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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

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, htere 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 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.

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.

A Father’s Day “Save” for Whitlock

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Wire Services Contributed to this Story) – For the first time in his career of facing the New York Yankees, Garrett Whitlock found out what pressure is all about. Although he sported a 2.12 ERA vs. the vaunted Yankees over his five years in the majors, the Boston reliever faced more pressure today than he ever knew he would see.

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Whitlock was on the mound at Fenway Park with a 2-0 lead on Father’s Day. He now has a 15-month old son to provide for and closing out a game against the Yankees and gaining a sweep for his Boston team might establish his role with the Sox and even help pay some bills down the road.

After successfully putting out a brush fire in the 8th inning by coercing New York slugger Aaron Judge to ground into an inning ending double play, Whitlock took the mound for the 9th.

A ground out to Yankees OF Cody Bellinger provided the first out, and then the 36,475 fans (sans, maybe 3,000 NY fans) stood to support the new Dad. A strike-out of Jazz Chisholm added to the drama.

Then, the “baby got new shoes” when Whitlock struck-out NY shortstop Anthony Volpe to secure the Boston win and send the Fenway faithful home with the Sox’ fifth straight victory, their seventh of the last eight, eighth of the last nine and their 10th of the last 15 games played.

Boston is now (37-36) on the season and trail the first first place Yankees by 6.5 games after the three-game sweep.

When Boston walked into Yankee Stadium on June 6, they trailed the New Yorkers by 9.5 games. The 9-6 loss in the Bronx made it 10.5 back. But, since then, Boston has won five in a row against NY and they’ve climbed back into an American League East race that is likely to go down to the last days of September.

The Red Sox scored early on this grand Father’s Day in Boston. In a game played under bright, semi-overcast skies and in a lovely 64 degrees, three mph breeze, Boston 1B Romy Gonzalez tripled in the home half of the 1st inning, and SS Trevor Story knocked him in with a base hit.

That one run would prove to be enough, but Boston tacked up another in the 5th inning when DH Rafael Devers clocked an opposite field home run into the front row of the Green Monster seats in left field. A video review proved the two umpires who made the call correct and the scoring for the day was complete.

Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello threw a career-high 114 pitches over seven innings to secure the victory, his third of the season. Bello allowed only three hits, three walked batters while striking out eight Yankees.

A rather shakey 0.1 inning of relief by Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino provided the Yanks with two baserunners after singles by pinch hitter Paul Goldschmidt and centerfielder Trent Grisham were cause of Sox manager Alex Cora to pull the plug and insert the young father.

Whitlock did his job and the Red Sox won, 2-0.

Boston will not rest easy this evening, as the club departs today for a nine game road trip, starting tomorrow (Monday) night in Seattle. The three games in the Queen City are to be followed by three in San Francisco and three more in Los Angeles, against the American League Angels.

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.

Sox Buehler Tosses a Quality Win

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s starter Walker Buehler worked a seven-inning quality start and got the support of four solo home runs as the Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in the rubber game of a three-game series on Wednesday.

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Marcelo Mayer homered in each of the first two at-bats, with the 22-year-old rookie becoming the youngest Red Sox player to produce a multi-homer game since Rafael Devers in 2018.

Jarren Duran hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and Abraham Toro socked the eventual game-winning shot in the fifth after Tampa Bay erased a 3-1 deficit.

Toro and Ceddanne Rafaela joined Mayer with multi-hit games for Boston, which has won back-to-back series.

Buehler (5-4) struck out seven while yielding three runs on six hits and one walk. Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 12th save.

Yandy Diaz (two-run homer), Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum all had two hits for Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay right-hander Zack Littell (6-6) allowed all four Boston homers in his six-inning outing. He permitted eight hits, fanned six and didn’t issue a walk.

After Buehler stranded two baserunners to post a first-inning zero, Duran bashed Littell’s first pitch of the game into the right-center-field bullpen give the hosts a quick 1-0 lead.

The Rays quickly responded as back-to-back singles by Mangum and Matt Thaiss set the table for a game-tying run in the second. Lowe knocked in Mangum on a fielder’s-choice grounder to shortstop.

Mayer singlehandedly put the Red Sox back in front and provided insurance with his solo shots. His first homer led off the second inning, landing deep in the right field corner.

Mayer went deep again with one out in the fourth, sending another homer to a similar location in right.

Two-out offense drew Tampa Bay even in the fifth. After Lowe chopped an infield single on an open left side, Diaz deposited a two-run homer into the first rows of the right field seats.

After Littell recorded three straight outs by strikeout in the fourth and fifth, Toro cranked a homer out to straightaway center for a 4-3 edge.

Buehler retired seven straight to finish his outing before Justin Wilson and Greg Weissert combined to get out of an eighth-inning jam, preserving the one-run Boston lead. A walk to Junior Caminero and a Mangum single off Weissert loaded the bases, but Thaiss fanned to end the threat.

–Field Level Media

Patriots: Diggs Stays Mumm

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FOXBOROUGH – At the final practice of Patriots mandatory minicamp in Massachusetts on Tuesday, newly acquired wide receiver Stefon Diggs spoke with reporters but did not address a viral video that has inspired speculation about his future with the team.

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In the video, posted to social media, Diggs is seen enjoying himself on a boat with three bikini-clad women that included top-selling rapper Cardi B, but he’s also seen brandishing a plastic bag filled with a mysterious pink substance.

The 31-year-old Diggs has refrained from speaking about the incident, and did so again Tuesday despite some observers wondering if the four-time Pro Bowler could be in hot water with either his new team or the NFL at large.

First-year Patriots coach Mike Vrabel spoke recently on the importance of players making “good decisions.”

“I kind of keep my personal life personal,” Diggs said. “I had a conversation with Vrabel, obviously, and I’m going to echo everything that he said. Hope everyone makes good decisions. I had some conversations with people in the building as well. So, everything else is everything else, and the particulars are all internal.”

A First-Team All-Pro in 2020, Diggs signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the Patriots in March.

He has described his rapport with Vrabel as being positive and expressed admiration for Vrabel’s championship pedigree.

“I’m a huge fan of him,” Diggs said. “I can’t wait to play for him. He’s got that itch that you want to run through a wall for him. I look forward to it. Me and him go back and forth in practice, and I’m not even participating.”

A year ago, Diggs played in just eight games for the Houston Texans due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, breaking a string of six straight 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career. He has amassed 857 receptions for 10,491 yards and 70 touchdowns during his 10-year career split among the Minnesota Vikings (2015-19), Buffalo Bills (2020-23) and Texans (2024).

–Field Level Media

Sox Call Up Roman Anthony

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) -First, it was infielder/utility man Kristian Campbell. Next, was infielder Marcelo Mayer. Today, it was the third amigo in outfielder Roman Anthony, touted as the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball.

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The Boston Red Sox called up Anthony from Triple-A Worcester ahead of tonight’s home game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Anthony will start in right field and bat fifth for the Red Sox tonight. The left-handed hitter takes the spot that belonged to Wilyer Abreu, who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain.

Anthony, the team’s second-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, forged a .288/.423/.491 slash line in 58 games for Worcester this season. He posted 10 homers and 29 RBIs in 265 plate appearances — highlighted by a grand slam on Saturday that flew well over the right-center wall and was estimated at 497 feet.

“We’re trying to win ballgames,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “The kid has done an amazing job throughout (prospect development) getting ready for this moment. We’re excited. It’s a big day for the organization … we’ll use him the right way and we’ll help him with the adjustments that comes with being a big-leaguer.”

The Red Sox (32-35) now have elevated all three of their elite hitting prospects to the bigs. Second baseman/outfielder Campbell broke spring training with Boston and, after a red-hot start, has settled in with a .233 average, six homers and 20 RBIs in 58 games.

Mayer was called up two weeks ago when third basemen Alex Bregman went on the injured list with a quadriceps issue. Installed at third base where he had little experience, Mayer has posted a .222/.282/.361 slash line with one homer and two errors in 12 games.

Abreu ranks second on the Red Sox with 13 homers, complementing a .245 batting average with 32 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

NHL: Bruins Name Strum Head Coach

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Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney that Marco Sturm was named the 30th head coach of the Boston Bruins.

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“We’re proud to name Marco as the 30th Head Coach of the Boston Bruins and welcome him, Astrid, Mason, and Kaydie to Boston,” said General Manager Don Sweeney. “Throughout this process, our goal was to identify a coach who could uphold our strong defensive foundation while helping us evolve offensively. We were also looking for a communicator and leader – someone who connects with players, develops young talent, and earns the respect of the room. Marco impressed us at every step with his preparation, clarity, and passion. His path – playing for multiple NHL teams, coaching internationally, and leading at both the AHL and NHL levels – has shaped a well-rounded coach who’s earned this opportunity. As a former Bruin, he understands what this team means to the city and our fans. We’re embracing a new direction with Marco behind the bench and are confident his energy, standards, and commitment to a competitive, hard-nosed brand of hockey reflect exactly what Bruins hockey should be.”
“I’m incredibly honored to be named head coach of the Boston Bruins,” said Sturm. “I want to thank Charlie Jacobs and the Jacobs family, Cam Neely, and Don Sweeney for trusting me with this opportunity. Boston has always held a special place in my heart, and I know how much this team means to the city and to our fans. I’ve felt that passion as a player, and I can’t wait to be behind the bench and feel it again. I’m excited to get to work and do everything I can to help this team succeed.”
Sturm, 46, served as head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign for the past three seasons (2022-25). Under Sturm, the team compiled an overall record of 119-80-11-6 and made three consecutive playoff appearances. Prior to his time in Ontario, Sturm spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Kings from 2018-22. In his final year behind the bench with Los Angeles, the Kings earned their first Stanley Cup playoff berth since 2018 and posted a 99-point regular-season (44-27-11).
Before joining the Kings organization, Sturm served as head coach and general manager for the German Men’s National Team from 2015-18. In 2018, Sturm led Germany to a silver-medal finish in the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, becoming the first German team to ever appear in the gold-medal game and the first German team to make the Olympic podium since 1976. Sturm’s coaching tenure with Germany was additionally highlighted by a Deutschland Cup title in 2015 and back-to-back quarterfinal appearances (2016, 2017) at the IIHF Men’s World Championship, the best final placement for Germany since 2011.
As a player, Sturm skated in 938 career NHL games with Florida, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Boston and San Jose from 1997-2012, recording 242 goals and 245 assists for 487 points with a plus-59 rating. He scored the game-winning overtime goal for the Bruins’ 2-1 win over the Flyers at the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park. The Dingolfing, Germany native was originally selected by San Jose in the first round (21st overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. He leads all German players for most NHL games played and ranks second for career goals and career points. Internationally, he represented Germany at three Olympic Games (1998, 2002, 2010), four IIHF Men’s World Championships (1997, 2001, 2004, 2008) and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.