MILWAUKEE (AP) — Making his third major league start, Jacob Misiorowski threw five shutout innings and the Milwaukee Brewers earned a 4-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Paul Skenes. Misiorowski (3-0) allowed two hits, walked two and struck out eight and threw 74 pitches and lowered his ERA to 1.13 for the Brewers, who took two of three in the series and climbed a season-high nine games over .500. Skenes, also 23 and the reigning NL Rookie of the Year and a starter in the 2024 All-Star Game, allowed all four runs in the second inning. Skenes (4-7) gave up four hits with two walks and four strikeouts and threw 78 pitches for the Pirates.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Joe Ryan won for the seventh time in eight decisions, Kody Clemens hit his ninth homer and Willi Castro drove in the go-ahead run as the Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 to stop a five-game losing streak. Ryan allowed three hits in six innings, struck out eight and walked none to help Minnesota end a six-game home skid, its longest at Target Field since an eight-game slide from April 27 to May 20, 2016. Jhoan Duran got three straight outs for his 11th save in 13 chances, combining with Louis Varland and Griffin Jax for hitless relief.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Bongokuhle Hlongwane scored two goals in three minutes and Minnesota beat the Houston Dynamo 3-1. Hlongwane opened the scoring in the 60th minute with his back facing the goal on a back-heel redirection. Hlongwane ran into the crowd to celebrate with his mom, who saw him play an MLS game in person for the first time. Hlongwane made it 2-0 in the 63rd. Anthony Markanich headed a ball into the area and sent a pass from the endline in front of goal for Hlongwane’s touch home. Hlongwane took sole possession of second place in club history with 24 regular-season goals, breaking a tie with Emanuel Reynoso (22).
NEW YORK (AP) — Cooper Flagg is headed to the Dallas Mavericks, who may have found their next franchise superstar less than five months after trading one away. The Mavericks took the Duke forward with the No. 1 pick in the draft Wednesday night, selecting the 18-year-old who was the college player of the year in his lone season. Mavericks fans were furious when Dallas traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 1, some immediately threatening to end their support of the team. But the ones who stuck around may quickly love Flagg, who averaged 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while leading Duke to the Final Four. Rutgers freshman Dylan Harper was taken by San Antonio with the No. 2 pick.
The Minnesota Timberwolves went big with the 18-year-old project Joan Beringer at No. 17. He’s from France, like veteran Rudy Gobert, the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.