U.S. into WBC semis on Turner’s grand slam
Trea Turner ripped a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 on Saturday night in Miami and into the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
Defending champion Team USA will face Cuba on Sunday night for a spot in the WBC championship.
Venezuela second baseman Jose Altuve left the game in the fifth with a right hand injury after he was hit by a pitch from Daniel Bard. The Astros said there would be an update on his status Sunday.
Trailing 7-5, the U.S. loaded the bases in the eighth on a walk, single and hit by pitch against losing pitcher Jose Quijada. Silvino Bracho relieved, and Turner sent his 0-2 changeup 407 feet to left field for the third grand slam in Team USA history.
Schenk leads Spieth, Fleetwood by one
Adam Schenk looked as though he and everyone else would get passed by Jordan Spieth at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Florida. When a wild and windy round finished, Schenk was still the player everyone was chasing.
Schenk (8-under 205) hit his approach to the 18th hole to 5 feet and made the birdie putt for a 1-under 70, giving him a one-shot lead over Spieth (who fired a 69) and Tommy Fleetwood as he goes after his first victory on the PGA Tour.
Fleetwood opened with a birdie and followed with 12 pars. He wound up with a bogey-free 69 and realized not losing ground was one of the best things he had going on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.
♦ Bernhard Langer, 65, remained in position in the Hoag Classic in Newport Beach, California, to break a tie with Hale Irwin for the PGA Tour Champions victory record. Langer shot a 5-under 66 and has one-stroke lead with a round left.
Early barrage lifts Moose over Wolves
Four goals by the Manitoba Moose (3219-5-3 chased goalie Jacob Kucharski in the first period as the Wolves (26-27-3-2) went down to a 6-1 defeat at Allstate Arena.
♦ Carlos Alcaraz bounced Jannik Sinner 7-6 (4), 6-3 to advance to the BNP Paribas Open final in Indian Wells, California. He will meet Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Frances Tiafoe 7-5, 7-6 (4).
♦ Austin Hill continued his dominant start to the NASCAR Xfinity season, holding off Daniel Hemric at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his third win in five races.