USA advances to WBC semifinals on Trea Turner grand slam vs. Venezuela  —  MIAMI — It was raucous.  It was exhilarating.  It was breathtaking.  —  It was sheer bedlam.  —  When the smoke cleared Saturday evening, the USA was dancing off the field, 9-7 winners over Venezuela …

Orioles observations on Colton Cowser's 476-foot blast, Dean Kremer's WBC experience, Mike Baumann's new role and more  —  FORT MYERS, Fla. — Colton Cowser didn't need to eat Wheaties on Friday morning to power the 476-foot home run he smashed against the Minnesota Twins.

Padres star Juan Soto suffers oblique injury in ‘B’ game  —  Padres star left fielder leaves ‘B’ game with ‘mild’ left oblique strain  —  The day before their day off was not a good one for the Padres.  —  Even before catcher Austin Nola was carted off the field with an apparent broken nose during …

A's starter Paul Blackburn, catcher Manny Piña to open season on IL  —  MESA, Ariz. — Oakland Athletics starter Paul Blackburn will begin the season on the injured list due to a torn fingernail on the middle finger of his pitching hand, manager Mark Kotsay said Friday.

Brandon Nimmo leaves spring training game vs Marlins with apparent ankle injury  —  The Mets just can't seem to catch a break.  —  One day after losing closer Edwin Diaz for up to eight months, Brandon Nimmo injured his right ankle on an awkward slide in a Grapefruit League game.

Dolphins bringing ex-Jets WR and former Hurricane Braxton Berrios back to Miami  —  Braxton Berrios is coming back to where he played his college football.  —  The former Miami Hurricanes receiver and return man is signing with the Miami Dolphins, according to multiple league sources.

Heat veteran Kyle Lowry adjusting to new role coming off bench  —  MIAMI — Miami Heat point guard Kyle Lowry has been a steady presence in the starting lineup for nearly his entire career.  —  The veteran had started 677 consecutive games that he was active for, dating back to his rookie season with the Toronto Raptors.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa enjoys a mostly smooth return to center field  —  LAKELAND, Fla. — The last time Isiah Kiner-Falefa played center field in a game that counted, he was still trying to break into the major leagues.  —  Back on June 17, 2017, “IKF” took to the middle of the outfield …

Mike Gesicki leaves Dolphins in free agency, signs with rival Patriots  —  The expectation with tight end Mike Gesicki this offseason is now reality.  His time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an end.  —  Gesicki is departing in free agency to join the New England Patriots, he told the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Friday morning.

Magic drop close road game to Suns despite Markelle Fultz's 25 points  —  The Orlando Magic cleaned up some of their defensive lapses Thursday against the Phoenix Suns after allowing 22 3-pointers in Tuesday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs.  —  But the improved defense from the Magic (28-42) …

UCLA rides fast start to rout of UNC Asheville in NCAA tournament opener  —  SACRAMENTO — Questions about UCLA center Adem Bona's health were looming ahead of the Bruins' NCAA tournament opener.  Each time Coach Mick Cronin answered questions about Bona's left shoulder, his answer remained consistent …