Sports

May 1—DETROIT — Days before he felt the velocity slip from his fingertips, Steven Matz experienced the soreness that would infiltrate his start Tuesday with each footfall on a run. The Cardinals’ lefty experienced soreness in his lower back jogging this past week, and while he felt the discomfort abate he could not get it to alleviate entirely before taking the ball for Game 2 of a doubleheader against Detroit at Comerica Park.

STILLWATER -- The Bixby Spartans defeated the Ponca City Wildcats 8-4 Wednesday in an elimination game in the Class 6A Regional Tournament. With the loss, Ponca City’s season ended.

MATT YOUNG Houston Chronicle Apr. 30—After a month of failing to deliver the big hit, the Astros got one in the biggest spot as Victor Caratini delivered a two-out, pinchhit walk-off home run to right field in the 10th inning to beat the Guardians 10-9 on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.

The Norman Transcript, Okla. Apr.

STILLWATER -- After losing the opening game of the Class 6A Regional, the Ponca City Wildcats bounced back to win an elimination game Tuesday and earn the right to play again on Wednesday. The Wildcats and the host Stillwater Pioneers engaged in a high scoring affair in the tournament’s opening game and Stillwater came out on top 18-11.

EVAN GRANT The Dallas Morning News ARLINGTON, Texas — April has come and gone. Wyatt Langford is still seeking his first homer that sets off the automatic firework salvo.

Apr. 30—DETROIT — Standing in the posh new clubhouse he calls home and pausing only briefly to needle a teammate about a poor practice putt made across the room, Jack Flaherty listed the three things, beyond the contract offer, that he sought when choosing his next team.