SALT LAKE CITY, UT - JULY 4: Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies handles the ball during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a 2026 NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game on July 4, 2026 at Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Boozer played 24 minutes, and scored 15 points, pulled down 4 rebounds, and also passed out 4 assists.
It was a successful debut in general, obviously, but stats don’t tell the whole story.
As we saw at Duke, one of Boozer’s best talents is that he makes his teammates better. You could probably cobble together a way to measure that from analytics, but eyeballing the game?
You know it when you see it.
What no one really thought about though is that in the NBA, Boozer has a bigger canvas to work with.
In the NBA, the lane is 16 feet, as opposed to 12 in college, and the three-point line is about 1 foot and 7 1/4 inches further back.
Both of these factors are going to work in Boozer’s favor, as it will spread the court. For that matter, so will the 24 second clock.
We got a hint Saturday when Boozer worked the court for passes, tip-ins, and threes. It’s nothing new to Duke fans, as we said, but the way the NBA court is laid out is going to really work to his advantage.
It’s going to be really interesting to see how things work out for him going forward. One thing that’s possible soon is that Memphis may decide they’ve seen enough and shut him down early like Dallas did last July with Cooper Flagg, pulling him from Summer League play after just two games.
LeBron James once sported a throwback Jim Brown jersey before a 2003 high school game that pitted St. Vincent-St. Mary against Walsh. | Phil Masturzo/Beacon Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
This is a Cleveland Browns site, as the somewhat inside joke in the comments will remind us. If we are being honest, we are also a site full of sports fans who like a lot of different things. Whether that is the World Cup and Olympics every four years, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Guardians, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Crew, The Ohio State Buckeyes, or one of the many other colleges in the state, Ohio is full of sports.
With July 4th in the rearview mirror, it seems that James might indeed return to Northeast Ohio. According to reporting and a few sources I still have around the Cavs and LeBron (I covered the team for a while, including during the 2016 NBA championship), we could hear leaks that James will be signing with his home state team on a contract that could last two seasons (one year plus a player option).
As a Browns site, that means we have to ask the question about what reunion fans would want to see on Cleveland’s football team this year or next. There are a myriad of former Browns players around the league, but few have the type of cache to be worthy of being included here.
Looking at active players, not which former Cleveland great would you want to teleport onto this team from their prime, just three came to mind:
RB Nick Chubb
One of the best to do it, Chubb is a free agent after spending last season with the Houston Texans. Chubb had 122 carries last season for just over 500 yards and three touchdowns. Major injuries have significantly impacted Chubb’s explosiveness, as his yards per carry number fell from over five yards a carry in his first six seasons to 3.3 and 4.1 the last two.
Chubb could sign as Cleveland’s third-down back and provide Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson a veteran mentor in 2026, perhaps his final season. The veteran back could also wait to see if a contender has an injury that leads to a phone call.
QB Baker Mayfield
As noted in the piece linked above, Mayfield is set to hit free agency after the end of this season and has been unable to come to terms on an extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While Browns fans will probably argue about how good Mayfield actually is, something the Bucs might be doing internally as well, he’s clearly better than the quarterback play Cleveland saw last year and is expecting in 2026. Mayfield is somewhere between ‘better than terrible’ and Top 10 as a quarterback.
Should the Browns make a play to bring him back in ‘27 because he’s significantly better than what they have and more certain than anyone they can draft, or should they continue to shoot for a Top 10-level quarterback? Mayfield may not want to return, but Kevin Stefanski’s departure might help.
TE David Njoku
Focused on players that Cleveland fans have loved in the past (which excluded Odell Beckham Jr.), Njoku fills out the list. The former first-round pick signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason after saying goodbye to Browns fans and the city. Njoku’s production never lived up to his physical gifts or contract, but he gave a lot of effort and endeared himself to the fans during his time in Cleveland.
Turning 30 years old in early July, Njoku could have a number of seasons left in the league. While it may only be in a backup role, a return to help a young, growing team could make sense for the infection Chief.
Which, if any, of the three do you want to return? Which do you think is most realistic?
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 08: A Summer league logo is shown on center court during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Houston Rockets during the 2021 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on August 8, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rockets defeated the Cavaliers 84-76. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Several former Kentucky Wildcats will be suiting up in the NBA Summer League.
More than a dozen former Wildcats will look to make a name for themselves on the summer league circuit in hopes of earning an NBA contract.
Looking at some former players who are grinding it out in the summer circuit, recently-drafted Otega Oweh is playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the summer league. Playing in the Salt Lake City league, Oweh had a nice sequence showing his two-way ability.
Otega Oweh putting his two-way impact on display 💯
The Thunder’s second round pick is showing off at the Salt Lake City Summer League! pic.twitter.com/zDBmKKSWUj
Former Kentucky Wildcat Jacob Toppin is also playing in the Salt Lake City league with the Atlanta Hawks.
In the California Classic, we’ve seen Brandon Boston Jr. playing with the Milwaukee Bucks and Adou Thiero playing with the Los Angeles Lakers. Boston, in particular, had a strong showing for the Bucks, including this dunk.
The Las Vegas Summer League gets underway beginning on Thursday, July 9 and includes all 30 NBA teams.
Here’s a look at some other former Kentucky players we should expect to see in Vegas.
Amari Williams (Boston Celtics), Jaxson Robinson (Cleveland Cavaliers), Bryce Hopkins (Denver Nuggets), Ugonna Onyenso (Detroit Pistons), Keion Brooks (Indiana Pacers), Lance Ware (New York Knicks), TyTy Washington (Orlando Magic), Koby Brea and Devin Askew (Phoenix Suns), and Andrew Carr (Portland Trailblazers).
Jayden Quaintance, who was recently drafted in the first round by the San Antonio Spurs, is technically on San Antonio’s summer league roster, but it has been announced that he will not be playing in the summer league due to the knee injury.
The Las Vegas Summer League games will be shown on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, and Prime Video.
SAN ANTONIO, TX -JUNE 5: Former New York Knicks player Patrick Ewing appears curtsied before their game against the San Antonio Spurs of 2026 NBA Finals - Game Two at Frost Bank Center on June 5, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Patrick Ewing is leaving the New York Knicks once again… this time to return to the sideline with the Washington Wizards.
SNY’s Ian Begley first reported that Ewing was in talks with Washington to join Brian Keefe’s coaching staff. ESPN’s Shams Charania later confirmed that Ewing had agreed to become a Wizards assistant coach.
As Charania wrote in another of his never-not-entertaining stories, Washington values Ewing’s “presence and legendary stature,” as well as his “ability to communicate” with veteran stars Anthony Davis and Trae Young and the AJ Dybantsa-led group of neophyte Wiz.
Georgetown and New York Knicks legend Patrick Ewing has agreed to become an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards and head coach Brian Keefe, sources tell ESPN. Ewing has been in an Ambassador role with the Knicks and now returns on the coaching sidelines in D.C. pic.twitter.com/6Xdz6GrmY0
For Knicks fans, the move comes shortly after Ewing wrapped up his second season back with the franchise as an advisor and basketball ambassador. Ewing has been around the team during the past two years, including joining them both at home and on the road during their championship run and later at the Canyon of Heroes for the title parade, with the Knicks giving one of their GOATs what he always deserved.
When the Knicks announced his return in October 2024, Ewing made clear what the organization still meant to him.
“As I said the day my number 33 jersey lifted into the rafters at MSG, I will always be a Knick, and I will always be a New Yorker,” Ewing said then.
New York infamously drafted Ewing No. 1 overall in the 1985 NBA Draft after his Georgetown career, and three decades later, he remains the Knicks’ all-time leader in games played (1,039), points (23,665), rebounds (10,759), field goals made (9,260), steals (1,061), and blocks (2,758) in a full sweep of the classic statline.
Back to the actual news, the Wizards’ job will bring Ewing back to another familiar place for the Big Fella, as that’s where his NBA coaching career began. Washington hired Ewing shortly after he retired from the NBA in 2001, with Pat becoming an assistant for Michael Jordan of all people during the 2002-03 season before later working with the Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
Steve Clifford is also joining Washington as a coaching advisor, according to ESPN. Clifford coached alongside Ewing in Orlando from 2007-12, then hired him to his staff in Charlotte from 2013-17.
Ewing later returned to Georgetown as head coach from 2017-23, compiling a 75-109 record and leading the Hoyas to the 2021 NCAA Tournament after winning the Big East Tournament.
And now, after watching the Knicks finally win the goddam title, you bet Ewing has also earned the right to do whatever the hell he wants. Shout-out, Big Pat!
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 30: Max Fried #54 of the New York Yankees throws a live bullpen session before a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on June 30, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
MLB.com | Bill Ladson: The Yankees’ rotation took a hit the other day with Carlos Rodón hitting the IL, but they got some good news yesterday. Max Fried, on the IL since the middle of May with a bone bruise, is ready to start facing live batters. He threw a bullpen session on Friday, and after getting the go-ahead that everything felt good will throw live batting practice today with a pitch limit of about 35 pitches. He’s still a while away from returning to the big league team, with roughly a month to go in his rehab, but the team is excited with the form he’s displayed and Fried has even taken the time off to work on his mechanics as he was never able to settle in this year despite good overall stats.
NY Daily News | Gary Phillips: The All-Star rosters for the American League were announced and the Yankees will have four representatives locked in. Aaron Judge earned his way onto the starting lineup via fan vote despite missing the last month with his rib injury, and though he’ll obviously miss out on playing in the festivities this will be his eighth time being honored as an All-Star. Meanwhile, his fellow stars in the lineup Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger will earn their way into the Midsummer Classic, and Cam Schlittler will join them from the pitching staff with a shot at starting the game outright.
MLB.com | Marino Panchano: Jasson Domínguez didn’t make the Opening Day lineup for the Yankees, but he always figured to be in their plans. A freak injury interrupted his return at the start of May, but now the runway is wide open for him to make his mark as the team is without Aaron Judge for the foreseeable future. Domínguez will start alongside Bellinger and Trent Grisham as the trio in the outfield with Spencer Jones demoted, and they’ll need him to show that the improvements he made down in Triple-A while he waited for his shot weren’t marginal — the team is desperate for offense, and a Martian sighting could do wonders to kickstart the lineup.
NY Daily News | Bill Maddon: The June Swoon has fully hit, and with it the annual clamoring for Aaron Boone’s firing have commenced. It would be a major surprise for the Yankees to do this, especially with no particular clubhouse favorite to succeed him, but the fact of the matter is that the Yankees have gone into a major slide and don’t have any cavalry coming to support them for at least another month or two without Brian Cashman totally revamping this team via trades. If the improvements have to come from within, it’ll also have to come on quick as the Rays have charged ahead into the lead in the AL East with reinforcements of their own coming with one of their top prospects pushing for a major league promotion.
NY Post | Steve Serby: Jose Caballero is the guy that you love when he’s on your team and you hate when he’s on the other team, and he knows that fully well. The utility player sat down for a lengthy Q&A with Serby and dished plenty of details on how he fights for every at-bat and takes a winning mentality onto the field, as well as breakdowns of several of his Instragram quotes.
SACRAMENTO, CA ― The future looks bright for the Sacramento Kings.
Darius Acuff Jr. shined in his first summer league game at the California Classic, a 79-76 win against the Brooklyn Nets at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on July 4.
Acuff had a rough start to the game, going 1-for-8, but he continued to attack downhill. He finished the game going 9-for-29 and scored 25 points and four assists, including the game-winning assist to second-year guard Nique Clifford who knocked down a 3-pointer with 5 seconds left in the game.
"I wasn't nervous," Acuff told USA TODAY Sports. "I wouldn't lie, I'll tell you if I was nervous. But I actually wasn't. I thought I was gonna be nervous. I actually wasn't nervous, I was hyped to play. I got some great sleep. Woke up and a good breakfast. I thought the start I had wasn't going to happen but you know it happens to the best of us. Nah. I wasn't nervous. I was more excited to play with those guys, get on the court and play a game again, that was the best part, for sure."
Something is cooking in Sacramento. It's not just Acuff, it's the entire 2026 class including Alex Karaban and Emanuel Sharp.
With the No. 45 pick of the second round, the Kings picked Sharp, a 6-foot-3 guard out of Houston who was slept on. But not by Sacramento, who were searching for a two-way guard. They found him.
Sharp scored 11 points and recorded two steals and a block, as he helped to level the Kings who were down early in their summer league game against the Nets.
"I thought he was the guy who set the tone defensively," Kings summer league coach Chris Darnell said. "His ability to take a team out of their offense, just with his ability to guard the ball. He's in his gaps, he's tough, he's physical, he's smart. He does everything you want as a coach on that end of the floor. He just makes winning plays."
He added: "On the offensive end, we as a team didn't shoot the ball well today, but he's aggressive playing close outs and I love that about him. Whether if it's shot or drive, he's gonna make the read. There's no hesitation, there's no pause. So just that .5 basketball decision-making skill of his, I think is gonna make him a great player in this league when, if he's playing off-ball with Darius. Darius is going to command so much attention that he gets to play the close out game, he's going to be tough to guard in those situations."
From day one, Sharp has been committed to a winning culture.
"It starts with winning, that's the first goal," Sharp told USA TODAY Sports in a June 29 interview. "Just seeing, stepping into my role. Getting used to playing with these guys, playing true to my game and getting the chemistry started."
That's the attitude of all their rookies. The energy is different around them. They're embracing the rebuild. They know it starts with them.
"Winning is always number one for me," Karaban told USA TODAY Sports on June 29. "Just want to go out there and win the California Classic, win in Vegas, get the team chemistry going out there with the different players and just try to identify what I can do to help make an impact on this Kings team."
Put stock in them early. That's not an overreaction. Look at their recent draft moves. Obviously, there's the 2025 draft class that sparked the rebuild with Clifford, Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell.
Both Clifford and Cardwell, who are in their second season in Sacramento, are on the roster for the California Classic summer league, getting in their reps, while learning tendencies of their new teammates.
Clifford, who hit the go-ahead 3-pointer, scored 16 points on 50% field goal shooting. Cardwell had eight points, nine rebounds, two steals and two blocks, while providing his usual, crowd-hyping antics.
"I didn't really have a choice," said a laughing, Clifford who told USA TODAY Sports why he's playing in the California Classic. "I didn't really have much say so."
On a more serious note, Clifford noted the importance to build his game and connect with new teammates.
"For me, I'm definitely taking advantage of it. It's good for me to get back on the court, playing with the new guys that I'm going to be playing with all season long and just start to build that chemistry, like I talked about. So, I'm using it to my advantage. For me, I love to play and compete. So it's helping me elevate my game and work on things that I can be better at going into the season. So it's exciting. I just love to compete."
Keep an eye out for the Kings and what's brewing in California's capital. The California Classic continues July 5 and 6 at Golden 1 Center for the Kings as they face the Golden State Warriors blue team and Milwaukee Bucks, respectively.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 04: A fireworks display after a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Kansas City Royals at Chase Field on July 04, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On paper, I think this was the toughest of this weekend’s matchups against the Milwaukee Brewers, who came into yesterday with the second best record in the Major Leagues. Brandon Woodruff took the mound for the Brew Crew (2-1, 2.59 ERA before today) while Merrill Kelly, who has not been great this year, was going for us. His ERA coming into tonight was an unappealing 5.84, he was carrying 5-8 record, and for the first time in his career he had lost five consecutive starts. So, yeah. Ulp, basically.
Things didn’t start off terrifically for Merrill tonight, either, as Brice Turang lined a double down the left field line to lead off the top of the first. He advanced to third on a Christian Yelich groundout to first, so again, ulp. No worries, though, as it turned out, as Kelly buckled down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning with Turang stranded at third.
In the bottom of the frame, it looked like Woodruff was going to make short work of us, as Ketel Marte grounded out to first on the third pitch he saw, and Geraldo Perdomo struck out on three pitches. Corbin Carroll, thankfully, put up a much more patient at bat, working a six-pitch walk. Gabriel Moreno, tonight’s designated hitter, had himself a very patient at bat to follow, and sent the seventh pitch he saw down Gabi Lane into right field for a two-out single. That brought Adrian Del Castillo, who was handling the catching duties tonight, to the plate, and while he swung at the first pitch he saw, he did not miss it:
So that was fun, putting up a crooked number and taking a multi-run lead in the first inning of a ballgame! 3-0 DBACKS
And you’re going to have to savor that video highlight for awhile, because after the first inning, the Diamondbacks basically folded up their tents and absconded into the night. We didn’t even manage another baserunner until the bottom of the eighth, which not unreasonably led a lot of folks in the Gameday Thread to start expressing intense interest in seeing the “Deserve-to-Win-O-Meter” after the game, because while we had three runs, we only had two hits through seven innings. Meanwhile, the Brewers continued to do Brewers things and get hits and get into scoring position and pretty much constantly threaten.
To his credit, Merrill Kelly held the line, for the most part. He retired Milwaukee in order in the top of the second for his only clean inning of the game, and then wriggled off the hook in the third (runners on second and third with one out) and the fourth (bases loaded with two outs) to put up zeroes and keep the shutout in play. That ended in the top of the fifth, as Brice Turang led off the inning with another double, and was driven in by a Christian Yelich moonshot into the pool area in right. He then walked a batter, and allowed another double to put Brewers on second and third again, but managed to record the last two outs with no further damage done. 3-2 DBACKS
After that, our bullpen got to work, and once again, our bullpen did a bang-up job. Jonathan Loaisiga pitched a scoreless sixth, Brandyn Garcia pitched a scoreless seventh, and Juan Morillo pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, setting up a save situation for Paul Sewald in the ninth. Bear in mind that all three of those relievers had worked last night, as had Sewald, so I for one was feeling a bit nervous.
Never mind that, though, as the Diamondbacks offense slunk back out of the desert night in the bottom of the eighth to give us a little bit of insurance. Lourdes Gurriel, Jr., who had an off-day today, pinch hit for Max Kepler to lead things off, and he grounded a single into shallow left. Jorge Barrosa pinch ran for Lourdes, and Ildemaro Vargas came to the plate and doubled down the left field line. Lourdes would not have been able to score from first on that, but for Barrosa it was no problem, and all three of them wound up being big damn heroes.
Never mind that the lineup turned over and the top of the lineup was able to do absolutely nothing further. 4-2 DBACKS
So it was Sewald for the top of the ninth, as expected, and he quickly struck out both Brice Turang and Christian Yelich. It turned out he needed the extra insurance, though, as he surrendered a solo shot to Jackson Chourio that leaked over the wall in left center to bring Milwaukee to within a run. Happily, however, he induced a William Contreras groundout to short to put this one in the books for the good guys! 4-3 DBACKS
Fireworks: Adrian Del Castillo (3 AB, 1 H, 1 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 1 K, +21% WPA) Apple Pie: Juan Morillo (1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 K, +12% WPA), Brandyn Garcia (1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, +10% WPA)
We had a charmingly lively Gameday Thread tonight, especially for a Saturday, with 272 comments at time of writing. A lot of comments went Sedona Red, too, which is always nice to see. Tonight’s Comment of the Game might not have had the most recs, but it came close, so I’m giving this one to Smurf1000 for this late offering that I think perfectly captures the image of what you want a Fourth of July Diamondbacks game day experience to be:
Hear, hear!
So stop by and join us tomorrow as we go for the series win (!!!) against Milwaukee. Hologram Eddie is going for us, while Brandon Sproat takes the mound for the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00pm AZ time, but I will warn you that it might prove difficult to watch, as it is a “Peacock Plus” exclusive.
See, NBC/Peacock decided to throw a “Star-Spangled Sunday” tomorrow, and they apparently decided that the best way to help America and the world celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday was to buy up the broadcast rights for every single MLB game being played tomorrow, and to gate all of them except the Mets @ Braves (9am AZ time) and Padres @ Dodgers (4pm AZ time) behind the Peacock Premium paywall. Lovely, huh? It really makes one proud to be an American. Gee.
Anyway. Listen to it on the radio, watch the MLB Game Day for live updates, stop by tomorrow and keep returning guest recapper LeahAZFan company in the Gameday Thread.
Wow. It was really pleasant to recap a Saturday night win. Those have been few and far between this season. As always, thanks so much for reading, and as always, go Diamondbacks!
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JULY 04: Austin Hedges #27 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field on July 04, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This was a pretty underwhelming game from the offense. They faced a good pitcher in Burke, but boy did they make him look great. A solo HR from Hedgey in the 5th is the only thing that kept this one from being a shutout. Hedges is now hitting .281 with a .756 OPS on the season. I don’t know how long this will last, but it’s been incredibly fun to see him have this kind of production offensively this season, I really hope he can keep it up.
You know the expectations for Parker Messick have changed when I feel underwhelmed seeing him throw 5 innings of one run ball. He is just so fricken good, and this was a perfectly fine outing, but he wasn’t at his best today. Is Tim Herrin the least reliable 3.16 ERA reliever ever? I find myself with no confidence anytime he comes into a late inning situation. I know we have been spoiled with bullpens over the last few years, but they have been so disappointing this season.
The Guardians will look to take the series tomorrow at 2:00 pm ET. It will be Tanner Bibee vs Chris Murphy.
DENVER, COLORADO - JULY 4: Jordan Romano #68 and Hunter Goodman #15 of the Colorado Rockies celebrate after the scoreless top of the mninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field on July 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Following an 11-15 June, the Colorado Rockies kicked off July with three straight wins. They entered the Saturday holiday matchup with back-to-back 14+ run games. On a day that got a little wonky between injuries, weather delays, umpire injury delays, and more, the Rockies weren’t able to secure a fourth straight win, as the San Francisco Giants took game two of this three game series.
“You look like the Fourth of July…”
After severe weather in the area delayed the game for 45 minutes, the sun came through at Coors Field, the Rockies took the field decked out in their stars-and-stripes studded caps and jerseys, and a nice Independence Day baseball game got underway in front of a packed ballpark. Things finally looked like the Fourth.
But it was one of those days where nothing started according to plan. On top of the weather delay, the Rockies’ projected starter Tomoyuki Sugano was scratched with an injury in the morning and added to the 15-day injured list, giving way to an unexpected Sean Sullivan start against Robbie Ray. The series of unfortunate events carried into the early portion of the game.
Sullivan found himself in trouble immediately. After sitting the leadoff hitter down on strikes, he gave up a single to Luis Arráez followed by a double to Casey Schmitt and then a walk to Rafael Devers to load the bases. Jung Hoo Lee grounded into what was nearly an inning ending double play but beat the ball to first, scoring Arráez and extending the action. Willy Adames came through for San Francisco with a two-run double. Bryce Eldridge hit the third two-bagger of the inning to add another run. The Giants took a 4-0 lead very quickly.
Still, manager Warren Schaefer remained positive about Sullivan’s start, saying, “I think Sally’s still settling into the big leagues. I thought he battled big time tonight and got us at least into the sixth. He threw over 100 pitches tonight, so almost got us through six.”
“Makes me want a hot dog real bad.”
Like Joey Chestnut’s craving for hot dogs, the Rockies were hungry for runs themselves, responding in the bottom of the first. Ray was able to secure the first two outs of the inning, but Hunter Goodman stayed hot with a single. Tyler Freeman then drew a walk, setting the stage for Cole Carrigg. Carrigg blasted a three-run shot to left, bringing the game within one run at 4-3.
Carrigg wasn’t done with the fireworks, this time putting on a display on the defense side of the ball. Eric Haase tried to spark the second inning for the Giants, but Carrigg made a wonderful diving grab to secure the first out.
After that, though, the Giants got another double, this time off the bat of Heliot Ramos. Arráez followed that with a single to right to bring Ramos home, extending the lead to 5-3. Sullivan got the next two outs to escape the second and limit the damage.
Bombs bursting in air (followed by silence)
Hits and homers were flying for both sides early. After Carrigg’s first inning dinger, Eldridge drove one to center field to extend the Giants’ lead to 6-3.
San Francisco logged eight hits for those six runs through just the first three innings. It was the storm before the calm as the two teams put up nine runs early until the offenses were quieted in the middle innings.
Both pitchers threw an efficient fourth inning. Sullivan only allowed a single to Devers but got out of the inning on 10 pitches and Ray worked a 1-2-3 inning on only nine pitches. In the fifth inning, Sullivan gave up another double and a walk but got out of the jam. Ray logged another three straight outs.
Sullivan found himself in another pickle the following inning. Arráez singled to kick things off, before Sullivan responded for the next two outs. Lee hit a double and moved Arráez to third. Manager Warren Schaeffer pulled Sullivan there, ending his day at 105 pitches thrown over 5.2 innings, with six earned runs on 12 hits and his ERA moving up to 8.87.
Juan Mejia, celebrating his 26th birthday, came in to relieve Sullivan. He walked Adames to load the bases before getting a noisy fly out to escape. It was smooth sailing for Mejia in the seventh as well, getting two strikeouts (one thanks to a Goodman challenge) and a line out.
For the Giants, Ray was pulled to start the bottom of the seventh inning. His day wrapped with 88 pitches thrown over 6.0 innings, three runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks. San Francisco turned to Sam Hentges, Dylan Smith, and Caleb Kilian to close out the game.
“We will not go quietly into the night!”
The Rockies did not vanish without a fight, but unfortunately it was not quite enough to celebrate their Independence Day.
Colorado didn’t manage any hits in the eighth, which didn’t help. They tried to mount a comeback and eat into the three-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth. With a successful challenge, Carrigg led things off with a single. Jake McCarthy came up next with a ground out that moved Carrigg to second. Mickey Moniak came in to pinch hit but struck out swinging.
The Rockies gave it one last go, pinch hitting TJ Rumfield for Ezequiel Tovar. That worked out, as Rumfield singled to left field to drive in a run and cut the lead to 6-4 Giants. But then Troy Johnston struck out to end the game there.
Final Thoughts
The Rockies offense wasn’t as putrid as it has been in some games this season, but it also didn’t reach the heights seen recently. Enough guys went o-fer, stalling momentum for Carrigg, Goodman, and the other batters who looked sharp. The bullpen was another bright spot, as Mejia, Antionio Senzatela, and newcomer Jordan Romano worked their innings without giving up any runs.
Moreso, in another rough start for Sullivan, the Rockies pitching was chipped away at consistently throughout the night, giving up 14 hits, seven of which were doubles. The Giants were able to gash them steadily and surely, taking an early lead and not looking back.
Up Next
The Rockies and Giants wrap up the holiday weekend with a Sunday afternoon rubber match.
Tyler Mahle is expected to take the mound for the visiting Giants, bringing with him a 1-8 record, 5.67 ERA, 64 strikeouts, and 29 walks. The Rockies are projected to start Tanner Gordon, entering Sunday with an 0-2 record, 6.69 ERA, 39 strikeouts, and seven walks.
DENVER — There were some inauspicious signs that Saturday, like so many this season, might not be the Giants’ night. They lost an ABS challenge on the first pitch and were all out by the end of the first inning. Robbie Ray just about faceplanted while covering first base.
All was forgotten once the Giants’ bats began to rev their engines against an overmatched rookie making a spot start in the favorable offensive confines of Coors Field.
The same way the Rockies jumped all over Logan Webb in the opening game of the series, the Giants returned the favor against Sean Sullivan on their way to a 6-4 win to even the series.
Bryce Eldridge doubled in a run and launched a 458-foot home run to the second deck in right field. Victor Bericoto smacked a pair of doubles down the left-field line. Heliot Ramos, Casey Schmitt, Willy Adames and Jung Hoo Lee got in on the brigade of two-baggers, too.
Bryce Eldridge flips his bat after belting a 458-foot, solo homer in the third inning of the Giants’ 6-4 win over the Rockies on July 4, 2026 in Denver. AP
Eldridge, who had been stuck in a 7-for-45 rut since his last homer 12 games ago, broke his own record for the longest home run by a Giants hitter this season.
That one traveled 453 feet. The ballpark? Coors Field.
“Last time I came here I was kind of scuffling a little bit at the plate and I kind of snapped out of it here,” Eldridge said. “I feel like that’s starting to happen now, too, this time around.”
The Giants’ seven doubles were tied for their second-most in a game this season, only two off their output from the 25-hit win last time they visited the cavernous mile-high setting.
They became the first visiting team in Coors Field’s 31-year history to record more than one game of seven or more doubles, something the Rockies have only done in five seasons.
San Francisco pounded out 14 hits in total, including three from Luis Arraez on the same day he was named one of the Giants’ two All-Star representatives (along with Logan Webb).
Still, Colorado brought the tying run to the plate against closer Caleb Kilian in the ninth inning. Pinch-hitter T.J. Rumfield singled home Cole Carrigg to cut the Giants’ lead to 6-4 and brought up Troy Johnston.
But in a setting where no lead is safe, that was as much drama as there was in three innings against San Francisco’s maligned bullpen, as Kilian got Johnston to chase at strike three for his eighth save.
What it means
The Giants caught somewhat of a break when Tomoyuki Sugano was scratched from his scheduled start with back spasms and replaced with Sullivan.
The 23-year-old soft-tossing southpaw had made four previous career starts with an 8.64 ERA. With the slowest average fastball velocity in the majors (87.8 mph), the Giants didn’t see a single pitch above 90 until Sullivan left the game with two outs in the sixth.
“He’s tough because it’s a deceptive look,” manager Tony Vitello said. “I think guys look up at the radar gun and don’t realize the fastball’s got a little jump to it, and then on top of it you maybe get a little greedy.”
Victor Bericoto belts one of his two doubles in the Giants’ victory over Rockies. Getty Images
No such issues for the Giants, who racked up all seven of their doubles off Sullivan and gave Ray a 4-0 lead to work with before the Rockies came to bat.
“At least looking at prior videos, it looked like teams that got him took good, compact swings. Other guys maybe got a little too aggressive,” Vitello said. “Our guys have been guilty of that this year, but not tonight. They were really, really good in a bunch of situations. I think the compact swings paid off.”
Who’s hot
Ray briefly looked out of sorts after tripping and falling while covering first base in the bottom of the first. Somehow, he managed to catch the toss from Rafael Devers and step on the bag to record the second out of the inning before stumbling onto his hands and knees in foul ground.
“You know, it didn’t feel great,” Ray said. “I’m not in my 20s anymore. But I’m all right.”
What followed were the first earned runs allowed by Ray since June 10. He had been the first Giants starter since Matt Cain in 2006 to go at least 22 innings over three starts without an earned run.
Ray surrendered a single to the next batter and put another man on base on four pitches. Then, he hung a changeup to Cole Carrigg, who roped it around the left-field foul pole.
Robbie Ray, who allowed three runs in six innings, rebound from a rocky start to pick up his eighth win of the season in the Giants’ win over the Rockies. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
That, however, was all the Rockies mustered against Ray.
“I’m not so sure there wasn’t something aggravated a little bit, judging on a couple winces,” Vitello said. “I was trying to be serious out there, but those guys couldn’t stop laughing so I started laughing.
Again relying on the four pitches besides his signature four-seamer, Ray didn’t yield another basehit until his final frame and finished six strong innings for his fourth straight quality start.
Who’s not
It didn’t come back to bite them, but the Giants didn’t win any prizes for strategy in the way they deployed their ABS challenges. Ramos tapped his helmet on the very first pitch of the game, a heater that scraped the inside corner, immediately leaving them with only one left.
That didn’t deter Bericoto from going for it on the last pitch of his at-bat to end the inning. That one, at least, would have turned a strikeout into a full count with a runner in scoring position.
But, once again, the Giants’ batter’s instincts were wrong, leaving them at the whim of the home plate umpire for the remainder of the game.
Up next
Tyler Mahle (1-8, 5.67) gets the ball in the rubber match against Tanner Gordon (0-2, 6.69). Beware, as part of MLB’s Fourth of July weekend celebration, every game will be carried nationally on NBC/Peacock with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Pacific on the dot.
Giants fans will still get to listen to Dave Flemming and Hunter Pence on the call.
They shouldn’t book their trips to Cancun for the All-Star break just yet.
At the same time, the many overqualified ballplayers who failed to earn selections to the American or National League All-Star teams when rosters were announced Saturday, July 4 shouldn’t have to play the waiting game.
But that’s life in the big leagues, where limited roster spaces and occasional mess-ups by fan or player voting can leave deserving players frozen out of the Midsummer Classic, played this year on July 14 in Philadelphia. Many players, of course, will be named as injury or starting-pitcher replacements.
For now, though, they are the legion of the snubbed, deserving but for now losers in the numbers game. Let’s explore eight players who should be Philly-bound one week from now:
Let’s get the homer pick out of the way. Wheeler has not only been great but is a great story, returning from thoracic outlet syndrome and surgery to remove a rib better than ever. Wheeler has racked up 3.8 WAR in 13 starts, posted a 0.94 WHIP and given up two or fewer runs in 10 of 13 starts.
It’s almost like his peers slept on Wheeler, who didn’t return until April 25, yet has been nearly untouchable since. We’re guessing Wheels isn’t too broken up over the omission; he could have started the 2025 game but opted to get himself ready for the second half. This time, he's due to pitch next Tuesday and Sunday, which if the schedule holds will take him out of consideration to be added to the roster.
Wheeler has said he'll retire after 2027; a fourth All-Star nod would have appropriately enhanced his stellar resume, and a ovation from his home crowd in Philly would have been poignant.
Michael Harris II, CF, Braves
The All-Star selection show led right into a Braves-Mets game, during which Harris homered, banged out three hits, and turned in for the night sitting on a .301 average and .841 OPS.
Yet he was narrowly outpointed in fan voting by Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages, with whom he’s tied with six outs above average in center field, trailing only two NL center fielders. It’s a tough break for the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, and a bit of a surprise he fell through the cracks in player voting. Sure, the Braves will be well-represented, with five picks. Perhaps they’ll get a sixth.
Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers
We’ve nominated Turang to head up the association of aggrieved second basemen, which counts Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt and Pirates slugger Brandon Lowe among those with equally compelling cases. Wetherholt leads this group with 3.8 WAR and is tied for the major league lead with a startling 17 outs above average.
Lowe has slugged 20 homers with an .812 OPS; Turang has a .361 OBP and .813 OPS. The trio all have slightly stronger cases than fan electee Ozzie Albies, who will represent just fine. Simply, it’s a good year for the position.
The Miz, he’s not: Gray does not even strike out a batter an inning, which partially explains the gulf between his 2.69 ERA and his 3.58 fielding independent pitching. So sue him: Gray, at 36, is precision personified, and has been even more terrific since returning from a hamstring strain, completing at least seven innings his past three starts.
For real, though, Contreras has been a force for Boston, slamming 19 homers, posting a .914 OPS that’s right on the heels of first base picks Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice and driving in 56 runs. Boston’s disappointing season probably doesn’t deserve many more All-Stars, let alone two additional picks, but Willson is worthy of joining his brother William a second time as All-Stars.
Jonathan Aranda, 1B, Rays
You’d think four All-Stars would be enough for the Tampa Bay Rays, but the AL is simply that bad and the Rays that good – at 52-34, four games better than the next-best Yankees.
But it doesn’t seem right that the Rays’ holy trinity in their lineup is missing a piece. Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz and Aranda are the muscle that motors Tampa Bay, and Aranda ranks sixth in the AL with a .390 OBP and has an outstanding 134 adjusted OPS.
Logan Gilbert, RHP, Mariners
Talk about showing up to the polls only to see the door slammed in your face: Gilbert flirted with a perfect game Saturday, allowing one base runner in seven innings against Toronto to lower his ERA to 3.19. Of course, by then the player votes had long been tabulated and the ink dry on MLB’s press release announcing the rosters.
Alas, Gilbert’s resume looks really good right now, trailing only All-Star Michael Wacha in innings pitched while spinning a 0.95 WHIP that ranks second to another All-Star, Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen. When the company you keep are all All-Stars, well, you probably deserve to be one, too.
Nick Martinez, RHP, Rays
Hey, let’s make it six Rays, eh?
Once again, the Rays who did make it were plenty deserving, including Rasmussen and closer Bryan Baker, the outmaker, who suddenly has 23 saves and a 0.82 WHIP.
But Martinez has absolutely been nails, giving up two or fewer runs in his first 11 starts. Tampa Bay is 13-4 in his starts, which makes sense given he’s had just one semi-blowup. With just 72 strikeouts in 100 innings, Martinez won’t break anyone’s radar gun, but his journey from a 2014 debut with Texas that included a four-year detour in Japan made him the pitcher he is – highly effective.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Fans of round numbers enjoyed Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s masterful performance to lead a second straight low-scoring win for the Dodgers against the Padres, this one finishing 3-0. It was with his 100th pitch that Yamamoto secured a 10th strikeout to wrap up seven scoreless innings—Yamamoto tied a career-high in punchouts and delivered his best outing against the Padres, a team that prior to this season had caused him problems.
While runs were at a premium on both sides, the Dodgers didn’t need much to feel good about their chances in this one. Just three runs were more than enough to hold off an offense that had no response for Yamamoto, and it could’ve been more if not for the Padres’ defense. The Dodgers squandered a chance to open the scoring in the first inning when Mookie Betts hit what could’ve been a two-out RBI double, but Freddie Freeman got gunned down at the plate. Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts combined for a nice play to preserve the 0-0 on the board at least until the third inning.
It’s pitching 101 that a starter is leaving room for the disastrous if he doesn’t open up an inning against the bottom of an order with dominance, particularly if you’re facing an offense as strong as the Dodgers. Griffin Canning replaced opener Wandy Peralta after the first, and with hitters number eight and nine reaching base in the third inning—in this case, Dalton Rushing and Alex Freeland—it felt like a given that Los Angeles would get on the board. That’s exactly what the Dodgers did with an Andy Pages RBI knock, filling in as the designated hitter with Shohei Ohtani on the bench.
You wouldn’t know it from his performance tonight—as he ended up holding the Dodgers to just one run in four innings as the bulk man, but it’s been a disastrous campaign for Canning. The Padres’ right-hander lowered his ERA to 6.71 and took a sixth loss in his seventh decision.
However great Yamamoto was from start to finish, creating this feel of an insurmountable lead as soon as the Dodgers got on the board, they still felt pressed to add to it. That only came in the sixth inning when Freddie Freeman made up for faltering with a runner in scoring position earlier in the game by hitting a solo shot, only his 15th on the season and third at home since the beginning of June.
Still, any night that Freeman doesn’t deliver with a runner in scoring position doesn’t feel complete, and so he did in the eighth. The Dodgers first baseman drove in Tommy Edman on one of his patented line drives to center field for a single.
Back to Yamamoto, though, despite allowing five base runners with three hits and five walks, the Dodgers starter only had one at-bat against him with a runner in scoring position, responding well to any setback, no matter how rare—speaking of, that final pitch to secure the seven scoreless had a bit of it, considering Yamamoto was facing a full count against Merrill because of a pitch-clock violation at 2-2.
The only dicey moment in the two innings of relief following Yamamoto came in the eighth when Dave Roberts called on Alex Vesia to face Jake Cronenworth with a runner on and a 2-0 lead. Vesia got the strikeout and didn’t even come back for the ninth, leaving the save to Will Klein.
The possibility for a four-game sweep awaits on a late start on Sunday afternoon on the West Coast, as the Dodgers and Padres play with first pitch scheduled for 4:20 P.M. (PT). Emmett Sheehan will start for the home side and be opposed by J.P. Sears, making only his third start in 2026.
Jul 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff (53) throws in the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Struggles with clutch hitting haunt the Milwaukee Brewers yet again, as they strand nine runners on base on their way to a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Entering tonight’s game, the Brewers’ main focus was to get a deep outing from their starting pitching and clean up the runners in scoring position. Unfortunately, neither issue was solved, despite one of them being out of the team’s control.
Hopes were high for a deep outing, as Brandon Woodruff was making his third start since coming off the injured list. But after getting the first two batters of the bottom of the first inning out, Woodruff allowed a walk and a single to set things up for Adrian Del Castillo. He then hit his fifth home run of the season to give the Diamondbacks a 3-0 lead.
Things quickly turned for the worse for the Brewers after Woodruff’s velocity dropped drastically in the fourth inning. Curt Hogg reported that his changeups were sitting at 75 mph, seven ticks below his average speed on that pitch. Following that realization from the coaching staff, Woodruff was quickly pulled from the game. It’s the second time this season that Woodruff has left the game due to injury against the Diamondbacks.
Brandon Woodruff just threw back to back changeups at 75 mph, 7 ticks below his average, and is now leaving the game with the trainer.
At that point in the ballgame, we saw a masterclass from the rookie right-hander Craig Yoho, who threw 2.2 innings of perfect baseball, striking out just one batter. It was his longest appearance out of the bullpen in two years, when he did it with Triple-A Nashville.
Following the departure of Woodruff, Christian Yelich broke out of his struggles at the plate with his first home run since June 17, as he smoked a two-run home run to right-center field. His home run snapped an 0-for-12 stretch at the plate.
After Yoho was pulled from the game, Jared Koenig came in for a relief appearance, as he was the lone pitcher to not appear out of the bullpen in last nights 8.1 inning work load. Getting the final two outs of the seventh inning, Koenig allowed the Diamondbacks to pick up an insurance run to extend their lead to 4-2.
Yelich’s two-run home run was the lone offensive production on the night until Jackson Chourio sent a ball over the left field wall with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to bring the Brewers within one run. Unfortunately, that was it for the Brewers offense, as it was another night of kicking themselves in the foot. The Brewers bats combined for 12 hits on the night, but once again, it was the struggles with runners in scoring position that were the kicker. Tonight, the Crew stranded nine runners in scoring position, finishing the night 1-for-10.
On top of it all, the Diamondbacks collected just four hits as a team, riding the three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning throughout the entirety of the game. Merrill Kelly continued to dominate the Brewers as he went five innings, allowing two runs, two walks, eight hits, and struck out six batters. It was Kelly’s best outing on the mound since June 11 against the Miami Marlins when he didn’t allow any runs through six innings.
The Brewers will go for the rubber match and season series tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., as they play in their third primetime game of the season, as they make their season debut on Peacock.
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 04: Los Angeles Angels players stand for the national anthem before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 04, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Recap
In the first inning, with two baserunners due to walks, Willson Contreras whaled a no-doubter to left and the Sox never looked back.
The Sox had steady traffic on the bases, working some long at-bats and drawing six walks, three of which led to runs. They also benefitted from being hit by pitches (twice – Anthony Seigler’s contortions in the sixth made me worry for his back) and a fielding error. The four-run fifth inning really broke it open, with a long, two-run double by Abreu and Romy González’s first homer of the year. The Sox offense proved it had staying power in the eighth, as three Sox players (Andruw Monasterio, Connor Wong, and Ceddanne Rafaela) notched their first hits of the evening. That left only Caleb Durbin without a hit.
In the early innings, Gray didn’t appear to be his usual rock-solid self. There was an early mound visit from Andrew Bailey and a sinker that didn’t sink in the third that buzzed the batter’s helmet and knocked him down. However, Gray needed only six pitches that inning and settled down. Ultimately, he allowed only four hits. That’s how a veteran grinds it out.
The Sox continue their recent trend of early offense, and have a chance at a sweep tomorrow.
Studs
Power
Contreras started things off with a three-run homer and Romy González showed the Sox what they’ve been missing with a two-run homer. There were also three doubles, two of which drove in runs.
Smart At-Bats
The Sox did a good job, with almost everyone contributing in some way: working long at-bats, taking walks, and getting on base through two HBP and an error. Special mention to Anthony Seigler and Wilyer Abreu, who both scored twice. Between them: 3 BB, 4R, two doubles, 1 HBP.
Jarren Duran
Defensively, he had an impressive diving grab in the first inning. Offensively, he found different ways to get on base via a couple of walks and a hit-by-pitch, and once he was on, he stole two bases. 2 BB, 1HBP, 2 SB.
Sonny Gray
It looked like it was going to be a battle but he settled down and showed how’s it done. Final line: 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 SO.
Duds
Caleb Durbin
He was the only Sox player without a hit tonight, but most of his contact was in the air and he successfully challenged a strikeout in the ninth. Not his night, but we’re a far cry from his early struggles.
Well the All-Star game selections were announced Saturday night and while these haven’t exactly been meritocratic, there were some funny ones (Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a 97 wRC+, for example). It’s a shame that Dylan Lee didn’t make the team, though there may be time yet as a replacement. Dylan is 6th in all of baseball in relief pitcher fWAR at a whopping 1.5 over 38.1 innings. While he’s received some favorable HR/FB luck, he has been absolutely outstanding this season as one of very few high end relievers the Braves have developed out of their farm system in the last decade.
