Kristina Liutova couldn't quite process it, gripping her head after defeating Elvina Kalieva 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the final of the Memphis Classic on Aug. 1.The first thing she did was embrace her entire family in the crowd at Leftwich Tennis Center: her mother, father, and younger brother. At 16 years old and in her first WTA tournament, the Russian tennis star will be the youngest to compete in a WTA final since Coco Gauff won the Linz Open in 2019."Still processing, honestly. But I felt this coming sooner or later in my career," said Liutova, who will face Darja Vidmanova at 12:30 p.m. CT on Aug. 2. "I trusted the moment. I trusted the fate. And just worked and worked. Nothing else."There was a swell of jitters and nerves flowing through her all day, but something she overcame after stepping on to the court."It's like usual. Because I expect myself to be this way, I've done so much work. And we've done so much work," Liutova said. "Memphis is great. It's such a great atmosphere. It's a pleasure being here."Liutova went into this tournament with the outside world having zero expectations for her to reach the final stage. She had outlasted No. 19-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova on July 29 when Alexandrova collapsed on the court after suffering a heat-related illness.After that, Liutova took the Memphis Classic by storm. A herd of kids surrounded her following her thrilling win against Kalieva and asked for autographs and pictures.Kids couldnt get enough of 16-year-old Kristina Liutova. Shell be competing at the Memphis Classic final against Darja Vidmanova. pic.twitter.com/EMciP03RjW Said Bravo (@Said_Bravo1) August 1, 2026"To see young kids be inspired by me is very special because I was also inspired by some players like Rafa Nadal. So I kind of feel them a little," Liutova said. "I'm grateful that they come to support me. It adds a little bit of energy to me."A couple of hours later, fellow Russian-born Vidmanova dominated Renata Zaraza 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the final."It was a great week. It's a big week for me," Vidmanova said. "Just to be able to compete against players in the top-100 consistently and do it in back-to-back matches. It means a lot."Vidmanova was born in Moscow, but represents the Czech Republic internationally. She was able to make the best of her long frame (6-foot-3) and made Zaraza look silly on some smashes and light taps.It's something Vidmanova, 23, hopes to carry to the final against a young and upcoming star."She's young. Definitely a good player. It's going to be a tough match," Vidmanova said. "She's definitely motivated and ready, so we'll see."Reach Commercial Appeal sports intern Said Bravo at said.nonoal@commercialappeal.comThis article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Sixteen-year-old Kristina Liutova advances to Memphis Classic final vs Darja Vidmanova

Jul 27, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics pitcher Jack Perkins (50) throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectLast night, the Athletics opened this three-game series against the Detroit Tigers with another loss, falling 13-1 in a game that remained close until the As bullpen imploded over the final two innings. The teams latest blowout home defeat capped a miserable 5-19 July, all but ending the As hopes of making a meaningful push during the final two months of the season.Entering August 20 games under .500 at 45-65, it is imperative that the Green and Gold use the next two months as a springboard toward a more successful 2027 seasonone that will hopefully not be disrupted by a looming offseason CBA lockout. The Athletics must find a way to win more games while evaluating their young players to determine who fits into the organizations long-term plans.Roster MoveBefore the game, the As made an expected pitching change.We have made the following roster moves. pic.twitter.com/I91sZ9mPYw Athletics (@Athletics) August 1, 2026One of the teams young pitchers, right-hander Luis Morales, has seen his performance decline this season. Morales meltdown yesterday earned him a ticket back to Triple-A Las Vegas. Left-hander Ben Bowden, who posted a 4.22 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the As last season, will take his place in the big-league bullpen. Bowden has spent all of 2026 in Triple-A, going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 32 appearances.Another talented young pitcher, right-hander Jack Perkins, will start the middle game of this weekends series for the As. The 26-year-old enters his 27th appearance and eighth start of the season with a 2-6 record, a 6.45 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP and 80 strikeouts over 68 1/3 innings. Tonight will be his second start of the homestand. Perkins will look to build on his strong outing against the Boston Red Sox earlier this week. In that game, he was charged with an undeserved loss after allowing two runs on just one hit over 5 2/3 innings. He exited with the As leading 1-0 and Boston threatening with two runners on base. His replacement, Jos Suarez, surrendered a game-winning grand slam, but the loss was still charged to Perkins because the first two runners had reached base before he left the game.Heres how manager Mark Kotsay will line up his squad for the second game of the series:Saturday at SHP pic.twitter.com/vjExxDr1ZX Athletics (@Athletics) August 1, 2026This lineup would make sense for a Spring Training game, not a regular-season contest in the dog days of summer. Unfortunately, for the As, that is fitting for a team that has face-planted its way out of contention in a winnable American League West division.According to As MLB.com reporter Martin Gallegos, Jacob Wilson is serving as the designated hitter again, managing a lower-body issue in addition to his persistent left shoulder injury. Nick Kurtz is also out of the lineup, nursing the lingering thumb issue that still causes pain on certain swings.Only three players in the starting nine have been with the Athletics all season. One of them, right fielder Lawrence Butler, has not lived up to his contract, although he has started to swing the bat better lately.If the As want to snap this three-game skid, they will need left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and third baseman Tommy White to break out of their mini-slumps. Anything they can get from the players batting eighth and ninth tonight would be icing on the cake.The As offense will face Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez, who enters his 22nd start of the season with a 5-7 record, a 4.53 ERA, a 1.38 WHIP and 92 strikeouts over 113 1/3 innings. The 32-year-old has not quite lived up to expectations in his first year in Detroit, alternating between good and bad outings.Valdez has plenty of familiarity with the As after spending many years as a Houston Astro. That showed last month, when Valdez tossed seven innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in his first start against the As as a Tiger. The southpaw likely faced a much tougher lineup that day than the one he will see today, so it could be difficult for the hosts to scratch out runs unless Valdez leaves mistake pitches over the plate, something he has been prone to do this season.And Detroits starting nine:Back at it in Sacramento 9:40 PM ET @WatchDSN @971theticketxyt Sutter Health Park pic.twitter.com/ikmjjiUe0l Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 1, 2026As witnessed last night, this Tigers lineup can score runs in bunches. The clubs top prospect Max Clark, who recorded three hits in his MLB debut, makes this offense even more dangerous. Detroit will look to him and AL Rookie of the Year candidate Kevin McGonigle to lead its lineup for years to come. In a game where runs could be at a premium, Perkins and the relievers who follow him will need to do their best to give the Green and Gold a chance to win.Can the Athletics snap this three-game losing streak and get back in the win column? Win No. 46 awaits. It is time to start August with a victory, one the team can hopefully parlay into a long winning streak. Lets go As!Follow the Game:Watch:Athletics NBCSCAListen:Athletics Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, As Cast

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Boston Red Sox are holding out All-Star Willson Contreras in Saturday night's game at the Los Angeles Dodgers as he undergoes concussion testing.Contreras was hit by a pitch on the side of the helmet in the third inning of the Red Soxs 9-4 victory over the Dodgers on Friday night. He left the game.Contreras was struck by a 95-mph fastball from reliever Will Klein. The first baseman was checked on by the medical staff before taking first base. He had already hit the dirt after Kleins first pitch of the at-bat.Following Friday night's game, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said preliminary tests on Contreras have been fine.Contreras is hitting .288 with 23 home runs and 67 RBI.The Red Sox are starting Nick Sogard at first base with Contreras out of the lineup.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Joe Alt (76) during Chargers training camp at The Bolt on Monday, July 30th in El Segundo, CA.El SEGUNDO, Calif. -- There is a battle heating up at Chargers training camp. Four practices in, the team has five contenders competing for one starting spot at left guard.As of Saturday morning, Jim Harbaugh has given reps at the position to Kayode Awosika, Trevor Penning, Jake Slaughter, Trey Pipkins and, most recently, Branson Taylor."The way guys are going after it, there's going to be a really fun competition that's just getting underway, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said. But you can't claim a lead player in that race this early in the process, particularly because that's a job of blocking people and we really haven't got to the stage of truly blocking something, which occurs when you have pads on."Awosika split reps with Slaughter on the first day of camp before sharing the workload with Penning on Day 2. The competition took an unexpected turn on Day 3 when Pipkins entered the mix, and another surprise came Saturday when Taylor took all of the first-team reps at left guard.McDaniel said Friday that Awosika, Slaughter, Penning and Pipkins were "the core" of the competition, making Taylor's addition an intriguing development."We have a lot of flex guys that have the ability to play guard, play tackle, McDaniel said. And what you're trying to do is get people ready to win the job. What I mean by that is that I'm very resistant to crowing someone in non-padded practices, especially like blockers. You're trying to get them comfortable so that job competition can really take root."Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels during Chargers training camp at the Bolt on Wednesday, July 29th in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneLos Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniels during Chargers training camp at the Bolt on Wednesday, July 29th in El Segundo, CA.With the team still practicing without pads, McDaniel, Harbaugh and offensive line coach Butch Barry are focused on evaluating footwork, body positioning and movement rather than physicality.Im not even thinking about that race until we have some live action, competition with pads, to be fair to the players, McDaniel said. Were getting a vision of how they play, but its much different when you have 300 pounds of mass on your edge, and a subtle six-inch step determines whether or not you can actually execute that block. All those layers are important in the evaluation process.The pads come on Tuesday, Aug. 4, and that's when the coaching staff expects to get a much clearer picture of who has the inside track to start between Rashawn Slater and Tyler Biadasz.Pipkins' inclusion in the competition could mean one of two things: either the Chargers believe he can truly play anywhere along the offensive line, or they want him to prove his versatility to secure a role."With his length and his range from a pass pro perspective, it's very exciting to have someone at that position," McDaniel said about Pipkins. "We think he has the skillset and we're trying to engrain our skillset and fundamentals."Pipkins was drafted as a left tackle before moving to right tackle, then right guard, and now finds himself competing for the starting left guard job.Since being hired by the Spanos family, Harbaugh has consistently praised Pipkins.Is he one of our five best linemen? Harbaugh said Saturday of Pipkins. Yeah, probably. He probably is.Slaughter has also been taking snaps at center after grading out as one of college football's top centers last season. Meanwhile, Awosika has been working at both guard spots, though he logged 259 snaps at left guard during his time with Detroit.Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) handing the ball off to running back Keaton Mitchell (34) during Chargers training camp at The Bolt on Friday, July 31th in El Segundo, CA.Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting TribuneLos Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) handing the ball off to running back Keaton Mitchell (34) during Chargers training camp at The Bolt on Friday, July 31th in El Segundo, CA.Harbaugh said he hopes to have the competition settled in "roughly 10 to 13 more practices," which would likely put the decision sometime after the second preseason game.So buckle up. There is still one more practice before the pads come on, and with Harbaugh, don't be surprised if another name gets thrown into the competition."More to come, especially when the pads come on," Harbaugh said.Practice notesJustin Herbert continued his strong start to training camp, consistently finding his receivers throughout Saturday's practice. One highlight came when Ladd McConkey sold a double move that froze cornerback Deane Leonard. Herbert delivered a deep ball, McConkey laid out to make the catch, then jumped up to fire up the crowd in attendance.Undrafted rookie cornerback Avery Smith was one of Saturday's standout performers, recording two impressive pass breakups. On one play, he stayed glued to JaQuae Jackson in one-on-one coverage. Herbert delivered the pass, but Smith reached between Jackson's hands and knocked it away. He also had a strong rep against Tre Harris during 7-on-7 drills.Tackle Laekin Vakalahi and receiver Mante Morrow did not practice Saturday.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 3, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Kyle Hurt (63) pitches in relief against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning at Dodger Stadium on July 3, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES Cole Irvin fulfilled his duty, pitching six innings in what would have otherwise been a bullpen game on Friday night at Dodger Stadium. On Saturday he was the expected casualty of his own performance, designated for assignment so the Dodgers could fill his roster spot with a fresh arm that would be available for the next few days. Kyle Hurt got the call from Triple-A Oklahoma City before the middle game against the Red Sox.Cole did a great job, but we obviously need to backfill an arm, some length, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.Irvin followed right-handed relievers Edgardo Henriquez and Will Klein, who covered the first seven outs. Then Irvin got the Dodgers into the ninth inning, with Evan Phillips getting the final two outs. The end result didnt quite work out, as a five-run seventh inning gave Boston the win, but having Irvin soak up so many innings essentially reset the bullpen, with five more games before the Dodgers next off day.This is similar to Charlie Barnes start against the As on July 1, in which the left-hander ate up seven innings but allowed seven runs in a loss to the As, but got the bullpen a rest day smack dab in the middle of a stretch of 13 game days in a row, and was sent down the next day.The veteran Irvin doesnt have minor league options, having used them in 2019, 2020, and 2023, so he had to be designated for assignment. That opens up a 40-man roster spot, which will likely be useful given that the trade deadline is Monday, offering flexibility at the least.Hurt wasnt alone in joining the Dodgers from Oklahoma City. Wyatt Mills is also at Dodger Stadium and was activated Saturday, but they took separate flights to Los Angeles on Saturday morning because both moves werent planned. Will Klein was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort.Hurt had a strong few months in the Dodgers bullpen this season, before wildness and a couple hiccups got him optioned to Triple-A before the All-Star break. Hurt joined the Dodgers once in the interim, and pitched two scoreless innings as the 27th man for the second game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on July 19. That was a one-day affair, but now Hurt is called up for real, having last pitched on Wednesday for Oklahoma City.In 33 games for the Dodgers this season, Hurt has a 4.59 ERA and 3.77 xERA with 39 strikeouts and 18 walks in 33 1/3 innings.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 25: Robert Gasser #54 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field on July 25, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesMilwaukee comes into tonights game on a high note after opening their series against the Angels with a 6-2 win. With another victory tonight, the Brewers would secure the series and guarantee themselves at least a .500 road trip through California.On the mound for Milwaukee is left-hander Robert Gasser, whos been excellent over the last two months outside of a couple of blow-up outings. Gasser has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last eight starts, though hes also been tagged for six or more runs twice during that span.Meanwhile, Los Angeles scratched scheduled starter Jos Soriano amid deadline-fueled trade speculation. Taking his place is veteran left-hander and longtime Brewer Brent Suter, who owns a 4.26 ERA across 40 appearances (two starts) in his first season with the Angels.As for tonights lineup, theres a bit of a shakeup at the top. Manager Pat Murphy has moved Jackson Chourio into the leadoff spot after a rough night at the plate yesterday that included three strikeouts and a couple of particularly poor swing decisions. The hope is that batting first will simplify Chourios approach, allowing him to focus on putting together quality at-bats instead of trying to do too much.With Chourio leading off, Brice Turang slides down to the No. 2 spot, followed by William Contreras and Christian Yelich. Right-handed bat Andrew Vaughn will start at first base and hit fifth against the left-handed Suter. Rounding out the lineup are Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, and Joey Ortiz, whos back at third base tonightFinally, some roster news from earlier today: Brandon Lockridge and Garrett Stallings are both expected to rejoin the Brewers tonight. Lockridge hit .294 in 28 games earlier this season before suffering a right knee injury while attempting a sliding catch in foul territory. After spending nearly three months on the injured list, hes back to provide valuable outfield depth behind Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, Luis Lara, Sal Frelick, and Jake Bauers.Outfielder Brandon Lockridge and righty reliever Garrett Stallings are expected to join the Brewers for tonight's game against the Angels, per source. Stallings was just optioned, but the rules allow for his return to replace a traded player. Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 1, 2026Tonights game will be broadcast on Brewers.TV, WTMJ 620, and the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch is set for 8:38 p.m.August baseball: https://t.co/eycfmE2vgm: WTMJ#ThisIsMyCrew x @NicoletLawpic.twitter.com/NBftXp1QUz Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 1, 2026The Angels have called up Brett Kerry. Ryan Johnson has been optioned. pic.twitter.com/A8Vov1zOBG Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 1, 2026

Aug 1, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena (56) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Minnesota Twins during the second inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Mariners were feckless (1-for-12 with RISP, 11 left on base), but the Twins were more feckless (0-for-7 with RISP, 4 left on base), and so the Mariners scratched out a walkoff win over the Twins thanks mostly to Randy Arozarena and Andrs Muozs first multi-inning effort of the year. This game also featured, although not in the box score, a very good all-around game by Mitch Garver, professional hitter and catcher, and some more solid work by Cole Young, leadoff hitter, and other than that, was basically the baseball equivalent of this:If you were looking for a convincing, vibes-shifting win, this wasnt it. But it was A Win, and these days, well take those.The Mariners got off to a promising start, again scoring first thanks to a leadoff double from aforementioned Good Boy Cole Young, who pounced on the first pitch he saw, driving a fastball hard into the right field corner (see ZAMs July chart for more on Cole Young, Hard Ball Hitter). Randy Arozarena and Dom Canzone followed that up by waiting out Twins starter Connor Prielipp, taking advantage of some shaky command to work back-to-back walks. With the bases juiced, Julio Rodrguez jumped on the first pitch he saw, but grounded it slowly to short for what looked like a double play. Luckily for the Mariners, Twins shortstop Ryan Kreidler mishandled the ball, allowing Julio to reach safely and a run to score. Not ideal, but workable. This would be A Theme for today.But Cal Raleigh and Josh Naylor each struck out on four pitches, both having the kind of undisciplined at-bats Dan Wilson bemoaned in a pre-game press conference, putting pressure on the bottom of the lineup with two outs. Mitch Garver worked a good, 11-pitch at-bat resulting in a walk for another run, but Weston Wilson wasnt able to convert, and the Mariners got just two runs out of a golden opportunity.Randy Arozarena, whose name has been bandied about as a possible trade candidate as the Mariners fall further and further out of contention, added on in the second with a solo blast to make it 3-0 Mariners.Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.Two things can be true: I can recognize that trading Randy is probably the smart thing to do for a team that doesnt look to have found any of its missing mojo as Halloween decorations fill the stores, and also that trading Randy, the only steady offensive producer year-long, would render the 2026 Mariners from no fun to actively Harmful to my health. Speaking of Harmful to my Health, the Mariners let Prielipp off the hook with a five-pitch third inning, their aggressiveness failing them as the top of the lineup went down 1-2-3 on just five combined pitches, which Im going to say again because five pitch innings basically gift a starter an extra inning of work, and thats just bad process no matter what the rest of the game looks like. Play as a unit, my dudes!That brought Logan Gilbert right back out after a relatively brief top of the third of his own, and although he posted a 1-2-3 inning once again, it wasnt without incident. His third out came painfully, as Royce Lewis shot a comebacker at 106.7 mph that caught Logan square on the leg, collapsing the tall man to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Scary! Gilbert came back out for the fifth, though, and if youre looking for signs Logan Gilbert is his usual self, gave up a solo homer on a poorly-located first-pitch fastball to Luke Keaschall. So. God in his heaven, things as they should be, etc. Gilbert said postgame the hot shot caught him on his calf muscle, not bone, so although he was already sporting a pretty gnarly bruise, he doesnt expect any long-term negative effects.Perhaps taking pity on their beleaguered pitcher, the Mariners actually made Prielipp throw some pitches in the bottom of the fifth, with Cole Young recording his second hit of the day, dunking a base hit into right, and Canzone working yet another walk to put two on for Julio. Julio put a solid swing on the ball, but it didnt have quite enough to get over the fence, instead going as a flyout for the second out and bringing up Raleigh with two outs. The Big Disappointer struck out, ending the threat of an answer-back inning and keeping the score a tight 3-1.That score got even tighter in the sixth, when Gilbert gave up another dinger, this time to Trevor Larnach, who tattooed a terrible changeup from Gilbert for a solo shot. Gilbert threw his changeup a lot today, and his slider even more so, an attempt to counteract the aggressive Twins hitters, who make a lot of contact on the fastball. The Mariners again had an opportunity to pull ahead in the sixth, thanks to some more production from Mitch Garver, Walk-Master, and Colt Emerson finally getting a ball to drop, but with two outs, Cole Young just missed a pitch from new reliever (and new Twin) lefty A.J. Minter and popped out harmlessly. That would prove to be significant, as the Twins tied it up in the seventh against Gilbert, working deep into todays game, thanks to a leadoff bad-luck ground ball double that scooted just fair past Naylor; the Twins were then able to bring that run around on some small ball to knot the score at three.But again, the offense couldnt answer back in the bottom of the inning against Tommy Nance; once again, it was up to Cal Raleigh with two outs to make something happen. Hedid not. The Mariners countered with Gabe Speier, who needed an excellent Cole Young defensive play to keep his first runner, the nine-hole hitter Martin, off base; he then walked the lefty Trevor Larnach on five pitches and gave up a solid single to righty Ryan Jeffers to put two on with just one out. Speier was able to rebound to strike out the lefty Clemens for the second out, prompting Dan Wilson to go to his bullpen to get Andrs Muoz for an early entrance. It wasnt smooth, exactly, but Muoz was able to get Royce Lewis hacking helplessly over a slider to send the game to the bottom of the inning still tied up 3-3.The Twins brought out yet another lefty, Taylor Rogers, to face Josh Naylor, who promptly dropped a nice line drive base hit into center and then stole second; he advanced to third on a Mitch Garver groundout. But Weston Wilson couldnt get the job done, grounding out too softly for Naylor to score from third. Wilson pinch-hit Rob Refsnyder for Colt Emerson and the Twins opted to walk him, which is, you know, A Choice. But the Twins wound up looking smart on that one as Cole Young grounded out harmlessly to strand the bases loaded.With Leo Rivas (who pinch-ran for Refsnyder) in at short, obviously the ball immediately found him in the top of the ninth, and while Im not saying Colt Emerson could have made a play on it, I feel better about Colts chances than Leos. Muoz was able to get out of it, though, getting a groundout and then a good ol-fashioned strike em out/throw em out featuring once again Game MVP Mitch Garver.In the bottom of the inning, the Mariners got a leadoff double of their own from Randy Arozarena, who laced a changeup from Twins reliever Andrew Morris into the left field corner. Canzone advanced him to third on a flyout, doing his job, and the Twins opted to pitch around Julio, bringing up Raleigh with one out. It wasnt pretty, but Cal already carrying three strikeouts in the game did manage to make contact, hitting the first pitch he saw hard (105 mph EV) but directly at first baseman Royce Lewis. Lewis stepped on first, then looked to throw out Julio at second except Julio was already halfway there, having taken off on first contact, and was clearly going to get involved in a rundown, hopefully long enough to allow Randy to score from third. Lewis opted to pivot and try to get the out at home instead, and Randy was able to slide around the catcher safely for the game winner. Your browser does not support the video tag. Download the video.It wasnt pretty. Not even close. But it was everyone doing their jobs, from Cal putting the ball in play to Julios heads-up baserunning to Randys headfirst slide. Its a low bar to clear, but its one the Mariners havent consistently cleared this season. Ugly wins are still wins.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 31, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Will Klein (61) sits alone in the dugout after giving up a run and having a throwing error on a pick-off attempt against the Boston Red Sox in the second inning at Dodger Stadium on July 31, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES Dodgers right-hander Will Klein has struggled of late, and on Saturday was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort. Wyatt Mills was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City.That wasnt the only roster move on Saturday, as Kyle Hurt was also recalled from Triple-A and Cole Irvin was designated for assignment after pitching six innings on Friday night.Klein was slowly working his way up manager Dave Roberts trust tree in the Dodgers bullpen, pitching in increasingly important spots over the first few months of the season. The right-handers first third of the season was much better than his second third of the season, and its been especially pronounced of late, with Klein allowing runs in each of his last six appearances.In those last six games, Klein allowed 13 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits and eight walks with eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Since the beginning of June, Klein has a 6.11 ERA and 15-percent walk rate, after a 1.88 ERA and 7.3-percent walk rate through the end of May.On the season, Klein has a 3.67 ERA and 3.43 xERA with two saves, the first of his career, with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks in 41 2/3 innings in his 36 games pitched.This is the third stint in the majors this year for Mills, with three runs allowed in 4 1/3 innings over five games, with seven walks and four strikeouts. In Triple-A this season, Mills has a 2.41 ERA and six saves in 33 games, with 52 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 1/3 innings.Mills last pitched for Oklahoma City on Thursday, tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts against Las Vegas.Also on Saturday, Charlie Barnes cleared waivers after getting designated for assignment on Wednesday, and was sent outright to Oklahoma City. Barnes declined the assignment and is now a free agent.

Randy Orton made his first appearance since WrestleMania 42 with a surprise return Saturday at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Toward the end of CM Punk's Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes, Orton returned with an RKO that sealed Rhodes fate in a Punk title defense.Rhodes sold his wrist very early into the match, making him seem legitimately hurt after some technical lock-up work. Punk teased a quick GTS and was countered into a headlock rollover that continued the match's slow-burn start.Punk ate a suicide dive on the outside to initiate a brief ringside sequence, ending with Punk landing a flying xlothesline off the barricade. Rhodes rolled back into the ring and took a slow-motion double axe-handle.THE VIPER RANDY ORTON IS BACK! #SummerSlampic.twitter.com/u7zreFvlwl Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) August 2, 2026A Punk jumping back kick led to him playing into a mid-match knee injury, with Rhodes proceeding to target it. Another Dragon Screw put Punk on the mat after he failed to lift Rhodes for a GTS, and the crowd started to boo while Rhodes controlled.Rhodes saw a disaster kick countered when Punk booted him to the body for an odd counter. Punk followed with a bulldog and scoop slam before he went up top. It looked like a Rhodes superplex was on deck, until The American Nightmare was punched to the mat to take a big diving elbow drop.A Cody Cutter eventually found its mark for a near-fall. The disaster kick landed for another near-fall, leading to a top-rope Cody Cutter for a third straight near-fall. That forced Rhodes to go for his first Cross Rhodes, but Punk countered as they went through exchanges that ended with a Punk GTS getting countered into a figure-four leglock. To escape, Punk did the classic rollover counter and found the ropes.CODY CUTTER pic.twitter.com/FrKXCRKTOu WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Counter after counter!!! @CMPunk | @CodyRhodespic.twitter.com/HiWzrBXIqn WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Rhodes attempted another figure-four, landing him in an Anaconda Vice counter from Punk. A foot on the bottom rope saved Rhodes before Punk unleashed corner strikes.A spinning Alabama Slam attempt landed Rhodes in another Anaconda Vice this time in the center of the ring. Punk gave it up and rolled into a jackknife pin, a bridge-up, and a beautiful Cross Rhodes reversal near-fall that woke up Minnesota down the stretch.Out of nowhere, Punk attempted a horrific moonsault that nearly took Rhodes' head off with Punks knees. These two are giving it EVERYTHING at #SummerSlam! @CodyRhodes | @CMPunkpic.twitter.com/nCQpvY4Ziu WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Punk found his first GTS, but Rhodes kicked out and went outside, taking a beating on the announce table. They sought their finishers outside the ring, which would have helped no one but Punk, as the champion can't lose via count-out. After Rhodes tossed Punk into the steps, he broke the count and removed the announce table cover.When Rhodes reentered the ring, he walked into another GTS, but found the rope for the pin break. Punk set Rhodes on the announce table and looked at the ring post for the diving elbow. Instead, Rhodes rolled out of the way, completely smashing Punk through the table.OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/VL7kNdb4I3 WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Near the end, Rhodes hit an accidental Cody Cutter on the referee before eating a GTS. He followed it with the Cross Rhodes, which rolled Punk out of the ring and in stormed a returning Orton, who struck with a big RKO.From there, another GTS landed to secure Punk the win off the slowest three-count you'll ever see.The Best in the World RETAINS @CMPunk defeats Cody Rhodes after the interference by Randy Orton. pic.twitter.com/3t2j9MoFZR WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026Check out full WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1 results, highlights and match-by-match updates here.

NEW YORK It might be 40 years since the 1986 Mets team won the World Series crown, but Sid Fernandez said he still sees many of the members of that magical team every one or two years.So while it was a reunion for certain members of the team, the bond continues to run deep for a team that would not be denied in their shot at a championship."We all wanted to win and we depended on each other, and it showed on and off the ball field," Mookie Wilson said. "I think thats what made this team so special. We were more than just a team. We were literally family. I know thats an old clich but that team its so true and its so evident even to this very day."That's the type of connection that grows after 108 wins, surging past the Astros in back-to-back extra inning wins in the NLCS and working through a 2-0 series deficit against the Red Sox. It was overcoming doubt and coming back from two runs down in the 10th inning of a must-win Game 6 and notching another comeback win in Game 7 of the World Series.It was on full display as the team celebrated the 40th anniversary of that memorable season on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.Darryl Strawberry slung his arms around the shoulder of Lenny Dykstra as they ventured out onto the field, a reminder of the hand that the eight-time All-Star has extended to his former teammate to try and help him on his sobriety journey. Howard Johnson helped push Ray Knight, who has dealt with health issues in recent seasons, in a wheelchair and grasped his hand as they chanted "Play Ball!" along with Bobby Ojeda, Darryl Strawberry, Kevin Mitchell and Jesse Orosco. A chance to reminisce about the glory days was a deal well spent for the former members of the Mets four decades later. Reminiscing about key moments of the World SeriesRoger McDowell sat in equipment manager Charlie Samuels' office at Shea Stadium after his five outs of work in Game 6 of the World Series. With the Mets down to one out and down tw, the right-hander thought the series was done.Wilson was not happy with the circumstances either. Manager Davey Johnson and pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre wore the same looks of woe. But the momentum started to build with back-to-back singles by Knight and Mitchell. After Knight got the Mets within one run, Wilson stepped to the plate. He dove out of the way of a wild pitch as the tying run scored. The mountain of pressure was alleviated. He rolled over a ball to first base which skipped between Bill Buckner's legs to plate the winning run.It was a release felt across New York City."I don't think any of us could ever predict or imagine that one instance in time in baseball history will bring that much joy to people and just create a lasting memory that they just tell their kids and grandkids about," Wilson said. "I know I do. I talk about it all the time because my kids, my grandkids, they watch videos and they want to know about it."McDowell earned the series-clinching win two nights later as the Mets overcame a 3-0 deficit. Fernandez tossed 2 scoreless innings of relief and Knight put the Mets ahead in the seventh inning on a solo home run and Rafael Santana and Keith Hernandez added on."I was very nevervous because I didn't come out of the bullpen at all during the year, and I just told myself to lift your spikes up and don't fall flat on your face before (the outing)," Fernandez said of trotting out from the bullpen. Jesse Orosco sealed the win with a save and an iconic glove flip into the air, later giving the glove to a New York City police officer who had been shot."It all comes to the heart and that's the way we are," Orosco said.Remembering Davey Johnson's influenceBefore the season, Johnson delivered the message to his team: "We are going to dominate."The message of the late manager proved prophetic as the Mets went on to win the National League East by an astounding 21.5 games over the Phillies. "I don't think any other manager could have handled this club," Wilson said. "Davey was one of us. Davey was an extension of what this club was because he was willing to go on a limb. ... We were not afraid to let people know who we were including when we got on the field. We weren't afraid to let people know what we were willing to do to win. Davey was no different."While Johnson died after a long illness in September 2025, his presence loomed large over the message from the members of the team. The Mets continue to wear a patch for Johnson, the winningest manager in Mets history. And the club's former players made sure to give him his well-earned praise during the celebration."I dont think anybody knew the players like Davey did," McDowell said. "We had four platoons: second base, third base, center field and in the bullpen. On top of those four platoons, we had Kevin Mitchell who was your fifth infielder and fourth outfielder that goes on to win an MVP in San Francisco. He knew his players."This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bond runs deep for 1986 Mets, 40 years after World Series title