut to three, the A’s held on and then got important insurance runs in the eighth inning. Non-roster invite first baseman Joey Meneses came through with the bases loaded, blasting a grand slam over the right field wall. The A’s were not done that inning. A couple batters later, third base prospect Tommy White, aka Tommy Tanks, joined in on the fun as he hit a home run to cap the A’s scoring this afternoon.
This type of game is what A’s fans were expecting to see from the team this year. Four home runs, 11 hits and 12 runs scored signifies that the team’s offense is finally waking up from their offseason slumber, while Ginn and Jump’s performances serve as reason for optimism that the A’s pitching will be improved this season.
The A’s will look to make it two in a row tomorrow against the San Diego Padres. Right-hander Mason Barnett is scheduled to make his second spring training appearance. He is looking to improve after allowing two runs in two innings in his last outing. The Padres will counter with veteran right-hander Michael King, who will also be making his second preseason start.
Notes
- Following the game, the A’s made several roster cuts. They optioned right-handed pitcher Eduarniel Nuñez to Triple-A Las Vegas and right-handed pitcher Henry Baez to Double-A Midland. Additionally, they sent left-handed pitchers Wei-En Lin and Domingo Robles, right-handed pitchers A.J Causey, JJ Goss, Kenya Huggins and Yunior Tur, catcher Shane McGuire and infielder Joey Meneses to their minor league camp. None of these moves are surprising, although it sucks for Meneses coming after he hit the grand slam. It would not be a shock to see him in Sacramento this year if he is doing well in Triple-A and the A’s need someone to fill in for Nick Kurtz and/or Brent Rooker if they get injured. Likewise, relievers Nuñez, Causey and Tur could be options to help the A’s bullpen this season.
- In addition to the prospects mentioned above, Henry Bolte had a good day. He singled twice in three at-bats.
- Kurtz is off to a slow start this spring with one hit in 15 at-bats. It is still early, so he has a long time remaining to get in a groove before the regular season starts.
- Colby Thomas got two at-bats today off the bench. He has been dealing with inflammation in his right elbow, which is why he has not started a game during the first week of the Cactus League.
Marquette Women’s Basketball Clinches #4 Seed With Win Over Providence
I’ll be honest with you: I didn’t watch much of Sunday evening’s regular season finale for Marquette women’s basketball.
That’s the downside of the Golden Eagles tipping off against Providence at 4:30pm Central time, 90 minutes after the men’s team started off against DePaul at Fiserv Forum. As a season ticket holder for both squads, obviously I was going to be at Fiserv when the women’s game tipped off, and by the time I wound my way back to the car and returned to my house, it was already the fourth quarter.
I thought I was arriving home just in time to see the Golden Eagles put the finishing touches on a win. After wiping away a six point Providence lead in the final 70 seconds of the first quarter, Marquette was touch and go with the Friars for most of the second quarter, and the Golden Eagles were only up 38-37 at halftime. The back half of the third quarter had tilted the game toward Marquette as they went on a 15-2 run in the final 5:30 of the period, and with neither team scoring in the final 60 seconds, the visitors were up 14, 59-45, heading to the final quarter.
I thought Marquette had it under control.
I walked into the house during the fourth quarter media timeout, and right after that break, Providence’s Payton Dunbar cut the margin to 10. As it turned out, Marquette had already scored their final field goal of the game with 5:51 to play, but they just needed to play smart and be solid.
They were not.
After that MU field goal — a layup from Lee Volker — Providence put up an 11-1 run, and the lead was just four with 2:27 to play. Four Marquette turnovers worked against the Golden Eagles in that run, and after that, it was time for missed free throws to work against them. In the final 3:30 of the game, Marquette missed seven free throws. The Friars were fouling trying to extend the game, and the one thing you can’t do in that circumstance is miss your freebies.
Luckily, Providence couldn’t do squat on their end. The lead got down to just four points as I mentioned, but it went no further. The Friars went 2-for-9 after that, and even with two more turnovers from the Golden Eagles and all those missed freebies, PC couldn’t get closer, and finally the clock expired on a 69-65 win.
Skylar Forbes led Marquette with 24 points in this one, and she added five rebounds and three assists, and you know what, honestly, we can let the missed free throws late slide a little bit. Lee Volker put up a double-double on 15 points and 12 rebounds, and she contributed two assists and four steals, too. Kennedi Perkins led the way in the assists column with four.
The win clinches the #4 seed in the Big East tournament for Marquette. Officially, they finish tied for third with Seton Hall at 12-8, but the Pirates have the 2-0 season series tiebreaker.
Up Next: This was the regular season finale, so that Big East tournament quarterfinal is next. As the #4 seed, Marquette already knows that they’ll face the #5 seed in the quarterfinals instead of waiting to find out their opponent from the winners on the first day of the tourney. The #5 seed is Creighton, as the Bluejays went 11-9 in the league after Sunday’s 73-71 win over Xavier and got the edge on a tie with St. John’s. Tipoff on Peacock is set for 1:30pm Central time on Saturday, March 7th. Marquette and Creighton split the season series with each team winning at home, but the Omaha game was amidst MU’s inability to close games strong and the Jays pulled out the win late.
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Farmers Battle to Reclaim 'Milk' Term
Australian dairy farmers argue that the plant-based alternatives industry has "stolen" the term milk and they are now seeking to claim it back following a recent court ruling.
The farmers believe that using "milk" for non-dairy products confuses consumers and undermines their traditional dairy products, and they're leveraging the legal precedent to support their case.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder cruise past Dallas Mavericks without Cooper Flagg
DALLAS — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sat out the entire overtime period of OKC's win over Denver on Friday.
The superstar guard was limited to 34 regulation minutes in what marked his first game back from a nine-game absence due to an abdominal strain.
But as the final minutes of OKC's 100-87 home win over Dallas unfolded on Sunday, Gilgeous-Alexander didn't watch the blowout from the bench. He had some time spare.
Gilgeous-Alexander checked back into the game as his team held an 18-point lead with 7:15 remaining, and he didn't check out until there were only 47.7 seconds on the clock. He delivered the finishing touches and ended the night with 30 points, five assists and four steals in 33 minutes.
SGA broke Wilt Chamberlain's NBA record scoring more than 20 points for the 59th straight road game.
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder's run to NBA title
Chet Holmgren was a frustrating force of nature
Dwight Powell bounced right back up after being dropped by Chet Holmgren, who blew past him on the perimeter and finished a layup midway through the first quarter.
The veteran big man was clearly fine, although his ego appeared to be bruised. And when Holmgren sank an 18-footer over him on OKC's next possession, adding insult to the internal injury, Powell voiced his frustration to the officials while jogging up the floor. He quickly received a technical foul.
Holmgren gave Dallas' entire team fits. From finishing at the rim to extending his range to crashing the glass to showing off his mobility, the 7-foot-1 forward caused problems on both ends.
Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks in 28 minutes. He went 8 for 14 from the field (1 for 5 from deep).
Jared McCain stays ready
Jared McCain didn't stay seated as a timeout unfolded late in the first quarter.
The sophomore guard was shuffling his feet from side to side underneath the rim. And when he checked into the game to start the second quarter, he wasn't just warm. He was red hot.
McCain erupted for nine points in his first 10 minutes of action, and he did damage from all three levels. He got downhill for layups, cashed in from the mid range and also spaced the floor with his 3-point shooting.
McCain ultimately ended the night with 11 points and one assist in 22 minutes off the bench. It was yet another impressive performance by a player who has already acclimated himself since being traded from Philadelphia to OKC at the deadline.
That's easier said than done when joining a championship team, especially at only 22 years old.
Isaiah Joe woke OKC up from deep
As it entered the fourth quarter, OKC needed to wake up from behind the arc. It had only gone 6 for 29 (20.7%) in that department, and no player had multiple makes.
But that's when it got a cup of Joe.
Isaiah Joe checked into the game and immediately provided a shot of adrenaline, sinking two 3-pointers in the first two minutes and change. The first came off the catch, as he curled around a screen by Isaiah Hartenstein before drilling a 26-footer. And the second came off the dribble, as he lost his defender with a stepback before connecting on a 25-footer.
Joe is arguably on the best shooting streak of his sixth-year career. He shot 50% from deep on 7.2 attempts per game in the month of February.
Joe then began March by posting 14 points and five rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench against Dallas. He went 5 for 9 from the field (3 for 7 from deep).
Tip-ins
∎ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 123 consecutive games. That ranks second in NBA history, only trailing Wilt Chamberlain (126 games).
∎ Gilgeous-Alexander has scored at least 20 points in 59 consecutive road games. That's the longest streak in NBA history.
∎ OKC was without Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Dallas was without Marvin Bagley III (neck sprain), Cooper Flagg (left midfoot sprain), Kyrie Irving (left knee surgery), Miles Kelly (not with the team), Dereck Lively II (right foot surgery), Naji Marshall (right finger contusion) and P.J. Washington (left ankle sprain).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Bulls
TIPOFF: 7 p.m. Tuesday at United Center in Chicago (FanDuel Sports Network)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, OKC Thunder cruise past Dallas Mavericks