Atlanta, GA
WATCH: Michael Harris’s Storybook Return to Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II was activated on Wednesday after a two-month stint on the IL with a hamstring injury. The Braves were hoping to get the player back that won the 2022 Rookie of the Year, rather than the one that had struggled much of the 2024 season before becoming injured.
The early returns were good on Wednesday night in a 13-2 blowout of the San Francisco Giants.
Harris belted his first-career grand slam, a no-doubter into McCovey Cove to give the Braves a 5-0 lead before the Giants would even pick up a bat.
“Just being patient,” Harris said after the game about his journey back to the Braves. “Just getting back knowing I can some way help the team. Tonight, I was able to do that in the first at bat. It’s been a long journey, but I’m glad to be back to be able to help.”
As it turns out, Harris is the first Atlanta Braves player to splash down in the cove.
“Last year I thought I got one in there,” Harris said with a grin. “I wasn’t strong enough. So I knew when I came back I had to get one in there. Just being a Braves fan, I wouldn’t have believed I was the first one to go in there, but I’m glad to be the first I guess.”
The ball in the water opened the flood gates for the Atlanta offense. Matt Olson, Austin Riley, and Sean Murphy each had home runs in the blowout win.
It just wouldn’t be the Atlanta Braves without some potential bad news as well. Jorge Soler exited the game in the fourth inning with hamstring tightness. He’ll undergo an MRI on Thursday to check for any damage. Soler has been playing great for the Braves since being re-acquired before the deadline.
The Braves have won three-in-a-row since hitting rock bottom in the Rocky Mountains on Sunday. The Giants had a chance to pass the Braves in the wildcard race. Instead, Atlanta has opened up a two-game lead on the Mets, and San Francisco has fallen 4.5 back.
Max Fried is scheduled to take the bump at 3:45 p.m. EST as the Braves look for a rare-four-game sweep of the Giants.
Atlanta, GA
4 passengers injured as hundreds evacuate Delta flight by emergency slide in Atlanta
Hundreds of passengers were forced to evacuate a Delta airlines flight by emergency slides in snowy conditions Friday after an aborted takeoff in Atlanta — leading to at least four injuries and one hospitalization, authorities said.
Roughly 200 people hurriedly deplaned Minneapolis-bound flight 2668 on the tarmac at Atlanta International Airport at 9:10 a.m. due to an engine problem, airline officials said.
Footage posted on social media shows frazzled travelers, including children, running with their luggage from a Boeing 757-300 plane in several inches of snow, according to atlantanewsfirst.com.
Four passengers reported minor injuries and one was taken to the hospital, while the others were treated at the scene, the airport said.
Details about the engine problems were not immediately clear.
Delta apologized to passengers for the nerve-wracking experience.
“Delta’s flight crew followed established procedures to suspend the takeoff of flight…after an indication of an engine issue,” Delta said in a statement.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our people and customers, and we apologize to our customers for their experience.”
Atlanta, GA
Houston faces Atlanta on 3-game win streak
Houston Rockets (25-12, second in the Western Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (19-19, ninth in the Eastern Conference)
Atlanta; Saturday, 3 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Houston seeks to continue its three-game win streak with a victory over Atlanta.
The Hawks have gone 10-7 at home. Atlanta ranks third in the Eastern Conference with 17.5 fast break points per game led by Jalen Johnson averaging 3.6.
The Rockets have gone 12-6 away from home. Houston averages 113.1 points and has outscored opponents by 6.0 points per game.
The Hawks’ 13.1 made 3-pointers per game this season are just 0.7 more made shots on average than the 12.4 per game the Rockets give up. The Hawks average 113.1 points per game, 6.7 fewer points than the 119.8 the Hawks give up to opponents.
TOP PERFORMERS: Johnson is averaging 19.8 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 steals for the Hawks.
Alperen Sengun is averaging 19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and five assists for the Rockets.
LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 5-5, averaging 119.2 points, 41.2 rebounds, 30.5 assists, 11.2 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.5 points per game.
Rockets: 7-3, averaging 113.7 points, 48.0 rebounds, 19.9 assists, 8.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.9 points.
INJURIES: Hawks: Kobe Bufkin: out for season (shoulder), Larry Nance Jr.: out (hand), Jalen Johnson: day to day (shoulder), Cody Zeller: day to day (personal).
Rockets: Tari Eason: day to day (injury management), Jabari Smith Jr.: out (hand).
——
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
MLS apologizes for falsely announcing Atlanta United transfer
Major League Soccer apologized Thursday for publishing a story on its website that identified the wrong player as having transferred to one of its clubs, Atlanta United.
The league’s website, MLSSoccer.com, published a story Wednesday that falsely reported that Celtic FC and Japan forward Kyogo Furuhashi had been acquired by Atlanta. The article was quickly removed.
“Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club,” the league said in a statement to The Athletic. “The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.”
The false report is no longer available, and the link now directs to an error message.
The mistake appears linked to Atlanta’s transfer hint for another player, US-born Cayman Togashi, a former Japanese youth international who spent his entire professional career in Japan. Atlanta teased on social media the arrival of a Japanese player, fueling those rumors even more.
The club later announced it signed Togashi through the 2025 season with an option for 2026. The 31-year-old signed on a free transfer from Sagan Tosu in Japan’s top flight.
Last month, the Daily Mail reported that Atlanta submitted a $12 million bid for Furuhashi. The club also recently named Ronny Delia, a former Celtic manager, as its head coach. Around the time of the false report by MLS, Furuhashi played in Celtic’s 2-0 win against Dundee United, coming on as a substitute for Adam Idah in the 62nd minute.
(Photo: Craig Foy / SNS Group via Getty Images)
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