Sports
Japan suffers shocking collapse to Venezuela in World Baseball Classic
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Shohei Ohtani and his Japanese teammates will not repeat as World Baseball Classic champions after falling apart against Venezuela in the quarterfinal round.
Ohtani’s third home run of the tournament was wasted as Japan saw its 11-game WBC winning streak snapped.
Wilyer Abreu hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Maikel Garcia sparked the comeback with a two-run shot, and Venezuela beat the defending champions 8-5 on Saturday night.
Venezuela reached its first WBC semis since 2009 and clinched a spot in the six-nation field for the 2028 Olympic baseball tournament, along with the United States and the Dominican Republic.
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Venezuela will face unbeaten Italy on Monday, a day after the U.S. plays the Dominicans.
Abreu gave Venezuela a 7-5 lead when he homered off loser Hiromi Itoh in the sixth, driving a 2-1 four-seam fastball 409 feet to right for his first home run of the tournament. Ezequiel Tovar made it 8-5 in the eighth, leading off with a double then scoring on a throwing error by Atsuki Taneichi on a pickoff attempt.
Ohtani, the 2023 WBC MVP, led off the bottom of the first by lifting a 2-1 slider from Ranger Suárez 427 feet to center after Ronald Acuña Jr. homered on the second pitch from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, driving a fastball 401 feet to right-center for his second home run of the WBC.
SHOHEI OHTANI OPENS WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC WITH EXPLOSIVE GRAND SLAM AS JAPAN ANNIHILATES TAIWAN
Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan reacts to a strike out call in the seventh inning during the game between Venezuela and Japan at loanDepot park on March 14, 2026, in Miami, Florida. (Gene Wang – Capture At Media/Getty Images)
Enmanuel De Jesus pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win, and Daniel Palencia got the save, ending Japan’s fate by getting Ohtani to pop out for the final out.
Japan led 5-2 after a four-run third in which Shota Morishita, who replaced the injured Seiya Suzuki at center field, hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer off Suárez. The veteran left-hander who picked up a win in a group stage game against the Netherlands pitched 2 2/3 innings on Saturday, allowing three hits, five runs and two home runs.
Garcia homered on the eighth pitch against Chihiro Sumida to pull Venezuela within 5-4 in the fifth.
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World Series MVP Yamamoto allowed four hits and two runs while striking out five in four innings.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sports
Transfer rumors, news: Real Madrid open to Camavinga exit, as Premier League clubs circle
Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers from clubs looking to sign midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer, while Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly rated RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRENDING RUMORS
– Real Madrid are prepared to listen to offers from clubs looking to sign midfielder Eduardo Camavinga this summer, Marca reports. Several Premier League clubs are reported to have expressed an interest in acquiring the France international’s services, but his transfer will cost upwards of €50 million. Camavinga, 23, has struggled for regular game time this season in the Spanish capital, starting just 12 of Real Madrid’s 21 LaLiga matches.
– Arsenal have joined the race to sign highly rated RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba, according to L’Equipe. The 23-year-old looks set to leave Germany this summer for a fee in the region of €70 million, with a host of clubs from the Premier League and LaLiga tracking his development. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will follow up on their interest with a bid, although scouts have been to watch the young center back in recent weeks.
– Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs vying to land Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton this summer, as per Football Insider. Wharton, 22, is under contract at Palace until June 2029, meaning he won’t be easy to prize away from Selhurst Park. But the England international is also wanted by Chelsea following an impressive few seasons in south London.
– Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones is facing an uncertain future as he enters the final year of his contract this summer, says The Athletic. Jones, 25, has attracted the interest of Inter and Tottenham with his deal set to expire in June 2027 and, given his status as a homegrown player, Liverpool will be keen to raise a transfer fee from his exit rather than letting him go for nothing. Meanwhile, the Reds have triggered the 12-month option to extend goalkeeper Alisson Becker‘s contract, sources have confirmed to ESPN. Alisson’s deal at the club was due to expire this summer, but he is now under contract through to the end of the 2026-27 season.
– Arsenal are tracking Club Brugge forward Nicolo Tresoldi, claims Bild. Tresoldi, 21, has 15 goals and five assists in all competitions this season and has caught the eye of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, as well as the Gunners. The Germany U21 was born in Italy and came through the ranks of Hannover 96 before moving to Belgium in 2025. Because of his family, he can still choose to play for Italy, Argentina or Germany at senior level.
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OTHER RUMORS
– Chelsea and Manchester United are in a battle to land Cologne forward Said El Mala. (Caught Offside)
– Newcastle United are plotting a move to re-sign for their former academy graduate Elliot Anderson this summer. The Nottingham Forest midfielder is also wanted by Manchester United and Manchester City. (TEAMtalk)
– Manchester City are in advanced talks with Phil Foden over a new contract. The England international forward wants to stay at City beyond 2027. (Football Insider)
– Liverpool are set to sign Celtic wonderkid Dara Jikiemi after he rejected a long-term contract offer from the Scottish club. (TEAMtalk)
– Nice winger Jérémie Boga has already agreed personal terms with Juventus over a summer move. (Nicolo Schira)
– A Newcastle United scout was present at Internazionale’s recent game against Atalanta to watch Inter striker Pio Esposito and Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini. (Nicolo Schira)
– Barcelona are monitoring the development of Club Brugge center back Joel Ordóñez. (Ekrem Konur)
– Chelsea are set to rival Arsenal for Brentford full back Michael Kayode‘s signature. (Ekrem Konur)
– River Plate have made Torino forward Giovanni Simeone a top transfer priority. (Fabrizio Romano)
Sports
Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Latest updates as Antonelli stays in lead, Russell overtakes Hamilton
Kimi Antonelli is looking to convert his record-breaking Chinese Grand Prix pole into a maiden Formula 1 victory on Sunday, and you can follow it all live on ESPN right here:
Despite a gearbox issue for George Russell, Mercedes secured a second straight front-row lockout for the race in Shanghai — Russell was only able to put in one flying lap in Q3, but that was enough with Mercedes’ sheer pace carrying them through to a 1-2 in qualifying. As race pace suggests, Ferrari were right behind — with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari just behind them in 3-4. Watch out for their explosive starting potential on Sunday — even if the Australian Grand Prix and the Sprint race here at the Chinese Grand Prix indicates that Mercedes’ dominance over the course of the race will be very difficult to challenge.
Elsewhere, four-time world champion Max Verstappen continued to voice his displeasure with the Red Bull car after a disappointing qualifying leaving him in eighth on the grid behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly who impressed.
Oscar Piastri and defending world champion Lando Norris will line up in fifth and sixth respectively for McLaren.
Earlier on Saturday, a dramatic sprint race had seen George Russell hold off Lewis Hamilton’s early challenge, and later Charles Leclerc’s late push to win the sprint and extend his very early lead atop the Drivers’ Championship table.
Kimi Antonelli suffered a poor start in that race but recovered to finish fourth — but it’s the kind of start the record maker will want to avoid from pole today.
Sports
Pakistan win toss, opt to bowl first against Bangladesh in ODI series decider
Pakistan on Sunday won the toss and decided to bowl first against Bangladesh in the third and final ODI of the three-match series currently levelled 1-1.
Speaking at the toss, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said that Shamyl Hussain and Hussain Talal were injured and therefore couldn’t be part of today’s playing XI.
Talat suffered a shoulder injured in the second ODI when he attempted to stop a backfoot punch by Litton Das off Mohammad Wasim Jr from reaching the deep cover boundary and crashed into the advertising holding during the effort.
Meanwhile, Shamyl, as per the team’s spokesperson, has suffered from a neck strain.
Two players are making their debut for the national side today namely Ghazi Ghori and Saad Masood.
Pakistan had beat Bangladesh by 128 runs in the rain-affected second ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Set to chase a revised target of 243 in 32 overs, instead of 275 in 50 overs, the home side could accumulate 114 before getting bowled out in 23.3 overs.
Meanwhile in the first ODI, the hosts routed the visitors and secured an eight-wicket win in the first ODI.
The hosts comfortably chased Pakistan’s 115-run target, losing just two wickets in 15.1 overs, powered by a stellar performance from the Tigers’ top order.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Saad Masood, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed.
Bangladesh: Mehidy H Miraz (c), Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Najmul Hossain Shanti, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Kumer Das, Afif Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
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