MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
KANSAS CITY 6 ST. LOUIS 4
KANSAS CITY 8 ST. LOUIS 5
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 3 MINNESOTA 1
MINNESOTA 3 CHICAGO WHITE SOX 2
CHICAGO CUBS 4 BALTIMORE 0
SEATTLE 2 SAN DIEGO 0
DETROIT 5 CLEVELAND 4
NY YANKEES 2 TAMPA BAY 1
PHILADELPHIA 4 LA DODGERS 3
COLORADO 6 CINCINNATI 5
NY METS 6 WASHINGTON 2
OAKLAND 5 BOSTON 2
MILWAUKEE 9 PITTSBURGH 0
HOUSTON 9 MIAMI 1
LA ANGELS 7 TEXAS 2
ARIZONA 7 ATLANTA 5
TORONTO 10 SAN FRANCISCO 6
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
COLUMBUS 3 INDIANAPOLIS 1
DAYTON 5 SOUTH BEND 4
FT. WAYNE AT GREAT LAKES PPD
NBA SUMMER LEAGUE SCORES
OKLAHOMA CITY 80 MEMPHIS 77
MIAMI 80 LA LAKERS 76
UTAH 93 PHILADELPHIA 85
GOLDEN STATE 91 SACRMANETO 90
WNBA SCORES
NEW YORK 71 CONNECTICUT 68
WASHINGTON 89 INDIANA 84
CHICAGO 78 ATLANTA 69
LAS VEGAS 84 SEATTLE 79
MLS
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
INDIANA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
AUG 31 FIU
SEPT 7 WESTERN ILLINOIS
SEPT 14 AT UCLA
SEPT 21 CHARLOTTE
SEPT 28 MARYLAND
OCT 5 AT NORTHWESTERN
OCT 12 OPEN DATE
OCT 19 NEBRASKA
OCT 26 WASHINGTON
NOV 2 AT MICHIGAN STATE
NOV 9 MICHIGAN
NOV 16 OPEN DATE
NOV 23 AT OHIO STATE
NOV 30 PURDUE
PURDUE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
AUG 31 OPEN DATE
SEPT 7 INDIANA STATE
SEPT 14 NOTRE DAME
SEPT 21 AT OREGON STATE
SEPT 28 NEBRASKA
OCT 5 AT WISCONSIN
OCT 12 AT ILLINOIS
OCT 19 OREGON
OCT 26 OPEN DATE
NOV 2 NORTHWESTERN
NOV 9 AT OHIO STATE
NOV 16 PENN STATE
NOV 23 AT MICHIGAN STATE
NOV 30 AT INDIANA
NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
AUG 31 AT TEXAS A&M
SEPT 7 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
SEPT 14 AT PURDUE
SEPT 21 MIAMI UNIVERSITY
SEPT 28 LOUISVILLE
OCT 5 OPEN DATE
OCT 12 STANFORD
OCT 19 AT GEORGIA TECH
OCT 26 VS NAVY (IN EAST RUTHERFORD)
NOV 2 OPEN DATE
NOV 9 FLORIDA STATE
NOV 16 VIRGINIA
NOV 23 ARMY (IN BRONX)
NOV 30 AT USC
BALL STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
AUG 31 OPEN DATE
SEPT 7 MISSOURI STATE
SEPT 14 AT MIAMI
SEPT 21 AT CENTRAL MICHIGAN
SEPT 28 AT JAMES MADISON
OCT 5 WESTERN MICHIGAN
OCT 12 AT KENT STATE
OCT 19 AT VANDERBILT
OCT 26 NORTHERN ILLINOIS
NOV 2 MIAMI UNIVERSITY
NOV 9 OPEN DATE
NOV 12 AT BUFFALO
NOV 23 BOWLING GREEN
NOV 29 AT OHIO
NFL TRAINING CAMP DATES
ARIZONA CARDINALS
ROOKIES: JULY 23. VETERANS: JULY 23.
ATLANTA FALCONS
ROOKIES: JULY 24. VETERANS: JULY 24.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
ROOKIES: JULY 13. VETERANS: JULY 20.
BUFFALO BILLS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
ROOKIES: JULY 19. VETERANS: JULY 23.
CHICAGO BEARS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 19.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
ROOKIES: JULY 20. VETERANS: JULY 23.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
ROOKIES: JULY 22. VETERANS: JULY 23.
DALLAS COWBOYS
ROOKIES: JULY 24. VETERANS: JULY 24.
DENVER BRONCOS
ROOKIES: JULY 17. VETERANS: JULY 23.
DETROIT LIONS
ROOKIES: JULY 20. VETERANS: JULY 23.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
ROOKIES: JULY 17. VETERANS: JULY 21.
HOUSTON TEXANS
ROOKIES: JULY 17. VETERANS: JULY 17.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
ROOKIES: JULY 24. VETERANS: JULY 24.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
ROOKIES: JULY 19. VETERANS: JULY 23.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 20.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
ROOKIES: JULY 21. VETERANS: JULY 23.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
ROOKIES: JULY 23. VETERANS: JULY 23.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
ROOKIES: JULY 21. VETERANS: JULY 23.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
ROOKIES: JULY 19. VETERANS: JULY 23.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
NEW YORK GIANTS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
NEW YORK JETS
ROOKIES: JULY 18. VETERANS: JULY 23.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
ROOKIES: JULY 23. VETERANS: JULY 23.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
ROOKIES: JULY 24. VETERANS: JULY 24.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
ROOKIES: JULY 16. VETERANS: JULY 23.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
ROOKIES: JULY 17. VETERANS: JULY 23.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
ROOKIES: JULY 22. VETERANS: JULY 23.
TENNESSEE TITANS
ROOKIES: JULY 23. VETERANS: JULY 23.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS
ROOKIES: JULY 18. VETERANS: JULY 23.
NFL WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
- BALTIMORE RAVENS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6
- GREEN BAY PACKERS VS. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL), 8:15 P.M. ET (PEACOCK)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8
- PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT ATLANTA FALCONS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- ARIZONA CARDINALS AT BUFFALO BILLS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- TENNESSEE TITANS AT CHICAGO BEARS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- HOUSTON TEXANS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS, 1 P.M. ET (CBS)
- CAROLINA PANTHERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT NEW YORK GIANTS, 1 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DENVER BRONCOS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, 4:05 P.M. ET (CBS)
- DALLAS COWBOYS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS, 4:25 P.M. ET (CBS)
- WASHINGTON COMMANDERS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS, 4:25 P.M. ET (FOX)
- LOS ANGELES RAMS AT DETROIT LIONS, 8:20 P.M. ET (NBC)
MONDAY, SEPT. 9
- NEW YORK JETS AT SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, 8:15 P.M. ET (ESPN/ABC)
TOP NATIONAL SPORTS HEADLINES
BASKETBALL NEWS
USA TOPS CANADA IN EXHIBITION OPENER AHEAD OF PARIS
LAS VEGAS (AP) — For USA Basketball, the road to the Paris Olympics has started with a win.
Anthony Davis scored 13 points, Stephen Curry added 12 and the United States opened its tune-up schedule for the Paris Games by topping Canada 86-72 on Wednesday night.
Jrue Holiday scored 11 points and Anthony Davis finished with 10 for the U.S., which has four more exhibitions before getting to France.
RJ Barrett scored 12 points for Canada, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dillon Brooks each had 10.
President Barack Obama was at the game, as were many NBA coaches and dozens of USA Basketball dignitaries in town for the federation’s 50th anniversary celebration. Among them: Jerry Colangelo, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Boeheim, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Dawn Staley, Lisa Leslie, Teresa Edwards, Swin Cash, Lindsay Whalen and many more.
Cold start
The U.S. was down 11-1 midway through the first quarter, having missed its first six shot attempts. The rest of the half: U.S. 40, Canada 22, and the Americans shot 18 for 28 — 64.3% — in that span. The lead was 41-33 at the break and the Americans stretched it to 69-54 going into the fourth.
It was easy to see where the Americans, who have been together for less than a week, still are figuring things out; there were at least four occasions where simple passes ended up in the first row of seats because someone thought a zig was coming instead of a zag.
Second unit
The second unit for the U.S. — Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum — was particularly impressive. Each of those five players had a plus-minus of plus-10 or better, meaning the U.S. outscored Canada by at least 10 points with them on the floor.
And that’s as it should be. Only the Americans can trot out a lineup of “bench players” at the Olympics, all of them being All-Stars. That fivesome has 21 combined All-Star nods, two NBA champions in Davis and Tatum, and two perennial All-Defense players in Davis and Adebayo. It’s clearly not a typical second unit.
Oh, and remember: The U.S. didn’t have Kevin Durant (calf strain) and Derrick White (not yet with the team) available Wednesday.
For Starters
The first starting lineup of the summer rolled out by U.S. coach Steve Kerr: Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James and Joel Embiid.
It certainly could change going forward. But if last year is any indication, it’s a clear view into Kerr’s thinking right now.
Kerr has cautioned in the past about not reading too much into lineups, especially from the first scrimmage. That said, the first five he had in the first exhibition game last summer going into the World Cup — Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Ingram and Anthony Edwards — were the starters in the tournament opener against New Zealand.
Next Up
The U.S. plays Australia in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Monday.
DERRICK WHITE REPLACES KAWHI LEONARD ON US OLYMPIC MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Derrick White of the NBA champion Boston Celtics has replaced the Los Angeles Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard on the U.S. team for the Paris Olympics, USA Basketball said Wednesday in the first shakeup to a roster that was announced in the spring.
Leonard missed 12 of the Los Angeles Clippers’ final 14 games this past season with right knee inflammation, though he said in recent days that he felt fine and the knee was doing well. USA Basketball said it, along with the Clippers, made the decision on Leonard’s status for Paris.
“Kawhi has been ramping up for the Olympics over the past several weeks and had a few strong practices in Las Vegas,” USA Basketball said in a statement. “He felt ready to compete. However, he respects that USA Basketball and the Clippers determined it’s in his best interest to spend the remainder of the summer preparing for the upcoming season rather than participating in the Olympic Games in Paris.”
White averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists for the Celtics this past season. His selection gives Boston three of the 12 players on the U.S. roster; Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday also are Paris-bound.
White is expected to be in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, later this week to join the U.S. squad. The team will fly to Abu Dhabi from Las Vegas on Thursday and is scheduled to practice there Saturday ahead of exhibition games against Australia on July 15 and Serbia on July 17.
“I am happy to announce that Derrick will compete at his first Olympic Games on the heels of a championship season in Boston,” USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill said. “We look forward to him joining the team in the coming days as we continue preparations for Paris.
“I want to thank Kawhi for his commitment to the USA Men’s National Team,” Hill added. “He earned the opportunity to represent the United States, but USA Basketball and Clippers leadership felt it’s important to allow Kawhi to prepare for the NBA season.”
White — a second-team All-Defensive selection after this past NBA season, meaning he’ll clearly take some of the on-ball defending duties that the Olympic team likely envisioned Leonard having — has some USA Basketball experience, including being part of the 2019 World Cup team that finished seventh in China. He and the Celtics agreed on a four-year extension worth nearly $126 million after the playoff run, one in which he led Boston with 65 made 3-pointers on a team-best 40.4% shooting from beyond the arc.
Leonard is a two-time NBA champion, six-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA player, but injury issues have been a recurring theme in his career. USA Basketball had monitored him closely in recent weeks, making sure he was doing well enough to be on the court after his season with the Clippers ended prematurely.
He has missed 256 regular-season games over the last seven years, including all of the 2021-22 season with knee trouble. He appeared in 68 games this past season for the Clippers, his most since playing in 74 for San Antonio during the 2016-17 season.
“This is just my journey,” Leonard said earlier this week, discussing his injuries. “I can’t lay out the perfect script for me. Last year I tried to play as much as possible, felt great and at a certain period of time I couldn’t go. I tried the best that I could, but it’s just my journey. I don’t want to be in a situation that (I’m) in, but I’ve got to take it for what it is. And a lot of people are watching, supporters or doubters. But I motivate a lot of people, so I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Leonard — part of a 592-person Olympic team formally named by the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee earlier Wednesday — had said earlier this week that his knee was fine and he was able to resume on-court training about three weeks ago to get ready for the Games.
“I’m ready to go,” Leonard said then. “I’m playing now so, I’m happy.”
A couple of days later, hours before the first U.S. exhibition game against Canada and one day before the team departs for Abu Dhabi — the first of two international stops for more games and practices before arriving in France for the Olympics — Leonard was gone.
Leonard’s departure leaves the U.S., at least until White arrives, with 10 available players. Kevin Durant will not play against Canada because of a calf strain and could not compete in the team’s four-day training camp in Las Vegas that ended Tuesday. USA Basketball is working under the expectation that Durant will be ready for increasingly more on-court activity in the coming days.
Leonard had been invited to be part of USA Basketball teams in the past and had to decline for various reasons, primarily injury issues or long playoff runs.
“I always wanted to play against other talent overseas or just other basketball styles and players,” Leonard said. “It is one of the reasons why I play the game.”
CANADA FINALIZES ITS MEN’S OLYMPIC BASKETBALL ROSTER, WITH 8 RETURNEES FROM WORLD CUP TEAM
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Canada finalized its men’s basketball roster for the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, with eight of the 12 players selected having been part of the run to a bronze medal at last summer’s World Cup.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Dillon Brooks, Kelly Olynyk, Lugentz Dort, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, RJ Barrett, Dwight Powell and Melvin Ejim are the eight Olympians who were on the World Cup roster a year ago when Canada won a wild bronze-medal game over the U.S. 127-118 in overtime. It was Canada’s most significant international medal since winning silver at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
The four players on the Olympic team that weren’t part of the World Cup: Jamal Murray, Khem Birch, Trey Lyles and Andrew Nembhard.
“Leading our Senior Men’s National Team into the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is an incredible honor,” Olynyk said. “Since I began playing basketball, my dream has always been to represent Canada at the Olympics. Last year’s third-place finish at the FIBA World Cup was an important step, proving that we belong among the world’s best teams. However, it also showed us that we still have work to do as we pursue our ultimate goal of winning gold in Paris.”
The team opens its exhibition schedule Wednesday in Las Vegas against the United States.
Gilgeous-Alexander is now a second-generation Olympian; his mother, Charmaine Gilgeous, ran for Antigua and Barbuda in the 1992 Barcelona Games. Same goes for Barrett; his father, Rowan Barrett, was on the 2000 Olympic team for Canada and serves as the general manager for Canada’s men’s national team. And for Ejim, it’s a sibling thing; his sister, Yvonne Ejim, will play in France this summer as part of the Canadian women’s basketball roster.
“Representing your country at an Olympic Games is one of the greatest honors in sport and something each of these players will never forget the first time they step onto the court,” Rowan Barrett said. “As we build on our success last summer, maintaining the continuity and cohesion we established with that team was vital to assembling this Olympic roster.”
The team is coached by Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets.
“When we opened camp in Toronto last week, I challenged each of the players to improve 1% each day, and every day since I’ve witnessed the work and dedication they have put in,” Fernández said. “With 17 days to go until our first game of the tournament, that’s an opportunity to get 17% better. From the players to the coaches to the staff, the incredible opportunity ahead of us to do something truly historic for Canada this summer is not lost on anyone.”
REPORT: NBA AGREES TO TERMS ON 11-YEAR, $76B MEDIA RIGHTS DEAL
The NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deal, an 11-year agreement worth $76 billion that assures player salaries will continue rising for the foreseeable future and one that will surely change how some viewers access the game for years to come.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the networks have the terms sheets, with the next step being for the league’s board of governors to approve the contracts.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because they weren’t at liberty to discuss such impending matters.
The deal, which set NBA records for both its length and total value, goes into effect for the 2025-26 season. Games will continue being aired on ESPN and ABC, and now some will be going to NBC and Amazon Prime. TNT Sports, which has been part of the league’s broadcasting family since the 1980s, could be on its way out, but has five days to match one of the deals.
The five-day clock would begin once the league sends the finished contracts to TNT.
The Athletic was the first to report on the contracts.
In the short term, the deal almost certainly means the league’s salary cap will rise 10% annually — the maximum allowed by the terms of the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NBA and its players. That means players like Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Dallas’ Luka Doncic could be making around $80 million in the 2030-31 season and raises at least some possibility that top players may be earning somewhere near $100 million per season by the mid-2030s.
It also clears the way for the next major item on the NBA’s to-do list: Expansion.
Commissioner Adam Silver was very clear on the order of his top agenda items in recent seasons, those being preserving labor peace (which was achieved with the new CBA), getting a new media deal (now essentially completed) and then and only then would the league turn its attention toward adding new franchises. Las Vegas and Seattle are typically among the cities most prominently mentioned as top expansion candidates, with others such as Montreal, Vancouver and Kansas City expected to have groups with interest as well.
As the broadcast rights packages have grown in total value over the last 25 years, so, too, have salaries because of how much that revenue stream ends up fueling the salary cap.
When NBC and Turner agreed to a $2.6 billion, four-year deal that started with the 1998-99 season, the salary cap was $30 million per team and the average salary was around $2.5 million. The average salary this season exceeded $10 million per player — and it’s only going to keep going up from here.
When that NBC-Turner deal that started a quarter-century ago expired, the next deal — covering six seasons — cost ABC, ESPN and Turner about $4.6 billion. The next was a seven-year deal, costing those networks $7.4 billion.
The current deal, the one that will expire next season, smashed those records — nine years, nearly $24 billion.
And now, that seems like pocket change.
From the deal that started in 1998-99 to the one now struck to begin in 2025, the total value has climbed by about 2,800%. Factoring for inflation even between then and now, the value goes up about 1,400%.
SIXERS SIGN 16-YEAR VETERAN G ERIC GORDON
The Philadelphia 76ers announced the signing of 16-year veteran Eric Gordon on Wednesday.
Terms of the deal with the 35-year-old shooting guard were not disclosed.
Gordon averaged 11.0 points and shot 37.8 percent from 3-point range in 68 games (24 starts) for the Phoenix Suns in 2023-24.
“Eric is a proven shot-maker whose ability to create space and punish defenses that overextend will help solidify an already dynamic offense,” Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said. “He plays bigger as the moments get bigger which will be key for our playoff run. I’ve known Eric for many years — he is devoted to his craft and continuously works on his game, allowing him to have such a long and successful career. We are lucky to have him in Philly.”
Morey was the general manager in Houston for part of the time when Gordon played for the Rockets.
Drafted No. 7 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2008, Gordon was the Sixth Man of the Year in 2016-17 with the Rockets. He ranks ninth among active players with 2,028 career 3-pointers.
Gordon has career averages of 15.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 886 games (652 starts) with the Clippers (2008-11, 2023), New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans (2011-16), Rockets (2016-23) and Suns.
REPORT: ANTHONY EDWARDS SIGNS MULTIYEAR EXTENSION WITH ADIDAS
Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards has signed a multiyear extension with sneaker brand Adidas that is worth around $50 million, The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Edwards has been with Adidas since entering the NBA in 2020. His first shoe, the AE1, was released in November 2023 and became a best seller, per the reports.
Edwards signed a five-year maximum extension with the Timberwolves last year worth more than $200 million with another $45 million available in incentives.
Just 22, Edwards is a two-time All-Star and an All-NBA selection this past season. He is a member of Team USA and competing in this summer’s Olympics in Paris.
He averaged a career-best 25.9 points per game in 2023-24 to go with 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
He’s averaging 22.9 points, 5.2 points and 4.1 assists per game since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2020 draft.
GRIZZLIES’ ZACH EDEY CONSENSUS ROOKIE OF THE YEAR BETTING FAVORITE
Zach Edey clearly has made a good first NBA impression with bookmakers.
Edey is now the consensus betting favorite for Rookie of the Year after his outstanding summer league debut with the Memphis Grizzlies.
A polarizing draft prospect because of questions over how his game would translate to the NBA level, Edey was considered a long shot for Rookie of the Year when betting for the award opened late last month, with ESPN BET offering odds as high as +2000 on the former Purdue star.
But two days after recording a double-double against the Jazz, Edey (+600) was listed as the co-favorite — along with Washington’s Alex Sarr — for Rookie of the Year at ESPN BET as of Wednesday morning.
Edey also is +600 for Rookie of the Year at both DraftKings and FanDuel and is a slight favorite over Sarr at both sportsbooks.
Sarr, the No. 2 pick in last month’s NBA draft, is +650 at DraftKings and +700 at FanDuel. Zaccharie Risacher, drafted first overall by the Hawks, is +700 at DraftKings and +750 at both ESPN BET and FanDuel.
Edey, who became the first player in more than 40 years to win The Associated Press’ men’s college basketball player of the year award in back-to-back seasons, was taken by Memphis with the ninth pick and was labeled as a “special fit” for the Grizzlies by general manager Zach Kleiman.
The 7-foot-4 Edey certainly looked special Monday in the Grizzlies’ Salt Lake City summer league game, finishing with 14 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in 34 minutes. He also forced overtime with a buzzer-beating tip-in, earning praise from Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins.
“[There were] so many encouraging signs from the game the other night,” Jenkins said the following day on the ESPN broadcast during the Grizzlies’ summer league game against the Philadelphia 76ers. “Obviously he has that tip-in. Just the fire that he plays with. … We’re going to try to expand his game a little bit more. I think he can be a threat on the inside in the post, bringing that back a little bit.”
WNBA NEWS
ATKINS SCORES 26 FOR THE MYSTICS, WHO OVERCOME CAITLIN CLARK’S 29 POINTS TO BEAT THE FEVER 89-84
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ariel Atkins scored 26 points, including a key basket in the final minute, and the Washington Mystics held off the Indiana Fever 89-84 on Wednesday to spoil Caitlin Clark’s 29-point performance.
Washington led 76-55 after three quarters before Indiana rallied behind 15 fourth-quarter points from Clark.
Clark became the first WNBA player with 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five 3-pointers, five steals and three blocks in a game.
After Clark capped a 14-0 run with a free throw to pull Indiana within 85-82 with 1:05 left, Atkins answered at the other end with an off-balance shot in the lane.
Clark made two more free throws and a jump ball was called with 20.3 seconds left. Indiana forward Aliyah Boston tapped it back, but Atkins grabbed it and fell to the ground before a timeout was called with 16.9.
Julie Vanloo secured an inbounds pass and made two free throws with 16.2 left for a five-point lead to secure it.
Stefanie Dolson and Vanloo each scored 13 points for Washington (6-17). Aaliyah Edwards added 12 points and Myisha Hines-Allen had 10. The Mystics were without Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes and Karlie Samuelson.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 15 points and NaLyssa Smith added 11 for Indiana (9-14). Lexie Hull, who made her first start of the season, finished with five points in 20 minutes.
KAHLEAH COPPER SCORES 32 AS MERCURY DOMINATE WINGS
Kahleah Copper poured in 32 points as the host Phoenix Mercury swamped the hapless Dallas Wings 100-84 on Wednesday afternoon in the final of four games between the teams this season.
The Mercury (12-10) won their third straight game and captured the season series 3-1.
Phoenix led by three points at halftime, by 14 after three periods and poured it on in the fourth, building a 94-70 cushion with just under six minutes to play.
Brittney Griner added 23 points for the Mercury, Natasha Cloud had 14 and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan 12 points. Diana Taurasi missed her second straight game with a foot injury.
Odyssey Sims and Natasha Howard scored 19 points each to lead Dallas (5-18), which has dropped five of its past six games and has just two wins since May 26. Teaira McCowan added 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Arike Ogunbowale had 13 point and 13 assists.
The first period featured three lead changes over the initial five minutes before the Wings ran off an 8-2 burst, capped by a cutting layup by Howard, to go up 20-13 at the 3:13 mark. Dallas led by as many as 11 points in the period before settling for a 29-21 going into the second quarter.
Phoenix rallied to tie the game at 37 when Cloud canned a 3-pointer with 4:29 to play in the second quarter. Dallas went back up by three points, before the Mercury rallied to tie at 42, and then the Wings moved in front at 44-42 on a layup by Copper with 1:11 left. Phoenix led 49-46 at the break.
Copper led all scorers with 18 points in the half, while Griner had 13 for the Mercury, which shot 61.3 percent in the half. Howard paced Dallas with 12 points and Sims added 10.
The Wings were still within 54-51 Howard hit two of three free throws with 8:23 to play in the third quarter. But Phoenix pushed the margin to a 15 points after a 3-pointer by Herbert Harrigan with 51 seconds left in the period and led 80-66 heading into the final quarter.
JACKIE YOUNG, ACES DEAL STORM HOME DEFEAT
Jackie Young scored 17 of her team-high 27 points in the third quarter Wednesday as the Las Vegas Aces rallied from a six-point halftime deficit for an 84-79 win over the host Seattle Storm.
A’ja Wilson added 24 points and 20 rebounds for Las Vegas (14-7), which won for the eighth time in nine games. It was the first career 20-20 game for Wilson, who missed a short stretch of the third quarter after an inadvertent elbow bloodied her nose. Kelsey Plum chipped in 13 points and Chelsea Gray netted 11.
Jewell Loyd scored a game-high 28 points for Seattle (14-8), which lost for only the second time in seven games. Skylar Diggins-Smith added 16 points and eight assists, while Ezi Magbegor contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The Storm pulled within 82-79 on three foul shots by Loyd with 45 seconds remaining and then forced a miss to regain the ball. They had two chances to tie the game on their next-to-last possession, but Nneka Ogwumike and Loyd each missed 3-pointers. Wilson grabbed a rebound and sealed the outcome by making two foul shots with 2.3 seconds left.
The teams’ third matchup of the season was controlled in the first half by Seattle’s defense. The unusual part was that it didn’t do so in its normal fashion — via steals and blocked shots — but by forcing one miss after another.
Las Vegas made only 6 of 22 shots in the first quarter and trailed 17-13, then fell behind 28-20 at the 6:22 mark of the second period when Loyd tossed in a 3-pointer. Loyd sank two foul shots with 3.4 seconds remaining in the half for a 36-30 Storm lead at the break.
But the game turned in the third quarter as the Aces rode Young’s hot hand. She accounted for 10 points in less than three minutes, giving them the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 4:32 left, and led them to a 60-55 edge going to the fourth period.
SKY OUTLAST DREAM BEHIND CHENNEDY CARTER’S 19 POINTS
Chennedy Carter scored 19 points and rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso both notched double-doubles to boost the host Chicago Sky to a 78-69 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday.
Chicago outscored Atlanta 24-15 in the fourth quarter on the way to its third victory in the past four games.
The Dream have lost eight of nine, a slide that includes an eight-point home loss to Chicago on July 2.
Marina Mabrey converted a three-point play to break a tie and put the Sky ahead 68-65 with 4:17 remaining in the game. Chicago (9-12) never relinquished the lead after that but the Dream stuck around.
Allisha Gray’s layup off a backdoor cut feed from Maya Caldwell drew Atlanta (7-14) to within a point with 1:23 to go.
Dana Evans missed a free throw after referees whistled Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright for a technical foul, but the Sky recovered as Carter and Reese scored baskets on the next two possessions to help Chicago pull away.
Reese snagged a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 11 points that left the crowd in suspense. Reese extended her WNBA record to 14 consecutive games with a double-double thanks to a pair of free throws with 6.4 seconds left. The run includes three double-doubles against the Dream, who were led by Gray’s 20 points.
Naz Hillmon and Haley Jones added 12 points apiece for the Dream.
Atlanta remained without second-leading scorer Rhyne Howard, who has been sidelined since June 19 with a left ankle injury.
Jordin Canada (finger) and Aerial Powers (calf) were out for the Dream, as well. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus returned from a foot injury, grabbing a team-leading eight rebounds.
Cardoso contributed 10 points and 11 boards for the Sky.
Sparked by 15 points from Carter, Chicago took a 38-34 lead into the break. After scoring the first seven points of the game, the Sky withstood a run from the Dream, who benefited from a balanced attack to grab a 28-22 advantage with 6:11 left in the second quarter.
Carter scored seven of her team’s next 16 points to close the half, including a trey that put the Sky ahead by six with 2:17 to go before the break.
SABRINA IONESCU MAKES A LATE GO-AHEAD SHOT AND ENDS GAME WITH A BLOCK AS LIBERTY BEAT THE SUN 71-68
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored 21 points and made a key block on the final possession, Breanna Stewart had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and the New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 71-68 on Wednesday for sole possession of first place in the WNBA standings.
New York (18-4) won its sixth straight regular-season game against Connecticut dating to the 2023 season.
Ionescu made her first basket of the fourth quarter with 1:58 remaining to give New York a 69-68 lead. Ionescu missed a shot on New York’s next two possessions, but she got another shot in the closing seconds after Stewart blocked a DeWanna Bonner attempt.
Ionescu dribbled down the clock before driving into the lane and sinking an off-balance shot for a three-point lead with 4.4 seconds left.
Connecticut passed it around the 3-point arc before Ionescu made New York’s fourth block of the fourth quarter to end it at the buzzer.
The Liberty improved to 13-0 this season when leading at halftime.
Courtney Vandersloot finished with 11 points and Jonquel Jones had 11 rebounds to go with eight points for New York. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton (knee) did not play.
Bonner led Connecticut (17-5) with 22 points and nine rebounds. Brionna Jones had 17 points and eight boards, and Tyasha Harris scored 11.
Stewart and Ionescu combined for 20 points in the first quarter to help New York build a 29-19 lead. But the Liberty were held to just 10 points in the second quarter, with four points from Stewart and Ionescu, as their lead was trimmed to 39-38 at the break.
Vandersloot opened and closed New York’s 9-0 run to open the third quarter to rebuild a double-digit lead at 48-38.
Bonner made a long 3-pointer with 3:48 left in the fourth to give Connecticut its first lead, 66-65, since it was 5-4.
FOOTBALL NEWS
VIKINGS’ JUSTIN JEFFERSON ‘NOT MAD’ AT KIRK COUSINS FOR DEPARTURE
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson said he understands quarterback Kirk Cousins’ decision to sign with the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins, after all, signed a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed after spending the past six seasons with Minnesota.
“I’m not mad at him at all for that,” Jefferson said Tuesday on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
The Vikings addressed Cousins’ departure by signing veteran Sam Darnold and selecting J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.
“I always knew that Kirk was going to do whatever he needs to do for (him) business-wise,” Jefferson told Eisen, “and I just knew that everything just wasn’t the way he wanted it to be here, especially just with having to pay me and having to pay so many other different guys. I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I’m not mad at him at all for that. I’m grateful for what he has brought to me and the things that we have accomplished together.
“But at the end of the day, it’s a business and you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do for yourself and for your family, and I clearly understand that. But it’s on to the next. It doesn’t really matter what quarterback it is in my eyes. I’m always going to try to make the best of the opportunity. I’m always going to try to be the quarterback’s friend and make his job a lot easier. It doesn’t matter if it was Kirk or if it’s Sam or if it’s J.J. I’m going to make it as easy as possible for him.”
Jefferson, the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension last month.
After leading the NFL in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in 2022, Jefferson reached the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth straight season in 2023 despite missing seven games due to injuries.
Drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in 2020, Jefferson is a three-time Pro Bowl selection with 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 touchdowns in 60 career games (57 starts). His career average of 98.3 receiving yards per game is the highest in NFL history.
FORMER BROWNS QB GREAT BERNIE KOSAR REVEALS HEALTH CHALLENGES
CLEVELAND (AP) — Former Cleveland Browns star quarterback Bernie Kosar has been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver and Parkinson’s disease, according to a story in Cleveland Magazine.
The 60-year-old former player is on the list for a liver transplant, though University Hospitals hepatologist Anthony Post told the magazine that Kosar has improved since the year started. At the same time, he warned that liver disease can fluctuate.
Another doctor, Cleveland Clinic chief wellness officer Michael Roizen, told the magazine there is a more than 90% chance Kosar will need a new liver.
Kosar said he was also diagnosed with Parkinson’s by an independent NFL doctor in February.
The Youngstown, Ohio, native recalled being bothered by liver-related issues for years but brushed them off because he wasn’t sure of the source. A diagnosis of cirrhosis about 16 months ago confirmed the specificity and severity of his condition.
“My body gave out on me,” Kosar told the magazine, recalling an episode last December while attending a Browns home game against the New York Jets. “I really felt like I wasn’t going to make it home from the Jets game. I sucked it up, though, and continued to avoid the doctors until the new year.
“Then I went into the hospital and got a massive blood transfusion. It was like: ‘How are you alive? How are you moving? Because your hemoglobin levels are so low.’”
Kosar became sick again while traveling to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas and was hospitalized for several days.
DEION SANDERS: COLORADO MUST PROTECT QB TO COMPETE IN BIG 12
LAS VEGAS — After finishing 4-8 and in last place in the Pac-12 in his debut season last year at Colorado, coach Deion Sanders made it clear what must change for the Buffaloes to compete in the Big 12, during the conference’s media day Wednesday.
“We got to protect that quarterback,” Sanders said. “That’s number one.”
Last year, his son Shedeur Sanders was the most-sacked quarterback in the country (52), which led Deion Sanders to completely overhaul the offensive line, including hire a new line coach, former NFL offensive lineman Phil Loadholt.
After a complete overhaul last offseason, too, Sanders said it was easier this time around.
“What makes it easy to connect with offensive line? Having the best darn quarterback in college football,” Sanders said. “Who don’t want to come and block for the best quarterback in college football? You got to be a fool if you say, ‘I don’t want to be seen.'”
“The television numbers are crazy. They’re on every darn week. So, I get exposure and I think 32 NFL scouts are going to be at every practice seeing these two guys [Shedeur and Travis Hunter] practice. So, I get to be seen. That’s an easy — and it’s not a sale. That’s common sense for any lineman to want to be a part of.”
Colorado added six offensive linemen in the early transfer window, including two with Power 5 experience and the nation’s top-ranked offensive lineman recruit, Jordan Seaton.
Despite another offseason of change, the Buffs were predicted to finish 11th in the conference in the conference’s official preseason poll. Sanders laid out a different set of expectations.
“I’d be an idiot to sit over here and not tell you we plan on winning,” he said. “I don’t know who sits down and says they don’t plan on winning. You got to be an idiot to say that. We definitely plan on winning and first and foremost, it starts with the staff. I think we have over 140 years of NFL experience on the staff.
“Certainly, we have two guys that are positioned to go in the top five in the draft (Sanders and Hunter), but I think we’re going to have two more that’s going to sneak in that first round. Let me give you B.J. Green. I’m not going to tell you the fourth.”
Colorado opens the season at home against North Dakota State on Aug. 29, an FCS opponent that Sanders said has their respect.
“They’re really darn good and I’m mad at [CU athletic director Rick George] right now for putting them on the schedule to open up with them,” Sanders said. “Can you give me a layup or something? Those guys are wonderful. Their staff has always been amongst the best. Many people have matriculated from that staff to go to higher levels. Those kids play their butts off. They’re tough. They don’t make many mistakes. They’re accustomed to winning.”
BASEBALL NEWS
MLB ROUNDUP: CUBS BLANK O’S IN BATTLE OF ALL-STAR PITCHERS
Shota Imanaga threw six shutout innings and the Chicago Cubs prevailed in a showdown featuring All-Star pitchers, defeating the host Baltimore Orioles 4-0 on Wednesday night.
Imanaga, who was pitching for the first time in a week, outdueled Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes. Both were picked for the All-Star Game, which will be held Tuesday night.
Imanaga (8-2) gave up six hits, walked one and struck out six in picking up his first victory since June 15. Burnes (9-4) went six innings, giving up three runs on nine hits while striking out five.
Christopher Morel’s home run gave the Cubs the only run they would need. Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch all produced two hits for the Cubs, who have won five of their last six games. Bellinger left the game after he was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the seventh inning by Orioles reliever Cionel Perez.
Ryan Mountcastle posted three hits for Baltimore, which lost for the second night in a row to Chicago as part of a rough start to a six-game homestand leading to the All-Star break.
Phillies 4, Dodgers 3
Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run, Cristopher Sanchez threw six solid innings and host Philadelphia defeated Los Angeles.
Trea Turner and Bryson Stott each added two hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who have won the first two games in a three-game series. Sanchez (7-4) gave up five hits and two runs. Jeff Hoffman threw a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Shohei Ohtani had two hits and an RBI and Miguel Rojas added a single and two RBIs for the Dodgers. Los Angeles starter Gavin Stone (9-3) lasted 4 2/3 innings and yielded nine hits and four runs.
Mariners 2, Padres 0
Bryce Miller fired six innings of shutout ball and Seattle earned its first series win in nearly a month by blanking host San Diego.
Miller (7-7) allowed five hits and walked none, striking out one in an 80-pitch outing. Three relievers got the final nine outs, with closer Andres Munoz pitching 1 1/3 innings for his 15th save in 17 chances.
Michael King (7-6) was the tough-luck loser, permitting only three hits and two runs (one earned) over six innings. He issued one walk and fanned nine, but it wasn’t enough to keep San Diego from dropping its fourth straight game.
Brewers 9, Pirates 0
Rookie Tobias Myers allowed four hits over eight scoreless innings to pace Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.
Myers (6-3) struck out six and walked one for his sixth win in his past seven decisions. Willy Adames hit a three-run homer among his three hits and drove in four for the Brewers. Rhys Hoskins also went deep, and Sal Frelick had three hits.
Pirates starter Martin Perez (1-5) allowed five runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Yankees 2, Rays 1
Trent Grisham drove in two runs to lift New York past Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Grisham had an RBI double in the second inning, hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and chased down a line drive to right-center field to end the eighth. Juan Soto had two of the six hits for the Yankees, who posted just their fifth win in their last 19 games.
Tim Hill (3-0) relieved starter Marcus Stroman in the fifth inning and worked out of a bases-loaded jam after striking out Josh Lowe and inducing Randy Arozarena to fly out to right field. He picked up the win after allowing two hits and striking out two batters in one inning of work.
Royals 6, Cardinals 4 (Game 1)
Salvador Perez homered and added an RBI single as visiting Kansas City rallied past St. Louis in the first half of a split doubleheader. Garrett Hampson added a two-run double as the Royals erased a 3-0 deficit to earn their second straight victory.
Royals starting pitcher Alec Marsh (7-6) allowed three runs on three hits in six innings. He struck out eight batters and walked one. James McArthur worked the ninth inning to earn his 16th save.
Alec Burleson hit a two-run homer, and Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt each hit solo shots for the Cardinals, who lost for just the third time in nine games.
Royals 8, Cardinals 5 (Game 2)
Salvador Perez homered and drove in two runs as visiting Kansas City beat St. Louis to complete a day-night doubleheader sweep.
Kyle Isbel hit a home run and scored three times and MJ Melendez also homered for the Royals, who won their third straight game. Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (6-6) allowed four runs — three earned — on seven hits in five innings. He struck out three and walked one.
Lars Nootbaar paced the St. Louis offense with a homer, a double and two runs. Cardinals pitcher Gordon Graceffo (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings in his first start and second appearance in the big leagues. He fanned two without issuing a walk.
White Sox 3, Twins 1 (Game 1)
Luis Robert Jr. smacked a two-run home run and Erick Fedde pitched five shutout innings to lift Chicago to a win against visiting Minnesota in the opener of a doubleheader.
Fedde (7-3) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five. Michael Kopech struck out the side on nine pitches in the ninth — an immaculate inning — for his ninth save.
Matt Wallner homered for the Twins. Bailey Ober (8-5) surrendered three runs and four hits in six innings.
Twins 3, White Sox 2 (Game 2)
Brooks Lee and Carlos Correa hit back-to-back solo homers in the sixth inning and Ryan Jeffers drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh as Minnesota edged host Chicago to split a doubleheader.
Four Twins relievers each pitched a shutout inning after Pablo Lopez surrendered two runs over five innings. Steven Okert (3-0) got the win, and Jhoan Duran picked up his 14th save.
Martin Maldonado homered for the White Sox, and Drew Thorpe allowed two runs in six innings. Chicago reliever Michael Soroka fell to 0-10 with the loss.
Mets 6, Nationals 2
Luis Severino tossed 6 1/3 solid innings and combined with three relievers on a five-hitter for host New York, which beat Washington.
Jose Iglesias was 3-for-4 with the go-ahead two-RBI single in a four-run sixth inning for the Mets. Brandon Nimmo homered in the first and Mark Vientos tied the score with a run-scoring double in the sixth against Patrick Corbin (1-9). Vientos, Pete Alonso and Tyrone Taylor had two hits apiece. Severino (6-3) allowed two runs on four hits — all in the fourth inning — and three walks while striking out four.
Juan Yepez had a run-scoring single in the fourth inning for the Nationals, who fell to 3-7 in July. Lane Thomas singled, scored a run and stole a base.
Diamondbacks 7, Braves 5
Eugenio Suarez homered and had three RBIs, and Geraldo Perdomo added three hits, two runs and one RBI to lead Arizona to a victory over Atlanta in Phoenix.
Christian Walker forced in the tiebreaking run by walking with the bases loaded in the eighth and Paul Sewald ended a string of three straight blown saves by retiring the side in order in the ninth for his 12th save for Arizona. Ketel Marte also homered for the Diamondbacks, who beat Atlanta for the first time in six meetings this season. Marte and Suarez each had two hits and two runs.
Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer and Travis d’Arnaud had a two-run double for the Braves, who had a four-game winning streak halted. Austin Riley had three hits for Atlanta.
Angels 7, Rangers 2
Zach Neto had three hits, including a two-run homer, as Los Angeles beat Texas to salvage the finale of a three-game series in Anaheim, Calif.
Neto scored twice and drove in three runs for the Angels, who had lost three in a row and eight of nine. Mickey Moniak hit a three-run homer to highlight Los Angeles’ four-run second inning. Angels starter Griffin Canning couldn’t take advantage of a five-run cushion and was lifted after 4 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs and seven hits.
Leody Taveras hit a two-run homer and Marcus Semien and Jonah Heim each had two hits for the Rangers, who were trying for their sixth straight win. Texas starter Michael Lorenzen (5-5) allowed five runs and five hits in five innings.
Astros 9, Marlins 1
Framber Valdez tossed seven strong innings, striking out a season-high 10, and Yainer Diaz recorded a three-hit, three-RBI game to lead Houston past visiting Miami.
Joey Loperfido homered among his two hits as the Astros extended their home winning streak to eight games. Valdez (8-5) allowed one run on six hits and one walk.
Xavier Edwards paced the Marlins with two hits. Bryan Hoeing (0-2) allowed five runs, four earned, on eight hits in three innings.
Athletics 5, Red Sox 2
Visiting Oakland scored three runs in the third inning and added on in the late innings to beat Boston.
Lawrence Butler and Max Schuemann each had two hits to lead Oakland, which had lost back-to-back games and three of four. Butler hit a two-run double in the key third inning, while Schuemann scored two runs in the game. JP Sears (6-7) worked 114 pitches deep for his second straight win, striking out eight across 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
After allowing just one baserunner through two innings on Butler’s one-out single in the second, Boston starter Nick Pivetta (4-6) struggled with command during a 27-pitch third as the A’s jumped out to a 3-0 lead that proved to be all the offense they needed. Jarren Duran (3-for-5) and Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-4) each had multiple hits for the Red Sox. Rob Refsnyder homered.
Tigers 5, Guardians 4
Matt Vierling homered and drove in three runs and host Detroit held off Cleveland.
Andy Ibanez added a solo homer and Colt Keith tripled, scored two runs and drove in another as Detroit won for the fifth time in six games. Detroit starter Reese Olson (4-8) allowed three runs, six hits and one walk with three strikeouts in six innings. He has three wins and a no-decision in his last four starts. Jason Foley notched his 15th save.
Angel Martinez drove in two runs and Daniel Schneemann homered for the Guardians. Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee (7-4) gave up four runs and five hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings.
Rockies 6, Reds 5
Sam Hilliard belted two homers and drove in three while Kyle Freeland allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings as visiting Colorado held on to edge Cincinnati.
Freeland (1-3) won for the first time in eight starts, limiting the Reds to two runs on eight hits, striking out a season-high nine and walking one. After Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson homered to open the ninth, Jonathan India drove a sacrifice fly to slice the lead to 6-5. But Rockies closer Jalen Beeks retired Elly De La Cruz on a grounder to short to register his ninth save in 15 chances.
Cincinnati starter Frankie Montas (4-7) was charged with five runs on eight hits over seven innings, striking out seven and walking two.
Blue Jays 10, Giants 6
Ernie Clement homered for the second straight night and drove in a career-high four runs as Toronto bombed All-Star Logan Webb en route to a victory over host San Francisco.
Clement’s homer, his sixth of the season, was a three-run shot in the fifth inning that gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. George Springer doubled twice and drove in three runs for Toronto, which won for the third time in four games.
Toronto knocked out Webb (7-7) and blew the game open with a six-run sixth. Toronto starter Chris Bassitt (8-7) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out six.
AUTO RACING
NOAH GRAGSON LANDS SEAT IN NASCAR CUP SERIES WITH FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Noah Gragson became the third of four Stewart-Haas Racing drivers to secure a seat for 2025 when Front Row Motorsports said Wednesday it had signed him to a multi-year deal.
SHR is shuttering three of its four Cup teams next year and Gene Haas will run one car without Tony Stewart as his partner. Chase Briscoe has already been hired by Joe Gibbs Racing and Josh Berry has been hired by Wood Brothers Racing.
Ryan Preece remains the only SHR driver still seeking a job for next season.
Gragson, a Las Vegas native, will be driving for his sixth team in four seasons. He drove for three different teams in 2022, and 21 races last year for Legacy Motor Club before he was suspended by NASCAR for liking an insensitive George Floyd meme on Instagram.
He spent the second half of 2023 working on self-improvement and was hired by SHR in what should have been a dream landing. Instead, the team said last month it was closing most of the operation.
Gragson, who is 25, had 13 wins and finished second in the Xfinity Series championship race in 2022. He has 59 starts in the Cup Series since 2022 with seven top-10 finishes and two top-fives.
The signing of Gragson by Front Row keeps the driver in a Ford for a second consecutive year.
“We feel that this is a great opportunity and the perfect time to bring Noah to our organization,” Front Row owner Bob Jenkins said. “He has just the right amount of experience in the NASCAR Cup Series to breakout and become a winner for years to come. This season, Noah has started to get the finishes, and race consistently up front, which was expected from him.
“Joining our team, staying with Ford Performance, and welcoming him to our partners, we are only going to accelerate his opportunity to win races and compete in the playoffs. This is the driver that we want to help get us more wins.”
Gragson said he was thrilled to land a job so quickly after SHR’s decision to close and believes Front Row has a bright future. Todd Gilliland has already signed a contract extension with the team, but former Daytona 500 winner Michael McDowell is leaving at the end of the season.
The team recently acquired a third charter — presumably purchased from SHR — and has one more driver to hire. Gragson’s car number, sponsor and crew chief were not revealed.
“I think a lot of people have seen the growth of Front Row Motorsports over the past several seasons in the NASCAR Cup Series,” Gragson said. “This team, with Ford Performance, has shown it is capable of winning and wants to win more. There is a determination and plan to continue to grow and compete against the absolute best. There is a strong commitment on their part, and I am ready to give it my best next season.”
BUBBA WALLACE FINED $50K FOR HITTING ALEX BOWMAN AFTER RACE
Bubba Wallace was fined $50,000 by NASCAR on Wednesday for an on-track infraction following Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at the Chicago Street Course.
He was fined for driving Alex Bowman into the wall during the cool-down lap. The post-race issue came on the heels of a Lap 25 incident in which Bowman’s Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevy became tangled with Wallace’s No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota.
NASCAR said Wallace violated Sections 4.4 B & D of its member code of conduct.
Bowman won the storm-shortened race to clinch a spot in the NASCAR playoffs. He also accepted blame for the incident on Lap 25 and said Wallace should not be fined for the latter exchange.
“I’d be mad, too,” Bowman said of Wallace. “I ruined his day. The restart was chaotic. I just made every wrong decision that I possibly could. I was fighting with my windshield wiper switch trying to get it working and I couldn’t get it working. I was focused on that, missed the corner.
“I locked all four tires and just slid right into him. I just messed up and absolutely ruined his day.
“I’m pretty hard on myself when I make mistakes like that and I’ve been embarrassed about it since it happened. The rain delay was a lot of me just sitting there being embarrassed and being mad at myself.
“He has every right to be mad.”
Wallace finished in 13th place and resides one spot outside of the 16-driver playoff field.
GOLF NEWS
JON RAHM SEEKING FIRST LIV CROWN AT HOME IN SPAIN
Jon Rahm returns to his native Spain this week to chase his elusive first individual title since joining LIV Golf last December.
The 29-year-old captain of Legion XIII addressed his drought and recent struggles — including a missed cut at the Masters and an injury withdrawal from the U.S. Open — on Wednesday in Sotogrande, Spain, where the LIV Golf Andalucia event at Real Club Valderrama begins Friday.
“It’s very exciting and if there was ever a place to get my first win … this would be the perfect week, and it is an iconic golf course, has a lot of history,” Rahm said. “And it would be great to enjoy the incredible list of Spanish champions that have performed well and become one of them.”
Rahm ranks second behind Joaquin Niemann in the LIV points standings despite his winless status. He tied for third last month at LIV Golf Nashville for his third T3 of the season (Mayakoba and Adelaide).
“If it’s the week to do it, the week we are playing would be the best,” he said. “The fact that we are in Spain, home crowd, home week, yeah, that makes it that much more meaningful.”
Rahm is well-versed in the history at the Robert Trent Jones-designed Valderrama, site of the Europeans’ victory at the 1997 Ryder Cup and host of the WGC-American Express Championship in 1999 and 2000. He knows he doesn’t have to go too low to be in contention on the 7,010-yard, par-71 loop.
“Just the tradition of how difficult a test it is, is what makes it so unique, right,” he said. “Very rarely do we see a tournament where if you shoot even par, you’re 99.9 percent guaranteed a top-10 and in many years you win. It’s very refreshing to see something like that.”
Talor Gooch won last year’s Andalucia event at 12-under and 13 players finished under par.
Rahm, whose most recent victory was at the 2023 Masters, was asked to rate his game on a scale from 1 to 10.
“Hard to say,” he said. “There’s been weeks where I feel like I scored a lot better than I felt, and there’s been a couple weeks where it could have been better. Haven’t won yet so that would deduct quite a bit from it.
“I would say maybe 6 to a 7 out of 10 if I had to say. But the year is not over. Still a lot to play for. It would not be unheard of to see a player finish strong and change that to maybe a 9 out of 10. So far just because I haven’t won, I can’t give it more than a 7.”
PHIL MICKELSON, BRYSON DECHAMBEAU ON BOARD WITH KEEGAN BRADLEY AS CAPTAIN
Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau said they are in full support of the PGA of America’s decision to appoint Keegan Bradley as captain of the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team.
“I was surprised at the pick, and I think it’s a great pick the more I think about it,” Mickelson told reporters Wednesday ahead of the LIV Golf Andalucia event at Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, Spain.
“He played a lot of golf at Bethpage when he went to St. John’s. His passion for the Ryder Cup is greater than just about any player I’ve ever seen. His love for the Ryder Cup is more than anybody I know. I think he’s going to lead with that type of passion.
“I think he’s incredible. I’m really, really happy for him. I think we all are really happy for him knowing how gut-wrenching it was to not be part of the team last year, but to now have the opportunity to lead and go forward I think is great.”
DeChambeau also was receptive of the decision, as well as Bradley’s claim to include the 12 best golfers regardless of which tour they play on.
“Yeah, look, I’m excited for him,” DeChambeau said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for him, especially as it relates to younger players. He’s going to see that younger threshold, and obviously relate to them a lot more, I would say, because of his age. I mean, what is he, 38 or something like that? So yeah, he’s seeing the younger generation game. He’s out there still playing and competing and it’s great to have some relatability.
“As far as picking the best players, that’s the right approach and I couldn’t be more happy for him as captain.”
Bradley, 38, was named the U.S. Ryder Cup captain for 2025 on Monday.
The biennial competition will take place from Sept. 26-28, 2025, at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y. Bradley succeeds Zach Johnson, who captained the Americans last fall when they lost to Team Europe in Rome.
Bradley participated in the Ryder Cup in 2012 and 2014. He nearly played his way onto the team in 2023 but came up short.
Bradley won the 2011 PGA Championship and was named the tour’s Rookie of the Year that year. He has six PGA Tour wins in his career, also including the 2018 BMW Championship during the FedEx Cup playoffs and the 2023 Travelers Championship.
RORY MCILROY ADDRESSES U.S. OPEN MELTDOWN, CADDIE CRITICISM
Rory McIlroy shed light on a dark day Wednesday, more than three weeks removed from his collapse at the U.S. Open.
McIlroy bogeyed three of his final four holes, letting Bryson DeChambeau win with a par save at the 72nd hole at Pinehurst No. 2. The Northern Irishman missed two par putts from inside 5 feet at the 16th and 18th holes in North Carolina.
McIlroy left the course minutes after DeChambeau beat him by one stroke to win the championship.
“I got over it pretty quickly,” McIlroy said Wednesday, one day ahead of the start of defending his championship at the Scottish Open in Berwick, Scotland.
“The few days after it were pretty tough at times, but I feel like I’ve done a good job of thinking about it rationally and constructively and taking what I need from it and trying to learn from it. But like for the most part it was a great day. I keep saying to people, ‘It was a great day until it wasn’t.’”
McIlroy, the No. 2 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, said he went to New York for a scheduled trip. He was pleased to be alone at that time.
“Sort of was alone with my thoughts for a couple days, which was good,” McIlroy said. “I had some good chats with people close to me, and as you start to think about not just Sunday at Pinehurst but the whole way throughout the week, there was a couple of things that I noticed that I wanted to try to work on over the last few weeks coming into here, and obviously next week (at Royal Troon Golf Course in Scotland).”
McIlroy also addressed the criticism directed at his caddie Harry Diamond, who took verbal shots from NBC’s Smylie Kaufman and instructor Hank Haney. The two took issue with McIlroy using a 7-iron on the 15th hole at the U.S. Open.
“Hank Haney has never been in that position,” McIlroy said. “Smylie has been in that position once, and I love Smylie, and he was out there with us on 18. But just because Harry is not as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t say anything and that he doesn’t do anything. I just wish that, you know, these guys that criticize when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way. So, where were they when I won Dubai earlier this year or Quail Hollow or the two FedExCups that I’ve won with Harry or the two Ryder Cups or whatever? They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticize when we don’t win.
“At the end of the day, they are not there. They are in the in the arena. They are not the ones hitting the shots and making the decisions. Someone said to me once — if you would never take advice from these people, you would never take their criticisms, either. Certainly, wouldn’t go to Hank Haney for advice. I love Smylie, but I think I know what I’m doing, and so does Harry.”
TENNIS NEWS
LORENZO MUSETTI REACHES HIS FIRST GRAND SLAM SEMIFINAL AT WIMBLEDON AND WILL FACE NOVAK DJOKOVIC
LONDON (AP) — Lorenzo Musetti reached his first Grand Slam semifinal by eliminating Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at Wimbledon on Wednesday and will take on Novak Djokovic next.
The 25th-seeded Musetti, a 22-year-old from Italy, had never been past the third round at the All England Club — or the fourth round at any major tournament — until now.
His victory over the 13th-seeded Fritz was the 37th five-setter at the All England Club this year, the most at any Grand Slam tournament.
Now Musetti will go up against Djokovic with a berth in the final on the line.
It will be Djokovic’s record-tying 13th semifinal at Wimbledon alone — equaling Roger Federer — and 49th Slam semifinal overall, extending a mark he already held. As Musetti pursues his first major championship, Djokovic seeks a 25th, including what would be an eighth at the All England Club.
Djokovic’s smooth trip through this year’s bracket was made even easier when the man he was supposed to play in the quarterfinals Wednesday, Alex de Minaur, pulled out with a hip injury hours before their match was scheduled to begin.
Playing at a sun-swathed No. 1 Court against Fritz, an American who is one of the sport’s biggest servers but fell to 0-4 in major quarterfinals, Musetti managed to accumulate 13 break points and convert six. The outcome-determining break came on a forehand winner by Musetti that made it 2-0 in the last set; moments later, another break made it 4-0.
There was not a ton of variety exhibited by either player; they were mainly content to trade groundstrokes from the baseline. But Musetti did manage to accrue points with effective drop shots, occasionally following them with successful passing attempts or lobs.
SOCCER NEWS
BERHALTER FIRED AS USMNT COACH AFTER COPA AMERICA FLOP
NEW YORK (AP) — Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. men’s soccer coach on Wednesday, nine days after his team’s first-round exit from the Copa America flamed doubts he was the right person to remain in charge for the 2026 World Cup.
Berhalter’s second term as coach was cut short 10 months after he returned to the bench with high hopes and proclaimed the team’s goal was “to change soccer in America forever.” The U.S. had seven wins, six losses and one draw in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws.
Sporting director Matt Crocker rehired Berhalter and also will make the recommendation on his replacement. The team next plays in September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand.
“Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” Crocker said in a statement.
Crocker and USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone issued statements, but did not immediately make themselves available to media for questions.
Jurgen Klopp, Thierry Henry and Marcelo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter, along with Jesse Marsch, Hugo Perez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino.
Salary could be an issue.
Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including $900,000 in bonuses for the Americans qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the second round. A top-level men’s coach could put pressure on the USSF to increase the salary of newly hired women’s coach Emma Hayes.
Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the United States for the second time and the Americans play their opener at Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. The only competitive matches with the full player pool before then likely will be in the CONCACAF Nations League.
Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the first American to coach the national team after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was hired to coach the U.S. in December 2018 after stints with Sweden’s Hammarby (2011-13) and Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew (2013-18).
He led the U.S. to titles in the CONCACAF Nations League in 2020, 2023 and 2024 and to another with a B team in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His players strongly supported Berhalter, saying he fostered a culture that bound the group.
That support led to Crocker rehiring Berhalter five months after his initial contract expired amid an investigation of a decades-old domestic violence allegation that was brought to the USSF’s attention by the Reyna family, which was upset that Berhalter limited Gio Reyna’s playing time at the World Cup. A law firm retained by the USSF said there was no legal obstacle to bringing Berhalter back.
His detractors cited lack of success against teams outside the region and struggles on the road against Central American rivals. The U.S. gained the region’s final automatic World Cup berth on goal difference, and it had the second-youngest team at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The U.S. wasted a second-half lead in a 1-1 draw with Wales, tied England 0-0 and defeated Iran 1-0 to reach the knockout stage, where the Americans played poorly in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands.
Players exhibited a lack of discipline: Defender Sergino Dest got a red card last November at Trinidad and Tobago for arguing with a referee and winger Tim Weah was ejected from the Panama match for punching an opponent on the head.
“Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organization and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the program forward,” Crocker said in his statement.
U.S. coaches have not fared well in a second cycle.
Bruce Arena led the team to a quarterfinal appearance in 2002, its best since 1930, then failed to advance past the group stage in 2006.
Bob Bradley’s team reached the second round in 2010, earning him a four-year contract extension only for the USSF to fire him 11 months later after the Americans wasted a two-goal lead and lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final.
Jurgen Klinsmann replaced him and led the team to the second round of the 2014 World Cup, then was fired after opening the final round of 2018 qualifying with a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 defeat at Costa Rica. Arena returned and the U.S. lost at Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of qualifying, ending a run of seven straight World Cup appearances.
While the new coach inherits players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams who have thrived with European clubs, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath and Reyna have failed to gain playing time with first-tier teams.
ENGLAND AND THE NETHERLANDS TIED AT 1-1 IN EURO 2024 SEMIFINALS AFTER KANE CANCELS OUT SIMONS STRIKE
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — The Netherlands and England were tied at 1-1 at halftime in the European Championship semifinals after Harry Kane’s penalty canceled out a brilliant opener by Xavi Simons for the Dutch on Wednesday.
Simons dispossessed England midfielder Declan Rice, drove forward and unleashed a fierce shot into the far corner from outside the area in the seventh minute.
Kane equalized in the 18th minute, slotting his spot kick into the bottom left corner after the England captain was adjudged to have been fouled by Denzel Dumfries while attempting a shot.
Both teams later hit the goal frame — Dumfries for the Netherlands and Phil Foden for England — while Foden also had a shot cleared off the line in an end-to-end match in Dortmund.
The winner plays Lamine Yamal and Spain in the final on Sunday.
10-MAN COLOMBIA EDGES URUGUAY, ADVANCES TO COPA FINAL
Jefferson Lerma headed in James Rodriguez’s corner kick late in the first half and 10-man Colombia held on to reach its first Copa America final in 23 years with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Wednesday in Charlotte.
Colombia was considerably the better team for the opening 45 minutes, only to be forced to hold on after Daniel Munoz received his second booking for an elbow thrown into Manuel Ugarte’s torso in first-half stoppage time.
Los Cafeteros set a national record by completing a 28th consecutive match without defeat, pushed on through the second half by a significantly pro-Colombian crowd of more than 70,000. Colombia advances to face defending champion Argentina in Miami Gardens, Fla., in the final on Sunday night.
Rodriguez now has six assists, the most in a single Copa America since the stat was first kept in 2011. The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner will try to deliver his nation its second-ever Copa America title after it hosted and won the 2001 event.
Uruguay will remain in Charlotte to face Canada in Saturday’s third-place match, in what will be La Celeste’s best finish at the tournament since winning the 2011 title.
After winning all three of its group-stage games, Uruguay did not score in either of its knockout-phase matches, ending influential manager Marcelo Bielsa’s latest bid at a first major title in international play.
Lerma put Colombia in front in the 39th minute after Rodriguez delivered the latest in a tournament full of perfectly struck set pieces.
This one came from a corner dropped onto Lerma’s head at the back post. Lerma outjumped Jose Maria Gimenez to send his header downward, narrowly inside the left post before Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet could react.
A great start for Los Cafeteros became far more complicated seven minutes later when Munoz rightly received his second caution from referee Cesar Ramos.
Uruguay all-time leading scorer Luis Suarez entered in the 67th minute and immediately made his presence felt in the 71st, striking the outside of the right post with a shot from just inside the penalty area.
However, the insertion of center back Yerry Mina and switch to a five-man back line by Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo helped limit Uruguay from there.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe missed the game’s two best late chances, dragging an 88th-minute opportunity low and wide of the left post and seeing another effort in stoppage time deflect off a charging Rochet and then the crossbar.
ENGLAND AND NETHERLANDS FANS CLASH IN DORTMUND AHEAD OF EURO 2024 SEMIFINAL GAME
DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Five people were injured in clashes between fans of England and the Netherlands ahead of the Euro 2024semifinal game between the two teams on Wednesday, police said.
More than 100,000 Dutch soccer fans were in Dortmund — which is close to the Dutch border — before the game for a march to the stadium, as well as large numbers of England fans.
“We are aware of some reports and videos circulating of disorder in Dortmund. It appears that there have been several instances of Dutch fans attacking England fans in bars and attempting to steal flags,” the U.K. Football Policing Unit, which deals with soccer violence involving British fans and has officers in Germany for the tournament, said in a statement.
“We understand this has resulted in minor injuries to five people. We are also aware that in addition to the tens of thousands of Dutch fans there to enjoy the game, there are groups of risk supporters who have traveled to Dortmund from the Netherlands. Our officers are at the location supporting German colleagues. We would advise supporters to be aware of their surroundings and seek areas where there is a German Police presence.”
Local police in Dortmund said there had been confrontations between English and Dutch fans in three places and that police intervened to prevent “further escalations.” Police said that operations were ongoing and that they were not yet able to provide information on how many people were injured, or how many were detained.
Video footage posted on social media appeared to show a small number of people in Netherlands colors throwing chairs across a seating area outside a bar as another group of people took shelter inside.
Despite the incidents, Dortmund police said they were “largely satisfied” with a “largely peaceful pre-game phase.”
It’s not the first time that England fans have been involved in violent incidents at Euro 2024.
Police detained eight people following a brawl between England and Serbia fans in Gelsenkirchen ahead of a group-stage game last month. Police said Serbia fans were eating inside a restaurant when a large group of England fans tried to get in.
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES
INDIANA FEVER
GAME RECAP: MYSTICS BUILD EARLY LEAD AND HOLD ON AGAINST FEVER
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever (9-14) dropped Wednesday afternoon’s game to the Washington Mystics in an 89-84 loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Wednesday was Indiana’s first loss this season to Washington before the final meeting on September 19. Indiana outscored Washington in paint points, 42-38, and fast break points, 26-9. Indiana outscored Washington, 29-13 in the fourth quarter and went on a 16-4 run for more than three minutes at the end of the game, trimming a 22-point deficit to three points in the final minute of regulation.
Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark led the way on Wednesday and became the first player in the NBA or WNBA since the 1973-74 season to record at least 29 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, five made 3-point field goals and three steals. Wednesday was Clark’s seventh double-double of the season and fourth consecutive double-double as her 13 assists tied her franchise record for the third time this season.
Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell followed with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists. Mitchell moved into third place in franchise history in free throws made with 561, passing Briann January with 560. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith led the reserves with 11 points, two rebounds and two blocked shots and Fever forward Katie Lou Samuelson recorded a career-high nine rebounds while recording eight points.
For Washington (6-17), five Mystics players scored in double figures, led by guard Ariel Atkins’ 26-point performance. Atkins also tallied three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Mystics center Stefanie Dolson and rookie guard Julie Vanloo both put up 13 points, and Dolson dished out six assists and five rebounds in the win as well. Off the bench, Mystics rookie forward Aaliyah Edwards recorded 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes of play, and reserve guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 10 points. The Mystics’ bench outscored Indiana, 35-21, and had 16 turnovers compared to Indiana’s 23.
UP NEXT
The Fever welcome the Phoenix Mercury to Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Friday’s game will be broadcast on ION.
INDIANAPOLIS INDIANS
INDIANS STRAND BASES LOADED IN NINTH, DROP SERIES OPENER TO CLIPPERS
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Indians stranded the bases loaded in the ninth inning as their comeback attempt against the Columbus Clippers fell short in a 3-1 loss on Wednesday afternoon at Victory Field.
With the Clippers (7-6, 39-48) leading 3-1 entering the game’s final frame, Andrew Walters (S, 1) labored through the heart of the Indians (5-7, 38-47) order. An error by shortstop José Tena allowed Liover Peguero to reach base safely as the leadoff man, and back-to-back one-out walks loaded the bases. A shallow fly out by Matt Gorski and strikeout to Seth Beer ended the threat without a run crossing.
Columbus took a lead on a solo home run by Estevan Florial in the third inning before tacking on two insurance runs in the seventh. Indianapolis broke up the shutout bid in the eighth inning when Seth Beer came around to score after roping a ground-rule double.
Jake Woodford (L, 1-5) spun 5.0 one-run innings with six strikeouts for his fourth consecutive start with just one run allowed. He has now tossed at least 5.0 innings in 10 of his last 11 starts dating back to April 24 with Triple-A Charlotte.
Doug Nikhazy (W, 1-0) pitched 6.0 two-hit innings with eight strikeouts, holding Indianapolis without a baserunner until the fourth inning.
The Indians and Clippers will face off in a doubleheader to make up Tuesday’s postponed game tomorrow at Victory Field, with Game 1 scheduled for 5:35 PM. Toeing the rubber in the opener will be RHP Domingo Germán (3-4, 5.68) against Columbus’ LHP Joey Cantillo (0-1, 3.32). Luis Cessa (3-3, 4.26) gets the nod for Indy in Game 2 while the Clippers have yet to name a starter.
INDIANA VOLLEYBALL
CERAME, RAMMELSBERG SIGN WITH COLUMBUS FURY
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Indiana volleyball alumnae Kaley Rammelsberg (2021-23) and Paula Cerame (2021-22) will be reunited as professional players with the Columbus Fury in the second year of the Pro Volleyball Federation. The two were officially announced following the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.
Rammelsberg and Cerame both joined the Hoosiers as transfers ahead of the 2021 season. In their time in Bloomington, each was instrumental in sparking a run of team success not seen in over a decade. As the starting libero for two years, Cerame totaled 994 digs and was a mainstay in the lineup.
After missing time with injury in 2022, Rammelsberg fully recovered to become one of the most dominant middle blockers in the entire conference. She hit .365 as a graduate student in 2023, the second-best single season mark in IU history. She finished her IU career hitting .329 with over 600 kills. She was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in 2023.
This will be Cerame’s second team in the PVF after debuting with the Orlando Valkyries in 2023. Rammelsberg began her professional career in Finland and will join Columbus to open her pro account in the United States. The two will feature on a roster that includes Janice Leao (Miami), Tori (Dilfer) Stringer (Louisville) and Jill Gillen (Arkansas).
INDIANA FOOTBALL
GAMEDAY UPGRADES TO MEMORIAL STADIUM UNDERWAY
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – As the Indiana football program and first-year head coach Curt Cignetti inch closer to the start of the 2024 season and a new-look Big Ten schedule, Memorial Stadium will undergo some enhancements to its gameday experience prior to the opening kickoff versus FIU on Aug. 31.
Some of the upgrades will include a new team entry, upgraded dining options via IU’s partnership with Levy, the addition of more outdoor suites, relocation of Memorial Stadium’s in-house DJ and a more fan-accessible location for The Rock.
Relocation of Hep’s Rock
With approval from the Hoeppner family, Hep’s Rock, a three-ton limestone remnant from the original Memorial Stadium construction, will be relocated from its north end zone location to the east concourse of Memorial Stadium to make it an even larger part of the IU gameday fan experience.
In 2005, then-first-year head coach Terry Hoeppner brought two great traditions to the Bloomington campus in The Walk and The Rock – which the team touched before every game of his tenure. After his passing in June 2007 after a hard-fought battle with brain cancer, the 2007 team dedicated it as Hep’s Rock on its way to the Insight Bowl, its first bowl appearance since 1993.
The Rock sat in the north end zone from 2005 through the 2023 season, and changes to the structure of Memorial Stadium limited fan access over time.
In its new location, Hep’s Rock will now be a formal part of The Walk, with players, coaches, and staff, each interacting with the touchstone prior to entering the stadium. It’s location also makes Hep’s Rock accessible to students, alumni, and fans at any time.
Team Entrance
With Hep’s Rock moved to its new home, the gameday team entrance will also be revamped. The group from Thomas James Productions will expand and enclose the tunnel, along with added pyrotechnics and a new, fan-immersive experience.
Outdoor Suite Additions
The addition of field-level outdoor suites debuted inside Memorial Stadium during the 2023 season and the overwhelming response was so impressive the offering has been expanded for the 2024 season. The eight field-level suites will be accompanied by eight more outdoor suites on The Rooftop at The Rock.
The premium suite experience expands on the partnership between IU Athletics and REVELXP, the U.S. sports and entertainment brand that has worked with nearly 100 collegiate and professional properties nationwide. REVELXP provides fans with elevated gameday experiences.
Fans interested in securing a field level suite or suite on The Rooftop for the 2024 season can contact Chris Minderman at 812-855-2438 or cminderm@indiana.edu.
Updated Concourse and Food Options
Indiana athletics’ new partnership with Levy, the sports and entertainment hospitality leader, will oversee every aspect of hospitality on gamedays at Memorial Stadium, including concessions and premium seating areas. Renovations on the Memorial Stadium concourse have already begun and will allow for an elevated food and beverage experience for patrons this fall.
On top of the addition of some exciting new food partnerships with local restaurants, Levy will offer the traditional person-to-person concession options that fans are accustomed to in IU’s venues and new Grab and Go touch points that will make the concessions experience more convenient for patrons.
More information on food options and locations for traditional/Grab and Go vending will be announced at a later date.
PURDUE BASEBALL
SERRATO RETURNS AS ASSISTANT COACH WITH BASEBALL
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Returning to campus after experience in Minor League Baseball and 10 seasons as a collegiate coach, alumnus and two-time All-Big Ten honoree Barrett Serrato is joining Purdue Baseball as an assistant coach.
Head coach Greg Goff has announced Serrato will serve as the Boilermakers’ recruiting coordinator while also having a prominent role with the program’s infield defense and hitters. Serrato will join forces with Goff, Josh Newman (pitching coach), Seth LaRue (hitting/base running), John Madia (player development/alumni relations) and Hunter Roberts (operations) to form the coaching staff for the 2024-25 school year.
Serrato returns to West Lafayette as an experienced coach, serving eight seasons over two stints (2015-17, 2020-24) as an assistant at Kent State. He also coached two seasons at Lee University in Tennessee (2017-18) and the fall of 2019 at UCF before returning to Kent for the spring semester. Highlighted by five 30-win seasons and a pair of 40-win conference champion campaigns, the Golden Flashes compiled a 242-159 record (.603) with Serrato on staff.
“I’m thrilled to have Barrett join our coaching staff and bring him back to his alma mater,” Goff said. “His experience as an all-conference performer in the Big Ten is the foundation that has led to a successful coaching career. He’ll make an impact instructing our infielders and hitters, and most importantly in the recruiting realm. Barrett also knows what it means to win at Purdue and the traits we emphasize in developing Boilermaker ballplayers.”
Serrato was a three-year starter while playing in 177 games for the Boilermakers from 2009 to 2012. He earned All-Big Ten honors as an outfielder each of his upperclassman seasons while helping lead Purdue to a combined 82-35 record in 2011 and 2012. As a constant in the middle of the lineup on the 2012 Big Ten championship team, the versatile left-handed hitter also represented the Boilers on the All-Tournament Teams at the NCAA Gary Regional and Big Ten Tournament.
“I want to thank Coach Goff for the opportunity to rejoin the Purdue Baseball family,” Serrato said. “I am excited for the opportunity to work alongside Coach Newman and Coach LaRue. I’m looking forward to the fast-paced, high-energy atmosphere Coach Goff has created. Purdue has been special to me since the day I stepped on campus and I am forever grateful for my time as a student-athlete. The support the Greater Lafayette community has for Purdue University is second to none and I’m excited to be back home in West Lafayette!”
Drafted by the Texas Rangers after his senior season (as well as by the Marlins in 2008), Serrato reached the Double-A level in 2013 and then began his coaching career under former Purdue assistant Jeff Duncan at Kent State in the fall of 2014. The Flashes won the Mid-American Conference regular-season title in 2023 as part of a 42-win campaign. They were also MAC champions in 2016 and 2017 with Serrato as part of the coaching staff, winning 44 games in 2016. The Flashes had an .800 winning percentage in conference play in 2016 and 2023.
As a hitting coach and recruiting coordinator in his second stint at Kent State, the Flashes led the MAC in batting average for three straight years from 2021 to 2023. KSU’s prolific lineup posted a team slash line of .303/.411/.503 while also stealing 115 bases in 2023. The Flashes have connected for 81, 78 and 85 home runs the last three seasons.
Kent State had three players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft and a dozen draft picks during Serrato’s years as an assistant coach.
At Purdue, Serrato was the team’s Opening Day shortstop in 2010 and 2011, also starting at the same position at the 2009 Big Ten Tournament as a true freshman. He moved to the outfield early in the 2011 campaign, developing into a first-team All-Big Ten performer as a junior while batting .313 with 42 RBI, 32 walks and 50 runs scored – finishing that year playing third base after there was a need due to injury. The following season, he pounded out 20 extra-base hits and ranked second on the team with 49 RBI as Purdue won a program-record 45 games and a pair of Big Ten titles while earning the right to host an NCAA Regional.
The 2012 team was the first to practice at Alexander Field in the days leading up to the NCAA Regional. Serrato also coached at Alexander in March 2017 when Kent State was the opponent for Purdue’s home opener.
Serrato and his wife, Karlie, are the parents of two daughters – Stella and Ripken.
NOTRE DAME HOCKEY
IRISH ALUM JANICKE SIGNS DEAL WITH WRANGLERS
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Recent Irish graduate former forward for the University of Notre Dame hockey program Trevor Janicke has signed his first professional contract with the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League. The AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames signed Janicke to a two-way AHL/ECHL contract in early July. Janicke graduated from Notre Dame in May with a master’s degree after dedicating five years to the Irish at forward and serving two seasons as an alternate captain.
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve dreamt of playing hockey at Notre Dame and these last five years have exceeded every expectation I had,” Janicke said. “I don’t have the words to describe how grateful I am for this place, and all the things it has taught me. I want to thank Coach Jackson and the rest of the staff for the opportunity to represent this great university and live out my childhood dream. It truly has been the honor of my life and I will always look back on my time at Notre Dame with pride.”
In five seasons in an Irish sweater, Janicke laced up his skates in a program-best 175 contests and amassed 85 points off 44 goals and 41 assists. Most recently, he posted 16 points, boasting nine goals and seven assists in his final season with the Irish while leading the team with one shorthanded tally.
“Lastly, to my brother JJ [Justin Janicke] – from the days in the backyard as little kids pretending to play for the Irish to doing it together for real. We’ve pushed each other so hard and are only going to continue to do so. You are one of my biggest role models and it has been a dream come true playing at Notre Dame with you.
“With that being said, I am super excited to start my pro career with the Calgary Wranglers and for the great opportunity ahead of me,” Janicke concluded.
The Maple Grove, Minnesota native is set to make his professional hockey debut in the Calgary system in 2024-25.
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL
INDIANA STATE FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2024 HOME KICKOFF TIMES
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State football announced the 2024 home game times on Wednesday morning as the Sycamores continue their summer preparations for the upcoming year.
The Sycamores will host six games at Memorial Stadium this season starting on September 14 against Dayton at 6 p.m. The remaining home games against Houston Christian (Sept. 28), Murray State (Oct. 12), Southern Illinois (Oct. 26), North Dakota (Nov. 2), and Illinois State (Nov. 16) are all set to kickoff at 1 p.m.
Indiana State Football Game Times
Sept. 14 vs. Dayton – 6 p.m.
Sept. 28 vs. Houston Christian – 1 p.m.
Oct. 12 vs. Murray State – 1 p.m.
Oct. 26 vs. Southern Illinois – 1 p.m.
Nov. 2 vs. North Dakota – 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 vs. Illinois State – 1 p.m.
Season ticket membership renewals and new season ticket memberships remain on sale online for the upcoming 2024 season.
Season tickets for the six ISU home football games will start at $60 for adults and $30 for youth. Faculty, staff, seniors, and members of the I-Club can purchase tickets for $55.
Additionally, anyone who renews or buys a reserved seat in Section F will have the option to rent a seat chairback for the season. Chairback rentals are available for $20.
Access to Touchdown Corner is available with Varsity Club status starting at just $125. Contact the Sycamore Athletic Fund at 812-237-6134 for more information.
Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2024 football season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
SOUTHERN INDIANA ATHLETICS
BANNISTER, NEWMAN, SHAFFORD NAMED ONB/USI STUDENT ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Athletics announced that Men’s Golf junior Jason Bannister (Laguna Niguel, California) has been named the Old National Bank/USI Male Student Athlete of the Year, while Women’s Basketball junior guard Vanessa Shafford (Linton, Indiana) and Softball junior pitcher Josie Newman (Indianapolis, Indiana) have been named co-ONB/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year honorees.
Bannister had a record-breaking 2023-24 season for the Men’s Golf team. He earned All-Ohio Valley Conference honors and set the single-season school record with his 71.96 strokes-per-round average.
Individually, Bannister tied for fourth at the OVC Championship, one of three top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes on the year. Bannister was named the OVC Golfer of the Month for the second time in his career and helped lead USI to the best team-average in program history (291.62) as well as a fifth-place finish at the OVC Championship.
Shafford helped lead USI Women’s Basketball to a 25-7 overall record and a 17-1 mark in OVC play in 2023-24. She earned first-team All-OVC honors and helped lead the Screaming Eagles to both the OVC regular-season and OVC Tournament titles. USI also hosted a pair of WNIT games, defeating the University of Illinois Chicago in the opening round before nearly upending the University of Wisconsin in the second round.
Statistically, Shafford led USI in several categories, including points (13.6), rebounds (7.7) and minutes per game (30.0). She also had a team-best 46 steals and was named the co-OVC Player of the Week in January.
Newman earned third-team NFCA All-Midwest Region honors after being named the OVC Pitcher of the Year and first-team All-OVC during the 2024 softball season. She went 22-10 in the circle with a 1.77 ERA and set new career marks for wins, innings pitched (230), strikeouts (230) and complete games (30).
In 2024, Newman led the OVC in wins, innings and strikeouts and ranked in the top three of the OVC in ERA. She was twice named the OVC Pitcher of the Week and was named to the OVC All-Tournament team after picking up three wins and leading the Eagles to a third-place finish in the OVC Tournament.
Previous winners of the ONB/USI Male Student Athlete of the Year award were Duncan Bray (2003, 2004; soccer), Matt Keener (2005; baseball), Chris Thompson (2006; basketball), Melvin Hall (2007; basketball), Paul Jellema (2008; cross country/track), Shaun Larsen (2009; baseball), Jamar Smith (2010; basketball), Trevor Leach (2011; baseball), Dustin Emerick (2012; cross country & track), Michael Jordan (2013; cross country & track), Johnnie Guy (2014, 2016; cross country & track), Tyler Pence (2015, cross country & track), Jeril Taylor (2017, basketball), Alex Stein (2018, 2019; basketball), Josh Price (2021; basketball), Titus Winders (2022; cross country/track & field) and Noah Hufnagel (2023; cross country/track & field). The award was not presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Past winners of the ONB/USI Female Student Athlete of the Year award were Shannon Wells (2003, volleyball), Jenny Farmer (2004; cross country/track), Heather Cooksey (2005; cross country/track), Laura Ellerbusch (2006; volleyball), Allison Shafer (2007; cross country/track), Kristin Eickholt (2008; softball), Mary Ballinger (2009, 2010; cross country/track), Danielle LaGrange (2011, 2012; volleyball), Susan Ellsperman (2013; soccer), Anna Hackert (2014; basketball), MacKenzie Dorsam (2015; softball), Haley Hodges (2016 & 2017; softball) and Emily Roberts (2016; cross country/track), Kaydie Grooms (2018; basketball), Jennifer Leonhardt (2019; softball), Jennifer Comastri (2021; cross country/track & field), Cameron Hough (2022; cross country/track & field) and Allie Goodin (2024; softball). The award was not presented in 2020 due to COVID-19.
VALPO CROSS COUNTRY
VALPO CROSS COUNTRY REVEALS 2024 SCHEDULE
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s cross country teams have announced their schedule for the 2024 season, which begins with the program’s annual home meet, the Winrow Open, on Friday, Aug. 30 at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso.
Prior to the Winrow Open, the program will host its second annual Alumni 5K on Friday, Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. Click here to register for the Alumni 5K or for more information. That race will be followed by the collegiate meet featuring the women’s 5K at 5 p.m. and the men’s 6K at 5:45 p.m. This will mark the 35th running of Valpo’s home meet, which is named in honor of former head coach Ed Winrow, who passed away in March 2020.
The Beacons will hit the road for the first time this fall on Friday, Sept. 13 by visiting Missouri Valley Conference foe Illinois State for the Redbird Invite in Normal, Ill. This will mark the second straight season and the third time in the last four years that Valpo will compete in Illinois State’s meet.
Select Valpo individuals will participate in the Mizzou Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Mo. on Sept. 27. Those who do not make the trip to that meet will partake in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invite the following weekend on Oct. 4.
The Beacons will tune up for postseason play with the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals in Madison, Wis. on Oct. 19. The Missouri Valley Conference Championship will take place on Nov. 1 and will be hosted by UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Beacons will then take part in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Nov. 15 in Akron, Ohio.
The cross country and track & field programs will look to build on their recent forward trajectory in 2024. The programs totaled 37 entries into the program record book and 10 program records during a strong 2023-24 campaign. The men’s track & field team scored 31 points at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships, the program’s highest total in a conference championship (indoor or outdoor) since joining the league. The season featured 32 all-time top five times/marks in track & field including nine program records (two women, seven men; five indoor, four outdoor) and three podium finishes at conference championships.
During the 2023 cross country NCAA Regional meet, three Valpo men finished ahead of the previous 10K program record and now rank one through three in program history. For the first time in nearly a decade, a Valpo woman cracked the all-time top five in the 6K on Oct. 27 at the MVC Championship.
MARIAN ATHLETICS
STEVE DOWNING REPEATS CROSSROADS LEAGUE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
JACKSON, Mich. – The Crossroads League announced on Wednesday that Marian’s Steve Downing has been named the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year for the second-straight year.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be named the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year for a second-consecutive year,” said Downing. “Given the makeup of the Crossroads League and how competitive each institution is, this is not only a tremendous recognition for myself, but for Marian University as well. We had another extremely successful year at Marian, earning another top-five finish in the NAIA Learfield Directors’ Cup, as well as placing runner-up in the Crossroads League All-Sports Standings. I would like to thank all of my tremendous staff at Marian, from our administrators to our coaches, who have helped take our University’s athletics to another level once again.”
Under Downing’s watch, Marian finished fourth nationally in the NAIA Learfield Director’s Cup and second in the Crossroads League All-Sports Standings with nine teams winning CL Championships and 14 teams competing at a NAIA National Championship event during the 2023-2024 year. Marian’s men’s cross country team also sent one runner to the NAIA National Championships this past year, bringing the team total to 15.
The MU men’s track program led the way, finishing second at Outdoor Nationals and third at Indoor Nationals. Staying on the track, the Knights also posted a pair of top-10 showings from their women’s indoor and outdoor track teams.
Additional highlights included Marian’s men’s and women’s golf teams posting their best seasons in school history, while MU hosted NAIA National Championship events in the sports of football, women’s soccer, women’s basketball and softball. Marian’s cycling team also continued their elite run, winning the track and BMX national championships, while finishing as the USA Collegiate Cycling omnium runner-up.
Along with all the competitive success, Marian did strong work in the classroom as well with 23-of-24 teams earning NAIA Scholar-Team honors with collective grade-point averages of 3.0 and above.
The Crossroads League Athletic Director-of-the-Year honor is voted on by the 10 Athletic Directors from the Crossroads League and announced each summer.
INDIANA SMALL COLLEGE WEB SITES
INDIANA WESLEYAN ATHLETICS: https://iwuwildcats.com/
EARLHAM ATHLETICS: https://goearlham.com/
WABASH ATHLETICS: https://sports.wabash.edu/
FRANKLIN ATHLETICS: https://franklingrizzlies.com/
ROSE-HULMAN ATHLETICS: https://athletics.rose-hulman.edu/
ANDERSON ATHLETICS: https://athletics.anderson.edu/landing/index
TRINE ATHLETICS: https://trinethunder.com/landing/index
BETHEL ATHLETICS: https://bupilots.com/
DEPAUW ATHLETICS: https://depauwtigers.com/
HANOVER ATHLETICS: https://athletics.hanover.edu/
MANCHESTER ATHLETICS: https://muspartans.com/
HUNTINGTON ATHLETICS: https://www.huathletics.com/
OAKLAND CITY ATHLETICS: https://gomightyoaks.com/index.aspx
ST. FRANCIS ATHLETICS: https://www.saintfranciscougars.com/landing/index
IU KOKOMO ATHLETICS: https://iukcougars.com/
IU EAST ATHLETICS: https://www.iueredwolves.com/
IU SOUTH BEND ATHLETICS: https://iusbtitans.com/
PURDUE NORTHWEST ATHLETICS: https://pnwathletics.com/
INDIANA TECH ATHLETICS: https://indianatechwarriors.com/index.aspx
GRACE COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://gclancers.com/
ST. MARY OF THE WOODS ATHLETICS: https://smwcathletics.com/
GOSHEN COLLEGE ATHLETICS: https://goleafs.net/
HOY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
NUMBERS IN SPORTS
5 – 3 – 2 – 6 – 8 – 15 – 48 – 9 – 11 – 34 – 16
July 11, 1914 – It was an amazing day for baseball. Future Baseball Hall of Fame slugger Babe Ruth made his MLB debut as a pitcher for Boston Red Sox. The Bambino on the mound earned a hard fought 4-3 victory with his seven strong innings over the Cleveland Naps at Fenway Park. Even before this George Herman Ruth was somewhat of a legend. According to a SABR.org article, Babe threw a no-hitter in a 1913 semipro game in Baltimore with Jack Dunn and the Orioles. Ruth showed up eager for training camp that season, reportedly one of the first two to arrive, and was spectacular, especially in exhibitions against major-league clubs, showing himself “a sterling southpaw who (was) a terror to the big league clubs. The Red Sox pitching staff was in shambles so Ruth coming up was a bit of a breath of fresh air. They respected his pitching at that point, no one really knew about his prowess as a hitter really yet, but boy would they find out soon and then some.
July 11, 1939 – There was more than a few eyebrows raised at the 7th All Star Baseball Game when the starting line up for the American League squad was announced at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. New York Yankees and AL maanager Joe McCarthy started six players from the Yankees on that day. It was a lot more understandable when these were the six New York roster members to trot out on the field:
Joe Dimaggio ( Number 5) CF
George Selkirk (Number 3) LF [Remember it was not until June 13, 1948 that the Yankees retired 3 in honor of babe Ruth]
Red Rolfe (Number 2) 3B
Joe Gordon (Number 6) 2B
Bill Dickey (Number 8) C
Red Ruffing (Number 15) P
In front of the home crowd the AL won 3-1 and later that season the Yankees won the World Series making them the first to host an All-Star game and win the MLB title in the same season. Yes the Yankees regular roster was somewhat of an All-Star squad.
July 11, 1950 – In Chicago at good ole Comiskey Park the 17th All Star Baseball Game took place. This was the first televised MLB All-Star game and it brought quite a good contest, filled with drama and star power into American living rooms across the country as it was also the 1st extra inning All Star Game. It was a spectacular game as it went to 14 innings until the National League won 4-3 when Red Schoendienst sent a pitch from Ted Gray to the upper decks of the left field at Comiskey to break up the American league domination of the game of the summer classic. Chicago Cubs star Andy Pafko, Number 48 dramatically caught back to back balls at the wall for outs in the 12th inning to thwart the AL to end the game earlier.
Superstar Ted Williams ( Number 9) broke his elbow while making a leaping catch off-the-wall of a Ralph Kiner deep drive but somehow he remained in the game and put the AL in front 3-2 with an RBI single. Kiner in turn tied the game in the 9th inning to extend the contest. Williams later admitted that he was never the same player after this injury as he lost strength in the arm to power home runs but it did make him a smarter hitter at the age of 32. Smart indeed as a few seasons later Williams led the American League in hitting with a .388 average. The legendary Boston hitter was lost for much of the rest of the 1950 season though. Yes this All Star Game had quite an impact of the overall trajectory of the MLB.
July 11, 1971 – Philadelphia Phillies Deron Johnson wearing Number 11 drives out 3 Home Runs to cap off his streak of his 4 in a row. At 32 years old Johnson knew he had it in him to be a power hitter and put it on full display in going yard in his first three appearances against the Montreal Expos to help the Phillies to an 11-5 win. He also hit one over the fence in his last at bat the evening before to start the terror of four HRs in a row.
July 11, 1985 – The Houston Astros’ ace pitcher Nolan Ryan, Number 34 became the 1st MLB hurler to strike out 4000 when he sat down New York Mets’ Danny Heep.
July 11, 1989 – Bo Knew How to Do it! At the 60th All Star Baseball Game it was the American League winning 5-3 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California as Kansas City Royals outfielder and two sport star Bo Jackson wearing the Number 16 was selected as the All -star MVP of the game.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
July 11, 1926 – Los Angeles Buccaneers franchise forms. The team dissolved after playing just one season.
July 11, 1974- The World Football League debuts as teams play in the new leagues first games. Now the bulk of the opening games were played the night prior on Wednesday July 10, 1974 but the final action of the inaugural week was scheduled for Thursday. The WFLFootball.tripod.com says the scores for week one were as follows:
Memphis 34 knocking off Detroit 15 in front of a crowd of 30,122
Hawaiians lost at Florida 7-8 as 18,625 looked on.
Houston 0 at Chicago 17 with 42,000 in attendance.
Portland got beat up at Philadelphia 8-33 with a crowd of 55,534 watching
Southern California 7 at Birmingham 11 with a nice group of fans numbering 53,231 in the stands.
Thursday, July 11 in the week one finale New York was at Jacksonville and took one on the chin 7- 14 in front of a summertime crowd of 59,112.
July 11, 1976 – The first American football club formed in Austria called the FAAFC. Football in Austria has since developed into a league that plays according to NCAA rules.
July 11, 2007 – Ladanian Tomlinson wins honors at the 15th Annual ESPY Awards.
July 11, 2000 – Future Hall of Fame Dallas wide receiver Michael Irvin retired. According to the NFL.com Michael was 3-time Super Bowl Champion, 5-time Pro Bowl selection, 1991 1st-Team All-Pro the year he ended up leading the NFL with 1,523 receiving yards. He was also selected to the 1990’s All-Decade Team. Number 88 played for 12 seasons with the Cowboys and retired as Cowboys all-time leader in receptions with 750 & 11,904 receiving yards (now 2nd behind Jason Witten in both categories).
July 11, 2011 – Linebacker Mike Vrabel retired as a player. Vrabel too was 3-time Super Bowl Champion but with the Patriots. NFL.com informs the readers that Mike was a 2007 1st-Team All-Pro & 2008 Pro Bowl selection. The great backer played 14 seasons in the League with the Steelers, Patriots & Chiefs. He currently is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Hall of Fame Birthday for July 11
July 11, 1915 – Houston, Texas – Purdue University’s halfback from 1935 through the 1937 season, Cecil Isbell was born. The National Football Foundation in their web bio on Cecil say that this player excelled as a runner, passer and punter. In 1936, he was responsible for 15 of Purdue’s 23 touchdowns; in 1937, he received All-America mention. In 1938, he was named Most Valuable Player as the College All-Stars beat the Washington Redskins 28-16. Cecil Isbell received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1967. After his college playing days were over he played for the Green Bay Packers 1938- 42 and went into coaching in both the college and professional ranks.
Players “Not Yet” in the Hall of Fame
July 11, 1935 – Darrell Dess was an Offensive Lineman from North Carolina State University that played in the NFL for Pittsburgh, NY Giants and Washington.
July 11, 1959 – Jeff Kemp was a QB out of Dartmouth that played in the NFL for the Rams and the Niners.
July 11, 1981 – Miami, Florida – Wide receiver Andre Johnson who played for the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans
July 11, 1990 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson was born.
July 11, 1995 – Miami, Florida -LA Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa arrived into the world.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
July 11
1914 — Babe Ruth made his major league debut for the Boston Red Sox and received credit for a 4-3 victory over Cleveland. He was removed for a pinch hitter in the seventh, and Duffy Lewis’ single led to the winning run.
1944 — Phil Cavaretta set an All-Star game record by reaching base safely five straight times — triple, single, three walks — to lead the NL to a 7-1 victory over the AL at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.
1950 — The All-Star game returned to Comiskey Park, the site of the first game, and was won by the NL 4-3 on Red Schoendienst’s 14th-inning home run off Ted Gray. It was the first extra-inning All-Star game, the first time the NL won at an AL park and the first All-Star game shown on network television.
1961 — Despite a record seven errors and pitcher Stu Miller getting blown off the Candlestick Park mound by a gale wind, the NL edged the AL 5-4 in the first of two All-Star games played that year.
1967 — Tony Perez’s home run off Catfish Hunter in the 15th inning gave the NL a 2-1 win in the longest game in All-Star history. The game was played in California’s Anaheim Stadium.
1973 — Jim Northrup of Detroit hit two grand slams, batting in the leadoff spot, to lead the Tigers to a 14-3 romp over the Texas Rangers. Northrup became the sixth major leaguer to hit two bases-loaded home runs in a game.
1978 — Steve Garvey keyed the NL’s 7-3 All-Star victory at San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium with a game-tying, two-run single and a triple that sparked a four-run eighth inning.
1985 — Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros became the first pitcher in major league history to reach the 4,000-strikeout mark when he fanned New York’s Danny Heep leading off the sixth inning. The Astros beat the Mets 4-3 in 12 innings on Bill Doran’s fifth hit of the game.
1995 — Jeff Conine’s solo shot in the eighth inning gave the NL a 3-2 victory in the All-Star game. Craig Biggio and Mike Piazza also homered for the NL.
2000 — Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored as the AL defeated the NL 6-3 in the All-Star game. Jeter became the first Yankee to win the All-Star game MVP.
2006 — With the American League down to its final strike, Michael Young hit a two-run triple off Trevor Hoffman for a 3-2 victory that kept the Americans unbeaten in Major League Baseball’s All-Star game for the past decade. The NL took a 2-1 lead into the ninth behind David Wright’s homer and some daring, old-style baserunning.
2009 — Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Dunn homered in consecutive at-bats and the Nationals set season highs for hits and runs in a 13-2 win at Houston.
2015 — The Marlins set a team record with 9 consecutive hits in the 7th inning of a 14-3 win over the Reds.
2023 — Having lost the last nine editions of the All-Star Game since 2012, the National League is victorious in the 2023 All-Star Game played at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, 3 – 2, over the American League. The key blow is a two-run homer by Elias Díaz off Félix Bautista in the 8th inning which puts the senior circuit ahead after a sacrifice fly by Bo Bichette had given the AL a 2 – 1 lead in the 6th. Díaz is named the winner of the Ted Williams Award as the game’s MVP.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
July 11
1914 — Babe Ruth makes his major league pitching debut for the Boston Red Sox against Cleveland, getting the 4-3 victory over the Indians.
1950 — Red Schoendienst hits a home run in the 14th inning to give the NL a 4-3 victory in the All-Star game.
1967 — Tony Perez homers in the 15th inning off Catfish Hunter to give the National League a 2-1 win in the longest game in All-Star history.
1979 — Renaldo Nehemiah of the United States sets a Pan American Games record in the 110 hurdles with a time of 13.20 seconds.
1981 — Britain’s Sebastian Coe breaks his own world record in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:12.18 in a meet in Oslo, Norway. Seven runners shatter the 3-minute, 51-second barrier in the mile led by Steve Ovett at 3:49.25. Steve Scott finishes third and sets an American record in 3:49.68.
1982 — FIFA World Cup Final, Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain: Italy beats West Germany, 3-1 in front of 90,000.
1985 — Nolan Ryan of the Houston Astros becomes the first pitcher in major league history to reach 4,000 strikeouts when he fans New York’s Danny Heep in the sixth inning.
1992 — Treboh Joe, a 9-year-old gelding, makes harness racing history by losing his 162nd consecutive race. Treboh Joe finishes fourth to break the North American record of 161 straight losses held by Shiaway Moses.
1993 — Alain Prost gets his 50th Formula One victory by taking the British Grand Prix.
1995 — Maryland quarterback Scott Milanovich, the most prolific passer in school history, is suspended for eight games by the NCAA for gambling on college sports.
2008 — Spanish cyclist Manuel Beltran tests positive for the performance-enhancer EPO and is immediately kicked out of the Tour de France and suspended by his team, Liquigas.
2010 — FIFA World Cup Final, Soccer City, Johannesburg, South Africa: Andrés Iniesta scores an extra time winner as Spain beats the Netherlands, 1-0 for first World Cup title.
2011 — So Yeon Ryu wins the U.S. Women’s Open, defeating Hee Kyung Seo by three shots in a three-hole playoff. Ryu becomes the fifth South Korean to win the Open and the fourth in the last seven years.
2012 — Future Basketball Hall of Fame guard Steve Nash is traded by the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Lakers.
2015 — Serena Williams wins her sixth title at the All England Club, beating Garbine Muguruza of Spain 6-4, 6-4 in the women’s final. For Williams, it’s her second “Serena Slam” — holding all four major titles at the same time. Overall, it’s the 21st major title for Williams, one shy of Graf’s Open era record.
2017 — Venus Williams reaches the semifinals at Wimbledon for the 10th time. The five-time champion at the All England Club advances by beating Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 7-5 under a closed roof on Centre Court.
2021 — Novak Dokovic beats Matteo Berrettini of Italy, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, to win the Wimbledon Title. The win is Dokovic’s 20th Grand Slam title.
2021 — UEFA European Championship Final, Wembley Stadium, London: Italy wins first Euro title since 1968, 3-2 on penalties over England after scores locked at 1-1 AET.
2021 — Copa América Final, Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro: Argentina beats Brazil, 1-0; Lionel Messi named player of the tournament in his first major international title victory.
TV SPORTS THURSDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Guardians at Tigers | 1:10pm | Bally Sports Great Lakes Bally Sports Detroit |
| Nationals at Mets | 1:10pm | MASN SNY |
| Rockies at Reds | 1:10pm | Rockies.TV Bally Sports Ohio |
| Pirates at Brewers | 2:10pm | ATTSN-PIT Bally Sports West |
| Blue Jays at Giants | 3:45pm | Sportsnet NBC Sports Bay |
| Dodgers at Phillies | 6:05pm | SNLA NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| Cubs at Orioles | 6:35pm | MARQ MASN |
| Yankees at Rays | 6:50pm | YES Bally Sports Sun |
| Athletics at Red Sox | 7:10pm | NBC Sports California NESN |
| Marlins at Astros | 8:10pm | Bally Sports Florida SCHN |
| Mariners at Angels | 9:38pm | ROOT Bally Sports West |
| Braves at Diamondbacks | 9:40pm | Bally Sports South YurView |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| LPGA Tour: Evian Championship | 6:00am | GOLF |
| DP World Tour: Scottish Open | 10:30am | GOLF |
| Champions Tour: Kaulig Companies Championship | 2:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: ISCO Championship | 4:30pm | GOLF |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Chicago vs New York | 1:00pm | Prime The U FOX 5 New York |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Wimbledon | 8:00am | ESPN |
| Wimbledon | 1:00pm | ESPN |
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Athletics at Phillies | 6:40pm | NBC Sports California NBC Sports Philadelphia |
| Dodgers at Tigers | 6:40pm | SNLA Bally Sports Detroit |
| Guardians at Rays | 6:50pm | Bally Sports Great Lakes Bally Sports Sun |
| Yankees at Orioles | 7:05pm | YES MASN |
| Marlins at Reds | 7:10pm | Bally Sports Florida Bally Sports Ohio |
| Rockies at Mets | 7:10pm | Rockies.TV SNY |
| Royals at Red Sox | 7:10pm | Bally Sports Kansas City NESN |
| Nationals at Brewers | 8:10pm | MASN2 Bally Sports West |
| Pirates at White Sox | 8:10pm | ATTSN-PIT NBC Sports Chicago |
| Rangers at Astros | 8:10pm | Bally Sports Southwest SCHN |
| Cubs at Cardinals | 8:15pm | MARQ Bally Sports Midwest |
| Mariners at Angels | 9:38pm | ROOT Bally Sports West |
| Blue Jays at Diamondbacks | 9:40pm | Sportsnet YurView |
| Braves at Padres | 9:40pm | Bally Sports Southeast Padres.TV |
| Twins at Giants | 10:15pm | Bally Sports North NBC Sports Bay |
| NBA SUMMER LEAGUE | TIME ET | TV |
| Cleveland vs Orlando | 4:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| New Orleans vs Minnesota | 5:00pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| Sacramento vs Memphis | 6:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Houston vs LA Lakers | 7:30pm | ESPN ESPN+ |
| Brooklyn vs Indiana | 8:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Atlanta vs Washington | 9:30pm | ESPN ESPN+ |
| Denver vs LA Clippers | 10:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| NASCAR Truck: CRC Brakleen 175 | 5:30pm | FS1 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| LPGA Tour: Evian Championship | 6:00am | GOLF |
| DP World Tour: Scottish Open | 10:30am | GOLF |
| Champions Tour: Kaulig Companies Championship | 12:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: ISCO Championship | 4:30pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Liga MX: América vs Querétaro | 9:00pm | TUDN |
| Canadian Premier League: Vancouver FC vs Atlético Ottawa | 10:00pm | FS2 |
| Liga MX: Tijuana vs Guadalajara | 11:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Atlas vs Tigres UANL | 11:05pm | TUDN |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Las Vegas vs Atlanta | 7:30pm | ION |
| Phoenix vs Indiana | 7:30pm | ION |
| Minnesota vs Seattle | 10:00pm | ION |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Wimbledon | 8:00am | ESPN |