The Washington Commanders returned to practice on Tuesday to open the third and final week of OTAs. One week before Washington's mandatory minicamp begins, new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones spoke to the media before practice. It was another productive day for quarterback Jayden Daniels, this time involving his tight ends. Chig Okonkwo, Ben Sinnott and John Bates made plays for Washington during Tuesday's session, giving a glimpse of how the position will be used in new offensive coordinator David Blough's offense. Tuesday was the final OTA session completely open to the media. So, we share some of the best photos and videos from Tuesday's action in Ashburn, courtesy of the local Washington media in attendance. Quan MartinQuan Martin putting in work pic.twitter.com/0tQ3uzIKqa— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) June 9, 2026Jaylin LaneJaylin Lane putting in work after practice pic.twitter.com/npOhnjqIJI— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) June 9, 2026Chig OkonkwoChig, that's the tweet.@JPFinlayNBCS@MlinaresDC#Commanders#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/qNLlYeeh1a— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) June 9, 2026OC David BloughOC David Blough among the #Commanders coaches taking whacks at the WRS in a ball protection drill at today's OTA session@JPFinlayNBCS@MlinaresDC#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/558mEXlJrY— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) June 9, 2026Jayden DanielsJayden Daniels bag work 💰 #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/4cyhoV8ESZ— Denton Day (D-Day) (@TheDentonDay) June 9, 2026OL workOffensive line hitting each other pic.twitter.com/bRgjVVDYuA— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) June 9, 2026Jayden to Luke McCaffreyJD5➡️Luke#RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/3tXCS9Ko7g— Denton Day (D-Day) (@TheDentonDay) June 9, 2026More OLOL working on batting down batted passes … to be honest I’d rather see them catching em, tucking it and taking it to the house! pic.twitter.com/d5eatcPAH0— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) June 9, 2026This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders OTAs: Sights, sounds from Week 3

Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. left their 6-5 loss to the Chicago White Sox early on Tuesday night due to a hamstring injury. Acuña, in the fourth inning of the contest at Rate Field in Chicago, hit a ground ball to Miguel Vargas at third and started running up the baseline. While Vargas managed to make the throw in time to get Acuña out, Acuña pulled up awkwardly just before he reached the bag. He started hopping, clearly in discomfort, into the outfield and ended up limping back to their dugout. Acuña slammed his helmet hard before walking up into the clubhouse, too. The Braves then pulled him from the game due to left hamstring tightness. He was replaced by Eli White in the outfield the rest of the way.Further specifics of the injury are not yet known. Acuña missed time on the injured list earlier this season with a left hamstring injury, too. He was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain after trying to run out a ground ball on May 2, though he returned less than two weeks later. Acuña has also dealt with multiple ACL injuries in his career. He tore his right ACL in 2021, and tore his left ACL in 2024. He was named the National League MVP between the injuries, however, picking up the honors in 2023 while hitting 41 home runs and stealing 73 bases that season.The 28-year-old currently holds a .254 batting average with seven home runs and 22 RBIs this season, his ninth with the team. He is in the final year of an eight-year, $100 million deal with the team this summer, which includes two club options for the 2027 and 2028 campaigns. The loss to the White Sox on Tuesday snapped a three-game winning streak for Atlanta, which now holds a 45-22 record on the season. The Braves still hold a significant lead in the NL East race, though an extended stretch without Acuña available would undoubtedly makes things more difficult for the franchise as it approaches the midway point of the season.

CHICAGO (AP) — Braden Montgomery hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning of his rousing major league debut to rally the Chicago White Sox past the Atlanta Braves 6-5 on Tuesday night.Miguel Vargas launched a two-run shot in the third to begin Chicago's comeback from a 4-0 deficit against the Braves, who have the best record in the majors at 45-22. Montgomery made it 4-3 with an RBI single in the fourth, and Jacob Gonzalez tied it with a run-scoring single in the seventh.The second-place White Sox (35-31) moved within a half-game of scuffling Cleveland atop the AL Central.Matt Olson homered twice in the first three innings for Atlanta, accounting for three runs. Mauricio Dubón put the Braves up 5-4 in the top of the 10th with an RBI single.With two outs in the bottom half, Montgomery connected on an 0-1 changeup from closer Raisel Iglesias (0-1) and sent it 343 feet over the left-field wall to send the Rate Field crowd into a frenzy.Automatic runner Andrew Benintendi scored from third ahead of Montgomery.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

DENVER, CO - JUNE 09: Cole Carrigg #16 of the Colorado Rockies runs the bases during his Major League Debut during the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Casey Paul/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Rockies 7, Cubs 3Leverage index and box scoreGraphics via FanGraphs.He’s still Good, man: Hunter Goodman, +0.15 WPARea’d out: Colin Rea, -0.32 WPA Game thread comment of the dayJoin the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — A deflected own goal in the second half gave the U.S. women's national team a 1-0 victory over Brazil on Tuesday night in chaotic match that saw eight red cards handed to the Brazilians.Coach Arthur Elias and three assistant coaches were sent off with red cards. Bia Zaneratto and Tarciane were both handed red cards, taking Brazil down to nine players in stoppage time and two additional players were carded following the match. Sophia Wilson's shot deflected off Isabela and got by Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena in the 63rd minute for the lone goal before the 55,144 fans in Fortaleza. Brazil had no shots on goal, while the United States had six. It was the second of two matches in Brazil for the Americans. The U.S. fell 2-1 in the opener on Saturday in Sao Paulo. Trinity Rodman was available off the bench as a substitute and came into the game to start the second half. Marta, a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year, was subbed into the match in the 80th minute, making her 212th appearance for Brazil. Dudinha appeared to hurt her right knee in a collision with Emily Sonnett in the 30th minute and was stretchered off the field in obvious pain. The 20-year-old forward, who plays for the San Diego Wave in the National Women's Soccer League, returned to the bench in the second half on crutches. Brazil had won the last two matches against the United States. The matches in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza were played at stadiums that will be used next summer for the Women's World Cup. The United States will attempt to qualify for the World Cup starting in late November at the CONCACAF W Championship. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Staal scored his sixth and seventh goals of the postseason in a 5-3 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday in Las Vegas. File Photo by Alex Edelman/UPIJune 9 (UPI) -- Jordan Staal fell and slid on the ice as he watched his shot beat Carter Hart for what proved to be a gritty game-winning goal in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday in Las Vegas.The score, which occurred with 13:28 remaining, was just the latest exploit in a hectic series. It also was Staal's second goal in the 5-3 triumph, which helped the Hurricanes tie the best-of-seven-game series 2-2.Fellow Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers logged a goal and two assists. Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi, who drew his first career playoff start, made 18 saves."A lot of kids grow up and they dream about doing something like this," Bussi said on the ABC broadcast. "I'm honored to have the opportunity."It was a great effort by us tonight. Excited to get back to Raleigh, N.C."The Hurricanes got off to a hot start once again in the first period, outshooting the Golden Knights 14-6 in the first period. Logan Staknoven beat Hart for first blood just 66 seconds into the game. Fellow forward Jackson Blake doubled the Hurricanes' lead 2:22 later.Golden Knights forward Mark Stone sliced the deficit to one about four minutes later. Staal responded with a power-play goal with 7:12 remaining in the opening frame.But like in the previous three games of the series, the Golden Knights roared in the second period, with forwards William Karlsson and Brett Howden beating Bussi to tie the score.Staal's go-ahead sequence started when teammate Seth Jarvis intercepted a pass from Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore right in front of the Vegas net. Jarvis had his shot denied, but the puck bounced around.Ehlers eventually collected the puck and sent a pass into the slot. Staal poked the puck away from defenders and flicked it into the air as he fell on the frozen floor of T-Mobile Arena. The shot managed to soar just out of Hart's reach for a 4-3 advantage."It was hectic like the series has been," Bussi said of Staal's goal. "He's a big-time player. He leads us every day and plays the right way and is rewarded."Ehlers scored an empty netter with 55 seconds remaining to clinch the victory. The Hurricanes outshot the Golden Knights 28-21. The Golden Knights totaled 23 giveaways, compared to the Hurricanes' 15.Karlsson logged a goal and assist in the loss. Hart made 23 saves.Game 4 marked the first time in Stanley Cup Final history that four games included a team rallying from multiple goals down to tie the game. It also marked the first time in NHL history that both teams scored three or more goals in each of the first four games of a Stanley Cup Final.The Hurricanes will host the Golden Knights in Game 5 at 8 p.m. EDT Thursday in Raleigh, N.C. Game 6 will be Sunday in Las Vegas. Game 7, if necessary, will be June 17 in Raleigh.

It will be an all-Berks County final for the PIAA Class 2A girls lacrosse championship.District 3 champion Wyomissing will meet BCIAA champion Twin Valley for the title at 10 a.m. Saturday at Penn State.The Spartans beat West Chester Rustin 14-12 at Comer Field at Penn Manor High School on Tuesday to punch their ticket to Happy Valley, while the Raiders defeated defending state champion Villa Maria Academy 13-11 at West Chester Henderson High School.In boys 2A volleyball, Brandywine Heights was beaten by Meadville in straight sets in the semifinals.Meadville won by scores of 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 in a match at State College High School. They were scheduled to play at Bald Eagle High School but the site was changed earlier today.In the boys 2A lacrosse semifinals, Penncrest defeated Twin Valley 9-8 in five overtimes to advance to Saturday’s championship match.

Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesAdam Schefter has pushed the Aaron Donald comeback talk from offseason fantasy into something the Los Angeles Rams now have to be taken seriously on.Donald remains retired, and nobody around the situation is treating his return as finished business. That is what makes the latest update so important, because the language has shifted from a hard no to a real possibility.The Rams’ roster, the Myles Garrett buzz, and a Super Bowl in Los Angeles have all turned what once sounded impossible into one of the NFL’s most fascinating summer stories.Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesAdam Schefter says Aaron Donald’s return to Los Angeles Rams is more likely than notAdam Schefter broke down the chances of Aaron Donald coming out of retirement and returning to the Los Angeles Rams.“When you talk to all the people involved, nobody is coming out right now and saying, ‘Aaron Donald is coming back.’ But everybody is acknowledging that it is a possibility,” Schefter said.He added, “And the fact that it is even a possibility in June tells me that I think there’s every possibility it will become more real in July.“And I think, if and when they present a plan to him as to how he would be used, I think it’s more likely than not that he’ll be back.”That is not a guarantee, but it is still a major shift. Donald retired in 2024 as one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history, so even the idea of him listening to a Rams plan changes the conversation.Aaron Donald’s comeback ingredients are suddenly there for Los Angeles RamsSchefter also made clear that the move has not reached the finish line yet, even if the situation has become harder to dismiss.“… It still sounds like we’re a ways away. He has not gotten there yet,” the NFL analyst continued. “But the fact that this is even coming up.”“And the fact that the Rams have the team that they do, and the fact that Aaron Donald would get to play with Myles Garrett, and the fact that the Super Bowl is in L.A. this year, I just think the ingredients are there to make it happen,” Schefter concluded.The Garrett factor is the easiest football reason to understand. Pairing Donald with an elite edge rusher would reduce the burden that followed him for years, while giving the Rams a front that could instantly reshape the NFC.The location matters too. A Super Bowl run ending in Los Angeles would offer Donald the kind of final chapter few retired stars ever get, which is why this rumor now feels less like noise and more like something the Rams can genuinely sell.Read more:How Aaron Donald returning to the Rams would ruin Cooper Kupp’s plansIce Cube’s son has a message for Aaron Donald amid Los Angeles Rams return rumorsRams GM drops exciting hint on Aaron Donald returning from retirement after Myles Garrett trade

PITTSBURGH — Above the handful of unassigned lockers scattered about the Pittsburgh Pirates' home clubhouse, where a player's nameplate would typically be, are instead a smattering of baseball-centric quotations.Some are genuinely inspiring. "I want to be remembered as a ballplayer who gave all he had to give." — Roberto ClementeOthers are painfully cliche. "To be successful, one must take chances." — Willie StargellOne is a vulgar acronym from Pirates history. There are also a few well-meaning word salads from manager Don Kelly. "We have to do this together. The team, the city, fans — everyone has a role."But it is certainly no coincidence that the quote directly adjacent to the locker belonging to ace hurler Paul Skenes reads: "Momentum is only as good as the next day's starting pitcher." — Jim LeylandSkenes was solid if unspectacular on Tuesday against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out seven and allowed just two runs, exiting after the sixth inning with the score tied 2-2. Notably, Skenes retired Shohei Ohtani in all three matchups between the two all-world talents, including an impressive punchout in the third.But while the day's starting pitcher was good, momentum proved to be very much out of reach for the Pirates on Tuesday.After Skenes departed, Pittsburgh proceeded to surrender 10 runs in a horror-show seventh inning that sent boos, jeers and Bronx cheers pouring down from the frustrated masses. Los Angeles ultimately won 12-3, providing a small yet ruthless reminder that the gap between the juggernaut Dodgers and upstart Pirates remains significant."We got sloppy there," Kelly said afterward. "We just need to play cleaner."Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentFor the first time in eons, Pittsburgh entered this season with legitimate playoff aspirations. An uncharacteristically aggressive offseason provided the club's undermanned offense with a much-needed jolt. Über-prospect Konnor Griffin waited in the wings. The pitching staff, helmed by Skenes and supported by a bevy of underrated arms, projected to be one of baseball's best. Projection systems across the game pegged Pittsburgh as a real contender. October baseball, after a decade of autumnal woe, seemed like an attainable dream.Thus far in 2026, that optimism has been only partially realized.The Pirates sit one game above .500 at 34-33, yet they're 8 games back of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Many of Pittsburgh's lineup additions have paid off in the early going, giving the club one of the sport's most productive offenses. The rotation has been very good, though not quite elite. That, in part, is because the Pirates rate as a very poor defensive team. A below-average bullpen hasn't helped, either.These Pirates are definitively better, no longer a punch line. Their plus-21 run differential is an undeniable sign of quality. And still, this team is somewhat frustratingly stuck in neutral, yet to fully capitalize on a very capable roster.Skenes, for his part, has a stat line slightly below his stratospheric standards. After posting a 1.97 ERA during his 2025 Cy Young campaign, the 24-year-old is currently carrying a still-impressive 2.84. Besides being a tad more homer-prone, there's nothing about Skenes' 2026 to fret over. Mostly, he has been unlucky, the victim of some unfortunate batted-ball sequencing.He reaffirmed after his previous outing that, on the whole, he has been happy with his performances. But as Tuesday showed, when Skenes isn't humming on all cylinders, he can't carry the Pirates all by his lonesome — especially not against a lineup as formidable as Los Angeles'."The changeup command wasn't quite as good as it's been," the self-critical right-hander admitted to reporters after the game.The towering hurler avoided drawing a larger takeaway from his team's recent struggles versus the National League's best. Before Tuesday's loss to L.A., Pittsburgh lost three straight in Atlanta against the league-leading Braves."It might be a little bit independent of who we've been playing," he admitted.Skenes remains one of the game's most compelling characters: stoic, calculating, direct, dominant. He burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024, propelled by a triple-digit heater and a social media superstar girlfriend. His 2025 was just as good, if not better, solidifying the flamethrower as one of the faces of baseball despite a comically understated personality. Just this week, Skenes made an impromptu appearance at a local Little League because "I was driving down the road, and I saw a baseball field, and I was bored." That's Skenes in a nutshell; even his feel-good stories carry an aura of baseball-centric intensity. This, in addition to the on-mound brilliance, is Skenes' superpower. His focus, his commitment to competing, his off-field demeanor — it's all phenomenally contagious. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, a man who has seen a ballgame or two, gushed about Skenes' competitiveness before Tuesday's game. "He's one of the tougher makeup competitor guys that I've been around," he said.That type of energy raises the bar and the floor for all things Pirates. That is why, despite a rain-soaked, embarrassing defeat in a game that should have been an invigorator, things are looking up in Pittsburgh. Or at least, they aren't looking down. And for this woebegone franchise, that's a step in the right direction.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Paul Skenes was bored and driving through the northern Pittsburgh suburbs on Monday — a rare in-season off day — when the Pirates ace caught the familiar lights of a baseball field out of the corner of his eye.The next thing the reigning NL Cy Young winner knew, he was circling the parking lot, searching for a spot. Not long after, one of the brightest stars in the game was watching various Ingomar Little League teams practice.The 24-year-old star tried to stay “incognito,” which is kind of hard to do in general when you're 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds and one of the brightest young stars in your sport. Soon enough, Skenes found his way onto the field in sandals, a T-shirt, and a pair of shorts, a sure sign that the typically well put-together Skenes hadn't planned on stopping in the first place.Over the next two hours, he played catch, signed autographs, and remembered a time in his life when his relationship with the game was far simpler.The impromptu practice went viral, as things tend to do when Skenes is involved. His girlfriend, former gymnast turned influencer and actress Livvy Dunne, s hared it on TikTok. A popular Pittsburgh DJ did the same on Instagram.Skenes has learned to accept that attention comes with the territory, even when he's trying to avoid it.“Should’ve worn some sunglasses and a fake moustache,” he joked.Yes, Skenes is well aware of the core memory he created for the players at Ingomar Little League, about 20ish minutes north of PNC Park. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Garrett Anderson did the same for Skenes when the two briefly connected while Skenes was growing up in Southern California.Yet just as importantly, with the Pirates in the midst of a losing streak that stretched to four after they were drilled 12-2 loss by Los Angeles on Tuesday — when the Dodgers exploded for 10 runs in the seventh immediately after Skenes departed — it offered Skenes a reminder of why he does what he does for a living.“I went to watch some baseball, but you got to remember it’s just a game,” Skenes said. “There’s a lot of things that make it a business. It’s work. It’s a job for us, for sure, on some days more than others, but you got to remember you love the game and why you started playing it in the first place.”Particularly during the times when that love can feel elusive during a difficult stretch like the one Skenes is in at the moment.Despite limiting the two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers to two runs over six innings and retiring four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani all three times he faced him, Skenes remained winless over his last five starts after the bullpen imploded behind him.Is Skenes in a slump? Only in comparison to the remarkably high bar he has set during his rapid ascent to one of the best pitchers in baseball. His ERA since May 17 is a pedestrian 4.50, more than double his career ERA up to that point. Things were a little better, a little sharper against the Dodgers than they have been of late. He recorded seven strikeouts, and Los Angeles swung and missed at more than 15 of the 103 pitches he threw. Skenes' fastball largely went where he wanted, when he wanted, and if Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe can knock down a sharp grounder that instead deflected off his glove and into the outfield with two outs in the sixth that allowed Freddie Freeman to score and tie the game, Skenes might have exited with the lead.Not that it mattered in the end. The 10-spot the Dodgers put up in the seventh made sure of that. Still, Skenes is trying to keep things in perspective. The season is long. Every team struggles at some point. He is trying his best to remain focused on the process.Asked why his fastball — which now sits more in the 97 mph range after frequently topping 100 as a rookie two years ago — looked better on Tuesday than it has in a while, he shrugged.“Just a good day, I think,” he said. "Kinda comes and goes as the season goes. Just a good day with that.” The lobs he threw to the Little Leaguers didn't have nearly that kind of velocity. They might have as much meaning, however, over the arc of a season that can sometimes feel more like a slog than a dream come true.“We’ve all played those sandlot fields when we were nine,” he said, later adding, "The game looks different when it’s 200-foot fences and there are no ads out there, no fans out there, just playing for the love of the game.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

In the legal profession, a five-letter "F" word carries far more weight than the popular four-letter one.Robert Klemko of ESPN reports that five law firms representing 98 retired NFL players are accused of "scheming to defraud" the NFL's concussion settlement fund. An audit by a pair of Special Masters pegged the losses at more than $87 million.The audit concludes that the firms worked with specific doctors to make invalid diagnoses of Parkinson's disease.The findings were made public on Monday, in a 51-page written decision.The NFL, through a spokesperson, said it was "pleased" by the decision. The concussion settlement fund ultimately was uncapped, in order to secure court approval. Any fraud against the fund amounts to direct fraud on the NFL.The audit recommends the denial of pending claims for retired players filed by the five law firms or evaluated by eight specific doctors."The remedies that the Special Masters imposed are provided for by the Settlement Agreement and were necessary given the scope of misconduct uncovered by the Claims Administrator's investigation," the league said. "We are hopeful that this decision will deter future misconduct."The settlement fund has generated more than one prior controversy. In 2021, the NFL promised to end the practice of "race-norming," which made it harder for Black players to prove cognitive decline in an effort to secure benefits. Also in 2021, a Florida law firm was deemed to have influenced doctors and forged medical records.The settlement pays benefits based on specific diagnoses, without requiring proof that the conditions resulted from playing football at the NFL level.No criminal charges have been filed. However, the Special Masters have the power to refer their findings to the relevant federal authorities.

Aaron Ford easily outpaced a Washoe County commissioner, Alexis Hill, for the nod to take on Gov. Joe Lombardo in November.

Multiple members of the Brazil national team earned red cards Tuesday during a game against the U.S. Two Brazilian players were shown red cards during the game, and two more were shown red after the final whistle. Brazil head coach Arthur Elias was also given a red card earlier in the second half and was sent off, along with several members of his staff.After the match, the referees lined up for the usual postmatch handshakes flanked by two security officers with plastic shields.The U.S. battled its way through the highly physical second and final meeting with Brazil during this international window to claim a 1-0 victory at the Arena Castelão in Fortaleza, wrapping up its trip to the 2027 World Cup host country. It was the team’s first win against Brazil in Brazil since 1997.“My job is to have respect for the officials,” Emma Hayes said in a news conference after the match. “My job is to make sure I stay in my technical area. There is only one person allowed to stand. And my job is to be a role model for my players, to display the behaviors to them that I want from them.”After a 2-1 loss to Brazil on Saturday night, the U.S.’s response was overshadowed by the final 10 minutes of the match.Sophia Wilson nearly scored her second goal since becoming a mother in the 63rd minute of the match, battling her way from the touchline toward the penalty before firing a right-footed shot that deflected off a Brazilian defender before skidding past Kansas City Current goalkeeper Lorena. Though the goal stood, it was labeled an own goal on Brazil defender Isabela. Wilson scored the lone goal for the U.S. in their Saturday night fixture against Brazil in São Paulo.Sophia Smith causes chaos and forces a Brazil own goal 💪 pic.twitter.com/tN4wjoBHso— B/R Football (@brfootball) June 10, 2026It was a fitting result that reflected the vein-popping tension and absurdity of the game. The energy, particularly in the first half, felt like a continuation of the high-octane duel from Saturday, full of crunching tackles and booming cheers from the 55,744 fans who packed the stadium. What transpired at the end of the match was less about football and more about an eruption of pressure and passion between two top-ranked teams with a lengthy history and much at stake.The U.S. entered the game having lost its last two matches against Brazil on April 8, 2025 and this past Saturday, June 6 — the first time they lost to the same team back-t0-back since 2011. Brazil, who were ranked sixth in the world by FIFA heading into this match, will be the first South American country to host a Women’s World Cup. They last lost a major tournament final to the U.S. in the gold medal match of the 2024 Summer Olympics.As she did after the first match in Sao Paulo, Hayes praised the Brazilian supporters in Fortaleza, calling it “a very, very … fantastic environment with a very noisy crowd. They bring a lot of energy.”Around the 30th minute, Brazil and San Diego Wave forward Dudinha collided with USWNT center back Emily Sonnett and went down with an injury that required her to be stretchered off the pitch. She was replaced by Bia Zaneratto, a former Current player who scored the go-ahead goal against the U.S. on Saturday. Zaneratto was one of the four players who earned a red card along with Kerolin, Tarciane and Ludmila.Brazil was issued two red cards in added time, including one for an apparent elbow on Sophia Wilson 😳 pic.twitter.com/nSW2J4jEDj— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 10, 2026Somehow, despite the severely disrupted flow of the match, there were still standout performances on both sides. Lorena kept Brazil in the game with six impeccable saves, including one double-save from two back-to-back U.S. shots on goal from forwards Emma Sears and Wilson in the first half.Michelle Cooper, who started the game as a right winger for the U.S., played the second half as a fullback, a new position for her on the national team. Her strength, pace, and ability to get involved in the USWNT attack proved hugely advantageous on both sides of the ball; she kept step with Brazil’s physicality in their offensive efforts and helped create an overload when the U.S. had the ball. Brazil did not record a shot on target in the game.Tuesday night’s win brings the U.S. record against Brazil in their home territory to 3-3-2. Hayes has spoken at length about the importance of exposing USWNT players to Brazil’s uniquely passionate sporting environment, and while the South American side brought impressive numbers to both matches, this U.S. win will be remembered far more for its astounding disciplinary actions.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.US Women's national team, Soccer, NWSL, Women's Soccer2026 The Athletic Media Company

Subscribe to The Kevin O'Connor ShowApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeKevin O’Connor is joined by four-time NBA champion Draymond Green to break down the tactical battles shaping the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals after Game 3. Draymond shares elite player insights on Victor Wembanyama’s rim gravity, the Spurs' pressure defense and the offensive adjustments he'd like to see for both teams. The conversation dives into Wemby’s evolving play style, the need for the Knicks to unlock Karl-Anthony Towns and how physicality may tip the series. KOC & Green hash out their previous beef on Threads, debate NBA Draft hits & misses and more.(0:21) Knicks lose at home in Finals Game 3 (8:36) What was different for Wemby in Game 3? (12:57) How can Wembanyama improve? (18:53) KOC & Draymond's Threads beef (23:17) Biggest NBA Draft misses (25:08) Evaluation of Darius Acuff (30:47) How Wemby impacts Brunson's game (36:12) Physicality in NBA Playoffs(43:26) NBA Finals predictionsDraymond Green of the Golden State Warriors looks on after a play in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Chase Center on April 02, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images🖥️ Watch this full episode on the Yahoo Sports NBA YouTube channelCheck out all episodes of The Kevin O'Connor Show and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Jun 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) breaks his bat on the ground after a pop fly against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves suffered another blow on the injury front, and yet again, Ronald Acuña Jr. is the subject. Acuña exited Tuesday night in the fourth inning after limping on his way to first base. Ronald Acuña Jr. was limping after running hard down the first base line. Eli White replaces him in right field. pic.twitter.com/Pz3otRxNty— Jesús Cano (@Jesus_Cano88) June 10, 2026The club later reported that he exited the contest with hamstring tightness. Best case scenario for Atlanta is that he is considered day-to-day; however, this is the same hamstring he strained earlier this season.The bad news doesn’t end there, as the Braves went on to suffer an extra-inning loss to the Chicago White Sox, 6-5.More Braves News:Hurston Waldrep is set to make a rehab start for the Columbus Clingstones on Thursday. He made two appearances in the Florida Complex League last week. Despite two losses in the Braves’ system, Monday brought exciting games from a couple of prospects. More in the minor league recap. MLB News:The Chicago Cubs placed starter Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. He is expected to be sidelined beyond the All-Star break. Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz has been diagnosed with a UCL tear and will require Tommy John surgery. He will miss the remainder of the season and half of 2027.MLB Trade Rumors estimated that this year’s Qualifying Offer will come in at $23.1M. The official number will be released around October. From the Feed:Here is how MLB’s proposed salary cap compares to other professional sports.Tyler Flowers discusses the ABS system and how it is affecting catchers around the league.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 08: Hiroki Ito #21 of the Japan National Team arrive at Nashville International Airport on June 08, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) | Getty Images Itō’s agents told to find a transfer (Sport Bild via @iMiaSanMia)According to a report from Sport Bild journalists Julian Agardi, Christian Falk, and Johannes Wolf, Bayern Munich has told the agents for Hiroki Itō to find him a new home. The player seems to want to go to LaLiga, but Bayern Munich also wants €20 million for him — a number that will not be easy to get: Bayern have told Hiroki Itō‘s agents to actively look for a new club for their client. The Spanish league is an attractive destination for Itō. Bayern want around €20m.Itō is still a good player, but after his foot injury, Bayern Munich seems wary of his long-term prospects. With a few other injury prone players on the roster, the Bavarians might just want to cut their losses and move on. Getting a fee of €20 million for Itō could prove to be difficult. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are not likely to be interested, which takes two big money clubs immediately out of the mix. Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl might have to get flexible with that number. Barca wants to keep Rashford, too (ESPN)All things considered, FC Barcelona would like to try and find a way to keep Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford: Barcelona have devised a plan to try and sign winger Marcus Rashford this summer despite already recruiting Anthony Gordon, according to the Daily Mail. England international Rashford is set to return to Manchester United this summer following a successful loan spell at Barça. With Gordon’s recent arrival from Newcastle United, it was thought that the Spanish club might not have the resources to sign Rashford permanently as well. However, Barcelona will seemingly attempt to recruit Rashford at the end of the transfer window, once some of their financial restrictions have been lifted.Bayern likes Martinelli, but sub role would probably deter Gunner (Sport Bild’s Christian Falk)Yes, Bayern Munich still likes Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli, but there is little chance of a deal happening: ✅ It is TRUE: Gabriel Martinelli has always been on FC Bayern’s list since Thomas Tuchel put him on the shortlist during his reign in Munich. Everyone in Bayern knows it wouldn’t be so easy to bring the Brazilian to Bavaria. He doesn’t have the playing time he’d like in London, but he’d also struggle to get it instantly in Munich. Martinelli isn’t a player for the first XI, and it’s well-known that Bayern Munich are looking for a backup option, so it’s not a perfect move for the left winger. €45m [£38.9m] could be the price tag; that would be okay. But Bayern Munich are, at the moment, going for players who don’t have such a big name – that was one clear decision made after the Gordon deal fell through. They want to develop a player in the position. I’m not sure if Martinelli would be overjoyed at this prospect.Mourinho wants Silva (ESPN)José Mourinho would like to bring Manchester City star Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid: Real Madrid head coach, José Mourinho, is keen on signing Bernardo Silva after the midfielder left Manchester City exit, AS reports. The Portugal international is yet to announce his next career step, with his immediate focus being this summer’s World Cup, though Juventus and Atlético Madrid are keen. Silva, 31, has also been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, although it remains to be seen whether the Catalan giants will swoop for him after the recent €70 million signing of Newcastle United forward Anthony Gordon.City getting confident with Gvardiol extension (BBC)There is something there between Joško Gvardiol and Bayern Munich, but Manchester City feels confident that it has beat the Bavarians to the punch with its contract extension offer: Manchester City are understood to be feeling positive in conversations around a new contract for defender Josko Gvardiol. The 24-year-old’s current deal expires in 2028 and City are looking to tie him down at Etihad Stadium for the long term.Gvardiol won City’s player of the season award in 2024-25 but played only 25 games in all competitions last season as his campaign was disrupted for four months after sustaining a broken leg in January. The player has been linked, external with a move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, but there is positivity from the hierarchy at City that he will remain at the club, with talks over an extension said to be progressing well.Gvardiol would be a gem of a pickup for Bayern Munich, but the odds seems to be lengthening by the day. United, Gunners eyeing Leão (ESPN)Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly kicking the tires on Rafael Leão: Manchester United and Arsenal have asked for information on AC Milan winger Rafael Leão, as reported by Nicolo Schira. The 26-year-old is ready to leave the Rossoneri during the summer transfer window, despite his contract running until 2028 and a release clause of €175 million, and he would like to play in the Premier League. Even so, no offers have been made to sign the Portugal international yet.If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Comment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community posts

DETROIT (AP) — Dillon Dingler had two homers among his four hits and drove in four runs Tuesday night, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 10-4 win over the Minnesota Twins.Dingler had a solo homer in the first and a three-run shot in the sixth to raise his team-leading total to 16. He added a double and single and scored three runs.Kerry Carpenter hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the fifth as the teams combined for eight homers in the game. Riley Greene homered and drove in two runs as the Tigers won for the sixth time in seven games. Gleyber Torres drove in two runs with a single.Tigers starter Troy Melton (3-0) allowed eight hits and four runs in five innings, and struck out five. Josh Bell hit his 200th career homer for the Twins. Byron Buxton opened the game with his team-high 19th homer on the first pitch after missing the Twins' previous two games after injuring his right shoulder while crashing into the wall against Kansas City on Friday.Brooks Lee and Kody Clemens each added solo homers for Minnesota, which has lost five of its last six. Twins starter Taj Bradley (5-3) gave up seven hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings. The start of the game was delayed an hour and 51 minutes by inclement weather. Lee and Clemens homered on consecutive pitches to give Minnesota a 4-3 lead in the fifth. The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom half on Carpenter's two-run shot.Dingler's two-run shot off Taylor Rogers with two out extended the Tigers' lead to 8-4 in the sixth. Torres' two-run single in the seventh helped Detroit reach double digits in runs for the fourth time this season.Up nextTigers LHP Framber Valdez (3-4, 4.21 ERA) will start the middle game of the three-game series Wednesday. The Twins have not announced a starter.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Veronica Burton scored 19 of her 25 points in the first half as Golden State quickly built a big lead and also dished out eight assists, Gabby Williams added 25 points, and the Valkyries held off the Phoenix Mercury for an 87-81 win Tuesday night.Burton made 5 of her 7 shots in the initial two quarters and finished 7 for 15 from the floor. Janelle Salaun contributed 11 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Valkyries, who shot 57.1% on the way to a 49-32 lead at intermission and 44.3% for the game.Williams' 3-pointer with 5:58 to play put the Valkyries ahead 74-67, then she found Kaila Charles for a key layup with 2:26 left. Kayla Thornton's 3 the next time down helped seal it before Williams converted a three-point play moments later.Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes went down with 5:13 left in the second quarter after a collision but later returned. The Valkyries had lost two in a row and led by as many as 18 but were threatened in this one after Phoenix's 29-point third quarter cut the lead to 66-61 going into the final 10 minutes.Alyssa Thomas started and finished with 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds for the Mercury after dealing with a left calf injury and missing Friday's game at Portland. She was whistled for a technical foul 1:47 before halftime, then Kahleah Copper got a technical with 56 seconds remaining.Monique Akoa Makani scored 19 points and Natasha Mack grabbed 10 rebounds for Phoenix, which had won two straight following a six-game skid. The Mercury, who lost 95-79 at Chase Center on May 10 in the Valkyries' home opener, committed 16 turnovers that led to 17 points for Golden State. The teams will face off again July 29 in Phoenix.The Mercury dropped to 3-2 on the road against the Western Conference.Up nextMercury: Visit Dallas on Thursday night.Valkyries: Visit Seattle on Friday night.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 06: Jamal Musiala of Germany reacts during the international friendly match between United States and Germany at Soldier Field on June 06, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images Former Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer thinks that Jamal Musiala is on the verge of a breakout and will show up big as the World Cup goes on. “I’m absolutely convinced that Jamal Musiala will improve significantly as the tournament unfolds. Maybe not in the first match, maybe in the second – Then comes the knockout stage and suddenly he’ll explode. He’s gradually taking steps forward. When you have a world-class player, you should trust and support him. The coaching staff and his teammates should make him feel: ‘Yes, we know you’re not at 100% yet, but you will be. Join in, we trust you and you trust us,” Sammer said during an appearance on Sky Germany (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). Musiala has not been at his best so far, but Germany will need him to be moving forward. If that is possible or not in this tourney does remain a massive question. BFW CommentaryMost observers know and understand the great potential that Musiala has. However, the catastrophic injury that Musiala suffered in the Club World Cup last summer has had lingering effects on the 23-year-old.The Bayern Munich star has spoken about the difficulties that he has faced both physically and mentally and has not looked close to his old self — at least not yet. Last month, Nagelsmann spoke about Musiala not being 100% and spun it in a positive way by stating, “Even at 95 percent, Jamal is still one of the most extraordinary players on the planet. I’m incredibly happy he’s back and will help us.”However, what if he is not 95% or 90% or even 80%? It is hard to discern where Musiala is at, but is easy to see that he is not what he was before the injury. That, of course, will take time. so the expectations from Sammer and Nagelsmann might be too much for Musiala at this point of his recovery journey.It can be debated if he came back too early for Bayern Munich and it can be argued that his workload should have even been less than what it was when he did return, but Musiala has not looked consistently comfortable and has had trouble getting into the flow of the game for both club and country.This does not mean he is bad and it does not mean that he cannot get back to what he was, it just means that he needs more time to get right and also that placing expectations on him might not be the best thing for him or for Germany. So, what can Nagelsmann do? A move to wing might do Musiala wonders, no matter what his positional preference is. At wing, Musiala can work more in 1v1 situations, create for himself and the team, and operate from the outside-in, where he can take advantage of space when he beats his defender. Playing centrally, Musiala is getting beat up, looks tentative, and has struggled with decision-making. Putting him on the flank might help unleash the best version of what he is right now. So far, Nagelsmann has been reluctant to make the move, but it might be time to see if a change like this can help Germany — and Musiala — be the best version of themselves at this moment. If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

📅 The champion’s path in the 2026 AperturaLiga MX will begin activities before the 2026 World Cup ends. The Cementeros arrive with the mission of defending their title and already know their schedule for the 2026 Apertura. October 11 will be the match against Pumas (remembering the last final), the Clásico against América will be on September 12, while the match against Chivas will be in Matchday 17 on November 22. Will La Máquina be able to defend its championship?This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jazz Chisholm Jr. once again showed why he relishes being the opposing player fans love to hate.The flashy second baseman quieted chants of “overrated” in Cleveland with a home run in the eighth inning that sent the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Guardians on Tuesday night.“I love it. Kind of. I feel like that was the loudest chants all day we heard, so I think it was great,” Chisholm said.Chisholm admitted the chants got him a little too riled up in the fifth, when he overswung at a couple of pitches and struck out.He fell behind 0-2 against reliever Tim Herrin leading off the eighth before laying off a couple of pitches and working a full count. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Chisholm got a slider in the upper corner of the strike zone and drove it 360 feet into the right-field stands to put the Yankees back on top.It was Chisholm's fourth career go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later and his first since 2022 with the Miami Marlins.“I swung at the first pitch and realized that it was going to be tough to hit the slider on the outside corner. So I was just waiting on a ball to start right at me. I got one and handled it,” Chisholm said. “He’s a good pitcher and doesn’t really miss the spot. So for him to miss in that situation right there in that spot, it’s just like a huge sigh of relief.”Chisholm waited until the towering drive landed in the seats before leaving the batter's box and beginning his trot around the bases. He celebrated rounding third near the Guardians' dugout as he heard mostly boos from Cleveland's supporters but some cheers from Yankees fans in attendance.“You're still in that mode of getting after it, so that's what was going through my head at the time,” Chisholm said.It also was the second consecutive home run Chisholm has hit with one of Aaron Judge's bats, which is slightly longer and weighs an ounce more than the bats he normally uses.Chisholm said he went back to Judge's timber due to overswinging during his three earlier at-bats.Chisholm is only 4 for 24 in June, but three of his hits have been home runs. The three homers in the last six games have also come after Cleveland radio play-by-play announcer Tom Hamilton made a quip about Chisholm's appearance on “The Tonight Show” despite struggling at the plate that generated some traction on social media.“Pretty amazing he got on the Jimmy Fallon Show batting .239,” Hamilton said about Chisholm on June 2 when the Guardians were in New York.It was one of Hamilton's classic one-liners that has made him a Hall of Fame announcer, but whenever the comment involves someone from New York, especially when they are wearing pinstripes, it tends to resonate.That might also be why Yankees manager Aaron Boone might have had extra appreciation for Chisholm enjoying his trot around the bases.“I love them, I really do. Those I like,” Boone said.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Sep 26, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback Brandon Wimbush (12) runs for a touchdown in the third quarter against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 62-27. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images By late September of 2015, Notre Dame’s offense was becoming one of the most dangerous units in college football. Whether it was C.J. Prosise breaking long runs, Will Fuller stretching defenses deep, or DeShone Kizer growing more comfortable under center with each passing week, the Irish had discovered something powerful: they could score in bunches.That firepower was on full display on Sept. 26, 2015, when sixth-ranked Notre Dame welcomed Massachusetts to South Bend. While the Minutemen managed to hang around for much of the first half, the Irish eventually overwhelmed them with an avalanche of big plays, piling up 681 yards of offense and 62 points in a game that showcased just how explosive Brian Kelly’s offense had become.The following excerpt originally appeared in the September 28, 2015 edition of The Observer (Vol. 49, Issue 29).Running Away With ItIrish offense breaks out for highest point total since 1996 blowout winBY KIT LOUGHRANFive rushing touchdowns and 457 total rushing yards paved the way for No. 6 Notre Dame’s 62-27 win over Massachusetts on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.The Irish (4-0) out-ran the Minutemen (0-3) by more than 300 yards on their way to 681 total offensive yards and Notre Dame’s highest scoring output since 1996.“We were pretty good up front offensively,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said. “We were able to control the line of scrimmage around the football today.“I think that was the big difference in the ballgame.”Senior running back C.J. Prosise opened the scoring on a 57-yard rush to put the Irish on the scoreboard with 6:02 remaining in the first quarter. Prosise rushed for two touchdowns and 149 yards on 15 carries and became the first Notre Dame player with three straight 100-yard games since Darius Walker in 2005.The Minutemen, though, kept the Irish within striking distance in the first half, shrinking Notre Dame’s lead from 14-0 to 14-13 and then again from 21-13 to 21-20.“Any team that plays Notre Dame is going to bring their best game,” Prosise said. “We knew they were going to come out with some trick plays and do whatever they could to stay in the game.”With four minutes left in the first half, the game reached its turning point.The Irish defense held Massachusetts to a single yard on three plays after sophomore punter Tyler Newsome and junior cornerback Devin Butler combined to pin the Minutemen at their own one-yard line.Freshman receiver C.J. Sanders then responded with a 50-yard punt return. He cut at the 35-yard line, again at the 10 and then ran straight into the end zone to put the Irish up 28-20 with 3:21 left in the half. Sanders’s touchdown return marked the first for Notre Dame since Golden Tate’s touchdown return against Pittsburgh in 2009.“I was really excited,” Sanders said. “It was 21-20 at the time, and I told my guys to give me some time, and I’ll make a play. I knew the punt return shifted momentum. I was thankful and blessed that I was able to help the team.”“They were running up to me,” Sanders said. “I think that was the first one since Golden Tate.“Everybody was really excited. They haven’t seen that in a while.”Sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer connected with senior receiver Chris Brown on a seven-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left in the first half to give the Irish a 35-20 halftime lead.After the break, the Irish let the Minutemen only find the end zone once more, while Notre Dame added three more touchdowns to its total.“We had to come out after halftime and score,” Prosise said. “After that, it just took off and we got our confidence up.”The Irish have now rushed for more than 200 yards in five straight games, dating back to their 2014 Music City Bowl win over LSU. The last time Notre Dame started a season with four straight 200-yard rushing games was 1989, when the Irish hit the mark 11 games in a row. It also marks the longest streak at any point in the season since the Irish ran for at least 200 yards in six consecutive games in 2000.Kizer was 15 of 22 passing for 207 yards, recording two touchdowns and one interception, while freshman quarterback Brandon Wimbush was 3 of 5 passing for 17 yards in relief. Adding to the Irish running game, Wimbush scored on a 58-yard run late in the third quarter.Junior receiver Will Fuller also added his sixth touchdown catch of the season for the Irish.“[The game today] was great,” Kizer said. “The offensive line was balling like no other today.“Hopefully we can continue to get into a routine in the way that we prepare, and that I prepare, for each game when it comes to the small things. I learned from some mistakes from last game in terms of how I should prepare the night before, so things worked a little better this week.”Kizer and the Irish take these lessons as they head into their next game at No. 12 Clemson on Saturday.The final score reflected what Notre Dame fans were beginning to realize about the 2015 team: if the Irish found a rhythm offensively, opponents could quickly find themselves buried under a wave of points.Against Massachusetts, Notre Dame scored touchdowns through the air, on the ground, and on special teams while producing one of the most prolific offensive performances of the Kelly era. The 62-point outburst marked the program’s highest scoring game in nearly two decades and served as another reminder that this team possessed the firepower to compete with anyone in the country.More importantly, the victory sent the Irish into the season’s first true measuring-stick game with momentum firmly on their side. A trip to Clemson awaited the following week, but after watching Notre Dame rack up 681 yards and score seemingly at will, there was little doubt the Irish offense was ready for the challenge.Cheers & GO IRISH!

SWOOPE — Maybe the sixth time is the charm.Buffalo Gap will be returning to the state softball semifinals after beating Lancaster 7-1 June 9. They will meet Eastside in a repeat of last year's semifinals. Eastside beat George Wythe 10-0 behind a perfect game by Emma Sartin, who had 15 strikeouts in six innings. The game is set for Friday, June 12 at 12:30 p.m. at Salem's Moyer Sports Complex. Bailey Tribble led with the bat in the quarterfinal win over Lancaster, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including going deep to open the home half of the first inning with a solo home run. Rachel Showalter got the win in the circle, pitching seven innings, giving up just the one run on three hits and striking out eight.Showalter said that early run helped her confidence."We worked hard on hitting this whole week, so that's what we're trying to do," she said. "Just get on base and go out there and give it our all."Defense was key early for Gap, especially from catcher Elissa Caricofe. The junior had a huge play at the plate, tagging out a Lancaster runner in the first, and another play where she threw down to third and Faith Showalter tagged out the runner in the second. Buffalo Gap coach Holly Desper said that defense is so important because it shows the pitcher that her teammates have her back. "Us firing home knowing Elissa is going to block it up at the plate, that she's going to make the play if we get the ball there, that's huge," said Desper. "Also, if she catches a runner just a little off, Faith is going to be there and we're going to make the play."Tribble's homer gave Buffalo Gap a slim 1-0 lead, a margin that lasted through 3 1/2 innings before the Bison offense erupted for six runs in the fourth inning. It was the second straight game where fourth-inning fireworks blew open a tight game. More: Berkstresser pitches gem in Riverheads baseball state quarterfinal winAll the runs in the fourth came with two outs. An Elissa Caricofe single and a Charleigh Phillips walk put two on for Makenzie Wooddell, who smacked a line drive single into center for two runs. Avery Wheeler than walked before Tribble did damage again with her bat, doubling to left to score one more and put Gap up 4-0.One batter later, Faith Showalter ripped a pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer and a 7-0 lead. "I just knew that I needed a hit," said Showalter.Lancaster finally got a run across in the top of the sixth, but it was too little, too late for the Red Devils, who lost for the second straight year to Buffalo Gap. Offense has been an issue for Buffalo Gap in the state semifinals. They haven't scored a run in their last five appearances. The team knows stringing together hits and scoring has to be the focus against Eastside this time.When asked the key to winning in the semifinals, both Tribble and Faith Showalter had the same answer at the same time — hits."And quicker," Tribble said. "Not wait to the fourth inning," Showalter said. We'll find out Friday if they can do just that. More: Join the massive Staunton July 4 250th celebrationPatrick Hite is a reporter at The News Leader. Story ideas and tips are always welcome. Connect with Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and on Instagram @hitepatrick. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Buffalo Gap beats Lancaster in state softball quarterfinals June 9

Bob Simmons, seen here in 1995, was the first Black head football coach at Oklahoma State. (The Denver Post via Getty Images)The Denver Post via Getty ImagesFormer Oklahoma State football coach Bob Simmons tied on Tuesday, the school announced.He was 77. Specifics of his death are not yet known.Simmons, who was the first and only Black head football coach at Oklahoma State, spent six seasons leading the Cowboys. The school hired him ahead of the 1995 campaign to replace Pat Jones, who had managed just two conference wins over the past four seasons combined. Simmons led the Cowboys to an 8-4 record in 1997. They reached as high as No. 12 in the national rankings that season and earned a trip to the Alamo Bowl, which was the program’s only bowl appearance under his watch and the school’s first in nearly a decade. Simmons earned Big 12 Coach of the Year honors that season, too.In total, Simmons finished with a 30-38 record over his six seasons with the Cowboys. He parted with the program after the 2000 season, and was eventually replaced by Les Miles. That marked Simmons’ only head coaching stop in his career, though he spent decades as an assistant throughout the sport, and was on staff as the linebackers coach at Colorado in 1990 when the Buffaloes won the national championship. Simmons also spent time on staff at Notre Dame, Washington, Toledo and West Virginia.

Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) stops a shot by Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) during the 3rd period in game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile ArenaLAS VEGAS — By now, it should be clearly evident to anyone watching this Stanley Cup Final that no lead is safe. There’s no room for comfort. And the word panic has been eliminated from the vocabulary of both the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes.The chaos that has been the Cup Final continued Tuesday with Game 4 at T-Mobile Arena. By now, we should be used to the twists and turns, the crazy bounces, the near misses and the occasional brilliance that has defined the series.In the end, it was Carolina that prevailed in yet another wild affair, 5-3, to draw even in the series at 2-2. The always-pivotal Game 5 will be Thursday at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh in what has now become a best-of-3 battle.“We battled back but we’ll regroup and get ready for the next one,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said.The Knights better figure out a way to slow down if not stop Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal or he may be the one accepting the Cup from commissioner Gary Bettman as well as taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. He had two goals Tuesday, including the game-winner, scoring while falling down and beating Carter Hart with 6:32 gone in the third period.“It’s a good thing, no question,” Staal said of his goal-scoring exploits (he has five in the Final through four games, having scored in each game). “The puck’s going in right now so I’ll take it.”Tortorella said: “Staal is killing us in front of the net. We need to do a better job around the blue.”Down in the series and needing a spark, Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour changed goalies, replacing Frederik Andersen with Brandon Bussi, who took over to start the third period in Game 3 and played well only to lose in double overtime on a bad bounce off the T-Mobile end boards.It was working. For a while anyway. This time, the Canes got the fortuitous bounce less than two minutes into Game 4 as the puck caromed off the end boards before Hart could corral it. It wound up on the stick of Logan Stankoven and ultimately in the Vegas net.“It’s hard to get game reps in practice,” Bussi said, who was the fortunate beneficiary when Brayden McNabb’s apparent goal at the end of the first period was taken off the board after it was determined the puck went in after time had expired. “So I think it helped to have played (in Game 3).”But if we’ve learned anything in this series, it’s that a two-goal lead is anything but safe. The Canes had leads of 2-0 and 3-1 only to watch the Knights rally, as has been their custom throughout the season.William Karlsson made it 3-2 early in the second period. Later in the period, Brett Howden tied it 3-3, setting a team record in the process with his 14th playoff goal. Jonathan Marchessault had 13 in 2023, the year Vegas won the Cup.In each game so far, the Knights have had the better of things during the middle stanza. The Canes have found their second gear in the second part of the third period. This time, the Knights made a push to take the lead during an early-period power play. Jack Eichel hit the crossbar. Pavel Dorofeyev had Bussi beat at the left post but he caught a rolling puck and couldn't get enough on the shot to put it home. Mark Stone had a great redirect chance that failed to find the net and Theodore snuck in from the blind side and had a clean look but couldn't beat Bussi.The team that wins does so by taking advantage of the opposition’s mistakes, which is what usually happens. The Knights had a few miscues and virtually all of them resulted in the puck going in their net. And when they had their chances to score, they were unable to capitalize at the key moment.Staal’s game-winner was a case in point as Theodore, the hero of Game 3, turned it over trying to clear the puck out of his end. Nik Ehlers wound up with it and Hart made a big save to stop him. But the puck found its way to Staal and as he was losing his balance and falling to the ice, he swiped at the puck and it went by Hart and in.“We’ve got to make better decisions, myself included,” Theodore said of the turnovers and mistakes Vegas made in its end of the ice.For the Knights, the chance for redemption will come quickly. They’ll fly to Raleigh Wednesday and play Thursday knowing there’s a Game 6 at T-Mobile Arena Sunday. Whether it will be with a 3-2 lead or a 3-2 deficit will likely depend if they can start faster, finish better and put the disappointment of Game 4 behind them. They’ve been a good road team during the postseason and they have a win at the Lenovo Center, having taken Game 1, 5-4.“We’re playing a good team but I have faith in our team,” Karlsson said.

Jun 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) looks to pass against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) during the 2nd period in game four of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.Often, when a playoff series winds up being this close, it comes down to who has the best player on the ice every single night.In Game Three, it was Mitch Marner’s natural hat trick that helped propel the Golden Knights to victory. However, Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal has made an impact with goals in three straight games heading into Game Four. Unless the Golden Knights can find answers, that line will wreak havoc throughout the entire Finals, potentially to a Stanley Cup.That focus has never been more apparent after Game Four, when Staal’s two goal effort put the Hurricanes level with the Golden Knights once again in a 5-3 victory on Tuesday.“He’s killing us in front of the net,” said Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella about his team’s latest nemesis. “We have got to do a better job around the blue.”The first period could not have started any rockier for the Golden Knights, as Logan Stankoven got the scoring started for Carolina 66 seconds in, quickly followed by Jackson Blake hitting a one-timer to put Vegas in a 2-0 hole less than four minutes in.“They’re…just highly competitive players, but they’re super talented too,” said Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour about two-thirds of one of his top lines. “So…you have that combination, that’s pretty special.”However, as this entire series has proven, no team is willing to stay down for long. After delivering a hit to Staal, Mark Stone found himself on a breakaway against Brandon Bussi. Stone would fake the postseason-debuting goaltender with a slapshot, then deke around him for a tap-in to put Vegas on the board and bring life back to T-Mobile Arena.The celebration would be short-lived as Staal would get his revenge on a power play goal to restore the two-goal advantage, although Brayden McNabb nearly cut the deficit to one with a shot that just crossed the goal line a second too late.“Just the fact that it’s happened,” Golden Knights forward Colton Sissons stated about his team giving up goals in bunches. “We got to limit that, for sure.”The second period, however, would see the Golden Knights return some order to the game. Off of a good offensive zone entry by Marner, Rasmus Andersson would pick up the puck and circle behind the net. The play would cause Bussi to scramble, leaving him out of position for William Karlsson’s one-time shot to get Vegas back within one.With less than three minutes to go in the middle frame, another multi-goal lead effectively went up in smoke. Taking advantage of a quick-developing play, Brett Howden surprised Bussi with a shot through the legs of Hurricanes defenseman K’Andre Miller for his 14th goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, crossing Jonathan Marchessault (2023) for most in a single postseason in Vegas franchise history.“I feel like the whole series has been a momentum series,” mentioned Andersson about the back-and-forth nature of this Final. “If you get one, you get two, or if you’re down two, you come back and all of a sudden, you get three. It’s been kind of the same all series. When they get one, we got to find a way to stop the bleeding.”In the third period, however, the Golden Knights’ effort would be challenged once again. Taking advantage of a turnover from Shea Theodore, Staal made an impact once again with a phenomenal backhand while falling to the ice to return the lead to Carolina.“For a second, I wasn’t sure if it went in,” admitted Staal on his game-winning goal. “I was in my own world, and it was an incredible moment.”Nikolaj Ehlers would seal the deal with a 200-foot empty net goal, and the series now transitions into a best-of-three.With plenty to clean up, the Golden Knights must now regroup for what has quickly turned into a pivotal Game Five at Lenovo Center.“There are a lot of good minutes in the game. It’s just for free,” said Tortorella about the sequence that ultimately cost the Golden Knights Game Four. “That’s a hard one for me in the third period. So we’ll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesThe White Sox have been assertive about calling up their prospects this season. They have had twelve players make their major league debuts this year, and the most recent of them, outfielder Braden Montgomery, ranked 21st overall in MLB’s top 100 prospects, joined the big league club Tuesday night. He introduced himself to the Sox faithful with gusto.Up to bat in the tenth inning, the Sox trailing the Braves 5-4 and two outs on the board with a runner on third, Montgomery homered just over the White Sox bullpen in left field to give his team a 6-5 win.“Just how we drew it up,” Montgomery joked. “That was unreal.”Not just unreal, but rare. Montgomery was only the fifth player in major league history to hit a walk-off home run in his debut. Tuesday night’s homer puts him in a group with Miguel Cabrera.“It’s history for me. It’s going to be well remembered forever,” Montgomery said. “Any time you are in a sentence with Miguel Cabrera, you are probably in pretty good conversation.”BRADEN MONTGOMERY HITS A WALK-OFF HOMER IN HIS MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT! pic.twitter.com/ifxPs2t57F— MLB (@MLB) June 10, 2026Delivering a walk-off homer in your major league debut is hardly what’s expected, but like many of the other players the Sox have called up this year, Montgomery is coming up and expected to contribute. The White Sox have been one of the surprise teams of the American League this season, and although they still value the development of their young players, the Sox are calling on the young guys to produce.“He’s here to play,” manager Will Venable said of Montgomery. “We’re not going to call him up here and sit him on the bench. He’s a guy that we’re excited to have in the lineup on a daily basis.”Montgomery owned a .970 OPS in 56 games with Double-A Birmingham and Triple-A Charlotte this year, and manager Will Venable said the plan was to bring him up to the majors and give him some runway to play regularly. He can play all three outfield spots, but Venable said to expect him to play mostly in right field, like he did in his debut on Tuesday. It’s not reasonable to expect Montgomery to produce offensively at the level he was in the minors, at least not right away or with consistency, but because Venable plans to keep penciling him into the lineup for the time being, Montgomery isn’t stepping into the batter’s box trying to prove himself with one at-bat.“I try not to put pressure on myself at all,” Montgomery said. “You go and you do wherever your name is written. If your name is written on the bench that day, you’re ready for a possibly important pinch hit at-bat. If you’re written in the lineup, you’re ready for whatever that takes. “It’s really just a matter of being where your feet are and executing whatever role you have for that day.”Montgomery is coming up in one of the toughest stretches the White Sox have on their schedule. They face the Braves and Dodgers this homestand and then head to the Bronx to face the Yankees. In the past, the Sox might have deliberately chosen a softer landing for debuting their prospects, but that philosophy has shifted.“The biggest focus all along was getting [Montgomery] to a place where we felt most comfortable about bringing him to the big leagues. It happens to be at this part of the schedule,” general manager Chris Getz said. “We are trying to balance what’s best for a player developmentally as long as being as competitive as we can at the Major League level. We felt like today was the right time.”Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesBoth on an individual level and as a team, the next nine games are something of a proving ground for the White Sox and for guys like Montgomery. Venable has been clear that he thinks his team is for real, but six games at Rate Field against the two best National League teams and three road games against one of the American League’s best will put that belief to the test. The same is true for a guy like Montgomery. He’s not in Chicago just because it’s the right time in his personal development as a player, but also because the Sox are looking for ways to keep winning. Whatever happens with Montgomery in the short term, and however the 2026 season turns out for the White Sox, they have already surpassed preseason expectations. No projections had them owning an above .500 record in the second week of June.It’s possible they will bolster the roster via trade in the next month, but Getz was clear on Tuesday that he does not plan to stray far from his long-term timetable for the White Sox just because they’ve gotten off to a surprisingly good start this season.“You don’t want to lose sight of the development of these players. That’s been the primary focus. And it will continue to stay on that track,” Getz said. “But I also don’t want to dismiss and be unfair to what these guys are doing. That’s the beauty of baseball and professional sports, you need to recognize how these guys are playing, where we are in the standings.“The highest priority is finding opportunities to give runway to young players in our Minor League system or a waiver wire acquisition that makes sense to fuel this club. It’s more being respectful to this team and how they are playing but not losing sight of the future of the Chicago White Sox and what we built, where our farm system is.”Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesAt the same time, it’s hard to ignore what seems possible for the White Sox this season. Sure, on paper the most important thing is to be mindful of the development process for guys like Montgomery, but it’s becoming increasingly hard to deny that the Sox have some serious juice.And it’s also hard to ignore the fact that Montgomery isn’t alone in joining the big league club and providing some spark. Again, there have been twelve debuts this year — and there will be more — including Jacob Gonzalez, who has been in the majors for barely over a week. He was called upon to take Munetaka Murakami’s place when he strained his hamstring. Gonzalez has a .887 OPS so far and drove in the game-tying run in the seventh inning on Tuesday.“Especially right there, it’s impressive what [Mongtomery] did because all of us would have wanted to hit a walk-off home run right there,” Gonzalez said, “and to actually do it and be calm […] Very impressive, and props to Braden, because that was sick.”It could be a memorable summer, and even fall, on the south side.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Wade Meckler and Jo Adell keyed a five-run second inning with two-run doubles, and Walbert Ureña navigated heavy traffic through five shutout innings to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 10-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.Houston put two runners on in the first, second and fifth and loaded the bases in the third, but Ureña (4-4) pitched out of each jam to lower his ERA to 2.44 on the season and 1.84 in eight starts since early May.The 22-year-old right-hander gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked five in his 107-pitch effort, which included a 97 mph fastball to whiff Joey Loperfido with the bases loaded to end the third.The Angels scored two unearned runs off starter Kai-Wei Teng (3-5) in the first, one when Nolan Schanuel was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and the other on Oswald Peraza’s RBI grounder.Backup catcher Sebastián Rivero sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a one-out single. Zach Neto was hit by a pitch and Mike Trout snapped an 0-for-22 slump with a single to load the bases.Meckler doubled to left-center for two runs and a 4-0 lead. Adell doubled to left to make it 6-0, and Peraza’s RBI groundout extended it to 7-0.The Angels added three insurance runs in the eighth on Trey Mancini’s sacrifice fly and RBI groundouts by Peraza and Denzer Guzman. Los Angeles relievers Brent Suter, Drew Pomeranz and Kirby Yates covered the final four innings.Schanuel, who has been slowed by a left ankle injury, exited after three innings because of left calf tightness. Rivero, who also singled in the third and has seven hits in his last seven at-bats, was removed in the fifth because of a left wrist injury.Up nextAstros RHP Peter Lambert (5-4, 3.55 ERA) will oppose Angels LHP Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.26) in Wednesday night’s series finale.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

Braden Mongomery calls game with a walk-off home run in his MLB debut. | (Getty Images) Wow. What an incredible game from the South Siders, who never gave up regardless of how many times their safety squeeze failed to score a run, or how many home runs Matt Olson hit against them (two, by the way). This game had everything: solid pitching, drama, home runs, extra innings, an extended hit streak, and a rookie debut for the ages. The White Sox (35-31) defeated the best team in MLB, stealing an extra-inning W against the Braves (45-22), 6-5. Braden Montgomery went 2-for-4 in his debut and checked many firsts off the list: first hit, RBI, home run, and walk-off. On top of that, Miguel Vargas flashed his power yet again, Chase Meidroth extended his hit streak from nine to 10, and the South Siders went 4-for-12 (.300) with runners in scoring position. Could have done without the bunts, however.Because of course, the Good Guys went with their trusty opener, as Brandon Eisert was slated to man the first inning, but he only threw strikes roughly half of the time (11 of 21 pitches), gave up two runs, and forced Erick Fedde to enter the game in the first anyway. Eisert was somehow able to strike out Ronald Acuña Jr. after falling behind in the count, 3-0, to start the game, but a base hit from Michael Harris III began the madness before the lefty ceded a two-run bomb to Matt Olson, making it 2-0, Atlanta. Before Fedde came in, Eisert recorded one more out before putting another pair of runners on base, but Fedde thankfully struck out Austin Riley to end the threat.Fedde made it through the second (mostly) unscathed, not without hitting Ronald Acuña and instigating some Acuña on Acuña crime, as Ronald was thrown out attempting to steal, tagged out by his brother Luisangel to end the inning — later confirmed by review. Unfortunately, Ronald later left the game with hamstring tightness, and hopefully it’s not a serious injury that sends him to the IL.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.And listen, it’s not a Fedde outing without him giving up at least one homer, so of course Matt Olson mashed his second of the game; a solo shot to left to extend the Atlanta lead to three, 3-0. Fedde dug the hole deeper on his own, surrendering the fourth run for the Braves on what should have been an inning-ending double play. He was unable to catch the ball for the final out, so it rolled to the dugout, and the Braves scored a run, 4-0. Despite being responsible for one of his two runs allowed with the error, only one was earned on the six hits he relinquished while striking out four.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.On the offensive front, it took a few innings for the bats to get heated up, and they did bunt themselves out of some scoring situations, but they never counted themselves out and eventually found ways to score and tie the game at four. With two outs in the third, Sam Antonacci kept the inning alive by drawing a walk, just for Miguel Vargas to blast his 16th home run of the season to cut the lead in half, 4-2.The Good Guys grabbed another back in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with Jacob Gonzalez ripping a base hit to right, and Meidroth getting hit by a pitch to put a runner in scoring position for Montgomery’s second at-bat. It’s possible many rookies would fold in this situation, but Montgomery isn’t just any rookie. He waited back and went with a hanging, middle-outside fastball to drive a 107 mph single out to left for his first MLB career base hit, killing two birds with one stone by also knocking in his first RBI, bringing the Sox within one, 4-3.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.Now, let’s talk about that bunting again. Sure, have the Good Guys succeeded in small ball in some situations this year? Yes. Does that mean they should do it every single chance they get? No! Not once, but twice, the South Siders batted and ran themselves out of innings by attempting to execute a safety squeeze. Completely killing the rally after Montgomery’s RBI, Luisangel bunted with Meidroth on third, but it didn’t go far enough, so the catcher was able to tag Meidroth with several steps to spare.Just a couple of innings later, the Sox once again had runners on the corners with one out, and Drew Romo laid a bunt down towards the first base side, but since Olson was already charging in, he had Grichuk dead to rights, ending with him getting tagged out in a rundown. Antonacci ended up driving a ball out to right in hopes of tying the game, but Derek Hill was thrown out at the plate, later confirmed by review. A much better situation would have been potentially not sending Hill and handing bases loaded over to Miguel Vargas — you know, the guy that hit a line drive home run just a couple of at-bats ago — but hindsight is always 20/20.Eventually, they were able to strike with runners in scoring position. It took nine pitches, but Vargas drew a walk to leadoff the seventh, and Andrew Benintendi poked a base hit to right, allowing Miguel to advance to third. Jacob Gonzalez came through in the clutch and scored Vargas for his fifth run batted in this season, 4-4.It’s good news that the White Sox bullpen was on point today, as the Braves didn’t score after the third until the ghost runner was in effect in the 10th. Tyler Gilbert completed the sixth for Fedde, and the seventh and eighth were clean as both Tyler Davis and Seranthony Domínguez did not give up a hit. The ninth was also solid with Grant Taylor navigating the inning with one hit given up, but keeping the game tied for the Good Guys into the bottom of the ninth. Naturally, the bats could not ignite, and to extra innings we went.Now responsible for the ghost runner in the 10th, Grant Taylor gave up a leadoff base hit to Mauricio Dubón that allowed Atlanta to take the lead back, 5-4. Taylor was able to work through the jam even with the added pressure with the help of some much-needed defense, and the Braves’ rally ended with one run while the damage could have been way worse. On a ground ball to third from Austin Riley, Miguel Vargas made a heads-up play by throwing Dubón out at the plate, and Mike Yastrzemski flew out to give the South Siders a chance to tie or win the game.With Benintendi starting at second in the bottom of the 10th, Gonzalez came close to tying the game with a ball down the left-field line, but it was ruled foul, and he struck out. Benintendi advanced to third on a ground out from Meidroth, bringing the White Sox down to their final out with Montgomery up to bat. The ending of this game felt magical, not only because of the drama, but because you could tell he felt confident being in this position. The moment was no match for the rookie, who checked off his first career home run and walk-off, blasting a two-run shot to the opposite field to win the game. The emotion from him, his family, the fans, hell, from me in my living room! It’s a moment that Braden, or any of us, will not be forgetting for quite some time.Ball. Game.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.He was the number two prospect for a reason, folks. It’s been one game, but the fact that he can rise to the moment against the best team in baseball might just be a glimpse into how special a player Montgomery can be. The homer also secured the second win of the season for Taylor, also giving some credit where it is due.As Tuesday’s games come to a close, the White Sox will head into Wednesday just a half-game behind the Cleveland Guardians, who lost to the New York Yankees, allowing the Good Guys to snag a full game. I don’t think I’ve ever been happy about a Yankees win, but I will take it. And it also brings me joy to know that the Guardians are probably super annoyed upon seeing the glorious Montgomery bomb. Despite being without their best hitter and having to piecemeal the starting rotation and bullpen, they continue to fight and find ways to win, and if they can keep it up, a division title doesn’t sound so crazy after all.Who was the MVP for the White Sox?Miguel Vargas (3B): 1-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, HRJacob Gonzalez (1B): 2-for-4, R, RBI, BB, KBraden Montgomery (RF): 2-for-5, R, 3 RBI, 2 K, walk-off HR, MLB debutTyler Davis: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 RSeranthony Domínguez: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BBGrant Taylor: 2 IP, 2 H, R (0 ER), K, WIN (2-0) pollcode.com free pollsWho was the Cold Cat for the White Sox?Tristan Peters: 0-for-2, KLuisangel Acuña: 0-for-2Drew Romo: 0-for-3, BB, EErick Fedde: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 4 K, HR, HBBrandon Eisert: 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, K, HR pollcode.com free polls

DETROIT,MICHIGAN-January 18: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels #5 celebrates after an interception during the second half of an NFL Divisional Playoff game between the Washington Commanders and the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Saturday, January 18, 2025. (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Commanders fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.Today, we have two questions in the Reacts survey.Now that teams have completed free agency, the draft, and a couple of big June 1st trades have taken place in the NFL, rosters are pretty well set for training camp, so it’s finally time to make some predictions. Today, we’re gonna focus on the NFC division title and the Commanders’ playoff future.Question 1The first question simply asks you to predict which of the four division teams will win the division crown in 2026.Here’s the case that might be made by the fans of each of the four teams:Dallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are sure that this is their year! The team is primed to conquer the division under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who looks to elevate an offense that consistently produced elite passing metrics in ‘25. Backed by new defensive coordinator Christian Parker and the crucial addition of top-11 draft pick Caleb Downs to dramatically upgrade a defense that allowed 511 points last year, Dallas has the roster firepower to secure the crown.New York GiantsThe New York Giants have undergone a massive cultural overhaul by hiring head coach John Harbaugh to establish a winning foundation. By pairing his leadership with free-agency upgrades like playmaker Isaiah Likely to supercharge an offense that averaged 5.6 yards per play, New York has the structural blueprint to completely dominate the NFC East.Philadelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles possess an incredibly stable foundation under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. This defensive and head coaching continuity protects a roster that outgained opponents with 5,341 total yards last season while showcasing a highly disciplined offense that threw a mere 7 interceptions to dictate the pace of the division.Washington CommandersThe Washington Commanders are set to surge forward as defensive coordinator Daronte Jones unleashes an aggressive, newly revamped scheme, as will offensive coordinator David Blough, who brings a new philosophy to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders high-powered scoring attack. Supported by explosive roster upgrades like elite linebacker Leo Chenal to fix a defense that gave up 26.5 points per game last year, Washington has the tactical upgrades needed to claim the division title.Question 2Our second question asks you to gaze deep into your crystal ball to predict Washington’s playoff fate.While the 11 choices on offer may look overwhelming, you basically just need to decide:Will they make the playoffs?If so, will they go as a wildcard team or as a division winner?How many playoff games will they win?Just put the answer to those three questions together to select your answer.Example 1: If you think the Commanders will be a wilcard team that loses in the divisional round, then you would select: “Wildcard 1-1”Example 2: If you think the Commanders will be a division winnerwith a first round bye that loses in the NFC championship game, then you would select: “NFCE Champ: 1-1”Example 3: If you think the Commanders will be a division winnerbut not the top seed in the NFC that loses in the super bowl, then you would select: “NFCE Champ: 3-1”Comments & ResultsOf course, we invite you to answer the survey questions below, but also feel free to expand on your answers and provide nuance in the comments section. While you are certainly free to simply share which choices you made on the survey questions, the most interesting comments will explain why you answered the way you did. I rely on those comments when discussing the results of the survey when they are posted in a separate article the next few days.POLL QUESTIONSPlease take our survey

Defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor was among players generating buzz during the Cincinnati Bengals' organized team activities.The Bengals signed the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Taylor in April as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.During the team's OTA June 9, Taylor broke up a pass on a deep ball by starting quarterback Joe Burrow.What to know about Taylor, who has played in 65 regular-season games over four NFL seasons:Taylor and former Bengal Jessie Bates III were teammates at Wake Forest.Bates' second (and final) season as a defensive back for the Demon Deacons was 2017, Taylor's first at Wake.Bates, a second-round pick of the Bengals in the 2018 draft, played five seasons in Cincinnati before leaving for the Atlanta Falcons.Taylor played DB at Wake for five seasons.Taylor was a sixth-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2022.The only player from the Bengals' 2022 draft class who remains with the team is fellow defensive back Dax Hill.Taylor played in 57 regular-season games and one playoff game for the Chargers before being traded in November 2025 to the New York Jets for a conditional 2028 seventh-round pick.Taylor played in eight games for the Jets after the trade, which brought Taylor closer to his hometown of Asbury Park, on the Jersey Shore.Ja'Sir Taylor's career stats include 21 special-teams tackles.In 65 regular-season games, Taylor has made 12 starts and recorded 76 tackles, with one tackle for loss.He has 15 passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.Taylor has faced the Bengals once.The Chargers won Taylor's only game against the Bengals, 34-27, in November 2024.He defended Tee Higgins, who finished the game with nine catches for 148 yards with a touchdown, on several plays.Taylor also broke up a deep pass attempt to Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase during the game's fourth quarter.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Ja'Sir Taylor? Bengals' new defensive back impresses at OTAs

Defensive back Ja'Sir Taylor was among players generating buzz during the Cincinnati Bengals' organized team activities.The Bengals signed the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Taylor in April as an unrestricted free agent to a one-year contract for the 2026 season.During the team's OTA June 9, Taylor broke up a pass on a deep ball by starting quarterback Joe Burrow.What to know about Taylor, who has played in 65 regular-season games over four NFL seasons:Taylor and former Bengal Jessie Bates III were teammates at Wake Forest.Bates' second (and final) season as a defensive back for the Demon Deacons was 2017, Taylor's first at Wake.Bates, a second-round pick of the Bengals in the 2018 draft, played five seasons in Cincinnati before leaving for the Atlanta Falcons.Taylor played DB at Wake for five seasons.Taylor was a sixth-round draft pick of the Chargers in 2022.The only player from the Bengals' 2022 draft class who remains with the team is fellow defensive back Dax Hill.Taylor played in 57 regular-season games and one playoff game for the Chargers before being traded in November 2025 to the New York Jets for a conditional 2028 seventh-round pick.Taylor played in eight games for the Jets after the trade, which brought Taylor closer to his hometown of Asbury Park, on the Jersey Shore.Ja'Sir Taylor's career stats include 21 special-teams tackles.In 65 regular-season games, Taylor has made 12 starts and recorded 76 tackles, with one tackle for loss.He has 15 passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.Taylor has faced the Bengals once.The Chargers won Taylor's only game against the Bengals, 34-27, in November 2024.He defended Tee Higgins, who finished the game with nine catches for 148 yards with a touchdown, on several plays.Taylor also broke up a deep pass attempt to Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase during the game's fourth quarter.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who is Ja'Sir Taylor? Bengals' new defensive back impresses at OTAs

It depends on both ideas and cultural inheritance.

United States attorneys have responded to the lawsuit trying to stop this weekend’s UFC Freedom 250 card. U.S. attorneys said that neither the Department of Interior nor the National Park Service violated any laws regarding the upcoming bout, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday on the South Lawn of the White House. The lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of two Virginia residents by the Public Integrity Project, was filed last weekend in federal court in the District of Columbia in an effort to stop the fight card. The lawsuit called the event on White House grounds “deeply corrupt” and alleged that several federal rules and regulations had been violated in an effort by President Donald Trump to give UFC head Dana White a favor."The President is giving White and his company what none have enjoyed before: unfettered access to the White House and Lincoln Memorial to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access," the lawsuit reads.Plaintiffs in the lawsuit alleged that both the Department of Interior and the National Park Service organized a private sporting event on public property and failed to obtain congressional approval for construction sites. The suit is asking for an injunction to stop the event. But the government disputed those claims, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, and said that such an injunction would both harm the defendants and affiliated parties after more than $60 million and “tens of thousands of hours of labor” were spent to prepare the fight card. Stopping the event, the government argued, would cause more harm than if an injunction was not granted. The government said that the delay in filing was “inexcusable,” considering that the event has been public knowledge for nearly a year. It’s unclear when a decision will be made regarding the injunction. Plaintiffs can file another reply on Wednesday, and oral arguments could be made on Thursday.Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria are set to headline the UFC Freedom 250 card in their lightweight title bout on Sunday. Alex Pereira and Ciryl Gane will square off in the heavyweight interim title bout, too. The UFC is set to hold news conferences on Friday night in front of the Lincoln Memorial, and weigh-ins on Saturday at the Ellipse. The fights on Sunday will take place on Trump’s 80th birthday. The UFC has said that it will pay $700,000 to restore the South Lawn after the fight is done.If it moves forward, it will be the first professional sports event held on White House grounds in history.

Impact Ratings: How Will PSG Players Fare At The World Cup?After yet another glorious campaign under Luis Enrique, which saw them successfully defend their Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League crowns, Paris Saint-Germain supporters will be looking to kick back and enjoy watching their players compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. PSG are tied with Arsenal (16) for the third-most representatives in this summer’s tournament, with Bayern Munich (17) and Manchester City (19) leading the way.Read the full article by subscribing to Ensemble PSG on SubstackGroup AHaving spent the past few seasons as an impact substitute at PSG, Kang-in Lee has nevertheless proven to be an integral figure in South Korea’s attack alongside captain Heung-min Son, earning praise from the likes of Rodney Marsh, and he’ll be looking to trade the bench for the starting XI in this summer’s tournament. Lee has already proven his worth on the biggest stages, assisting against Ghana in the 2022 World Cup before bagging a goal contribution in his final three World Cup qualifiers in 2025. This isn’t just a chance for Lee to raise his value and earn a transfer to a place where he’ll find more protagonism—this is a chance for him to take the baton from Son and cement himself as the talisman of the Taeguk Warriors.Projected Impact: 8/10Group CMarquinhos will be seeking to become the first non-Real Madrid player since 1974 to win the World Cup and the Champions League in the same year, adding to his already legendary career. At 32 years of age, Marquinhos has established himself as the captain of PSG and Brazil, and after narrowly edging him out for the European Cup, he’ll be looking to team up with Gabriel Magalhães to form an indomitable center-back pairing.Projected Impact: 9/10Continue reading by subscribing to Ensemble PSG on Substack

Market analysts are usually judged on their ability to call rate decisions or predict price movements, but with the world's biggest football tournament, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, getting underway this Thursday, one prominent investment research firm has turned its models on a rather different kind of asset: the beautiful game.BCA Research, a Montreal-based investment research firm, has published its third edition of what it calls "The Most Important of All Unimportant Forecasts", using a proprietary two-step statistical model to predict the outcome of the tournament. The verdict? France lifts the trophy after defeating Portugal in the final. England and Spain, the model says, go home in the semi-finals.A model with a track recordUnlike the armchair punditry that tends to dominate the pre-tournament conversation, BCA's approach is rooted in the same discipline the firm applies to sovereign debt and equity markets. The exercise has been running since 2018, and it correctly predicted that France would win the 2018 final. Four years later, it called Argentina to win the 2022 title in a penalty shootout, no small feat given the chaos of that tournament.For 2026, the model runs in two stages. The first draws on data from five previous World Cups and incorporates variables including average player ratings, forward line speed, and a "home advantage dummy" that adds a 24% boost to each host nation's winning probability per match. RelatedWatch: Forget the football—the money game behind the 2026 World CupThe 2026 World Cup: Billions promised but will the economic boom arrive?The second applies a separate model calibrated on knockout-stage games from 2006 onwards, where club-level synergy and forward experience measured by matches played, rather than age, carry the most weight.The firm also applies a "Winner's curse dummy", imposing a 20% penalty on Argentina's winning probability per match, reflecting the historical tendency of reigning champions to underperform. According to BCA's analysis, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018 fell victim to precisely this dynamic.BCA also notes that the model performs better in the knockout stage than in the group stage, particularly due to the unpredictability of teams that win their first two games, effectively qualifying, and then end up resting players for their final group-stage match.Speaking to Euronews, Jérémie Peloso, chief strategist at BCA, pointed to Tunisia's win over France in the final group match of the 2022 World Cup."France had already qualified, and the manager decided to leave some of the key players on the bench," he said.Peloso said such decisions can make group-stage matches harder to predict because factors beyond team strength come into play.France to edge a tight finalThe model places France as the tournament's outright favourite, and the raw numbers offer independent backing for that view. According to Transfermarkt, France fields the most valuable squad at this year's tournament, with a combined player market value of €1.476 billion, more than three times the average across all 48 nations participating.Kylian Mbappé alone is valued at €200 million, accounting for over 13% of that total. France's coach Didier Deschamps and Kylian Mbappé await French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron at the training centre in Clairefontaine, 2 June 2026 - AP Photo/Thomas Padilla According to BCA Research, Didier Deschamps' side, which the firm notes has arguably enough depth to run two competitive starting line-ups, is expected to beat Spain in a razor-thin semi-final, with France assigned a 52.5% probability of advancing, suggesting a genuinely open contest.Peloso explained to Euronews that "the odds may appear close to a coin toss, but this also reflects the fact that the two teams are both favourites and are currently ranked as the two best nations in the FIFA Rankings.""The differentiating factor is the quality of the French forwards relative to Spain. In the knockout stage, we have found that the experience and quality of forwards tend to be the deciding factor," Peloso concluded.Meanwhile, Portugal would see off England in the other semi-final, with a 55.2% probability of progressing, a result the model suggests was shifted in Portugal's favour specifically by England manager Thomas Tuchel's decision to omit Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Harry Maguire from his squad.The final that BCA projects would carry significant stakes for both nations.For France, victory would make Deschamps only the second coach in history to win the World Cup twice, after Italy's Vittorio Pozzo.For Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, now 41 and widely expected to be making his final tournament appearance, a win would close the final chapter left unwritten in one of football's most storied careers.Prediction markets partly disagreeBCA Research also compared its championship probabilities against prediction market Polymarket, noting that its model broadly aligns with market consensus but diverges on some aspects.Notably, BCA assigns Portugal a 16.4% chance of winning the tournament versus Polymarket's 10%, which places the nation only as the fourth most likely to win. On Polymarket, France and Spain are tied in first place with a 16% chance each, and England was third on Tuesday with 11%.BCA also gives slightly higher probabilities to the three host nations, the US, Mexico and Canada, than current Polymarket odds imply.On Kalshi, another prediction market, Spain is actually leading the probabilities at the time of writing with a 16.5% chance. France is second with 16.3%, and Portugal comes in third with 10.3%.For the rest of us, the tournament kicks off in Mexico City on Thursday. The numbers, at least, have been run.Disclaimer: This information does not constitute financial advice; always do your own research on top to ensure it's right for your specific circumstances.

Phillies need to call Cubs on perfect $61 million All-Star to fix outfield issue originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Philadelphia Phillies have long been searching for an outfielder who can come in and make an impact for them on both sides of the baseball. The Phillies are more worried about what they can do on the offensive side of the baseball, but there's also reason to believe that they could be interested in adding a player who can do what's needed on the defensive side of things as well. There aren't many players who fit both molds, but one is Ian Happ, a four-time Gold Glove Award winner and an above-average offensive player for the Chicago Cubs.It's now believed that Happ will be available, and the Phillies need to be all over him. He's won four Gold Gloves over the past five years, was an All-Star in 2022, and has consistently been a 120-plus OPS+ hitter.“For as divisive as Ian Happ is among some Cubs fans, I don’t think the league undervalues him at all. This season, he’s not hitting for average, but he’s getting on base, slugging, and playing his usual solid + defense in left field. He’s also a switch-hitter and a veteran. If a team needed outfield help, they would not hesitate to go after Happ,” Michael Cerami wrote.In terms of what the Phillies need, there aren't many better players out there than Happ if he becomes available. It wouldn't make any sense for the Cubs not to make him available, as they've struggled a bunch recently, and he's set to hit the free agency market at the end of the campaign. The Phillies have the prospects to land him as well, making him one of the more intriguing players to go after if he becomes available.More MLB news:Yankees now have perfect Aaron Judge replacement due to Cubs’ strugglesBlue Jays’ Kevin Gausman gets intriguing trade deadline updateAlex Rodriguez tells Yankees they don’t need to trade for expected $400 million starCubs have no choice but to double down on Alex Bregman contract mistake, and it could lead to 24-year-old being tradedPhillies reportedly don’t want to trade top prospect, but history says they shouldMets’ Clay Holmes trade report is worst possible outcome for New York

NEW DELHI: A heartwarming moment involving India captain Shubman Gill has gone viral following India's dominant victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test at the New PCA Stadium in Mullanpur.In a video that has been widely shared on social media, a young ball boy stationed near the boundary ropes was seen touching Gill's feet as the India skipper walked back to the pavilion after scoring a superb century.Gill, who led from the front with a brilliant 126, acknowledged the youngster's gesture before continuing towards the dressing room. The touching interaction quickly became one of the standout moments of the match.Manav Suthar steals the show on debutWhile Gill's century and the viral video grabbed attention, the match ultimately belonged to debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who enjoyed a dream start to his Test career.— rushiii_12 (@rushiii_12) The Rajasthan spinner claimed seven wickets in the match, including a sensational 6/33 in Afghanistan's first innings, as India completed their biggest-ever victory in Test cricket by an innings and 300 runs.After electing to bat, India posted a massive 564/8 declared. Alongside Gill's 126, KL Rahul scored 100, while Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant contributed 81 each. Washington Sundar added the finishing touches with an unbeaten 52.Afghanistan unable to recoverAfghanistan resumed Day 3 on 113/5 and were eventually bowled out for 152 despite a fighting 60 from Rahmat Shah. Suthar ripped through the lower order to register the second-best bowling figures by an Indian on Test debut.Asked to follow on, Afghanistan showed some resistance through Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal, who added 42 runs for the opening wicket. Atal looked comfortable during his knock of 42, but India's bowlers gradually tightened their grip on the contest.Mohammed Siraj provided the breakthrough before Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav joined the wicket-taking spree. Afghanistan slipped from 74/1 to 98/5 as Sundar removed Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi and Atal.India complete historic winThe visitors never recovered from the collapse. Suthar added another wicket, Sundar finished with four wickets in the innings, and Kuldeep cleaned up the tail as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112. 131624804The emphatic victory gave India their largest-ever win in Test cricket in terms of innings and runs.While the hosts dominated with both bat and ball, it was a simple gesture from a young ball boy towards Gill that captured fans' imagination and became one of the most talked-about moments from an unforgettable Test match.

AUBURN, Ala. — Leo Messi has dazzled audiences around the world with his loping, graceful brilliance, inspiring and thrilling literally billions of soccer fans with feats that might never be equaled. But rarely has he ever entered a stadium where any magic spell he could possibly cast would be, at best, the field’s second-most-legendary kick. Right there on the same Jordan-Hare field where Bo Jackson and Cam Newton led the Tigers to glory, where Chris Davis ran past 11 Alabama defenders and into history, Messi and Argentina challenged Iceland Tuesday night in a World Cup friendly. It seemed strange — it was strange — but it was also phenomenal, in a cross-cultural kind of way. And when Messi did, in fact, score a goal, well … a thrilling night turned perfect. Who cared if this was just an exhibition? Argentina won this friendly by a final score of 3-0, but that wasn’t the point; the sense of joy and community that pervaded Jordan-Hare was. College football has always been the closest American equivalent to international soccer — football and fútbol, you might say — since both boast tribal, borderline fanatical fanbases that stretch back generations. Sure, there are some superficial differences — Argentina fans chant, Auburn fans tailgate — but the same basic sense of devotion and community runs through the bloodstreams of both fanbases. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentPlus, America’s top football universities possess mammoth stadiums tailor-made to host massive crowds. College football stadiums may not have all the FIFA-required amenities and infrastructure to host an actual World Cup event, but for a friendly like this one, they’re ideal — and an ideal opportunity to introduce two disparate sporting crowds to each other’s traditions. The origins of this friendly date back more than a year and a half. One factor — or, more specifically, three letters — helped bring Messi to The Plains: NIL. The ever-escalating costs of college athletics mean schools have to get more creative in summoning up great reserves of cash. And a soccer match featuring the defending World Cup champion and its traveling fanbase fits that need quite nicely. “How do you find a way to drive revenues, grow department revenues, without taxing your fans?” Auburn athletics chief revenue officer Rhett Hobart told Yahoo Sports recently. “You could say the easiest way to drive revenues is to increase ticket price, increase costs for our events, but we don't want to do that. We're trying to find ways to bring events to the city, help the city, but also bring revenue to the department without increasing the cost on our fans for watching Auburn play.”Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the international friendly match between Argentina and Iceland at Jordan-Hare Stadium on June 09, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama.Omar Vega via Getty ImagesAuburn began working with Unified Events and Florida Citrus Sports, two event-planning organizations, to land a friendly in the days leading up to the World Cup. After a few false starts, Auburn snagged the big prize: the defending champs and the GOAT. Quite the haul for the Loveliest Little Village on the Plains. “In the year of the World Cup, we wanted to look at underserved communities that don't typically get (games),” Molly Pendleton, SVP of Unified Events, told Yahoo Sports recently. “We're an hour and a half, for Auburn, outside of Atlanta and Atlanta's getting a ton of soccer, and it usually gets soccer every year for international friendlies. But these schools that have great fan bases that want to have more content in their buildings, we really focused our efforts there.”One key element working in Auburn’s favor: the dramatic, cinematic pregame flight of the War Eagle. Yes, it’s a football tradition, but as of Tuesday, it’s a soccer one too. “When you have an event like this in Jordan-Hare, your mind immediately goes to making sure that you have all the event uniqueness right,” Hobart said. “Celebrating soccer the way that soccer is celebrated across the world with walkouts, with all the pregame festivities. But then how do you give it a uniquely Auburn flair? So for us, the first thing we pitched was, ‘How would you feel about an eagle flight pregame?’ And they were all about it from the very beginning of the conversation.”To prepare for the specifics of the friendly, an Auburn contingent traveled to Gillette Stadium for an October friendly to ask questions; an Argentina contingent journeyed to Jordan-Hare recently to check on the condition of the grass and the field. Everyone shook hands and went away satisfied, and now, here we are. The Argentina friendly was part of a growing trend where universities welcome in revenue-driving behemoths that might otherwise seek out bigger cities. Last year, Jordan-Hare welcomed the Savannah Bananas, and this fall, Zach Bryan will play a concert in the enormous stadium. But neither of those events, while massive, rivals the level of security, logistics, planning and investment that a traveling team just days from the World Cup requires. Hotel rooms, workout facilities, police escorts … the list of needs for a FIFA-level World Cup team is virtually endless, and Auburn and its promoters had to deliver it all. The university hasn’t yet disclosed how much it expects to make from this game, but according to a Memorandum of Understanding between the university and Unified Events LLC, obtained by al.com earlier this week, Auburn will receive 60 percent of the “net event revenue,” which includes ticket sales, merch sales, parking and other sources of income. Auburn, meanwhile, was required to provide a “pristine” playing surface at no cost, along with all personnel and operations necessary to provide a college football gameday-esque environment. (Argentina will earn $2.4 million for appearing, while Iceland will receive $325,000.) With less than a week to go prior to the game, Hobart indicated that fewer than 4,000 tickets remained available. (In sharp contrast to FIFA’s gouging, many tickets initially went on sale at the reasonable cost of $45, and as late as game day, $78 tickets were still available.) Hobart added that he expects a $10 million economic impact on the surrounding Auburn-Opelika community, which is a nice boost in the usually quiet summer. Even after all the hope and planning, Mother Nature had a brief say in the proceedings. Torrential rain on Tuesday afternoon dimmed much of the pre-match enthusiasm, as blue-and-white-garbed Argentina fans needed to take refuge in Auburn’s campus buildings, parking decks and archways. Still, the line for the famous Toomer’s Lemonade ran down the block. You can’t come this far and not sample some of Auburn’s finest wares, after all. The rain and lightning rolled out about an hour before the match began, and the sunset turned the clouds an appropriately Auburn orange. In deference to the visiting crowd, the stadium pumped out club hits and bangers like “Mentirosa” by Argentina’s own Ráfaga. Auburn’s usual pregame fare, like “Crazy Train” and “Welcome to the Jungle,” didn’t appear, nor did the Auburn marching band or the school’s “War Eagle” fight song, which was a bit of a shame. In the concourses, eager Argentina fans lined up for hot dogs, drinks and event merch. Out on Pat Dye Field, a crew of workers squeegeed out the last of the rain as an army of leafblowers blew the grass dry. A field that had been soaked to puddling just an hour before was now ready for the world’s greatest player and his mates. Shortly before the game, the eagle did indeed fly, soaring into the twilight with a grace and majesty that both amazed and confused the match’s international visitors:The event’s Memorandum of Understanding mandated that Messi at least make the trip to Auburn or risk a $250,000 fine. He did indeed travel to Auburn, practicing with the team on Tuesday.As he walked onto the field — sorry, pitch — at Jordan-Hare roughly 30 minutes before the match began, Messi lifted a hand to the surrounding crowd. That was enough to send the tens of thousands of Messi fans in attendance into cheering fits. They greeted his appearance on Jordan-Hare’s massive screens with similar joy. From a technical perspective, the match was, well, less than thrilling. Argentina’s Valentin Barco scored in the eighth minute, the first half’s only goal. Argentina seemed content to treat this as a glorified practice session, while Iceland — which didn’t even make the World Cup draw — tried desperately to keep pace. After a halftime that featured a ragged version of the Swag Surf, a new Auburn tradition — it was very obvious who’d been to a football game here before, and who hadn’t — the Jordan-Hare crowd got an unexpected treat: a Messi sideline sighting in the 47th minute. The legend ran some gentle wind sprints along the back line. And then, in the 70th minute, it happened – Leo Messi stepped onto the field at Jordan-Hare to deafening cheers. When he drilled a penalty kick just a few seconds later, well … the noise didn’t quite reach “Auburn’s gonna win the football game” levels, but the grandstands rocked all the same. Oh, and in a nice bit of historical symmetry, Messi took the penalty kick just a few steps away from where Auburn’s Chris Davis caught that fatefully short kick in the 2013 Iron Bowl and ran straight into college football legend. After the Messi goal, Argentina stopped playing with its food and wrapped up the match with efficiency. La Albiceleste has a date with Algeria next Tuesday in Kansas City, meaning it’s time now to focus on bigger game. As the teams left the pitch, the 88,000-plus fans at Jordan-Hare made their way to the exits, cheering and chanting. They didn’t roll the Toomer’s Oaks, which was Argentina’s only miscue of the entire evening. Other than that, this was as close to a perfect crossover of sports and culture as you’re likely to find this summer. The eagle flew. The lemonade flowed. The crowd swag-surfed. And there are now a whole lot of new Argentina fans in Auburn, and a whole lot of new Auburn fans in Argentina. War Damn Messi.

Dodgers don’t need to trade for Tarik Skubal, and this is the reason why originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.One interesting talking point that nobody seems to be mentioning right now is that if the Detroit Tigers move on from Tarik Skubal, the Los Angeles Dodgers might not feel the need to get involved.Skubal, who will most certainly be the most sought-after player on the open market this offseason and, if he's available, at the trade deadline, is an unbelievable talent. The Dodgers adding him to their roster right now would ensure that they have another chance to go back-to-back-to-back, even though they're already considered the favorites in all of baseball.The one thing that nobody seems to be bringing up, however, is that the Dodgers could allow Skubal to be traded to another team and then just go out and sign him in the offseason. One writer recently proposed that idea, and it makes a lot more sense than it might seem to some.“At the end of the day, however, the Dodgers can just try to sign Skubal as a free agent in a few months. Without trading the prospects,” Cristopher Kline wrote.“The Dodgers already have six quality starters on the roster, with top prospect River Ryan breezing through Triple-A competition and ready to fill any unexpected gaps. How much does Skubal really move the needle for a team with the needle already cranked to the max?”While the idea makes sense here, it also isn't crazy to suggest that the Dodgers would rather bring in Skubal now, show him what Los Angeles has to offer, re-sign him in the offseason, and pretty much be unbeatable in the postseason. The Dodgers have dealt with some injuries on the mound as well, so bringing in the best starter in baseball to fix that would be the best outcome for all involved.More MLB news:Yankees should call Orioles to see what they’d want for Adley RutschmanBlue Jays, Cubs predicted to battle for Tarik Skubal at MLB trade deadlineJapanese Cubs slugger would fix all of Phillies issues at trade deadlinePhillies need to call Cubs on perfect $61 million All-Star to fix outfield issueYankees now have perfect Aaron Judge replacement due to Cubs’ struggles

BALTIMORE – Nick Davila may never get another bite of those soup dumplings. But he did manage to hang onto his first major league save.The Seattle Mariners rookie capped a chaotic 24 hours with an even more unsettling 10th inning of work Tuesday, June 9 against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. Yet after a hit-by-pitch, a single, a harrowing putout at home upheld by replay review and a timely strikeout, Davila nailed down the Mariners’ 6-5, 10-inning win.It was a big moment in the 26-year-old right-hander’s career: He made his major league debut May 3 but hadn’t pitched for the big club since May 23 – nor was he expecting to do so this week.Instead, a second anniversary dinner with his girlfriend, Morgan, was on tap, with a 7:30 PT reservation at Din Thai Phung at a mall in the Seattle-Tacoma area on Monday night.Then he got a phone call: John Russell, his manager at Class AAA Tacoma, told him he was going to hop a red eye and meet the Mariners in Baltimore. Cooper Criswell, their trusty right-handed reliever, had a shoulder strain. An injured list stint might be possible. Davila was going to be summoned to the taxi squad.He was under the impression his flight left Seattle-Tacoma Airport at 11:50 p.m. So as the food began rolling out around 7:45, he tried to enjoy the dinner.Instead, a phone call from Russell updated his itinerary: He was flying out at 10:20. Baseball gear needed to be fetched from Cheney Stadium, clothes from a nearby hotel.“And I was like, 10:20?” Davila recalled. “I’m doing the mental gymnastics of it’s 30 minutes south, and I gotta grab my stuff in Tacoma.”It’s good to have friends: The Rainiers’ assistant clubhouse manager fetched his stuff from the ballpark and met him at Gate 30, Alaska Airlines. The clothes had to wait. And besides, Davila probably wouldn’t be pitching anyway, right?That’s what he believed when he and infielder Miles Mastrobuoni landed in Baltimore early Tuesday morning, and he got to his room around 8 a.m., put the blinds up and tried to sleep. He still wasn’t added to the active roster by the time the final bus to Camden Yards left at 2:30 p.m.And then shortly before game time, Criswell was placed on the IL and he was activated. A gassed bullpen was already in disarray. And then Jose A. Ferrer, the closer for the night, blew a 4-2 lead in the ninth.After Randy Arozarena smacked a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 10th, guess who was summoned to save it?Yep.“I just couldn't believe I was in the game,” Davila said. “What? This is freaking nuts. I had goosebumps kind of going out there.“I was like, 'this is not real.'"And with his first pitch, as Davila put it, “I plunked the dude.”With the extra-inning auto runner, that put the tying runs on base – and Leody Taveras followed with an RBI single to make it 6-5. Nobody out.Davila reset."Every single pitch I was throwing I was just like, 'You don't want to be anywhere else, but right here, let's execute this pitch to the best of your ability.'"Good plan: Davila induced a groundout from Coby Mayo, and a grounder to third off Jeremiah Jackson’s bat. Blaze Alexander, the potential tying run, broke for home.Patrick Wisdom fielded the ball and threw home, wide of the plate and out of Alexander’s path so catcher Mitch Garver could corral it and swipe the tag on Alexander just before the runner’s fingers crossed the plate – confirmed, barely, by replay.GAME SAVER. #TridentsUppic.twitter.com/UU8M6lQyQ1— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 10, 2026One out away. Garver called a pair of sinkers, and Davila had Tyler O’Neill buried in an 0-2 count.“And I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m one pitch away,'" Davila said. “But then, you know, there's so many guys that get one pitch away, and then they blow it. So I was like, 'I can't get too ahead of myself.'"'I gotta make sure I'm in the moment right here.'"In it and up to it: O’Neill flailed at one more sinker. Davila and the Mariners escaped.“Nick, to be able to slam the door and get us the W – after a red-eye flight, that’s not easy to do,” manager Dan Wilson said. “I don’t think we draw it up by hitting the first guy. But I thought Wis’ play was outstanding.“Another great job by Nick – and welcome back.”Davila had a nice postgame spread to sate his hunger. But the lost dinner a night before still stung, Davila’s best-laid plans coldly stashed away before his eyes as he high-stepped it to Sea-Tac.Especially the soup dumplings.“I had one. They were so good,” Davila said. “And then our waitress had to just box it all up, and then I was like, 'this stinks.' And my girlfriend was crying.“She was like, ‘This is so crazy. What is going on? Our two-year anniversary is ruined.’“I was like, ‘I'll make it up to you. We’ll figure it out.'"Davila showed Tuesday night he’s pretty good at that.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nick Davila's wild day ends with Mariners' win vs Orioles

Yankees should call Orioles to see what they’d want for Adley Rutschman, even if they don’t want to send him to New York originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.I'm always skeptical about teams in Major League Baseball making trades within the division, especially with the New York Yankees in the American League East. Not that we've never seen it before, but teams in the American League East are typically very competitive, so making trades with one another doesn't always make much sense.If the New York Yankees want to do so, however, there are a few teams in the division that could make sense as potential trade partners at this trade deadline. The Yankees have already proven that they're willing to make the necessary moves to improve on both sides of the baseball, and the expectation is that they're going to do so once again at this deadline.The Baltimore Orioles, who have played at a somewhat polarizing clip to start the year, are in a position where they might have to move on from certain guys, and it would make sense to do so. One of them would be Adley Rutschman, and the Yankees absolutely need a catcher, so trading for him would make a lot of sense. One writer recently predicted that the Orioles would at least move on from him, though he didn't mention the Yankees as a potential suitor.“The value of a switch-hitting catcher with Rutschman's defensive bonafides goes without saying. But he's also in the penultimate year of his contract, with nary a peep out of Baltimore about a potential extension.“This is the perfect opportunity for the O's to sell high. Their postseason hopes are fading. This iteration of the core has gone nowhere. Rutschman can net them several high-end prospects from a variety of contenders. Baltimore needs pitching most of all. This feels like a wise solution,” Cristopher Kline wrote.My idea here would be to bring Rutschman in for the Yankees and hope that he does what everybody knows he can. There have been some struggles with the switch-hitting catcher over the past two and a half years or so, but there have also been moments when he's continued to prove that he's one of the better catchers in baseball behind the plate. The Yankees would be making a significant upgrade behind the plate by replacing Austin Wells with him, so that would be a lot of fun as well.More MLB news:Blue Jays, Cubs predicted to battle for Tarik Skubal at MLB trade deadlineJapanese Cubs slugger would fix all of Phillies issues at trade deadlinePhillies need to call Cubs on perfect $61 million All-Star to fix outfield issueYankees now have perfect Aaron Judge replacement due to Cubs’ strugglesBlue Jays’ Kevin Gausman gets intriguing trade deadline update

Photo by Taylor Hill/WireImageStephen A. Smith turned Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden appearance into another target after the New York Knicks lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals.The ESPN star had already said he would blame Trump if the Knicks lost, and the San Antonio Spurs made that line impossible to ignore with an 115-111 win. What followed was no longer just about the scoreboard.Smith’s frustration shifted toward Trump’s connection to New York, the Knicks’ long title drought, and viral clips that made it look like the president was not fully locked into the moment.Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty ImagesStephen A. Smith questions Donald Trump after New York Knicks Game 3 lossStephen A. Smith dropped a First Take response after Donald Trump attended the Knicks’ Game 3 loss to the Spurs at Madison Square Garden.“I thought you were a New Yorker, Mr. President. I thought you cared. I thought it mattered to you, Gotham City, the New York Knicks, the erasing of a 53-year drought. I thought that mattered to you,” Smith said.Smith’s shot landed because the Knicks are chasing their first championship since 1973. Game 3 was supposed to push New York closer to ending that wait, but instead the Spurs cut the Finals series to 2-1.That gave Smith room to paint Trump’s visit as something that failed both the night and the city he once called home.Stephen A. Smith mocks Donald Trump rest clip after Madison Square Garden defeatPart of Smith’s anger came from the images circulating after the game. Trump was shown in a luxury suite during the night, and Smith leaned into the online reaction that he appeared to be resting while the Knicks were fighting for control of the series.“It’s clear you need your rest, isn’t it? More extensive analysis of your betrayal to New Yorkers will come a little bit later on my own platform,” Smith stated.The White House pushed back on the idea that Trump slept through the game, but Smith used the moment as another piece of his larger argument. He had already warned that the visit would become a distraction, and the Knicks’ loss gave him the result he feared.Whether fans buy the blame or not, Smith turned Game 3 into a personal case against Trump’s courtside-era New York loyalty. The Knicks still lead the series, but the president’s MSG night has become part of the Finals noise.Read more:Stephen A. Smith offers an annoyed clap back at Donald Trump for ‘low IQ’ insultWhy Donald Trump won’t attend New York Knicks’ Game 4 at Madison Square GardenEvery sanction the USA has imposed on Iran at the 2026 World Cup

Graham Platner won the Democratic nomination for Senate and quickly turned his booming, populist message against Susan Collins, the Republican incumbent in perhaps the top battleground in the country.

Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty ImagesPat McAfee could soon enter a salary bracket usually reserved for players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry if his next ESPN deal reaches the top of the reported range.The former NFL punter has already become one of the most visible voices on ESPN. His daily show, College GameDay role, and regular football presence have turned him into more than a normal studio personality.Now, the numbers being discussed would make that rise look even stranger. A sports media deal could push McAfee past two of the biggest basketball names of the modern era on annual pay.Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesPat McAfee’s ESPN deal could reach Stephen Curry and LeBron James territoryThe Athletic reported that ESPN and Pat McAfee’s representatives are discussing a huge extension.“ESPN and representatives for Pat McAfee are discussing an extension to his contract that would pay him more than $60 million per year.“… The two sides are currently between $60 million to $65 million per year,” The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand revealed.The deal is not finished, but the reported range shows how important McAfee has become to ESPN’s live and digital strategy. An expanded NFL role is also possible, which would help explain why the number has climbed so dramatically.Even by modern sports media standards, $60 million to $65 million per year is a staggering figure for someone who is no longer playing.Pat McAfee’s salary comparison with Stephen Curry and LeBron James feels wildIf McAfee lands the deal at $65 million per year, he would make more annually from ESPN than Curry is due from the Golden State Warriors in 2026-27. Curry’s salary for that season is listed at about $62.6 million.He would also clear James’ most recent NBA salary figure. James made about $52.6 million from the Los Angeles Lakers in 2025-26, though he is listed as an unrestricted free agent for 2026-27 unless he signs a new deal.That is the weird part of the comparison. Curry changed basketball with his shooting, James is one of the greatest players ever, and McAfee could still top both of them on annual pay through a television and content contract.It does not mean McAfee earns more than them overall when endorsements and business income are included. But strictly on annual ESPN money versus NBA team salary, the reported number is outrageous enough to make the comparison impossible to ignore.Read more:Why Los Angeles Rams GM wants Pat McAfee to keep texting retired superstar Aaron DonaldPat McAfee bashes NFL’s soccer grass strategy to avoid giving better playing conditionsPat McAfee addresses Jason Kelce’s new Masters job with a brutal rejection story of his show

Braves given bad news by Astros general manager on top trade target originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Currently the best team in Major League Baseball by three games, the Atlanta Braves have to feel great about how the year has gone. Sitting at 45-21 with a run differential of +116, it doesn't seem like Atlanta is going to slow down anytime soon. If anything is going to stop this team, it will be the injuries they've dealt with over the past few months, and even some that have been problems for years.Winning the National League will be no easy task, however, and adding at the trade deadline seems to be what the Braves need to do. No matter how that happens, Atlanta needs to get better, and one player in particular that many think could help them do that is Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros. Alvarez figures to be the best player traded if he gets dealt, though there are plenty of questions about whether it will actually happen. Speaking to reporters about whether the team is going to sell, Astros general manager Dana Brown poured cold water on the idea of Alvarez or anyone else being dealt.“I just don’t see us being sellers right now,” Brown said, per the Houston Chronicle.“To be sellers, for me, it would be like we failed. So I don’t think this team is a team that’s going to be sellers at the deadline. I think we’re good enough. I think the division is wide-open. We’ve gone through some injuries; I think other teams are starting to experience some injuries as well. The division is wide open, the postseason is wide open. So, I don’t foresee us being sellers.”I don't want to say this is bad news for the Braves because, in a sense, there was no guarantee they were going to get Alvarez. Some were connecting the dots about what the Braves needed and what he could bring to the team, though there wasn't any deal in place. At the same time, this is far from ideal for Atlanta if it wanted him, as he would have been a ridiculous addition to what's already one of the better offenses in baseball.More MLB news:Yankees get bad news on potential Astros World Series MVP trade targetBrian Cashman’s comments after Aaron Judge’s injuryDodgers don’t need to trade for Tarik Skubal, and this is the reason whyYankees should call Orioles to see what they’d want for Adley RutschmanBlue Jays, Cubs predicted to battle for Tarik Skubal at MLB trade deadline

[BBC]The World Cup starts in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Thursday and finishes in the MetLife Stadium near New York City on 19 July.Forty-eight teams will contest the tournament, which will be played out in 104 matches across three countries over 39 days, including the co-hosts - Canada, Mexico and the United States - plus holders Argentina.Who will get their hands on the famous gold trophy this time? Who are the other main contenders? And how will England and Scotland do?BBC Sport's TV and radio football pundits and co-commentators have predicted what will happen over the next five weeks, and we have asked AI and Opta's 'supercomputer' for their picks too.Argentina beat France in the final of the 2022 World Cup [Getty Images]Who will win the World Cup?Alan Shearer: France, but there's a caveat that comes with it - only if there is no in-house fighting. With the ability they have in forward positions, two or three big players are going to be left out every game, so it will come down to whether they cope with that in the right way.Danny Murphy: It's hard to look past France with the firepower they have, when you think about extra time in hot weather against tired legs. The likes of Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue can't all start, but they can be gamechangers if they come on after 70 minutes in 30 degrees heat.Olivier Giroud: For me the two strongest teams are France and Spain. But will they meet each other in the final or before? That will be the question, but I obviously hope France will win.Wayne Rooney: England and Spain will make the final, and hopefully England will win it.Thomas Frank: France are up there of course, and Spain too because they are very clear in how they play. That gives them a massive strength, although I still doubt them a little because they rely on Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams as the wingers and, if they don't have them, I am not sure they have enough individual quality to do it in the end.Along with Brazil, Argentina, England and Portugal, they are the main contenders. A lot of people are saying it is France or Spain, but for me it is between Brazil and England... and I am saying England!Micah Richards: How teams deal with the humidity is going to play a big part at this tournament, so the South American teams will be strong.But I just feel it's going to be a team who are really good at keeping the ball and that points me in the direction of Spain instead. Argentina will go close though, because of the way they work for Lionel Messi. I still think he can do something special, too.Steph Houghton: Hopefully it's England but, looking at other teams, France have so much quality right through their team - especially in attacking areas.Gael Clichy: France, Spain and England are the three for me who will do well. Spain seem to win everything, at every age group, so of course they are up there, but being French I am going for them to win it.Joe Hart: England. But I am not actually that bothered whether I am right or wrong. I just like to back my people and I want England to do it.Martin Keown: Looking at the draw, there will be some absolute blockbuster quarter-finals if the favourites win their groups, like England versus Brazil and Argentina against Portugal - or Messi against Cristiano Ronaldo.Is this the hardest World Cup there has ever been to win? Maybe. It feels very open. My head is telling me the best team is France, my heart is telling me that it could be England.Paul Robinson: The only thing that stops France from winning it is France. They will need a harmonious dressing room.Pat Nevin: This is a guess, but England have a real chance. Along with France, they are my favourites and it's a toss-up between the two as to who will win it. I also wouldn't be shocked if we get a left-field winner this time, and Morocco are the ones who jump out at me, because I covered most of their games when they reached the last four in Qatar. From what I hear, they might be better now than they were then - and they were great then. They will be used to the heat too, which always helps.Ellen White: Well, obviously I want England to win it. That's what I am going with, but if that wasn't to happen then France have a very good squad.Tony Pulis: It's ridiculous that there are 48 teams, and 40 more games than last time. Fair play to all the countries that are going, everyone will enjoy it, but football at this level is now being used as a cash cow.I've got Argentina, Brazil, France, England, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Senegal as my quarter-finalists. My pick to win it? France.Chris Sutton: Spain are an outstanding team but I've gone for France to win the past two World Cups and I wasn't far wrong. I am not going to change my mind now - they didn't really click at the last Euros but I look at their frontline and think they will be hard to stop.Who will win the 2026 World Cup? Total votesFrance (9):Scott Brown, Gael Clichy, Rachel Corsie, Olivier Giroud, Danny Murphy, Paul Robinson, Tony Pulis, Alan Shearer & Chris SuttonEngland (7):Thomas Frank, Joe Hart, Steph Houghton, Martin Keown, Wayne Rooney, Sue Smith & Ellen WhiteSpain (1):Micah RichardsWhy are England in the mix?Thomas Frank: To win the World Cup you need individual quality, and England have definitely got that. Their midfield is very strong and if they can put the right defence together it is strong enough.They have a real chance. The team will be well structured because Thomas Tuchel is a top coach, plus they have experience in these tournaments and I am sure they will get their togetherness right because they seem to have some fantastic characters and leaders in the group.Ellen White: We've got an unbelievable squad, and I feel like Tuchel will create a nice blend in our team. We also have some great players, who have a lot of momentum - like Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka who have just won the Premier League with Arsenal.Steph Houghton: As well as experience, we've got some quality young players coming through. The only thing that worries me is a lack of game time for some players in our defensive unit, like John Stones or Reece James.Alan Shearer: I don't think we will win it, but we can make the semi-finals because of the ability we have, plus we have a manager who is not going to be afraid to make big decisions and leave certain players out. I am not sure that has always been the case.Hopefully he can get the best out of Harry Kane, like Bayern Munich have done this season when they have had players running past him. My guess is that Morgan Rogers, Saka and Marcus Rashford will play, and there are more goals there for England - they have all scored goals all season.Wayne Rooney: I'm going with Kane to get the Golden Boot.Chris Sutton: I worry a bit about England's defence, but you go through their team and they don't have too many weaknesses.Sue Smith: England have an elite manager who knows how to win things. The team is picked on togetherness and balance, but still has the star quality to succeed.Danny Murphy: It would be a disappointment not to make the semi-finals with the quality we have got. I think we are a bit too reliant on Kane. Lots of great teams are reliant on one goalscorer but when you look at the other players in the squad, none of them have been prolific or even consistent for England.At the back, I wouldn't have us down as being as good as France and Spain either. But being weaker defensively than we are offensively doesn't mean that we are not capable of winning it, if the luck goes our way.Martin Keown: England have potentially got the toughest of any last-16 tie, if we end up playing Mexico at the Azteca Stadium [if both teams win their groups and beat third-placed teams in the last 32]. Talk about advantage Mexico, taking into account altitude and climate and what that might take from the England team. Then we've probably got Argentina or Portugal in the semi-finals if they progress as expected too.But, whatever happens with the draw, I feel like the chemistry and balance of the group will be the important factor. Winning the World Cup always seems to come down to a piece of brilliance, and Tuchel has left out one or two maverick players who are capable of that because of his focus on the group, but that doesn't mean we can't still win it.England are very much in this fight. We are going to a World Cup which is probably the most open in living memory, because of the quality on offer, and we have a team now that dominates the ball. Micah Richards: For England to win it, everyone is going to have to be at their best, and it feels like other countries have got players in better form right now. I actually think we are best placed to win the next Euros, in 2028. All our top players will be in their prime then, apart from Kane who will probably have retired.Paul Robinson: There are players in this England team now that have played in these big games before, so that might just be the missing ingredient that gets us over the line this time.We say it every time we go to a tournament - that on their day we are capable of beating anyone, but something has been missing. Now? That big-game mentality is there.Joe Hart: England are 100% in the conversation. They are a top team, and they have made good progression - hopefully this tournament will be the one.How will Scotland do?Pat Nevin: The worry for Scotland is that two of the favourites, for me anyway, in Brazil and Morocco are in their group. It means their whole plan depends on beating Haiti in their first game. Everyone in Scotland knows it, and the manager does too. So, they cannot start pragmatically - they have to hit the ground with an absolute sprint.Can they do it? Well they have had a good build-up and the big reason I am very hopeful is that when we played against Germany in the first game of the 2024 European Championship we looked exhausted, and some of our best players weren't fully fit.That is not the case this time. John McGinn is flying. I've watched Scott McTominay and he is in extraordinary form for Napoli just now, and Lawrence Shankland is firing in the goals. OK, we have lost Billy Gilmour to injury but, in reality, Scotland look to me as if they are the strongest they've been since Steve Clarke took charge in 2019 and that is down to injuries, or players being left out and getting rest. Andy Robertson looks in brilliant nick because he has only played half a season at Liverpool. It's exactly the same with McGinn, who was out for a few weeks at the start of the year.Chris Sutton: Scotland will beat Haiti - it is just how Steve Clarke goes about it and whether he goes with two up top, which I think is worth the risk in this game.Ben Gannon-Doak is going to be important for them - he didn't start a Premier League game for Bournemouth last season but he gives them that bit of dynamism when everyone will be focusing on McTominay in the middle of the park, and McGinn.Most people are thinking Brazil and Morocco are nailed-on to be the top two in Group C, but I actually think Scotland could nick a point off one of them too. It might sound far-fetched but they could finish higher than third.Alan Shearer: If you win one group game then the likelihood is you are going to make the last 32, and Scotland's chance is against Haiti. With their fans behind them - they will have a crazy following as usual from the Tartan Army - they can do it.Tony Pulis: Scotland have got a record of doing things they shouldn't do at World Cups, but they can't fail against Haiti... surely?Scott Brown: We will get three points and get out of our group. The first game against Haiti would be a good one to get that done, but it won't be as easy as everyone thinks.Steph Houghton: It's a tough group for them but I think they will make it out of there, and they will believe they can do something special. They have real individual quality in a few positions and, as a group, they know what kind of team they are and play to their strengths.Rachel Corsie: We will get out of our group, and I think we will get through one more game after that. Then, who knows?Sue Smith: They can make the last 16.Ellen White: If they can put in a big performance against Haiti and give themselves some momentum and confidence then that can get them into the knockout rounds.Who might spring a surprise?Thomas Frank: I am going for Norway. They have some well-known Premier League players like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard but they also have others who can change games - Alexander Sorloth of Atletico Madrid, Antonio Nusa at RB Leipzig and Oscar Bobb of Fulham, who is a really top talent.It is their first World Cup since 1998 so they will come with a drive and a hunger too. I know everyone will do that when they come to this tournament, but it is just different when you have not been there for so long. Scotland will have that enthusiasm too, but they do not have the same individual quality.Paul Robinson: Saudi Arabia will surprise a lot of people. I cover the Saudi Pro League every week and I know their players inside out. We saw what Al-Hilal did at last year's Club World Cup, beating Manchester City and drawing with Real Madrid, and I can see Saudi Arabia bringing that to this tournament.Turkey will be tough to beat and while I know Belgium and the Netherlands are not exactly outsiders, they are not among the favourites either. No-one is really talking about them but they both have a mix of experience and younger players and they will be happy going under the radar at the moment.Ellen White: I am looking forward to watching Norway, and Japan did well when they beat England in March.Rachel Corsie: Turkey could be tricky for some, and I don't know if this is really a surprise but I think Japan could go beyond where their world ranking of 18 suggests. Steph Houghton: Japan. I really liked the way they played at Wembley.Olivier Giroud: One of the African teams. Maybe Ivory Coast, Senegal or Ghana - all dangerous on their day.Alan Shearer: Morocco could upset some of the big-hitters, like they did when they beat Spain and Portugal to reach the semi-finals in 2022, but my concern for this World Cup is that the number of teams could dilute the quality in the early stages. There could be a lot of tedious games, until we get to knockout football.Danny Murphy: The underdogs who do well are usually based on a strong defence, like Morocco were last time. Ecuador have got players like Chelsea's Moises Caicedo, Willian Pacho of Paris St-Germain and Arsenal's Piero Hincapie and they had an incredible defensive record in qualification, plus they will be used to playing in humidity.Wayne Rooney: Norway could do quite well, and I like Ecuador too.Martin Keown: Ecuador will take some beating. When I've watched them they always keep things very tight.Chris Sutton: I am not sure Ecuador will score enough goals with 36-year-old Enner Valencia leading their line but they are one of my picks, along with Japan.I became a bit of a celebrity in Japan when I correctly backed them to beat Germany at the last World Cup, or at least I appeared on TV over there to talk about it anyway. They have got some excellent technical players and will be dangerous, whoever they play.Joe Hart: I am not really a lover of dark horses. When it comes to any tie I always want the main team to win, and it will be a pretty similar feeling when I watch this tournament. I want everyone to go out there and express themselves, have a wicked time... but ultimately I don't want anyone to get in the way of England!Gael Clichy: Switzerland are a very dynamic group of young players, and their team and federation has progressed a lot in the past eight years or so. I have played there so I have been following them, and I'd like them to be the surprise of this tournament.Sue Smith: I am going for the US as the hosts who will go further than people think.Tony Pulis: Japan might have a good run at it and Norway, Morocco and Senegal are my other outsiders to watch.What do the machines think, and do you agree?You've read what our expert humans think, but what about the machines?Opta's 'supercomputer' can tell you your team's exact chances of winning any competition at any given time.It is actually a complex algorithm that uses a model based on betting-market odds and the sports analytics company's own 'Power Rankings', which are calculated using past results.For this World Cup, it has simulated the outcome of the tournament 25,000 times - and has calculated Spain are the most likely winners (in 16.1% of the simulations).France (13%), England (11.2%) and Argentina (10.4%) are also given strong chances of glory. Scotland? Not so much.Clarke's side are down the list in 33rd place, with only a 0.2% chance of winning the World Cup according to Opta, but on the upside, in the same simulations they got out of Group C two-thirds (66.1%) of the time.AI has also had its say. Its prediction was generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool 'who will win the World Cup and how will England and Scotland do?'Copilot Chat says Spain will win it, England will reach the semi-finals and Scotland will go out in the group stage, despite finishing third in their group.Do you disagree with our experts? Think algorithms are for boffins, not for football? You can pick your winners below.

Yankees get bad news on potential Astros World Series MVP trade target originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.I'll keep saying it: the New York Yankees need to do whatever it takes to land Jeremy Pena from the Astros if Houston decides to be sellers. The Astros, who have been one of the most successful teams in Major League Baseball over the past decade, have multiple players who would fit in very well on this Yankees roster. The top one would be Yordan Alvarez, though I'm a bit skeptical that the Astros would actually ever move on from him, even if they're struggling right now.On the flip side, there are other players the Yankees should go after on the Astros roster, and Pena is at the top of that list. The young shortstop has been one of the more above-average players in Major League Baseball over the past few years, and with the Yankees' problems up the middle, replacing Anthony Volpe with Pena would be a very wise decision.Unfortunately, that doesn't sound like it's going to be the case, as Astros general manager Dana Brown said he doesn't expect his team to be sellers.“I just don’t see us being sellers right now,” Brown said, per the Houston Chronicle.“To be sellers, for me, it would be like we failed. So I don’t think this team is a team that’s going to be sellers at the deadline. I think we’re good enough. I think the division is wide open. We’ve gone through some injuries; I think other teams are starting to experience some injuries as well. The division is wide open, the postseason is wide open. So, I don’t foresee us being sellers.”There are still two months until the trade deadline on August 3, so anything is possible. It's even possible that the Astros turn things around and start being one of the better teams in baseball once again, and that shouldn't surprise anybody. However, the Yankees have to hope that isn't the case, as Pena is definitely a perfect fit in New York.More MLB news:Brian Cashman’s comments after Aaron Judge’s injuryDodgers don’t need to trade for Tarik Skubal, and this is the reason whyYankees should call Orioles to see what they’d want for Adley RutschmanBlue Jays, Cubs predicted to battle for Tarik Skubal at MLB trade deadlineJapanese Cubs slugger would fix all of Phillies issues at trade deadline

The relays from Section 9 appear very strong for medal contention at the New York State Federation track and field championships set for Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14 at Webster Schroeder High School, outside of Rochester.The annual championships, held since 1948, are comprised of top qualifiers from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association; New York City's Public Schools Athletic League; the Catholic High School Athletic Association; and, the Association of Independent Schools. Medals are handed out by the Federation, as well as the NYSPHSAA (with the athletes from the other organizations removed).Gates open at 9 a.m. on both days, with competition starting at 10 a.m.There is limited parking at Webster Schroeder, and some cars may be re-directed to Webster Thomas High School 1.7 miles away, with shuttle service provided.kmcmillan@th-record.comX / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHRNew York State Federation championshipsBoys seedings100-meters: Class A - 1. Kaeden Herbert (Susan Wagner-PSAL) 10.44; 3. Zyair Reaves (Pine Bush, Fr.) 10.61; 9. Ryheem Tinsley (Middletown, Jr.) 10.73; Class B - 1. Leroy Barrett (Roosevelt-8) 10.65; 1. Maximillian WIckrath (Minisink Valley-9, Sr.) 10.65; Class C - 1. Logan Aman (Candor-4) 10.47; 7. Noah Aptekarev (Chester-9, Sr.) 11.00.200: Class A - 1. Nikita Domashenko (Fayetteville-Manlius-3) 21.41; 4. Luke Beattie (Warwick-9, Sr.) 21.53; 5. Nahzy Avent (Poughkeepsie-1, Soph.) 21.64; T9. Logan Conley (Warwick, Sr.) 21.79; Class B - 1. Joshua Buckley (Academy Charter-8) 21.32; 4. Makai Broughton (Marlboro-9, Jr.) 21.79; Class C - 1. Logan Aman (Candor-4) 21.33; T13. Wayne-Daniel Russell (Spackenkill-9, Sr.) 22.63.400: Class A - 1. Cameron Snyder (Washingtonville-9, Sr.) 47.74; 12. Justin Moses (Pine Bush-9, Jr.) 48.97; Class B - 1. Robert LaBarbera (Minisink Valley-9, Sr.) 47.78; Class C - 1. Keegan Waltz (Oxford Academy-4) 48.78; 11. Ryan Konarski (Burke Catholic-9, Sr.) 50.76.110 hurdles: Class A - 1. Brandon Thweatt (Baldwin08) 14.02; 7. Ojani Rodriguez (Washingtonville-9, Jr.) 14.58; Class B - 1. Ilunga Salerno (Cornwall-9, Sr.) 14.54; T10. Noah Spiak (Beacon-9, Sr.) 15.05; Class C - 1. Xavier Scott (Wellsville-5) 14.17; 12. Logan Weyant (Tri-Valley-9, Sr.) 15.65400 hurdles: Class A - 1. Jordan Peck (North Babylon-11) 52.40; 7. Devon Pinto (Newburgh-9, Jr.) 54.94; Class B - 1. Ilunga Salerno (Cornwall-9, Sr.) 55.14; Class C - 1. Deronne Softley (Bishop Loughlin-CHSAA) 54.78; 11. Micah Buttner (Dover-9, Jr.) 58.53.Long jump: Class A - 1. Jack Larson (Guilderland-2) 24-5; 4. Isaiah Gonzalez (Warwick-9, Jr.) 23-11; Class B - 1. Brayden Richardson (Sleepy Hollow-1) 24-4; 9. Ilunga Salerno (Cornwall-9, Sr.) 22-7.25' Class C - 1. Maxx Stoia (Hannibal-3) 23-11.5; 11. Wayne-Daniel Russell (Spackenkill-9, Sr.) 22-1.5.Triple jump: Class A - 1. Khadin Muhammad (West Babylon-11) 49-5.5; 2. Jaden Williams (Newburgh-9, Jr.) 48-6.25; 12. Marco Joeachin (Pine Bush-9, Jr.) 46-5.25; 14. Isaiah Gonzalez (Warwick-9, Jr.) 46-3.25; Class B - 1. Gilbert Onwe (Sleepy Hollow-1) 47-5.75; 5. Cole Frazier (Goshen-9, Jr.) 45-9; 7. Jaiden Rivera (Beacon-1, Sr.) 45-7.25; Class C - 1. Ryan Hough (Wilson-6) 47-4.25; 6. Silas Emig (Haldane-1, Jr.) 43-7.5; 8. Esteban Ramos (Sullivan West-9, Jr.) 43-5.Shot put: Class A - 1. Connor Sullivan (Clarkstown South-1) 59-11; 14. Anthony Lanari (Monroe-Woodbury-9, Jr.) 52-7; Class B - 1. Ayden Banker (Averill Park-2) 58-7; 11. Benson Cilius (Port Jervis-9, Sr.) 47-6.25; Class C - 1. Kane Poje (Tri-Valley-9, Jr.) 58-9.5.Discus: Class A - 1. Kennety Ramdayal (Herricks-8) 189-1; 9. Justin Reich (Monroe-Woodbury-9, Jr.) 158-8; Class B - 1. Matteo Monter (Eastport-SM-11) 173-0; 10. Jayden Mihalchik (Beacon-9, Sr.) 152-5; Class C- 1. Mack Patterson (Chenango Valley-4) 180-6; 12. Kane Poje (Tri-Valley-9, Jr.) 154-9.400 relay: Class A - 1. Warwick (Luke Beattie Sr., Logan Conley Sr.; Quenten Liciaga Sr.; Isaiah Gonzalez Jr.; Tommy Ronan Sr.; Alex Desimone Sr.) 41.31; Class B - 1. Minisink Valley (Robert LaBarbera Sr.; Angel Mendez Jr.; Stetson Terpak Sr.; Maximillian Wickrath Sr.; Michael Moran Jr.; Jayllen Castillo Sr.) 41.76; 8. Marlboro (Karron Bond Sr.; Amar'e Lane Soph.; Jacxiel Estevez Soph.; Makai Broughton Jr.; Xander Campbell Soph.; Devin Robertson Jr.); Class C - 1. Berne-Knox-Westerlo-2 42.36; 9. Spackenkill (Mekai Knox Sr; Sanjiah Lassiter-Swaby Sr.; Wayne-Daniel Russell Sr.; Ackeal Wilks Sr.; Kason Cummings Sr.) 43.60.1,600 relay: Class A - 1. Washingtonville (John Kosowicz Sr.; Isaiah Cameron Soph.; Robert Admirand Jr.; Cameron Snyder Sr.; Ojani Rodriguez Jr.; Matt Rivera Sr.) 3:16.33; 6. Valley Central (Pablo Emilio Abdelsayed Sr.; Brandon Defreitas Sr.; Jake Cancredi Sr.; Aaron Frias Sr.; Logan Young Sr.; Jack Dudzik Sr.) 3:18.27; 7. Newburgh (Bryan Arenas Jr.; Giwenn Eloge Jr.; Moosa Shahkhan Jr.; Jeron Underwood Jr.; Arturo Martinez Soph.; Keith Martin Sr.) 3:18.43; Class B - 1. Minisink Valley (Robert LaBarbera Sr.; Angel Mendez Jr.; Stetson Terpak Sr.; Maximillian Wickrath Sr.; Tarius Theodore Sr.; Jon Mausling Jr.) 3:16.50; 5. Wallkill (Mason Birdsell Sr.; Jason Collazo Sr; Nathaniel Diemoz Jr.; Jamison Warren Sr.; Noe Larson Soph.; Kent Glasgow Sr.) 3:19.45; Class C - 1. Riverdale Country Day-AIS 3:23.48; 13. Dover-9 (Kaleb Acosta Padilla Soph.; John Grabala Soph.; Majd Ibrahim Sr.; Luca Setaro Soph.; Andrew Martinez Duarte Fr.; Micah Buttner Jr.) 3:36.60.Federation events800-meters: 1. Levin Layden (Saratoga-2) 1:50.91; 4. Nathaniel Diemoz (Wallkill-9, Jr.) 1:52.39 (second seed in B); 19. Benjamin Bermudez (Newburgh-9, Soph.) 1:54.63; 20. Luke Potter (Cornwall-9, Jr.) 1:54.80; 21. Griffin Kinahan (Lourdes-9, Sr.) 1:54.85; 30. Michael Falsetta (Lourdes-9, Sr.) 1:55.71; 49. Augustus Lamm (Rhinebeck-9, Soph.) 2:02.711,600: 1. Liam Luff (Trinity-AIS) 4:08.39; 16. Nathaniel Diemoz (Wallkill-9) 4:15.78 (second seed in B); 17. Jackson St. Lawrence (Goshen-9, Jr.) 4:16.43 (third seed in B); 18. Luke Potter (Cornwall-9, Jr.) 4:16.90 (fourth seed in B); 20. Daniel McPherson (Pine Plains-9, Sr.) 4:17.98 (fourth seed in C); 29. Shaun Brenner (Goshen-9, Jr.) 4:21.02; 33. Joseph Mullan (Washingtonville-9, Sr.) 4:21.35; 39. Owen Powers (Haldane-1, Sr.) 4:22.213,200: 1. Benjamin Berman (Bronx Science-PSAL) 8:45.85; 6. Leo Shostal (Warwick-9, Soph.) 9:05.39 (fifth seed in A); 13. Anis Abidar (Arlington-1, Sr.) 9:20.81; 19. Jackson St. Lawrence (Goshen-9, Jr.) 9:23.56 (fourth seed in B); 23. Daniel McPherson (Pine Plains-9, Sr.) 9:29.51 (sixth seed in C); 26. Owen Powers (Haldane-1, Sr.) 9:31.47; 29. Colin Lewis (Cornwall-9, Soph.) 9:33.66; 36. Nicholas Doran (Monroe-Woodbury-9, Sr.) 9:43.95.3,000 steeplechase: 1. Ibrahim Ford (Arkport-5) 9:14.54; 6. Leo Shostal (Warwick-9, Soph.) 9:28.95 (fourth seed in A); 10. Zavier Durandisse (Arlington-1, Sr.) 9:40.61; 31. Owen Shaffer Sermini (Rondout Valley-9, Sr.) 10:08.94; 37. Stephen Kelly (Burke Catholic-9, Sr.) 10:21.94.Pentathlon: 1. Nathaniel Johnson (John Jay-East Fishkill-1, Sr.) 4,039 points (first seed in A); 3. Kenixander Vermenton (Washingtonville-9, Jr.) 3,429 (second seed in A); 8. Brevin Timm (Beacon-9, Jr.) 3,284 (first seed in B); 34. Trevor Hayden (Fallsburg-9, Sr.) 2,666.High jump: 1. Ryan Buskey (Colonie-2) 7-0.25; T7. Kyle Kershaw (John Jay-East Fishkill-1, Sr.) 6-6; T7. Quenten Liciaga (Warwick-9, Sr.) 6-6; T15. Dario Kinzel (Wallkill-9, Sr.) 6-4; T15. Jack Fowler (Pine Bush-9, Sr.) 6-4; T32. Sanjiah Lassiter-Swaby (Spackekill-9, Sr.) 6-3; T37. Robert McGrath (Rondout Valley-9, Soph.) 6-2; T37. Tyiese Mack (Fallsburg-9, Sr.) 6-2; T53. Merrick Williams (Haldane-1, Sr.) 5-10.Pole vault: 1. Alex Molter (Connetquot-11) 16-2; T6. Klaus Lindenau (Warwick, Sr.) 15-0; T8. Carter Griffin (Warwick-9, Sr.) 14-6; T20. Owen Vallinino (Cornwall-9, Soph.) 13-7; T34. Santino Haffner (Tri-Valley-9, Fr.) 12-0.3,200 relay: 1. Saratoga Springs-2 7:49.44; 7. Valley Central (Pablo Emilio Abdelsayed Sr.; Brandon Defreitas Sr.; Logan Young Sr.; Jack Dudzik Sr.; Felix Chen Sr.; Jack Cancredi Sr.) 7:52.99 (sixth seed in A); 9. Monroe-Woodbury (William Calohan Jr.; Tylan Haag Sr.; Joseph Chiosie Sr.; Aidan Sullivan Sr.; Leonidas Gowrie Soph.; Nicholas Doran Sr.) 7:53.76; 14. Lourdes (Michael Falsetta Sr.; Edward Nuzzo Jr.; Andrew Didonna Sr.; Griffin Kinahan Sr.) 7:57.29 (third seed in B); 26. Wallkill (Jamison Warren Sr.; Ryder Kilpatrick Jr.; Joao Santos Jr.; Nathaniel Diemoz Jr.; Dylan McPhail Sr.; Murray Clarke Soph.) 8:06.19; 44. Rhinebeck (Quin Gideon Sr.; Kamyar Kemp Soph.; Neil Murray Jr.; Augustus Lamm Soph.; Rex Codling Soph.; Theo Stylman Soph.) 8:24.57; 45. Haldane-1 (Eli Hudson Soph.; Henry Amadei Soph.; Oscar Pisano-Simonyi 8th; Owen Powers Sr.; Silas Emig Jr.; Max Kupper Soph.) 8:33.90.This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: The 2026 state Federation track and field meet seedings

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Cincinnati rookie Sal Stewart hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the 11th inning and the Reds snapped their five-game losing streak with a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night.The 22-year-old Stewart drove his 13th homer to center field off Yuki Matsui (0-1) and then gleefully celebrated all the way around the bases. The Reds hung on for just their third win in 12 games after their bullpen escaped the last of several late jams.Both teams scored in the 10th. Eugenio Suárez led off with an RBI double that ended his 2-for-26 slump for Cincinnati, but Samad Taylor drove an RBI single up the middle for the Padres.Tejay Antone (1-0) got out of the 10th one night after his rough outing in the Reds' 6-2 loss. Zach Maxwell got three straight outs in the 11th, earning his first career save.Fernando Tatis Jr. had four hits and scored the 500th run of his career for the Padres, who have lost 12 of 15 after stranding 13 runners — including seven between the sixth and ninth innings. Jackson Merrill had an early RBI triple for San Diego, which still hasn’t won back-to-back games since May 22-23.The Padres loaded the bases with one out in the ninth on three singles, but Sam Moll struck out Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets.Lucas Giolito issued five walks while only getting through four innings for the Padres. The veteran yielded just two singles and one earned run, but committed an error that allowed another run.Chase Burns pitched six-hit ball into the sixth for Cincinnati, striking out seven.Xander Bogaerts missed his bobblehead night at Petco Park because he was welcoming a much more important miniature version of himself: He went on paternity leave.Up nextMichael King (4-5, 3.41 ERA) starts the Padres' homestand finale Wednesday against the Reds' Brady Singer (2-6, 5.89).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB