“THE SCOREBOARD”
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
KANSAS CITY 9 LA DODGERS 1
ST. LOUIS 5 NY YANKEES 1
DETROIT 14 COLORADO 9
LA ANGELS 5 ARIZONA 2
CLEVELAND 8 CHICAGO CUBS 6 (10)
BALTIMORE 2 MINNESOTA 1
BOSTON 5 TORONTO 4
HOUSTON 5 TEXAS 3
CHICAGO WHITE SOX 8 OAKLAND 7
SEATTLE 7 TAMPA BAY 6
ATLANTA 6 MIAMI 3
WASHINGTON 5 PHILADELPHIA 4
MILWAUKEE 6 PITTSBURGH 3
CINCINNATI 4 SAN DIEGO 3
NY METS 8 SAN FRANCISCO 4
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
LOUISVILLE 7 INDIANAPOLIS 4
FT. WAYNE 3 LAKE COUNTY 2
BELOIT 8 SOUTH BEND 5
WNBA
SKY 89 FEVER 87
DREAM 112 SPARKS 84
WINGS 89 MYSTICS 72
LIBERTY 81 STORM 66
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
ATLANTA 2 PHILADELPHIA 0
2023 INDIANA FOOTBALL “METROPOLITAN” SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, AUG. 18
BEN DAVIS AT CINCINNATI MOELLER (OHIO), 7 PM
SNIDER AT WARREN CENTRAL, 7 PM
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT TECH, 7 PM
LAWRENCE NORTH AT AVON, 7 PM
NORTH CENTRAL AT FISHERS, 7 PM
PIKE AT ZIONSVILLE, 7:30 PM
FRIDAY, AUG. 25
AVON AT BEN DAVIS, 7 PM
FISHERS AT PIKE, 7 PM
NORTH SIDE AT LAWRENCE NORTH, 7 PM
HAMILTON SE AT NORTH CENTRAL, 7 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT CARROLL, 7 PM
WESTFIELD AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 1
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT LAWRENCE NORTH ©, 7 PM
NORTH CENTRAL AT WARREN CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
PIKE AT BEN DAVIS ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 8
IMG ACADEMY (FLA.) AT BEN DAVIS, 7 PM
LAWRENCE NORTH AT NORTH CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
PIKE AT SOUTHPORT, 7 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 15
CATHEDRAL AT NORTH CENTRAL, 7 PM
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT PIKE ©, 7 PM
LAWRENCE NORTH AT CARMEL, 7 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT BEN DAVIS ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 22
BEN DAVIS AT LAWRENCE NORTH ©, 7 PM
CENTER GROVE AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 7 PM
NORTH CENTRAL AT CARMEL, 7 PM
PIKE AT WARREN CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, SEP. 29
CARMEL AT BEN DAVIS, 7 PM
CENTER GROVE AT PIKE, 7 PM
LAWRENCE CENTRAL AT NORTH CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT LAWRENCE NORTH ©, 7 PM
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
BEN DAVIS AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL ©, 7 PM
LAWRENCE NORTH AT CENTER GROVE, 7 PM
NORTH CENTRAL AT PIKE ©, 7 PM
WARREN CENTRAL AT CARMEL, 7 PM
FRIDAY, OCT. 13
CARMEL AT LAWRENCE CENTRAL, 7 PM
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS (MO.) AT WARREN CENTRAL, 7 PM
NORTH CENTRAL AT BEN DAVIS ©, 7 PM
PIKE AT LAWRENCE NORTH ©, 7 PM
2023 PURDUE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
SEPT. 2 FRESNO STATE
SEPT. 9 AT VIRGINIA TECH
SEPT. 16 SYRACUSE
SEPT. 23 WISCONSIN
SEPT. 30 ILLINOIS
OCT. 7 AT IOWA
OCT. 14 OHIO STATE
OCT. 21 OPEN
OCT. 28 AT NEBRASKA
NOV. 4 AT MICHIGAN
NOV. 11 MINNESOTA
NOV. 18 AT NORTHWESTERN
NOV. 25 INDIANA
COLTS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 26 – 10-11 A.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
SATURDAY, AUG. 5 – 6-7:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, AUG. 6 – 2-3:45 P.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 8 – 9-10:30 A.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10 – 9-10 A.M.
TUESDAY, AUG. 15 – 9-10 A.M.
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 16 – 6-8 P.M.
THURSDAY, AUG. 17 – 6-8 P.M.
TOP NATIONAL RELEASES/HEADLINES
NBA NEWS
SABONIS AND CLARKSON GET EXTENSION DEALS DONE WITH KINGS AND JAZZ, SOURCES TELL AP
All-NBA center Domantas Sabonis wasn’t a free agent this summer. And he won’t be for the next few summers, either.
Sabonis has agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Sacramento Kings, one that will keep him signed through the 2027-28 season, a person with knowledge of the talks confirmed Sunday.
The extension includes a raise on his salary for this coming season to nearly $31 million, and his salary for the four subsequent years will average about $47 million, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the signing.
The total value of the deal is about $217 million. ESPN first reported the agreement on Saturday night, and The Sacramento Bee subsequently confirmed it as well.
It was part of a big-spending start to free agency this summer: Counting free agent deals that have been struck, signings of this year’s rookie class and extensions, NBA teams have combined to hand out more than $3 billion in contract value since Friday night.
Sabonis would have been in line to hit the free agent market in the summer of 2024, but the Kings ensured that won’t be happening. He’s a huge part of the Kings’ current surge; the team made the playoffs this past season for the first time since 2006 and has the entirety of its starting five — Sabonis, De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray — coming back.
Sabonis is a three-time All-Star who averaged 19.1 points and a league-high 12.3 rebounds per game this past season, earning the All-NBA nod for the first time.
Utah was finalizing an extension for guard Jordan Clarkson on Sunday as well, a second person told the AP on condition of anonymity because it had not been signed. It will have a total value of $55 million over the next three years, the person said; Clarkson had opted into a contract that would have paid him $14.3 million this coming season and now will average about $18.3 million over three years.
Clarkson averaged a career-high 20.8 points for the Jazz this past season, and the extension will push his on-court earnings well past $100 million for his career.
Also Sunday:
— Miles Bridges signed his $7.9 million qualifying offer from Charlotte for this coming season, a source told AP after the agreement was first reported by ESPN. Bridges missed all of this past season after he was charged with domestic violence in the summer of 2022. He eventually pleaded no contest and is serving three years of probation. The NBA gave Bridges a 30-game suspension earlier this offseason, but added that because Bridges missed the entirety of 2022-23, 20 of those games are considered already served.
— Eric Gordon agreed to a contract with the Phoenix Suns, a source told AP after the agreement was first reported by The Athletic. Gordon is a career 37% shooter from 3-point range, and is entering his 16th NBA season.
BASKETBALL NEWS
USA BASKETBALL FILLS WORLD CUP ROSTER WITH JOSH HART AS LAST COMMIT, SOURCE TELLS AP
New York guard Josh Hart has given his commitment to USA Basketball to play in this summer’s World Cup, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday.
Hart is the 12th, and presumably final, person to commit to the team, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press because the roster has not been announced by USA Basketball. That announcement is expected at some point this month; the team begins training camp in Las Vegas in early August.
And the roster could still change, for a variety of reasons. There will be a select team chosen by USA Basketball for the World Cup squad to play and practice against in Las Vegas, and players from the select team could be elevated to the World Cup roster in case of injury or should a committed player bow out.
Hart joins his Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson on the list of committed players, along with Brooklyn teammates Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges, Orlando’s Paolo Banchero, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves, New Orleans’ Brandon Ingram, Utah’s Walker Kessler, Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis and Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr.
The team will be coached by Golden State’s Steve Kerr, assisted by Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Tyronn Lue and Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
Of the 12 players, six — Ingram (24.7), Edwards (24.6), Brunson (24.0), Haliburton (20.7), Bridges (20.1) and Banchero (20.0) — averaged at least 20 points per game in the NBA last season.
The Americans will play five warm-up games before the World Cup: Aug. 7 against Puerto Rico in Las Vegas, Aug. 12 against Slovenia and Aug. 13 against Spain in Spain, then Aug. 18 against Greece and Aug. 20 against Germany at Abu Dhabi.
The World Cup runs from Aug. 25 through Sept. 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. The Americans will be in Manila for the entirety of their stay in the tournament and have group stage games against New Zealand on Aug. 26, Greece on Aug. 28 and Jordan on Aug. 30.
The tournament is the primary qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. will have to finish as the best or second-best team from the Americas Region at the World Cup to automatically qualify for Paris, where the Americans will seek a fifth consecutive Olympic title.
The top two World Cup finishers from Europe and the Americas, as well as one from Africa, Asia and Oceania, will earn berths into Paris 2024.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ROUNDUP: GUARDIANS OVERCOME CUBS’ 9TH-INNING RALLY, WIN IN 10
Josh Naylor hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the 10th inning, and the visiting Cleveland Guardians overcame a blown four-run lead in the ninth to beat the Chicago Cubs 8-6 on Sunday night.
With runners on second and third in the extra frame, Naylor singled up the middle against Adbert Alzolay (1-4) to break the 6-6 tie. Sam Hentges (1-0) then held Chicago scoreless in its half of the 10th for Cleveland, which led 6-0 after 4 1/2 innings.
After Cleveland starter Aaron Civale held the Cubs to a run on three hits through six innings, Christopher Morel clubbed his team-leading 15th homer of the season in the eighth. Chicago then erased a 6-2 hole by scoring four times against Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth.
Jared Young led off the ninth with a walk and ended up on third via two passed balls by Cleveland catcher Cam Gallagher. He scored on a single by Trey Mancini, who eventually came home on Morel’s two-run single. Cody Bellinger tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
Red Sox 5, Blue Jays 4
Alex Verdugo led off the ninth inning with a tiebreaking home run and visiting Boston completed a three-game sweep with a win over Toronto.
Jarren Duran tied a Red Sox franchise record with four doubles and finished 5-for-5 with three runs. Boston right-hander Garrett Whitlock (right elbow tightness) allowed one run before being removed after the first inning, and Chris Martin (2-1) earned the win with a 1-2-3 eighth.
Verdugo hit his sixth home run of the season on the first pitch of the ninth off Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (3-4) for the decisive run. Brandon Belt hit two solo home runs for Toronto, which was held to six hits.
Mets 8, Giants 4
Pete Alonso homered and finished with three RBIs for host New York, which finally earned a series win by beating San Francisco in the finale of a three-game set.
Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion who announced earlier in the evening his plans to participate in this year’s contest, added two hits and a base-loaded walk. Tommy Pham finished with three hits, two runs and an RBI for the Mets, who hadn’t won a series since sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies from May 30 through June 1. New York went 0-7-1 in its next eight series.
Blake Sabol hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer as part of the Giants’ short-lived, three-run rally in the seventh. Luis Matos added two hits for San Francisco.
Orioles 2, Twins 1
Jordan Westburg drove in the go-ahead run after being hit by a pitch in the eighth inning to lift host Baltimore to a win over Minnesota.
The Orioles, who snapped a season-high four-game skid, were five outs from being swept for the first time this season. After Aaron Hicks’ RBI single in the eighth tied it, Jhoan Duran (2-3) hit Westburg three batters late to force in the go-ahead run. Felix Bautista struck out the side in the ninth for his 22nd save.
Twins starter Sonny Gray pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits while walking three and striking out seven. Willi Castro drove in Minnesota’s lone run with a double in the fifth off Baltimore starter Cole Irvin, who allowed a run on six hits over five innings.
Reds 4, Padres 3
Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run, opposite-field, tie-breaking home run off reliever Nick Martinez with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to lead Cincinnati over visiting San Diego in the rubber match of a three-game series.
Stephenson hit Martinez’s first pitch 370 feet down the line in right while pinch-hitting for Joey Votto as the Reds improved to 16-4 over their last 20 games. Cincinnati rookie starter Andrew Abbott had a no-decision despite a brilliant start, giving up just one run and four hits with 12 strikeouts through 7 2/3 innings.
The Padres had tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the eighth on back-to-back, two-out homers by Ha-Seong Kim and Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego finished a 1-5 trip and has lost seven of its past eight games.
Brewers 6, Pirates 3
William Contreras hit a home run to help visiting Milwaukee defeat Pittsburgh in the deciding game of a three-game series.
Andruw Monasterio added an RBI double for the Brewers, who went 7-3 on a 10-game road trip. Milwaukee starter Colin Rea (5-4) pitched a season-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits, with three strikeouts and one walk. Devin Williams pitched the ninth for Milwaukee and earned his 17th save.
Nick Gonzales hit a two-run homer and Josh Palacios had an RBI double for the Pirates, who have lost consecutive games after a four-game winning streak.
Braves 6, Marlins 3
Orlando Arcia, Ozzie Albies and Travis d’Arnaud each homered and Spencer Strider won his sixth consecutive decision as streaking Atlanta beat visiting Miami.
The Braves swept the three-game series and have won eight games in a row. Strider (10-2) allowed three runs (two earned) with one walk and nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
Miami scored two runs on four hits in the second inning for its first lead of the series. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (3-7) was lifted after giving up four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts over five innings.
Nationals 5, Phillies 4
Stone Garrett hit his second grand slam of the season to help visiting Washington to a win against Philadelphia in the rubber game of their three-game series.
Jeimer Candelario also homered for the Nationals, who have won six of eight. Washington starter Trevor Williams (5-4) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings. He struck out one and walked two.
Nick Castellanos and J.T. Realmuto homered while Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh each had two hits for Philadelphia, which had won five of six. Phillies starter Ranger Suarez (2-3) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three, two of whom came home on the slam.
Royals 9, Dodgers 1
Brady Singer hurled seven solid innings and Nicky Lopez drove in four runs as Kansas City drubbed Los Angeles for its first series win since mid-May.
The Dodgers had baserunners in each of the first six innings against Singer (5-7) but scored just once. Matching a season high with seven innings, Singer allowed one run on four hits to collect his first win since June 4. Maikel Garcia had an RBI single among his career-high four hits, notched nine in the series.
In 3 2/3 innings, Los Angeles starter Tony Gonsolin (4-3) allowed four runs on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts. David Peralta had three of the Dodgers’ six hits.
Cardinals 5, Yankees 1
Jordan Montgomery held his former team to an unearned run on two hits over 6 2/3 innings as St. Louis defeated visiting New York.
Montgomery (6-7) walked three and struck out six while holding the Yankees hitless into the sixth inning. Brendan Donovan went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer for the Cardinals.
New York starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (8-2) allowed two runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out five with two walks. Gleyber Torres broke up Montgomery’s no-hit bid with a double with two outs in the sixth inning.
Astros 5, Rangers 3
Chas McCormick’s eighth-inning, three-run triple was the difference in Houston’s victory over Texas in Arlington, Texas.
With two outs and the bases loaded, McCormick broke the 1-1 tie, driving a pitch from Josh Sborz to right field, as all three baserunners scored. Hector Neris (4-2) earned the win for Houston with one scoreless inning and two strikeouts.
Sborz (4-3) allowed three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. Reliever Aroldis Chapman made his debut for Texas, completing a scoreless seventh inning with two strikeouts. Texas starter Andrew Heaney pitched five scoreless innings and struck out eight.
Angels 5, Diamondbacks 2
Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 31st home run of the season, but it was Mickey Moniak’s three-run shot in the second inning that gave Los Angeles the lead for good in a win over Arizona in Anaheim, Calif.
Ohtani’s blast in the eighth inning was estimated at 454 feet, the ball going into the tunnel that leads to the concession stands behind the right-field seats.
For Moniak, his homer was less majestic but had a bigger impact. With two on and two out in the second against Arizona starter Zac Gallen, Moniak fell behind in the count 0-2 until evening the count before hitting an offspeed pitch over the fence in left-center for a three-run homer and 4-2 Angels lead.
Mariners 7, Rays 6
Jose Caballero was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, bringing home the go-ahead run as Seattle rallied to defeat visiting Tampa Bay.
Eugenio Suarez and Tom Murphy homered for Seattle, which trailed 6-1 through 2 1/2 innings. Mariners reliever Andres Munoz (1-1) got the victory and Paul Sewald earned his 16th save.
Randy Arozarena and Isaac Paredes went deep for the Rays. Reliever Jason Adam (2-2) didn’t allow a hit in the seventh but walked two and hit two to bring home the decisive run.
White Sox 8, Athletics 7
Zach Remillard capped a five-run third inning with a deflected two-run hit, Jake Burger chipped in with a home run and Chicago avoided a sweep at the hands of the American League’s losingest team with a victory over host Oakland.
Eloy Jimenez also had two RBIs for the White Sox, who salvaged a 3-4 California trip after losing their first two games in Anaheim against the Angels. Jake Burger homered and scored twice for the White Sox, who out-hit the hosts 12-10.
Tony Kemp collected two hits and scored twice for the A’s, while JJ Bleday and Seth Brown joined first-time All-Star Brent Rooker, who homered, with two RBIs apiece. Bleday and Tyler Wade also had two hits each for Oakland, which concluded a 3-3 homestand.
Tigers 14, Rockies 9
Javier Baez and Jake Marisnick both hit grand slams, Spencer Torkelson and Kerry Carpenter homered and each finished with two hits and Detroit beat Colorado in Denver.
Jake Rogers also went deep and Zach McKinstry and Matt Vierling had two hits apiece for Detroit, which took two of the three games in the weekend series. Matt Manning (2-1) earned the win.
Randal Grichuk homered among his two hits, Ryan McMahon homered, Harold Castro had three hits as Kris Bryant and Jurickson Profar each contributed two hits for the Rockies. Connor Seabold (1-5) took the loss.
PITCHERS, RESERVES SELECTED FOR 2023 ALL-STAR GAME
The Atlanta Braves will have a total of eight players in the All-Star Game after a player ballot and Major League Baseball finalized complete rosters on Sunday for this year’s Midsummer Classic.
After starters were named on Thursday, the player ballot and MLB determined pitchers and reserves to round out the American and National League teams.
Catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. already secured their spots in the All-Star Game as starters, but player balloting — which includes votes from players, managers and coaches — is sending five more Braves to the showdown between the AL and NL on July 11.
First baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley will join Murphy, Arcia and Acuna as the position players representing Atlanta at the All-Star Game, while right-handers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder will also make the trek to Seattle.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos and San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto were the other NL position players chosen via player balloting. The Miami Marlins’ Jorge Soler was voted in as a designated hitter.
Arizona’s Zac Gallen, the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw filled in the NL’s starting rotation, while the Cincinnati Reds’ Alexis Diaz, the Padres’ Josh Hader and the San Francisco Giants’ Camilo Doval are part of the bullpen.
Pitchers Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals), Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh Pirates), Justin Steele (Cubs) and Devin Williams (Milwaukee Brewers) were added to the NL roster by MLB along with New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz.
The AL team draws most of its players from the Texas Rangers, who will be sending six to Seattle after the player ballot deemed outfielder Adolis Garcia and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi worthy of spots on the roster.
Players, managers and coaches also selected catcher Adley Rutschman and outfielder Austin Hays of the Baltimore Orioles, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez. The Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker punched his ticket to the ASG as a designated hitter.
AL starters to also make the Midsummer Classic include Shane McClanahan (Tampa Bay Rays), Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees), Sonny Gray (Minnesota Twins) and Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels). Ohtani was also named as a starter at designated hitter. McClanahan (back) went on the injured list Saturday and won’t pitch in the game.
Baltimore’s Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista and the Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase will be among the AL squad’s relievers.
MLB made seven AL selections, choosing pitchers Luis Castillo (Seattle Mariners), Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox), Michael Lorenzen (Detroit Tigers) and Framber Valdez (Astros) in addition to Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez and Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
MEN’S GOLF
RICKIE FOWLER WINS ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSIC IN PLAYOFF OVER MORIKAWA AND HADWIN, ENDS 4-YEAR DROUGHT
DETROIT (AP) — Rickie Fowler tilted his head back, exhaled and smiled.
He finally did it, holding on for a win after so many have slipped away.
Refusing to crumble and collapse again, Fowler made a 12-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole of the Rocket Mortgage Classic and outlasted Collin Morikawa and Adam Hadwin on Sunday, two weeks after squandering a chance at the U.S. Open.
“It’s just nice to have this one out of the way,” Fowler said after winning for the first time in four years. “I’m obviously going to soak this one in and celebrate a bit.
“Yeah, it’s just been a long road.”
Fowler ended a career-long, 96-start championship drought after missing out on two chances to win in June, closing with a 75 at the U.S. Open to tie for fifth and with a 69 last week at the Travelers Championship to drop into a tie for 13th.
Followed all day by a sea of orange at Detroit Golf Club, Fowler was knocked down on the leaderboard by a near record-tying-round from Morikawa. He responded on his 72nd hole of the tournament with an approach from 145 feet that left him with a 3-foot birdie putt to pull into a three-way tie with Morikawa and Hadwin at 24 under.
Fowler hit an errant tee shot way right in the playoff and after a drop, his approach from 184 landed 12 feet from the cup. Morikawa was inches long on his approach and instead of having the ball spin back to the hole, it bounced into the rough.
“I truly thought I hit the perfect shot,” Morikawa said. “It just was a little juiced, went a little far and just didn’t have the putter in the hand. Not that the chip wasn’t possible, but would have been nice to have the putter in the hand.”
Hadwin missed a 22-foot putt and Morikawa his chip, opening the door for Fowler to close out the tournament before thunderstorms rolled over Detroit.
“I knew it was just a matter of time with how I’ve been playing,” said Fowler, who has eight top-10 finishes this season. “I’ve had a couple tough weekends where I had a chance.”
Even though Morikawa was disappointed in coming up short on a victory he has been shooting for since winning the 2021 British Open, he was happy for Fowler.
“He’s been playing phenomenal golf, it’s great to see,” he said. “People love him.”
Morikawa’s 8-under round put him one shot back from the course record of 63. Hadwin shot a 67 and Fowler a 68.
Fowler had a share of the 54-hole lead last month at Los Angeles Country Club with an opportunity to win his first major and was at least a co-leader after three rounds in one tournament in each of the previous two years.
Before his breakthrough in Detroit, he had won just two of the 10 times he was the third-round leader or co-leader.
The 34-year-old Fowler physically and mentally did what was needed to earn his sixth PGA Tour victory and his first since winning the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open.
The fan favorite Fowler, a longtime ambassador for Rocket Mortgage, was cheered with chants of “Rick-ie! Rick-ie!” as clusters of people gathered around the 18th green hoping he would win it.
While Fowler faltered, going 10 straight holes settling for pars on a relatively easy course, Morikawa had four birdies on both the front and back nine. Morikawa made a 10-foot putt at No. 12, his fourth birdie in a six-hole stretch that put him within a shot of Fowler, and his 9-footer for birdie at No. 14 pulled him into a tie with Fowler at 23 under.
Monday qualifier Peter Kuest (65), Lucas Glover (65) and Taylor Moore (67) were tied for fourth at 21 under. Kuest, who started the week ranked 789th in the world, did well enough to earn a spot in this week’s John Deere Classic in Illinois.
Play was suspended Saturday for 1 hour, 42 minutes because of lightning and the schedule for the final round was adjusted due to inclement weather in the forecast. The leaders teed off Sunday morning about 5 hours before the original schedule with threesomes starting on both the front and back nine.
65-YEAR-OLD BERNHARD LANGER WINS THE US SENIOR OPEN TO BREAK THE CHAMPIONS’ VICTORY RECORD
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (AP) — Bernhard Langer won the U.S. Senior Open on Sunday at SentryWorld to break the PGA Tour Champions’ career victory record.
Pushing his record as the oldest winner on the 50-and-over tour to 65 years, 10 months, 5 days, the German star broke a tie with Hale Irwin for the victory mark with No. 46.
Seven strokes ahead on the back nine, Langer bogeyed the final three holes for 1-under 70 and a two-stroke victory over home-state favorite Steve Stricker on the tree-lined course with thick rough.
Langer finished at 7-under 277, with only eight players breaking par for the week. He shattered the tournament age record set by Allen Doyle in 2006 at SentryWorld at 57 years, 11 months, 14 days.
Also the 2010 U.S. Senior Open winner at Sahalee outside Seattle, Langer extended his record for senior major victories to 12. He won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February to tie Irwin.
Stricker — from Madison, 100 miles to the south — birdied three of the last five holes for a 69. He won the first two senior majors of the year and took his hometown Madison event three weeks ago for his fourth Champions victory of the season.
Fellow Madison player Jerry Kelly was third at 4 under after a 71.
Two shots ahead of Kelly entering the round, Langer birdied the first two holes for the second straight day.
Langer added a birdie on No. 5, then rounded from a bogey on No. 6 with birdie on No. 7. He opened the back nine with a birdie on the 10th, parred the next five and closed with the three straight bogeys.
Brett Quigley (66) and Rob Labritz (69) tied for fourth at 2 under. Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (71), Steven Alker (65) and Dicky Pride (69) were 1 under.
HILLIER PRODUCES A STUNNING FINISH TO WIN BRITISH MASTERS AT THE BELFRY AND QUALIFY FOR BRITISH OPEN
SUTTON COLDFIELD, England (AP) — A 40-foot eagle putt sparked a stunning finish from New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier as he won the British Masters on Sunday and secured his place in the British Open.
Hillier’s first European tour title was delivered in spectacular fashion when he carded a 6-under 66 in the final round at The Belfry. His winning total of 10 under par saw him finish two shots ahead of England’s Oliver Wilson and American Gunner Wiebe.
“I’m gobsmacked. I think it’s going to take me a while to process to be honest,” Hillier said after starting three shots off a six-way tie for the lead. ““Early on in the day I was not feeling it at all. I was a little bit uncomfortable with the driver, didn’t have many chances but obviously knew there were some chances coming in.
“I didn’t think I would take them that well, but obviously pretty ecstatic.”
As well as his eagle on the par-5 15th, Hillier made birdie from a fairway bunker on the 16th and had another eagle with a 6-foot putt on the par-5 17th.
“I’m not going to lie, I was definitely looking at the leaderboard and seeing my name up there and thinking about what it would be like to finish it off but it’s all a bit of a blur really,” Hillier said. “It’s going to be a pretty awesome experience playing the Open again so I can’t wait.”
The British Open starts on July 20 at Royal Liverpool. Wilson and Wiebe also qualified for the tournament.
Wiebe, who is ranked 1,349th, had set the early clubhouse target after carding an eagle, seven birdies and a triple bogey in his closing 66.
Wilson (71) birdied the 18th to take the final Open spot.
AUTO RACING NEWS
ALEX PALOU WINS 3RD STRAIGHT INDYCAR RACE WITH VICTORY AT MID-OHIO
Alex Palou refused to acknowledge his dominance of IndyCar in the days leading up to Sunday’s race at Mid-Ohio.
He found it hard to stick with that refrain after a third straight win.
Palou executed perfect strategy with a fast car to beat Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon by a wide margin, giving him four wins in his last five races and a massive lead in points as he chases a second title in three seasons.
Palou began his dominating run on the road course at Indianapolis, and he captured the pole in the Indy 500 and was in contention there until an issue on pit road led to a fourth-place finish. He followed with wins on the streets of Detroit and at Road America before giving the Ganassi team its record-tying 12th win at Mid-Ohio.
“I think maybe we’re starting to honestly,” Palou said of his dominance. “But it’s really tight. It’s about putting everything together. We’ve been able to do this quite often this year. Hopefully we’ll be able to keep it together. We haven’t been fastest in practice or qualifying, but we have been in the races and that’s where it matters.”
Dixon, the last driver to win three straight IndyCar races, finished second to move into second in the title chase — albeit 110 points back. Will Power was surprised to finish third because he lost track of where he was in the running order, while Christian Lundgaard finished fourth and Scott McLaughlin rounded out the top five.
“Second place is great, but unfortunately the man we’re chasing finished first,” said Dixon, the six-time series champion who opened the 2020 season with three straight wins. “But huge congrats to Alex and the 10 crew. They’re doing a hell of a job this year.”
Palou’s stiffest competition at the road course in Lexington, Ohio, came from pole sitter Colton Herta, who led after a yellow flag on the opening lap through the first round of pit stops in a race that otherwise went green the rest of the way.
Herta had trouble on his final stop, though, crossing himself up on entry. It appeared as if he tried to push the button for speed control and it failed to engage, but regardless, the pass-through penalty took him out of contention. He finished 11th.
Graham Rahal, who started alongside Herta on the front row, has struggled this season but was poised to have a big day for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Then he also had a problem during a pit stop, where his left rear did not get on cleanly, and that cost him several seconds and ultimately relegated him to a seventh-place finish.
“We win as a team, we lose as a team. I thought the car should have been further forward today, but it’s a quick reminder we have to be better in every phase of the program,” said Rahal, who won at Mid-Ohio in 2015 and considers it his home track.
“Look,” he said, “I’m disappointed. That’s a fact. It’s going to sting to think about it over the next couple of weeks, but we just have to continue to improve in every aspect of the game, and that is what it is.”
O’WARD’S BIG RUN
Pato O’Ward was the biggest charger during a race that nearly went green-to-checkers. He spun in qualifying and had to start 25th, but his Arrow McLaren car picked its way through the field and wound up finishing eighth.
“We didn’t get help from anybody — no yellows, no nothing,” O’Ward said, “and I kind of saw the leaders were struggling with the lappers a bit. I was like: ‘Dude, it’s not your day. Get out of the way.’ That has to be looked at by IndyCar.”
ABOUT THAT TRAFFIC
Several drivers took umbrage with rookie Benjamin Pedersen, who was not on the lead lap but refused to allow anybody to get around him cleanly. That included McLaughlin and Alexander Rossi, who wasted valuable time trapped behind him.
“Yeah, I just said he’s not going to make any friends if he holds people up,” said McLaughlin, who had words with Pedersen on pit road afterward. “He isn’t even in our race. He’s in a race of his own. But it is what it is.”
ERICSSON’S ROUGH RIDE
Marcus Ericsson, who began the day second in points, didn’t even make it through the first lap before a collision with Felix Rosenqvist sent him to the pits with damage. Rosenqvist appeared to give Ericsson plenty of room through one of the opening turns, but the Chip Ganassi Racing driver went wide and right over the right side of his Arrow McLaren.
“I just couldn’t get the car stopped and obviously ran into Felix,” Ericsson said. “I feel really bad for ruining Felix’s day. That was definitely not my intention and I feel bad for the crew. But that was definitely not my intention.”
DALY’S SURPRISING DRIVE
Conor Daly was hanging around Mid-Ohio this weekend when he got a call from Meyer Shank Racing to drive for Simon Pagenaud, who was not cleared to race Sunday after a terrifying wreck the previous day. Pagenaud’s brakes failed him and he rolled seven times through a gravel trap, though he managed to climb from the car unharmed.
Daly, who parted ways with Ed Carpenter Racing a few weeks ago, started last on the 27-car grid and finished 20th.
COLE CUSTER DECLARED NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNER AFTER PERSISTENT RAIN WASHES OUT RACE
CHICAGO (AP) — Cole Custer was hanging out in his pit box when he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Sunday.
The whole moment was pretty strange.
“It’s like how excited can you be because it didn’t feel like we did anything today,” he said.
Custer was declared the winner of the first Xfinity stop in downtown Chicago after persistent rain flooded the street course.
The race started Saturday but was suspended after 25 laps because of a lightning strike in the area. NASCAR had planned to resume it Sunday morning, but it scuttled that idea because of the rain and the scheduled Cup Series race.
“With standing water and flooding a significant issue at the race track and throughout the city, there was no option to return to racing prior to shifting to NASCAR Cup Series race operations,” NASCAR said in a statement.
Returning on Monday “was an option we chose not to employ,” NASCAR said in its statement, citing its partnership with the city and the fact that nearly half of the Xfinity race had been completed.
NASCAR also canceled concerts by Miranda Lambert and Charley Crockett because of flooding in Lower Hutchinson Field.
The first Cup Series race on a street course is scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m.
Custer led each of the first 25 laps in his No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford before Saturday’s weather delay. John Hunter Nemechek was second, followed by Justin Allgaier, Brett Moffitt and Austin Hill.
The race was supposed to be 55 laps and 121 miles (194 km).
“Today, I mean we definitely wish we could have run all the laps. … We don’t want to win it this way,” Custer said. “But at the end of the day we have a really fast car. I think everybody knew that.”
Custer earned his second Xfinity Series victory this season and No. 12 for his career. He also won on the road course at Portland International Raceway on June 3.
“It’s definitely one of the weirdest wins (I’ve) ever been a part of, for sure,” he said. “But we’ll take it. I mean, you know, we’re racers and you take it as it comes. So we’re proud of it.”
RED BULL DRIVER MAX VERSTAPPEN STAYS ON TRACK FOR F1 TITLE AFTER WINNING CHAOTIC AUSTRIAN GP
(AP) — Reigning Formula One champion Max Verstappen continued his relentless march toward a third straight world title with another dominating win at the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday, far away from the chaos behind him as multiple drivers were given time penalties for going off track limits.
Verstappen started from pole position for the fourth straight race and notched his fifth straight win and seventh in nine races so far this season. He increased his championship lead to 81 points over his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
“I think our stints were perfect so a great day, I enjoyed it a lot,” Verstappen said. “I am just enjoying driving this car and racing for this team.”
So much so that he even got his way to come in two laps from the end for a shot at the fastest lap, despite his team’s reluctance to take the risk. Typically, he got the bonus point for it on the final lap to complete a perfect weekend after his victory from pole in Saturday’s sprint race.
“From the outside maybe it looks like a big risk, but when you’re in the car it doesn’t feel like a risk at all,” Verstappen said.
The victory also took the 25-year-old Dutchman onto 42 F1 wins overall, one ahead of the late Ayrton Senna and alone in fifth place on F1’s all-time list of winners.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – last year’s winner here – finished 5.2 seconds behind Verstappen in second place with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez placing third, 17.2 behind.
But Verstappen’s winning margin was shortened by his late pit stop on his team’s home track in Spielberg.
Making a clean start, he held off Leclerc on Turns 2 and 3 and easily regained the lead from him following a tire change at the halfway point of the 71-lap race at the Red Bull Ring.
“Most important to me was lap one, stay in front after that,” Verstappen said.
It was only Leclerc’s second podium of the season, but put him in optimistic mood.
“The upgrades we brought made me feel better. It’s looking good for the future,” Leclerc said. “Obviously, there’s still a lot to do, Max and Checo (Sergio) have a lot of pace.”
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. and several other drivers received five-second time penalties for going off track limits. After Aston Martin lodged a protest that some penalties had not been imposed, the race classification changed as Sainz, Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were given additional five-second penalties.
This moved McLaren’s Lando Norris up to fourth spot and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso into fifth, while Sainz dropped from fourth to sixth and Hamilton fell to eighth behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll jumped up one position to ninth as Gasly fell to 10th.
Perez started 15th and passed Sainz with 10 laps left to collect his first podium since his second place at the Miami GP two months ago.
“It’s a good comeback,” Perez said. “It’s been a bit of a rough patch for me so now hopefully we are back and we can keep that consistency now.”
Red Bull has won all nine races, all 11 when including the two sprint races with Verstappen’s victory in Saturday’s sprint following Perez’s success in Azerbaijan.
After a safety car came out briefly at the end of Lap 1, Verstappen got away cleanly on the restart.
Hamilton, who had started well and was fourth in the early going, began struggling to control his car and began going off track limits.
When a virtual safety car came out on Lap 15, most teams opted to make another tire change. But Verstappen and teammate Perez stayed out.
“I could see already a few laps before the (VSC) that we were pulling out quite a gap so I knew I would get it back,” Verstappen said. “Just following our own plan was the best way forward.”
Drivers kept going wide of track limits on the 4.3-kilometer (2.7-mile) circuit that is known to be particularly difficult to stay within the white lines.
“Has he got a penalty yet?” Hamilton asked about Perez, and continued complaining about other drivers going wide after his own penalty, forcing team principal Toto Wolff to intervene.
“The car is bad, we know, please drive it,” Wolff said.
Perez was warned by his team with 15 laps left to respect the track limits. He was right behind Sainz at that point and could not afford a time penalty.
Aston Martin’s post-race protest seemingly went against what most other drivers have been saying all weekend, with Perez expressing his frustration that such penalties had unfairly impacted both qualifying on Friday and Sunday’s race.
“I don’t know how to say it, I don’t want to use a bad word (about) the track limits. Everybody got hit by it at some point,” said Perez, who started from 15th after his lap time was deleted in qualifying. “Hopefully when we come back next it will be something that can be fixed.”
Governing body FIA said it had not had enough time to complete all of its track-limit reviews during the race and will recommend to the circuit to add a gravel trap at the exit of Turns 9 and 10 where several of the track infringements occurred.
Many drivers have called for gravel to be added but the track owners have been reluctant because the circuit also hosts a motorbike race in mid-August, and such a move would be unpopular with MotoGP riders.
“The stewards very strongly recommend that a solution be found to the track limits situation at this circuit,” was the FIA’s conclusion after the late reshuffle.
MEN’S TENNIS
NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S BID FOR WIMBLEDON TITLE NO. 8 AND GRAND SLAM TROPHY NO. 24 STARTS ON MONDAY
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Listen to Novak Djokovic’s opponents explain why he is as successful as he is — why he will begin his pursuit of a fifth consecutive and eighth overall Wimbledon championship on Monday; why he also will be attempting to claim an Open era-record 24th Grand Slam trophy over the coming fortnight on the All England Club’s grass courts — and they’ll offer plenty of answers.
His best-in-the-game return of serve. His dangerous two-handed backhand. His elasticity. His stamina. His defense. His ability to read someone else’s intentions, get to where a ball is headed and send it back with force, a combination Casper Ruud described this way after losing to Djokovic in the French Open final: “He sort of just goes into this mode where he just becomes, like, a wall.”
Listen to Novak Djokovic explain why he’s done what he’s done and why, at age 36, he’s still doing it, and he’ll offer a reason far less tangible and far less observable, something he mentioned during his victory speech at Roland Garros a few weeks ago.
“I try to visualize every single thing in my life and not only believe it, but really feel it with every cell in my body. And I just want to send a message out there to every young person: Be in the present moment; forget about what happened in the past; the future is something that is just going to happen,” Djokovic said. “But if you want a better future, you create it. Take the means in your hands. Believe it. Create it.”
Speaking that day about his own hopes and dreams as a 7-year-old kid, Djokovic noted two primary goals: getting to No. 1 and winning Wimbledon.
He’s already been No. 1 for more weeks than any man or woman in the half-century of computerized rankings. Now he will try to pull even with Roger Federer by earning title No. 8 at the oldest of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. Djokovic is one ahead of the injured Rafael Nadal — and three ahead of the retired Federer — for the most singles majors won by a man, with 23.
“Those two guys,” said Djokovic, who faces Pedro Cachin of Argentina at Centre Court on Monday, “were occupying my mind for the last 15 years quite a lot.”
His 23 is the same number Serena Williams ended her career with last season; only Margaret Court, who won 24 across both the amateur and professional eras, has more.
“Grand Slams are the goal. I don’t know how many, but I think he has in his body a lot more,” said Djokovic’s coach, Goran Ivanisevic. “It’s fascinating to see, because sometimes you think, ‘OK, now you have 23.’ But he’s going to find, again, some kind of motivation to win 24, maybe 25. Who knows where is the end?”
Entering the 2011 season, the so-called Big Three’s Slam standings looked like this: Federer with 16, Nadal with nine, Djokovic with one.
After winning his initial major title at the 2008 Australian Open, Djokovic went through an 11-major span where four of the losses came against Federer or Nadal in a semifinal or final.
His self-confidence waned a bit.
“That’s where I was really doubting myself, whether I could do it or not, because you get far but then you fall on the last hurdle,” Djokovic said. “The more times you kind of fall, the more you question everything, you know what I mean?”
And yet, with the same tenacity he uses on a court — “The mental fortitude he has is unbelievable,” was how his first-round opponent in Paris, Aleksandar Kovacevic, put it — Djokovic dug in away from the court and found ways to improve. And still does that, which is part of why most consider him, and not No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz, the favorite as Djokovic continues to pursue the first calendar-year Grand Slam by a man since Rod Laver in 1969.
“The thing that you have to admire about him is that he’s been very clear on what it is that he wants to achieve — trying to get that Grand Slam record. When he put himself in a position to do that, he delivered,” said Andy Murray, who won two of his three major titles at Wimbledon. “He didn’t look like he was getting nervous or overthinking it or any of those things. Yeah, he went and did it. It shows the strength of character that he’s got.”
So where did this belief come from?
Djokovic points to several factors: his upbringing during a time of war and embargo in Serbia in the 1990s; his parents (“95-plus percent of people … were laughing at them, and were discouraging them to spend whatever is left over from the family budget into such an expensive sport,” he said); his first coach and “tennis mother,” Jelena Genčić; and a later coach and “tennis father,” Niki Pilić.
All helped him grow as an athlete and person.
When he was 7 or 8, Djokovic said, Genčić would show him video of the best male and female tennis players. She also taught him “the importance of relaxing and listening to classical music, reading poetry, singing, and reading, breathing consciously and so forth.”
His mother, he said, “is a rock,” and his father “instilled in me such power of belief and positive thinking.”
That, as much as any particular shot or talent, is why, Djokovic says, “On a daily basis, I’m the best on the court.”
It’s why he has won 11 of the past 20 Grand Slam tournaments.
And it’s why he wants to keep going.
“I don’t feel more relaxed, to be honest. I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis. As long as there’s that drive, I know that I’m able to compete at the highest level,” Djokovic said. “A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done.”
TOP INDIANA RELEASES
INDIANS BASEBALL
LATE PUSH FROM LOUISVILLE SNAPS INDIANS’ THREE GAME WINNING STREAK, 7-4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After scoring 12 unanswered runs in a comeback win on Saturday night, the Indianapolis Indians couldn’t counter the Louisville Bats’ three runs in the sixth and seventh innings on Sunday afternoon in a loss at Louisville Slugger Field, 7-4.
Tied 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bats (42-36) took a lead they wouldn’t relinquish against right-hander Cody Bolton (L, 1-3) when Louisville catcher Chuckie Robinson singled with the bases loaded and left fielder Nick Martini plated a run with a sacrifice fly. In the seventh, first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand added insurance with a lead-off solo home run for this 18th blast of the season.
The Indians (36-43) jumped on Louisville starter Michael Mariot immediately when third baseman Chris Owings ripped the first pitch of the game down the left field line for a double and designated hitter Miguel Andújar drove him in with an RBI single up the middle. The Bats countered for three runs in the bottom of the second, thanks in large part to a two-run triple from Robinson down the left field line.
After a sacrifice fly from left fielder Cal Mitchell and an RBI single from center fielder Ryan Vilade in the top of the sixth, the Indians were held out of the scoring column for the back third of the game by Louisville right-handers Silvino Bracho (W, 1-1) and Alan Busenitz (S, 6), who fired a combined 3.2 IP of shutout ball while allowing just two hits and striking out five.
With the single and a walk, Vilade extended his on-base streak to 22 games, which is the fourth longest active streak in the International League. He has also now drawn a walk in 11 of his last 13 games. Shortstop Alika Williams had his nine-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 day at the plate.
The Indians and Bats conclude their six-game series on Monday night at 7:05 PM ET at Louisville Slugger Field. The pitching matchup will be a rematch of the series opener, with left-hander Kent Emanuel (5-3, 6.44) getting the ball for Indianapolis against Louisville right-hander Brett Kennedy (2-2, 3.71). The Indians then return home to host the Cardinals-affiliated Memphis Redbirds on the Fourth of July at 7:05 PM ET.
INDIANA FEVER BASKETBALL
GAME RECAP: FEVER LOSE ANOTHER CLOSE CALL AGAINST CHICAGO
INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever (5-11) erased a 14-point second-half deficit against Chicago, but ultimately fell for the second time this season against the Sky, 89-87, on Sunday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Second-year Fever forward NaLyssa Smith led Indiana in scoring with 27 points on 11-of-16 shooting from the floor for her fourth 20-point outing of the season, to go along with a team-high eight rebounds.
After being presented with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award prior to the game, Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell recorded a season-high 26 points, dished out a season-high eight assists and pulled down four rebounds. The newly-named WNBA All-Star selection totaled 18 of her 26 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting. Entering Wednesday’s game at Minnesota, Mitchell is now at 499 career assists.
Erica Wheeler and Kristy Wallace also pitched in nine and seven points respectively.
Both teams opened the matchup with hot starts, as Indiana shot 50 percent (6-of-12) and Chicago shot 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the floor within the first five minutes. Mitchell caught fire midway through the quarter, recording 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Smith followed behind pitching in six points and four rebounds. The first quarter, which featured four lead changes, ended with Indiana trailing Chicago, 22-21.
Indiana’s second quarter offense was supported by seven players who contributed in the scoring column, as they collectively shot 66.7 percent (10-of-15) from the floor in the second frame. The pursuit for the lead was a team effort, as the Fever dished out seven assists and went a perfect 3-of-3 from behind the three-point arc. Chicago led for the majority of the second quarter and ended the first half leading 54-47.
The Fever continued to reduce the deficit in the third quarter, outscoring Chicago, 20-18, over the next 10 minutes. Wheeler and Smith aided the comeback effort, as Smith pitched in eight points and Wheeler chipped in seven points on 3-of-4 shooting before the third frame ended with Chicago ahead, 72-67.
Continuing from the third quarter, Indiana sustained a 19-6 scoring run that lasted until the 6:43 mark in the fourth quarter to tie the game, 74-74. After an Indiana 3-point field goal from Smith to tie the game up again at the 1:07 mark, 87-87, Sky guard Courtney Williams made a jump shot to put Chicago ahead by two with 18.1 seconds on the clock. Maya Caldwell and Mitchell both had favorable looks to take the lead at the end of regulation, but could not convert.
For Chicago, the Sky shot a collective 50 percent (34-of-68) from the floor and 42.9 percent from behind the three-point arc (12-of-28) in Emre Vatansever’s first win as interim head coach. Courtney Williams led all scorers as she notched a season-high 28 points on 12-of-17 shooting from the floor, with 15 of her 28 points coming in the second quarter alone. Williams also dished out eight assists and pulled down five rebounds. In addition, Elizabeth Williams and Marina Mabrey pitched in 17 points and six assists each, while Kahleah Copper added 15 points.
Williams and Mitchell’s performances marked only the second time in WNBA history and first in game that ended in regulation two players recorded at least 25 points, eight rebounds and four assists in the same game, per Across the Timeline.
The Fever outscored the Sky 54-30 in the paint, and Indiana’s reserves outscored the Sky bench, 21-12.
UP NEXT
The Fever will head to Minnesota to take on the Lynx on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.
INDIANA FOOTBALL PREVIEW
ATHLON SPORTS
Since going 14-7 from 2019-20, Indiana’s football program has been trending in the wrong direction. The Hoosiers are 6-18 over the last two years and won just two Big Ten games in that span. The 2023 college football season is all about getting back on track for coach Tom Allen, and a handful of transfer additions from the portal have boosted the team’s depth and talent level. Just seven starters are back, however. Allen needs to get solid quarterback play from Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson to have a shot at six wins.
Previewing Indiana’s Offense for 2023
Indiana’s biggest offseason wish is that offensive line coach Bob Bostad, hired from Wisconsin, can sharpen an underperforming unit. That group’s improvement will determine the success of a run game anchored by returners Josh Henderson and Jaylin Lucas and bolstered by the arrival of Wake Forest transfer Christian Turner.
The Hoosiers need a solid platform from those two position groups as they introduce a new quarterback — likely either high-profile Tennessee transfer Tayven Jackson or redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby. Cam Camper is expected to return from a torn ACL suffered in October to lead a talented but largely unproven group of receivers and tight ends in Walt Bell’s Air Raid attack, which needs to improve upon a season in which the Hoosiers finished in the bottom half in the Big Ten in almost every major offensive category.
Previewing Indiana’s Defense for 2023
Many of the most productive defenders from Indiana’s Gator and Outback Bowl appearances in 2019-20 have cycled out of the program. Transfers should bolster a rotation-heavy defensive line. Leading tackler Aaron Casey provides a captain’s presence at linebacker. Returner Matt Hohlt and Stanford transfer Jacob Mangum-Farrar provide experience next to him. Lanell Carr should compete for playing time at the Bull position alongside Myles Jackson, while Western Michigan transfer Andre Carter helps a pass rush that has posted just 37 sacks the last two seasons.
Josh Sanguinetti and Phillip Dunnam will backstop the defense at safety, while versatile veteran Noah Pierre leads the group from his hybrid Husky position.
Elsewhere, a youth movement will see transfers and redshirt freshmen battle for snaps at corner and to provide depth. The biggest development for Indiana defensively? After one season back calling plays, head coach Tom Allen has turned that responsibility over to new co-DC and safeties coach Matt Guerrieri.
Previewing Indiana’s Specialists for 2023
Punter James Evans and long snapper Sean Wracher lend this group veteran leadership. Indiana will need to sort through its options at placekicker, with sophomore returnee Chris Freeman and All-American Bowl participant Nicolas Radicic, a freshman, both in the mix. Expect to see Lucas, an All-Big Ten and All-America performer as a kick returner in his freshman season, double dip, working kickoff and punt returns.
Final Analysis
For IU, 2022 was an improvement over 2021, but not enough of one. The Hoosiers entered the offseason with depth and impact concerns and work to do in all phases. Allen must first find his starting quarterback. Then Bell will need to make sure his offense takes full advantage of existing playmakers like Lucas, Camper and Donaven McCulley, while also developing new ones. None of it will matter unless Bostad can coax more consistency from the line.
INDIANA WRESTLING
TWO INDIANA WRESTLING ATHLETES MEDAL AT THE 2023 CENTRAL AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GAMES
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador ––––– Indiana Wrestling’s Jacob Moran and Indiana RTC Resident Athlete Max Lacey both medaled in freestyle competition at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games on Saturday.
Moran, a rising senior for Indiana Wrestling, competed at 57 kg for Puerto Rico while Lacey competed at 97 kg for Costa Rica.
Moran won the third-place match to take bronze at 57 kg. He secured a late takedown in the final ten seconds of the bout to earn a win of VPO1, 3-2. This was Moran’s first time reaching the podium in international competition at the senior level.
Lacey racked up two wins on his way to the final of the 97 kg bracket before taking silver in the tournament for Costa Rica.
The field of Moran and Lacey’s competitors included athletes from Barbados, Colombia, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, The Bahamas and Venezuela.
Moran:
Group B Contest 1: Juan Ramirez (Dominican Republic) def. Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico): VSU, 10-0
Group B Contest 2:Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico) def. Edwin Segura (Centro Caribe Sports): VPO, 5-2
Semifinal:Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico) def. Osmany Diversent (Cuba): VIN
Bronze Medal Match:Jacob Moran (Puerto Rico) def. Victor Ven Parra (Venezuela): VPO1, 3-2
Lacey:
Quarterfinal: Max Lacey (Costa Rica) def. Juan Cantillo (Panama): VSU1, 12-1
Semifinal: Max Lacey (Costa Rica) def. Pedro Garay (Mexico): VSU, 11-0
Gold Medal Match: Arturo Silot (Cuba) def. Max Lacey (Costa Rica): VPO1, 8-6
SMALL COLLEGE ATHLETIC 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/
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS: https://www.hcsaints.com/index.php
TAYLOR ATHLETICS: https://www.taylortrojans.com/
VINCENNES ATHLETICS: https://govutrailblazers.com/landing/index
“SPORTS EXTRA”
MLB STANDINGS
| American League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Tampa Bay | 57 | 30 | .655 | – | 34 – 10 | 23 – 20 | 17 – 10 | 14 – 3 | 9 – 7 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Baltimore | 49 | 33 | .598 | 5.5 | 26 – 18 | 23 – 15 | 14 – 9 | 15 – 7 | 10 – 7 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| NY Yankees | 46 | 38 | .548 | 9.5 | 25 – 19 | 21 – 19 | 11 – 15 | 8 – 8 | 14 – 8 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Toronto | 45 | 40 | .529 | 11 | 23 – 18 | 22 – 22 | 7 – 20 | 11 – 5 | 11 – 8 | 5 – 5 | L 3 |
| Boston | 43 | 42 | .506 | 13 | 21 – 21 | 22 – 21 | 16 – 11 | 11 – 8 | 5 – 5 | 4 – 6 | W 3 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Minnesota | 42 | 43 | .494 | – | 23 – 19 | 19 – 24 | 12 – 14 | 15 – 12 | 5 – 4 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| Cleveland | 41 | 42 | .494 | – | 20 – 19 | 21 – 23 | 7 – 8 | 10 – 12 | 13 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 2 |
| Detroit | 37 | 46 | .446 | 4 | 18 – 21 | 19 – 25 | 2 – 14 | 15 – 11 | 6 – 7 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Chi White Sox | 37 | 49 | .430 | 5.5 | 20 – 20 | 17 – 29 | 6 – 13 | 15 – 11 | 9 – 14 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| Kansas City | 25 | 59 | .298 | 16.5 | 13 – 31 | 12 – 28 | 4 – 10 | 7 – 16 | 4 – 11 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Texas | 50 | 34 | .595 | – | 27 – 17 | 23 – 17 | 10 – 9 | 11 – 5 | 16 – 10 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| Houston | 46 | 38 | .548 | 4 | 22 – 19 | 24 – 19 | 5 – 5 | 8 – 11 | 15 – 7 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| LA Angels | 45 | 41 | .523 | 6 | 23 – 20 | 22 – 21 | 8 – 9 | 11 – 8 | 15 – 12 | 4 – 6 | W 1 |
| Seattle | 40 | 42 | .488 | 9 | 24 – 20 | 16 – 22 | 7 – 11 | 7 – 6 | 12 – 10 | 5 – 5 | W 2 |
| Oakland | 23 | 63 | .267 | 28 | 12 – 32 | 11 – 31 | 5 – 15 | 5 – 7 | 4 – 23 | 4 – 6 | L 1 |
| National League | |||||||||||
| East | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Atlanta | 56 | 27 | .675 | – | 30 – 15 | 26 – 12 | 22 – 6 | 8 – 1 | 10 – 7 | 9 – 1 | W 8 |
| Miami | 48 | 37 | .565 | 9 | 25 – 16 | 23 – 21 | 11 – 15 | 8 – 5 | 9 – 10 | 6 – 4 | L 3 |
| Philadelphia | 44 | 39 | .530 | 12 | 22 – 16 | 22 – 23 | 8 – 13 | 9 – 4 | 11 – 12 | 6 – 4 | L 1 |
| NY Mets | 38 | 46 | .452 | 18.5 | 20 – 19 | 18 – 27 | 13 – 13 | 5 – 14 | 10 – 9 | 4 – 6 | W 2 |
| Washington | 34 | 49 | .410 | 22 | 13 – 27 | 21 – 22 | 9 – 16 | 5 – 5 | 9 – 13 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Central | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Cincinnati | 45 | 39 | .536 | – | 23 – 21 | 22 – 18 | 8 – 11 | 11 – 12 | 9 – 6 | 6 – 4 | W 1 |
| Milwaukee | 45 | 39 | .536 | – | 22 – 18 | 23 – 21 | 6 – 1 | 13 – 6 | 8 – 15 | 7 – 3 | W 2 |
| Pittsburgh | 39 | 44 | .470 | 5.5 | 22 – 21 | 17 – 23 | 5 – 5 | 11 – 15 | 12 – 6 | 5 – 5 | L 2 |
| Chi Cubs | 38 | 44 | .463 | 6 | 21 – 22 | 17 – 22 | 6 – 13 | 10 – 9 | 9 – 8 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| St. Louis | 35 | 48 | .422 | 9.5 | 17 – 25 | 18 – 23 | 4 – 5 | 11 – 14 | 7 – 13 | 5 – 5 | W 1 |
| West | |||||||||||
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Road | East | Central | West | Last 10 | Streak |
| Arizona | 50 | 35 | .588 | – | 24 – 20 | 26 – 15 | 11 – 11 | 8 – 4 | 17 – 11 | 5 – 5 | L 1 |
| LA Dodgers | 46 | 37 | .554 | 3 | 24 – 15 | 22 – 22 | 9 – 6 | 12 – 11 | 14 – 11 | 6 – 4 | L 2 |
| San Francisco | 46 | 38 | .548 | 3.5 | 23 – 19 | 23 – 19 | 10 – 9 | 13 – 7 | 13 – 9 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
| San Diego | 38 | 46 | .452 | 11.5 | 20 – 22 | 18 – 24 | 10 – 9 | 7 – 13 | 12 – 13 | 3 – 7 | L 1 |
| Colorado | 33 | 53 | .384 | 17.5 | 20 – 24 | 13 – 29 | 11 – 14 | 8 – 10 | 5 – 17 | 4 – 6 | L 2 |
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY
1912 Giants’ southpaw Rube Marquard wins his 19th consecutive game from the start of the season, beating Brooklyn at the Polo Grounds, 2-1. The 25-year-old future Hall of Famer, completing the campaign with a 26-11 record, compiles the most victories any pitcher has ever had to begin a year without suffering a defeat.
1925 Milt Stock sets a National League mark by having his fourth consecutive four-hit game, going 16-for-23 during the span to compile a .696 batting average. The 31-year-old second baseman’s offensive output, which includes three singles and a triple, helps the Robins beat the Giants at Ebbets Field, 6-3.
1929 The Cubs and the Reds become the first teams to turn nine double plays in a major league contest collectively. Chicago, responsible for five of the twin killings, beats Cincinnati at Wrigley Field, 7-5.
1932 With a Boston law that prohibited games from being played within 1000 feet of a church on Sundays now rescinded, the first Sunday game takes place at Fenway Park with the Red Sox dropping a 13-2 decision. The team played its Sunday games at Braves Field on Commonwealth Avenue until the law was changed, having played their first home contest on the Christian day of worship on April 28, 1929.
1936 San Diego minor leaguer Ted Williams, pinch-hitting for the pitcher in the seventh inning in a game against the Angels, gets his first professional hit, a long single off the right-field fence at LA’s Wrigley Field off Glen Babler. The 17-year-old Padres player stays in the PCL contest to replace the hurler he batted for, retiring the side in order, but will be removed from the mound in the next frame when he gives up two home runs.
1939 Cardinal first baseman Johnny Mize accumulates 13 total bases, hitting two home runs, a triple, and a double. The ‘Big Cat’s’ offensive output contributes to the Redbirds’ 5-3 win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
1939 At Briggs Stadium, Ben Chapman ties a major league record when he collects three triples in the team’s 4-2 victory over the hometown Tigers. The Cleveland center fielder’s three-baggers today will account for a third of his total for the season.
1940 The Red Sox complete a 12-11 comeback over the A’s, scoring six times in the bottom of the ninth in the Fenway Park afternoon tilt. Having trailed by seven runs after seven innings, Boston ties the game in the final frame thanks to Ted Williams’ three-run homer and wins with Jimmie Foxx’s walk-off round-tripper.
1945 At Braves Field in Boston, the Cubs tally the most runs in their post-1900 history when they blast the Braves, 24-2. Phil Cavarretta, Don Johnson, and Stan Hack each score five times, tying a major league mark.
1947 The Indians purchase Larry Doby from the Newark Eagles. In two days, the 22-year-old center fielder will become the first black to play in the American League, appearing as a pinch-hitter against Chicago at Comiskey Park.
1948 Muskegon Clippers’ center fielder Dick Lane hits five homers, including two in the fifth inning, when the team beats the Fort Wayne Generals, 28 to 6. The 21-year old slugger goes 6-for-7, driving in ten runs in the Central League contest.
1949 At the Polo Grounds, New York southpaw Monty Kennedy, en route to a 16-0 rout of the Dodgers, hits a grand slam. Another 51 seasons will pass by before Shawn Estes becomes the next Giants hurler to go deep with the bases loaded in 2000.
1952 In a 14-2 victory over Brunswick, Cordele A’s third baseman Ralph Betcher goes deep for the Philadelphia farm club, accounting for the only home run the team will hit this season. ‘Froggie,’ a moniker given to the infielder because of his deep voice, records the only round-tripper in the 4,679 at-bats that the Class D team will take during the 139-game Georgia-Florida minor league season.
1958 In their 35th home date in L.A., the transplanted Dodgers reach the one million mark in attendance. Last season, the team drew only 1,028,258 fans, playing games at Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City (NJ) and Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field.
1965 As part of the Farmer’s Night festivities, which attracts the largest crowd in nearly two years, at Municipal Stadium, A’s pitcher Diego Segui rides Charlie O., the team’s mule mascot, to the mound at the start of the game against the Twins. The promotion features a milking contest between Kansas City’s first baseman Ken Harrelson and Minnesota right-hander Al Worthington and a greased pig competition for the fans.
1965 After pinch-hitting a home run in a 10-8 loss to Cincinnati, Frank Thomas is placed on waivers by the Phillies due to his confrontation with Dick Allen, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, who is presently batting .341. During batting practice before the Phillies’ game against Cincinnati at Connie Mack Stadium, the veteran outfielder and third baseman exchanged words resulting in their infamous fistfight, with teammates forbidden to provide details of the incident to the press without facing a stiff fine imposed by the club.
1966 Tony Cloninger hits two grand slams in the same game and collects nine RBIs , in the Braves’ 17-3 rout of the Giants at Candlestick Park. The 26-year-old pitcher becomes the first National League player to hit two bases-loaded home runs in the same game.
1967 Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Randy Hundley all homer for the Cubs in the first, and Rico Carty and Felipe Alou also go deep for the Braves in the same inning in Chicago’s 12-6 victory at Atlanta Stadium. The five round-trippers at the ‘Launching Pad’ tie a major league record for home runs hit by two teams in the same inning, but the barrage marks the first time the feat occurs in the opening frame.
1968 Luis Tiant strikes out nineteen Twins and scatters six hits in a ten-inning 1-0 complete-game victory against Minnesota at Cleveland Stadium. ‘El Tiante,’ who equals Sandy Koufax’s record for 41 strikeouts for three consecutive games, becomes the second hurler to whiff more than 18 batters in an American League contest, behind only the 21 Baltimore batters punched out by Tom Cheney of the Senators in a 16-inning game in 1962.
1970 All-Star Angels southpaw Clyde Wright, who improves his record to 12-5, no-hits the visiting A’s, 4-0, issuing three walks and recording one strikeout to the 29 batters he faces in the Anaheim Stadium contest. Skeeter, throwing only 98 pitches, completes his gem in one hour and 51 minutes.
1972 En route to a 15-3 rout of Detroit, the Orioles collect 17 hits and score 15 runs in the last four innings of the Tiger Stadium contest. During the nationally televised game, the O’s set a franchise record when the team bangs out 21 hits.
1973 Although neither starter will finish the game, the Perry siblings oppose one another for the only time in their careers. Jim gets a no-decision while his younger brother Gaylord takes the loss when the Tigers beat the Indians at Cleveland Stadium, 5-4.
1973 After waiting three hours to begin the game due to rain, the Reds beat San Francisco at Riverfront Stadium, 6-3. At the end of the contest, the Cincinnati fans are treated to the nation’s earliest Independence Day celebration, when the team begins launching fireworks at two o’clock in the morning.
1977 On his 24th birthday, Angel left-hander Frank Tanana tosses his 14th consecutive complete game with his 6-4 victory over Oakland at Anaheim Stadium. The win improves the southpaw’s record to 12-5, but he will finish the season at only 15-9, due to a ‘tired’ arm.
1983 At Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Rangers score 12 times in the 15th inning, making it the most runs scored by a team in extra innings. Texas beats the A’s in the previously tied game, 16-4.
1987 Paul Splittorff, the team’s all-time leader in victories, is inducted into the Royals’ Hall of Fame, along with late manager Dick Howser and infielder Cookie Rojas. The slender southpaw was the first player selected by the franchise to appear on its major league roster.
1987 On Dick Howser Day at Royals Stadium, the former manager, who died last month from brain cancer, is inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. The club honors their late former manager (1981-86) by retiring his uniform number 10, the first digits retired in the franchise’s history.
1994 In a ceremony considered by many to be long overdue, the Indians retire the uniform number 14 worn by Hall of Famer Larry Doby, the first black to play in the American League. On this date exactly 47 years ago, Cleveland owner Bill Veeck purchased the 23-year-old from the Newark Eagles of the Negro National League.
1995 In a slugfest at Coors Field, Andres Galarraga enjoys a 6-for-6 performance at the plate when the Rockies collect 21 hits. The first baseman’s offensive output, which includes two homers and five RBIs, contributes to Colorado’s 15-10 victory over Houston.
1996 In a 10-6 Mets victory over Philadelphia, Alex Ochoa enjoys a 5-for-5 day at Veterans Stadium. With his eighth-inning homer, the 24-year-old right fielder becomes the sixth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle.
2001 The Padres tie a National League record, hitting four sacrifice flies in one game. The last one, lifted by shortstop D’Angelo Jimenez in the sixth inning, gives the Friars a 6-5 victory over Colorado at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
2002 Indian first baseman Jim Thome, in the team’s 11-8 loss at Yankees Stadium, homers in his seventh consecutive game. The seventh-inning solo shot, off southpaw David Wells, leaves the Indians’ slugger one shy of the major league record shared by Dale Long (1956, Pirates), Don Mattingly (Yankees, 1987), and Ken Griffey, Jr. (1993, Mariners).
2005 During the fireworks display at Pawtucket’s McCoy Stadium, two shells misfire, landing in the stands. Four or five employees of the Telstar Display Fireworks suffer minor burns, and some fans are injured when they stumble escaping from the mishap.
2006 Barry Bonds (41), Steve Finley (41), and birthday boy Moises Alou (40) become the first trio of 40-year-olds to start a game in the same outfield. The senior flycatchers combine to go 4-for-11 along with two stolen bases to help the Giants defeat Philadelphia, 5-3.
2009 Albert Pujols’ 8th-inning home run with the bases loaded proves to be the difference in the Cardinals’ 7-4 victory over the Reds. The grand slam, the tenth of his career, establishes a new franchise record, moving ‘El Hombre’ past Redbird Hall of Famer Stan Musial.
2010 With homers in his first two at-bats, Twins’ DH Jim Thome passes franchise legend Harmon Killebrew with 574 round-trippers and moves into tenth place on the all-time home run list. The team plays a previously recorded message from the much-beloved Hall of Famer in which he congratulates the designated hitter on the career accomplishment.
2013 Max Scherzer becomes the first pitcher in 27 years to begin the season 13-0 when the Tigers beat the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, 6-2. In 1986, Red Sox right-hander Roger Clemens started the year with 14 victories and no losses.
2013 CC Sabathia, throwing 121 pitches in seven innings, collects his 200th career win when the Yankees beat the Twins at Target Field, 3-2. With the victory, the 32-year-old southpaw continues his nearly six-year winning streak over Minnesota, compiling an 11-0 record, along with a 2.01 ERA, in his last 12 starts against the team.
2013 In his final attempt to play major league baseball after being given a 100-game suspension in 2011 for taking performance-enhancing drugs, Manny Ramirez agrees to a minor league deal with the Rangers. Due to his decreased bat speed while playing for the PCL’s Round Rock Express, the 41-year-old outfielder/DH will be released by Texas next month, effectively ending his controversial 19-year major league career with a lifetime .312 batting average.
2013 Yasiel Puig becomes the first player to be named Player of the Month for the first month he plays in the major leagues in the 55-year history of the award. The Dodger outfielder played in 26 games in June, compiling a .436 batting average, with his 44 base hits being the second-most ever by a first-month player, only behind Joe DiMaggio’s total of 48 in 1936.
2014 Used car salesman Andrew Rector files a $10 million defamation suit in the Bronx Supreme Court against the Yankees, MLB, ESPN, and the broadcast’s play-by-play man Dan Shulman and commentator John Kruk. The 26-year-old claims the commentary and photos of him at the April 13th nationally televised at Yankee Stadium showed him in a false light, damaged his reputation, and the fact that he was napping was not an issue of legitimate public concern.
2014 Rays manager Joe Maddon, known for keeping his team loose throughout the long season by implementing fun and innovative ideas, uses Tommy Tutone’s song, 867-53O9 Jenny, as the inspiration for his lineup. The last-place team’s batting order against Detroit has the center fielder (8) leading off, followed by the shortstop (6), then left fielder (7), with the third baseman (5) batting cleanup, and so on, with the second baseman and catcher to bat in the eighth and ninth position.
2016 At Fort Bragg, the Marlins beat the Braves, 5-4, in the first regular-season MLB game played in North Carolina. The contest, witnessed by 12,500 spectators made up of mostly current or former service personnel jammed into a temporary stadium constructed in less than four months, was staged on a military base to pay tribute to America’s Armed Forces.
2019 Joining Max Scherzer (2) and Jordan Zimmermann , Stephen Strasburg becomes the third National pitcher to throw an immaculate inning. In the fourth inning of the team’s 3-1 over the Marlins in Washington. the 30-year-old right-hander retires Garrett Cooper (looking), Neil Walker (swinging), and Starlin Castro (looking) on nine consecutive strikes.
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
GEORGE WEISS
Executive
The New York Yankees are the only team in history to win more than three World Series championships in a row – and the Yankees did it twice, with four in a row from 1936-39 and five more from 1949-53.
George Weiss was a driving force behind both.
Born June 23, 1894, in New Haven, Conn., and a product of Yale University, Weiss got into baseball in 1914 with a semipro team in his hometown that played exhibitions against big league teams, luring the likes of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth to his small ballpark.
In 1919, he entered Organized Baseball by acquiring the Eastern League’s New Haven franchise. Four years later, fate intervened. He was in the upper berth of a Pullman car en route to the Winter Meetings with his manager, Wild Bill Donovan, in the lower berth. It was against protocol; the “boss” should have had the lower. But Donovan was already asleep when Weiss arrived, so he climbed into the upper.
A horrific train wreck near Forsyth, N.Y. – near the New York/Pennsylvania border – claimed Donovan’s life and eight others. Weiss survived.
After running the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, Weiss was hired by the Yankees in 1932 to develop a farm system, in the style of Branch Rickey’s Cardinals operation. He served under Jacob Ruppert and Ed Barrow in that capacity for 15 years, helping to feed the roster with thoughtful signings and minor league development throughout manager Joe McCarthy’s era.
In 1945, the team was sold to Dan Topping, Del Webb and Larry MacPhail. Two years later, in the celebratory party following the 1947 World Series, MacPhail wound up firing Weiss. The next day, Topping and Webb bought out MacPhail’s interest and “rehired” Weiss as general manager. A year later, Weiss brought Casey Stengel to New York to manage the Yankees.
Together, the Weiss-Stengel team was close to unbeatable for a dozen years, winning 10 pennants and seven world championships. While the teams were laden with great stars – Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra among them – Weiss was a distant presence, preferring to run the club without much personal contact with the players.
“I don’t think I ever met him,” said Bobby Richardson, who joined the team in 1955. Weiss usually negotiated with just the top three or four players on the roster, and left the balance to Roy Hamey, his assistant.
When Stengel was dismissed after the 1960 World Series, Weiss was offered a consultant’s role, but he soon left to join Stengel and build the expansion New York Mets. While Stengel won over the press by diverting attention from his under-performing teams, Weiss continued to do what he did best: Work hard to build a winner. Three years after his retirement, the Mets won the World Series, with a number of players signed on his watch taking the team to unimaginable heights.
Weiss was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971. He passed away on Aug. 13, 1972.
FOOTBALL HISTORY
Redskins to Have ‘Through Review’ of Name
The NFL and the Washington franchise announced that the team ownership and management were “undergoing a thorough review of the team name.” Critics claimed that the nickname of the club was a “dictionary defined racial-slur” and had suggested owner Daniel Snyder change the offensive name so something else. The group had the attention of Roger Godell and multiple NFL sponsors this time, and the Washington brass were listening. The group finally in August announced that the franchise would be called the Washington Football Team for at least the remainder of the 2020 season.
HALL OF FAME BIRTHDAYS FOR JULY 3
July 3, 1943 – Norfolk, Virginia – The University of Tennessee’s middle guard from 1962 to 1964, Steve DeLong was born. Steve’s bio on the NFF’s website says he played middle guard on defense for Tennessee 1962-1964. He made the Associated Press all-sophomore team in 1962, was voted defensive lineman of the year in the Southeastern Conference three times 1962-1964, and was All-America twice 1963-1964. Tennessee’s record in those days was 4-6, 5-5, 4-5-1. In 1964 DeLong, 6-3 and 243- pounds, won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best interior lineman, was picked Lineman of the Year by the Columbus Touchdown Club and Birmingham Touchdown Club, and was voted Most Valuable Player in the Senior Bowl. In 1990, in a fans’ vote, he was named to Tennessee’s all-time team, covering 100 years of football 1890-1989. Steve’s son, Keith, was linebacker at Tennessee and was captain and All- America in 1988. Keith was also selected to the “100 years of Volunteers” team in 1990. Steve’s brother, Ken, played at Tennessee 1967-1969. After college The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of Steve DeLong into their legendary museum in 1993. DeLong played defensive end for San Diego and Chicago in the National Football League from 1965-1972.
July 3, 1959 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Nevada-Reno’s brilliant halfback from 1977 to the 1980 season, Frank Hawkins was welcomed into the world. The FootballFoundation.org says Frank earned 5,333 yard rushing in his collegiate career. This guy was money with the ball under his arms. He was named a Division All-America three times and led Division I-AA in rushing in 1979 and 1980. His best rushing game was 293 yards against San Francisco State in 1978. He rushed for 265 yards against Idaho in 1980, 217 against Idaho in 1979, 202 against Montana in 1980, and 201 against Weber State in 1979. He finished with 21 consecutive 100-yard games. He scored 39 touchdowns in four years. For his final game, Nov. 22, 1980, against Idaho, his school created “Day of the Hawk” and gave commemorative pins to spectators. Hawkins’ jersey, No. 27 was retired. Frank Hawkins received the great honor of being selected for inclusion into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997. Frank entered into the NFL after college playing for the Oakland Raiders for seven seasons.
July 3, 1976 – Joplin, Missouri – Grant Wistrom who was the University of Nebraska’s defensive end from 1994 to 1997 was born. The National Football Foundation says the Cornhuskers put up a 49-2 win/loss record enroute to winning three National Championships behind the dominant play of the two-time unanimous All-American selection during his time at the school. The word dominant is an appropriate word to describe this player. As a freshman on the 1994 National Championship team, Wistrom notched 36 tackles and 4.5 sacks as he eventually became the Big Eight Newcomer of the Year. During his sophomore season, he knocked out 44 tackles, including a team leading 15 tackles for loss while being named First Team All-Big Eight as the Huskers won their second straight national title. In 1996, Wistrom helped the Husker defensive unit to the Top 10 in the nation in all four major defensive categories. As a senior, Wistrom won the Lombardi Award and earned a finalist spot for the Nagurski Defensive Player of the Year Award. Grant Wistrom’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame after his induction in 2009. Grant was picked in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams and he had an immediate impact. Wistrom took home the Ram’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honors for his efforts. Later Wistrom played in three Super Bowls during his six-season career, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXIV with the Rams. He retired as a Seattle Seahawk just after the 2006 season ended.
FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
BARRY ALVAREZ
Position: Coach
Years: 1990-2005
Place of Birth: Langeloth, PA
Date of Birth: Dec 30, 1946
The only coach in Big Ten history to win back-to-back Rose Bowls, Barry Alvarez set a record as having the highest all-time bowl winning percentage (.727) for coaches with at least 11 bowl appearances. Alvarez compiled a 118-73-4 record while at Wisconsin and captured three Big Ten Championships. When he retired, he and College Football Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes were the only two coaches to win three Rose Bowls. He coached 12 first-team All-America players, including three-time first team selection and 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne, 62 first-team All-Big Ten picks, and two NFF National Scholar-Athletes (Jim Leonhard and Joe Thomas). In 1993, Alvarez was named Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, AFCA National Coach of the Year and College & Pro Football Newsweekly National Coach of the Year. The 2001 Victor Award (National Coach of the Year) winner, Alvarez was a finalist for ESPN National College Coach of the Decade. Named Wisconsin’s athletics director in 2004, Alvarez continued to coach for two years before retiring from the sidelines and focusing solely on his administrative position. Alvarez served on the NCAA Football Issues Committee, the Board of Directors of the MACC Fund and was appointed as one of the chairs of the NCAA’s Football Academic Enhancement Group.
SPORTS NUMBERS
40 – 41- 15 – 44 – 33 – 28
July3 , 1912 – New York Giants pitcher Rube Marquard tied Tim Keefe’s 1888 MLB record 19 game win-streak with 2-1 win v Brooklyn Dodgers; has 21 with 2 end-of-season in 1911
July 3, 1966 – 1966 was the first baseball season for the Braves in Atlanta after 13 seasons in Milwaukee and before that playing in Boston. Atlanta knew they had live bats in Number 44 Hank Aaron, Joe Torre (Number 15), and Eddie Mathews (Number 41), and the club did not realize that on this day they could depend on another stick in the lineup to produce runs. Atlanta Braves hurler Number 40, Tony Cloninger, became the first NL player and only pitcher to hit 2 grand slams in a MLB game. The Braves routed the San Francisco Giants 17-3 in the contest.
July 3, 1968 – Cleveland pitcher Luis Tiant, Number 33 struck out an MLB record 19 Minnesota Twins in 1-0 win This was a record for a 10 inning game. That was not all as he also record 32 Ks in consecutive games.
July 3, 1970 – California Angels pitcher Clyde Wright must have looked at the calender and said, hey I want in the Daily Digits Sports Break too! Wright in his Number 52 no-hit the Oakland A’s, 4-0.July 3, 1974 – Pitching in a MLB-record 13th consecutive game for the LA Dodgers, Mike Marshall (Number 28) saved Number 25, Tommy John’s 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds