EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scotland profited from four yellow cards to Tonga — one of which was upgraded to a red — to run in eight tries in a 56-0 thrashing in a rugby international at Murrayfield on Sunday.
Jamie Ritchie, George Turner and Max Williamson all went over while Tonga flanker Semisi Paea was off the field for a dangerous clear-out in the sixth minute. Paea was initially in the sin bin but it changed to a 20-minute red card after a review, ending his involvement in what proved to be a one-sided game.
Tonga could barely keep 15 players on the field at the same time, with the yellow cards including winger Taniela Filimone in the 48th for a deliberate knock-on and center Fine Inisi in the 58th for the same offense.
Still, it took until the hour mark for Scotland to get its fourth try, through Duhan van der Merwe, who ran onto an offload and burst through a gap in midfield to score a national-record 35th try for the country — edging past fellow winger Darcy Graham in their duel.
Ewan Ashman and George Horne added a further two tries apiece to push Scotland past the half-century mark.
Fergus Burke kicked five conversions and Horne knocked over the other three, two from his own tries.
Scotland ended the autumn series with shutouts of the United States and Tonga, either side of losses to New Zealand and Argentina.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Scotland's George Turner, front center, celebrates with James Ritchie, center left, after scoring his side's second try during the Quilter Nations Series Rugby match between Scotland and Tonga in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
Tonga's players, rear, perform the Sipi tau ahead of the Quilter Nations Series Rugby match between Scotland and Tonga in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
Scotland's George Horne, left, celebrates after scoring his sides seventh try with his teammate Duhan van der Merwe during the Quilter Nations Series Rugby match between Scotland and Tonga in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
PHOENIX (AP) — Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson opened the ninth inning with back-to-back home runs, sending the Atlanta Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Grant Holmes held the Diamondbacks to one hit through six innings, matching zeros with Arizona starter Eduardo Rodríguez.
Albies and Olson connected off reliever Paul Sewald (0-1), helping the Braves improve to 6-2 while the Diamondbacks dropped to 3-5. Arizona has scored only three runs in its last three games.
Robert Suarez (1-0) pitched a perfect eighth inning and Raisel Iglesias worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save this season.
Albies, who had three of Atlanta's six hits, drove an 0-1 pitch from Sewald over the right-field fence for his second homer of the year.
Olson sent Sewald’s next delivery to left for his second home run as well.
In the early innings, both starters were in command. Holmes didn't give up a hit until Ketel Marte singled on a sharp line drive to left with one out in the sixth. The right-hander walked three and struck out four.
In his only two previous starts against the Diamondbacks, both last year, Holmes allowed nine runs in nine innings.
Rodríguez tossed seven strong innings of his own, scattering four hits while walking one and striking out three. It's the first time the left-hander has opened a season with consecutive scoreless starts.
The third game of the four-game series is Saturday, with Braves RHP Bryce Elder (1-0) facing Michael Soroka (1-0).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Atlanta Braves pitcher Grant Holmes (66) pitches during a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald (38) is relieved from pitching after allowing two home runs during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braces, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (27) celebrates a home run by Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)
Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)
