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NL Wins with Schwarber’s Swing-Off

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ATLANTA  – (Wire Service Report) – The National League beat the American League 4-3 in the All-Star Game’s first-ever “swing-off” on Tuesday night.

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The game was tied 6-6 after nine innings, so the teams competed in a three-man Home Run Derby in which AL manager Aaron Boone selected Brent Rooker, Randy Arozarena and Jonathan Aranda, while NL manager Dave Roberts picked Kyle Stowers, Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso.

Each player was to receive three swings to hit as many home runs as possible. Rooker launched two, while Stowers went 1-for-3. Arozarena hit one before Schwarber sent all three out to give the NL a 4-3 running lead entering the final round.

Aranda then went 0-for-3, clinching the bizarre National League victory — the league’s second All-Star Game win in three years after dropping the previous nine.

Trailing 6-0, the American League mounted a rally in the seventh, as San Diego’s Adrian Morejon allowed a single to Alejandro Kirk and walked Jonathan Aranda. Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez entered and surrendered Rooker’s three-run homer. Bobby Witt Jr. later drove in the AL’s fourth run on a groundout.

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Byron Buxton and Witt each doubled to pull the AL within one run against San Diego’s Robert Suarez in the ninth. Mets closer Edwin Diaz then entered and retired Jazz Chisholm Jr. before Steven Kwan tied the game with an infield single.

Boston’s Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the bottom of the ninth.

The NL struck first in the home half of the first inning. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and hometown favorite Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. reached on singles, before Arizona’s Ketel Marte laced a two-run double to right against AL starter Tarik Skubal.

In the sixth, after Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and Brendan Donovan singled, Alonso belted a three-run blast off Kansas City’s Kris Bubic to give the National League a 5-0 advantage.

Casey Mize then replaced Bubic, surrendering a 414-foot solo homer to Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll to extend the margin to six runs.

Making his second All-Star Game start in as many seasons, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes struck out Detroit Tigers Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene in the first before inducing Aaron Judge into a groundout in the ace’s lone inning.

– Field Level Media

Fever’s Clark Injured in Win at Boston

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Caitlin Clark’s health and shooting struggles continue to be a prevailing storyline as the Indiana Fever prepare to complete a road back-to-back against the New York Liberty on Wednesday.

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Clark did score nine straight Indiana points late in the fourth quarter Tuesday, pushing the Fever past the Connecticut Sun 85-77 before a sold-out crowd in Boston. But after feeding Kelsey Mitchell for a layup with 39.3 seconds left, Clark grabbed at her right groin area.

Clark previously missed four regular-season games and the Commissioner’s Cup final with a groin injury. Tuesday was her fourth game back.

“No update,” Fever coach Stephanie White said postgame. “Just felt a little something in her groin, so we’ll get it evaluated and see what happens from there.”

The Fever (12-10) may opt to rest her vs. New York (14-6) given the quick turnaround and the WNBA All-Star break approaching. Clark was also confirmed to participate in the 3-point contest during All-Star festivities in Indianapolis on Friday.

Clark’s 3-point shooting sure is better in Indiana than abroad this year. She has made 2 of 35 attempts from long range on the road this season following a 1-for-7 showing Tuesday.

Clark will be one of the captains and starters for Saturday’s All-Star Game. The defending champion Liberty have multiple representatives going to Indianapolis this weekend, but sometimes it’s their depth scorers who save the day.

Leonie Fiebich scored a career-high 21 points in a comeback win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, after the Liberty fell behind by as many as 19 points in the second quarter and by 11 at halftime.

[Read more…] about Fever’s Clark Injured in Win at Boston

Raleigh Cap

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ATLANTA  – Seattle’s Cal Raleigh became the first catcher to win the Home Run Derby on Monday night, besting Junior Caminero 18-15 in the final round at Truist Park.

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Raleigh also became the first Mariners player to hoist the trophy since 1999, when Ken Griffey Jr. won his third title. Tampa Bay’s Caminero, who was vying to become the youngest winner in Derby history at 22, fell just short as the Rays’ first contestant since Randy Arozarena lost to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 final.

Raleigh, the major league’s leader in homers with 38, totaled 54 home runs on Monday. All was nearly lost in the opening round, as the Seattle star advanced to the semifinals on a tiebreaker, as his longest home run eclipsed Brent Rooker’s by the narrowest of margins — 470.61 feet to 470.53.

With father Todd Sr. pitching and younger brother Todd Jr. behind the plate, it was a family affair for Cal, who added to his spectacular 2025 campaign.

“It means the world,” Raleigh said after the victory. “I could have hit zero home runs and had just as much fun. I just can’t believe I won, it’s unbelievable. … Honestly (my brother) was hyping me up behind the plate. He was firing me up the whole time. I’d hit one good and he’d be like ‘Lets go!’… I don’t know it, it just got me going and that’s why I think I got in good spurts.”

In the semifinals, Byron Buxton — facing Caminero — followed his 21-homer first round with a seven spot in the second round. Caminero blew past that total, needing just 12 swings to reach eight homers and advance to the final round.

On the other side of the four-man bracket, Raleigh outslugged Oneil Cruz 19-13, despite Cruz mashing a 498-foot shot.

Cruz and Caminero hit 21 home runs in the opening round, with Cruz receiving the top seed based on the longest home run tiebreaker.

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood began the night with 16 home runs, including a 486-foot shot, before Rooker followed with 17.

Rooker, whose night was cut short after suffering as close of a loss as you’ll see, wasn’t thrilled with the fashion in which he learned his outing was over.

“You know, maybe if they have it to the decimal point, they should display that during the Derby and not wait till everyone’s done to bring out that information,” Rooker told reporters after his early exit. “That might be helpful.”

Tampa Bay star Caminero, using a bat with his face on it, then hit 11 of the first 14 pitches he saw over the fence, before totaling 21 in an impressive round.

Pittsburgh Pirates slugger Cruz hit one of his 21 first-round homers 513 feet to right-center field, marking the farthest recorded home run in Truist Park history.

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Buxton of the Minnesota Twins had 20 homers and New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit just three.

“I had a lot of fun. I enjoyed every second of it,” Chisholm said, despite the lowest first round output since Troy Tulowitzki hit two in 2014. “You can’t ask for a better feeling. I’m still an All-Star. I still hit in the Home Run Derby. Who could ask for a better experience than that?”

Raleigh switched from the left-handed batter’s box to the right with just over a minute left on his way to 17.

To cap the first round, Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson recorded only 15 in his home park, leaving Cruz, Caminero, Buxton and Raleigh in the semifinals.

–Field Level Media

Gimme a Break, a Good Break

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

BOSTON – Usually, the Major League Baseball All-Star break is greeted by both fans and players with glee. MLB’s 162 game season is a long haul, so it’s usually a welcome time to get some rest, take a quick trip, relax and take a much deserved break, unless you’re one of the chosen few who gets to party with the All-Stars.

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The 2025 MLB All-Star break is coming at a terrible time for the Boston Red Sox, but a really high time for the team as a whole (or on a roll). The team has compiled a 10-game winning streak, and won 12 of their last 13 games. They’re eight games over .500 mark, a 2025 season high. Boston has just swept three consecutive series and has now won as many games in this first half of 2025 (53-45) as they did in the first half of 2024 (53-43), a major feat considering the team was (30-35) and 10.5 games out in the American League East on June 6.

July has been a magical time for Boston, so this is the worst possible time for a break. But, the schedule is the schedule and its time to see if the newly found momentum can be sustained.

The team is relatively healthy, although 3B All-Star and new team leader Alex Bregman could use a few more days of rehab on his injured quad. Only Sox pitchers like Hunter Dobbins (out for season), Liam Hendriks, Zack Kelly, Tanner Houck, and, of course, first baseman Tristan Casas (out for the year) are on the mend.

Starting pitcher Bryan Bello brought the juice again Sunday. In earning his sixth win of the season (6-3), Bello threw 6.1 innings of one run ball, he gave up only six scattered hit and struck out five Tampa batters. After throwing a complete game victory against the Colorado Rockies on July 8 (107 pitches), Bello followed with a 105-pitch gem, only to give way to All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman who made quick work of the Rays by striking out the side in the visitor’s ninth inning and earned his 17th save.

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Boston centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela was the hometown hero in Boston’s 4-1 win on Sunday. His sixth inning two-run home run sealed the 10th straight victory for the Red Sox. It was Rafaela’s fifth home run in the 10-game streak. He’s carrying a career high 10-game hitting streak while batting .421 (16-for-38) with 10 runs scored, six doubles, and 15 RBI.

Since trading their franchise third baseman, Rafael Devers, on June 15 and enduring a six-game losing streak from June 21-to-27, Boston has won 12 of their last 13 games. That includes an 11-1 mark in this magical month of July. It’s only the third time in franchise history (1968 and 1939) that they’ve started July winning 11 of 12.

Shortstop Trevor Story has been another major contributor to the surging Sox. In 38 games since June 1, Story is hitting .319 (46-for-144) with 27 runs scored, ten doubles, eight home runs, and 35 RBI. The 35 RBI ranks a T-3rd in all of MLB since June 1.

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Rookie OF Roman Anthony became the youngest Red Sox player to record a nine-game hitting streak since the great Tony Conigliaro did so in 1964-and 1965. Anthony is only 21 years, 61 days old as MLB takes its break.

Tampa limps into the break, seriously needing a break. The rays have lost four in a row (by way of the Red Sox sweep), but Tampa’s dropped eight of 10 and 12 of their last 16 games, dropping the Bay to (50-47), teeting ever closer to the .500 mark they saw back on May 25th (26-26).

Tampa was swept in a series for the fourth time this season, but the first time being swept in a four-game series, dating back to July 7-10, 2024 by Baltimore.

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 13

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – In the span of one week in this glorious summer of 2025, Boston experienced the (Savannah) Bananas playing two games at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark and the Fenway Faithful going bananas over a Boston Red Sox come from behind victory in a Major League Baseball game played Friday night at Fenway. These are their stories.

If comparing the two? The Red Sox victory over the Tampa Bay Rays wins – every day of the week.

Let us compare the two in more detail, and then I’ll turn the column over to a third party observer who did a tremendous job describing the scene – much better than I can do from a press seat in the Fenway “Bresh Box.”

We’ll use the simple “good” and “not good” method of comparative analysis.

Savannah Bananas:

Good:

  • The Build-up – On a very hot weekend afternoon (3pm start), there was a lot of excitement and revelry going on outside of the ballpark. The Bananas took over (bought out) adjacent parking lots and created mini carnivals and merch sales sites, with admission for anyone and not just ticket holders.
  • On Jersey Street – There were bands playing and players making appearances, signing autographs on jerseys and inflatable plastic bananas. It was quite festive.
  • The Fenway Concourse Scene: Fans jammed the concourse level and stood in line for Banana replica uniforms and every kind of “merch” you could imagine. It did not take a genius to realize the whole carnival was a “merch sale” play, somewhat like the sale of popcorn and circus lights at the old Ringling Bros. Circus at Madison Square Garden.
  • Atmosphere Leading Up to Game: The pregame buzz was fantastic and much of it was generated by very excited children. The Game Operations staff for the Bananas organization should get some combination of an Oscar, an Emmy, a TONY, or a Grammy. The music and activity was pre-programmed and non-stop.
  • Intros: The Banana Players were introduced with much fanfare, and they took the field, not from a dugout, but, instead, from the Green Monster. The players took the field doing flips, back-flips and other tricks, all choreographed to music which was pumping – non-stop – all night long.

Not Good:

  • Once the Game Started: Although there were 18 talented baseball players competing, and some great celebrity (honorary) first pitches (Doug Flutie, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Brock Holt, Johnny Damon), the game itself didn’t excite anyone. No one cared who won. Bananas vs Firemen? No villain.
  • Rules: The Bananas pride themselves on a two-hour show, so they actually set a countdown clock. Nice idea. There’s the normal score of runs produced, but there’s also a side show for trick play points, like a toss of a ball between the legs before throwing a batter put at first. You can even “steal” first if the catcher bobbles a pitch or allows for a passed ball or can’t stop a wild pitch. Nice idea.
  • Music: While the musical selections were good and the Fenway Faithful can sing a tune or two, the constant barrage of music just got to be too much. The dancing and cheerleading umpires were a sight to be seen at first, but it got to be a little much by the late innings. And, how could the Bananas NOT do “Sweet Caroline?”
  • No Player Recognition: After the initial introductions, there was very limited fanfare over the Bananas’ players. If comparing the Bananas to the Harlem Globetrotters, there was no Meadowlark Lemon, and no Curly Neal. As the event moved along, there was no character development – no one player to root for in a big way. The Bananas were hawking one brand and one brand only. Money.
  • Merch Sales, Good, Beer Sales Not Good: Only the Mormon Tabernacle Choir shows might sell less beer than the Bananas. Even on a hot day, the concession lines for hot dogs and soft drinks were quite long but the beer sales were non-existent.
Midway through the Savannah Bananas Game, the beer bartenders were bored.

Boston Red Sox

Good:

  • Maxing Out Fenway Park: On the sports business and marketing side, the Boston Red Sox absolutely “max-out” tiny Fenway Park. From the “Green Monster Seats” in left field to the “Sam Adams Deck” in right field, every inch of the ballpark is packed with seats, fans, ads and revenue generating magic. Seemingly every season, the Fenway Sports Group figures out another way to make an extra buck, and that means booking acts like the Bananas and a whole schedule of Summer Concerts.
  • Atmosphere: From carnival-like activities (all game long) on Jersey Street to good food all around the stadium to the best Game Ops, pre-game ceremonies, honorary first pitches, customer services and everything outside the lines, the Red Sox team (organization) is second to none in sports. They’ve carried that torch with pride for a couple decades. The buzz and excitement on Friday night was as good as its been since the 2018 World Series.
  • The ballpark, itself, is an American treasure.
    • The crowd at a Sox game adds so much to the experience. Of course, it’s magnified when the team carries a nine-game winning streak, but Saturday’s sell out crowd of 36,453 made a 1-0 shutout and complete game by Sox SP Garrett Crochet seem like an event worthy of the Duck Boats being fired up.;
  • As wonderful as the Savannah Bananas spectacle is and can be for fans all across the USA, there’s nothing like a real Major League Baseball game that matters in the standings.

Not Good:

  • Inconsistency, trades, cold weather, errors, poor base-running can frustrate any home team fan anywhere in MLB. In Boston, the crowds take it a bit more serious than they should, but that is the price a franchise pays for playing in a city that only counts championships as a success.
  • That’s about it in this category.
  • Draw your own conclusions.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES AND A THIRD PARTY POINT OF VIEW: As promised, it’s time to turn the column over to a budding, young sports marketer. Here’s the viewpoint of James Gumina, a Yale University student who played baseball, learned Japanese and used to watch Red Sox games in the morning in Tokyo, as we experienced the game the “prior’“ evening in Boston. Gumina is co-founder of Yale’s Media Entertainment and Sports Business Association and he even has Theo Epstein on speed dial. Here’s his look-see:

By JAMES GUMINA

This weekend I watched the Savannah Bananas bring “Banana Ball” to a sold out crowd at Fenway Park. The game started at 3:30, but the show began on Jersey Street well over an hour before first pitch, with music, dancing, and a parade of players and characters. Once inside the stadium, on-field festivities began around 3, and nearly every seat was already occupied, a rarity for October Red Sox games, let alone a game in early July. Not only was it a packed house, it was chock full of yellow Bananas jerseys. The lines outside the stadium for merchandise stretched and snaked all over the concourse, and nearly every fan in the building under the age of 16 was wearing a replica jersey; the majority of which were sporting autographs from the players, a testament to the “Fans First” ethos behind the Bananas’ brand.

Once the game started a raucous crowd was treated to two hours of entertainment, including local Boston legends, like Doug Flutie and Bill Lee. “Banana Ball” is more of an event than a game, with action happening nonstop, both on the field and in the stands. From the dancing umpires and coaches, to the “Man-ana” cheerleading squad, there was not a moment of dead air from when I sat down at 3 to when it was over around 5:30. As a veteran of many Red Sox games, I cannot remember a crowd as engaged in a game since some of the playoff contests I have been to, especially given the brutal 90+ degree temperature. While it is easy to compare the product to that of Major League Baseball, “Banana Ball” is a fundamentally different experience. The Bananas make baseball the backdrop for unique, fun, and innovative ideas, and from the size of the crowd it is obviously working. I was also at the Red Sox game the following day, and it could not have been a more different experience. While the crowd was solid for a weeknight game, it still paled in comparison to the Bananas’ crowd in both size and energy. Based on my experience in the stadium I would almost describe the two as separate sports, the experience was that different. From the constant musical cues, to the dancing, to the backflips on the field, the Bananas drew your attention to a million different places at once, while MLB funnels your attention directly to the battle between the pitcher and the hitter.

If you have heard of the Bananas, and at this point most people have, chances are you first encountered them on social media. Their meteoric rise in recent years has been, in large part, due to constant viral attention on social platforms like TikTok, both from the team and from individual players (The Bananas have 2 million more followers on TikTok than MLB). This growth strategy is clearly at the forefront of the games, with camera crews all over the field. While some of the made for social media moments fell a little flat in-person, the vast majority still played well to the in-stadium experience, and clearly work very well for the social media and TV audience. These videos, and their focus on specific players like Jackson Olson, have allowed the Banana’s to not only turn the team into a must see event, they have also grown many of the players’ individual brands. For instance, Olson, the star of the Bananas, has more followers on Instagram than Red Sox star players Alex Bregman and Jarren Duran, let alone Tik Tok followers. With reach that large, it is no wonder that the Bananas are able to sell out some of the largest football stadiums in the world.

While I do not think the Savannah Bananas’ version of baseball is going to dethrone that of Major League Baseball anytime soon, the Bananas have clearly established the brand and team as more than a gimmick offshoot of baseball. With a recently added fourth team, and no signs of that growth slowing down, the Bananas are looking to form their own style of independent league, one that could attract far more attention and fans than any traditional baseball independent league ever could. Often compared to the Globetrotters, through expansion and their social media dominance, the Bananas have a road map toward much more growth than the age-old Globetrotters. It is not clear exactly where that map will take them, but it is clear that the Savannah Bananas are here to stay.

Editor’s Note: When the Savannah Banana equipment trucks were packing up at Fenway on the evening of July 6, this reporter ask one of the technicians – okay, call ‘em roadies – what his next stop would be. “St. Louis,” he said. Yes, while the franchise played easy games in Savannah and Salem, Virginia this weekend, the big show was on its way to St. Louis for a July 18-19 pair of games at Busch Stadium. On July 26-27, they travel to Philadelphia for a pair of sold out games at Citizens Bank Park, and so on. The Banana Schedule for their 2025 “World Tour” is relentless.

It must get tiresome at some point?

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: If you’ve been following along via WWYI, you surely remember this space applauding the game of – James Wood – of the Washington Nationals. Remember that you heard it first as Wood was named to the 2025 National League All-Star team this week. … Wood will also participate in the HR festivities. In addition to Wood, the full list of participants for the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby include Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton, Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Cal Raleigh, Brent Rooker and Jazz Chisholm Jr. … The event will take place on July 14, 2025, at Truist Park in Atlanta, with the All-Star Game on July 15 … Look out!

PREZ VANVLEET: The National Basketball Players Association announced that Fred VanVleet was elected President of the NBPA during the annual summer meeting of the Board of Player Representatives. VanVleet’s four-year term begins immediately. “It’s truly an honor to be elected as President of the NBPA by my peers and I look forward to continuing to advocate for the best interest of all the members,” said VanVleet. “With a deep appreciation for the complexities and challenges players face on all levels of their NBA journeys, I am committed to approaching this role with the passion, dignity, and dedication every player deserves.” … VanVleet, a nine-year NBA veteran and current Houston Rockets guard, began his professional career un-drafted in 2016.

U-19 = ONE-SIDED: The USA women’s U-19 team (1-0) tipped off the 2025 FIBA U19 Women’s World Cup this weekend. The USA is looking for its 11th overall and fourth consecutive gold medal at the event, and they began in high gear and grand style with a 134-53 win against Korea (0-1) in Brno, Czechia. The 134 points set a single-game U19 record, besting the USA’s own marks of 129 set in 2005 and 2021.

RED SOX: The Boston Red Sox won their season-high ninth straight game on Saturday. It’s the club’s longest winning streak since also winning nine consecutive from April 5-14th, 2019. … The victory also placed the Sox a game and a half above the AL East fourth place Tampa Bay Rays and set a 2025 season-high mark of seven games above .500 for the first time since August 21, 2024 when they were (67-60). … Boston won 11 of their last 12 games going into Sunday’s MLB first half finale against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays. … Boston’s Saturday (1-0) win ensured the club’s fourth consecutive series win as ace starting pitcher Garrett Crochet tossed a three-hit complete game, the first CG of his career and the second CG of Boston’s ‘25 campaign (Bryan Bello there the other). … Bello faces Tampa’s Ryan Pepiot in Sunday’s series and first half/ All-Star break curtain call. … The game will be on NESN and the MLB Network.

Sinner Takes Down Alcaraz

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WIMBLEDON – (Wire Service Report) – World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy built an early advantage and shook off some late jitters to finish a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz at Wimbledon on Sunday, giving Sinner his first win at Wimbledon and fourth Grand Slam win ever.

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Sinner shook off an opening set loss to notch the major victory at the All England Club.

Previously a two-time winner at the Australian Open (2024, 2025) and a champion at the US Open in 2024, the Wimbledon win was his first Grand Slam final victory over Alcaraz and left him just the French Open — where he finished as runner-up this year — remaining to give him the rare career Grand Slam.

“Back in the days, when I was young, this was only a dream,” Sinner said. “I’m just living a dream.”

Making his first Wimbledon championship all the sweeter, Sinner ended a five-match losing streak to Alcaraz and ended the Spaniard’s 24-match winning streak.

In his first Grand Slam victory off of hard courts, the 23-year-old Sinner actually emerged as a winner as a slight underdog, as Alcaraz, 22, came in with an 8-4 advantage in head-to-head results.

A much anticipated rematch of an epic French Open final in June in which Alcaraz won a five-set marathon that lasted five hours, 29 minutes — the longest Roland Garros final ever — Sinner wrapped this one up in a tidy three hours, six minutes.

“It’s so special,” Sinner said. “I had a very tough loss in Paris. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter how you win.”

Sinner led 4-2 in the fourth set with a 2-1 set advantage and dropped a game before falling behind 40-15 in the eighth, but the Italian rallied to win that game and wrestle back control of the set at 5-3. From there, he put the finishing touches on with a commanding finishing game.

“Every moment can change the match, so I’m very happy I held my nerves.”

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Utilizing a strong serve and playing aggressively near the net for much of the match, Sinner had 30 net points and 81 service points in earning 40 winners.

Alcaraz had 15 aces but was hurt by seven double faults.

“It’s always difficult to lose, even when it’s in the final,” Alcaraz said, pointing to a great off-court relationship with Sinner with an equally good on-court rivalry that has pushed him to get better. “Thank you very much, and congratulations.”

After dispatching Taylor Fritz in four sets on Friday, Alcaraz eventually became the betting favorite to take home his third consecutive Wimbledon title. Sinner swept through 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to set up the rematch final.

–Field Level Media

Chelsea Wins Club World Cup

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Wire Service Report) – Chelsea were clear underdogs before the FIFA Club World Cup final. Cole Palmer didn’t seem to mind, and the pressure of a global stage didn’t slow him down.

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Palmer rang up two goals and one assist in a sensational first half and Chelsea toppled Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 to win the Club World Cup on Sunday.

The 23-year-old winger scored in the 22nd and 30th minutes and Joao Pedro tacked on the third goal right before halftime, capitalizing on Palmer’s fine touch into the box. Robert Sanchez, meanwhile, saved six shots in his best showing of the tournament.

“Obviously, everyone doubted us before the game,” Palmer said. “We knew that, but to go out there and put a fight out like we did, obviously against a great team, yeah, it was good.”

Chelsea, who won the 2021 Club World Cup that featured only eight teams, battled past Portugal’s Benfica and Brazilian sides Palmeiras and Fluminense in the knockouts to face Paris Saint-Germain — six weeks removed from their first UEFA Champions League trophy.

The European champions had allowed just one goal in their first six matches of the Cup. But on Sunday, PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma saved just two of five shots on goal.

The frustrated Parisians went down to 10 men in the 85th minute when Joao Neves pulled Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella by the hair, was caught on video review and shown red.

Altercations spilled past the final whistle, and PSG coach Luis Enrique appeared to grab at Pedro’s neck while he and Donnarumma confronted Chelsea players.

“This was completely avoidable at the end,” Enrique said in translated remarks. “My goal was always to separate footballers, there was a lot of tension and pressure, there was a whole bunch of pushing that we should all try to avoid. My intention is to avoid it getting worse.”

The final capped the end of a month-long tournament with 32 teams representing six continents, a test run for the United States before it co-hosts next year’s World Cup with Canada and Mexico.

President Donald Trump attended the final as a guest of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Trump presented Chelsea the trophy and, quite noticeably, over-stayed his welcome on stage after the trophy was presented and made the club’s celebration quite awkward.

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In his first year as manager, Enzo Maresca guided the Blues to a 2025-26 Champions League berth and won two trophies, the Club World Cup following their victory in the UEFA Conference League.

“I’m especially happy for the players, because just one year ago when I came to the club, I said since the first press conference … We said many times that talent is not enough,” Maresca said. “We need sacrifice, we need readiness, we need a game plan with all the players (facing) the same way. The success is because of them.”

Cucurella made a crucial stop to keep the game scoreless in the 16th minute. Fabian Ruiz made a great pass across the box to Desire Doue, who could have shot it but instead tried a centering pass to a teammate that Cucurella intercepted.

Ace Crochet

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet tossed a complete-game shutout and the Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to nine games with a 1-0 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

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Crochet (10-4) held Tampa Bay to three hits, struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter.

It’s the first time Crochet has pitched a complete game in his MLB career. Prior to Saturday he hadn’t pitched more than 8 1/3 innings in a game.

Tampa Bay’s only hits were singles by Yandy Diaz, Curtis Mead and Taylor Walls.

Crochet, who signed a six-year, $170 million contract extension earlier this year, has recorded at least seven strikeouts in each of his last nine outings. He threw 100 pitches, 72 of which were strikes.

His complete game came at a welcome time since Boston starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins left Friday night’s game in the second inning because of an ACL tear.

Tampa Bay received a strong start from Shane Baz, who held Boston to a run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. Baz (8-5) struck out three and walked two. It was his fourth straight quality start.

The Rays have lost five of their last six games.

Boston scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Roman Anthony hit a one-out double and scored on a Carlos Narvaez single.

Tampa Bay had a chance to tie the game when it had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth, but Boston first baseman Abraham Toro threw out Walls at the plate when Ha-Seong Kim attempted a safety squeeze. The Rays challenged, but the call was upheld.

The Red Sox prevailed even though they were held to five hits and were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

The teams will wrap up the four-game series Sunday in the final game before the All-Star break.

–Field Level Media

There’s Magic in the Air at Fenway

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – For the very first time in the 2025 Major League Baseball season, there was a big game atmosphere as 35,452 fans entered Fenway Park on Friday night. Nearly all of them stayed in their seats when the hometown Red Sox came to bat in the bottom of the 9th inning, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-3.

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Much of the buzz in the American League’s oldest ballpark stemmed from the Red Sox entering the game with a seven game winning streak. Since June 4th, Boston’s recorded the third-best record in the Majors.

Friday night, their lineup seemed whole as 3B Alex Bregman was reactivated after a 43-game absence caused by a severe right quad strain, dating back to May 24th. Since that time, there’s been massive changes to the Sox – the trade of their best hitter, Raphael Devers, and the promotion of three promising rookies – 2B Marcelo Mayer, OF Roman Anthony and INF Kristian Campbell, the latter relegated back to Triple A Worcester when RF Wilyer Abreu was reactivated from the 10-day injured list on June 20th.

Changes. Uncertainty. Errors. Poor base-running. A six game winning streak from June 10-to-16 followed by a six game losing streak from June 21-to-27. It all resulted in a rut called fourth place in the American League East with June 6th being the low point of being 10.5 games out of first place.

Tonight was different. There was magic in the air at Fenway and the Red Sox finished the night a half-game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays, and in possession of third place in the AL East and keeping pace with the second place New York Yankees who spanked the Chicago Cubs, 11-0, just as the Sox came to bat in the home ninth.

One of the rookies, Mayer, led-off but grounded out. That left Sox Manager Alex Cora an easy decision to pinch hit his other top prospect, Anthony, for first baseman Abraham Toro. The slugger stayed patient at the plate, as Tampa Bay closer Pete Fairbanks brought his 99 mph heat. Four of Fairbanks’ pitches missed the strike zone and Anthony walked to first base.

One out, man on first, trailing 4-3 – and up came the Sox number nine hitter, Ceddanne Rafaela.

The defensive wiz centerfielder came into the game with a seven game hitting streak and he had extended it to eight with an RBI single in the second inning. His hot streak included a .444 batting average, eight runs scored, six doubles, 10 RBI and three home runs.

Fairbanks fired three four-seam fastballs to take a 1-2 count to his advantage. On the fourth pitch, an 86 mph slider, Rafaela took it long – some 406 feet to put an exclamation point on the advertisements atop the famed Green Monster. Sox win, 5-4.

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It was Rafaela’s second career game-winning home run, the last coming as the tides were running high on June 4 out in Anaheim, California when Boston won an 11-9 slugfest. Tonight was different.

Rafaela (2-for-4, one run, one HR and three RBI) has been scoring runs and driving runners in, as well., to the tune of the last seven games to make him only the third Boston Red Sox player at the age of 24 or younger to accomplish that feat. To put it in perspective, Ted Williams (8 game streak in 1942) was another, along with little known Duffy Lewis, back in 1912.

Records and milestones aside, Rafaela – like the rest of his Boston Red Sox teammates – are walking a walk, tossing bats aside and skipping past third base with a resolve to meet-up with an entire roster of confident players.

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It’s now led Boston to an eight game winning streak and the climb past Tampa to third place. The confidence prompted utility man Romy Gonzalez to print up some t-shirts for his teammates with an art deco, pink and Carolina blue script, reading “Tremendously Locked In.”

With Rafaela’s game winning home run in the books, it might be time to print some more t-shirts to be sure the locksmiths are all ready for the final two games of this important July series.

 

Eight Straight? Or Not?

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox are feeling good.

After sweeping back-to-back cellar dwellers in the Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies, the Red Sox extended their winning streak to a season-best seven games by rallying past the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. They will look for a second straight win as they continue the four-game AL East series tonight.

“That’s the type of team we are; we never lose hope, and we always battle,” Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela said. “It was a battle (on Thursday) — and we won the battle.”

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Rafaela had two of just four Boston hits in the series opener, including the deciding two-run single during a three-run seventh inning.

The Red Sox had not named a starting pitcher for Friday’s game, but the assignment of reliever Isaiah Campbell to Worcester cleared a spot for Hunter Dobbins (4-1, 4.10 ERA), who is now expected to come off the injured list (right elbow strain) and make the start.

“We’re deeper than other years,” Boston manager Alex Cora said before Thursday’s game. “You feel like in that spot, if something happens, somebody will be here and do the job.”

Dobbins and fellow youngster Richard Fitts — who earned his first career win Monday before returning to Worcester — have both been strong when called upon.

Dobbins’ last start was on June 20, when he allowed four earned runs in a four-inning no-decision at the San Francisco Giants. Friday will mark his first career start against Tampa Bay.

Also due to return is third baseman Alex Bregman, who is expected to forgo a rehab assignment in the minors to play Friday or Saturday. He had a right quad strain.

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“He’ll play two of the games (prior to the All-Star break), let’s put it that way,” Cora said.

The Rays will look to turn things around following their fifth loss out of seven on their 10-game trip. It was their 16th loss in a one-run game this season and came despite a quality start from Taj Bradley.

Manager Kevin Cash entered the series with hope after the Rays acquired reliever Bryan Baker from the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday.

Baker is expected to offer major help in a bullpen that had a 7.20 ERA over the past two weeks. Unable to build on Junior Caminero and Ha-Seong Kim homers, Baker took the loss following Boston’s big inning.

“Something that we probably needed. He’s going to add to it,” Cash said. “He’s pitched really well for the Orioles this year, and he’s gotten outs against us. It’ll be nice to be able to hand him the ball and get some outs for us now.”

Cash will now give the ball to right-hander Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.82), who is set to tag-team with Joe Boyle for a third straight appearance. He is still seeing limited action following his third major elbow surgery.

Rasmussen last pitched two innings of one-run ball Sunday in a win over the Minnesota Twins. He threw 24 of his 32 pitches for strikes.

“I think it does two things,” Rasmussen said. “It lets us get the Joe Boyle experience, which is electric. And then also allows me to just stay on routine as well as limit some of the innings for this year.”

The 29-year-old is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox, but Friday will mark his first since 2022.

–Field Level Media