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Reinhart’s Four Goals Clinch The Cup

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SUNRISE – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Florida’s Sam Reinhart scored four goals to help the Florida Panthers clinch their second straight Stanley Cup Final with a 5-1 victory against the visiting Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 on Tuesday night in South Florida.

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Reinhart scored on all four shots he took to become the first player with four goals in a Stanley Cup Final since Montreal’s Maurice “Rocket” Richard in 1957. Reinhart finished with seven goals in the last four games of the series.

Matthew Tkachuk also scored for the Panthers, who are the third team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions in the past 10 years.

Sergei Bobrovsky came within 4:42 of his fourth shutout of the 2025 playoffs before Vasily Podkolzin scored for the Oilers. Bobrovsky finished with 28 saves.

Stuart Skinner made 20 saves for the Oilers, who also lost to the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final last season.

A team from Canada has not won the Cup since 1993.

The Panthers scored the first goal for the fifth straight game.

Edmonton was outshooting Florida 5-0 when Reinhart stole the puck from defenseman Evan Bouchard at his own blue line. He then juked past Mattias Ekholm at the top of the right circle before scoring over Skinner’s glove for a 1-0 lead at 4:36.

The Panthers added to their lead in the final minute of the opening period. Eetu Luostarinen pulled up above the right circle in the Edmonton zone off a rush and waited for Tkachuk, who had just jumped onto the ice.

After receiving Luostarinen’s pass, Tkachuk brought the puck to the high slot before hitting the top right corner of the net with a wrist shot, giving Florida a 2-0 lead with 47 seconds left in the period.

Florida outscored the Oilers 13-4 in the opening period during the series.

Florida made it 3-0 at 17:31 of the second.

Carter Verhaeghe took a wrist shot from along the boards and above the right circle that hit Skinner in the chest. The rebound came out diagonally to Aleksander Barkov cutting through the left circle, and his feed to Reinhart cutting to the opposite post went off his left skate blade and into the Edmonton net.

The Oilers pulled Skinner with about seven minutes left and Reinhart scored into the empty net for a 4-0 lead with 6:24 remaining, giving him the first playoff hat trick in Panthers history.

He wasn’t finished, as Edmonton pulled Skinner again and Reinhart scored into the empty net to make it 5-0 with 5:05 left.

–Field Level Media

Sox Turn to Crochet in Rubber Game

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SEATTLE – (Wire Service Report) – Thanks to batterymates Cal Raleigh and Bryan Woo, the Seattle Mariners will have a chance to win their three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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Raleigh hit his major-league-leading 27th homer of the season, a grand slam, and added a two-run double while Woo pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball as the Mariners leveled the series with an 8-0 victory against the Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The series’ decisive game is set for Wednesday afternoon, when Red Sox ace left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-4, 2.24 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (4-4, 3.29).

Raleigh snapped out of a 4-for-27 slump when he singled in the first inning, then belted a slam against Walker Buehler in a five-run second inning. He doubled home two more runs in a three-run fourth.

The homer moved Raleigh above the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the top spot in the majors.

“What can you say about Cal … he’s been incredible,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And caught a shutout to boot.”

Woo, who was 0-3 in his previous four starts, gave up only a leadoff single to rookie Marcelo Mayer in the fifth. He walked two and fanned six while again pitching at least six innings, something he has done in all 14 of his starts this season.

“He’s that stopper when we need a big game from our starter,” Raleigh said of Woo. “And he’s showing up every time — Mr. Consistent.”

As for Raleigh’s own accomplishments?

“It’s great, but you know, just trying to keep the head down,” Raleigh said. “The minute you look up and start to admire (it all), that’s when the game will come around and put you in your place.”

Despite winning six of their past seven games, the Red Sox haven’t scored more than four runs during any contest in that stretch. Their offensive output doesn’t figure to improve after trading disgruntled slugger Rafael Devers, a three-time All-Star, to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

“(The lineup) feels good,” Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran said. “We won (2-0 Monday), and (Tuesday) was just one of those days where you run into a great pitcher and he does his thing.

“I don’t think anybody is thinking too much about (Devers). We’re just focused on the team we have now, and we’re going to keep rolling.”

Crochet didn’t get a decision on Friday against the New York Yankees in a game the host Red Sox won 2-1 in 10 innings. He allowed one run on four hits in 8 1/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Crochet, who had won his previous two starts, is 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) vs. Seattle. He lost to the visiting Mariners on April 24 after permitting four runs on five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts in five innings.

Castillo is winless in four starts since May 19, though he is just 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in that span. He didn’t get a decision in Seattle’s 7-2 victory against the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Friday despite allowing just two runs on three hits over six innings. He walked three and logged a season-high seven strikeouts.

Castillo is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four lifetime starts against Boston.

–Field Level Media

SPORTS BIZ: Secret to a Great Summer

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By JAMES GUMINA

MOUNT VERNON, NY – One of the great opportunities of this  summer has been working as an intern for  Westchester SC at home games. For anyone not familiar, Westchester SC is a first year expansion club in USL League One that holds the record for quickest turnaround from franchise announcement to fielding a team on opening day, and it’s already one of the fastest growing professional clubs in the United States. They compete in USL League One, a professional league two tiers below MLS, as well as in multi-league tournaments like the Jägermeister Cup.

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Home games are played at Mount Vernon’s Memorial Field. Don’t let the number of multipurpose lines on the field fool you, the stadium and club are run extremely well and quite professionally. Easy entry, musical bands, numerous concession stands, and food trucks from across the local community make taking in Westchester games a great experience for the family.

In an era where going to see a pro sports game has become financially burdensome, local professional teams like this are a breath of fresh air. Ticket prices start at $15, and you can get a full, delicious meal and drinks from a food truck for under $20. Add in free parking, and you’ve got a proposition that’s hard to beat. This isn’t your local rec league. These are professional players, many with long careers in academies and clubs both in the U.S. and abroad.

WSC may be new to the league, but its roster is anything but inexperienced. The team pulled on local pipelines and talent to form a dynamic and competitive squad in its inaugural season. From MLS Veterans like Andrew Jean-Baptiste, to USL League one standouts like Steven Payne, to dynamic young goal scorers like JC Obregon, the roster spans experience levels and makes the product on the field a treat to watch.

From the way this team is run, you would have no idea it was a first year club. The stadium experience is smooth and seamless, with a European-style “Ultra” section, dubbed the 914th Infantry, leading chants and energizing the crowd.

I spent a long time in the stands prior to the recent game against AV Alta FC asking where people were from and what brought them to the stadium. As to where people were from, I heard just about every town within a 30 minute drive and a number of people who made the trip up from New York City. With free parking across the street and just a 15-minute walk from Metro-North train line, Westchester SC has drawn fans from across the region.

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Where there was a wide variety of answers to the first question, nearly everyone had the same answer to the second; community.

From members of the 914th infantry, to kids who had heard about the team from one of their friends at school, to family of the players and employees of the team, WSC has made strong inroads into the fabric of the local community. It’s a community of people that love sports, especially soccer, and with the New York City professional teams being hard physically and financially to access, Westchester SC can capitalize on the shortcomings of the more established teams and Westchester can better serve the fans.

Between all these facts, and the raucous 2,000+ person crowd against AV Alta FC, it was easy to forget that the team has only been in existence for closer to 10 months, rather than 10 years. This season is only the beginning for this franchise, and what a well executed start it has been. I look forward to attending more games over the course of the summer of 2025 and to watching the team grow, develop, and prosper within the Westchester community.

Rafael Devers, Meet Luka Dončić

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Considering the major difference of a trade in MLB with no Salary Cap and the NBA with significant trade restrictions from the long-standing cap (maximum team salary), the recent trade of Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants reminds this columnist of the decision by the Dallas Mavericks to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers this past winter.

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They’re both trades that shocked their respective leagues and fan base. They are both trades that left fans scratching their heads and wondering, ‘Why?”

They are both trades that left critics thinking, “They could’ve gotten more in return for such superstar players, as Doncic was an All-NBA player who led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals when they lost to the Boston Celtics and Devers is a Top 10 hitter in all of Major League Baseball.

The Mavericks received once All-NBA center Anthony Davis along with Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

The Lakers received Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. There was also some collateral swappings with the Utah Jazz.

With the Devers trade to San Fran, the Red Sox received pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, along with outfield prospect James Tibbs and minor-league right-hander Jose Bello.

In both cases, the GMs of each team (Dallas (Nico Harrison) and Boston (Craig Breslow) dealt with – pretty much – just one opponent to come to terms on a deal. The shock value of the trades had much to do with the fact nothing leaked from Dallas-LA nor Boston-SF.  There was one report that Boston bounced an idea or two off the Atlanta Braves, but nothing came of it.

That left the dealmakers – so let’s look a bit deeper into these two trades?

For the Mavericks, there was trouble with Doncic’s injury history, namely lower body strains that kept him on the NBA’s Injured List from Christmas to the trade date of February 2, 2025. Although Doncic led an upstart Mavericks club to the NBA Finals, there was some belief his weight and lack of conditioning might catch up with him sooner than later. In addition, he might simply walk from the Mavs when he was eligible for free agency,

For the Red Sox, the spring of 2025 saw Devers head south when the team went south for spring training. Boston obtained golden glove third baseman Alex Bregman and it prompted the Sox to ask Devers to switch to be their Designated Hitter for the current season. Devers went to the DH role reluctantly.

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When young first baseman Tristan Casas was injured and out for the season, the Sox asked Devers to consider a switch to first to give manager Alex Cora some flexibility and depth. From Devers there was more pouting and even an outburst to the media to communicate back to Cora and the Sox management team.

Also, Devers began the 2025 regular season in a ditch, but he recently broke from that slump in a big way and was among the American League leaders in walks, RBI, On Base Percentage, runs scored, doubles, extra base hits, home runs and total bases. After ending the slump in late April, Devers was batting .325, with 12 home runs, 33 base-on-balls, and was leading the majors with 43 RBI.

While his on-field performance was booming, Devers’ was clearly not rowing in the same direction as the rest of the organization in terms of introducing the three top prospects into active, everyday duty.

In a June 16 conference call with media, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy and head of baseball operations Breslow expressed their disappointment in not getting on the same page with Devers and shared their point of view of frustration and ultimately the decision to move Devers, with the buzz words of “because they could not find “alignment” with their star.”

In the 24 hours after the trade rumors leaked and became fact, there was more talk of “alignment,” and lack thereof, than at every Town Fair Tires store in New England.

Of course, not hidden in the deal is the fact the Red Sox will save some $250 million over the next eight-plus years as they drop the weight of Devers’ ten year $313.5 million contract, of which two years of the deal was in the bank. For that reason, Red Sox fans and season ticket holders have little patience as ticket prices remain amongst the highest in MLB while stars such as Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale were all shipped out of Boston in cost savings moves, each with little return of on-field run producers.

In the end, the Red Sox will speak of alignment while the Mavericks won the Lottery – literally – when they lucked into the rights to draft Duke University star Cooper Flagg next Wednesday night.

The Mavericks will be redeemed on June 25.

The Red Sox will remain in limbo.

OKC Takes Control of NBA Finals

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OKLAHOMA CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – OKC’s Jalen Williams scored 40 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 31 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-109 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

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The Thunder lead the series 3-2, moving themselves within a game of the franchise’s first NBA title since the team moved to Oklahoma City.

The series resumes Thursday in Indianapolis.

Even without much offensive production from Tyrese Haliburton, the Pacers cut what was an 18-point first-half deficit to two on Pascal Siakam’s 3-pointer from the wing with 8:30 remaining.

The Thunder immediately responded, though, with Cason Wallace grabbing the rebound on Williams’ missed layup and flipping it to Lu Dort, who found Williams for a 3-pointer.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 15

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – As the 2025 NBA Finals and NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs come towards a close, and both series going six, maybe, seven games, Major League Baseball grinds on through the dog days of June. By the 4th of July, it will be “Baseball Season,” but, now, the winter sports are holding on to the interest of sports fans and to loyal, yet dwindling, worldwide television audiences.

 

For both the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final, pundits are criticizing the rise of the small market teams. In the NBA, Oklahoma City (Thunder, the No. 47 TV market) and Indiana (Pacers, the No. 25 TV market) are playing some of the best basketball seen in years, yet talking heads are harping on the size of each city.

In the NHL Cup Final, small market (Sunrise, Florida) representing Miami and South Florida as a whole (the No. 18 TV market in the USA), now 2-2 (going into Saturday night’s Game 5) vs. Edmonton (1.6m people in market, no Nielsen TV ratings info).

Here’s a look at the tremendous NHL Stanley Cup promo from TNT:

To help promote the Finals (NBA)/Final (NHL), each league and its broadcasters created/aired terrific promo teases, with the NHL’s shining brightly.

The NBA went with a solid campaign, underlined by Nat King Cole’s incomparable song, “Unforgettable.” The :30 second spot airs during NBA programming but also popped up elsewhere to promote tune-in to the Indiana vs OKC series, and other playoff matchups earlier this spring.

The concept took a storyline created by Goodby-Berlin during the “I Love This Game” campaign, weaving in everyday acts and tasks by the everyday fan into the glorious highlights of NBA action in the playoffs.

The All-Time Greatest Sports Tease

Teasing John Malkovich by CBS Sports

The NBA promos struck a chord of an NFL pre-game tease from years ago, one I’ve highlighted in this space before, for sure.

This aired prior to the 2018 AFC Championship game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots won by the Tom Brady-led Patriots, 24-20.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: This coming week is one of WWYI’s favorite weeks of the year. It’s PGA TOUR comes to New England week with the Thursday morning tee-off at the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut. Digital Sports Desk (and PGA Tour Brunch) will be on site to cover the tournament.

The Travelers Championship is a TOUR Signature Event and will feature a very strong field, including Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked player in the world and the tournament’s defending champion. This year’s event will be held June 16-22. In addition to Scheffler, every player in the Top 15 of the current Official World Golf Ranking is eligible to play – and 45 of the Top 50 ranked players – has committed to compete. That includes Rory McIlroy (No. 2), who completed the career Grand Slam by winning the Masters this year and also won THE PLAYERS Championship; Xander Schauffele (No. 3), the 2022 Travelers Championship winner and the reigning Open Championship winner; Collin Morikawa (No. 4); Justin Thomas (No. 5); Ludvig Åberg (No. 6); Russell Henley (No. 7); Sepp Straka (No. 8); and Hideki Matsuyama (No. 9).

“This is an incredible field of world-class PGA TOUR players coming to Connecticut this week, and the competition is going to be something golf fans won’t want to miss,” said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers. “Thanks to the dedication and hard work of countless people and the support from the best fans on TOUR, the Travelers Championship has become a premier week in golf that continues to have a significant impact on numerous worthy charities throughout the region. We’re looking forward to another great tournament.”

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: The NBA and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) today announced the Top 30 boys and 30 girls who will participate in the 15th edition of Basketball Without Borders / Asia, which will be held at the Singapore Basketball Centre in Singapore from Thursday, June 19 – Sunday, June 22. … USA Basketball announced the 2025 USA Men’s and Women’s 3×3 National Teams scheduled to compete at the 2025 FIBA 3×3 World Cup June 23-29 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The 2025 USA 3×3 Men’s National Team features Henry Caruso, Mitch Hahn, James Parrott and Dylan Travis, while the 2025 USA 3×3 Women’s National Team includes Morgan Maly, Sarah Strong, Mikaylah Williams and Sahara Williams. On the men’s side, the veteran quartet won the 2024 FIBA 3×3 Men’s AmeriCup last December. … The National Basketball Association, National Basketball Players Association and 2K, a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. and publisher of the leading global basketball video game NBA 2K series, today announced they have agreed in principle to terms for a new multiyear global partnership expansion. In addition, 2K has also agreed in principle to terms to extend its longstanding relationships with the NBA G League and USA Basketball. The agreements will enable 2K to continue creating the most realistic, authentic and engaging NBA video game experiences. … Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak was selected to the 2024-25 NHL Second All-Star Team. This is Pastrnak’s second nomination to the NHL Second All-Star Team (2023-24). He previously received First Team honors in 2019-20 and 2022-23. … The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame revealed the matchups for the annual 2025 Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off. The event will take place on Saturday, November 8, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and will feature a doubleheader: Providence vs. Virginia Tech and George Washington vs. South Florida.

CWS: Here is your printable bracket for the 2025 College World Series, a double elimination college. baseball tournament ongoing as we type and read: (HERE)

U.S. OPEN and FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL: For WWYI & PGA TOUR Brunch Readers and Subscribers, there’s a new golf training tool that’s making serious strokes on and off the course: XView AI – the first and only markerless app that delivers real-time, full-swing golf analysis using nothing more than your iPhone.

Just like a subscription to PGA TOUR Brunch, it’s the perfect gift for Dads who love their game and their gadgets, as the app is currently being offered in a limited-time promotion through Father’s Day 2025. *Buy 2 months at $49.99 per month for XView AI and get one month free (Offer good now through midnight PT on June 16th).

Enter code: xviewdad25

More Info at: (HERE)

THIS JEST IN: The Houston Chronicle is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Houston Rockets’ back-to-back titles won in 1994-95. During the ‘95 NBA Playoffs, the Rockets faced the toughest road to a title – maybe of all-time.

Let former Chronicle columnist Fran Blinebury explain: (Click Here for his column)

Devers Shipped Out of Boston

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BOSTON –  (Staff Report from Official News Release and Wire Service Contributions) – Nomar Garciaparra – GONE. Manny Ramirez – GONE. Johnny Damon – GONE. Adrián González – GONE. Jacoby Ellsbury – GONE. Dustin Pedroia – RETIRED. David Ortiz – RETIRED. Mookie Betts – GONE. Chris Sale – GONE and Xander Bogaerts – GONE.

Rafael Devers – GONE.

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The Boston Red Sox traded third baseman/designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, right-handed pitcher Jordan Hicks, minor league outfielder James Tibbs III, and minor league right-handed pitcher Jose Bello. Harrison was optioned to Triple-A Worcester.

Devers will trade the Green Monster for McCovey Cove.

The Red Sox confirmed the trade with an 8:46pm news release sent to Boston-area media after trade rumors ran rampant as the weekend series against the New York Yankees ended Sunday with the Sox sweeping the rivals. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated left-handed pitcher Zach Penrod for assignment.

Devers, 28, was signed by Boston as an international free agent at 16 years old on August 9, 2013. In 1,047 Major League games, the Dominican Republic native has hit .279 (1,136-for-4,074) with an .859 OPS, 273 doubles, 215 home runs, and 696 RBI. A three-time All-Star (2021-22, 2023), and two-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2021, 2023), he finished in the top 15 in American League Most Valuable Player voting four times (2019, 2021-22, 2024). The left-handed hitter has started each of the Red Sox’ 73 games this season as the designated hitter, batting .272 (74-for-272) with 18 doubles, 15 home runs, 58 RBI, and 56 walks.

Harrison, 23, has pitched in eight games (four starts) this season, recording a 4.56 ERA (12 ER/23.2 IP) with 25 strikeouts. Selected by San Francisco in the third round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, the left-hander entered 2024 ranked by MLB.com as the Giants’ No. 1 prospect and baseball’s No. 23 overall prospect. The California native made his Major League debut in 2023, making seven starts, before making 24 starts with a 4.56 ERA (63 ER/124.1 IP) in 2024. He owns a 4.48 ERA (91 ER/182.2 IP) with 178 strikeouts in 39 career Major League games (35 starts), along with a 3.33 ERA (113 ER/305.1 IP) in 75 career minor league games (all starts).

Hicks, 28, has recorded a 6.47 ERA (35 ER/48.2 IP) with 43 strikeouts in 13 games (nine starts) for San Francisco this season. The right-hander was placed on the 15-Day Injured List on June 3 (retroactive to June 2) with right great toe inflammation. Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the third round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has posted a 4.23 ERA (189 ER/401.2 IP) with 54 holds, 33 saves, a .234 opponent batting average, and 394 strikeouts in 254 career Major League games (37 starts) with the Cardinals (2018-23), Toronto Blue Jays (2023), and Giants (2024-25).

Tibbs III, 22, is ranked among the Giants’ top five prospects by both Baseball America (No. 3) and MLB.com (No. 4). The left-handed hitter has played in 56 games this season for High-A Eugene, batting .245 (50-for-204) with 41 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 41 RBI, and an .857 OPS while making 46 starts in right field and eight as the designated hitter. Selected by San Francisco in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, the Georgia native has batted .244 (76-for-312) with 55 runs scored, 14 home runs, and 28 RBI in 82 career minor league games.

Bello, 20, has pitched in eight games for the Arizona Complex League Giants this season, going 1-0 with one hold, two saves, a 2.00 ERA (4 ER/18.0 IP), a 0.72 WHIP, and 14.00 strikeouts per 9.0 innings (28 strikeouts). Signed as an international free agent by the Giants in January 2023, the Dominican Republic native has posted a 2.97 ERA (26 ER/78.2 IP) with 105 strikeouts and just 18 walks over 25 career appearances (15 starts) in the Dominican Summer League (2023-24) and Arizona Complex League (2024-25).

Penrod, 27, owns a 4.91 ERA (4 ER/7.1 IP) in seven games (three starts) this season with the Florida Complex League Red Sox (one start) and Triple-A Worcester (six games, two starts). Signed by Boston as a minor league free agent in August 2023, the Idaho native has posted a 2.25 ERA (1 ER/4.0 IP) in seven career Major League games, all with the Red Sox in 2024.

The Sox Are Surging

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The host Boston Red Sox have an opportunity this afternoon to sweep the New York Yankees for the first time in a three-game series since August 2023. In the making of that task, the Red Sox have a four game win streak, have won six of their last seven games, seven of nine games, and nine of their last 14.

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After beating New York 4-3 on Saturday, the Red Sox have defeated the Yankees four straight times. The Red Sox have won seven of their past nine games overall to get back to .500, the first time since a win against Baltimore on May 24 put Boston at 27-27.

Former Yankees catcher gone from the Bronx, Carlos Narvaez, has done damage for Boston in the first two games of the series. He singled in the winning run in the 10th inning Friday.

On Saturday, he doubled and singled off starter Carlos Rodon, walked and scored a run. He also squashed a Yankees threat in the seventh when he threw out Jasson Dominguez at third base after he’d been picked off and was headed to third.

“This is big time, these games against the Yankees,” Narvaez said Saturday. “They are my former team, but I am just trying to do my job. (Carlos) Rodon is a great pitcher, and he is having a great year, so I just tried to put the ball in play.”

In the veteran’s five games against the Yankees, he is 8-for-21 (.381) with one home run and seven RBIs. That includes 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI on Saturday.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Story said of Boston moving back to .500. “We kind of dug ourselves a little hole early on. This is a point that we have to get to to get to where we want to be. So yeah, we feel good right now, looking to ride this momentum and keep pitching well and keeping hitting well, and we can win a lot of games that way.”

The Red Sox also have caught Yankees star Aaron Judge in a bit of a lull. His solo home run on Friday is his only hit of the series, and he’s 1-for-8 with six strikeouts.

The Yankees will send Max Fried (9-1, 1.84 ERA) to the mound Sunday. The former Atlanta Braves left-hander, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in the offseason, has struck out 81 and walked only 18 in 88 innings over 14 starts. He has allowed six home runs.

Fried has allowed two runs or less in all but one of his starts this season, but he gives the Yankees’ offense a lot of credit for his hot start.

“We have an extremely explosive offense, and when they put up 10 runs, it makes my job easier,” Fried said Tuesday after a 10-2 win over the Kansas City Royals in most recent start. “You just go a little bit more on the attack, you don’t want to give them free passes, and you try to avoid the big inning.”

Fried is 2-0 lifetime against the Red Sox with a 3.00 ERA. He has not faced Boston this season.

Boston will counter with Brayan Bello (2-1, 3.96), who lacks Fried’s strong strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Red Sox right-hander has struck out 37 and walked 25 in 52 1/3 innings in 10 starts.

Bello is 3-3 in eight career starts against the Yankees with a 2.54 ERA. He has not faced them this season.

–Field Level Media

Sox: Narvaez Strokes Walk-Off SIngle

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – From the start of the 2025 Major League Baseball season on March 27 until last week (June 6-8) in the Bronx, it took the MLB schedule-makers two months-plus to pit the New York Yankees against their longtime and bitter rivals in the Boston Red Sox. The Sox got the best of that series, dropping the opener but winning the final two games by outscoring the Yankees by a touchdown, 21-14. This weekend, Father’s Day Weekend, they’re doing it again.
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Boston defeated New York, 2-1, in 10 innings. The victory came on a Carlos Narvaez knock off the famed Green Monster, scoring the elusive MLB phantom runner (David Hamilton) in an exciting, yet low-scoring game.

On a gorgeous (65-degree, 5 mph wind), not a cloud in the sky night at Fenway Park, the Red Sox opened the series with ace Garrett Crochet on the mound. Crochet, the No. 5 MLB leader in innings pitched, pitched a strong first four frames, allowing only one hit and a walk. He struck Yankees slugger and American League triple crown threat Aaron Judge out twice.
The game, as a whole, produced only four hits over the first four innings, with Yankees SS Anthony Volpe collecting the only hit off Crochet.
The Red Sox squeezed out a lone run in the second inning when SS Trevor Story singled to center field, then stole second base. Boston centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela singled off New York starter Ryan Yarbrough. When Yarbrough walked rookie second baseman Kristian Campbell in the Red Sox half of the fifth inning, then allowed a base hit to Boston left fielder Rob Refsnyder, New York manager Aaron Boone lifting his left-handed starter and replaced him with right-handed reliever Jonathan Loaisiga who proceeded to strike out both Sox slugger Rafael Devers and No. 3 hitter in first baseman Romy Gonzalez.
Yarbrough threw 4.2 innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. He walked three and struck out three Boston batters while throwing 78 pitches (45 for strikes).
Meanwhile, Crochet steamed-rolled through the Yankees batting order through eight  innings, allowing only another hit to Volpe who was doubled-up when NYY left fielder Jasson Dominguez hit a hot grounder to Campbell who flipped to SS Trevor Story for a timely double play in the seventh, then retired the side in order in the eighth.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz worked Story into a long fly ball out to left field, sending the game into the ninth.
With his closer warmed up, Boston manager Alex Coro decided to leave Crochet in the game to attempt a complete game shut-out. Crochet retired No. 2 hitter Ben Rice, then faced Judge.
Crochet fired pitches of 98, 99 and 100 mph and forced a 3-2 count against the Yankees slugger, only to throw a 3-2 fastball that Judge clobbered, clear over the Green Monster in left field. The 98 mph pitch landed some 443 feet away to tie the game, 1-1. It was Judge’s 26th homer of the season and it tied him for the Major League lead for HRs with Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh.
Arnoldis Chapman came in to relieve Crochet who threw a career high 8.1 innings, allowing four hits, one earned run – the homer – while walking one batter and striking out seven. Crochet threw 107 pitches, with 72 for strikes.
The game went into extra innings and Volpe became the phantom runner at second base to start the inning. Volpe attempted to steal third base but was thrown out by Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez (with the play requiring a look at instant replay).  After another controversial replay call (on an instant replay ruled a foul ball), the Red Sox retired NY second baseman DJ LeMahieu to send the game to the bottom of the 10th.
Pinch-hitter David Hamilton was placed on second base and Jarren Duran moved him to third on a ground ball to LeMahieu. Play slowed to a crawl, as the Yankees held a team meeting on the mound to discuss strategy with relieve Tim Hill on the hill.
Boston slugger Rafael Devers was intentionally walked to create a force play option and potential double play, and Mayer stepped up to the plate with an opportunity to win the game with a deep fly ball. Mayer struck out.
That sent former Yankee catcher Narvaez to the plate with two out and runners at first and third. Devers strolled to second base on a defensive indifference play and Hill focused on Narvaez.
The catcher stroked a a 2-1 four-seam fastball and it bounced off the Green Monster in left-center field to score Hamilton and secure a 2-1 walk-off victory.
The winning pitcher was Garrett Whitlock (5-0) and the loser was Tim Hill (3-2). The game was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 36,622 fans.

NBA Finals: OKC Thunder Will Attack

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INDIANAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Physical and fast was the Pacers’ defensive approach in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, and more of the same is coming until MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander proves he and the Thunder can handle it.

“You got to suck it up. There’s a maximum four games left in the season,” Gilgeous-Alexander said Thursday of the hands-on defense from Indiana in Game 3. “It’s what you worked the whole season for. It’s what you worked all summer for. To me, the way I see it, you got to suck it up, get it done and try to get a win.”

Game 4 on Friday is vital to Oklahoma City after falling behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals. Indiana appeared to be the better conditioned team on Wednesday night, closing out Game 3 with a finishing kick and riding the adrenaline of a locked-in home crowd. Pacers’ coach Rick Carlisle gave additional credit to Andrew Nembhard, Ben Sheppard and Aaron Nesmith for their collective defensive effort and the role it played in limiting Gilgeous-Alexander’s contributions.

“I wouldn’t say it surprised me,” Thunder forward Chet Holmgren said of the Pacers’ stamina in Game 3. “That’s kind of been I guess you could say their identity leading up to this series. It’s what’s showed up in the games up to this point. We have to figure out a way to counteract that and kind of change that and swing it in our favor because it’s not a winning formula to not be better than the other team in the fourth quarter.”

Gilgeous-Alexander had only four free throw attempts in the second half of Game 3 and appeared to wear down late in the game. He only took three shots in the final 12 minutes.

“We were a little out of character in a lot of ways yesterday,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think that happens in a playoff series. Four games, five games, six games, seven games is a long time. You’re going to get a range of games and experiences in that. We have to get it course corrected pretty quickly if we want to give ourselves a better chance in Game 4.”

– Field Level Media

Filed Under: NBA