Whistleblower Fiers gets warm welcome
Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers, who helped expose the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, received a largely warm reception during his first spring-training appearance Sunday in Mesa, Arizona.
“Oakland’s going to support us no matter what,” Fiers said after throwing two perfect innings against the Giants. “They’ve always been there. It’s fun, it’s fun playing in front of these fans and with these guys. Just a great day of baseball.”
The right-hander, 34, retired all six of the Giants he faced. When the Oakland lineup was announced before the game, he received loud cheers from the A’s side of the stadium. The Giants’ side was a little less enthusiastic, but certainly not hostile.
“Overall, a good day,” Fiers said. “I was able to throw strikes, I was able to put balls where I wanted to and threw all my pitches.”
Fiers pitched three seasons for the Astros, including 2017.
♦ The Red Sox put second baseman Dustin Pedroia on the 60-day injured list, adding more doubt regarding whether the 2008 AL MVP will play again.
Lakers edge Celtics
LeBron James scored 29 points and hit a fallaway jumper with 30 seconds to play, and the Lakers knocked off the visiting Celtics 114-112. Anthony Davis had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the Lakers’ fifth consecutive win.
Jayson Tatum tied a careerhigh with 41 points for the Celtics, who have won 12 of their last 14 games. No Celtics player had scored 40 against the Lakers since
Paul Pierce in 2001.
The Lakers also signed forward
Markieff Morris, who reached a buyout with the Pistons on Friday.
♦ The Sixers say guard Ben Simmons will not play Monday as he undergoes more testing on his lower back. He missed the game Thursday and played less than five minutes Saturday.
♦ Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. will miss at least two weeks with a sprained left knee.
Reed wins in Mexico
Patrick Reed had three birdies on the final four holes to overtake
Bryson DeChambeau and win the Mexico Championship in Mexico City. Reed shot 4-under 67 and finished at 18-under 266, moving to No. 8 in the world.
♦ The Capitals acquired wing
Ilya Kovalchuk from the Canadiens for a 2020 third-round pick, reuniting him with Russian Olympic teammate Alex Ovechkin. Kovalchuk, 36, has six goals and seven assists in 22 games.
♦ One day after being forced to use emergency goalie David Ayres, the Hurricanes called up
Anton Forsberg from the AHL Charlotte Checkers. Forsberg started 30 games for the Blackhawks in the 2017-18 season.
♦ Colorado hired Dolphins assistant head coach Karl Dorrell to be its head coach. He gets a five-year, $18 million deal.