ATLANTA — Ronald Acuña Jr. caught the New York Yankees off-guard with a spectacular throw to end the third inning in the Atlanta Braves' series-opening 7-3 victory Friday night.
The All-Star right fielder threw out Jorbit Vivas at third base when Vivas was trying to tag up on a deep fly to the corner in right.
“His accuracy is stupid,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He's a weapon in right field. His arm is so strong and accurate, and the ball carries, release is good. He's special out there.”
Acuña caught the ball just in front of the warning track with his back to the infield. He spun and fired a throw that reached third base in the air just in time Nacho Alvarez to tag a slowing Vivas, who ignored third-base coach Luis Rojas' signal to slide.
“I just always try to anticipate those plays,” Acuña said through an interpreter. “That's really what I always try to focus on, anticipating the play before it happens. I really wasn't trying to do anything besides that. Thankfully, I have a good arm.”
Alvarez was casual as the throw approached in an attempt to fool Vivas, who would likely have been safe if he had run hard all the way and slid.
“(Vivas) got deked,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “That just can't happen. I did that all my career at third base. Just kind of play dumb, play dead. And that's what (Vivas) read. The body language of Alvarez there, just deked him. He knew it was a deep fly ball, so it caught up to him. ... It's a lesson that that can't happen on a baseball field, especially in that situation.”
We’ve spent a good amount of time talking about the Stanley Cup lately, and rightly so.
Last month, the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row. In the time since, they’ve celebrated with it all over South Florida, and it’s already been to Canada and back after having all the Panthers’ names engraved right next to last year’s winners.
But the Stanely Cup isn’t the only historic trophy that has had the names of Panthers players added to it this summer.
In fact, a pair of Panthers were honored with awards and had their names added to trophies.
They are Florida centers Sasha Barkov and Sam Bennett.
In a photo posted on X by Phil Pritchard, the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Keeper of the Cup, Bennett’s name was in the process of being added to the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is given annually to the player voted most valuable to his team during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Bennett led all skaters with 15 postseason goals, closing out the playoffs with tallies in each of Florida’s final six road games, scoring eight times during those six contests.
About a week later, Bennett signed an eight-year, $64 million extension that will keep him with a growing, championship core that’s built to continue succeeding in South Florida.
Another big part of that core is Barkov.
Last season, Florida’s captain was voted the winner of a pair of pieces of hardware.
He won his second consecutive Selke Trophy, given each season to the NHL’s top voted defensive forward.
Overall, it’s Barkov’s third Selke Trophy win, and probably not his last.
He wasn’t done there, though.
Barkov was also voted the winner of the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities both on and off the ice.
It was fitting that when Barkov was told about his double victories, he was informed by a group of children from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Barkov’s longtime charitable partner.
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, when Barkov committed to donate $1,600 for every goal he scores and $800 for each of his assists, he has contributed over $400,000 to the hospital.
Pritchard also shared photos of Barkov’s name being added to both trophies.
Photo caption: Mar 31, 2022; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) celebrates his goal against the Chicago Blackhawks with center Sam Bennett (9) during the third period at FLA Live Arena. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)
When hockey players aren't spending time on vacation or in the gym during the summer, they are almost certain to find themselves on the golf course. William Nylander and a pair of former Leafs recently hit the links, and it looks like William’s brother Alex took to his Instagram account to celebrate draining an albatross. For those golf-illiterate, an albatross is when you score three shots under par on a single hole.
Following the shot, Alex Nylander posed with William and Washington Capitals defenseman and former Leaf Rasmus Sandin. It’s not the first time the Nylander brothers have found success on the links this offseason. Both won the inaugural NHLPA Golf Tournament, held during the RBC Canadian Open weekend on May 29.
While Alex is making headlines on the golf course, his professional hockey career remains at a crossroads as the upcoming season approaches. Alex recorded no points in five games with the Maple Leafs. However, he did score 23 goals and added 21 assists in 64 games with the Marlies. His 44 points were second on the team behind Alex Steeves, who recently signed a deal with the Boston Bruins.
It was this month last year that the Toronto Marlies signed Alex to an AHL contract, which was later converted to an NHL deal as the Leafs dealt with injuries. However, with the Leafs loading up on depth forwards this season like Nicolas Roy, Mattias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua, it’s hard to see where a player like Alex would fit in Toronto’s plans.
He has nothing left to prove in the AHL, and as a first-round pick (8th overall) from the 2016 NHL Draft, he would probably be best served with a professional tryout with another club if he has ambitions of returning to the NHL next season
Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber celebrates with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, after winning the MLB baseball All-Star Game tiebreaker for the National League on Wednesday. (Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
As an old baseball traditionalist please give me home runs, RBIs and batting average; save me the slash line, WHIP instead of ERA and give me an extra innings game without a runner at second, or for heaven’s sake, a Home Run Derby to settle a tie game.
It left me to wonder if being a baseball traditionalist makes me the equivalent of a Supreme Court Justice originalist, or just old and cranky?
Ron Yukelson San Luis Obispo
So, after going 4-19 in the All-Star Game since 2000, the National League finally gets the American League monkey off their backs and “wins” the 2025 event.
Of course, they still can’t do it in the traditional sense and must pull out the victory in some newly concocted home run swing-off. Not to discredit Kyle Schwarber’s heroics. But, he went O for 2 with a walk against “real” pitching and then is awarded the MVP? Something is very wrong here!
Rick Solomon Lake Balboa
I’m probably in the minority, but the swing-off following the All-Star Game … really?
What a joke! Is this the best solution MLB could come up with to break a tie? These best-of-the-best players are making millions of dollars and they can’t go into extra innings to break a tied game?
Robert Parra Rowland Heights
Fair share
Bill Shaikin's column on the upcoming Major League Baseball player-owner negotiations was an eye opener. Salary caps have helped the NFL, NBA, and NHL maintain good levels of competition and give the fans of the smallest market franchises hope that their teams can compete regularly. Baseball owners should make it clear to the players' union that they will not consider sharing income outside of direct baseball operations without an agreement from the players to a salary cap.
Bill Francis Pasadena
Flip on out of here
Was Bill Shaikin serious when he suggested bat flips as a way to get the attention of fans? I can only imagine what would have happened had a batter flipped his bat after hitting a home run off Bob Gibson. Probably the same reaction that Vince Lombardi would have had if his players had dumped Gatorade on him. Now that would attract fans.
Evan Puziss Mar Vista
Don't call it baseball
Concerning the Home Run Derby, I like Dylan Hernández’s own words: “barely-watchable made-for-television event.” I might change “barely” to “not!” It just doesn’t come close to all the hype. It’s more like a county fair arm-wrestling contest. It’s not baseball and it’s not going to save baseball, whatever the changes. Baseball’s problem is a seemingly interminable, almost inconsequential, 162-game season, followed by an anyone-can-win postseason tournament. That’s not a formula for year-long excitement. Perhaps they could cut the season into halves or quarters and add some more tournaments. Whatever they do, keep it baseball, not “derbies”!
Bill Weber La Cañada Flintridge
Flashbacks
It looks like Tanner Scott is the new Pedro Baéz. I shudder when I remember those days when we saw him walking in from the bullpen.
I hope the poor guy finds his mojo.
Richard McCurdy Burbank
Don't forget
Bill Plaschke goes out of his way in his column about LeBron James and Kobe Bryant to depict the latter as truly beloved by all. He seems to forget Bryant's regrettable experience in Denver in which he was accused of a serious crime. The case was ultimately dropped after he settled with his accuser in a civil case. He was far from perfect so why depict him as such?
Bert Bergen La Cañada
Too much Bronny
Seemingly all Times Lakers' coverage is Bronny this and Bronny that. If the younger James did not have a famous father, there would be a minimum mention of this player, who has never proven himself as anything better than average at best in college and in the pros. End of story!
Jack Wolf Westwood
And furthermore
As a follow-up to letters letting The Times know your readers are not desperate for your articles on Bronny James’ summer league performances, here’s another. I think no one is particularly interested in reports on the LIV tour results. Of the 50 or so players on that tour, there are about five who could still compete on the PGA Tour. The rest are has-beens or never-weres. They are all in it for the (blood) money. Who cares whether Dustin Johnson’s or Sergio Garcia’s team wins or not? No golf fan that I know.
Jack Nelson Los Angeles
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Moses Moody believes that’s the case for Kevon Looney, who left the Warriors in NBA free agency after 10 years with the organization.
“It’s going to be tough losing Loon in so many ways,” Moody said Friday on 95.7 The Game’s “Willard & Dibs.” “He’s been here since I got here. The person he’s been for the team and for me is immeasurable. He definitely can’t be replaced in any way — including the yoga room.”
Not only were Moody and Looney teammates for the past four seasons, but they also bonded over non-basketball activities such as yoga and their faith.
“The way he looked out for me and brought [yoga] to my attention and made it accessible to me. He even paid for me to do it in my first year,” Moody said. “So just extending that out to guys coming in the way he did for me. And he didn’t put pressure on me to do it. Same thing with Chapel. Going to Chapel before the games. He told me he was going and it was up to me to go if I wanted to or not.
“The mindset now is to just keep that legacy going.”
Over the past decade, Looney has served as the Warriors’ Iron Man. He was dependable, reliable and always had a positive attitude.
Looney signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Pelicans worth a reported $16 million.
One is a former child soldier, the other lost 30% of his brain to a boxing injury, and together they’ve built the Briton into fighter who can challenge Usyk
‘We understand human psychology because of what we went through rather than going to university to study it,” Don Charles says as he sits alongside his assistant Kieran Farrell on an old church pew in his gym in Hertfordshire. The contrasting trainers explain how their extraordinary back stories have helped them unlock the reclusive and complex character of Daniel Dubois as he aims to beat Oleksandr Usyk and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.
“It’s true because I’ve found a second life after I had a bleed on the brain,” Farrell says as the 35-year-old from Manchester remembers the terrible injury he suffered in 2012 when he fought Anthony Crolla. “I lost 30% of my brain but it’s incredible to now be working with Don who knew me when I was boxer.”
Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers in the first inning of a 2-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Glasnow gave up just four hits and one run over six innings. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Tyler Glasnow’s problems have been the same for years.
Spending too much time caught up in his own head, and not enough time actually pitching on the mound.
Ever since the Dodgers acquired the tall, lanky and Southern California-raised right-hander, those two issues have plagued the $136.5-million acquisition in ways that have frustrated him, the team and its fan base.
Glasnow made 22 starts last year (a career-high in his injury-plagued career) before a nagging elbow problem ended his season early. This term, he managed only five starts before his shoulder started barking, landing him on the injured list for another extended stint.
Through it all, Glasnow has talked repeatedly about the need to be more “external” on the mound — focused more on execution and compete-level than the aches and pains in his body and imperfections in his delivery.
Yet, with each new setback, the veteran pitcher was left scrambling for answers, constantly tinkering with his mechanics and toiling with his mindset in hopes of striking an equilibrium between both.
That's why, as Glasnow neared his latest return to action, he tried to simplify things. For real, this time.
No more worrying about spine angle and release point. No more mid-game thoughts about the many moving parts in his throwing sequence.
“I don't even know,” he said when asked last week how he changed his mechanics during his most recent absence, the kind of physical ignorance that might actually be a good thing in the 31-year-old’s case.
“I'm just going out and being athletic and not trying to look at it. And if there's something I need to fix, or something the coaches see, then I'll worry about it. But I'm just going out … [and] getting in that rhythm. Getting back into a starting routine.”
Two starts in, that new routine looks promising.
After pitching five solid innings of one-run ball in Milwaukee last week, Glasnow started the second half of the season with another step forward Friday, spinning a six-inning, one-run gem in the Dodgers’ 2-0 loss to the Brewers at Dodger Stadium.
“I’ve been feeling good since rehab, making changes and stuff,” Glasnow said. “Feel solid right now. So gotta keep going.”
As the Dodgers (58-40) came out of the All-Star break, few players seemed as pivotal to their long-term success as Glasnow.
The club is counting on him and fellow nine-figure free-agent signee Blake Snell (who, like Glasnow, missed almost all of the first half with a shoulder injury but could be back in action by the end of the month) to bolster a rotation that has missed them dearly.
It is hopeful they can join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and in some capacity Shohei Ohtani, at the forefront of a pitching staff seeking significant improvement as it tries to repeat as World Series champions.
Granted, the Dodgers — who would like to avoid adding a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, and might have a hard time finding an impact addition such as Jack Flaherty last summer even if they try — did have similar hopes for Glasnow last season.
Even when he first went down with his elbow injury in mid-August, the initial expectation was that he’d be back well in time for the playoff push.
Instead, Glasnow’s elbow never ceased to bother him. When he tried ramping up for a live batting practice session in mid-September, he effectively pulled the plug on his season when his arm still didn’t feel right.
Ever since, Glasnow has lived in a world of frustration, spending his winter trying to craft a healthier delivery only to run into more problems within the first month of this season.
“Certainly the talent is undeniable,” manager Dave Roberts said last week, ahead of Glasnow’s return. “But I think for me, for us, you want the dependability. That’s something that I’m looking for from Tyler from here on out. To know what you’re going to get when he takes that ball every fifth or sixth day.”
On Friday, Glasnow produced a template worth following in a four-hit, one-walk, six-strikeout showing.
Flashing increased fastball velocity for the second-straight outing — routinely hitting 98-99 mph on the gun — he filled up the strike zone early, going after hitters with his premium four-seamer and increasing reliance on a late-breaking sinker.
“It’s like the one pitch I can be late with, and it’s in the zone,” Glasnow said of his sinker, which he had thrown sparingly prior to getting hurt. “I don’t necessarily have to be perfectly timed up for it to have a lot of movement. I think if I’m late on it, it’s kind of my go-to.”
His big-bending curveball, meanwhile, proved to be a perfect complement, with Glasnow pulling the string for awkward swings and soft contact.
He retired the first five batters he faced, and didn’t let a ball out of the infield until Brice Turang’s two-out single in the third. He was late getting to the mound at the start of the fourth, resulting in an automatic ball to the leadoff batter, but remained unfazed, retiring the side in order.
Milwaukee's Caleb Durbin hits a run-scoring double in front of Dodgers catcher Will Smith in the fifth inning Friday. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Glasnow did wobble in the fifth against Milwaukee (57-40). Suddenly struggling to locate the ball, he walked leadoff hitter Isaac Collins on five pitches before giving up an RBI double to Caleb Durbin in a 2-and-0 count, when he left a sinker over the heart of the plate.
But then he settled down, escaped the inning without further damage, and worked around a high-hopping one-out single from Jackson Chourio in the sixth by striking out William Contreras and Christian Yelich.
“It’s not turn [my brain] off completely,” Glasnow said of his new, in-the-moment mentality. “But it’s not like, when I’m feeling bad, I resort more to, ‘How do we fix this?’ As opposed to like, ‘This is what I got today. Let’s just go get it.’ And I think a lot of that was due to the changes. I’m just in a better position right now to go out and be athletic.”
The outing marked Glasnow’s first time completing six innings since April 13 against the Chicago Cubs, and was his first such start yielding only one earned run since June of last year.
“He's been able to stay in his rhythm, stay in his delivery, just be in compete mode,” Roberts said. “I think he's in a really good spot. He's healthy, feeling confident. And we're better for it, for sure."
Unfortunately for Glasnow, he was the second-best pitcher on the bump Friday. Opposite him, young Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester dominated the Dodgers over six scoreless innings, recording the second-most strikeouts of his career by fanning 10. Struggling veteran Kirby Yates didn’t help in relief of Glasnow, either, giving up a home run to Durbin in the seventh that sent the Dodgers to a disappointing defeat.
“They're pitching us well,” Roberts said of the Brewers, who have won four straight games against the Dodgers over the last two weeks while giving up only four total runs. “We gave ourselves a chance, but we just couldn't muster anything together tonight."
Still, for a team with a comfortable division lead and the shortest World Series odds of any club in the majors, getting good starting pitching remains the most pressing big-picture concern for the Dodgers.
At the end of last year, and for much of the first half this season, Glasnow was unable to help. Now, he might finally be showing flashes he can.
"[I want to] just go out and be athletic,” Glasnow said last week. “Just go out and compete."
Winger secures switch from Bayern Munich to Watford
Move should delight Australia coach Tony Popovic ahead of 2026 World Cup
English soccer fans can brace themselves for plenty of dazzling backflips after the young Socceroos star Nestory Irankunda secured a five-year deal with the Championship outfit Watford.
The Hornets announced the signing on their website late Friday, with the club’s sporting director Gian Luca Nani taking great pride in welcoming Irankunda.
Fresh off the All-Star break with a fully rested set of arms, the Mets' bullpen still struggled on Friday night in their 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
Choosing to go with Sean Manaea, who is not yet totally stretched out after a lengthy rehab process, to start the second half meant New York would need to rely on its bullpen out of the gate to get late outs.
After Manaea went the first four innings, looking good in the process, manager Carlos Mendoza turned to Alex Carillo in the fifth inning as the first reliever out of the bullpen with the Mets leading, 2-1. That lead quickly turned into a deficit after Carillo surrendered a two-run homer to Matt McLain.
"I needed to cover five innings there," Mendoza said. "We’re giving these guys a look here and it just didn’t happen today with him."
Still a one-run game after getting through the fifth, Carillo was asked to go back out for the sixth, but things got worse for the right-hander. Carillo allowed two more home runs in the inning, a solo shot by Austin Hays (his second of the game) and a two-run blast by Tyler Stephenson that put the game to bed.
Making just his third career appearance and first at Citi Field, Carillo went 1.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on three hits (all homers) and two walks. The 28-year-old mentioned "trying to do too much" in his home debut as a reason why he didn't have it on Friday night.
"The fastball still did its thing and they just put the bat out there," he said. "They’re a good hitting team. These are big league hitters, they’re gonna hit home runs, but when it comes to walks, that’s not acceptable on my behalf. Yanking the slider a little bit, changeup just staying away and just not competing as I should be."
Down a run in the sixth inning with his entire bullpen at his disposal, Mendoza's decision to stick with Carillo, a rookie who made his major league debut on July 8, was a head-scratcher.
"I needed to get a couple out of him," the skipper said. "It just didn’t happen today."
Overall, even with Brooks Raley getting activated off the IL, which certainly helps, the Mets' bullpen is shaky. Brandon Waddell, another unproven arm that has helped out in certain situations this season, mopped up and allowed two earned runs in 3.2 innings while giving up four hits and three walks.
Jose Buttó pitched a scoreless inning with Triple-A Syracuse on Friday and his return will ease some of the burden, but for New York to be successful, it will need to get length out of its starters. Until then, Mendoza will have to continue to go with relievers who may lack the experience of pitching in high-leverage situations.
"Guys will step up," he said. "We feel comfortable with the guys that we have back there. Today was one of those nights where Carillo didn’t have it. But overall, we will continue to give opportunities to some of these guys… we’ll continue to evaluate the situation here as we’re trying to win baseball games, obviously."
It was a great sight to see. Sean Manaea was making his Citi Field debut on Friday night and it was a great start for the Mets' southpaw. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.
Manaea threw just 69 pitches (42 strikes) across four innings in the Mets' 8-4 loss to the Reds. It didn't look as if Manaea, who has missed most of the season due to oblique and elbow issues, was laboring and he had allowed just one run on one hit and two walks while striking out six batters in his first start since last October.
So, what was the deal?
Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza explained that he simply didn't want to push Manaea, making only his second appearance of the season.
"It’s like pitchers coming out of spring training. It’s that buildup, you’re not going from 60 to 85 (pitches) right away," Mendoza said after the game. "Especially for a guy that’s been through a lot, not only with the oblique, with the elbow issues and his setback. That’s where we’re at right now. Hopefully next time out, we can increase his pitch count a little bit more, but that was the plan today."
Manaea made his season debut on July 13 against the Royals. In that relief appearance, he threw 65 pitches (44 strikes) across 3.1 innings. In his final rehab start, Manaea tossed 73 pitches in 3.2 innings with Triple-A Syracuse back on July 8.
Clearly, the Mets are taking it easy with Manaea as he works his way back to a bigger pitch count. But the lack of length hurt the Mets on Friday as the bullpen could not hold the lead, a trend that has become a near-season-long one.
"I want to be out there as long as possible, but I understand the situation we’re in," Manaea said after the game. "It’s just not taking it too crazy, but just giving what I can with the pitches allotted."
Manaea admitted that he felt like he could throw more pitches but is not surprised by the pitch count. He said that while he knew the plan going into his start, there hadn't been an in-depth conversation on the team's progression for him. He goes out there and pitches as long as he can or is allowed. One way to combat that is being more pitch-efficient, which he wishes he was, so he could go at least five innings on Friday.
"That’s the most frustrating about today," Manaea said of his inefficiency. "Threw some good sliders but not some real competitive ones at all. Combination of that and the fastball location was kinda iffy. Those two pitches I definitely need."
Despite the outcome of Friday's game, Mendoza remains confident that Manaea can be stretched out for the rest of the season, it just may take some time.
"It’s outing by outing how he responds," he said. "I’m pretty comfortable and confident that if everything continues to progress and the way he continues to bounce back, we’ll get to a point where he’s 85-90 pitches. As of right now, that’s where we’re at with him."
Manaea's health will likely be a concern the rest of the year after a loose body was found in Manaea's elbow when he was rehabbing his oblique. That set him back weeks but the issue doesn't require immediate surgery. It'll be something to monitor, as Mendoza put it, outing to outing with the southpaw but Mets fans should feel encouraged that so far, Manaea is feeling good, even if Friday's loss stings.
"[I feel] great," Manaea said. "Arm feels good. Body feels good. At the end of the day, that’s all I can ask for."
The Mets began the second half of the season with a disappointing 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-Things couldn't have started better for New York following the break. Sean Manaea was making his first start after looking impressive in his season debut against the Kansas City Royals in the final game of the first half and he struck out the side in the first inning in his return to Citi Field.
-Juan Soto kept the energy inside the ballpark going with a solo shot in the bottom half of the frame that gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. The home run was Soto's 24th of the season and he's now hit a league-leading 16 home runs since May 31.
-New York kept the pressure high on the Reds and Nick Lodolo in the second inning. Brandon Nimmo led off with a walk, stole second and came around to score on Jeff McNeil's RBI single.
-Holding Cincinnati to without a hit over the first three innings, Manaea allowed a home run to Austin Hays to lead off the fourth inning -- the lefty's only blemish of the night. Still not fully stretched out, Manaea was done after four terrific innings in which he allowed a run on a hit and two walks with six strikeouts while throwing 69 pitches (42 strikes). He's struck out 13 batters so far in 7.1 innings since coming off the IL.
-With Manaea out of the game, the Reds took full advantage of the Mets' bullpen, which continues to struggle. Alex Carillo was the first arm out of the pen and after getting two quick outs, the right-hander hit TJ Friedl before giving up a two-run shot to Matt McLain, which gave Cincy the lead.
-Carillo went back out for the sixth and the Reds continued to feast. First up was Hays, who hit his second solo homer of the game to lead off an inning and doubled the Mets' deficit. After a walk and a wild pitch, Tyler Stephenson smacked a two-run blast to bust things open and give his team a 6-2 advantage.
-Carillo was only able to record four outs and his final line was not pretty: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 3 HR.
-The bullpen wasn't all to blame, though, as the Mets' offense was completely stifled after their encouraging start. Lodolo settled in and found his groove, going seven innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits, a walk and seven strikeouts. Entering the ninth, the only baserunners for New York after McNeil's RBI single in the second inning came from Luis Torrens (single in the fifth) and Nimmo (infield single in the seventh).
-Both players did their part in trying to stage an unlikely comeback via a two-out rally in the final frame. With two outs, Nimmo doubled before Ronny Mauricio reached on an error, which scored a run. McNeil walked, pinch-hitter Brett Baty hit an infield single and Torrens made it 8-4 with another single.
-As the tying run at the plate, Francisco Lindor popped out to second base to finish an 0-for-5 night.
-Brandon Waddell mopped up the final 3.2 innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits and three walks.
Game MVP: Austin Hays
Hays finished 2-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and two walks out of the cleanup spot.
The Mets and Reds continue their three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 4:10 p.m. on SNY. Before the game, David Wright will have his number retirement ceremony.
RHP Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.31 ERA) goes for New York. He will be opposed by RHP Nick Martinez (7-9, 4.78 ERA).
The Yankees opened the second half of the season with an opener and it didn't work out in their 7-3 loss to the Braves in Atlanta on Friday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-With Max Fried and Cam Schlittler dealing with injuries, the Yankees went with Ian Hamilton as an opener and it was tough sledding for the reliever and the rest of the bullpen.
The Braves picked up three straight hits (two doubles, one single) to go up 2-0. Hamilton would allow a sacrifice fly before the first inning ended. The Braves put up three runs on three hits and one walk to give themselves the early lead.
Atlanta would add on in the third inning with an Ozzie Albies three-run shot off of former Mets reliever Rico Garcia.
The Yankees used four relievers to get through the game. Here's how it broke down:
Hamilton: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Garcia: 2.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
Scott Effross: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
JT Brubaker: 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
-On the other side, Spencer Strider dominated the Yankees. After allowing a Trent Grisham single to lead off the game, Strider settled in, striking out four straight batters at one point. The Yankees would make Strider work in the third inning, working back-to-back one-out walks for Cody Bellinger. The Yankees outfielder hit a long fly ball to right field and Ronald Acuña Jr. gunned down Jorbit Vivas at third base for the double play. Vivas didn't slide into third base and was tagged out with Aaron Judge on the on-deck circle.
Despite walking three batters, Strider kept the Yankees off balance. He struck out eight batters and scattered three hits across six scoreless innings.
-The Yankees wouldn't actually score until the seventh inning against the Braves bullpen. Ben Rice hit a one-out double before Austin Wells singled. Giancarlo Stanton then ripped a pinch-hit double to drive in two before Bellinger singled to cut Atlanta's lead to 7-3. Judge struck out to end the inning and strand two runners.
The Yankees mustered eight hits but were 3-for-8 with RISP and left seven runners on base. Rice had the best offensive day for the Yankees, going 2-for-4 with two doubles. The worst game came from Jasson Dominguez, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Judge went 1-for-4 but also struck out three times.
Game MVP: Spencer Strider
Strider's six scoreless innings held down the Yankees long enough for the Braves batters to build a big enough lead.
What's next
The Yankees and Braves continue their three-game set on Saturday evening. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m.
Will Warren (6-5, 4.63 ERA) will take the mound while the Braves will send Joey Wentz (2-1, 6.32 ERA) to the bump.
After dazzling at the Futures Game, Mets pitching prospect Jonah Tong took the ball to kick things off out of the break for the Rumble Ponies and delivered yet another outstanding performance.
Tong went 5.1 innings and allowed a run on two hits while walking two and striking out seven. He threw 73 pitches (43 strikes).
Binghamton handed the 22-year-old the lead by scoring a run in the top of the first, but Tong gave up his only run of the night in the bottom half of the inning, which included a leadoff walk and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt (Tong's second error of the season). A single and a groundout scored the tying run.
The right-hander settled down from there in a big way.
After a one-out walk in the second, Tong retired 11 straight batters before allowing his second hit of the night, a leadoff single in the sixth. Tong ended his outing with a flyout before getting pulled, though he left with a 2-1 lead after the Rumble Ponies scored a run in the top half of the inning.
Tong lowered his ERA to 1.71 across 16 starts and 84 innings pitched.
In Triple-A, things didn't go as well for Nolan McLean.
Entering the game in the second inning after Jose Buttó pitched a scoreless first inning while on rehab assignment, McLean's outing began oddly. He struck out the first batter he faced, but a passed ball by Francisco Alvarez allowed the runner to reach base safely. From there, it was a struggle for the right-hander.
McLean managed to get out of the second inning unscathed thanks to a double play, but he allowed a run in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth. In 3.2 innings -- his shortest outing with Syracuse -- the 23-year-old allowed six runs on four hits, including a three-run homer, and three walks. He struck out six and threw 84 pitches (45 strikes).
It was the worst start for McLean this season as he allowed the most runs he's given up this season, raising his ERA to 3.22. It also broke a streak of nine straight outings in which he allowed two earned runs or fewer.
Former Suns guard Bradley Beal (3), driving past new teammate Kawhi Leonard during a game in March, has signed a two-year, $11-million contract to join the Clippers. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
The Clippers signed guard Bradley Beal on Friday after the final two years of his contract were bought out by the Phoenix Suns earlier this week and he cleared waivers.
Beal, 32, is a three-time All-Star and 13-year NBA veteran. He signed a two-year contract worth $11 million, with a player option for 2026-27, according to his agent, Mark Bartelstein.
Beal averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 32.1 minutes while starting 38 of 53 games for the Suns last season. Beal shot 50% from the floor, 39% from 3-point range and 80% from the foul line.
Beal joins a veteran Clippers roster led by Kawhi Leonard and James Harden. Beal will get a chance to move past his two disappointing, injury-riddled seasons in Phoenix.
“Players of this caliber are very rare, and they’re hard to come by,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said in a statement. “He's been the best player on his team. You can put him in so many different spots and he’ll find ways to score: out of pick-and-roll, coming off screens, catch-and-shoot. He can create his own or he can play off the ball. He’s a great cutter. He’s also a great playmaker who is going to make everybody else better.”
First loss of summer for the Clippers
The Clippers' bid to remain unbeaten in NBA Summer League play was derailed by a slow start Thursday night against the Denver Nuggets.
After scoring only 11 points in the first quarter while falling behind by double digits, the Clippers eventually trailed by 25 late in the third quarter only to see a furious fourth-quarter rally fall short in an 81-76 loss.
Jordan Miller had a game-high 23 points with 14 rebounds for the Clippers. Patrick Baldwin Jr. and Cam Christie each scored 16 while Trentyn Flowers had 12 points for L.A.
The Clippers (3-1) shot only 36% from the field and 23.7% from three-point range. Christie and Flowers shot a combined four of 21 from deep.
The Nuggets (1-3) did not fare much better, shooting 38.7% from the field and 30% from three-point range.
DaRon Holmes III led the Nuggets with 19 points and a game-high 17 rebounds. Spencer Jones contributed 17 points and six rebounds in the win.
The Clippers will play in a consolation game against the Memphis Grizzlies at 5 p.m. Sunday.
Lakers fall to Celtics
Bronny James scored a game-high 18 points and had five assists in an 87-78 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night in Las Vegas.
The Lakers (1-3), who led 26-21 after the first quarter, committed 21 turnovers that led to 24 points for the Celtics, who outscored L.A. 19-9 in the second quarter. Boston opened a 15-point lead midway through the fourth quarter.
DJ Steward contributed 14 points and five assists for the Lakers while Christian Koloko and Cole Swider each scored 12.
Boston was led by Jordan Walsh's 17 points and six rebounds. Hugo Gonzalez scored 13 for the Celtics.
The Lakers shot 44.3% from the field but only 21.4% (six of 28) from three-point range. The Nuggets shot 38.7% from the field and 31.8% from deep.
The Lakers completed Summer League play against the Denver Nuggets in the Friday nightcap.
Tournament time
Six teams went unbeaten in four games in Las Vegas, with the Toronto Raptors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings advancing to a two-day tournament to determine a champion.
The Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves also went unbeaten but did not advance to the tournament based on tiebreakers, the first of which is point differential.
Toronto was seeded first and will play No. 4 Sacramento at 1 p.m. Saturday in the first semifinal while No. 2 Oklahoma City plays No. 3 Charlotte at 4 p.m. The winners will play at 7 p.m. Sunday for the title.
Etc.
New Orleans rookie Derik Queen is likely to miss at least the start of training camp after having surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. He was injured Tuesday during a Summer League game and the team said he will be evaluated again in approximately 12 weeks.
