FOXBOROUGH Patriots 2026 training camp is officially underway.On Saturday, thousands of local fans came out to the Gillette Stadium practice fields to watch the defending AFC champions begin another quest for a Super Bowl. The weather was perfect as Mike Vrabel took his players through a new two-hour, non-padded practice. Fans let out their first loud cheer of the day roughly 10 minutes before practice began as Drake Maye jogged on the field for the first time. The quarterback said Saturday marked a good start to the teams season.It was great to be back out here. Thats the first thing. Shout out to fans. The guys have some energy, Maye said. We got to clean some things up. I think thats what camp is. Kind of the first couple days you kind of get in the swing of going full speed again, and I think you got some run plays now kind of different than most hes. But, you know, we got some stuff, I think for sure, but I think we made some plays and we just got to be consistent and more efficient.The Patriots didnt have many surprises on Saturday. Gabe Jacas was the only player, not on a reserve list, absent although the second-round pick signed his rookie deal as his teammates practiced. Here are the top takeaways from Day 1 of training camp:Mayes DayMaye wanted to start practice out with a bang. Thats why he threw the ball to A.J. Brown on his first 11-on-11 rep. The quarterback threw a deep pass to A.J. Brown down the left sideline. The Pro Bowl receiver was well covered by Christian Gonzalez, which is why Brown leapt up and tried to make a highlight-reel one-handed catch. The pass fell incomplete with Gonzalez holding good coverage throughout the play.I think I had to, you know, one-on-one over there with Gonzo, Maye said. I tried to start off the camp a little bang, but I gotta make a better throw for him.Maye settled down into a decent rhythm as practice went on. The quarterback finished 6-of-9 on the day. His first completion of the day came on a 40-plus-yard deep pass to Kayshon Boutte. Maye completed passes to five different receivers Rhamondre Stevenson (2), Romeo Doubs, Hunter Henry, DeMario Douglas and Boutte.Backup Tommy DeVito went 3-of-6 on Saturday. He started off 0-for-3 before completing three straight passes to end practice. His completions went to Doubs, Douglas and Eli Raridon.Behren Morton had a nice first day of camp. The rookie completed 3-of-4 passes on the day, connecting with Kyle Dixon, Myles Montgomery and Efton Chism III.Boutte makes an impactTheres been speculation this offseason that the Patriots could trade Kayshon Boutte after they acquired Brown and Doubs. If anything, Boutte made the most out of his opportunities on Day 1 of camp. After Maye failed to connect with Brown, his next pass was deflected by DreMont Jones at the line of scrimmage. Two plays later, Maye unloaded a deep pass down the left sideline.Boutte was covered by cornerback Kindle Vildor, but made an outstanding diving catch. He hit the ground so hard that his helmet flew off. Boutte did a good job of holding onto the ball and then popped up with a look of confidence on his face.That catch marked the biggest play on Day 1 of camp.I mean, its nothing new. I mean, you guys see it every day. I mean, all year, last year and year before, and he just keeps doing things right, Maye said. And Im proud of him for getting in there, jumping in there, and he understands if hes got something down the sideline and a ball down the field, that hes got a chance that its coming his way. So great catch. I think that was the better start off camp with a little bit of a deep one. So, we were one-for-one to start.Gonzalez particpates fullyChristian Gonzalez still doesnt have his desired contract extension, but that didnt stop him from making an impact on Day 1 of Patriots training camp.On the first play of 11-on-11 drills, Gonzalez showed everyone why he wants to be paid as the highest player at his position, holding solid coverage on a pass to Brown.Many wondered if Gonzalez would report and be a full participant in training camp. There have been instances in the past of players holding out or reporting to camp, but not participating fully.Instead, Gonzalez was a full participant during Saturdays session, competing in everything from individual drills to full-team work.I think that shows his main focus, and thats football, Maye said. Hes the best corner in the league in my opinion. Hes not the big rah-rah guy. He does it his own way, but he does it at the highest level. So Im glad to be his teammate But Gonzo is someone I look up to, you know, even at the same age. I look up to how he does things, how he handles himself, and just his swagger he has in his own way. I think its, you know, great to see him out here playing around. And I think you saw it in the locker room before. Everybody was wondering, Whats Gonzo gonna do? And hes coming out here and first play hes guarding A.J. in man coverage.Gonzalezs participation could also be a sign of things progressing in his contract talks with the team. Before practice, Patriots owner Robert Kraft told reporters that the team had offered Gonzalez a new extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and the highest-paid player in franchise history.Hes definitely one of the best corners in the league and definitely deserves to be paid as such, Carlton Davis said. So, yeah, hes deserving of all of it.DeAndre Hopkins debutsDeAndre Hopkins made his Patriots debut on Saturday.Instead of donning a team helmet and jersey, the Pro Bowl receiver was wearing team-issued shorts, a long-sleeve shirt and a white Patriots hat.On Day 1 of training camp, the legendary receiver, who played last season in Baltimore, debuted as an assistant coach with the Patriots. Hopkins worked with Patriots wideouts, assisting receivers coach Todd Downing during the individual drill portion of practice.The addition of Hopkins has left multiple Patriots players excited. Im from the south, and DeAndre Hopkins went to Clemson two hours down the road. Thats kind of my era of watching college football and seeing him in the NFL and having him on my fantasy team, quarterback Drake Maye said. Its cool to shake his hand. His hands are twice as big as mine. And just have him be out here and share some information and just be a young adult and a great player in this league. A legendary player. To play at a high level and share some information is awesome.On Friday, Mike Vrabel told reporters that Hopkins called him this summer, asking for a chance to be around the Patriots as he searches for what he wants to do with his playing career behind him. Vrabel noted hed be assisting the offensive staff and even working with the personnel department to give him a sense of different NFL jobs. On Saturday, during one drill, receivers started by throwing a medicine ball before running straight downfield. Once they turned around, Hopkins fired a pass their way.Other times, Hopkins could be seen talking with receivers in between drills. Romeo Doubs said that having the former All-Pro receiver in meetings and at practice has been great for him and his fellow receivers. Yeah, its been really good. I mean, its my first time seeing D-Hop in person, Doubs said. I know hes been an amazing receiver in this league. So just to have his aura, his energy around, also a huge help just in our offense. It feels good to be around.Offensive line plan comes into focusThe Patriots didnt have any surprises with their offensive line on Day 1.The teams starting lineup was as expected with left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, center Jared Wilson, right guard Michael Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses.Moses, who missed minicamp, and Vera-Tucker, who was limited in the spring, both returned to action. Despite Moses being back, the Patriots are still working to develop first-round pick Caleb Lomu. The rookie started practice as the top swing tackle with the starters and then played right tackle for DeVitos offense.During the third 11-on-11 period, Lomu replaced Moses in the starting lineup, playing right tackle for Mayes unit. Thatll likely continue throughout the summer.Elijah Ponder steps upThe Patriots are missing multiple edge rushers with Harold Landry on the physically unable to perform list and Gabe Jacas yet to report. Those absences have led to Elijah Ponder receiving more opportunity with the Patriots.On Saturday, the second-year player was the teams starting edge rusher to begin camp. Ponder started along with veteran edge rusher DreMont Jones.Yeah, it means a lot, Ponder said after practice. I mean, thats what were working for. Im just excited for the opportunity and ready to do my job.Ponder was one of the biggest surprises at training camp last year. The undrafted rookie made the teams 53-man roster and then later in the season, made an impact on the field. Ponder finished with four sacks, five quarterback hits and two fumble recoveries.Now, hes positioned himself nicely headed into Year 2.More Patriots ContentChristian Gonzalez makes impact on Day 1 of Patriots training campPatriots sign rookie Gabe Jacas, ending rookie holdoutRobert Kraft: Patriots have offered Christian Gonzalez biggest contract in team historyMarcus Jones not worried about Christian Gonzalez future with the PatriotsRead the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 12: An exterior view of the Allianz Arena prior to the UEFA Women's Champions League 2025/26 league phase match between FC Bayern Mnchen and Arsenal FC at the Allianz Arena on November 12, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Mark Wieland/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBayern Munich has officially scheduled its 2026 annual general meeting, with the event set to take place during the weekend of November 20-22 at BMW Park. The gathering is one of the clubs most important events each year, giving members the opportunity to hear updates from the executive board, review the clubs financial and sporting progress, and participate in discussions about Bayern Munichs future.The annual general meeting often provides insight into the clubs long-term strategy, with executives addressing key topics ranging from the first team and youth development to infrastructure projects and financial performance. It is also an opportunity for members to ask questions and voice their opinions on matters affecting the club.With another busy season expected both on and off the pitch, this years meeting could feature important updates on Bayern Munichs sporting direction and future plans. Members planning to attend should mark the November 20-22 weekend on their calendars as BMW Park once again hosts the event.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

Jul 25, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Dylan Beavers (12) gets a walk-off single at the bottom of the ninth against Atlanta Braves at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Lexi Thompson-Imagn Images | Lexi Thompson-Imagn ImagesIn tonights game between the Orioles and Braves, the Orioles starting pitcher was outstanding, but the offense wasnt able to score many runs. With a one-run lead in the eighth inning, manager Craig Albernaz turned to relief pitcher Rico Garcia. Garcia, who has struggled lately, gave up a home run to tie the ballgame. Are you feeling dj vu? I certainly was watching it, because that is exactly what happened in yesterdays game. Luckily for the Orioles, tonights game took a different turn after that home run. Last night, the Orioles squandered their chance in the bottom of the ninth and lost in extra innings. Tonight, Jackson Holliday and Dylan Beavers ensured there wasnt a repeat. After Tyler ONeill opened the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout, Holliday smacked a ball to left field that looked like it would sink in for a hit. Braves left fielder Mauricio Dubn almost made a great play on it but couldnt hold on to the ball. Holliday landed on second base with a double. Colton Cowser hit a ball to deep center field, but could only move Holliday over to third. Enter Beavers. With two outs, he was the only thing standing between the Braves and extra innings. Didier Fuentes threw him a first-pitch fastball and Beavers hit it to the right side. Ozzie Albies made a diving attempt at second base but it got past him. Holliday raced in from third! Orioles win! And thank goodness. I could not take another extra-innings loss. Why did Albernaz go with Garcia again, when Yennier Cano was also getting warmed up? I dont know. (Cano ended up pitching a very good ninth) I didnt like it before the home run yesterday, and I didnt like it tonight. But for tonight, at least, we can enjoy a win and not stew on it too much. We can remember the Beavers walk off and another outstanding start from Brandon Young. Because Young had a heck of a night as part of a starting rotation that has turned out to be pretty good. It just proves how little I actually know about the Orioles. Because if you had told me to guess which part of the team would be the weakest link in a bad season, I probably would have guessed the rotation. Young pitched into the seventh inning tonight and allowed just six baserunners. It shook out to four singles, a double, and two walks. He didnt allow a run until the sixth inning, and before then he felt in control even when he allowed runners on. Its such a good feeling to have a pitcher like this on the mound. Through six innings, Young allowed more than one baserunner in an inning just twice. In the second, he gave up a single and a walk, but came back to strike out the next two batters to end the inning. He wasnt as good in the sixth. He walked Matt Olson with one out, then Michael Harris II sneaked a ball inside the right field line for a double. That put runners on second and third with the Orioles up 2-0. One run came in on a groundout, but it could have been a lot worse. Young got the third out as well on a groundout, and the Orioles retained the lead for the moment. At 89 pitches, Young came back out for the seventh inning and faced Austin Riley. He had already struck Riley out twice. He did it a third time for the first out of the inning, and his day was done at 94 pitches. Its so hard to judge in a one-run game, but I probably would have left him in the game until a runner got on or he finished the inning. Regardless, it was another success for Brandon Young. He keeps shrinking his ERA, lowering it from 3.25 to 3.13 tonight. Thats better than any of his rotation mates. His final line: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 6 K. Young was replaced by Grant Wolfram, who immediately gave up a hit to pinch hitter Eli White. It looked like a double, and ended up being a double. But White tripped and fell between first and second base. Dylan Beavers played the ball in right field and threw it to Henderson on a bounce. It was not a great throw, but it was playable. About the time the ball got to Henderson, White was lying on the ground out of reach of second base. But Henderson didnt make the catch and it bounced away. White got up and made it to second. That runner didnt end up scoring, as Wolfram retired the next two batters. But it was still embarrassing as hell. I want to request that the Orioles stop doing things like that. On offense, the Orioles got to Bryce Elder for four hits and four walks through five innings, but only managed two runs. They had multiple baserunners in each of the first two innings but couldnt score. Finally, they got through in the third thanks to some help from Jim Jarvis. Pete Alonso hit a pop-up to the Braves shortstop, and Jarvis simply dropped the ball. Back-to-back singles by Taylor Ward and Christian Encarnacion-Strand brought Pete home and gave the Orioles a 1-0 lead. That was the first of two Alonso pop-ups that Jarvis dropped. He didnt score the second time, but I appreciate Jarviss attempts to help. Gunnar Henderson hit his 18th home run of the year in the fifth inning, the final hit allowed by Elder. He closed out the inning and his night with a Ward strikeout. That was it for the offense until Beavers stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and sent nearly 38,000 Hawaiian shirt-wearing fans home happy. Os win, 3-2! The rubber game between these teams is tomorrow at 1:35. Shane Baz will take the mound for the Orioles. Who is your pick for Most Birdland Player tonight? Is it Young, for his 6.1 strong innings? Beavers for the game-winning hit? Maybe Cano for his nine-pitch ninth inning? Tell us in the comments below.

Kyle Tucker drops his bat after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the Dodgers' 4-3 win over the New York Mets on Saturday night.(Dustin Satloff / Getty Images)The ball jumped off Kyle Tuckers bat for a high-flying home run into the right-field stands at Citi Field.Tucker had been patient, watching the first four pitches of the at-bat against Nolan McLean, a pair of balls, and a pair of strikes low and in. Then, when McLean missed with a center-cut fastball, Tucker got all of it.With his first swing in a game the Dodgers would win 4-3 on Saturday, Tucker gave his team the early lead. And for the first time as a Dodger, he homered in consecutive games.Its too early to say if this is the Tucker breakout the Dodgers have been waiting for. Nearly two-thirds of the way through the season, he has yet to hit like he has for most of his career.Read more:Jeff Kent starting to feel like a Hall of Famer this weekendIts coming, manager Dave Roberts said Friday. It hasnt been as consistent or as fast as wed like, but hes still going through it. Hes still working hard.Tuckers home run kicked off a three-run third inning for the Dodgers (67-48). They scored the other two with the help of a throwing error and passed ball from the Mets (43-62), while the Dodgers kept the pressure on with a barrage of balls in play.That was enough to all but decide the game, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound. The right-hander held the Mets to just one run, coming off a single from Bo Bichette, over six innings.Though Yamamoto gave up five hits (all singles) and issued three walks, he navigated the traffic with poise.Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivers during the second inning of a 4-3 win over the Mets on Saturday.(Frank Franklin II / Associated Press)Tucker came close to hitting a second homer, sending a fastball to left field in the fourth inning. But Mets left fielder A.J. Ewing caught the ball just before the wall. The Dodgers final run instead came off a single from Andy Pages in the fifth.The Mets struck back in the eighth. Edgardo Henriquez issued two walks to open the inning. And both runners scored when closer Tanner Scott replaced Henriquez with two outs and gave up a double to Mets pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor. But Scott got out of the inning without giving up the lead, and Brock Stewart recorded the save.Tuckers home run was his ninth of the season. Last year with the Cubs, he racked up that many by May 3.Theres some times where I like to see the ball coming in, put a swing on it, and I can visualize the ball coming off the bat and doing what I want with it, but it doesnt really go that way, Tucker said. Which is a little frustrating. ... That happens at times, but its seemed to happen a lot more this year. Ive just got to battle for the next pitch and just continue on with the at-bat.Tucker, who has traditionally hung his hat on his strike-zone control, ended a 12-game streak without a walk Friday.Read more:Shohei Ohtani suffers setback in his plans to return to Dodgers' rotationIt was a little weird, because I hadnt walked in a while, Tucker said. So I honestly didnt know what to do for a sec.But I mean, anything to get on base, whether its a single, homer, walk, whatever it is, just try to keep going with it.He drew another walk Saturday in the sixth.Against the Mets, Tucker has looked more like the player the Dodgers expected when they signed him to a four-year, $240-million contract, with the power and plate discipline that earned him four straight All-Star nods before this year.If he can recapture that identity down the stretch and into the postseason, his slow start will fade in the memories of Dodgers fans.Everyone in here is supportive, from the players to the coaching staff, everyone, Tucker said. At the same point, youve got to be confident in yourself. So I just try to go up there every single at-bat and not think about previous ones. Just go up there and try to compete.Read more:Shaikin: Why Dodgers aren't panicking over their $60-million bet on Kyle TuckerSign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

College football offseason content is in full swing, and ESPN just dropped a piece that separates programs into tiers based on the commitments they've landed so far this season. Ohio State has historically been a monster in recruiting, and that doesn't figure to change anytime soon, but what does the "worldwide leader" think of the Buckeyes' efforts so far?Eli Lederman took a look at an important window of March through July in today's recruiting world and identified Ohio State as a program that is hot on the recruiting trail for the 2027 class and, in fact, put the Buckeyes in Tier 1. Only five programs made the top tier, defined as "traditional powers that made the most of the business window." Joining OSU were Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas, and Texas A&M.Lederman pointed to Ohio State's five-star commitments and ability to get in on recruits that had relationships elsewhere to land ten spring and summer pledges."Only Texas A&M holds more five-star pledges (six) than coach Ryan Day, and the Buckeyes after defensive tackleMarcus Fakatou(No. 13 overall) and offensive tackleCaden Moss(No. 15) joined longtime commitsD.J. Jacobs(No. 3) andJamier Brown(No. 11) atop the program's incoming class, wrote Lederman."Ohio State overcame longstanding relationships at LSU, Ole Miss and Tennessee to land Moss, ESPN's No. 4 offensive tackle, on June 26, then edged CFP rivals Georgia and Texas to add Fakatou to an impressive defensive line class days later. Five-star running backDavid Gabriel Georgeswas a long-term priority, and there's no getting around the blow his July 22 commitment to Tennessee dealt the Buckeyes. But Ohio State flexed its muscles to fill out its class this summer while adding a trio of four-star defenders -- edge rusherWyatt Smith, outside linebackerPrince GoldsbyandDeontay Malone-- and quality depth on the line of scrimmage."The (unofficial) official business window of the 2027 recruiting cycle has closed. More than 80% of ESPN's top 300 prospects came off the board between March 1 and July 22. New @espn on how CFB's top program's fared on the trail this spring/summer: https://t.co/1LRnAdRgml Eli Lederman (@ByEliLederman) July 24, 2026It's true that the Buckeyes were some pretty heavy hitters this spring and summer, but there's still a long way to go, and they'll need to close strong to continue to be considered in ESPN's top tier when the Early Signing Period rolls around in December.Contact/Follow us@BuckeyesWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. FollowPhil Harrison on X.This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: ESPN names Ohio State football in Tier 1 of current commitment season

Cardinals tight end Trey McBride had some things to say about Cardinals fans during the offseason. He now says he wishes he hadn't said them."Yeah, I probably shouldnt have said that," McBride told reporters on Saturday, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN. "It came out wrong, and obviously the fanbase is great. We have a tremendous fanbase. Arizona's been here, loyal fans to all the sports teams here, and we're very lucky to have a lot of these guys, and we're going to have a great season. We're going to win games and we're going to make sure those fans have something proud to cheer for."I love it here in Arizona, and I hope they love me too, but it's a special place. The fans are great, and I'm excited for this year to give them something to be proud of."Here's what he said, in a visit to the Bussin' With The Boys podcast: "Living in Arizona, no one's from Arizona. Everyone has kind of moved in from another state, so they're all fans of their own teams, so now you have the Arizona that sits there and there's no Arizona fans in Arizona. So it's a tough deal. Hopefully, we start winning some games and we can bring some of those fans back."The simple reality is that the Cardinals aren't currently competitive. They've been to the playoffs once since 2016. And they're stuck in a division with three Super Bowl contenders.Winning draws fans. For plenty of franchises, no one wants to show up to watch a team that isn't competitive.McBride has apparently figured it out. And he's one of the bright spots on a roster that needs plenty of work. Until that happens, why should anyone living in Arizona spend hundreds of dollars and waste a day supporting the team?

HOUSTON (AP) Mateusz Bogusz scored two goals, his first multi-goal game in MLS since 2024, and Jonathan Bond had four saves to help the Houston Dynamo beat Austin FC 3-0 on Saturday night. The Dynamo (8-6-2) are unbeaten in four straight. Guilherme Santos known simply as Guilherme added a goal and two assists for Houston. Ezequiel Ponce, on the counter-attack, played a first-touch cross from the right side to Bogusz for a tap-in goal in the 12th minute. Bogusz, in the 29th, outraced the defense to long ball-ahead played by Guilherme and rolled a first-touch shot inside the back post to make it 2-0. Bogusz, who had a career-high 15 goals last season, has four goals in 16 appearances (15 starts) this season. Guilherme beat goalkeeper Brad Stuver one on one to give Houston a three-goal lead in the 32nd minute. Bond had his fourth shutout this season. Austin (4-8-5), which beat Seattle 3-1 at home on Wednesday, has lost four of its last five. Stuver finished with one save. Austin beat the Dynamo 2-0 at home on April 25. ___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer

Jul 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Luke Raley (20) fields the double hit by Texas Rangers left fielder Alejandro Osuna (19) during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images | Jim Cowsert-Imagn ImagesThe world is full of many good things, none of which were contained in todays Mariners 7-1 loss to the Rangers, but many good things nonetheless. In praise, then, of goodness, of beauty, of things that are not watching the 2026 Mariners continue to fail and frustrate and fail again. (Thats right, readers, we have reached the part of the season where Im in my Mary Oliver era. Its a summer benchmark: Solstice parade, Fourth of July, the Mariners play such bad baseball Kate cries into her MFA degree.)Realistically, this game was over in the first inning, which at least frees up a lot of time for thinking about nicer things, like the life cycle of cicadas or how the beauty of every flower is also a reminder of the fleeting nature of life. Right after Angie opined, very poetically herself, that part of healing is returning to the site of the woundin this case, the place where Woos road troubles began, in big old, mean old Texasin a flash of poetic injustice, Woo left a fastball right in Wyatt Langfords kitchen for a one-out double. Ezequiel Duran followed, taking advantage of a sweeper in the same location for an RBI triple that was mostly some poor fielding by fill-in center fielder Luke Raley and poorer backup by Dominic Canzone. Perhaps the game would have taken a different path had Woo been able to cap the damage there, but Woo instead made things harder for himself, losing Brandon Nimmo to a walk despite having him in an 0-2 count. He then gave up a bad-luck ground ball double down the left field line to Evan Carter that allowed Duran to score and pushed Nimmo to third; Nimmo would later score on an RBI groundout to put the Mariners in an early 0-3 hole.But have you considered: the perfect orb of a bumblebee nosing along in beachside bull thistle? A clutch of tiny wild huckleberries, jewel deep and plump? Or the bright blue of a mussel shell, barnacled and broken but still shining in the summer sun? Or perhaps the inky emerald green of seaweed fluttering gently on the waves, sea-tossed and shimmering? Because these things also exist in the world with the 2026 Mariners, and are much nicer to contemplate.The Rangers continued to pour it on in the second inning, despite a quick two outs. Joc Pederson singled, and then, humiliatingly, stole second, which allowed him to score on a Langford double, because once again Woo tried to pitch him inside and Langford just pulled it down the left-field line. Duran followed with his second hit of the day, an RBI single to put the Mariners in a 0-5 hole.A poem should always have birds in it, says Mary Oliver. A person wants to stand in a happy place, in a poem. I do not have a happy place to stand in todays recap for you, reader, because nothing good happened in this game. But I can offer you a bird from my walk in the park today: a great blue heron, with a fringe of slate blue feathers, elegant pinprick legs perched on driftwood; and better, I can offer you a child looking at the bird, pointing look looklook as the heron opened its wings and rose, sudden and impossible, and a child, at least, standing in a happy place.I think this is the prettiest worldso long as you dont mind a little dying, how could there be a day in your whole lifeThat doesnt have its splash of happiness?The splash of happiness came in the fifth inning when the Mariners scored their only run of the game against Nathan Eovaldi, sitting pretty at under 70 pitches with six strikeouts. Luke Raley hit a solid single and J.P. Crawford who recorded the Mariners first hit in the third took advantage of a poorly located splitter, smashing it into the right-field corner for an RBI double. That would be the only hit the Mariners would record off the splitter. Eovaldi threw 38 splitters in the game. You can see where the math is going.In the same poem (Singapore) where Mary Oliver talks about poems being full of trees and birds and happy places to stand, she also questions If the world were only pain and logic, who would want it? Sometimes you have to be a little illogical about a baseball team. So I am choosing to focus on Colt Emerson coming up with another hit today, and Cole Wilcox pitching yet another solid inning of relief. These things are not clipped on MLB dot com as highlights because they are not highlight to anyone but me. I think Mary Oliver would approve.To his credit, Bryan Woo did bounce back and manage to give the Mariners five innings when it looked like he might not clear three. Postgame Woo talked about how you have to look at the good things youve done and how theres still a lot of baseball left, which is troubling, because while it is a relief Woo is no longer beating himself up after bad outings, it suggests a certain kind of resignation that this is where we stand now. Not in a happy place.The additional runs were courtesy of Nick Davila (and Wilcox, since he technically walked one of the runners who scored before being lifted for Davila). The Mariners, for their part, did not do anything against Texass bullpen when they finally came on the scene in the eighth. They totaled five hits all game. The Rangers had six hits in the first two innings. With the loss, and the Astros winning, they have now fallen into third place in the division. There is a lot of baseball left, yes, but there is also less baseball left than there was yesterday, and tomorrow, there will be even less baseball left. This, any Mary Oliver devotee knows, is the way of the world.Its a pretty world. So long as you dont mind a little dying.

NEW YORK (AP) Kyle Tucker homered for the second consecutive game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed one run in six gritty innings and the Los Angeles Dodgers capitalized on two defensive mistakes by the New York Mets in a 4-3 victory Saturday night.Freddie Freeman had his third straight three-hit game and Andy Pages drove in two runs against New York rookie Nolan McLean (7-7). The two-time defending World Series champions won their fourth in a row and improved to 5-0 against the Mets this season.Los Angeles has the best record in the majors at 67-38.In a three-run third, the Dodgers scored on Pages' groundout after a throwing error by first baseman Brett Baty. They got another run on the eighth passed ball this season charged to Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, most in the National League.Tucker started the inning by hitting McLeans 2-2 fastball inside the right-field foul pole for his ninth homer. It was the first time Tucker homered in consecutive games since spurning the Mets in free agency last offseason to sign a $240 million, four-year contract with the Dodgers.Pages added an RBI single that made it 4-0 in the fifth.Six days after beating Cam Schlittler at Yankee Stadium for his first career regular-season complete game, Yamamoto (11-6) was not as sharp and constantly pitched with runners on. He allowed five singles, struck out five and walked three.The last-place Mets (43-62) fell a season-worst 19 games under .500 after placing All-Star slugger Juan Soto on the injured list with a strained left calf. Soto is expected to miss at least three weeks and probably more.Bo Bichette had an RBI single in the fifth for the Mets, and pinch-hitter Tyrone Taylor doubled home two runs off Tanner Scott in the eighth.Scott struck out rookie A.J. Ewing with two on to end the inning. Brock Stewart pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his third career save and first since May 2023 with Minnesota.McLean yielded four runs two earned and seven hits in six innings.Up nextDodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (4-7, 5.13 ERA) opposes RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 5.01) in Sundays series finale. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Red Sox Starter Ready to Change Positions if Boston Makes a Move originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox have put themselves in an exciting position.Thanks in large part to their 15-game winning streak, they'll be looking to improve the roster ahead of the MLB trade deadline.Usually that's viewed as a situation of figuring out who can get brought in, but there's also the matter of the players already in place.For Caleb Durbin, it could mean a change.No, the Red Sox aren't going to trade Durbin, who they just got in the offseason from the Milwaukee Brewers.Depending on what other moves happen, though, Durbin may be asked to change positions.He's already openly telling reporters that he'd be just fine with that.I came into this year willing to be wherever they need me, and that hasnt changed. Wherever they need me to play, Ill play there, Durbin said,via Alex Speierfrom the Boston Globe. Im sure they would have my input on that, too, and it would ideally be a collaborative thing. But I also trust whatever they think is best.MORE:The unforgettable feeling of 15 in a rowDurbin has been the third baseman for Boston this season, replacing Alex Bregman, who is putting up similar numbers to Durbin now in a Chicago Cubs uniform.In his past, Durbin has been a second baseman and also a shortstop.The trade deadline is August 3, so there isn't a ton of time remaining. If moves are going to be made, they'll be relatively soon.Durbin's versatility sets up as a strength for Boston. No matter what moves the Red Sox decide to make, they should have a defensive arrangement that works out with their players both new and old.More Red SoxLatest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships