“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
ALL-STAR BREAK
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
NBA SUMMER LEAGUE SCORES
DENVER 86 INDIANA 71
MEMPHIS 88 NEW ORLEANS 77
WASHINGTON 73 SACRAMENTO 69
BROOKLYN 102 ORLANDO 100 OT
LA LAKERS 93 CLEVELAND 89
LA CLIPPERS 105 UTAH 88
MINNESOTA 93 HOUSTON 83
WNBA SCORES
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
MLS
NO GAMES SCHEDULED
BRICKYARD 400 SCHEDULE
Friday, July 19
Noon: Gates open
1:05-1:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series practice
2:35-3:25 p.m.: Cup Series practice
Saturday, July 20
10 a.m.: Gates open
12:05-12:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series qualifying
1:05-2:25 p.m.: Cup Series qualifying
3:30 p.m.: Xfinity Series 250-mile race (100 laps)
Sunday, July 21
10 a.m.: Gates open
12:30-1:15 p.m.: Track walk ($20 voucher required)
1:40-1:55 p.m.: Drivers’ brick walk
1:55 p.m.: Driver introductions
2:30 p.m.: Brickyard 400 Cup Series race
TV: NBC
Radio: IMS Radio Network
Streaming: SiriusXM Channel 90
Brickyard 400 entry list
(With car number, driver, team, engine)
1, Ross Chastain, Trackhouse, Chevrolet
2, Austin Cindric, Penske, Ford
3, Austin Dillon, Childress, Chevrolet
4, Josh Berry, Stewart Haas, Ford
5, Kyle Larson, Hendrick, Chevrolet
6, Brad Keselowski, RFK, Ford
7, Corey LaJoie, Spire, Chevrolet
8, Kyle Busch, Childress, Chevrolet
9, Chase Elliott, Hendrick, Chevrolet
10, Noah Gragson, Stewart Haas, Ford
11, Denny Hamlin, Gibbs, Toyota
12, Ryan Blaney, Penske, Ford
14, Chase Briscoe, Stewart Haas, Ford
15, Cody Ware, Ware, Ford
16, A.J. Allmendinger, Kaulig, Chevrolet
17, Chris Buescher, RFK, Ford
19, Martin Truex Jr., Gibbs, Toyota
20, Christopher Bell, Gibbs, Toyota
21, Harrison Burton, Wood Brothers, Ford
22, Joey Logano, Penske, Ford
23, Bubby Wallace, 23XI, Toyota
24, William Byron, Hendrick, Chevrolet
31, Daniel Hemric, Kaulig, Chevrolet
33, Ty Dillon, Childress, Chevrolet
34, Michael McDowell, Front Row, Ford
38, Todd Gilliland, Front Row, Ford
41, Ryan Preece, Stewart Haas, Ford
42, John Hunder Nemechek, Legacy, Toyota
43, Erik Jones, Legacy, Toyota
45, Tyler Reddick, 23XI, Toyota
47, Ricky Stenhouse, JTG Daugherty, Chevrolet
48, Alex Bowman, Hendrick, Chevrolet
51, Justin Haley, Ware, Ford
54, Ty Gibbs, Gibbs, Toyota
66, B.J. McLeod, Power Source, Ford
71, Zane Smith, Spire, Chevrolet
77, Carson Hocevar, Spire, Chevrolet
84, Jimmie Johnson, Legacy, Toyota
99, Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse, Chevrolet
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
FOOTBALL NEWS
AARON RODGERS AND RUSSELL WILSON ARE AMONG SEVERAL NFL STARS WITH SOMETHING TO PROVE THIS SEASON
NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Rodgers knows all eyes are on him. That’s nothing new for the four-time NFL MVP.
But the 40-year-old New York Jets quarterback enters this season, his 20th in the league, with plenty to prove after missing all but four snaps last year because of a torn Achilles tendon.
“I think if I don’t do what I know I’m capable of doing, we’re all probably going to be out of here,” Rodgers said of the lofty expectations on him and the Jets, who are trying to end the NFL’s longest active playoff drought at 13 seasons.
“I like that kind of pressure, though,” he said. “It’s a tough market to play in, it’s not for everybody. I relish that opportunity, but that’s the way the NFL is.”
He certainly isn’t alone in the spotlight as training camps open.
Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson, San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence and Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley are among a handful of NFL stars with something to prove because of injuries, mediocre play or needing to justify big contracts.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Jets
Rodgers’ much-hyped arrival in the Big Apple quickly went sour when he was injured in the season opener and New York couldn’t recover. He was in the headlines again this offseason when he was mentioned as a potential running mate for Robert Kennedy Jr. and when he skipped mandatory minicamp to go on a previously planned trip to Egypt. But he’ll get another chance to turn around the franchise’s fortunes — and perhaps save the jobs of coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas in the process.
Russell Wilson, QB, Steelers
Wilson went from being a touchdown-tossing machine during his 10 seasons in Seattle, where he helped the Seahawks win a Super Bowl, to an underwhelming two-year stint in Denver. The 35-year-old QB was released by the Broncos in March after looking like a shell of his playmaking self, signed with the Steelers for the veteran minimum of $1.2 million and will have to beat out Justin Fields for the starting gig.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
All McCaffrey has done in his first seven NFL seasons is prove himself, overcoming a few injuries along the way to establish himself as perhaps the league’s most dynamic player. But last season’s AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year reset the market for running backs this offseason by signing a record-setting contract extension worth $38 million over two years and will be featured on the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL 25. The 28-year-old McCaffrey will have to keep playing at that video game-like level as the 49ers seek a Super Bowl return.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Browns
After being acquired from Houston and getting a five-year, fully guaranteed $230 million deal from Cleveland in 2022, Watson has made just 12 starts. He was suspended by the NFL for 11 games in 2022 for violating the personal conduct policy after being accused of sexual assault and harassment by two dozen women. He missed 11 games last season after breaking a bone in his right shoulder. Joe Flacco became a fan favorite while leading Cleveland to the playoffs and Watson will be expected to do at least that this season.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
The 2021 No. 1 overall pick got a five-year, $275 million contract extension last month that includes $142 million guaranteed and a $37.5 million signing bonus — making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history. While Lawrence insisted his new deal doesn’t add pressure, he’ll need to continue to make significant progress on the field while trying to lead the Jaguars back into the playoffs after narrowly missing out last season.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles
A two-year contract dispute ended with Barkley leaving the Giants and heading to the NFC East-rival Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal. The dynamic playmaker can dominate when healthy, but that has been an issue in recent seasons. Barkley will get a chance to prove he’s still a top running back in the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts-led offense. And he’ll get to face the Giants twice a season.
Daniel Jones, QB, Giants
Speaking of the Giants, the quarterback they hoped would be the face of their franchise heads into the season with lots of uncertainty. Jones has shown flashes of what made him the No. 6 overall pick in 2019, prompting New York to give him a four-year, $160 million contract extension in the 2023 offseason. But a neck injury and a torn ACL limited him to six games. GM Joe Schoen said on a recent episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that “this is the year” for Jones to show whether he’s the Giants’ long-term solution.
Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension, Higgins is set to play this season on the $21.8 million franchise tag he signed last month. He’ll now try to set the market for himself for next offseason in free agency. But he’ll have to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2023, when he had 42 catches for 656 yards and five TDs in 12 games — all career lows.
Chase Young, DE, Saints
The 2020 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year while with Washington hasn’t developed into a consisting game-altering player, with injuries playing a large part. The Saints are his third team in his five NFL seasons, including a nine-game stint last season with the 49ers after a midseason deal. Young, who had offseason neck surgery, will be counted on to boost New Orleans’ pass rush after signing a one-year deal.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Dolphins
Tagovailoa could play this season on the final year of his rookie deal after the QB said last month he was “antsy” about getting a new contract done. He led the NFL with 4,624 yards passing last season, bouncing back from two concussions that cut short his 2022 campaign. But he might need another prove-it season with a return to the postseason before he cashes in next offseason — with Miami or elsewhere.
TEXANS FIRST TO OPEN CAMP, DENY COMPLACENCY
From worst to first and now the hunted, things changed rapidly for the Houston Texans under the direction of general manager Nick Caserio.
Houston was the first NFL team to start training camp with an on-field workout Thursday, turning the page from the offseason and putting to rest the turnaround 2023 season that marked the Texans’ return to the playoffs as AFC South division champions.
Caserio and head coach DeMeco Ryans are going out of their way to make sure complacency isn’t part of the summertime menu after a 10-win season was capped with a wildcard playoff win over the Cleveland Browns.
“I think we all understand the challenges in front of us. I mean, regardless of what happened last year, how much success, an individual player as a team, we had or didn’t have doesn’t really matter. You kind of have to start from scratch,” Caserio said. “You kind of have to reestablish your level of performance, reestablish your foundation. And that’s what training camp is about, and it’s no different for C.J. (Stroud) as it is for any other player.”
Stroud won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and is already drawing support at sportsbooks as an MVP candidate in his second season as Houston’s quarterback.
Complacent doesn’t describe Caserio’s approach in the offseason, acquiring wide receiver Stefon Diggs, running back Joe Mixon and defensive end Danielle Hunter.
“Every year it’s the same thing. Just try to put together the best team that we feel possible,” he said. “Take advantage of our opportunities and however we allocate the resources, we allocate the resources. We think we have a good team, but I mean, it doesn’t really matter. It’s all about action and not about talk.”
Houston starts the preseason in less than two weeks with a matchup against the Chicago Bears in Canton, Ohio. The new assembly of talent was together on the field Thursday and Stroud couldn’t help but smile.
“I want to definitely attack more downfield this year,” Stroud said after throwing to Diggs and his new collection of receivers. “It’s a five-headed monster. It’s super-dope to have a bunch of options.”
TRAINING CAMP QUESTIONS: CHICAGO BEARS
Two weeks before kicking off the preseason in the Hall of Fame game, the Chicago Bears open training camp at the team facility optimistic they might finally have a long-term answer at quarterback.
The Bears selected Southern California’s Caleb Williams with the first pick in the draft, ushering in a new era of offense with Shane Waldron hired to design a scheme to maximize the quarterback and his freshly assembled weapons.
Chicago drafted Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze and acquired Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers to go along with 2023 trade acquisition D.J. Moore.
Head coach Matt Eberflus survived the hot seat for another year with seven wins last season, rebounding from a 2-7 start and helped by general manager Ryan Poles making a trade to help the defense. He acquired Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders and signed him to a four-year, $98 million deal before locking up top free agent Jaylon Johnson with a four-year, $76 million contract.
Eberflus’ defense ranked near the top of the league in almost every statistical category over the final five weeks of the regular season.
But Poles’ next major decision might be whether to pull the plug on the head coach if the 2024 season doesn’t show sustained progress.
ABOUT THE BEARS
2023 record: 7-10
Training camp start date: July 19
Last playoff appearance: 2020 NFC wild-card game
–Here are three training camp questions for the Bears:
1. Can the Bears win without Caleb Williams playing the role of savior?
Peer reviews out of Halas Hall are projecting greatness from Williams. The plan is for him to take the majority of reps and get comfortable with first-year Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Chicago wants to feature a running game and free-agent add D’Andre Swift, but the scheme with outside weapons galore place Williams in prime position to succeed.
How subjective success is measured will be telling. The Bears are not one of the favorites in the NFC North entering the season and don’t overlook the learning curve likely for Williams and a team with plenty of fresh faces.
2. Did Chicago’s defense turn the corner for good last season?
Yes. No team was better against the run than the Bears in 2023 and that strength turned the spotlight to a secondary with talent and playmakers.
The Bears led the NFL in interceptions and with a strong pass rush, don’t expect them to take a big step back.
3. How will the offensive line settle in front of Williams?
Young at tackle and unproven inside, some consternation over the state of the offensive line is warranted.
But the Bears aren’t concerned — yet — because of the level of play they received from left guard Teven Jenkins last season. He’s a potential anchor of the group with plans to use Jenkins on the left side with right guard Nate Davis and center Ryan Bates rounding out the inside.
The worry is health, and Jenkins’ history of back issues is at the top of the list. Davis, in his second season with the Bears, signed a three-year, $30 million extension but was barely on the field during OTAs.
BEARS TRAINING CAMP CAPSULE
Chicago Bears (7-10)
OPEN CAMP: July 19, Lake Forest, Ill.
LAST YEAR: Justin Fields nearly steered the Bears back into the playoff picture in the second half, but Chicago’s postseason bid fell short, leading to another offseason remodel. Head coach Matt Eberflus kept his job despite a 10-24 record and 14 consecutive losses during his two seasons since replacing Matt Nagy. The Bears positioned themselves for a revival starting in 2023 by trading away linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens — Smith is an All-Pro, but the Bears opted to invest the $100 million elsewhere — and flipping the No. 1 overall pick to the Carolina Panthers for a home-run haul featuring WR D.J. Moore and two first-rounders. One of those picks became the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft when the Panthers skidded to a 2-15 record. GM Ryan Poles drafted Caleb Williams and shipped Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, while also adding 10,000-yard receiver Keenan Allen (Chargers) and drafting Washington WR Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick.
KEY ADDITIONS: WR Keenan Allen, OT Kiran Amegadjie, S Kevin Byard, TE Gerald Everett, WR Rome Odunze, RB D’Andre Swift, QB Caleb Williams
KEY LOSSES: QB Justin Fields, RB D’Onta Foreman, S Eddie Jackson, WR Darnell Mooney, TE Robert Tonyan, DE Yannick Ngakoue
CAMP CHECKLIST: Indoctrinating all of the newcomers into an offensive scheme rich with talent might not happen suddenly, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will have some challenges over the next six weeks. Namely, how will the interior offensive line shape up? There’s a less urgent matter of working out the timeshare in the backfield, where free-agent addition D’Andre Swift figures to get the bulk of the work. The secondary is captained by CB Jaylon Johnson, who re-signed as a free agent, but the Bears let go of ballhawk Eddie Jackson to create a competition for time at multiple spots.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Jay Cutler started the last Bears’ playoff win in 2011 (over Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks) and still stands as the benchmark for passing yards with the franchise. Expectations couldn’t be much higher for Williams in Chicago, where he’s already being discussed as perhaps the best pure quarterback the franchise has ever employed. With apologies to Shane Matthews and Jim Miller, the Bears are optimistic the offense can grow into a strength but for now plan to let the defense be the teeth of the team. Chicago led the league in interceptions in 2023.
TEXANS TRAINING CAMP CAPSULE
Houston Texans (10-7)
CAMP OPENS: July 18, Houston
LAST YEAR: The Texans were resurrected as contenders under DeMeco Ryans with a roster reloaded by GM Nick Caserio and anchored by two rookies of the year, QB C.J. Stroud and OLB Will Anderson Jr. Houston won 10 games, the AFC South division and beat the Browns in a home playoff game to advance to the AFC divisional playoffs. Houston reloaded in the offseason, adding three players with Pro Bowl credentials: WR Stefon Diggs, RB Joe Mixon and DE Danielle Hunter.
KEY ADDITIONS: FS Calen Bullock, DE Danielle Hunter, WR Stefon Diggs, OT Blake Fisher, RCB Kamari Lassiter, RB Joe Mixon, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, DT Denico Autry
KEY LOSSES: LB Blake Cashman, DT Maliek Collins, Edge Jonathan Greenard, DT Sheldon Rankins
CAMP CHECKLIST: Regarded as a future NFL head coach, offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik helped Stroud produce a plethora of “wow” performances last season. The task in training camp is fitting in the new guys, including Diggs and Mixon, without dimming the star of breakout WR Nico Collins. Fitting Hunter into a scheme that wants constant pressure on the quarterback should not be a headache, but his acclimation to the new defense after spending his entire career with the Vikings bears watching.
2024 EXPECTATIONS: Ryans harped the entire offseason about hitting the reset button, and Caserio opened training camp trumpeting a similar message: “Nothing is guaranteed.” The Texans are intent on staying at the front of the pack in the AFC South and climbing higher. There’s plenty of promise to build on after last season.
SAINTS OT RYAN RAMCZYK (KNEE) TO MISS 2024 SEASON
New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk will miss the entire 2024 season after being placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Thursday.
The move was expected with Ramczyk still experiencing knee issues. It ends his season because he’s a vested veteran who was placed on the list prior to final roster cuts.
Ramczyk, 30, was limited to 12 games in 2023 and underwent offseason knee surgery to repair significant cartilage damage.
Ramczyk said late last season he has been dealing with the cartilage issues for the past three seasons.
Earlier in his career, Ramczyk was one of the top offensive linemen in the league and played 63 games over his four regular seasons. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2019 and was a second-team selection in both 2018 and 2020.
He was limited to 10 games in 2021 but was able to play in 16 contests through 2022 while regularly undergoing injections.
Ramczyk has started all 101 games in which he has played in seven seasons. He was a first-round draft pick (32nd overall) out of Wisconsin in 2017.
New Orleans also played defensive ends Chase Young and Tanoh Kpassagnon, tight end Juwan Johnson and linebacker Nephi Sewell on physically unable to perform list and put receiver Chris Olave on the non-football injury list. Wideout Bub Means was activated from the non-football injury list.
Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020 with Washington, was one of New Orleans’ biggest offseason moves. He sustained a major knee injury in middle of the 2021 season that has curtailed his production.
JASON WRIGHT IS OUT AS WASHINGTON COMMANDERS PRESIDENT AND WILL LEAVE THE TEAM AFTER THE ’24 SEASON
Jason Wright, who four years ago became the first Black president of an NFL team, is no longer in that role with the Washington Commanders and is expected to leave the organization after this season.
A team spokesperson confirmed Thursday that Wright is departing the organization and will remain in a senior advisory role for the time being while the search for his successor is ongoing. That is expected to get underway soon as the ownership group led by Josh Harris that assumed control last year continues to reshape the franchise.
“This feels like the right moment for me to explore my next leadership opportunity,” Wright said. “We have taken this franchise through a period of immense challenge and uncertainty and have transformed it. We’ve set the table for an incredibly bright future under Josh’s leadership.”
Wright is expected to maintain similar responsibilities in the coming months, specifically focusing on a naming rights deal and the process of determining a new stadium site and further developments on that front. The team’s lease at the stadium formerly known as FedEx Field is set to expire in 2027.
Hired in the summer of 2020 by former owner Dan Snyder, Wright was immediately tasked with being one of the faces of the organization in tumult, along with then-coach and head of football operations Ron Rivera. A former running back who then went into business, Wright helped steer the organization through a rebranding effort that ended with the new name, Commanders.
When Harris and his group bought the team from Snyder, a North American professional sports record $6.05 billion sale approved unanimously by league owners in July 2023, Wright remained in his role throughout the transition.
Harris said Wright made a remarkable impact during his time in charge.
“He stepped in at a time of immense challenge and has led this organization through an incredible transformation that set that stage for everything that is to come,” Harris said. “I am extremely grateful to Jason for his partnership to me and the rest of the ownership group over the past year. His guidance has been invaluable and his leadership has helped reshape our culture.”
Wright, 42, pointed to fans returning and a reconnection with the community as some of the accomplishments he was proudest of from the past year on the job. He added, “Most importantly, we re-established a culture of respect in this organization.”
FORMER AFL STAR ABNER HAYNES DIES AT 86
Former AFL MVP Abner Haynes, a star running back and returner in the 1960s, died Thursday. He was 86.
The Kansas City Chiefs announced Haynes’ death but didn’t divulge details. Haynes died in Dallas.
Haynes played for the Dallas Texans from 1960-62 before the franchise moved to Kansas City. He played for the Chiefs in 1963-64 and was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1991. While with the franchise, he rushed for 3,814 yards and 39 touchdowns, caught 199 passes for 2,739 yards and 17 scores, averaged 25.5 yards and scored one touchdown on kickoff returns, and averaged 10.9 yards on punt returns.
“My family and I are deeply saddened by the passing of Chiefs Hall of Famer Abner Haynes,” Chiefs CEO Clark Hunt said in a news release. “Abner was one of the first great stars of the Dallas Texans and the American Football League. In the league’s first season in 1960, Abner earned Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year honors, and more importantly, he earned the respect and admiration of his teammates and fans alike.
“In addition to his on-the-field prowess, Abner was a man of courage and leadership from a very young age. He remained involved in the community well after his playing days were over, and his legacy extends far beyond the gridiron. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Guadalupe and his entire family during this difficult time.”
Haynes was voted MVP in 1960, when he also won Rookie of the Year honors. He established career highs of 1,049 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns in 1962.
Haynes also played for the Denver Broncos (1965-66), Miami Dolphins (1967) and New York Jets (1967). He finished his career with 4,630 yards and 46 touchdowns on the ground and accumulated 3,535 receiving yards and 20 scores on 287 receptions. Haynes also returned a punt for a score in 1965 to go with his kickoff return TD in 1961.
Haynes played college football for North Texas and was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as well as earning All-American honors in 1959. He rushed for 1,864 yards and 17 touchdowns in his three varsity seasons.
In 1956, Haynes and teammate Leon King were the first African-Americans to play college football on an integrated team in the state of Texas. He moved up to the varsity in 1957.
Haynes was inducted into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
UTAH STATE OFFICIALLY FIRES COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
Utah State announced Thursday it has officially fired football coach Blake Anderson, two weeks after giving him notice of the school’s intent to terminate his contract.
In a statement released Thursday, Utah State said:
“This action is based on significant violations of his contractual obligations related to USU’s employee reporting requirements. These reporting requirements include a prohibition on employees outside the USU Office of Equity from investigating issues of sexual misconduct, including domestic violence. Additionally, Anderson failed to manage the team in a manner that reflects USU’s academic values.”
Anderson did respond to the allegations within the 14 days after he received notice, by way of a 70-page response submitted by Anderson and his attorney Tom Mars.
“Coach Anderson’s legal team believes this decision — as well as USU’s deliberately inflammatory July 2 press release — violate the terms of Coach Anderson’s employment agreement and the implied covenant of good faith,” Mars said in a statement. “We will be pursuing all available legal remedies on his behalf.”
In its original notice two weeks ago, the school cited “actions taken (by Anderson) in spring 2023.” The school also announced in the original statement that it also dismissed Jerry Bovee, a deputy athletic director who was interim AD in 2023, and Austin Albrecht, director of player development and community. They were part of the same investigation.
The Athletic on Thursday reported that the impetus of the investigation was a domestic violence incident in April 2023.
Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling will serve as the interim coach for the Aggies this season.
Anderson, 55, was heading into his fourth season at Utah State. He compiled a 23-17 record, including a second consecutive 6-7 campaign in 2023.
The Aggies finished 11-3 during his first season with the Mountain West program in 2021 and won the LA Bowl, finishing the year at No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25.
Anderson is 74-54 overall, including seven seasons at Arkansas State from 2014-20.
Utah State opens the season against Robert Morris on Aug. 31.
ARKANSAS’ SAM PITTMAN EXPLAINS BOBBY PETRINO HIRE: ‘I WANT TO WIN’
Bobby Petrino wasn’t in the room in Dallas, but the offensive coordinator’s return to the Arkansas Razorbacks was a popular topic of conversation at SEC Media Days on Thursday.
Head coach Sam Pittman told ESPN his decision to hire the controversial Petrino was all about the Razorbacks’ desire to win, going on to claim at the podium that he is not worried about meshing with the man who once held his position.
Petrino was at the helm of the Razorbacks from 2008-11 and led them to a Cotton Bowl win in the 2011 season. But he was fired in April 2012 after a motorcycle accident led to the revelation that he was conducting an extramarital affair with an athletic department employee.
Petrino’s figure now looms behind Pittman, whose seat is getting hot after a 4-8 season in 2023.
“I want to win. I don’t care about all the rest of it,” Pittman told ESPN. “This has never ever, ever been about me. I’m grateful to be the head coach at Arkansas, and I’m trying to make the people of the state of Arkansas, the team and the staff proud to be a part of the program.”
Pittman told reporters that Petrino has been “a great resource for me” with his head coaching background and he is not expecting to butt heads with the Arkansas icon.
“I would want to work for me,” Pittman said. “I would want to work with me if I was an offensive coordinator because I’m going to let you go get them. Now, I’ve got (many) ideas and I’m going to come in and have my tape up there and go, ‘OK, I see this, I see this, I see this.’ But I would think if you ask Bobby and (defensive coordinator Travis Williams) and (special teams coordinator Scott Fountain), they say, ‘He gives me the freedom to run what I think is best.’”
Petrino, 63, spent 2023 as the offensive coordinator for Texas A&M. Jimbo Fisher faced nearly identical questions about Petrino’s persona at last year’s SEC Media Day session and said it wouldn’t make things “volatile” on the coaching staff.
Fisher was fired 10 games into the season with a 6-4 record, and Petrino wasn’t retained by new coach Mike Elko.
“I don’t know about A&M. I don’t know that,” Pittman said. “I just know we’ve given him the freedom to go score points.”
Hired in November to replace the fired Dan Enos, Petrino has already had a big imprint on the Razorbacks’ offensive personnel. Pittman said Petrino “hand-picked” Arkansas’ new quarterback, Taylen Green, a transfer from Boise State.
“I had a relationship previously with Coach Petrino,” Green said. “He was my first offer coming out of high school. Hit the transfer portal, and he called me every morning. Sometimes I wasn’t up, and he would text me. But I took that as that meant a lot to me. He made me a priority. That meant a lot.
“Just the vision that he had and Coach Pitt had, I’m truly grateful for the belief and the vision that they have. I feel like just the opportunity with the weapons that we have offensively and a great defense, I feel like the sky is the limit for us.”
Green emphasized how excited he was to play for Petrino.
“He doesn’t even have to say anything,” Green said. “You just have to look at his resume and turn on the film of the different quarterbacks he had throughout his coaching career and just the development that he has and just the six, seven months that I’ve been … coached by him, it’s crazy just how much knowledge and how much understanding that I got just from talking to him and just taking everything in.”
REPORTS: ALABAMA TO NAME BRYANT-DENNY STADIUM FIELD AFTER NICK SABAN
Alabama will honor retired football coach Nick Saban by naming the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium after him, media outlets reported Thursday.
Saban won six of his seven career national championships in 17 years coaching the Crimson Tide. The Alabama university system board of trustees is scheduled to meet Friday, with a resolution on the agenda for a naming at the stadium in Tuscaloosa, ESPN reported.
Tide Illustrated first reported the news, with the dedication ceremony scheduled for Sept. 7 when Alabama hosts South Florida. The Crimson Tide open their season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.
Saban, 72, retired from coaching in January, finishing with a career mark of 297-71-1 — 206 of those wins coming at Alabama (with 29 losses).
He began his head coaching career at Toledo in 1990. He coached Michigan State from 1995-99 before accepting the head coaching job at LSU in 2000. He won his first national title in 2003 at LSU.
Now a college football analyst for ESPN, Saban has a statue of him along with the Crimson Tide’s other national title-winning coaches on the Walk of Champions outside the stadium.
BASEBALL
REPORTS: REDS RHP CHASE BURNS RECEIVES RECORD $9.25M SIGNING BONUS
The Cincinnati Reds signed this year’s No. 2 overall pick Chase Burns and gave him a reported $9.25 million signing bonus on Thursday night, surpassing the mark set last year by fellow right-hander Paul Skenes, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cincinnati announced Burns’ signing but didn’t release terms. Multiple outlets reported the signing bonus that exceeded Skenes’ $9.2 million.
Burns, 21, was a star pitcher at Wake Forest, going 10-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 191 strikeouts in 100 innings this past college season. He was the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American.
Burns is slated to report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Sunday to get his professional career going. It hasn’t been determined when he will pitch or to what level he will be assigned.
“We’ll get him on the field Monday,” Reds amateur scouting director Joe Katuska told MLB.com. “The biggest thing is first is just figuring out where he is in the throwing progression. He still has some innings to throw, but it’s been a little bit since he was on the mound in a game situation. We’re going to protect the long-term interest and what the projection is for.”
Burns spent two seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest for the 2024 season.
Second baseman Travis Bazzana was the No. 1 overall selection by the Cleveland Guardians. He has yet to sign.
Skenes quickly rose through minors and has dominated major league hitters since being recalled just over two months ago. He was the starting pitcher for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
NEW YORK METS 1B PETE ALONSO AMONG MLB STARS WHO COULD USE BIG SECOND HALF HEADING INTO FREE AGENCY
PHOENIX (AP) — Pete Alonso’s disappointing performance in this year’s Home Run Derby wasn’t a particularly big deal for the future of his big-league career.
His play over the next three months could be a different story.
The 29-year-old is one of the most coveted free agents in Major League Baseball for the upcoming offseason and could make himself a lot of money — or potentially lose a lot of it — depending on how he plays in the second half of the season.
Alonso played in his fourth All-Star game on Tuesday night, making the National League team despite a relatively lackluster first half. He’s hitting .240 with 19 homers and 51 RBIs and a career-low .772 OPS. Those numbers might be pretty good for most players, but for a man who wants to hit the market as one of the game’s elite players, it’s not up to his standards.
Alonso said he’s not worried about his personal situation. He just wants to play well so his New York Mets make the playoffs — which would happen if the season ended today.
“I don’t dwell on it at all because I’m just focused on winning games and I’m just really focused on doing what I can every single day to help the team in a positive way,” Alonso said. “I’m honestly just focusing on performing and doing the best I can to help my team win. I’m just focused on the season at hand.”
Here are a few other potential free agents who are looking to raise their stock in the second half:
1B Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals: Does the 36-year-old slugger have anything left in the tank for another contract? He was the National League MVP in 2022, but has regressed in a hurry since that point. The first baseman is hitting just .230 with 13 homers, 37 RBIs and a career-low .664 OPS.
3B Alex Bregman, Astros: The 30-year-old has bounced back somewhat from a very slow start, posting a .256 average, 12 homers and .730 OPS through 92 games. But those numbers are still below his career averages. A big second half would help ease fears that he’s on the downhill side of his career.
OF Juan Soto, Yankees: His first half hasn’t been a problem. Far from it. The 25-year-old was one of the game’s best players in the first half of the season, batting .295 with 23 homers and a robust .985 OPS. He’s been worth 5.0 WAR through 94 games. But if he can continue this pace, or even push it forward slightly, the bidding war in the upcoming offseason could be close to the Ohtani-style extravaganza of last offseason.
SP Walker Buehler, Dodgers: The two-time All-Star returned earlier this year from his second Tommy John surgery and things haven’t gone particularly well. The right-hander is 1-4 with a 5.84 ERA through eight starts, averaging just more than four innings per start. He was one of the game’s elite pitchers in 2021 and doesn’t turn 30 until later this month, but it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever be the same.
Lack of offense
MLB has made major changes over the past few years in an effort to shorten games and juice offense.
The former has certainly happened. The latter? Not so much.
The season average of .243 heading into the All-Star break was just ahead of 2022 and 1968 as the lowest since the dead-ball era ended in 1920. The good news is the numbers are trending upwards — at least slightly.
The batting average has improved as the temperatures have climbed, moving from .239 in May to .250 in the first half of July. There’s little doubt an average in the .250s throughout the rest of the season would be a welcome sight for Commissioner Rob Manfred.
Wild card races
We’re nearly 100 games into this season and there are still 25 teams with legitimate playoff aspirations.
The National League wild card race is shaping up to be particularly tight. The St. Louis Cardinals (50-46), New York Mets (49-46), Arizona Diamondbacks (49-48), San Diego Padres (50-49), Pittsburgh Pirates (48-48), San Francisco Giants (47-50), Cincinnati Reds (47-50) and Chicago Cubs (47-51) are separated by just four games in the standings.
The Cardinals and Mets would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
DODGERS AND CUBS OPEN 2025 MLB SEASON IN TOKYO MARCH 18, REST OF LEAGUE STARTS MARCH 27
NEW YORK (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani will open the 2025 season in Tokyo against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and the Athletics will start the home portion of their first season in Sacramento against the Cubs on March 31.
All 30 teams are scheduled for March 27, marking the earliest opening day other than international games, Major League Baseball announced Thursday. There were games on March 28 in 2019 and this season.
Each team will play six games against its prime interleague rival instead of four, increasing matchups between the New York Yankees and Mets, the Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels, Cubs and Chicago White Sox and Athletics and San Francisco Giants. What is being called a Rivalry Weekend is scheduled for May 16-18 and includes the prime interleague rivalries along with Pittsburgh vs Philadelphia, Colorado vs. Arizona, Detroit vs. Toronto and Houston vs. Texas.
In the third straight season of a return to a balanced schedule, a team will play 13 games against each division rival and six or seven against each other club in its league for a total of 62. The remaining 48 games are against interleague opponents, with a single three-game series against each of the 14 other clubs in the opposite league. Teams will be home against the same interleague opponents they hosted in 2023.
The American League used a balanced schedule from 1977-2000 and the National League from 1993-2000.
The Dodgers and Cubs will play at the Tokyo Dome on March 18-19, marking the 25th anniversary of the Mets and Cubs playing MLB’s first regular-season games in Japan. Other Tokyo openers were the Yankees and Tampa Bay (2004), Boston and Oakland (2008), Seattle and Oakland (2012) and Seattle and Oakland (2019). The Dodgers and San Diego started the 2024 season in Seoul, South Korea.
MLB and the players’ association intended to play regular-season games in Paris next June but abandoned the plan because they couldn’t find a sponsor. The collective bargaining agreement also called for September 2025 games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but none were included.
After playing in Oakland at the Coliseum since 1968, the Athletics intend to spend the 2025-27 seasons at Sutter Health Park, home of the San Francisco Giants’ Triple-A River Dogs and a ballpark with a capacity of about 10,500 fixed seats. The A’s open with a four-game series at Seattle before hosting the Cubs. They play the Giants at San Francisco’s Oracle Park from May 16-18 and host the Giants from July 4-6. The Athletics franchise started in Philadelphia from 1901-54, and moved to Kansas City for 13 seasons. The team has announced plans to move to a new ballpark in Las Vegas starting in 2028.
The daytime high temperatures in Sacramento often exceed 100 degrees in the summer and artificial turf is being installed to accommodate both the A’s and River Dogs.
Other March 27 games include the Cubs at Arizona, Angels at the White Sox, San Francisco at Cincinnati, the Mets at Houston, Cleveland at Kansas City, Detroit at the Dodgers, Pittsburgh at Miami, Milwaukee at the Yankees, Minnesota at St. Louis, Atlanta at San Diego, Colorado at Tampa Bay, Boston at Texas, Baltimore at Toronto and Philadelphia at Washington.
Game times were not announced.
The All-Game will be at Atlanta’s Truist Park on July 15 and the regular season ends Sept. 28.
ROYALS RELEASE RHP NICK ANDERSON
The Kansas City Royals released right-hander Nick Anderson on Thursday after he cleared waivers.
The Royals had designated him for assignment on Saturday to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Hunter Harvey, whom they obtained in a trade the same day with the Washington Nationals. Anderson declined his outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha.
Anderson, 34, was 3-1 with a 4.04 ERA, 15 walks and 29 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings over 37 appearances in his first season with Kansas City.
For his career, he is 14-7 with a 3.18 ERA, 47 walks and 202 strikeouts in 158 1/3 innings over 165 relief appearances with the Miami Marlins (2019), Tampa Bay Rays (2019-21), Atlanta Braves (2023) and Royals.
BRAVES, CARDINALS PLAYING LONG GAME OF CONSISTENCY TO REACH PLAYOFFS
The St. Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Braves, each in second place in their divisions, are expected to be in the thick of the playoff race during the second half of the season. The clubs open a three-game series in Atlanta on Friday.
The Braves begin the second half 8 1/2 games behind Philadelphia in the National League East. St. Louis is 4 1/2 games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. Atlanta currently holds the top wild-card spot, 3 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis.
The Cardinals won two of three from the Braves in their first meeting in St. Louis in June.
The starting pitchers for the series opener will be St. Louis right-hander Sonny Gray (9-6, 3.34 ERA) against Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4, 4.43).
Gray has gone 0-2 with a 6.06 ERA over 16 1/3 innings in his last three starts. In his last appearance on Friday, he pitched seven innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts in taking a 5-1 home loss to the Chicago Cubs.
Gray is 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA in six lifetime starts against the Braves. He lost to Atlanta last season, allowing three runs in 6 2/3 innings.
Schwellenbach has won his last two outings to snap a personal two-game losing streak and post a 1.38 ERA so far in July.
He allowed one run on seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings of a 5-1 victory over visiting Philadelphia on July 6. Schwellenbach went one better in his most recent start, going seven innings of a 6-1 win at San Diego on July 12. He yielded one run and three hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
In the rookie’s lone outing against the Cardinals, he allowed four runs and eight hits with six strikeouts in taking a 4-3 loss on June 24.
The Braves, who still want to catch the Phillies, have changed their mindset. Instead of hoping to run off a long winning streak, they’re looking to make incremental gains and carry the approach into the postseason.
“Truthfully, it’s focusing on more of a series at hand, just try to win every series,” Atlanta catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “That’s what playoff baseball is, is winning the series to get to the next series. You’re going to win one, lose one.
“There’s been teams who have lost three and come back and win the series, and ended up winning the World Series. It’s more of a focus of trying to win every series and just keep going forward.”
Atlanta has had to deal with the loss of 2024 MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee surgery) and Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider (Tommy John surgery). The Braves have won behind excellent pitching while the offense has struggled.
“I think we’ve done a good job of just grinding this thing out and staying relevant,” manager Brian Snitker said. “I like where we are. I’d like it to be more, yeah. But under the circumstances, we’ve done a really good job of battling through the adversity and hanging in there. I’ll just continue to say it. I still think our best baseball is ahead of us.”
St. Louis has rebounded from a 15-24 start and have gone 35-22 since.
“We’re as good as anybody in the league,” St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol said. “We started off poorly and there’s no secret that we dug ourselves a hole. But for the last two months, we’ve played the style of baseball we expect moving forward.
“It’s not, ‘We’re hot right now.’ This is our game, our style of play and what we’re capable of doing against anybody on a given day. It’s been consistent for a decent amount of time now.”
METS HOPE TO KEEP RIDING SURGING OFFENSE VS. MARLINS
Is Pete Alonso nearing the end of his time with the New York Mets?
The team’s star first baseman, who becomes a free agent at the season’s end, wants to close a presently subpar season with a bang. He will start on that Friday night when New York opens a four-game series on the road against the Miami Marlins.
Alonso’s numbers aren’t bad — .240, 19 home runs and 51 RBIs — but he has at least 37 home runs in each of his four full seasons and knocked in at least 94 runs. Three times, he’s recorded more than 100 RBIs.
An Alonso surge would not only pump up his future paychecks but could also help the Mets make the playoffs. They currently hold the National League’s final wild-card spot by a game over the defending National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres.
“That hasn’t crossed my mind at all,” Alonso said of his future. “I still think of New York as home. For me, I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help this team win. I love this group, this organization and the city.”
Even with Alonso not hitting at his usual level, New York is eighth in the major leagues in runs and fifth in homers. Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo have led an offensive surge the last six weeks that has seen the Mets win more than two-thirds of their games.
To become a playoff team and have a chance to win in the postseason, though, the Mets know their pitching will have to improve. The staff’s 4.23 staff ERA is 22nd in MLB and the club likely will troll the trade market between now and the deadline in less than two weeks.
Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (6-3, 3.46 ERA) will get the start on Friday night. Manaea last pitched on July 12 in a 7-6 win over Colorado, fanning nine over seven innings to earn the decision. He’s 1-1 with a 4.80 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins, beating them in May.
While New York has playoff aspirations, Miami is playing out the string. At 30 games under .500, the Marlins have little chance of getting back into the playoff chase. Trades figure to be ahead in the hope they can rebuild a barren farm system.
Jazz Chisholm could be one of those players headed to a contender. The team’s center fielder is likely to see time at second base, where he played before moving to the outfield last year. Kansas City, Seattle and the New York Yankees could be keen on landing a versatile player like Chisholm.
Miami manager Skip Schumaker said there are multiple reasons to shift Chisholm back to his original position. In fact, Chisholm started Sunday’s 3-2 win in Cincinnati at second base.
“Trying to keep his bat in the lineup every day,” Schumaker said. “Also trying to keep him playing every day for 160-plus games, which he has never done. Maybe second base is a way to get him off his feet a little bit … I think he could play that in his sleep.”
The Marlins’ probable starter Friday is right-hander Edward Cabrera (1-3, 8.26). He is 1-2 with a 5.67 ERA over seven career starts against the Mets.
REDS, NATIONALS OPEN SECOND HALF LAGGING IN WILD-CARD CHASE
It’s been a season of ups and downs for the Cincinnati Reds and despite the setbacks, the club is still within striking distance of a playoff spot.
The Reds look to inch closer to that goal when they visit the Washington Nationals on Friday for the first of three games to kick off the second half of the season for both clubs.
The Reds are 47-50 and fourth in the National League Central, only half a game ahead of the Chicago Cubs, who are in last place. They also are just three games out of the third and final NL wild-card spot held by the New York Mets, though they would need to leapfrog three other teams to get there.
Cincinnati is also eight games back of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think there is room for us to play better, for sure,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I’ve liked that we’ve stayed true to who we are as a team and we’re in position to do everything that we set out to do. We’re not there now.”
One area they’ll be aiming to improve on is their record in one-run games. The Reds are 8-18 in such contests, the second-fewest wins in that category, ahead of only the Houston Astros (seven). And though they’ve only headed to extra innings four times this season, only once have they come away with the win in those games.
Fresh off his All-Star Game debut, Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz heads into the second half on a six-game hitting streak, connecting at a .375 clip (9-for-24) in that stretch.
Frankie Montas (4-7, 4.38 ERA) will be on the mound for Cincinnati on Friday. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 6.14 in three career appearances (one start) against Washington, allowing five runs on 10 hits across 7 1/3 innings.
It’s been a rough few weeks for the Nationals, who have fallen six games behind the last wild-card berth after being half a game out on June 23 following a win against the Colorado Rockies. At the time, strong efforts from the rotation — 13th-best ERA in the majors — helped counter struggles at the plate and kept Washington in the mix.
It’s a different story as the second half begins. Since beating Colorado, the Nationals’ rotation had a 5.80 ERA, third-worst in the majors. They’re 6-14 in that stretch and now own the third-worst record in the National League.
“This is part of the learning process,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We’re going to push (the pitchers) a little bit, (but) we’ll keep an eye on it. Later on, we might go to a six-man rotation and see where we’re at.”
Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin (1-9, 5.57 ERA) is scheduled to start Friday. The veteran is 5-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 16 career outings (15 starts) against the Reds.
Nationals first baseman Juan Yepez has been a bright spot since being called up from Triple-A Rochester and making his season debut on July 5. The 26-year-old has hit in each of his 10 games his season, going 14-for-37 (.378 average) with a .541 slugging percentage. He has three straight multi-hit games.
PHILLIES, PIRATES START SECOND HALF WITH POSITIVE OUTLOOKS
The Philadelphia Phillies will look to pick up where they left off when they begin the second half of the season on Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the host Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Phillies won a franchise-best 62 games before the All-Star break and hold a sizable 8 1/2-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
Philadelphia’s representation checked every box in its last game, albeit an exhibition one.
Bryce Harper, who leads the team in homers (21) and batting average (.301), ripped a double in the first inning of the All-Star Game on Tuesday. Trea Turner had a single during the NL’s three-run third inning and Alec Bohm (team-leading 107 hits, 70 RBIs) added a single in the fourth.
“I thought it was pretty cool, all of us having a little bit of success in the game,” Turner said. “Especially for (Bohm), it’s his first All-Star Game. I think Bryce, for sure, has had plenty of hits in All-Star games, and I’ve had one or two.”
Philadelphia also received quality performances from its three pitchers who participated in the All-Star Game. Cristopher Sanchez, Ranger Suarez and Jeff Hoffman combined to retire all five batters they faced.
“I think just the amount of people we had selected, it just kind of shows the group success we’ve had,” Bohm said. “Because it’s not just a guy or two that’s carrying the load. Each and every night, it’s someone different chipping in and making a big play or driving in three or four runs or something like that.
“It’s just such a deep team and it’s a super-talented group. It’s been fun to be a part of.”
Philadelphia, which sent three-fifths of its starting rotation to the All-Star Game, will turn to right-hander Aaron Nola (11-4, 3.38 ERA) to take the mound on Friday.
Nola, 31, has won both of his starts this month, allowing four runs on nine hits with 17 strikeouts in 12 innings.
He owns a 4-3 record with a 3.98 ERA in nine career starts against Pittsburgh. He did not take the mound when the teams split their four-game series in Philadelphia from April 11-14.
While the Phillies cruised through the unofficial first half of the season, the Pirates enjoyed some positives of their own.
Pittsburgh won its final four games heading into the break to even its record after 96 games. The club sits 6 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and 1 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot.
The Pirates, led by rookie sensation Paul Skenes, boast a stellar rotation but need a bit more pop from their bats.
Pittsburgh is tied for 26th in the majors in batting average (.231) and 27th in OPS (.669).
Rowdy Tellez has bounced back from a porous start to bat .324 since June 1. Bryan Reynolds leads the team in hits (110), homers (18), RBIs (61) and batting average (.281).
The Pirates are set to send left-hander Martin Perez (1-5, 5.15) to the mound Friday. In nine career appearances (eight starts) against the Phillies, Perez is 4-1 with a 2.96 ERA.
Skenes is expected to take the mound later in the series. Skenes did not allow a hit in his one inning pitched during Tuesday’s All-Star Game. The 22-year-old right-hander is 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA in his first 11 starts this season.
Skenes said he hopes for more of the same in the second half of the season.
“Hopefully, going to win a lot of games,” he said.
“Go out there and keep executing the kind of way I have been and keep learning the league. Just learn every single outing and keep putting us in positions to win.”
DODGERS OPTION RHP MICHAEL PETERSEN, BEGIN ROSTER MANEUVERS
The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned right-hander Michael Petersen to Triple-A Oklahoma City and outrighted left-hander Jose Hernandez to the minor leagues on Thursday.
The moves could allow the Dodgers to activate right-hander Joe Kelly to the active roster. Kelly, who has not pitched since May 5 because of a right-shoulder strain, has made five rehab appearances in the minor leagues with manager Dave Roberts saying his return is imminent.
Petersen, 30, made his major league debut June 18 and went 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA in nine appearances.
Hernandez, 26, was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 13 in a cash deal, with his outright taking him off the 40-man roster after not pitching for the club. Kelly is on the 60-day injured list and would need a 40-man spot in order to return to the active roster.
Kelly, 36, had a 4.73 ERA in 15 relief appearances for the Dodgers earlier this season.
The Dodgers also are close to seeing left-hander Clayton Kershaw make his season debut after offseason shoulder surgery, while right-hander Brusdar Graterol (shoulder) also is close to making his season debut.
BASKETBALL NEWS
DIANA TAURASI SET FOR PARIS OLYMPICS, TRYING TO BECOME FIRST BASKETBALL PLAYER TO WIN 6 GOLD MEDALS
PHOENIX (AP) — Diana Taurasi joked after the Tokyo Olympics that she would see everyone in Paris. The 42-year-old guard turned the joke into reality; she’ll be playing in a record sixth Olympic games when the U.S. women’s basketball team goes for its eighth consecutive gold medal later this month.
“Why not? I say this all the time, if i sign up to play, I sign up to play,” she said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press. “I don’t love how my last Olympics went personally. I think as a team we still have a lot to prove. I love playing USA Basketball. You play with the best in the world. Basketball is a team sport and if you have the opportunity to play with the best in the world, I’ll always sign up.”
Taurasi has been a mainstay on the Olympic women’s team since graduating from UConn in 2004 and leading the Huskies to three consecutive NCAA championships. The WNBA’s all-time scoring leader with over 10,000 points, Taurasi is still playing at a high level. The Phoenix Mercury All-Star is averaging 16.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in her 20th season in the WNBA.
“No one has done it more than her. There’s no substitute for that level of experience,” U.S. coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We’re going to count on her voice and that experience she has is incredible and valuable.”
Taurasi is currently the fourth all-time leading scorer in Olympic history with 414 points. She’s 74 points behind her former teammate Lisa Leslie for the top spot on the American list. She already is the all-time leader in games played already with 38.
Her teammates respect her knowledge and insight as there’s very little she hasn’t seen during her time playing on the international stage.
“She’s seen it all,” U.S. teammate Breanna Stewart said. “She knows exactly what to say before the coaches even come into the locker room.”
Besides winning the five gold medals, Taurasi’s favorite Olympic memory was the opening ceremonies at her first one in Athens in 2004.
“The whole world is watching this and when they call out all the countries and the U.S. lines up, there’s this togetherness you don’t get very often in sports,” she said. “Every single walk of life, every discipline in sports is all in one place. It’s pretty special. That moment is special at every Olympics.”
So is winning. Taurasi doesn’t know what it’s like to lose at the Olympics.
The U.S. has never lost an Olympic game that Taurasi’s competed in, going 38-0 during that stretch. That streak dates back even further that Taurasi; the last loss by the Americans was in the 1992 Barcelona Games.
Taurasi said winning is engrained in the culture of USA Basketball.
“You always have to wait your turn,” she said. “In ‘04 I was getting Lisa (Leslie) and Dawn (Staley) donuts. Learning the ropes. … I tried to soak up all the knowledge I could. Then as I progressed in my career I got more responsibility. I became one of the leaders. I think that’s what USA B does so great. It’s not forced, it just happens which makes it even better.”
Taurasi smiled when asked about the 2028 Olympics, which will be played in her hometown of Los Angeles. As much as she would love to play in front of her home fans, she’ll be 46 at that point.
“I’m just as addicted to basketball right now as I was when I was 15 playing in my driveway. I have the same ambitions, the same passion, the same love for it,” she said. “I show up every single day in Phoenix at the practice facility at 7:30 a.m. ready to go. That’s how I treat it.
“However, when it’s done it’s done.”
If this will be Taurasi’s last Olympics, as Coach Reeve says, no basketball player has done it more — or better — than Taurasi.
REPORT: WESTBROOK TRADED TO JAZZ, WILL JOIN NUGGETS AFTER BUYOUT
The Utah Jazz have acquired Russell Westbrook in a sign-and-trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for point guard Kris Dunn, a second-round pick, and cash, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Westbrook is expected to come to a buyout agreement with the Jazz, allowing him to join the Denver Nuggets, Wojnarowski adds.
Dunn is expected to sign a three-year, $17-million deal with the Clippers, according to Brad Turner of the L.A. Times.
This is the second time Westbrook has been shipped to Utah only to be bought out before playing a game for the club. The Jazz picked up the nine-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Lakers at the 2023 trade deadline in a three-team deal that included the Minnesota Timberwolves. Westbrook went on to sign with the Clippers.
Picking up Westbrook will bolster Denver’s backcourt after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope opted to sign with Orlando this offseason.
CLEMSON GIVES MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH BRAD BROWNELL NEW CONTRACT AFTER RUN TO ELITE EIGHT
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell received a new, five-year contract worth $20 million after leading the Tigers to the Elite Eight this past season.
A panel of the Clemson board of trustees approved Brownell’s enhanced contract, along with new deals for men’s soccer coach Mike Noonan and baseball coach Erik Bakich among several coaches and assistants on Thursday.
Athletic director Graham Neff said Clemson’s coaches have been key in helping the department compete in a wide range of sports.
“In addition to countless accolades on the field, each of these leaders run programs built upon integrity and academic excellence,” Neff said in a statement. “In an evolving environment, stability is critical and provides Clemson the opportunity to compete nationally.”
Brownell, who’ll enter his 15th season this fall, is the program leader with 265 victories. His latest deal would tie him to the school through the 2028-29 season.
He’ll make $3.5 million next season, a $500,000 increase what he was scheduled to make under his old agreement.
Brownell will receive a raise of $250,000 for the final four years of the contract, giving him $4.5 million in the last year of the deal for the 2028-29 season.
Brownell thanked Clemson administrators for their continued support and was proud of his team’s recent success, especially in winning 47 games the past two seasons — a program record for that span.
“There is not a better time than now to be part of the Clemson family,” he said.
The school would owe Brownell 50% of his total compensation if he’s dismissed in the first two years of the deal. After that, Brownell would receive 37.5% of what remains on the agreement.
Brownell has made four NCAA tournaments during his tenure, with this past spring being his most successful run. The sixth-seeded Tigers defeated 11th-seeded New Mexico in the NCAA opener before ousting third-seeded Baylor and second-seeded Arizona to advance to the Elite Eight.
It ended a step shy of the Final Four with an 89-82 loss to Alabama.
Brownell made $2.75 million last season, which ranked him fifth among ACC coaches’ salaries. This year’s leader, Virginia coach Tony Bennett, received a contract extension, but did not include a raise in his salary of just over $4 million a year.
Pitt coach Jeff Capel, who earned $3.5 million this year, got a contract extension Wednesday. Financial details were not released.
Noonan, who won two of the last three NCAA College Cup championships, had two years added to his contract through the 2029 season, along with a raise for next season from $440,000 to $600,000. Noonan would receive a increase of $17,500 to his salary each year going forward.
Bakich had the baseball team hosting a home NCAA super regional for the first time since 2010. He had two years added to his deal through the 2030 season. He’ll receive a raise of $325,000 next season for a salary of $1.275 million.
Bakich would receive raises of $50,000 each season going forward. He will also get retention bonuses of $200,000 should he remain with the Tigers this Sept. 1 and in September 2027 and September 2029.
Women’s soccer coach Eddie Radwanski and women’s golf coach Kelley Hester each received contract extensions. Radwanski got three more years through the 2028 season while Hester was given two more years through 2029 season.
AUTO RACING
KEVIN MAGNUSSEN TO DEPART HAAS AT END OF SEASON
Kevin Magnussen, Haas’ longest-serving driver, will leave the team at the conclusion of the season.
Magnussen, 31, is in the midst of his second stint with Haas. The Denmark native drove from 2017-20 with the team before making a comeback in 2022.
“I’d like to thank Kevin for everything he’s given us as a team — both on and off the track,” Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said Thursday. “He’s truly been a bedrock of our driver lineup over the years. Nobody’s driven more races for us and we’ve had some memorable highlights together — not least a remarkable fifth-place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2022 when Kevin returned to start his second spell with the team.
“He wasn’t expecting to be driving a Formula 1 car that weekend, but he put in a remarkable performance that was a tremendous boost to the entire organization and once again showcased his own talents behind the wheel.”
Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman has signed with Haas for one seat in 2025. The team reportedly is close to adding Esteban Ocon, who will leave Alpine at the end of the season.
Nico Hulkenberg, Magnussen’s current teammate, is joining Sauber in 2025.
“I’d like to extend my thanks to everyone at MoneyGram Haas F1 Team — I’m proud to have raced for such a great team of people these last few years,” Magnussen said in a statement. “In particular I’d like to thank Gene Haas for his commitment to me, notably in bringing me back once again in 2022 when I thought, at that time at least, my time in Formula 1 had ended.”
Magnussen said he doesn’t consider this the end of his career. The Mercedes, Alpine and Williams teams all will have openings in 2025.
“I think right now, there are still many seats available in Formula 1 next year,” Magnussen said, per the F1 website. “It’s all quite open, so I think the best thing to do is just do good races and that means you’re staying in the hunt for those available seats.
SOCCER NEWS
MLS ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE CHANGES TO ROSTER RULES
Major League Soccer announced three “substantial” changes to its roster rules on Thursday.
The modifications go into effect during the current secondary transfer window.
“The new roster rules open the door for clubs to sign additional world-class players and more emerging stars, while also providing a great deal of flexibility to invest across the roster,” said Todd Durbin, MLS executive vice president for player strategy and relations.
“We have a unique opportunity with the World Cup coming in two years. These modifications, along with others being discussed for potential implementation in 2025 and beyond, will elevate our league and increase fan engagement around the world.”
The first change is that all MLS rosters will now feature six prime roster spots: three Designated Players and three U22 Initiative Players.
Secondly, clubs will now have two different models for roster construction. The Designated Player model follows the three-and-three format listed above. The U22 Initiative Player model allows teams to exchange one of the three DP slots for a fourth U22 slot while gaining up to $2 million in added general allocation money. Teams have until Aug. 14 to declare their path for the 2024 season.
The third change allows teams to convert up to $3 million in total transfer revenues into general allocation money, with no restrictions on the amount from any individual player transfer. Previously, clubs could only convert up to $1.216 million into GAM following a player transfer.
The league said its Sporting and Competition Committee began exploring potential rules changes in early 2023. The process included insights from a survey of more than 25,000 soccer fans in the United States and Canada.
GOLF NEWS
HYE-JIN CHOI USES LATE BIRDIE RUN TO LEAD DANA OPEN
Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea birdied her final two holes to post a 7-under-par 64 and take the first-round lead at the Dana Open on Thursday in Sylvania, Ohio.
Choi, who started her day on the back nine at Highland Meadows Golf Club, rolled in birdies at the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth holes to move to 7 under. That gave her a one-shot lead over Aditi Ashok of India and Xiyu Lin of China.
Not far behind at 5-under 66 are South Africa’s Paula Reto and a pair of Thai players, Chanettee Wannasaen and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap.
Choi, 24, has 12 victories to her name on the Korean LPGA Tour but is trying to break through for her first win stateside.
She kept a bogey-free card Thursday but did all her scoring over the final 11 holes after opening with seven pars in a row. She birdied Nos. 17, 18, 1 and 2 to kick into gear.
“It was really great day,” Choi said. “I mean, I start a little weird, like my shot was not really great, so I try just … make the par. Try to like until (her seventh hole) and then I make the birdie on 8, so I think, ‘Oh, I can do very better.’”
Choi is coming off a T7 finish at last week’s major in France, the Evian Championship.
Ashok, a five-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, is also in search of her first LPGA win. She posted three birdies on each nine without a bogey.
“I think I really like the golf course,” Ashok said. “It’s something similar to what I grew up on, tree-lined and smaller greens. That’s kind of how it was when I grew up back in India. Yeah, I had my first-ever top 10 on tour at this course (and) played well here last year. Yeah, good memories and I think that helps sometimes.”
Lin, meanwhile, led the field with eight birdies but bogeyed the first hole of each side. She got some friendly bounces, as she holed out for birdie at the par-4 15th and chipped in for another at the par-3 second.
“I bogey at the turn, the first hole after I make the turn, and then get on the second and hit it to the left,” Lin said. “I know this course well enough that that’s the last place you want it to be.
“And then my caddie just like, ‘Just give yourself a putt.’ OK, I’m going to try. And then to land actually really well. Like land just short and then just straight like banging in the hole. I’m like, ‘OK, that’s the only way I can stop it.’”
Eight players are tied at 4 under, four shots off the lead, including 39-year-old LPGA vet Stacy Lewis. The town of Sylvania is a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, Lewis’ hometown.
“It’s always nice to get off to a good start here,” Lewis said. “Scores are usually pretty tight here. … when you make the cut, you still got a chance here on the weekend. So just getting off to a good start for me is really nice.”
TROON SWOON: COURSE CLAIMS ROUND 1 OF ‘BRUTAL’ OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
Reigning Open Championship winner Brian Harman made a measured decision on Thursday as he stared at the fabled “Postage Stamp,” and the long, narrow landing area that earned the par-3 eighth its nickname as the signature hole at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland.
“I executed that shot just like I wanted to,” Harman said post-round. “And if you execute like you want to from 115 yards, you ought to be not making bogey.”
Harman shot a 2-over 73 and was in much better shape to scratch back into contention than many others.
Tyrrell Hatton had the same score but wore his emotional discouragement on his face. The England native who tied for 20th at the 2023 Open Championship strained to recall a recent time when he was more frustrated leaving the course.
“It was a tough day, and conditions were tough to deal with,” Hatton said of his round with two bogeys and 16 pars. “For the most part, I did pretty well. My ball-striking day was pretty awful. It’s one of the worst rounds I think I’ve had this year, in terms of how I think I’ve hit the golf ball. It wasn’t a fun experience.”
Scotsman Robert MacIntyre felt his round was “almost perfect” and finished 1 over with raucous support from his homeland fans.
“Wasn’t comfortable at all,” last week’s Scottish Open champion said.
The links layout at Royal Troon typically brings wind into play on the back nine, with the wind aiding tee shots on the front. MacIntyre said he noticed early Thursday that several players entered the first round with a strategy of “just send driver the first few holes and to pitch up there,” only to realize the wind in their face made it impossible.
And anyone who thought the adventure was over by reaching the green had a rude awakening.
“I thought I rolled them well, and they went the opposite way,” MacIntyre said. “But that’s Troon.
“It’s very subtle. It’s old-school links golf where the greens are very flat but they just kink left to right, and the crosswinds, as well, when you’re hitting a putt, the ball will move in the wind.”
Making the cut could be a miracle for a few big names with a lot of work to do Friday.
Australia’s Cameron Smith was 9 over and the 81 on his scorecard was helped by a birdie on his final hole. Rory McIlroy was only two shots better at 7 over and U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau is 5 over.
Smith was in awe of playing partner and tournament leader Shane Lowry’s play on Thursday. He doesn’t question the difficulty of the links course after experiencing cool conditions, wind and some late-round rain.
“No, it’s hard, mate. A lot of crosswinds. Hard to keep your ball in the fairway,” Smith said. “And when you’re in the rough, you’re kind of guessing with landing something short with the bounces you get. It was brutal. It really was a good test of golf, and you needed to be on your A-plus game to shoot under par, and I witnessed it.”
BEN SILVERMAN ON TOP AT BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP
Ben Silverman of Canada racked up seven birdies over his final nine holes to shoot a plus-19 and take the first-round lead at the Barracuda Championship on Thursday at Tahoe Mountain Club in Truckee, Calif.
The Barracuda Championship uses a Modified Stableford scoring format that encourages risk-taking. Birdies are worth two points, eagles are worth five and albatrosses are worth eight. Each par is zero points while bogeys are minus-1 point and double bogey or anything worse is worth minus-3.
Silverman is two points clear of Kelly Kraft at plus-17, while Nate Lashley is in third place at plus-15. Sam Ryder and South Korea’s S.H. Kim are tied for fourth at plus-14.
Silverman piled up 10 birdies in all. After opening with his only bogey of the day at the 10th hole, he birdied Nos. 11, 13 and 15 before making his charge on the front nine. He stuck his approach shot at the par-4 first hole within a foot of the cup, and five of his seven birdies on that side came from inside 6 feet.
Silverman’s final birdie came on a 22-foot putt at the par-3 eighth.
“This place is gorgeous,” Silverman said. “Really like this golf course. You try to put the points out of your head and just focus on making birdies and adding up your score normal. You get rewarded for birdies and the points kind of take care of themselves.”
The 36-year-old is in the hunt for his first win on the PGA Tour at this alternate event opposite the Open Championship.
Kraft, 35, is like Silverman: a journeyman who has yet to break through for that maiden PGA Tour victory. Kraft lost his card and is playing the season on conditional-tour status. A victory would lead to big changes for him.
“This year I guess since the elevated stuff and guys aren’t getting in those, everybody else, Korn Ferry categories and all those guys are pretty much playing whatever they get into, so there is really not much for my category to fill the field,” said Kraft, the 2011 U.S. Amateur champion. “Hadn’t been a whole lot of fun, but I’ve got a couple little ones at home so I’ve had a little more time at home, so that’s been great. You know, basically just playing everything I can get into.”
Some PGA Tour winners this season are in the field because they didn’t qualify for The Open. Canadian Taylor Pendrith, who won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, and Nick Dunlap, who won The American Express, are among six players tied at plus-12.
TENNIS NEWS
NADAL COMES FROM 4-1 DOWN IN 2ND SET TO BEAT NORRIE AND REACH QUARTERFINALS OF NORDEA OPEN IN SWEDEN
BASTAD, Sweden (AP) — Rafael Nadal recovered from a tumble and a 4-1 deficit in the second set to beat fifth-seeded Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Nordea Open on Thursday.
Nadal fell over in the first game of the second set after attempting to slide on the clay, and needed treatment on a couple of bleeding scrapes. He then went a break down before winning the last five games of the match to reach his first quarterfinal since January.
“Great feelings, it’s been a while without playing on the tour since Roland Garros and I had a chance to compete against a great player like Cameron,” Nadal said. “It’s part of the journey today. I haven’t been competing very often so matches like today help and holding the pressure on the opponent for the whole game is something I need to improve on because I haven’t played enough.”
Nadal is playing at the tournament in Sweden for the first time since he won the title as a 19-year-old in 2005 as he prepares for the Olympic tournament on clay at Roland Garros in Paris.
He beat Leo Borg, the son of Swedish tennis legend Bjorn Borg, in the first round on Tuesday. That was his first singles match since he lost in the first round of the French Open to Alexander Zverev. He teamed up with Casper Ruud on Monday to win a first-round doubles match.
The 38-year-old Nadal skipped Wimbledon as he didn’t want to switch surface to grass and then back to clay and risk injury. He has been dealing with hip and abdominal injuries over the past 1 1/2 years.
TOP INDIANA SPORTS RELEASES
INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
INDIANA SRN HIGH SCHOOL WATCH LIST-OL
OL Hunter Buza Chesterton 6’3” 275 (Two way starter on State title team, back squats 500, front squats 420)
OL Cam Herron Warren Central 6’4 265 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Iowa)
OL Evan Parker Carmel 6’4 300 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Indiana)
OL Avery Huggins Westfield 6’4 275 (All-State in 2023)
OL Carson Powell Norwell 6’3” 290 (Bench 275, Squat 385, Deadlift 405, Power clean 215, 5.75-40, 4.78 shuttle)
OL Cameron Gorin HSE 6’6 275 (All-State in 2023)….(Committed to Purdue)
OL Caiden Abbs Carroll 6’5 275 (All-State in 2023)
OL Coleton Adamson Castle 6’0 215 (All-State in 2023)
OL Logan Efantis Munster 5’10 215 (All-State in 2023)
OL Tommy Spilker Plainfield 6’2 296 (All-State in 2023)
OL Cayleb Sharp Valparaiso 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)
OL Blake Smythe Franklin 6’2 262 (All-State in 2023)
OL Luke Juris Hobart 6’1 250 (All-State in 2023)
OL Job Mavrick Culver Academies 6’2 240 (All-State in 2023)
OL Alex Kramer Greenwood 6’5 278 (All-State in 2023)
OL Parker Mattingly Memorial 6’5 245 (All-State in 2023)
OL Max Parciak Northwood 11 6’3 299 (All-State in 2023)
OL Giovanni Garcia-De La Torre Mishawaka Marian 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)
OL Parker Hart Heritage Hills 6’4 230 (All-State in 2023)
OL Hunter Kauffman Fairfield 5’11 195 (All-State in 2023)
OL Charlie Riddle Heritage 6’4 245 (All-State in 2023)
OL R.J. Trevino Oak Hill 5’11 195
OL Ben Novak Andrean 6’6 305 (All-State in 2023)
OL Colton Crawford Triton Central 6’2 220 (All-State in 2023)
OL Xavier Vance Rochester 6’5 310 (All-State in 2023)
OL Noah Stuczynski Scecina Memorial 6’1 250 (All-State in 2023)
OL Nate McDurmon Mater Dei 6’3 240 (All-State in 2023)
OL Levi Watkins Carroll (Flora) 6’0 250 (All-State in 2023)
OL Landon Stanley Milan 5’11 250 (All-State in 2023)
OL Cole Kozecar North Judson 6’3 265 (All-State in 2023)
OL Griffin Tucker Providence 6’2 240 (All-State in 2023)
OL Parker Harris South Putnam 6’3 255 (All-State in 2023)
OL Luke Graham Pendleton Heights 6’4” 300
OL Owen Trietsch Sheridan 6’5” 270
OL Drew Scheifer Columbus North 6’4” 275
OL Ben Novak Andrean 6’6” 300
OL Bode Thompson Concordia 6’6” 275
OL Brock Brownfield New Palestine 6’3” 250
OL Braxton Tanner Edgewood 6’4” 250 (Getting interest from D2 and D3 schools in state and out of state)
INDIANA PACERS
GAME REWIND: PACERS 71, NUGGETS 86 (SUMMER LEAGUE)
By Madie Chandler | Pacers.com
The Indiana Pacers fell short in their fourth Summer League outing, falling to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, 86-71.
The Pacers struggled early in the game, connecting on just four of their 20 first-quarter shot attempts. The shooting woes resulted in a 5-point deficit entering the second quarter, 18-13. Indiana’s efficiency on offense was better only marginally in the second frame as they tallied a 21.1% success rate from the field in the second quarter.
Rookie guard Tristen Newton was a bright spot in a first half filled with struggles for the Pacers. The UConn product scored nine points in the second quarter alone, dropping in 50% of his shots and making all four of his chances from the free-throw line. Despite his flashes of offense, Indiana still trailed Denver at the break, 42-26.
“T’s picked it up over the course of Summer League,” Jarace Walker said of Newton. “Every game has been better and better. [He’s] getting more aggressive, more comfortable.”
Newton kept rolling in the second half as he opened the third quarter with an impressive stepback 3-point attempt that he drained through a foul. He converted the free-throw to push his point total to 13 just 30 seconds into the third frame.
“Coming from a college offense where they pretty much run sets, and then here we don’t really call plays, we just try to play the game, it’s been a transition for him (Newton),” coach Jannero Pargo said. “I thought he picked it up the last few games.”
The Pacers surged in the beginning of the third quarter, and used an 8-0 scoring run to cut the Nuggets’ lead to 10 points in the first two minutes. Indiana’s ball movement shrank the lead to just six points with 28 seconds to play in the third as the Pacers tallied seven of their 11 total assists in their third-quarter effort. Walker led the way with three of his own.
It appeared that the Pacers would ride their third-quarter momentum into the fourth as Johnny Furphy drained a 3-pointer early on to cut the Nuggets’ lead to just four points with under nine minutes to play. Denver would then go on a 15-6 run – including a Lance Jones 3-pointer for Indiana with 18 seconds to play – to close out the game ahead of the Pacers.
All 14 active players on the Summer League roster saw action against the Nuggets, but Walker led the way with 32 minutes. Furphy followed closely as he logged 29 minutes, Newton played 26, and Enrique Freeman played 25.
Newton’s play showed flashes of his potential as a facilitator as he created rim pressure before kicking the ball out to shooters on the perimeter. He finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists in his 26 minutes, and earned seven chances from the free-throw line. He made all seven of his awarded free throws.
Walker played the majority of his minutes in the guard position – a spot that brings his passing abilities to the forefront of his game. He finished the contest with a double-double, totaling 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists.
“We’ve gotten [Walker] to the point of driving the ball, playing downhill, being physical on both ends of the floor, pressing up into guards, and playing more on the perimeter,” Pargo said. “So in that aspect I think it’s been a success.”
Freeman rounded out Indiana’s trio of double-digit scorers with his 11-point outing on 5-of-8 shooting. The 23-year-old out of Akron also collected a steal and a block in the contest.
The Pacers will conclude their Summer League play on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on NBA TV.
INDIANA FEVER
CAITLIN CLARK IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SOME TIME OFF AFTER A RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — As much as she wanted to play in the Olympics, Caitlin Clark savors the thought of some time off during the WNBA’s monthlong hiatus for the Paris Games.
Never mind that Indiana’s rookie sensation didn’t really look as if she needed any while setting a WNBA record with 19 assists in the Fever’s final game before the break.
“I feel like I’ve been nonstop go since, like, probably September of last year,” Clark said before her milestone moment Wednesday night in a 101-93 loss to the Dallas Wings.
And that’s because she has.
Two weeks after her second consecutive trip to the national championship game with Iowa, Clark was the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA draft.
About another three weeks later, her preseason debut came in a sold-out arena on the University of Texas at Arlington campus, the same place she set the assists record in front of another sellout.
Clark’s long break isn’t quite here because she will play for the WNBA All-Stars against the U.S. women’s Olympic team in Phoenix on Saturday night.
Soon enough, Clark will take about a week off before the Fever get into some sort of routine to try to stay sharp for after the break. Most of the roster will be home for the Olympics. Indiana’s first game back is Aug. 16 at home against Phoenix.
“I think it’ll be really good for myself and my body,” Clark said. “You’re getting close to a full year of just playing basketball nonstop. So it’ll probably be a little weird for me not playing games. But I think it’s definitely going to be good for my body.”
Clark scored 24 points despite going 2 of 9 from deep in the loss to the Wings.
Clark leads all rookies at 17.1 points per game and leads everybody at 8.2 assists. Over the past nine games, Clark is averaging 11.9 assists..
“She’s going to get a breather and get some rest. I think it’s just great,” Fever coach Christie Sides said. “She’s just been going so hard for quite some time now. I think it’s going to help her so much just to kind of decompress.”
Since Iowa’s opener last Nov. 6, Clark has played 65 games that counted and two that didn’t — Indiana’s brief exhibition season.
Along the way, Clark was an involuntary participant in discussions of race amid the meteoric rise of a young, white star, and hard fouls on her brought more attention than usual.
Chicago’s Chennedy Carter had one upgraded to a flagrant foul a day after it happened, and after Carter’s coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, told her guard the play wasn’t appropriate.
The off-the-court drama coincided with the Fever’s rough start against a difficult schedule. They rebounded from 1-8 by going 10-7 the rest of the way before the break and are in the playoff picture.
If Indiana advances to the postseason in September, that’ll be more than a year since Clark started ramping up for her final season with the Hawkeyes, which ended with a second consecutive loss in the NCAA title game.
“Honestly, I feel pretty good,” Clark said. “I think the beginning of the season was probably the most difficult for me. Just the adjustment of, first of all, playing in this league. And then second of all, the schedule that we had, playing a game, having a day off, playing a game.
“I think once we really kind of got into a flow and got a few wins under our belt and had a little more practice time, things have settled down and flowed a little better. I feel like my feet are definitely getting under me more and starting to build more and more confidence.”
BALL STATE BASEBALL
BASEBALL HIRES ASSISTANT COACH HARRISON STEVENS
Harrison Stevens has been hired as an assistant coach for the Ball State baseball team, head coach Rich Maloney announced Thursday.
Stevens joins the Cardinals after coaching two years at NCAA Division II member Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs, Ga. The new Ball State hire worked primarily with infielders for a program that posted its initial 30-win season as a Division II team in 2024.
“We are excited to have Harrison Stevens join our staff,” Maloney said. “Harrison was highly recommended, has tremendous passion, positive energy, is all about adding value to the players he coaches and has a growth mindset. Looking forward to having him on our staff.”
Stevens served as the head coach at Battle Mountain High School in Edwards, Colo., from 2019-22 before going to Emmanuel. The Eagle, Colo., native led the Battle Mountain program to its first postseason appearance and highest state RPI ranking in 2022.
Stevens played his college ball from 2016-19 at Colby Community College in Colby, Kan., and Evangel University in Springfield, Mo.
Stevens Coaching Timeline
2024-Pres. – Ball State (Assistant Coach)
2022-24 – Emmanuel University (Assistant Coach)
2019-22 – Battle Mountain High School (Head Coach)
INDIANA STATE BASEBALL
ARCHULETA ANNOUNCES THE ADDITION OF FIVE PLAYERS TO THE 2024-25 ROSTER
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State head baseball coach Tracy Archuleta announced the signing of five more players for the 2024-25 academic year as the Sycamores continue to fill out their roster for the upcoming season.
The quintet of Gavin Morris (Southern Indiana), Grant Parson (Southern Indiana), Zac Laird (Niagara), Jorge Cartagena (Howard College), and Emil Estrella (Bossier Parish C.C.) join Carter Beck (University of Mary), Cole Pacheco (Modesto Junior College), and Carson Seeman (Southern Indiana) in Archuleta’s first recruiting class at Indiana State. Additional signees are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Morris signs with the Sycamores by way of the University of Southern Indiana as the Brazil, Ind. native enters his senior season. The right-handed pitcher made 13 appearances and 10 starts over the course of the 2024 season with the Screaming Eagles posting a 4-4 record with a 7.08 ERA over 48.1 innings of work. Highlighting his junior season on the mound includes striking out a career-high eight batters against Lamar, while adding a 6.2-inning start against Illinois.
A three-year player at USI, Morris posted a 5-9 record over 124.1 innings with a 107:71 strikeout-to-walk ratio during his time with Southern Indiana. Morris made 45 career appearances with 19 starts while allowing opponents to hit .295 from the plate. He was an Academic All-GLVC selection in 2022 and was named to the 2023 OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Morris lettered in both baseball and basketball at Northview High School in Brazil, Ind. and helped Northview to the 2021 sectional championships. He is the son of Paul and Sara Morris and plans on majoring in business administration at ISU.
Parson signs with the Sycamores by way of the University of Southern Indiana as the Owensboro, Ky. native enters his sophomore season. The right-handed pitcher started 11 games over the course of his freshman season at USI throwing 60.0 innings with a team-best 3.90 ERA while adding 60 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .215 batting average. Highlighting his season included striking out a season-high nine batters against Southern Illinois, while going at least 7.0-innings in four different games.
Parson took home a number of postseason accolades including being named the Ohio Valley Conference’s Freshman of the Year, a Second Team All-OVC selection, and an OVC All-Freshman selection.
Parson lettered in baseball at Owensboro Catholic High School playing under Coach Jody Hamilton. He posted a 4-3 record with a 1.14 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 49.0 innings of work. He posted a no-hitter and was one batter shy of a perfect game in a postseason start against St. Mary’s High School. Parson is the son of Alison Grant and James Parson and plans on majoring in sports management at Indiana State.
Laird signs with the Sycamores by way of Niagara University as the Langley, British Columbia, Canada native enters his senior season. The left-handed pitcher came out of the bullpen in 17 games for the Purple Eagles over the 2024 season. He posted a 1-1 record over 18.0 innings on the mound while striking out 24 batters. Highlighting his junior season included a 2.1-inning contest against Queens where he struck out five batters without allowing a hit.
Laird posted a career 3-3 record at Niagara over 53.1 innings pitched while making 50 appearances. He added one career start in the 2022 season and allowed opponents to hit just .236 from the plate against the Purple Eagles. Overall, he posted a 71:64 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Laird came to Niagara by way of Brookswood Secondary where he was a member of the provincial championship team. He struck out 35 batters over 23.0 innings. He is the son of Phil and Casie Laird and plans on majoring in chemistry at Indiana State.
Cartagena signs with the Sycamores by way of the Howard College as the Carolina, Puerto Rico native enters his sophomore season. The outfielder lined up in 27 games over the course of the 2024 season at Howard posting a .328 batting average with two home runs, five doubles, and a triple. He added 24 runs scored and 17 RBIs, while posting four stolen bases in his lone season with the Hawks.
Cartagena excelled at Leadership Christian Academy under Coach Jaime Munoz over his prep career posting a .333 batting average with 11 home runs, 20 doubles, and a triple in his senior season. He was named the Most Valuable Player in multiple sports while leading the school to championships in basketball, soccer, and track & field. Off the field, he was a member of the 10th and 11th Honor Roll posting a GPA above a 3.5.
He is the son of Jessica Galletti and plans on majoring in kinesiology at Indiana State.
Estrella signs with the Sycamores by way of Bossier Parish Community College as the Santiago, Dominican Republic native enters his junior season. The outfielder recorded a .307 batting average with 15 doubles and a team-high 12 home runs, while adding 36 runs scored and 35 RBIs over the 2024 season with the Cavaliers.
He posted a career .350 batting average and .471 on-base percentage over two seasons at Bossier Parish C.C. with 22 career home runs and 38 doubles. Over the course of the 2023 season, he led the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 14 in doubles, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walks, and outfield assists on his way to earning First Team All-Region Honors. He was also a 2024 All-Academic team selection and Spring 2024 Bossier Parish CC Chancellors List selection.
EVANSVILLE MEN’S BASKETBALL
D.J. BALENTINE PROMOTED TO ASSISTANT MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Following his first season on the University of Evansville men’s basketball coaching staff, D.J. Balentine has been promoted to Assistant Coach for the Purple Aces.
“Anyone who has spent time around DJ, the person, quickly learns how positively contagious his energy is. Anyone who has spent time with DJ, the basketball coach, quickly learns how great of a basketball mind DJ has,” Aces head coach David Ragland exclaimed. “DJ did a wonderful job in year one of preparing and presenting our player personnel portion of each scout. He does a really good job helping our student athletes display confidence in their game by clearly communicating directions so that they can effectively execute what is being asked of them.”
“We were excited to bring DJ back home last season and now ecstatic to elevate him as an assistant coach as he has earned this opportunity through his hard work and commitment to our program.”
Balentine joined Coach Ragland’s staff in 2023 as the Director of Player Development. His work helped UE advance to the postseason for the first time since 2015 when the Aces won the CIT Championship. Balentine was a junior on that squad.
“I couldn’t be more thankful to continue to build success at a place that means so much to me. This University is special, and with that being said, I want to thank everyone in athletics and administration for this opportunity to elevate my position,” Balentine said. “I am extremely grateful for Coach Rags and the rest of the staff; he has given me much responsibility and instilled confidence in me to further my coaching and to better this program. With Coach Ragland and the entire staffs’ ability, even greater things are on the horizon. GO ACES!”
VALPO VOLLEYBALL
VALPO UNVEILS 2024 VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
Coming off of its third consecutive postseason appearance and fourth in the last six seasons, the Valpo volleyball program revealed its schedule for the upcoming 2024 campaign on Thursday.
The season kicks off with a trip to the IU Indianapolis Hampton Invitational Aug. 30-Sept. 1, where the Beacons will face SIUE and Eastern Michigan in addition to the host Jaguars. That is followed by a trip to St. Paul, Minn. Sept. 5-7 for the St. Thomas, which features Northern Illinois and Tarleton State as well as the hosts.
Valpo takes to the court at the ARC for the first time Sept. 13-14 with the Popcorn Classic. The Beacons will welcome Miami (Ohio), Cornell and Purdue Fort Wayne to Union Street for the two-day, six-match event. During head coach Carin Avery’s tenure, Valpo has won eight of its 12 home in-season tournaments — including each of the last three years — and owns a 35-5 overall record in those events.
The nonconference slate wraps up with a journey to Spartanburg, S.C. for the Terrier Invite Sept. 20-21. Host Wofford is coming off a SoCon tournament title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament last season, while Valpo will also take on Presbyterian and South Carolina State in its final preparations for conference play.
The always-challenging Missouri Valley Conference slate opens Sept. 27 at Evansville. The 18-match Valley schedule sees Valpo take on Belmont, Bradley, Illinois State and Murray State once apiece and the other seven teams twice each.
The regular season finishes up Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the ARC against UIC. The 2024 MVC Tournament will be hosted by UNI Nov. 23-26, with the top eight teams in the regular season standings vying for the title and the conference’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
Valpo returns 10 players from its 2023 squad which won 18 matches and advanced to the NIVC — the program’s third consecutive postseason berth and fourth in the last six seasons. The Beacons add eight newcomers to the mix this year as well.
VALPO ATHLETICS
VALPO ATHLETICS MOURNS THE PASSING OF LORRIE WOYCIK
The Valparaiso University Department of Athletics is saddened by the loss of Lorrie Woycik ’52, who passed away on July 13 at the age of 93.
A 2001 inductee into the Valpo Athletics Hall of Fame, Woycik was renowned for her pioneering work with Special Olympics in Northwest Indiana and beyond. She took a group of athletes to Chicago for the first Special Olympics World Summer Games in 1968, helped organize the first Special Olympics Indiana Winter Games in 1977 with her husband and served on the United States coaching staff during four World Games. Woycik began the Special Olympics program in Porter County and became its first county coordinator in 1972.
Woycik attended Valpo from 1948 through 1952, playing basketball, softball and volleyball during her time on campus. She started the girls’ basketball program at Valparaiso H.S. in 1973-74, serving as the program’s first coach.
Woycik was a driving force behind special education in Valparaiso as well. She was one of the first teachers hired at Vale Day School — a private school designed for children with special needs, who were not allowed to attend public school at the time — in the 1950s. Woycik taught at Vale Day School for 14 years and helped the transition as its students were eventually incorporated into the Valparaiso Community Schools. Her success working in special education led to the founding of the SELF (Special Education Learning Facility) School in 1971, which still operates today providing special education services to students across all Porter County school districts. Woyick also later served on the Valparaiso Community Schools Board of Education.
The memorial service will be held on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 2 p.m. You may gather in the narthex from 1 p.m.–2 p.m. without family. Immediately following the service until 5 p.m. will be “Lorrie Story” time. There will be opportunities to either write a story, video your story, as well as share a story with her family. All will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1700 Monticello Park Drive, Valparaiso, IN. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in honor of Lorrie to Immanuel Lutheran Church and School or Porter County Special Olympics. The service will be livestreamed, the link will be available closer to the date.
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
3 – 9 – 14 – 32 – 24 – 6 – 27 – 4 – 21 – 30 – 19 -16 – 8
July 19, 1909 – Cleveland shortstop Neal Ball completed the first modern unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history as the Cleveland Indians posted a 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox
July 19, 1910 – Cleveland Naps stud pitcher, Cy Young won the 500th game of his Baseball HOF career as Cleveland knocked off the Washington Senators, 5 – 2, in 11 innings. Young is in fact the only pitcher in MLB history to reach the 500 win milestone plateau. Walter Johnson is the next closest with a distant 417 victories on the mound.
July 19, 1920 – Babe Ruth, Number 3 of the New York Yankees hit his 30th home run of the 1920 baseball season, breaking his own single-season record. He would attain 54 throughout the season, before breaking that record the next year.
July 19, 1933 – For the first time in MLB history, there were two brothers on opposite teams that each hit homerruns in same game – Rick Ferrell (Red Sox Number 9) and Wes Ferrell (Number 14 for the Cleveland Indians)
July 19, 1936 – A great prospect in unveiled! 17 year old Cleveland Indians future Baseball HOF pitcher Bob Feller, wearing Number 9 that season, made his MLB debut in relief in a 9-5 loss to the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium, Washington DC.
July 19, 1950 – The New York Yankees inked their first Black players, Number 32, Elston Howard, and Frank Baines. Howard remained a Yankee fixture in the line-up for 13 seasons
July 19, 1973 – New York Mets outfielder and future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Number 24 was named to the National League All Star team for 24th time (he tied Stan Musial a very famous Number 6 of the Cardinals)
July 19, 1974 – Cleveland Indians pitcher Dick Bosman, Number 27 tossed a hitter no-no against the Oakland A’s, 4-0
July 19, 1982 – At the first annual Cracker Jack Oldtimers Classic , a 75-year-old Luke Appling (who wore Number 4 for much of his career with the White Sox) hit a 250-foot rocket shot off of Warren Spahn (who wore Number 21 for many seasons with the Braves). The retired players of the AL beat those of the NL 7-2.
July 19, 1989 – Cleveland Indians cleanup hitter Joe Carter, wearing Number 30 on his jersey, had hit his 4th game with having registered 3 homeruns.
July 19, 1990 – Pinstriped clad Number 19, Dave Righetti pitched in his 499th game as a roster member of the New York Yankee organization. In so doing he passed legend Whitey Ford (who wore Number 16 for the majority of his Yankee career) with having the most appearances as a Yankee
July 19, 1991 – Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., wearing Number 8 proved what a true iron man he was as he played in his 1,500th consecutive game
FOOTBALL HISTORY
3 – 9 – 14 – 32 – 24 – 6 – 27 – 4 – 21 – 30 – 19 -16 – 8
July 19, 1909 – Cleveland shortstop Neal Ball completed the first modern unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history as the Cleveland Indians posted a 6-1 win over the Boston Red Sox
July 19, 1910 – Cleveland Naps stud pitcher, Cy Young won the 500th game of his Baseball HOF career as Cleveland knocked off the Washington Senators, 5 – 2, in 11 innings. Young is in fact the only pitcher in MLB history to reach the 500 win milestone plateau. Walter Johnson is the next closest with a a distant 417 victories on the mound.
July 19, 1920 – Babe Ruth, Number 3 of the New York Yankees hit his 30th home run of the 1920 baseball season, breaking his own single-season record. He would attain 54 throughout the season, before breaking that record the next year.
July 19, 1933 – For the first time in MLB history, there were two brothers on opposite teams that each hit homerruns in same game – Rick Ferrell (Red Sox Number 9) and Wes Ferrell (Number 14 for the Cleveland Indians)
July 19, 1936 – A great prospect in unveiled! 17 year old Cleveland Indians future Baseball HOF pitcher Bob Feller, wearing Number 9 that season, made his MLB debut in relief in a 9-5 loss to the Washington Senators at Griffith Stadium, Washington DC.
July 19, 1950 – The New York Yankees inked their first Black players, Number 32, Elston Howard, and Frank Baines. Howard remained a Yankee fixture in the line up for 13 seasons
July 19, 1973 – New York Mets outfielder and future Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays, Number 24 was named to the National League All Star team for 24th time (he tied Stan Musial a very famous Number 6 of the Cardinals)
July 19, 1974 – Cleveland Indians pitcher Dick Bosman, Number 27 tossed a hitter no-no against the Oakland A’s, 4-0
July 19, 1982 – At the first annual Cracker Jack Oldtimers Classic , a 75-year-old Luke Appling (who wore Number 4 for much of his career with the White Sox) hit a 250-foot rocket shot off of Warren Spahn (who wore Number 21 for many seasons with the Braves). The retired players of the AL beat those of the NL 7-2.
July 19, 1989 – Cleveland Indians cleanup hitter Joe Carter, wearing Number 30 on his jersey, had hit his 4th game with having registered 3 homeruns.
July 19, 1990 – Pinstriped clad Number 19, Dave Righetti pitched in his 499th game as a roster member of the New York Yankee organization. In so doing he passed legend Whitey Ford (who wore Number 16 for the majority of his Yankee career) with having the most appearances as a Yankee
July 19, 1991 – Baltimore Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., wearing Number 8 proved what a true iron man he was as he played in his 1,500th consecutive game
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
July 19
1909 — Cleveland shortstop Neal Ball pulled off the first unassisted triple play in modern major league history.
1910 — Cy Young registered his 500th career victory as the Cleveland Indians beat the Washington Senators 5-4 in 11 innings.
1933 — Rick Ferrell of the Boston Red Sox hit a home run off brother Wes, pitching for the Cleveland Indians. Wes also homered in that game, marking the only time the two connected in the same contest.
1940 — Buddy Rosar of the New York Yankees hit for the cycle in a 15-6 rout of the Cleveland Indians.
1960 — Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants made his major league debut by pitching a one-hit, 2-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. He retired the first 19 batters before walking Pancho Herrera in the seventh inning. Clay Dalrymple singled to center with two outs in the eighth inning. Marichal struck out 12 and walked one.
1974 — Dick Bosman of the Cleveland Indians pitched a no-hit, 4-0 victory over the world champion Oakland A’s.
1977 — Joe Morgan opened the All-Star game with a home run off Jim Palmer and the National League jumped out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the first inning. The Nationals added three more runs and held on for a 7-5 win. It was the NL’s sixth straight win. NL starter Don Sutton gave up one hit over three innings and was named MVP.
1982 — In the first Old-timer’s All-Star Classic, played at Washington’s RFK Stadium before 29,000 fans, the AL won 7-2. Luke Appling, 75, led off for the AL and hit a home run over the shortened left-field fence off Warren Spahn.
1994 — The Kingdome, home of the Seattle Mariners, was closed after four ceiling tiles fell nearly 180 feet into the stands behind home plate. The Mariners were forced into a 22-day road trip before the season was cut short by the players’ strike.
2001 — Randy Johnson struck out 16, a major league record for a reliever, and came within four outs of combining with Curt Schilling on a no-hitter as Arizona beat San Diego 3-0 in the completion of their suspended game. Wiki Gonzalez hit an opposite-field single to right with two outs in the eighth for the Padres.
2013 — Rookie Brad Miller hit his first two major league homers and drove in five runs, and Seattle overcame rookie Brandon Barnes’ cycle in a 10-7 win over Houston. After doubling in the eight to complete his cycle, Barnes singled in the ninth to finish 5 for 5 and become the first Astro to collect five hits since Hunter Pence did it in May 2008.
2015 — After 20 years and 1,609 consecutive home games, the Los Angeles Angels finally lost another game to rain. Heavy downpours turned Angel Stadium’s outfield into virtual marshlands, forcing the postponement of their game against the Boston Red Sox. The Angels were rained out at home for just the 16th time in their 55-year franchise history.
2022 — The American League wins its 9th straight All-Star Game, 3 – 2 over the National League. The NL scores twice against Shane McClanahan in the bottom of the 1st, but is then limited to a single hit over the final 8 innings. In the 4th inning, the AL gets all its runs against Tony Gonsolin on a two-run homer by Giancarlo Stanton and a solo shot by Byron Buxton. Stanton is named the game’s MVP.
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July 20
1906 — Malcolm Eason of Brooklyn pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against the Cardinals in St. Louis.
1925 — Brooklyn’s Dazzy Vance struck out 17 batters as the Dodgers tripped the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in 10 innings.
1933 — Babe Herman hit three home runs, including a grand slam, to pace the Chicago Cubs in a 10-1 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field.
1941 — New York’s Joe DiMaggio had three doubles and a homer in a 12-6, 17-inning Yankee victory over the Tigers in Detroit.
1958 — Jim Bunning of the Detroit Tigers threw a no-hitter, beating the Boston Red Sox 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.
1970 — Bill Singer of the Dodgers pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies for a 5-0 victory in front of 12,454 at Los Angeles.
1973 — Wilbur Wood of the Chicago White Sox lost both ends of a doubleheader to the New York Yankees, 12-2 and 7-0.
1976 — Hank Aaron hit the 755th and final home run of his career to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-2 win over California.
2008 — Francisco Rodriguez became the fastest pitcher to 40 saves in big league history when he closed out the Los Angeles Angels’ 5-3 victory over Boston. Rodriguez, who struck out the side in the ninth inning, reached 40 saves in 98 games — 10 faster than John Smoltz did five years ago.
2009 — Matt Holliday homered twice, including a tying grand slam in the seventh inning, and Jack Cust followed with another shot, helping the Athletics rally from a 10-run deficit — the largest comeback in Oakland history — and beat the Minnesota Twins 14-13.
2013 — The Seattle Mariners manage only one hit but manage to beat the Astros 4-2.
2015 — Women’s baseball is played in The Pan American Games for the first time.
2017 — Matt Carpenter hits three home runs and two doubles as the Cardinals defeat the Cubs 17-5.
2021 — The Oakland, CA City Council votes to approve a non-binding term sheet for the Oakland Athletics′ ballpark project at Howard Terminal. A negative vote would have almost certainly meant the departure in short order of the team from what has been its home city for over half a century, but even with the positive vote, relocation could still happen. team President Dave Kaval having stated earlier that the A’s were not satisfied with the terms proposed for the vote. At issue is the A’s wish to see the city invest up to $855 million in public funds for land development around the project, something that may prove impossible in the current pandemic environment.
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July 21
1921 — The Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees combined for an AL record 16 doubles in the Indians’ 17-8 victory. Cleveland had nine doubles and New York seven.
1945 — The Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Athletics played 24 innings in a 1-1 tie. Les Mueller pitched 19 2-3 innings for the Tigers.
1956 — Brooks Lawrence of the Cincinnati Reds had his 13-game winning streak broken when Roberto Clemente’s three-run homer led the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory.
1970 — San Diego’s Clay Kirby held the New York Mets hitless for eight innings but was lifted for a pinch hitter by manager Preston Gomez. With the Padres trailing 1-0 with two out in the eighth, Gomez elected to go for the win instead of letting Kirby finish. The Padres lost the no-hitter and the game, 3-0.
1973 — Hank Aaron of Atlanta hit his 700th home run in the third inning of an 8-4 Braves loss to Philadelphia. Aaron connected on a 1-1 fastball off Phillies pitcher Ken Brett.
1975 — Joe Torre of the New York Mets grounded into four double plays in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros. Felix Millan had four singles but was wiped out each time by Torre.
2001 — In their highest-scoring game in 58 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers routed Colorado 22-7. The 22 runs were the most scored by the Dodgers since Brooklyn beat Pittsburgh 23-6 on July 10, 1943, at Ebbets Field.
2006 — Alex Rodriguez became the youngest player to reach 450 home runs when he homered in the New York Yankees’ 7-3 loss to Toronto. Rodriguez also got his 2,000th career hit.
2007 — Jamie Moyer and David Wells face off. The two combine for 88 years and 307 days of age, making it the second-oldest matchup of starting pitchers in major league history. The only older duel was between Don Sutton and Phil Niekro in June of 1987.
2008 — Detroit’s 19-4 victory at Kansas City marked the third time this season the Tigers scored 19 runs. The Boston Red Sox were the last team to accomplish that feat, scoring 19 or more four times in 1950. Detroit beat Texas 19-6 on April 23 and Minnesota 19-3 on May 24.
2015 — Shin-Soo Choo hit for the cycle, leading the Texas Rangers past the Colorado Rockies 9-0. Choo, who had three RBIs, doubled in the second inning, homered in the fourth and singled in the fifth. He completed the cycle with a triple to center to start the ninth.
2019 — The 2019 Hall of Fame Class is inducted in Cooperstown, NY, with six former players being honored: Harold Baines, Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez, Mike Mussina, Mariano Rivera and Lee Smith. All are present, save for Halladay, who passed away in a plane crash in 2017 and, who is represented by his wife, Brandy. Rivera, the first player to be elected unanimously to the Hall, gets the honor of speaking last, befitting his status as the greatest closer in history.
2021 — Eddy Alvarez is named one of two flag-bearers for Team USA at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that will take place in two days – after a full year’s delay. A member of the U.S. baseball team, Alvarez previously won an Olympic medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in short-track speed skating and is vying to become one of the few athletes ever to win medals in both a summer and a winter Olympics. Sue Bird, a member of the women’s basketball team, will join him as a flag-bearer.
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July 22
1905 — Weldon Henley of the Philadelphia Athletics pitched a no-hitter, defeating the St. Louis Browns 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader. It was the highlight of Henley’s 4-11 season.
1906 — Bob Ewing pitched the Cincinnati Reds to a 10-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies without a single assist by teammates.
1923 — Washington’s Walter Johnson struck out opposing pitcher Stan Coveleski for his 3,000th career strikeout. The Big Train, the first player in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts, struck out five and allowed one run to give the Senators a 3-1 win over Cleveland.
1926 — Cincinnati had four triples in an 11-run second inning as the Reds beat the Boston Braves, 13-1. Curt Walker hit two in the inning to tie an NL record for most triples in an inning.
1932 — Philadelphia’s Mickey Cochrane hit for the cycle and drove in four runs to lead the Athletics to an 8-4 win over the Washington Senators.
1962 — Floyd Robinson of the Chicago White Sox had six singles in six at-bats in a 7-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
1964 — Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell hit for the cycle, drove in three runs and scored four times in the Pirates’ 13-2 rout of the St. Louis Cardinals.
1967 — The Atlanta Braves used a major league record five pitchers in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitchers were Ken Johnson, Ramon Hernandez, Claude Raymond, Dick Kelley and Cecil Upshaw.
1997 — Atlanta’s Greg Maddux turned in a masterful pitching performance, using 76 pitches in a complete game 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
2000 — Seattle’s 13-5 win over Texas was interrupted for 54 minutes when a rainstorm drenched fans at Safeco Field and the $517.6 million stadium’s roof wouldn’t close because of a computer problem. The roof finally began closing about 20 minutes later.
2006 — Alfonso Soriano had three doubles, a triple and scored two runs to lead Washington to a 7-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
2012 — Seth Smith hit a tying homer in the ninth inning, Coco Crisp singled home the winning run in the 12th and the surging Oakland Athletics rallied from four runs down to stun the New York Yankees 5-4 and complete a four-game sweep. The Yankees had not been swept in a four-game series since May 2003 against Toronto.
2013 — Ryan Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, was suspended for the rest of the season and the postseason, the start of sanctions involving players reportedly tied to a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs. The Milwaukee Brewers star accepted the 65-game ban, 15 games more than the one he avoided last year when an arbitrator overturned his positive test for elevated testosterone because the urine sample had been improperly handled.
2014 — The Minnesota Twins turn a triple play against the Yankees.
2022 — In their first game after the All-Star break, the Blue Jays set a team record for runs in a 28 – 5 beatdown of the Red Sox.
July 23
1925 — Lou Gehrig hit the first of his major league record 23 grand slam homers as the New York Yankees posted an 11-7 triumph over the Washington Senators.
1930 — Pie Traynor won both ends of a doubleheader for the Pittsburgh Pirates with home runs. In the first game, Traynor homered in the ninth and in the second game, he connected in the 13th.
1944 — Bill Nicholson of the Chicago Cubs hit four home runs in a doubleheader split with the New York Giants. Nicholson hit a home run in the opener, which the Cubs won 7-4. He hit three straight in the second game, but the Giants won 12-10. In that game, Nicholson was walked with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
1955 — Bob Cerv and Elston Howard of the New York Yankess hit consecutive pinch-hit home runs to force extra innings against Kansas City. The Athletics won 8-7 in the 11th inning on Hector Lopez’s RBI-single. Trailing 7-5 entering the top of the ninth, Cerv batted for pitcher Tommy Byrne and homered of Alex Kellner. Tom Gorman replaced Kellner and Howard, hitting for Irv Noren, tied the game.
1964 — Bert Campaneris of Kansas City hit two home runs in his first major league game. He homered on the first pitch off Minnesota’s Jim Kaat, and then connected again in the seventh to lift the Athletics to a 4-3 win.
1974 — Write-in starter Steve Garvey of the Los Angeles Dodgers singled and doubled to lead the NL to a 7-2 victory over the AL in the All-Star game at Pittsburgh.
1985 — Oddibe McDowell became the first player in Texas Rangers history to hit for the cycle in an 8-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.
2000 — Ryan Klesko hit a game-tying solo homer in the ninth inning and a two-run shot in the 10th to lift San Diego over Colorado 6-4.
2009 — Mark Buehrle pitched the 18th perfect game in major league history, a 5-0 win over Tampa Bay. It was the first since Randy Johnson’s on May 18, 2004. Buehrle threw 76 of 116 pitches for strikes and fanned six in his second no-hitter — the first coming on April 18, 2007, against Texas.
2011 — The Red Sox extend Seattle’s losing streak to 14 games, tied for the longest in team history, with a 3 – 1 win at Fenway Park which is also Terry Francona’s 1000th as Sox manager. Josh Beckett is the winner.
2014 — Padres OF Cameron Maybin is handed a 25-game suspension for testing positive for amphetamines; he is the first major leaguer suspended for PED use this season.
2016 — Trevor Story hit two home runs to set an NL rookie record for shortstops and Colorado beat Atlanta 8-4. Story had four hits including his 25th and 26th homers to pass his mentor, Troy Tulowitzki, who had 24 for the Rockies in 2007. Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox set the major league record for shortstops with 30 in 1997.
2020 — CommissionerRob Manfred springs a surprise on everyone as he announces a modified postseason format for this year only. There will be eight teams participating from each league: the two teams with the best records in each division, and the ones with the two next best records in the league. The teams will be seeded one to eight. The Wild Card Game will be replaced by a preliminary round with all teams participating, played in best-of-three format, with all games played in the better-ranked team’s ballpark.
2021 — Cleveland baseball team announced the team will be called the Guardians beginning in 2022.
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July 24
1909 — Nap Rucker of the Brooklyn Dodgers struck out 16 batters in a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
1931 — In an 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh, Babe Herman of Brooklyn hit for the cycle for the second time in the season.
1947 — Jackie Robinson stole home for the first time in his major league career in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 4-2 win over Pittsburgh.
1948 — Chicago White Sox outfielder Pat Seerey become the first major leaguer to strike out seven times in a doubleheader.
1949 — Cleveland pitcher Bob Lemon hit two home runs to lead the Indians to a 7-5 victory over the Washington Senators in the opener of a doubleheader.
1968 — Hoyt Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox passed Cy Young’s major league record when he made his 907th appearance. He retired with 1,070 appearances.
1973 — Bobby Bonds homered and doubled to lead the NL to a 7-1 rout of the AL in the All-Star game at Kansas City.
1983 — The “Pine Tar” home run was hit by the Kansas City Royals’ George Brett off New York pitcher Rich Gossage at Yankee Stadium. Brett’s shot came with two outs in the top of the ninth to give the Royals a 5-4 lead. Brett’s homer was ruled an out because the amount of pine tar exceeded what was allowed. After a protest by the Royals, the final out and the Yankees’ half of the ninth was completed on Aug. 18.
1993 — Anthony Young of the New York Mets extended his record losing streak to 27 games when he walked in the winning run in the 10th inning for a 5-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
1999 — In their biggest victory in 46 years, the New York Yankees routed the Cleveland Indians 21-1 as Chili Davis went 5-for-6 with six RBIs.
2010 — Tampa Bay won in Cleveland for the first time in nearly five years. The Rays snapped an 18-game losing streak with a 6-3 win against the Indians. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon snapped an 0-21 personal losing streak as the visiting manager that began when he was the Angels interim manager in 1996.
2016 — Ken Griffey, Jr. and Mike Piazza are inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Cooperstown, NY. Griffey obtained the highest percentage of the vote ever – 99.3% – in being elected in his first year of eligibility by the BBWAA, while Piazza made it on his fourth try. A crowd estimated at 50,000, the second-largest ever at Cooperstown, is on hand to witness the event.
2022 — The induction ceremony is held for the Class of 2022 at the Hall of Fame. Three of the seven men inducted – David Ortiz, Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva – are present to receive the honor. The others, all deceased, are represented by relatives – Gil Hodges, Minnie Minoso and Buck O’Neil – while Dave Winfield introduces 19th century black baseball pioneer Bud Fowler. Over 35,000 persons are present in Cooperstown, NY to witness the ceremony, and Dominican flags and Boston Red Sox gear, in honor of Ortiz, are well in evidence in the crowd.
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July 25
1918 — Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators pitched a four-hitter in 15 innings to beat the St. Louis Browns 1-0. The only hit off him in the first 11 innings was a triple by George Sisler.
1930 — The Philadelphia Athletics came up with a triple steal in the first inning and again in the fourth in a 14-1 win over the Cleveland Indians.
1939 — Atley Donald of the New York Yankees set a rookie pitching record in the AL when he registered his 12th consecutive victory since May 9, with a 5-1 victory over the St. Louis Browns.
1941 — Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox won his 300th and last game, beating the Cleveland Indians 10-6.
1949 — Stan Musial of St. Louis hit for the cycle, going 4-5 and driving in four runs to lead the Cardinals to a 14-1 rout of the Broolyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.
1956 — Roberto Clemente hit a game-winning inside-the-park grand slam to give Pittsburgh a 9-8 win over the Chicago Cubs at Forbes Field.
1961 — En route to his 61-homer season, Roger Maris of the New York Yankees hit four homers against the Chicago White Sox in a doubleheader to give him 40 for the year. The Yankees took both games, 5-1 and 12-0, and Maris moved 25 games ahead of Babe Ruth’s 1927 pace.
1962 — Stan Musial of St. Louis became the all-time RBI leader in the NL. His two-run home run, in a 5-2 loss to Los Angeles, gave him 1,862 RBIs, passing Mel Ott.
1978 — Pete Rose of the Cincinnati Reds singled to left off New York’s Craig Swan in the third inning to set a NL record of hitting safely in 38 consecutive games. The Mets won the game 9-2.
1990 — Kansas City’s George Brett hit for the cycle in the Royals 6-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
2000 — Mike Lansing of Colorado hit for the cycle. The Rockies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 19-2.
2011 — Ian Kinsler homered and drove in four runs as the Texas Rangers pounded out the most runs and hits in the majors this season with a 20-6 rout of the Minnesota Twins.
2014 — Yasiel Puig tied a franchise record with three triples and added a double and two RBIs as Los Angeles moved within a half-game of NL West-leading San Francisco with an 8-1 win over the Giants.
2015 — Cole Hamels became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in 50 years while leading Philadelphia to a 5-0 win. There was drama down to the final out, when rookie center fielder Odubel Herrera stumbled on the warning track, but managed to lean forward and catch Kris Bryant’s flyball to end the game. Hamels struck out 13 in the first no-hitter versus the Cubs since Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game in 1965.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
July 19
1877 — Spencer Gore beats William Marshall in 48 minutes (6-1, 6-2, 6-4) in the first men’s singles tennis championship at the All England Club, Wimbledon.
1909 — Cleveland shortstop Neal Ball pulls off the first unassisted triple play in modern major league history.
1910 — Cy Young wins his 500th career game as the Cleveland Indians beat the Washington Senators 5-4 in 11 innings.
1922 — Johnny Weissmuller is the first swimmer to break the 1 minute barrier for the 100 meter freestyle; 58.6s.
1936 — Future Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller makes his MLB debut.
1957 — Don Bowden is the first American to break the four-minute mile with a 3:58.7 time at Stockton, Calif.
1980 — The Summer Olympics open in Moscow without the United States and 64 other boycotting countries.
1986 — Tim Witherspoon KOs Frank Bruno in 11 for heavyweight boxing title.
1987 — Nick Faldo of England wins the British Open by one shot when American Paul Azinger bogeys four times on the back nine.
1990 — Pete Rose, baseball’s all-time hits leader, is sentenced to five months in prison and an additional three months in a halfway house for cheating on his taxes.
1997 — Daniel Komen of Kenya shatters the 8-minute barrier for the 2-mile run and sets a world record of 7:58.61 at the Hechtel Night of track in Belgium. Haile Gebrselassie had set the world record of 8:01.08 on May 31.
2008 — In the WNBA’s first outdoor game, the Indiana Fever overcomes the heat and humidity in New York to beat the Liberty 71-55. Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of the U.S. Open, had a basketball court laid on top of the tennis court.
2009 — Tom Watson squanders a chance to become golf’s oldest major champion. The 59-year-old misses an 8-foot putt on the 72nd hole of the British Open, then loses a four-hole playoff by six shots to Stewart Cink.
2009 — Eighty-one-year-old Hershel McGriff becomes the oldest driver to take part in a national NASCAR series race, finishing 13th in a Camping World West Series event at Portland International Raceway.
2014 — Shoni Schimmel, a rookie who doesn’t start for her own team, puts on a record-breaking performance — scoring 29 points to help the East beat the West 125-124 in the first WNBA All-Star game to go to overtime. Tamika Catchings makes a layup with 6.9 seconds to go to give the East the lead and then knocks the ball away from Skylar Diggins on the defensive end to seal the victory.
2020 — World Formula 1 drivers champion Lewis Hamilton wins a record 8th Hungarian Grand Prix.
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July 20
1858 — Fans are charged for the first time to see a baseball game. Approximately 1,500 fans pay 50 cents to see the New York All-Stars beat Brooklyn 22-18 at Fashion Race Course on Long Island.
1958 — The PGA championship calls for medal play for the first time and Dow Finsterwald beats Billy Casper.
1963 — Mary Mills wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship by three strokes over Sandra Palmer and Louise Suggs.
1974 — Carl Rosen’s Chris Evert beats Miss Musket by 50 lengths in the winner-take-all match race at Hollywood Park.
1975 — Sandra Palmer wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship by four strokes over Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carner and Sandra Post.
1976 — Hank Aaron hits his 755th and last home run.
1980 — Tom Watson wins the British Open by four strokes over Lee Trevino. Watson shoots a 13-under 271 at Muirfield Golf Links at Gullane, Scotland. Watson becomes the fourth American to win three Open titles, joining Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus.
1997 — Justin Leonard closes with a 65 to win the British Open at 12-under 272 at Royal Troon. Leonard, whose closing round is one of the best in major championship history, takes the lead from Jesper Parnevik with a birdie on No. 17.
2002 — Tiger Woods, trying to win the third leg of the Grand Slam, shoots his worst round (81) as a professional, knocking himself out of contention.
2008 — Padraig Harrington is the first European in more than a century to win golf’s oldest championship two years in a row. Harrington pulls away from mistake-prone Greg Norman and holds off a late charge by Ian Poulter for a four-shot victory in the British Open.
2009 — Lauren Lappin homers to start a three-run rally in the third inning, and the United States beats Australia 3-1 in the World Cup of Softball championship game at Oklahoma City.
2013 — China’s Wu Minxia and Shi Tingmao wins the first diving gold medal at the world championships in Barcelona, Spain. Wu earns a record sixth world title in the women’s 3-meter synchronized springboard.
2014 — Rory McIlroy completes a wire-to-wire victory in the British Open to capture the third leg of the career Grand Slam. McIlroy closes with a 1-under 71 for a two-shot victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler. McIlroy, winner of the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 PGA Championship, joins Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players with three different majors at age 25 or younger.
2015 — Zach Johnson rolls in a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and outlasts Louis Oosthuizen and Marc Leishman in a three-man playoff to win the British Open. Jordan Spieth, looking to win his third straight major, falls one shot short of joining the playoff.
2020 — Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the first man to score 50 goals in Serie A, La Liga and the Premier League.
2021 — The Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns 105-95 in game six of the NBA Finals to win their second NBA Championship. It was the fourth win in a row after falling behind 2-0 in the series. The Bucks’ F Giannis Antetokounmpo was named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player.
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July 21
1876 — Princeton takes the team championship in the first IC4A (Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes Association) track and field meet.
1957 — Lionel Herbert wins the PGA championship with a 2-1 final round victory over Dow Finsterwald.
1957 — 1st black to win a major US tennis tournament (Althea Gibson).
1963 — Jack Nicklaus wins the PGA championship by two strokes over Dave Ragan to become the fourth golfer to win the three major United States titles.
1968 — Arnold Palmer becomes the first PGA golfer to earn $1 million over his career despite losing by one stroke to Julius Boros in the PGA championship.
1973 — Hank Aaron hits home run number 700 off of Phillies Pitcher Ken Brett.
1974 — Sandra Haynie edges Carol Mann and Beth Stone by one stroke to win the U.S. Women’s Open championship.
1979 — Spain’s Seve Ballesteros captures the British Open by three strokes over Ben Crenshaw and Jack Nicklaus.
1985 — John Henry, the greatest money winner in horse racing history, is retired. The 10-year-old won 39 races in 83 starts and earned $6,597,947 in total purses.
1985 — Sandy Lyle wins the British Open by one stroke over Payne Stewart.
1989 — Mike Tyson knocks down Carl “The Truth” Williams with a left hook and stops him 93 seconds into the first round of his heavyweight title defense. It is the fifth shortest heavyweight title fight in history.
1996 — Tom Lehman shoots a final-round 73 for a 72-hole total of 13-under 271 to win the British Open, two strokes better than Ernie Els and Mark McCumber.
1996 — Wayne Gretzky signs a 2 year deal with NY Rangers.
2002 — Ernie Els squanders a three-stroke lead but outlasts Thomas Levet of France to win a four-man playoff that produces the first sudden-death finish in the 142-year history of the British Open.
2007 — Bernard Hopkins, in the twilight of his fighting days, ends Winky Wright’s 7 1/2-year unbeaten streak with a unanimous decision in their 170-pound bout in Las Vegas.
2009 — China’s Guo Jingjing easily wins her fifth straight world championship in 3-meter springboard. She captured her first springboard world title in 2001, and hasn’t lost since in the every-other-year competition.
2013 — Phil Mickelson wins his first British Open title with a spectacular finish. He birdies four of the last six holes for a 5-under 66 to match the best round of the tournament.
2013 — Britain’s Chris Froome wins the 100th Tour de France, having dominated rivals over three weeks. He rides into Paris wearing the yellow jersey he took in Stage 8 in the Pyrenees and never relinquished.
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July 22
1921 — Jim Barnes wins the U.S. Men’s Open golf championship by edging Walter Hagen, Leo Diegel, Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod.
1962 — Gary Player of South Africa becomes the first non-resident of the United States to win the PGA championship.
1963 — Sonny Liston knocks out Floyd Patterson in 2 minutes, 10 seconds of the first round to retain the world heavyweight title. Liston took the title from Patterson with a first-round knockout in Chicago on Sept. 25, 1962.
1973 — Sue Berning wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship for the third time with a five-stroke victory over Gloria Ahret.
1984 — Kathy Whitworth becomes the all-time winner in professional golf tournaments by winning the Rochester Open. Whitworth, with 85 career wins, passes Sam Snead’s total of 84 PGA tournament victories.
1984 — Seve Ballesteros wins the British Open with a four-round 276, breaking the course record set by Ken Nagle in 1960 by two strokes. Tom Watson and Bernhard Langer finish two strokes behind.
1990 — Nick Faldo wins his second British Open crown in four years, defeating Payne Stewart and Mark McNulty by five strokes.
1996 — Naim Suleymanoglu of Turkey becomes first weightlifter in Olympic history to win three gold medals. Suleymanoglu wins the 141-pound division by hoisting 413¼ pounds.
1994 — Former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O.J. Simpson pleads “Absolutely 100% Not Guilty” of murder.
1998 — Jackie Joyner-Kersee ends her brilliant heptathlon career with a victory at the Goodwill Games. It’s her fourth consecutive Goodwill title. Earlier, the 4×400-meter relay world record of 2:54.29, set by the 1993 U.S. World Championship team, comes crashing down. Michael Johnson, the anchor on that 1993 team, anchors this United States 4×400 team, which finishes in a 2 minutes, 54.20 seconds.
2001 — David Duval shoots a 4-under 67 at Royal Lytham & St. Annes to win the British Open title, his first major championship. He finishes at 10-under 274 for a three-stroke victory over Sweden’s Niclas Fasth.
2005 — Yelena Isinbayeva clears the 5-meter mark at the Crystal Palace Grand Prix in London for her latest world record. The Olympic champion easily clears 16 feet, 4¾ inches on her first attempt, barely nudging the bar.
2007 — Padraig Harrington survives a calamitous finish in regulation and a tense putt for bogey on the final hole of a playoff to win the British Open over Sergio Garcia.
2008 — Candace Parker scores 21 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones adds 19 before both are ejected after a scuffle in the final minute as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Detroit Shock 84-81 at Auburn Hills, Mich. The WNBA game turns ugly in the final seconds as a collision between Parker and Detroit’s Plenette Pierson turns into a shoving match that has players and coaches from both teams leaving the bench.
2012 — Bradley Wiggins becomes the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France by protecting the yellow jersey during the final processional ride into Paris. Fellow Briton and Sky teammate Christopher Froome finishes second, 3 minutes, 21 seconds behind.
2012 — Ernie Els wins his fourth major championship in an astonishing finish, rallying to beat Adam Scott in the British Open when the Aussie bogeys the last four holes. Els, who starts the final round six shots behind, finishes off a flawless back nine with a 15-foot birdie putt for a 2-under 68. Scott was four shots ahead with four holes to play.
2018 — Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird plays in a record 500th WNBA game.
July 23
1907 — Australasia beats British Isles 3-2 to win the Davis Cup held at Wimbledon. Australasia wins its first David Cup and ends the four-year reign of the British Isles.
1921 — At the annual Harvard-Yale vs. Cambridge-Oxford meet at Harvard Stadium, Harvard’s Edward Gourdin becomes the first to long jump 25 feet. Harvard lists Gourdin’s jump as 25 feet, 3 inches, but the official listing in U.S. Track and Field is 25-2.
1960 — Betsy Rawls becomes the first woman to win the U.S. Women’s Open golf title four times.
1966 — John Pennel pole vaults 17 feet, 6 1/4 inches for the world record in a meet at Los Angeles. It’s the eighth of nine world records he set in the event in his career and his first since 1963.
1976 — The last NFL All-Star game is held and is shortened when thunderstorms hit Chicago. The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the All-Stars 24-0.
1978 — Hollis Stacy wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship for the second straight year.
1989 — Mark Calcavecchia wins the British Open, edging Greg Norman and Wayne Grady in a three-man playoff. Calcavecchia, the first American to win the Open in five years, birdies three of the four holes in the playoff.
1989 — Greg Lemond wins his second Tour de France with the closest finish ever, edging Laurent Fignon by 8 seconds. Lemond starts the day 50 seconds behind Fignon and wins the final stage, a 15-mile race against the clock from Versailles to Paris, in 26:57. Fignon finishes the stage 58 seconds slower.
1995 — John Daly wins the British Open at St. Andrews by four strokes in a four-hole playoff with Italy’s Costantino Rocca. Rocca forces the playoff by sinking a 65-foot putt on the 18th hole.
1995 — Miguel Indurain of Spain wins his record fifth consecutive Tour de France. Indurain joins Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault as the other five-time winners.
2000 — Tiger Woods, at 24, becomes the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam with a record-breaking performance in the British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews. Woods closes with a 3-under 69 for a 19-under 269 total, the lowest score in relation to par at a major championship.
2000 — 87th Tour de France: no winner (Lance Armstrong disqualified).
2006 — Tiger Woods, one month after missing the cut for the first time in a major, becomes the first player since Tom Watson in 1982-83 to win consecutive British Open titles.
2006 — Floyd Landis, pedaling with an injured hip, cruises to victory in the Tour de France, keeping cycling’s most prestigious title in American hands for the eighth straight year.
2009 — Mark Buehrle pitches the 18th perfect game in major league history, a 5-0 win over Tampa Bay.
2012 — Penn State is all but leveled by penalties handed down by the NCAA for its handling of the allegations against former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. The NCAA imposes an unprecedented $60 million fine, a four-year ban from postseason play and a cut in the number of football scholarships it can award.
2017 — British cyclist Chris Froome wins his fourth Tour de France.
2019 — Nike’s Jordan Brand signs 2019 NBA #1 draft pick Zion Williamson to richest multiyear sponsorship deal for a rookie in history; estimated 7 years for $75 million.
2021 — The Opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games takes place after a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 — The Cleveland Indians announce the team will be re-named the Guardians.
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July 24
1908 — John Hayes wins the Olympic marathon in a record of 2 hours, 55 minutes, 18.4 seconds. Italian Dorando Pietri is the first athlete to enter the stadium, but collapses several times before being disqualified when officials help him across the line.
1931 — Paavo Nurmi sets the world record at 2 miles in a meet at Helsinki, Finland, with a time of 8:59.6.
1960 — Jay Hebert beats Jim Ferrier by one stroke to win the PGA golf tournament.
1967 — Don January wins a playoff by two strokes over Don Massengale to win the PGA championship.
1970 — The International Lawn Tennis Association institutes the nine-point tiebreaker rule.
1976 — John Naber of the United States becomes the first swimmer to break the 2-minute barrier in the 200-meter backstroke at the Olympics in Montreal.
1976 — Mac Wilkins of the United States sets an Olympic record in the discus with a toss of 224 feet in Montreal.
1977 — Hollis Stacy wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf championship by two strokes over Nancy Lopez.
1979 — Boston Red Sox Carl Yastrzemski hits his 400th HR.
1998 — Tour de France riders, angered by the drug scandal that has dominated the event, protest by delaying the start of racing for two hours. Armin Meier, a member of the Festina team who was kicked off the tour the previous week, admits to a French radio station that he used a banned drug.
2005 — Lance Armstrong wins his seventh consecutive Tour de France. All of the titles are stripped in 2012 for doping.
2008 — Nancy Lieberman makes a one-game appearance for the Detroit Shock after the 50-year-old Hall-of-Famer signed a seven-day contract earlier in the day. Lieberman, finishes with two assists and two turnovers, surpassing her own record as the oldest player in WNBA history. Lieberman held the record playing at age 39 in 1997 while playing for the Phoenix Mercury.
2009 — Ron Hornaday Jr. holds off a late challenge from Mike Skinner to win the AAA Insurance 200, making him the first driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to win four consecutive races.
2010 — Fourteen-year-old Jim Liu of Smithtown, N.Y., beats Justin Thomas of Goshen, Ky., 4 and 2 to become the youngest U.S. Junior Amateur champion. Liu, who turns 15 next month, is more than six months younger than Tiger Woods when he won the first of his three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur titles in 1991.
2011 — Cadel Evans wins the Tour de France, becoming the first Australian champion in cycling’s greatest race.
2014 — Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice receives a two-game suspension from the NFL following his offseason arrest for domestic violence. The six-year veteran was arrested following a Feb. 15 altercation in Atlantic City, New Jersey, with then-fiancee Janay Palmer.
2016 — Chris Froome celebrates his third Tour de France title in four years. The British rider finishes safely at the back of the main pack during the final stage, arm-in-arm with his teammates during the mostly ceremonial final stage ending on the Champs-Elysees. Froome, who also won the Tour in 2013 and 2015, becomes the first rider to defend the title since Miguel Indurain won the last of his five straight in 1995. Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven consecutive titles for doping.
2019 — 19-year-old Hungarian swimmer Kristof Milak breaks Michael Phelps’ 10-year-old 200m butterfly record in a time of 1:50.73, 0.78s faster than Phelps.
2020 — The Toronto Blue Jays name Sahlen Field in Buffalo, N.Y. as their temporary home field for the season.
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July 25
1902 — Jim Jeffries knocks out Bob Fitzsimmons in the eighth round to retain the world heavyweight title.
1941 — Lefty Grove of the Boston Red Sox wins his 300th and last game, beating the Cleveland Indians 10-6.
1956 — Swaps sets an American record in a 1 5/8-mile race at Hollywood Park. Swaps runs the course in 2:38 1-5.
1956 — Jack Burke Jr. defeats Ted Kroll 3 and 2 in the final round to win the PGA championship.
1976 — In Montreal, Edwin Moses of the United States sets an Olympic record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 47.63.
1982 — Janet Anderson wins the U.S. Women’s Open golf title, her first tournament victory.
1999 — 86th Tour de France: Lance Armstrong wins 1st of 7 consecutive Tour de France titles but is later disqualified for drug cheating.
2004 — Copa América Final, Estadio Nacional, Lima: Brazil beats Argentina, 4-2 on penalties; 2-2 after extra time.
2007 — Michael Rasmussen, the leader of the Tour de France, is removed from the race by his Rabobank team after winning the 16th stage. Rasmussen is sent home for violating (the team’s) internal rules. The Danish cyclist missed random drug tests May 8 and June 28, saying he was in Mexico.
2010 — Alberto Contador wins the Tour de France for the third time in four years. Contador holds off a next-to-last day challenge from Andy Schleck of Luxembourg, his runner-up for a second consecutive year.
2010 — Jamie McMurray’s victory in the Brickyard 400 gives owner Chip Ganassi the first team triple crown in American auto racing: winning the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 in the same year. McMurray won the season-opening Daytona 500 in February, and Ganassi IndyCar series driver Dario Franchitti won the Indy 500 in May.
2011 — The NFL Players Association executive board and 32 team reps vote unanimously to approve the terms of a deal to the end the 4½-month lockout. The final pact is for 10 years, without an opt-out clause.
2011 — Taylor Hoagland hits a two-run home run, Valerie Arioto and Megan Langenfeld have RBI singles and the United States beats rival Japan 6-4 to win its fifth straight World Cup of Softball championship.
2012 — Triple jumper Voula Papachristou is kicked off Greece’s Olympic team by the Hellenic Olympic Committee for her comments on Twitter mocking African immigrants and expressing support for a far-right political party.
2015 — Maya Moore scores a record 30 points to lead the West to a 117-112 victory over the East in the WNBA All-Star Game. The league’s reigning MVP scores eight straight points in the final 2 minutes to turn a one-point deficit into a 113-106 advantage.
2021 — USA’s men’s basketball lose to France 83-76 ending their 25-game Olympic winning streak.
TV SPORTS FRIDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Diamondbacks at Cubs | 2:20pm | MLBN MARQ YurView |
| Phillies at Pirates | 6:40pm | NBCS Sports Philadelphia ATTSN-PIT |
| Reds at Nationals | 6:45pm | Bally Sports Ohio MASN |
| Rays at Yankees | 7:05pm | Bally Sports Sun YES |
| Tigers at Blue Jays | 7:07pm | Bally Sports Detroit Sportsnet1 |
| Mets at Marlins | 7:10pm | SNY Bally Sports Florida |
| Padres at Guardians | 7:10pm | Padrers.TV Bally Sports Great Lakes |
| Cardinals at Braves | 7:20pm | Bally Sports Midwest Bally Sports Southeast |
| Orioles at Rangers | 8:05pm | MASN2 Bally Sports Southwest |
| White Sox at Royals | 8:10pm | NBC Sports Chicago Bally Sports Kansas City |
| Giants at Rockies | 8:40pm | NBC Sports Bay Rockies.TV |
| Angels at Athletics | 9:40pm | Bally Sports West NBC Sports California |
| Astros at Mariners | 10:10pm | MLBN SCHN ROOT |
| Red Sox at Dodgers | 10:10pm | MLBN NESN SNLA |
| NBA SUMMER LEAGUE | TIME ET | TV |
| Milwaukee vs Phoenix | 4:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Dallas vs Boston | 4:30pm | ESPNU ESPN+ |
| Atlanta vs Chicago | 6:00pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| New York vs Detroit | 7:00pm | ESPN ESPN+ |
| Philadelphia vs San Antonio | 8:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Toronto vs Miami | 9:00pm | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
| Golden State vs Oklahoma City | 10:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Portland vs Charlotte | 11:00pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| ARCA Menards Series: Reese’s 200 | 5:30pm | FS1 |
| NASCAR Truck: TSport 200 | 8:30pm | FS1 |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| The Open Championship | 4:00am | USA |
| LPGA Tour: Dana Open | 12:00pm | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Barracuda Championship | 5:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Primera División: Barracas Central vs Newell’s Old Boys | 2:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Primera División: Belgrano vs Deportivo Riestra | 6:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Primera División: Rosario Central vs Sarmiento | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Liga MX: Atlético San Luis vs Tijuana | 9:00pm | VIX |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Seattle Reign vs Utah Royals | 9:00pm | CBSSN Paramount+ Fubo |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Tigres UANL vs Pachuca | 10:00pm | Paramount+ |
| CONCACAF U20 Championship: USA U20 vs Jamaica U20 | 10:00pm | FS2 Fubo |
| Liga MX: Puebla vs Atlas | 11:05pm | VIX |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Newport-ATP, Hamburg-ATP, Gstaad-ATP, Bastad-ATP, Budapest-WTA & Palermo-WTA Quarterfinals | 4:30am | TENNIS |
| Newport-ATP, Hamburg-ATP, Gstaad-ATP, Bastad-ATP, Budapest-WTA & Palermo-WTA Quarterfinals | 12:30pm | TENNIS |
TV SPORTS SATURDAY
| MLB REGULAR SEASON | TIME ET | TV |
| Rays at Yankees | 1:05pm | MLBN Bally Sports Sun YES |
| Tigers at Blue Jays | 3:07pm | Bally Sports Detroit Sportsnet1 |
| Angels at Athletics | 4:07pm | MLBN Bally Sports West NBC Sports California |
| Mets at Marlins | 4:10pm | MLBN SNY Bally Sports Florida |
| Phillies at Pirates | 6:40pm | NBCS Sports Philadelphia ATTSN-PIT |
| Reds at Nationals | 6:45pm | Bally Sports Ohio MASN |
| Orioles at Rangers | 7:05pm | MASN2 Bally Sports Southwest |
| Brewers at Twins | 7:10pm | Bally Sports Wisconsin Bally Sports North |
| Padres at Guardians | 7:10pm | Padrers.TV Bally Sports Great Lakes |
| White Sox at Royals | 7:10pm | NBC Sports Chicago Bally Sports Kansas City |
| Diamondbacks at Cubs | 7:15pm | FOX |
| Red Sox at Dodgers | 7:15pm | FOX |
| Cardinals at Braves | 7:20pm | Bally Sports Midwest Bally Sports Southeast |
| Giants at Rockies | 8:10pm | MLBN NBC Sports Bay Rockies.TV |
| Astros at Mariners | 9:40pm | MLBN SCHN ROOT |
| NBA SUMMER LEAGUE | TIME ET | TV |
| Milwaukee vs Chicago | 4:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Charlotte vs New York | 5:00pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| Miami vs Boston | 6:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Detroit vs Philadelphia | 7:00pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| Oklahoma City vs Toronto | 8:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| San Antonio vs Portland | 9:90pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| Utah vs Dallas | 10:30pm | NBATV ESPN+ |
| Phoenix vs Golden State | 11:00pm | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
| MOTORSPORTS | TIME ET | TV |
| Pro Motocross Championship: Washougal National | 3:00pm | NBC |
| Xfinity: Pennzoil 250 | 3:30pm | USA |
| GOLF | TIME ET | TV |
| The Open Championship | 5:00am | USA |
| The Open Championship | 7:00am | NBC |
| LPGA Tour: Dana Open | 10:00am | GOLF |
| PGA Tour: Barracuda Championship | 5:00pm | GOLF |
| SOCCER | TIME ET | TV |
| Primera División: San Lorenzo vs Huracán | 2:00pm | Paramount+ |
| Primera División: Racing Club vs Godoy Cruz | 4:00pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Chicago Red Stars vs NJ/NY Gotham FC | 5:00pm | CBSSN Paramount+ |
| Primera División: Banfield vs Atlético Tucumán | 6:30pm | Paramount+ |
| Liga MX: Guadalajara vs Mazatlán | 7:05pm | Prime |
| MLS: Atlanta United vs Columbus Crew | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: CF Montréal vs Toronto FC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Inter Miami vs Chicago Fire | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: New England vs Dallas | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: New York RB vs Cincinnati | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Orlando City SC vs New York City | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Philadelphia Union vs Nashville SC | 7:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: North Carolina Courage vs Orlando Pride | 7:30pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Kansas City Current vs Houston Dash | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Racing Louisville FC vs Monterrey | 8:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: Sporting KC vs St. Louis City | 8:30pm | FS1 MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Austin vs Charlotte | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Minnesota United vs SJ Earthquakes | 8:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Santos Laguna vs Tigres UANL | 9:00pm | VIX |
| Liga MX: Monterrey vs Querétaro | 9:00pm | TUDN |
| MLS: Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake | 9:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: San Diego Wave vs Bay FC | 10:00pm | CBSSN Paramount+ Fubo |
| NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup: Angel City vs América | 10:00pm | Paramount+ |
| MLS: Seattle Sounders FC vs Los Angeles FC | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: Vancouver Whitecaps vs Houston Dynamo | 10:30pm | MLS Season Pass |
| MLS: LA Galaxy vs Portland Timbers | 10:45pm | FS1 MLS Season Pass |
| Liga MX: Juárez vs América | 11:00pm | Fubo |
| Liga MX: Cruz Azul vs Toluca | 11:05pm | VIX |
| MMA | TIME ET | TV |
| UFC: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba | 8:00pm | ESPN |
| WNBA | TIME ET | TV |
| Women’s USA National Basketball Team vs Team WNBA | 8:30pm | ABC |
| LACROSSE | TIME ET | TV |
| PLL: New York vs. Boston | 3:00pm | ABC |
| TENNIS | TIME ET | TV |
| Newport-ATP, Hamburg-ATP, Gstaad-ATP & Bastad-ATP Semifinals | 5:00am | TENNIS |
| Newport-ATP, Hamburg-ATP, Gstaad-ATP & Bastad-ATP Semifinals | 1:00pm | TENNIS |