Sports
James Outman blasts away his slump with home run in Dodgers' win over Twins
After two straight days spent out of the starting lineup, then two straight strikeouts to start Monday night’s game, James Outman’s season-opening slump had reached a nadir entering the seventh inning at Target Field.
Then, with one hanging slider and one cathartic swing, the Dodgers’ second-year center fielder finally found a reprieve.
In a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins, it was Outman’s solo shot that put the Dodgers in front for good, a towering 353-foot fly ball that sailed just high enough to clear a tall wall in the right-field corner.
It didn’t give Outman the biggest night offensively, not after Shohei Ohtani recorded his fifth straight multihit game by doubling twice early and homering for the third time this season later in the seventh inning.
Still, following a four-for-34 start, Outman’s contribution might have been the most important development Monday — not only to the final score, but also the trajectory of what had been a slow start to his second big league season.
“It felt good to see a ball land,” said Outman, who had been robbed on several hard-hit balls in the opening weeks. “It’s still pretty early in the season, so it feels a little early to freak out. But yeah, it’s a start in the right direction for sure.”
A year ago, Outman was a breakout piece in the Dodgers’ new-look outfield. Succeeding Cody Bellinger in center, he was selected the National League rookie of the month in both April and August. He finished the season with above-league-average marks in the field (where he ranked in the 90th percentile in “fielding run value,” per Baseball Savant) and at the plate (with an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of .790).
He wasn’t immune to extended rookie struggles, including a .229 batting average from May through July. Yet, he found a way to maintain his status as a regular starter on a star-studded team.
“If there was any time to panic, it was last year, and he didn’t,” manager Dave Roberts said of the former seventh-round draft pick. “For us, and for him most important, to know that he can get to the other side of it is very helpful.”
That’s why, as Outman sat against back-to-back left-handed opposing pitchers Saturday and Sunday at Wrigley Field, he didn’t dwell on his poor start or drastically change his high-powered, but strikeout-prone, swing.
Instead, he enjoyed “the luxury of being able to think more about your swing or mechanical things,” he said.
Did that lead to any big epiphanies?
“No, no big ones,” he said with a laugh. “Just tinkering.”
The adjustment wasn’t instant.
In his first at-bat Monday, Outman whiffed on three fastballs around the edge of the strike zone.
His next time up, he punched out on three pitches, going down swinging on a fastball over the heart of the plate.
“He’s in the middle of it right now,” Roberts said. “He was grinding.”
Then, suddenly, he wasn’t.
With the score tied 2-2 entering the seventh — thanks to a strong six-inning, two-run start from veteran left-hander James Paxton — Outman worked a full count in the first at-bat of the inning.
The 2-and-2 offering was a low slider from Twins reliever Jay Jackson. The payoff pitch was another slider, only this time left hanging right down the middle.
With a sky-high swing, Outman launched the ball on an arcing 42-degree trajectory, typically too high to carry a big league fence. But, even on a crisp April night, the 26-year-old got enough behind it to find the first row of the seats.
“It definitely relaxes you more,” he said, “when you see balls land.”
From there, the Dodgers (9-4) didn’t look back.
Ohtani, who’d already doubled twice earlier in the game, went deep three batters later, giving him 11 hits (including eight for extra bases) in his last 22 at-bats.
The back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen also delivered. Ryan Brasier, Daniel Hudson and Evan Phillips each held the Twins (3-5) scoreless over the final three innings.
“We were sound and pretty seamless,” Roberts said, contrasting the performance with an error-filled defeat the day before. “It was nice that we came to life later in the game.”
The Dodgers might have a new superstition partially to thank.
After watching Ohtani swing a cricket bat during a rain delay Sunday, then return to the field and collect a pair of extra-base hits when the game resumed, Outman decided to do the same Monday.
“After I saw Shohei get two hits, I was swinging the cricket bat [pregame],” he joked afterward.
So, is the flat, rectangular paddle the Dodgers’ new secret weapon?
“I guess if it works for Shohei,” Roberts said with a chuckle, “it should work for anyone.”
Even the second-year slugger in the middle of an early season funk.
“Hopefully that’s a sign of more things to come,” Roberts said of Outman. “But I know he’s grinding every day to kind of work through some things.”
Sports
Becky Lynch enters exclusive WWE club with Women’s Intercontinental Championship win at WrestleMania 42
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LAS VEGAS – Becky Lynch entered an atmosphere no other WWE women’s superstar has ever reached as she won the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over AJ Lee on Saturday night at WrestleMania 42.
Lynch became the first person to hold the Women’s Intercontinental Championship three times after she pinned Lee. She first won the title against Lyra Valkyria in June 2025 and then again against Maxxine Dupri in November.
Becky Lynch celebrates with the belt after defeating AJ Lee during their women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
She dropped the belt to Lee at the Elimination Chamber, sparking a monthslong feud with her.
Lee gave Lynch the chance at the title in the weeks prior to WrestleMania 42. But it appeared Lee played right into Lynch’s plans. Despite arguing with referee Jessica Carr for most of the match, Lynch was able to tactfully tear down a rope buckle and use it to her advantage.
Lynch hit Lee with a Manhandle Slam and pinned her for the win.
WWE STARS REVEAL WHAT MAKES WRESTLEMANIA SO SPECIAL: ‘IT’S THE SUPER BOWL OF PRO WRESTLING’
AJ Lee reacts after losing to Becky Lynch in their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match at WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
It’s the second straight year Lynch will leave Las Vegas as champion. She returned to WWE at WrestleMania 41, teaming with Valkyria, to win the women’s tag titles. She will now leave Allegiant Stadium as the women’s intercontinental champion.
Lynch is now a seven-time women’s champion, three-time women’s intercontinental champion and two-time tag team champion.
Becky Lynch withstands AJ Lee during their Women’s Intercontinental Championship match on night one of WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Lee’s reign as champion ended really before it could really begin. WrestleMania 42 was her first appearance at the event in 11 years. It’s unclear where Lee will go from here.
The Clippers’ season has come to an end but better than anyone expected. No consolation but a great job by head coach Tyronn Lue for guiding the Clippers from a disastrous 6-21 start and finishing with more than 40 wins.
Coach Lue led the team, overcoming major obstacles throughout the season with a player investigation, injuries, internal strife and major roster changes at the trade deadline. As usual for Clipper fans, wait till next year.
Wayne Muramatsu
Cerritos
The Clippers are the NBA’s version of Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle With You.” Yes, they have had 15 straight seasons of playing .500 or better, and owner Steve Ballmer has brought them respectability, but for their entire 56-year existence — which has contained many clowns and jokers — they still have never [attained] their goal of winning (or even reaching) the NBA Finals.
Ken Feldman
Tarzana
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LAS VEGAS – Paul Walter Hauser is an actor who has been in “The Naked Gun,” “Blackbird,” and “Richard Jewell.” But on Friday night at Maple Leaf Pro’s first U.S. event, MLP Multiverse, there was no acting going on.
Hauser squared off against QT Marshall in a sin city street fight at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. It was the final show of Slam Fest. The two pro wrestlers pulled out all the stops and left the ring in complete disarray.
Paul Walter Hauser competed against QT Marshall at Maple Leaf Pro Multiverse on April 18, 2026 in Las Vegas. (Fox News Digital)
It was a rematch of their brawl at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor event. Marshall went on the attack first, throwing in all kinds of foreign objects into the ring, including a piece of wood wrapped with barbed wire, a table, a cane, chairs and even a door was brought into the match.
Hauser was able to regain momentum in the match. He set up the barbed-wire object in the corner. Marshall countered and was trying to whip Hauser into the barbed wire. However, Hauser stopped himself. As Marshall tried to take Hauser by surprise, the movie star avoided Marshall and tossed him into the barbed wire.
Marshall was busted open, but wasn’t done. Hauser was trying to inflict more pain. He set up a table near one corner of the ring and poured thumbtacks on top of it. Marshall was able to powerbomb Hauser through the tacked table.
Paul Walter Hauser is pictured on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (Nathan Congleton/NBC)
BLUE PANTHER AND ÚLTIMO GUERRERO STEAL THE SHOW AT CMLL’S FIRST-EVER US EVENT IN LAS VEGAS
Hauser was left with thumbtacks in his back and one in his head. He managed to power through and put Marshall into a sharpshooter. Marshall tapped out. Hauser picked up the victory.
Hauser got his start in pro wrestling in 2023 at Pro Wrestling Revolver. He worked his way through appearances at All Elite Wrestling before he signed with Major League Wrestling in 2024.
He’s currently Progress Wrestling’s Progress proteus champion.
Elsewhere, Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) world heavyweight champion Hechicero defended his championship against Jonathan Gresham, Maple Leaf Pro Canadian women’s champion Gisele Shaw fended off Shotzi Blackheart, Persephone and surprise entrant Killer Kelly to keep the title.
Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Amazing Red defeated The Rascalz at Maple Leaf Pro Multiverse on April 18, 2026 in Las Vegas. (Fox News Digital)
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The show started with Subculture, the tag team duo of Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, defeated Vaughn Vertigo and Guy Cool. The Demand’s Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona defeated Sidney Akeem, Michael Oku and Rich Swaan, Steve Borden defeated Kiran Gray and Mistico, Mascara Dorada, Amazing Red defeated The Rascalz – Desmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed.
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