NEW YORK (AP) Luis Robert Jr. had a two-run single to cap an eighth-inning rally in the New York Mets' 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.Bo Bichette doubled off Michael Petersen (1-2) with two outs, and Carson Benge singled and swiped second to set up Roberts hit just his fourth in 29 at-bats since he returned to the Mets on July 20 following a three-month stint on the injured list.Brooks Raley (5-2), an impending free agent who is a candidate to be traded by the last-place Mets before the deadline Monday, got five outs in the seventh and eighth.Devin Williams earned his 16th save by working around Heriberto Hernandezs leadoff walk in the ninth.Francisco Lindor laced a run-scoring single in the sixth for the Mets, who have won four of five just the third time in the last two months theyve won at least four times in a five-game span.Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee each went deep for the Marlins, whose three-game winning streak was halted. Miami, which lost 12 straight prior to sweeping Philadelphia this week, slipped 2 1/2 games behind the idle Phillies and Arizona, who occupy the final two NL playoff spots.Mets starter Nolan McLean gave up two runs and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer 10 times in his last 11 starts.The Marlins Eury Prez allowed two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts in six innings. He didnt allow a hit until Marcus Semien singled with two outs in the fifth.Up nextMarlins RHP Janson Junk (4-6, 4.89 ERA) was set to oppose RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 4.99 ERA) on Friday night in what will likely be his final start for New York.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Stewart Friesen is sitting on the Chase bubble with the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series regular season coming to an end soon. With two races remaining, Friesen sits 10th in the standings with an eight-point advantage over Tyler Ankrum. The driver of the No. 52 truck is in the middle of a very fierce battle for the final spots.Friesen only has one top-5 finish and six top-10 finishes during the 2026 NASCAR season; however, his recent form has put him firmly in contention. The Halmar Friesen Racing driver has three straight finishes of ninth place or better, which is different than others around the Chase bubble.The 2025 racing season was disastrous for Friesen, who missed the second half after a brutal wreck in the dirt racing world. If Friesen and the No. 52 team for Halmar Friesen Racing want to compete for a Truck Series championship, they must continue to string along top-10 finishes.Daniel Hemric in tight battle for Chase spot during 2026 Truck seasonThis article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Stewart Friesen on Chase bubble with two races left in regular season

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 30: Carson Benge #3 of the New York Mets slides into home to score on a single hit by Luis Robert Jr. #88 (not pictured) during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on July 30, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesThursday night was the start of a four game series against the Marlins ahead of the trade deadline when the Mets were almost certain to lose a significant chunk of their current roster. Eury Prez was getting the start for the Marlins, while Nolan McLean, in the midst of an incredible run of starts, was pitching for the Mets. The game was delayed by weather for a little over an hour, with passing showers coming through at the most inopportune moment.It was a quiet start to the night for both sides. The Mets and Marlins traded zeroes, with both McLean and Prez looking good. They both encountered a little bit of traffic, with McLean issuing two walks in the first inning and Prez walking Francisco Alvarez in the third inning. But the first three innings were relatively quiet.In the fourth inning, the first run was put on the board, courtesy of a line drive home run from Kyle Stowers to leadoff the inning. There was no one on so it was just the single run, but the Mets were behind, not uncommon for the 2026 Mets. McLean settled down after that, but it was still a hole the Mets needed to climb out of. It took until the bottom of the fifth for the Mets to even get a hit off of Prez, thanks to a Marcus Semien single. He then stole second to put a runner in scoring position with two outs, but the Mets were unable to get another hit off of Perez in the inning and Semien was stranded.The bottom of the sixth was when the Mets offense finally sprung to life. Alvarez led off with another walk, and he got a head start on an A.J. Ewing groundball to get to second before a potential double play could be turned. Alvarez was then driven in by a Francisco Lindor single to tie the game. A Bo Bichette single put runners on the corners with just one out. A Carson Benge pop fly for the second out made it look like Prez might escape with just the one run, but Graham Pauley misplayed a ball hit by Luis Robert Jr. which allowed Lindor to score and put the Mets ahead. The Mets didnt drive in any more runs but they had come back and taken the (small) lead.They didnt have the lead for long, though. After getting a strikeout to start the seventh, McLean gave up a solo home run to Jakob Marsee on a 3-0 count to tie the game. He gave up a single to Pauley to end his night, being pulled in favor of Brooks Raley. McLean went 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six. Esteury Ruiz replaced Pauley as a pinch runner and got to second on a passed ball, but Joe Mack hit a line drive right to Bo Bichette who was able to double off Ruiz at second for an inning ending double play, with the game now tied at the seventh inning stretch.It took until the bottom of the eighth for the stalemate to be broken. After two outs to start the inning, Bo Bichette doubled to give a sign of life for the Mets offense. Carson Benge singled to put runners on the corners, then Benge stole second to put two runners in scoring position, and Luis Robert Jr. cashed in on both, hitting a two-run double to put the Mets ahead. The Marlins escaped the inning with Robert still on second, but they were running out of time to come back.Other than a belabored leadoff plate appearance in which Heriberto Hernndez (eventually) drew a walk, Devin Williams got through the inning clean and collected the save. The Mets won the opening game of the four game set, and look forward to a mystery on the mound tomorrow. Its Freddy Peraltas turn in the rotation, but given the likelihood of his being traded before the trade deadline on Monday, theres no definite decision on whether or not hell actually make that start. Janson Junk will start for the Marlins, that much is clear at least.SB Nation GameThreadsAmazin AvenueBox scoresMLB.comESPNWin Probability AddedWhats WPA?Big Mets winner: Luis Robert Jr., +44% WPABig Mets loser: A.J. Ewing, -12% WPAMets pitchers: +23% WPAMets hitters: +27% WPATeh aw3s0mest play: Luis Robert Jr.s eighth inning two-run double, +32.8% WPATeh sux0rest play: Jakob Marsees seventh inning home run, -20.8% WPA

The 2nd Annual Texas A&M Football Celebrity Softball Game wrapped up at Davis Diamond with plenty of memorable moments for fans and players, turning a night of friendly competition into one of the summers most entertaining events.As with most AllStar or celebrity showcases, the Home Run Derby stole the spotlight early. Last year, Aggie softball star Mya Perez claimed the crown over edge rusher Marco Jones. With Perez not in attendance this time, Jones entered as the clear favorite and he delivered. He launched a thunderous 61 home runs across three rounds, ultimately defeating tight end Kiotti Armstrong to reclaim the title. His performance had fans joking that baseball coach Michael Earley might need to recruit him as a designated hitter.Once the derby wrapped, the Maroon & White game took center stage, giving every participant a chance to show off their softball skills or laugh off their lack thereof. The night also featured the return of Aggie ace Emiley Kennedy, who stepped in as the guest pitcher and wasted no time mowing down hitters.The game was competitive, chaotic, and full of personality, exactly what the event is designed to be. When the dust settled, the Maroon team came away with a 1512 victory, capping off a day that blended fun, fan engagement, and crosssport camaraderie.Here are some of the best moments from the event.Some Aggie favorites return to sign autographs Legends in the house pic.twitter.com/ra38JbJz2s Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 29, 2026Legends in the house pic.twitter.com/ra38JbJz2s Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 29, 2026Musical artist Le$ was in the buildingCelebrity Softball Game with no context pic.twitter.com/kzUJkjlxrC Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) July 30, 2026Marco Jones is the 2026 home run derby championDerby ChampMarco Jones wins the 2026 Texas A&M Football Celebrity Softball Home Run Derby. @MarcoJones2025 | #GigEmpic.twitter.com/BX4CxiruLQ Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 29, 2026Switch hitting for the winWho are you feelin' like?! pic.twitter.com/PERzJ1TOoU Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 30, 2026Friendly trash talk before gameTeam White vs Team MaroonWho do you got? pic.twitter.com/vCfPqZW1Xc Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 30, 2026Coach Elko with the final say-so!No booth review necessary! pic.twitter.com/1IDYH8QdhI Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 30, 2026Lefty sits'em down quickEmiley back in the circle at Davis and still serving K's pic.twitter.com/B1fJ8Em8uX Texas A&M Softball (@AggieSoftball) July 30, 2026Close game, but there can only be one winnerTeam Maroon is walkin' outta here with a W! pic.twitter.com/6RxMvRoXI4 Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 30, 2026Team Maroon with 15-12MAROON WINS! pic.twitter.com/WIugqT4m9E Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) July 30, 2026Contact/Follow us@AggiesWireon X and like our page on Facebookto follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X:@whosnextsports1.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M stars shine at annual celebrity softball night

Daniel Hemric is in a very tight battle to make the Chase during the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season. Hemric, who only sits ninth in the standings, has a 14-point advantage over the Chase bubble. It would've been an even larger gap if he didn't wreck at Lucas Oil Raceway last weekend.Hemric will have to put forth two very strong runs to make the Chase. After all, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing has struggled with reliability, as shown by Christian Eckes' issues at Lucas Oil. It has been a tough season for the NASCAR team, and it is all coming down to the final races before the Chase.Ironically, Tyler Ankrum is the first driver out of the Chase, meaning one of Hemric's teammates will be battling him for a spot. If Hemric and the No. 19 team for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing want to compete for a Truck Series championship in 2026, the next two races are extremely critical.Christian Eckes needs reliability to compete for Truck title in 2026This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Daniel Hemric in tight battle for Chase spot during 2026 Truck season

The 2026 World Cup on American soil introduced fans to iconic traditions from around the globe. But what if one of those traditions was here to stay in America this fall? The Minnesota Golden Gophers announced via X that they are adding Norways iconic Viking Row to their fan celebrations at home games. While college fan bases have some of their own iconic traditions, like Virginia Techs "Enter Sandman" or Colorados "Ralphies Run," Minnesota adopts theirs as the Viking Row for their 2026 season. Norway ended their historic 2026 World Cup run with a quarterfinal appearance their first ever before their 3-2 loss to England. Star forward Erling Haaland finished his tournament run with seven goals in five matches. The Viking Row first caught the attention of World Cup fans in Norways group stage games in June. After every win, Norway's players would gather in front of the fans and the traditional Viking row, which is rung in by two drum beats for fans to row in sync. But what made the Viking Row tradition appealing to the Minnesota Gophers? The states history. Minnesota currently has the largest population of Norwegian-Americans, with 750,000812,000 residing in the state. It also compliments their NFL team, the Minnesota Vikings. Heading into coach PJ Flecks 10th year as the Gophers head coach, Minnesota is looking to bounce back from a 7-5 season, which saw a dominant top-25 win over then-No. 25 Nebraska. Since Fleck has led the Gophers, hes secured a 66-44 overall record, and a perfect 7-0 record in bowl games. However, the Gophers returning players add hope for a strong year. Minnesota returns their starting quarterback Drake Lindsey, who finished the year with 2,382 passing yards, 22 total touchdowns and eight interceptions, and running back Darius Taylor. Taylor finished the year with 671 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Gophers now face a 2026 slate that consists of road games at Penn State and reigning champions Indiana, and a home contest against Mississippi State in week 2. Minnesota kicks off their season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against Akron, and will look to defend their 7-0 home record from 2025.

Brad Dalke probably won't want to watch the video from that round, unless he's in the doomscrolling mood.Dalke, the popular YouTuber who was given a sponsor's exemption into the Rocket Classic and is making his first PGA Tour tournament since turning pro in 2019, had a disastrous opening around at Detroit Golf Club.Dalke shot an 11-over 81, beating just one player Alejandro Tosti, who shot 82. Barring a round of historic proportions on Friday, Dalke will miss the cut. But he wasn't throwing in the towel Thursday."That round was nightmare fuel my goodness," Dalke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night. "Goes without saying I played very very poorly... but everything that could've gone wrong seemed to go wrong."Nothing I can do now except go play some more golf tomorrow."Dalke, 28, made seven bogeys, a double-bogey and a triple-bogey in the first round of the Rocket Classic, with just one birdie, on a day when the leader, Peter Malnati, opened with a 9-under 61. That's a 20-stroke gap.Dalke's round unraveled quickly. Starting on the back nine, he bogeyed two of the first three holes, and then it got worse at the par-5 14th.He hooked his tee shot way left, a lost ball. He hit three from the tee, and the second drive went well right, into the fescue grass. All he could do was hack it 60 yards back into the fairway. From there, 232 yards out, he hit his shot left of the green, into more fescue. He hacked it out from there and onto the green, some 44 feet from the hole. From there, he two-putted for a triple-bogey eight.Three holes later, he made double-bogey at the long, par-4 17th hole. He was 6 over on the three holes that saw the biggest changes in the Detroit Golf Club renovation, 14, 17 and the par-4 seventh (bogey).Dalke's sponsor's exemption has been a hot topic in golf circles he also got one into the new Good Good Championship in Texas in November. His peers in the YouTube golf space voiced their support for Dalke on Thursday."Regardless of what @DalkeKong3 shoots he's still an insanely good golfer," the Bryan Brothers, Wesley and George, wrote on X on Thursday. "One bad round doesn't define someone and won't change our minds on how good he is!"Dalke responded: "Thank you fellas. Tough day out there and its a lonely feeling playing golf like that. Appreciate you guys. Time for a strong finish tomorrow."Found a new way to chip in Detroit @RocketClassicpic.twitter.com/sChXmhEB5Z Brad Dalke (@DalkeKong3) July 29, 2026Dalke, who has more than 400,000 subscribers on YouTube, is a former star at the University of Oklahoma and he finished runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township. He made his professional debut on the DP World Tour earlier this month, tying for 30th in a tournament in Germany.Dalke was one of two YouTubers extended sponsor's exemption by tournament director Mark Hollis, who was trying to bring some buzz (and more funs) back to the Rocket. The other one, Australia's Ryan Ruffels, part of Jason Day's "The Lads" YouTube team, opened with a par-72.The University of Alabama's William Jennings, given a sponsor's exemption for winning the Folds of Honor Collegiate last fall at American Dunes Golf Club in Grand Haven, opened with a 3-under 67. And Detroiter Joe Hooks, given the fourth sponsor's exemption after winning the John Shippen Invitational in 2025, shot a 6-over 76.tpaul@detroitnews.com@tonypaul1984This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: YouTubers have Brad Dalke's back after 81: 'Still insanely good'