Aaron Civale and Aaron Ashby combined for a two-hitter, Garrett Mitchell had a home run, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the San Francisco Giants 6-0 on Thursday to add to their hot month of August.
Civale struck out seven and allowed two hits and two walks over seven innings, his longest outing of the season. Ashby was perfect in his two innings with three strikeouts.
Mitchell’s two-run homer in the second opened the scoring for the Brewers, who improved to 16-9 since the calendar turned to August.
Jackson Chourio had a pair of RBIs, while William Contreras reached base safely three times and stole home plate.
After going 11-13 in July, Milwaukee (77-56) has built their NL Central lead to 9 ½ games over the Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee’s success this season has largely been fuelled by an unsung pitching staff whose 3.70 ERA ranks third in the majors this season.
Phillies rally past Braves, expand division lead
Brandon Marsh and Nick Castellanos hit key home runs to fuel the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-4 comeback win over the Atlanta Braves.
With the Phillies trailing 4-0, Marsh hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning, then Castellanos’ two-run blast in the seventh put Philly in the lead.
With the win, Philadelphia improved to 79-55 and expanded their NL East lead over the Braves to six games.
First-time All-Star Cristopher Sanchez got the start for the Phils, working around traffic to allow four runs (two unearned) and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm and Jeff Hoffman were nearly perfect over the last 3 1/3 innings, with Hoffman collecting his 10th save of the season.
The Braves wasted a sterling night from Matt Olson, who clubbed his 24th and 25th home runs of the season.
Atlanta (73-61) has trailed Philadelphia all year but entered Thursday’s game having won 9 of their last 11 games.
Astros use 4-run 8th to top sloppy Royals
Zach Dezenzo drew a key, bases-loaded walk and the Houston Astros capitalised on two late errors to beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3.
The Astros entered the eighth inning trailing 3-2 before Jose Altuve scored the tying run from second after pitcher Lucas Erceg’s throwing error on a Yainer Diaz grounder.
After the Royals intentionally walked the bases loaded, Dezenzo drew a base on balls from John Schreiber, plating Diaz as the go-ahead run. Mauricio Dubon added an RBI single, and Jeremy Pena scored on a fielding error by MJ Melendez to cap a four-run eighth.
Josh Hader pitched a perfect ninth to shut the door and earn his 29th save of the season.
The Astros got a boost from starter Hunter Brown, who allowed two hits and two runs (both unearned) in 6 2/3 innings.
The win gave Houston (72-62) a four-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.
The Royals (75-60) have dropped two in a row but only trail the Cleveland Guardians by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central.
Brandon Aiyuk’s holdout from the San Francisco 49ers has finally come to an end.
The star receiver agreed to a four-year contract extension with the reigning NFC champions worth up to $120million, multiple media outlets reported Thursday.
The deal includes $76million in guarantees, according to NFL Network.
Aiyuk’s $30million average annual salary puts him among the five highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. He trails only Nick Bosa’s $34milion AAV on San Francisco’s roster.
The contract agreement comes on the heels of increased pressure from the 49ers on Wednesday, when coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch announced publicly that Aiyuk’s extended absence from practice was not excused.
The deal is the same one that has been on the table since Aug. 10, according to ESPN.
The 49ers have maintained publicly that they always wanted to extend Aiyuk, but the blossoming star requested a trade on July 23, just before the start of training camp, placing his future in the Bay Area in doubt.
With Aiyuk signed through 2028, the 49ers can turn their focus to returning to the Super Bowl after February’s heartbreaking overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Aiyuk has led the 49ers in receiving each of the last two seasons. In 2023, Aiyuk tallied 75 receptions for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns.
San Francisco drafted Aiyuk 25th overall out of Arizona State in 2020. In four NFL seasons, he has 269 receptions for 3,931 yards and 27 total touchdowns.
Jamaica’s Malone Bird made it all the way to the round of 16 in the Boys U-11 Singles category at the Pan American U-11 and U-13 Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic last week.
Bird, after getting through the preliminary group phase, made it through to the round of 16 thanks to a straight-sets win over Puerto Rico’s Caleb Portalatino (11-6, 11-6, 11-9).
His tournament than came to an end after suffering a straight-sets loss (11-6, 11-5, 11-6) at the hands of Brazil’s Joao Ribeiro who went on to lose in the quarterfinals.
The whole thing was won by the USA’s Chirag Pradhan who defeated his countryman Jacob Kordus by three sets to two.
Jamaica also failed to advance from the first round of the U-11 Boys’ doubles as Malone and Shacoil Bird lost in straight-sets to Argentina 11-7, 11-6, 13-11.
President of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association, Ingrid Graham, expressed joy at the performance of the brothers at the tournament.
“Win or lose, they are young and this is priceless exposure for the future. Very close matches and they are right there,” she said.
She also expressed gratitude to a number of sponsors that made it possible for the boys to represent the country in the Dominican Republic.
“We would like to express thanks to the SDF, JOA, OSIL, Sterling Travel, Friends of Table Tennis, Growth Sport and Western Sports for their support to make this possible for these young men to attend these games,” she said.
Iga Swiatek cruised into the third round of the US Open with a commanding straight sets win over Ena Shibahara in 64 minutes at Flushing Meadows.
Swiatek, who won the title in New York in 2022, made just six unforced errors as she triumphed 6-0 6-1 against her Japanese opponent.
A dominant opening service game set the tone for the encounter, with the world number one racing into a 4-0 lead in double quick time before closing out the first set.
Shibahara, however, would get her first and only game on the board early in the second, but had to do so by saving three break points to hold her serve.
From then on, Swiatek took control, dropping just four points in the final three games to comfortably progress to the next round without breaking a sweat.
Swiatek will face the winner of Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova's encounter for a place in the quarter-finals of the competition on Saturday.
Data Debrief: Super Swiatek rolls on
Swiatek is the fifth player in the Open Era to reach the round of 32 in 19 consecutive women’s singles grand slam tournaments, after Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario and Conchita Martinez.
The Pole is also the youngest player to win 20 of her first 22 second round appearances in women’s singles grand slam since Victoria Azarenka in 2012, who won 21 of her first 22 second round appearances.
Jannik Sinner continued his quest for US Open glory in impressive fashion by beating home hopeful Alex Michelsen in straight sets at Flushing Meadows.
Sinner, who is aiming to secure a second grand slam of 2024, needed just an hour and 39 minutes to dispatch his American opponent, emerging a 6-4 6-0 6-2 victor.
The world number one navigated a difficult opening set, seeing his opening game break evaporate immediately before a break point in the ninth game gave him the early advantage.
Sinner would showcase his class in the second, dropping 11 points throughout the entirety of the set to go within touching distance of advancing to the third round.
Michelsen would match his opponent for the opening games of the third set, but a break in the fifth game proved decisive, with Sinner able to cruise to victory from then on.
The Italian's triumph set up a meeting with Australian Christopher O'Connell after overcoming a scare against Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci in four sets.
Data Debrief: The Italian job
Sinner's triumph over Michelsen saw him achieve consecutive 50-win seasons at ATP level, becoming the first Italian in the Open Era to reach that number.
The world number one impressed on serve, winning 30 of his 37 first-serve points, while also hitting 23 winners compared to the American's 15.
The Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry have agreed to terms on a one-year, $62.6million contract extension that will keep the four-time NBA champion with the only franchise he’s ever played for through the 2026-27 season.
That campaign will be the 18th in the NBA for Curry, who is slated to earn $55.7million next season and $59.6million in 2025-26.
Curry, who captured a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, has won four NBA titles and two league Most Valuable Player Awards while also earning 10 All-Star selections.
The 36-year-old guard was the MVP of the 2022 NBA Finals as well as the MVP of the NBA All-Star Game that season, and he’s been named to the All-NBA First Team four times.
Drafted by Golden State with the seventh overall pick in 2009, Curry is the all-time NBA leader with 3,747 made 3-pointers and is 10th in league history with a 42.6 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Curry is also the best free-throw shooter in NBA history at 91.0 percent.
Despite being swept 0-3 by Northern Ireland Warriors in a three-match Paradise Cup series, Barbados Gems head coach Denise Alleyne took heart from her team’s performances, as she believes the experience will serve them well going forward.
For Alleyne, the fact that young players from the 15th-ranked Gems were exposed to rubbing shoulders with more seasoned players was an even bigger highlight of their campaign against 11th ranked Northern Ireland, which ended at the Sir Garfield Sobers Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland won 53-43, 66-39, and 55-45.
“The biggest takeaway from the Northern Ireland Test series for me was the introduction of the new young players, especially ones that came forward from the Under-21, and just having a glimpse of what the future of netball could be,” Alleyne said.
“I was so very proud of their performance, even the ones who only played for a quarter. They went on and gave 100 per cent. So it gave me some hope, because, as you know, the team does have a mix of older and younger players, and then there are some in between who would have been Under-21 nationals just a couple of years ago, so it is a good mix,” she added.
Alleyne explained that tournaments like these are important to the Barbados’ netball development and that of younger players, in particular, as they displayed grit and commitment throughout, even as the odds were stacked against them in more ways than one.
“I did see a lot of individual improvement, in terms of player development both on and off the court. The girls played with a lot of heart. I knew that it would have been a challenge – I did believe that we could have won at least one of the games, because I don’t think Northern Ireland is 20 or 30 goals better than we are,” Alleyne told Barbados Today.
“But you know, we had circumstances with injuries and stuff, and we also had situations where people had to go to work and then hustle to get there for the game in the evening time. So that too would have played a part in how rested and prepared people were for the game on the night. But it is a circumstance beyond our control,” she noted, adding that she anticipates significant growth over time.
Lewis Hamilton believes Kimi Antonelli is his perfect replacement at Mercedes ahead of his move to Ferrari for the 2025 Formula One season.
Hamilton, who has the equal most wins at Monza alongside Michael Schumacher (five), will race for Mercedes for the final time around the iconic track on Sunday.
But there have been consistent rumours of who will replace him on the grid for the Silver Arrows next season, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen even touted for a shock move.
However, it appears 18-year-old Antonelli, who has risen through the Mercedes junior programme, will be given the nod to join George Russell next year.
The Italian will replace Russell in the first practice session on Friday, and Hamilton is excited to see how he deals with the step up from Formula Two.
"I said a long time ago that I think that is who the team should choose moving forwards," Hamilton said. "Obviously, time will tell what they end up deciding to do.
"He is one of those young super talented kids that has come through. He's only 18, but I think it will be good for people to know that he has only just turned 18.
"He's got a bright future ahead of him and I am really excited to see his progress.
Antonelli's impending move to Mercedes showcases the Silver Arrows' plan for the future, but his showings in F2 this season suggest there is an element of risk involved.
He currently sits seventh in the standings, but has won twice in recent weeks at Silverstone and the Hungaroring that showcases he has the ability to make the step up.
And Hamilton is confident that Antonelli will flourish under the guidance of the team that have helped him win six of his seven world championship titles.
"We have been watching him through the different formulas and naturally he is a Mercedes driver. We are starting to see a lot of young drivers coming through and we are in that time now where there are only 20 seats and we are starting to see this new wave come through.
"In terms of taking on another driver that has had many years of experience as opposed of giving an opportunity to a youngster, that is what McLaren did for me and it worked out well.
"In my opinion, it's an opportunity for him to grow. He's going to get to work with the best in class and the people that I have worked with for so many years.
"It is a lot of weight on someone's shoulders, but I think it's a great environment that they will be able to nurture him and carry him through."
This weekend will also mark Hamilton's final race in Italy before his move to Ferrari.
The Briton will be replacing the outgoing Carlos Sainz, who has since joined Williams, lining up alongside Charles Leclerc for the 2025 campaign.
"I don't know, it definitely does feel a little bit different," Hamilton said. "I mean, it always feels special when you come here. There's always such incredible passion throughout Italy, just in general, but particularly about racing.
"It's always exciting to see the fans at the end of the weekend, it's a passionate event, and the excitement that they bring to this race is really not particularly matched in any way."
DRIVERS TO WATCH
Lando Norris - McLaren
After securing his second career win in F1, Lando Norris will be looking to chase down Verstappen at the top of the drivers' championship standings in Monza.
Norris has the chance to win two races in a row after his victory in the Netherlands and should he succeed, he will be the first McLaren driver to do so since Lewis Hamilton in 2010, in Turkey and Canada.
The race this weekend will also mark the Britons' 120th for McLaren, becoming the 13th driver to reach this milestone with a single team in history, but the first to do so with 100% of his Grand Prix career in the competition.
Norris would also become the first McLaren driver to achieve three wins in a single season for the first time since 2012, a year that both Jenson Button (three) and Hamilton (four) managed to do so.
But McLaren will also be looking to make up ground in the constructors' championship. They have had one or both of their drivers on the podium in each of the last 11 Formula 1 races.
Should they repeat in Italy, it will be their fourth best-ever run in the competition (12) behind only the 19 between Australia 2007 and Malaysia 2008, and the 13 twice between the United States and Portugal in 1990, and Germany 2011 and China 2012.
Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
Having gone five races without a podium finish since his historic win at Monaco back in May, Ferrari's Leclerc has seemingly found his groove again for the Italian team.
Leclerc has produced back-to-back podium finishes in Zandvoort and Spa, but in that time, has relinquished second place in the drivers' championship to Norris.
Still only 33 points behind the McLaren driver, Leclerc has the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the standings in Ferrari's home race.
He can beat his score from last season if he finishes on the podium in Italy (192 in 2024 currently compared to 206 in 2023). Leclerc also has his second best points average (12.8), after his 14 points average in 2022.
Ferrari have 19 wins at the Italian Grand Prix. If they repeat in this edition, it will be the second time a team have achieved 20 wins in a single Grand Prix after themselves in Germany (21), although they have not won at Monza since 2019, with Leclerc starting from pole position.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 295
Lando Norris (McLaren) - 225
Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 192
Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 179
Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) - 172
Constructors
Red Bull - 434
McLaren - 404
Ferrari - 370
Mercedes - 276
Aston Martin - 74
Mike Pennel urged the Kansas City Chiefs, and fans of the NFL in general, not to take Patrick Mahomes' greatness for granted.
Mahomes has led the Chiefs to four Super Bowl appearances since becoming the starting quarterback in 2018 and is one of just five in his position to win three or more Super Bowls as a starter.
The Chiefs have won the Lombardi Trophy in each of the past two seasons, with Kansas City targetting an unprecedented three-peat in 2024.
And Kansas City defensive tackle Pennel says Mahomes' importance to the Chiefs and the NFL as a while.
Pennel told Stats Perform: "He's very vital to our franchise. I think his play on the field speaks volumes for what type of player he is and how he prepares and how he works hard off the field to have that sustained success in every position.
"He's one of the greatest. He's going to be one of the greatest, and he's preparing himself to be that. He's not sulking in his own success or anything like that. He's still there every day, still does all the little things, even though he has all these accolades, he's still working every single day."
The 33-year-old believes Mahomes possesses many of the qualities that the greats of the sport had before him, and is a true inspiration for the younger players coming through.
He said: "When you have a guy like that on your team that takes no shortcuts, that makes it easy to be a role model for the younger guys, it's just, you're very fortunate. He's a rare guy. He's a lot of the likes of that Tom Brady, Joe Montana type of guy. So, it's a great advantage to have.
"You can't take his greatness for granted. I know as a defense, we're under 13 or less, we want to be a top-rated defense, a top 10 run, top 10 pass, just top 10 overall, so we can complement our team very well."
When asked about what sets Mahomes apart from the rest, Pennel stated his competitive edge and ability to perform on the biggest of stages, which has been integral to the Chiefs winning three of the last five Super Bowls.
He said: "It's his arm talent and he's very decisive. He's very confident in who he is and he goes about that approach every day, he's very, very competitive. I know he hates seeing the punt team out there.
"He feels like he can score on every drive and he wants to do that. So it's just, you know, that competitive edge in him, man, it's just something that's real different. That's gonna take him where he wants to be in this league. And that's why he's in those conversations now being one of the greatest."
When asked about opposing teams attempting to get under Mahomes' skin, Pennel added: "It's just motivation for him, I can't speak too much on why they would do that or why someone would do that or poke the bear, but it's going to make for a great game.
"I think it makes the game fun again, too.I miss the trash talking and going back and forth to how it used to be. It makes it a little fun, makes it a little different, makes the rivalry a little bit more intense. But he'll be excited to prove what he needs to prove on those games."
Guyana’s squash sensation, Ashley Khalil, is celebrating an extraordinary achievement after winning three gold medals at the 2024 ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championships, held in her home country from August 18-24. Khalil’s remarkable performance highlighted her dominance in the sport as she claimed top honors in the Women’s Doubles, Women’s Team, and Overall Team events.
Expressing her joy and gratitude on social media, Khalil shared her excitement about the triple success. “I’m thrilled to share that the 2024 ENet Senior Caribbean Squash Championships have concluded, and I’m honoured to have won three Gold Medals!” she wrote, celebrating her victories in front of her home crowd.
Khalil, who has become a household name in Caribbean squash, gave special thanks to her doubles partner and sister, Ashley deGroot-Khalil, with whom she secured a third consecutive gold in the Women’s Doubles event. The duo's synergy on the court has made them a formidable team, and their latest triumph solidified their status as the best in the region.
“I’m also grateful to my amazing teammates—Mary Fung-a-Fat, Larissa Wiltshire, Akeila Wiltshire, and Kirsten Gomes—and the entire Guyana contingent,” Khalil continued. Their collective efforts ensured that Guyana stood out as the top team in the tournament, bringing home the Overall Team gold as well.
The championships were not just a personal triumph for Khalil but also a proud moment for Guyana. She took the opportunity to acknowledge the support that made it all possible, giving a “huge shoutout” to the event’s sponsors—ENet, Discover Guyana, ExxonMobil Guyana, KFC Guyana, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport—as well as the dedicated physiotherapists and fans who cheered them on.
Beyond the medals, Khalil emphasized the importance of the relationships she has built through the sport, particularly with her fellow competitors. “It’s always a joy to reconnect with my CASA friends, who have truly become like family over the years. The camaraderie and support within our community make this tournament even more special,” she said, highlighting the unique bond shared among athletes in the Caribbean Squash Association.
As Ashley Khalil basks in the glory of her latest achievements, she looks ahead to even more victories on the horizon, with her eyes set on further cementing her legacy in Caribbean squash.
“Here’s to celebrating this achievement and looking forward to even more victories ahead,” she concluded, with love and pride for her country, Guyana.
Jamaican combat sports athlete Matthew Colqhoun made a triumphant return to the international stage, capturing his fourth Pan American Combat Sambo title at the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships held in Brazil from August 23-25. Competing in the 88 kg men’s Combat Sambo category, Colqhoun overcame fierce competition to secure the gold medal, reaffirming his status as one of the top athletes in the sport.
Colqhoun, who had taken a break from combat sports to focus on other aspects of his life, expressed his joy and renewed passion for competition after his victory. In a heartfelt post on Instagram, he shared the emotions that led him back to the sport and the fulfilment of representing Jamaica on such a significant stage.
"I have been away from combat sport for a little while, I felt I really needed a break to focus on other things and aspects in my life," Colqhoun wrote. "Recently I got the opportunity to represent Jamaica in the Pan American Sambo and Combat Sambo Championships which was held in Brazil over the past weekend. The atmosphere, energy, and experience of this event really lit a fire inside of me, reminding me of the excitement and adrenaline that competitive sport gives you."
Entering the competition with no expectations beyond enjoying the moment and doing his best, Colqhoun’s journey culminated in a gold medal match where he emerged victorious. His win not only marked a personal achievement but also a proud moment for Jamaica, as he added another gold to his collection.
"I went there with no expectations other than to enjoy the moment and to do my best. By the end of the competition, I worked myself into the finals, which I won gold for my country," he continued. "The Most High is just so amazing. Thanks go out to @sambo_fias for organizing this event, and thanks to @jamaicasambojscsf for selecting me to represent my country, and to @jamaicaolympic for their support. This is my 4th Gold Medal in the Pan American Games."
Colqhoun's victory places him atop the podium once again, with Erwin Brad Calderon Vaca from Ecuador taking the silver medal, and Juan Pablo Doti from Uruguay and Jose Molina from Honduras sharing the bronze.
The Jamaican's return to combat sports has reinvigorated his passion for competition, and his success in Brazil serves as a reminder of his exceptional talent and dedication to his craft. With four Pan American titles under his belt, Colqhoun continues to be a formidable force in the world of Combat Sambo, proudly flying the Jamaican flag on the international stage.\
Coco Gauff breezed into the third round of the US Open with a straight sets defeat of Tatjana Maria on Wednesday.
The reigning champion at Flushing Meadows won 6-4 6-0, with the minimum of fuss, on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Gauff, who is seeded third, needed just 80 minutes to get the job done against her German opponent, and a third-round tie against Elina Svitolina is next up.
The American won seven games in a row to close out the match, with her second-set bagel her fifth at a grand slam this year.
"It was a tricky match," Gauff said. "Overall I thought I did well the first set. I mean, it was close. I got out of those service games.
"Obviously could serve better, but off the ground and at the net there were some errors, but I think every time it was the right decision to make. It was just about execution."
Gauff has met Svitolina, a US Open semi-finalist in 2019, twice before, beating the Ukrainian in this year's Auckland Open final after suffering a defeat at the 2021 Australian Open.
Data Debrief: Nine straight for Coco
Gauff has now won nine straight matches at the US Open, making her the youngest player to do so since Maria Sharapova between 2006 and 2007.
Indeed, the 20-year-old has now won 59 grand slam matches, which trails only Sharapova (81) when it comes to players aged under 21.
Novak Djokovic said he "served awful" after progressing to the third round of the US Open.
Djokovic was being pushed hard by his Serbian compatriot Laslo Djere in Wednesday's headline clash at Flushing Meadows.
Indeed, the reigning champion needed two hours to take the first two sets, but Djere was eventually forced to retire through injury, handing Djokovic a 6-4 6-4 2-0 victory.
"It was a big fight, more than two hours for two sets," Djokovic said.
"I served awful and without the serve, you have to grind, you have to run."
The victory brought up Djokovic's 90th match win at the US Open, moving him one clear of Roger Federer, with only Jimmy Connors (98) ahead of the 37-year-old.
"It doesn't get bigger than this in terms of a tennis stage," said Djokovic, who will face Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the next round.
"The atmosphere is incredible and it's a great privilege to be able to play here again at my age."
Data Debrief: Djokovic stands alone
Djokovic is now the only male player in the Open Era to win at least 90 matches at each of the four grand slams.
This win also improved Djokovic's career record against Djere to 3-0. His overall record against fellow Serbians, meanwhile, stands at 30-5, while he has only lost once in 19 hard-court matches against his compatriots, going down to Janko Tipsarevic at the ATP Finals in 2011.
Spencer Arrighetti took a no-hitter into the eighth inning and Yordan Alvarez had his third career three-homer game as the Houston Astros rolled to a 10-0 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday.
Arrighetti lost his no-hitter in the eighth inning when leadoff hitter Austin Hays reached on an infield single. Third baseman Shay Whitcomb just missed gloving the ball, and shortstop Jeremy Peña couldn’t throw out Hays after fielding the ball deep in the hole at shortstop.
Whitcomb entered as a defensive replacement after Alex Bregman was hit in the head by an 88-mph pitch from Michael Mercado in the seventh inning.
Arrighetti was lifted with two outs in the eighth, finishing with 11 strikeouts and four walks while allowing two hits in his longest outing as a professional in either the majors or minors. He was trying to become the fourth pitcher in the big leagues to toss a no-hitter this season, joining teammate Ronel Blanco, who no-hit Toronto on April 1.
Alvarez hit the first of his three homers in the fourth inning off Taijuan Walker, a two-run, opposite-field shot. He took Michael Mercado out of the park in the seventh and eighth innings to finish with four hits and four RBIs.
Chas McCormick also went deep for the AL West-leading Astros, who avoided a three-game sweep while winning for just the third time in nine games. Houston matched its season high with 18 hits.
Cubs stage improbable rally for sweep
Christian Bethancourt drove in a career-high seven runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the ninth, and the Cubs erased a seven-run deficit for a 14-10 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to sweep the three-game series.
The Cubs trailed by seven through six innings before taking advantage of another shaky performance by Pittsburgh's bullpen.
Bethancourt hit a two-run homer in the seventh to start Chicago's surge. The catcher added a two-run double in the eighth and laced a sharp bases-loaded single to left against Pirates closer David Bednar to complete the comeback.
Bethancourt, whose previous career high was three RBIs, is hitting .423 with three homers and 15 RBIs in 11 games with Chicago.
Ian Happ added three hits for the Cubs, who scored 41 runs across three games at PNC Park to improve to 17-8 over their last 25 games to move two games above .500 (68-66) for the first time since May 25 and stay on the fringe of contention for a wild-card playoff spot.
Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe both homered and finished with three hits for Pittsburgh. Rowdy Tellez also had three hits for the Pirates, who dropped to 6-17 in their last 23 games.
Carroll hits slam, solo shot for Diamondbacks
Corbin Carroll hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning off Edwin Díaz, part of a two-homer night that lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks over the New York Mets 8-5.
The Diamondbacks trailed 5-4 heading into the eighth but pulled off a two-out rally against the Mets' closer. Díaz entered with a runner on first and promptly walked Pavin Smith and Geraldo Perdomo before Carroll smacked his second homer of the game into the right-field seats.
The Diamondbacks have won 21 of 27 to keep pace in a torrid NL West race that includes the Dodgers and Padres.
Harrison Bader hit a tying two-run homer for the Mets, who overcame an early four-run deficit but fell four games behind Atlanta for the final NL wild card.
Aryna Sabalenka is taking inspiration from the next generation of tennis fans as she aims to win the US Open, after her third-round win over Lucia Bronzetti.
Sabalenka made light work of the Italian on Wednesday, winning 6-3 6-1 to seal her place in round three.
Last year's runner-up did not face a single break point and converted four of the eight she forced.
After her victory, Sabalenka welcomed a young girl from the crowd onto the court for a photo.
In her post-match interview, the Belarusian said: "That means a lot, it's something that keeps me going. To see the young generation being inspired by me - this is what it's all about. I'm a little bit in shock because this is such an inspiration for me."
There was no such luck for Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, who suffered a straight-sets loss to Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Krejcikova has failed to progress beyond round two at the US Open since she reached the quarters in 2021.
Data Debrief: Hard court specialist Sabalenka
Sabalenka tussled with Iga Swiatek on the clay courts earlier this season, but the world number two is excellent on the hard surface too.
Among active players, Sabalenka (80.6%, 45-11) trails only Naomi Osaka (81%, 47-11) in terms of win percentage on hard courts at grand slam events.
The Kansas City Chiefs are primed and ready to go as they aim to secure a three-peat, so says defensive tackle Mike Pennel.
Kansas City, inspired by star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have won the last two editions of the Super Bowl.
Yet no team in NFL history has ever gone on to win the championship three times in a row.
Indeed, none of the eight teams that have won back-to-back Lombardi trophies has then gone on to reach the Super Bowl the following year.
But Pennel is counting nothing out.
He told Stats Perform: "I think the intent is still the same.
"We've got a lot of veteran competitors. the three-peat is spoken about, but that's something that's within our grasp if we stay focused and they're drilling that in us every day.
"So everybody's taking a very business-like approach to it. Nobody's lives are gonna be handed to them. So everybody's ready to go. You know, they're just chopping at the bit to get to [the start of the season]."
And coach Andy Reid is playing a huge role in that extra level of motivation.
"Coach Reid has always had that philosophy," Pennel added.
"His main thing is letting our personality show who we are, and getting the most optimal player out there. It's just letting us be who we are.
"So I have to fall back on the coaching there because he literally preaches that any time we go on the field, you know, let your personality show out there, have fun. And he genuinely means that.
"I don't have the exact recipe to success, but I know we play good coaches. I've never heard anyone say anything bad about Coach Reid.
"He loves his past players, and I think he really just coaches us like his own sons and treats us as that in there, and treats us with the same respect as a man as well.
"So, you know, it's easy to respect the guy and work for the guy and know that he has the philosophy to put you in the best position possible to succeed."
Reid, 66, is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs, who he has coached since 2013.
And Pennel does not see Reid calling it a day anytime soon.
Pennel added: "He's been consistent. He's been the same since I've met him, and I know as competitive he is as well, it's just, you know, when he decides it's his time.
"I know that there's been no talks of that or discussions of that in the near future, but whenever he decides to, I think that's what it's going to be about.
"Then he'll always have the opportunity to do it."
The Chiefs open their 2024 season against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
The legal battle surrounding Jamaican squash player Julian Morrison has taken a contentious turn as his attorneys, Matthew Gayle and Dr. Emir Crowne of New City Chambers, are at odds with the Independent Anti-Doping Panel (IADP) over its decision to hold the upcoming hearing virtually. The dispute arose after Morrison’s legal team, who had planned to attend the hearing in person, was informed at the last minute that the proceedings set for September 3 and 4, would be conducted via Zoom.
Morrison, who was provisionally suspended by the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) in April after testing positive for trace amounts of the banned anabolic agent Boldenone, has been eagerly awaiting the chance to clear his name. His legal team has argued that Morrison unknowingly ingested the substance and is determined to prove his innocence.
Matthew Gayle expressed his frustration with the IADP’s unilateral decision to conduct the hearing virtually, especially given the substantial expenses incurred by the athlete for his legal team to travel to Jamaica.
“My personal opinion is that the unilateral decision by the Independent Panel to hold this hearing, a substantive hearing by virtual means, made at the 11th hour, and without any consultation with the parties, offends every sense of justice of the matter," Gayle said. "In particular, Dr. Crowne and I indicated that we were in the midst of making travel arrangements some two weeks ago, and this was communicated to the panel."
He continued, “Since then, the athlete has expended significant funds for us to travel to Jamaica in order to represent him in person, only to find out less than a week before we travel that the hearing is to be held by Zoom. This is in the context of there has been very little, if any, movement in bringing this matter to a head since April. It reeks of bureaucratic inefficiency. I just hope that the athlete is able to get a fair hearing. At the end of the day, this athlete has been on provisional suspension for a significant period, and the case is yet to be heard, yet to be proven.”
The situation escalated further when Sportsmax.TV obtained copies of the correspondence between Morrison’s representatives and Christine Minto, chairperson of the IADP. In the emails, Morrison’s legal team expressed their surprise and disappointment at the decision to hold the hearing virtually, especially after making it clear on multiple occasions that they intended to be present in Jamaica for the hearing.
“We are very surprised to learn that the choice of online forum for the hearing is on account of the athlete's representatives living/working out of the country. The experts appearing virtually is also a surprising rationale, since by that account there would rarely be an in-person hearing," the correspondence read.
The attorneys emphasized that their plans to attend in person had been communicated clearly, both verbally and in writing, yet the decision to go virtual was made without their input.
In response, Minto defended the Panel’s decision, stating that the hearing had been conducted virtually from the start and that it should not have been unexpected that it would continue in the same manner. She pointed out that the athlete’s representatives did not specifically request an in-person hearing early enough and suggested that their decision to book accommodations in Jamaica was based on their preference to be in the same room as their client during the virtual hearing.
“This matter has been conducted virtually since the commencement of the hearing process. We have had at least four hearing dates so far, virtually. Therefore, it ought not to have taken anyone by surprise that the hearing will be continuing and concluding virtually," Minto explained.
She added, "A specific application ought to have been made for an in-person hearing by the athlete. Perhaps at the same time, as the application for a public hearing. It was certainly neither clear to us nor unequivocal that the athlete desired an in-person hearing. Further, the importance of the athlete’s evidence is not diminished or undermined if it is taken virtually.”
As the dispute over the hearing format continues, the focus remains on ensuring that Julian Morrison receives a fair trial and that the case, which has been pending for several months, reaches a timely conclusion.
Andrea Stella insisted that placing full focus on Lando Norris as McLaren's number one driver was "not a good approach" for the last nine races of the Formula 1 season.
Norris, who won his second career race at the Dutch Grand Prix last weekend, closed the gap to Max Verstappen in the drivers' championship to 70 points.
His dominance was emphasised by the result, finishing 22.896 seconds in front of Verstappen, the largest winning margin by a driver since Lewis Hamilton in 2021.
Norris' McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri finished fourth in Zandvoort, largely blamed for being caught up in traffic, which meant finishing behind Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
The Australian currently has 179 points in the drivers' championship standings, 46 behind Norris, and claimed his maiden win in the competition in Hungary back in July.
However, the triumph did not come without its controversy, with Norris initially ignoring team orders to hand first place back to Piastri before eventually cooperating.
Zak Brown said afterwards that deciding whether to install a number one driver was up to Stella, but the Italian said the pair would be treated equally.
"I think when it comes to these conversations about being the number one, I don't think that's a good way of approaching racing," Stella said.
"We'd rather approach racing from fairness, integrity, and then see what come from this kind of approach."
Piastri is the current driver on the grid with the best run of Grand Prix's finished (19). If he finishes in Monza, he will become only the second McLaren driver to finish 20 races in a row in F1 after his current team-mate Norris (21 between Abu Dhabi 2022 and Sao Paulo 2023).
McLaren's improvements have seen them have one or both of their drivers on the podium in the last 11 races.
The Italian Grand Prix offers the team a chance to record their fourth best-ever run in the competition (12), with eyes on their first constructors' title since 1998.
"The first target is to win the Constructors' Championship," Piastri said.
"I think naturally, if we're closing the gap in the constructors', there's probably a good chance that we're both closing it in the drivers' [championship] as well.
"I'm not that far behind Lando in the standings either, so of course if the call comes later in the year and it's a realistic shot, then I'll do my part for the team.
"But I think at the moment, the gap is big for both of us so we'll focus on just trying to do the best job that we can and see where we end up a bit later in the year.
"I think for me the biggest thing is just trying to maximise every weekend.
That gives the team the most opportunities for the constructors', that gives me the most opportunities for whatever occurs in the drivers' standings.
"If there's an opportunity for myself to win the drivers' standings, then I'll try my best to make sure I'm there."
Former rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit has not been selected for the Kansas City Chiefs' 53-man squad for the 2024 season.
Rees-Zammit, who quit rugby in January to pursue a career in the NFL, has been training with the Chiefs throughout the offseason.
The former Wales wing joined the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) program before signing a three-year deal with the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions.
He featured in all three preseason games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears as he competed for a spot on the regular season team.
NFL teams had until Tuesday afternoon to cut their squads down to 53 players for the season, which kicks off on September 5 when the Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens.
However, Rees-Zammit will not be on the sidelines after failing to make the cut under head coach Andy Reid, but his dream of playing in the NFL this season is not over.
He will now be placed on waivers, meaning another franchise could sign him, but he is expected to continue training with the Chiefs as part of their practice squad.
Rees-Zammit was not at practice with the Chiefs on Tuesday as he battled a back injury and his number nine jersey was worn by new signing JuJu Smith-Schuster earlier this week.
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