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What’s next for Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks after massive contract extension
The Chicago Blackhawks have locked in their franchise cornerstone for the near future. On Saturday, the Blackhawks announced that star center Connor Bedard has signed a five-year contract worth $75 million.
Bedard’s $15 million average annual value makes him the third-highest paid player in the NHL for the 2026-27 season. Only Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov ($17 million) and the newly-signed Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson ($18 million) are ahead of him.
“Connor has continuously defied our expectations since being drafted, and has quickly established himself as an elite player in the NHL,” Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson said in a statement. “He utilizes all aspects of his game to not only be a constant threat, but to make the players around him better every time he steps on the ice. Connor’s strong work ethic and determination to always improve his game has set an extraordinary standard for our young core, and we’re excited for the incredible impact he’ll have in this next chapter of Blackhawks hockey.”
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Bedard has already displayed elite offensive upside, even if his overall game still has work to do. Last season, Bedard posted a career high 75 points in 69 games. In 219 NHL games, Bedard has totaled 75 goals and 128 assists.
The biggest issues for Bedard are durability concerns — he’s played fewer than 70 games in two of three seasons and will miss the first month of the upcoming season with a shoulder injury — and subpar defense. The defense is a common problem for young centers and should improve in the coming years, but Bedard has now suffered multiple shoulder injuries in his career.
With Bedard’s long-term contract finalized, both he and the Blackhawks will try to take the next step toward greatness. For the player, that means refining his game in order to become the $15 million man most believe him to be. For the team, that means surrounding Bedard with an adequate supporting cast for the first time in his career.
The next step for Bedard
First and foremost, Bedard needs to get healthy and stay healthy. After missing 13 games with a shoulder injury last year, Bedard suffered another injury that required surgery to fix, and he will miss roughly a dozen games out of the gate in 2026-27. Those issues may delay his jump into the NHL’s elite tier of players.
Once back at full strength, Bedard will have to show improvement defensively. He oozes offensive ability, but if Bedard is going to be a true No. 1 franchise center, he has to thrive at both ends of the ice. With Bedard on the ice at five-on-five last season, Chicago surrendered 3.60 xGA/60, per Natural Stat Trick. That was the second-worst number on the team with rookie Anton Frondell bringing up the rear.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Bedard was the Blackhawks’ worst defensive player, but it does mean he often struggled when going up against the opposing team’s best players. Stars — especially those raking in $15 million per season — are expected to drive play for their team regardless of circumstance. Bedard didn’t do that last season.
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With Bedard |
40.1% |
minus-12 |
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Without Bedard |
43.2% |
minus-35 |
Bedard also needs to show more growth in the face-off circle. To his credit, Bedard has already done that, going from 38.9% as a rookie to 47.1% last season. Still, Chicago would probably like to see Bedard closer to 50%, especially with him taking key draws in big moments. Maybe that number keeps rising as Bedard gets strong and adds more tricks in the dot.
If Bedard can round out his game without the puck, $15 million per season will be a very fair deal, especially as salaries explode across the league.
The next step for the Blackhawks
We’ve already seen what can happen when a restricted free agent has all the leverage in contract negotiations. The Ducks were essentially backed into a $90 million contract after the Philadelphia Flyers signed Carlsson to a massive offer sheet.
That risk was there for Bedard too, which is why Davidson deserves some credit for signing him at a more reasonable cap hit. Bedard still has work to do in order to reach that price point, but his ceiling is worth at least $15 million per season.
The Blackhawks can help their young star by putting more NHL-caliber players around him. Chicago tore it down to the studs in hopes of landing Bedard in the 2023 draft, and while that plan worked, it also created a roster full of holes around the No. 1overall pick. Over the last three seasons, Bedard has had little help.
Chicago already improved its defense this offseason when it acquired Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres. Say what you will about the acquisition cost or his $75 contract extension, but Byram inarguably makes Chicago better on the blue line. That unit still needs work, but it’s a step in the right direction.
The real issue is finding Bedard a quality running mate at the top of the lineup. Outside of Bedard, only one other player topped 50 points in 2025-26, and it was 31-year-old Tyler Bertuzzi. Chicago still has $14.1 million in cap space with which to add some firepower, but some upgrades will have to come internally.
It’s conceivable that the Blackhawks’ lineup will include seven players selected inside the top 50 picks of the last five drafts.
That’s an exciting proposition, and fans have reasons to be optimistic about the future. That said, none of those players have really established themselves as future stars, outside of Bedard. Frondell, Nazar and Rinzel seem like the best bets to get there soon, but that’s based more on projection than anything tangible.
The first month of the season should be an excellent barometer for the Blackhawks as they assess those players. Bedard will be out of the lineup, and it’ll be interesting to see who sinks and who swims until he returns. Once Chicago establishes exactly what it has in its young nucleus, Davidson can then go out and aggressively address needs via trades and free agency.
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‘White ball YouTuber’: Kevin Pietersen gives hilarious response when asked if he would coach England Test team
‘White ball YouTuber’: Kevin Pietersen gives hilarious response when asked if he would coach England Test team originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Kevin Pietersen jokingly rules himself out of England Test coaching race.
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Backs former teammate Jonathan Trott for the vacant red-ball role.
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Justin Langer emerges as ECB’s new frontrunner for the job.
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Kevin Pietersen’s witty response wins hearts to England test coach speculation
As the England and Wales Cricket Board scrambles to find someone to fill the void left by Brendon McCullum’s recent sacking as Test head coach, former batter Kevin Pietersen has playfully taken himself out of contention with a response that had fans laughing.
The coaching search took an interesting turn on Friday when Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s head coach Andy Flower confirmed he wouldn’t be pursuing the role, following talks with the ECB. Despite the board’s clear interest in bringing him on board, Flower opted to remain with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the two-time reigning IPL champions, instead.
In the aftermath of that news, Pietersen backed his former England teammate Jonathan Trott and expressed hope that the ex-batter lands the job as McCullum’s successor in red-ball cricket.
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Trott, now 45, enjoyed a solid international career between 2009 and 2015, featuring in 52 Tests, 68 ODIs and seven T20Is. He was part of three Ashes-winning campaigns, famously scoring a match-defining century on debut during that historic rivalry.
Rashid Khan Jonathan Trott Afghanistan
(getty)
He also played a key role in England’s Ashes triumph on Australian soil during the 2010-11 series, a feat the team hadn’t managed in 24 years, and was part of the squad that famously beat India in their own backyard during the 2012-13 tour.
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These days, Trott works as a short-term consultant with Ireland, after having previously stepped down as Afghanistan’s head coach back in February.
Pietersen wrote on X: “Jonathan Trott: Hard working, dedicated, Great cricket brain, emotionally intelligent, Done cricket the hard way, Respected. Hopefully, he’s a frontrunner for the England red-ball team.”
Amid the discussion, one fan directly asked Pietersen whether he himself would consider getting involved with England’s Test setup. His reply was: “I’m a white ball YouTuber 🤣.”
Justin Langer emerges as the favourite to succeed Brendon McCullum
Meanwhile, Justin Langer has reportedly climbed to the top of the ECB’s shortlist following Flower’s decision to step back.
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Interestingly, Langer’s candidacy comes with some irony, given that when the same role opened up back in 2022, shortly after his own exit from Australia’s coaching setup, he firmly dismissed any interest in the position.
Currently, Langer coaches IPL side Lucknow Super Giants, a role he took over from Flower in 2023, alongside his responsibilities with Manchester Super Giants in the Hundred, meaning he would face a similar balancing act between franchise commitments and a potential England role.
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Pietersen’s humour hides a fair point
Pietersen’s response was funny, but it also subtly highlighted something real: Test coaching demands a completely different skill set and mindset than white-ball punditry or franchise cricket.
His backing of Trott, though, deserves attention rather than being dismissed as loyalty to an old teammate. Trott’s Ashes pedigree and calm technical approach could suit England’s current red-ball rebuild far better than another high-profile name.
The ECB’s dilemma with Langer is equally telling, as they are chasing a coach who once flatly rejected the job, largely because their better options keep saying no. Sometimes the right candidate isn’t the most famous one available, but the one who actually understands what Test cricket demands, and on that front, Trott’s resume speaks louder.
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Josh Kerr says breaking the men’s mile world record is an “an awesome achievement” but hints he could attempt to set a new mark.
Kerr, 28, beat Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1999 time, crossing the line in three minutes 42.66 seconds.
The Scot became the seventh British athlete to claim the mile record and first since Steve Cram in 1985. Kerr’s previous best personal best over the mile was a British record of 3:45.34.
“The biggest goal that I had [this year] was going after the world record in the mile,” Kerr told BBC Breakfast. “It was a perfect year for it.
“With the history that the UK have in the mile distance, obviously with Sir Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile back in 1954 and then the slew of incredible British athletes that we had for a long time – [Sebastian] Coe, Cram, [Steve] Ovett – it was just time for me to bring that distance and that record back home to the UK.
“To be able to break that record by nearly half a second was an awesome achievement.
“On another day, with maybe a little bit more favourable wind, I could maybe take another little chunk off it. It’s with us now and if we’re in the fitness for it again, we’ll maybe go after it and take a good more chunk off it.”
Spain and Argentina have reached Sunday’s World Cup final by very different paths, yet both arrive hoping their gameplay will be the one to win them the world’s biggest football championship. Spain’s La Roja have looked like the tournament’s most complete team, conceding just one goal in 7 matches. Argentina’s La Albiceleste, meanwhile, have perfected the art of the comeback, twice rallying from behind to keep their bid for back-to-back world titles alive.
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The World Cup 2026 final will also reunite two coaches whose paths crossed long before they met on the world’s biggest stage. Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni completed his training under Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente.
“They know each other extremely well,” says French football journalist Xavier Barret. “Many Argentine internationals have played in La Liga, while many Spanish players have worked under Argentine coaches or alongside Argentine teammates.”
Yet despite the shared footballing roots, the identities at play could hardly be more different.
Collective precision
Spain’s route to New York has been built on suffocating opponents rather than overwhelming them. They monopolise possession, dictate the tempo and rarely lose their structure.
“They don’t dominate relentlessly for 90 minutes, though,” Barret says. “They control games in phases. They move the ball patiently, they don’t press constantly because that’s impossible to sustain, but they make opponents chase the game.”
French sports journalist Karim Baldé believes Spain’s greatest strength lies in collective, rather than individual, brilliance and in their ability to steadily raise their level of play throughout the tournament.
Watch moreSpain dominate France and advance to World Cup final
“They started the tournament quietly, after drawing with Cape Verde, and it wasn’t sure they would even reach the final,” he said. “But they have improved with every match. Their defensive block is incredibly well-organised. The team hardly moves out of shape.”
Spain are also one of the few elite sides not dependent on a single star.
“They can leave players like Mikel Merino on the bench,” Baldé says. “That tells you about the depth Luis de la Fuente has: He has different tactical options depending on the opponent.”
The team’s cohesion is a reflection of a programme dating back to the mid-1990s when Spain overhauled youth coaching nationwide, introducing regional scouting and a unified possession-based philosophy inspired by FC Barcelona, Barret explains.
The ‘M’ factor
If La Roja represents structure, La Albiceleste embodies resilience.
Scaloni’s side needed another dramatic comeback against England in the semi-finals (2-1) after trailing for much of the match, continuing a pattern that has defined their title defence.
“You always think they’re about to lose, and somehow they win,” Baldé says.
Behind Lionel Messi, he says, lies a squad willing to sacrifice everything.
“They’re soldiers in Messi’s service. Players like [Leandro] Paredes and [Alexis] Mac Allister bring intensity and aggression when it’s needed. The whole team is elevated by having him.”
“I didn’t think he’d still be playing at this level,” Barret admits. “He doesn’t run much anymore, but he stays mentally sharp. He always sees the right pass at exactly the right moment.”
But Barret sees something deeper at play. “When Argentina are backed into a corner, they find something extra,” he adds.
“They play as if their lives depend on it. That’s very South American. They have enormous pride.”
Watch moreArgentina come from behind to beat England 2-1
That mentality has repeatedly compensated for tactical imperfections. Argentina’s defence has occasionally looked vulnerable, but they have shown remarkable composure under pressure. Against England, they finished with an extraordinary 88 percent possession during the closing stages after spending much of the game trying to find a path to victory, illustrating their ability to adapt when circumstances demand it.
Barret expects both teams to neutralise many of each other’s strengths in the final.
“They could cancel each other out,” he says. “Spain will try to control the ball. Argentina are perfectly comfortable defending deep and waiting for their moment.”
Time to shine for Yamal
For Baldé, one player could tip the balance.
“We’ve all been waiting for Lamine Yamal to produce his defining performance,” he says. “If he reaches his best level in the final, that could change everything.”
The semi-finals offered contrasting lessons in game management.
While Spain comfortably controlled France, Argentina capitalised on England manager Thomas Tuchel’s increasingly defensive substitutions.
“Scaloni is always willing to take risks,” Barret says. “Even against Egypt earlier in the tournament, when others would protect what they had, he removed defenders and added attackers. Tuchel did the opposite against Argentina.”
Against Spain, however, Scaloni faces a very different challenge.
“Nobody has really managed to disrupt Spain,” Barret says. “That’s why this final is so fascinating.”
Watch every single shot from the biggest names in golf during the final round of The Open
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The 2026 Open is into its final stage as the R&A seeks to crown a Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, for the first time in nine years. The best golfers in the world are convening on Sunday, all seeking to raise the Claret Jug by day’s end and claim the winner’s share of an enhanced $17.5 million purse.
While only one will be lucky enough to carry the hardware, history has already been made at this Open, with three golfers tying the men’s major championship low of 62 in a round. Fifty-four hole leader Sam Burns, who is up two shots on the field, also registered the lowest score across consecutive rounds in major championship history, registering a total of 127 (62-65) across Friday and Saturday.
While some stars are either well off pace (Rory McIlroy) or not even playing the weekend (Matt Fitzpatrick), others like Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler are in striking distance, especially considering the low scores that have already been registered in Southport. Local product Tommy Fleetwood, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele are other notables who could soar up the leaderboard on Sunday.
There is so much to follow this weekend that it can be overwhelming at times. No worries: We have you covered. CBS Sports is offering live coverage of the 2026 Open from start to finish. Check out how you can watch the Open on Sunday.
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Round 4 — Sunday, July 19
Round 4 start time: 2:20 a.m. [Tee times]
Open live stream: 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Peacock
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The WNBA has suspended Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello without pay for one game for using the term “protected species” while referring to Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese.
During the Dream’s 111-92 win over Toronto on Friday, Toronto’s Nyara Sabally fouled Reese after an offensive rebound.
As the call was being reviewed, Brondello yelled at the referees. Microphones picked her up saying, “Angel, she’s a protected species!”
ANGEL REESE DANGEROUSLY PEDDLES RACIST CONSPIRACY THEORY AFTER WNBA COACH CALLS HER TWO WORDS
Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello looks on against the Chicago Sky during the first half at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill., on May 27, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Reuters)
The WNBA announced Saturday evening that Brondello will now miss the Tempo’s next game against the Las Vegas Aces.
“The WNBA expects all coaches and team personnel to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and respect that are fundamental to our league,” the league’s announcement said.
Brondello issued a written apology earlier on Saturday.
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese celebrates a basket in the second half against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on June 18, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
“Angel, I’m sorry. Last night, in the emotion of the moment after Nyara’s injury, I used a phrase that I shouldn’t have used, and I take full responsibility for that. My frustration was with the officiating, but my words unfairly put the focus on you,” she wrote.
“I also understand that my words carried an impact beyond what I intended, particularly for Black women in our league, and I’m deeply sorry for that,” she continued. “I’ve spent my career competing with, coaching and learning from incredible Black women.
“I regret that my words caused hurt to a community I respect so deeply,” Brondello added. “I have a lot of respect for you as both a player and a person, and I sincerely apologize to you, your teammates, and the Dream organization for my comment.”
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Toronto Tempo’s Brittney Sykes defends Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese during the first half of a WNBA game in Toronto on June 14, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press)
After last night’s game, Reese made a post on social media referencing Brondello’s comment. Reese shared a post that appeared to interpret the comment as racially charged.
Brondello is from Australia, where the term “protected species” has been used in Australian sports environments to express frustration over a lack of calls against a player.
France endured an emotional rollercoaster in Miami on Saturday, eventually falling 6-4 to England in a breathtaking 2026 World Cup third-place playoff. Trailing 4-0 at halftime, Les Bleus mounted a sensational comeback, fueled by Kylian Mbappé’s ninth and tenth goals of the tournament, but England held on to seal victory in a spectacular contest.
Elsewhere in sport, all eyes turn to Sunday’s World Cup final, where Spain and Argentina go head-to-head in a mouthwatering showdown. It’s the reigning European champions against the defending Copa América winners, with Lamine Yamal‘s Spain taking on Lionel Messi‘s Argentina. Remarkably, it’s the first World Cup final ever to pit the reigning European champions against the holders of the Copa America.
Could the Premier League be about to witness a record-breaking transfer? Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers is reportedly on the verge of joining Chelsea in a €137 million deal, which would make him the most expensive English player in history.
At the Tour de France, Tadej Pogacar remains untouchable. The yellow jersey claimed his fourth stage victory of the 2026 edition on Saturday with a commanding solo triumph at Marstein Fellering, finishing ahead of teammate Isaac Del Toro and French rising star Paul Seixas. At just 19, Seixas climbed to fourth overall, took over the white jersey, and became the youngest rider ever to wear a classification jersey on the Tour.
In tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ comeback continues. Down to world No. 85, the Greek will contest his first ATP final since March 2025 on Sunday, facing Belgium‘s Raphaël Collignon in Gstaad as he bids for the 13th title of his career.
Meanwhile, in Bastad, top seed Andrey Rublev will face defending champion Luciano Darderi in the ATP 250 final.
In athletics, a legendary mark has fallen. Josh Kerr shattered the long-standing world mile record on Saturday in London.
At The Open Championship, Sam Burns heads into the final round as the new leader, ahead of Ryan Fox and Kim Si-woo.
In Formula 1, teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli will start Sunday’s Belgian Grand Prix from pole position.
And finally, in the World Rally Championship, Sami Pajari remains in control of Rally Estonia and is closing in on the first WRC victory of his career.
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“I’ll become Britain’s best ever”: Tyson Fury’s cousin says he won’t live in his shadow ahead of pro debut
Just as the career of Tyson Fury reaches its twilight years, there is another Fury keen to burst onto the scene in James Dean Fury, who maintains that not only will he refuse to live in his cousin’s shadow, he will eclipse his legacy and become recognised as the UK’s greatest ever fighter.
The Fury name is one that is sure to stick around in the fight game long after the retirement ‘The Gypsy King’, with Hughie, Tommy and Roman all currently active in the professional scene.
Yet, a new contender is set to join that list, as three-time national amateur champion James Dean Fury prepares for his pro debut next month, where he will compete under the tutelage of uncle and world-renowned trainer Peter.
In an interview with Seconds Out, the 20-year-old spoke with eagerness when discussing his desire to carve out a legacy of his own, refusing to ride on the coattails of his two-time heavyweight world champion cousin.
“I am happy that all of my family has done well. I am happy for all of them, but this is about me now, this is the James Dean Fury show. I don’t want to live in nobody’s shadow, I don’t want to live in any of my family’s shadow. I’ll make my own way, I will do my own thing and I will create my own legacy.”
The youngster then went on to reveal lofty ambitions to become Great Britain’s best ever boxer and ‘smother himself’ in belts.
“I will be the best to come out of Great Britain. This is what is going to happen, mark my words, this is what is going to happen.”
“My main job is picking them world titles up, everyone one of them. [I want them] all around my waits, all around my shoulders and around my ribs, I want to be smothered in them and that is what is going to happen.”
Fury will debut on the undercard of Callum Simpson and Troy Williamson’s rematch on Saturday, August 8, at the First Direct Arena in Leeds.
Connections of Midnight Dynamite are keen to offer the horse an opportunity to compete for a $3 million prize purse following his dominant victory in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.
This latest black-type success, following his win in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) last month, sets him on a path towards the Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m) on August 7. A win in that race would qualify him for the prestigious $3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick, scheduled for Melbourne Cup Day.
“We’re mindful he’s had a long ‘prep’ so we’ll see how he comes through, but the initial plan is Coffs,” trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, said.
“We’d like to get him into the Big Dance if he can run a mile which, off that, it looks like he might.
“He has come to a new level this preparation. Even looking at him, I still don’t think we’ve gotten to the bottom of him. He’s going to be a better horse next preparation.
“He’s one of those Bjorn has been patient with. He’s got better and better each preparation. He’s reaping the benefits now and more to come hopefully.”
The Winter Challenge (1500m) represented Midnight Dynamite’s ($3.20 fav) fourth win from six starts this campaign. The four-year-old colt had the race under control well before the finish line, justifying his favouritism according to leading betting apps Australia.
Responding to the solid tempo set by Whinchat, he accelerated powerfully halfway up the straight to defeat his rivals by three lengths. Just Folk ($14) finished second, with General Salute ($6) a further neck behind in third.
Hilton acknowledged that the stable harboured doubts about the horse’s condition after his placing in the recent Winter Stakes (1400m), but his midweek trackwork allayed those concerns.
“Bjorn was a little bit concerned that maybe he’d come to the end of it, but his work on Tuesday was fantastic. He’s just thriving, this horse,” Hilton said.
“It was hard to even get a little bit of a cheer up there because he had them shot to pieces very early. Tommy (Berry) rode him really well, put him to sleep, and he was able to quicken up really well.”
This victory in the Winter Challenge was Baker’s second in succession, having won the event last year with Robusto.
Check out the latest betting markets for the race at betting markets for the race.
In the first 15 innings of their series with the San Francisco Giants, the Seattle Mariners had only three hits and hadn’t scored a single run. Then a man dressed as a short-spined raccoon beat four people dressed in salmon costumes during the seventh-inning stretch, and everything fell apart for the Giants in a 4-3 extra-inning loss.
The unexpected raccoon victory inspired the Mariners to a three-run rally in the 7th inning, which started when Logan Webb hit Randy Arozarena with a pitch with one out. It was only the Mariners’ third base runner of the game and their second hit batsman. Webb proceeded to issue his first walk of the game to Josh Naylor, on four pitches, before 22-year-old Cole Young hit a three-run homer to tie the game.
Yes the announcer says “unexplicably” in that clip.
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Should the Mariners be allowed to start a second baseman named Cole and a shortstop named Colt? Not if I was the commissioner, but until there’s some common sense in the league office, the home run stands. Webb was pulled one batter later when Luis Arraez committed an error, then Sam Hentges got out of the inning with one pitch when Daniel Susac threw out Luke Raley as he tried to steal second.
Why is there a hunched-over raccoon running during a baseball game? First, you have to understand that the Mariners have a race between four different varieties of salmon during the 7th inning of home games. According to the official Salmon Run page, “four unsuspecting salmon, infused with the caffeinated chemicals of a spilled triple-shot espresso, grew to monstrous size to fulfill their destiny – race for the delight of baseball fans in the Pacific Northwest.”
The biggest salmon is named King, the Sockeye is a grunge salmon who wears flannel and loves Alice In Chains, the Silver salmon is a tech nerd, and Humpy wears an inner tube and usually loses the race.
Then there’s “Jimothy,” a new addition to the race thanks to a video of a young raccoon with an unnaturally short spine went viral this week. The original videographer named the raccoon, and he entered his first Salmon Run Saturday night, much to the dismay of Webb and the Giants.
Things were looking promising before Jimothy showed up. The Giants got home runs from Rafael Devers and Willy Adames in the 6th inning, with Devers’ opposite-field blast confusing everyone on the field, including the umpiring crew, who didn’t realize the ball was pretty clearly a fair ball. Thankfully, some Giants fans in left field began signaling for an official review, and Devers followed suit.
Adames followed two batters later with his own opposite-field shot off Mariners starter Bryan Woo (6 IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, 7K, 2BB) to make it 3-0. It was Adames second homer in two games and gave the Mariners an upstream battle to catch up.
The Giants offense clocked out after the Adames homer. Their only base runners afterward came on a Heliot Ramos infield single that should have been ruled an error, a free courtesy runner, and an intentional walk to Casey Schmitt so winning pitcher Jose Ferrer (3-1) could strike out Devers in the 10th, his third whiff of the game.
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Dylan Smith (0-2) was the hard-luck loser in the 10th inning after a pretty decent performance from the Giants bullpen. Keaton Winn rescued Hentges in the 8th after Seattle got runners on first and third, hitting Arozarena again along the way. Erik Miller struck out two in a perfect 9th.
But with defensive replacement Victor Robles on second, who scored the winning run without getting an official at-bat, Colt Emerson bunted him to third. After a walk to J.P. Crawford, Rodriguez rebounded from an 0-for-4 start with two strikeouts by delivering a deep fly to left field that walked off the Giants.
It was Rodriguez’s first game back from the injured list, but he decided to wait until the most painful moment possible to get his first RBI.
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The Giants scored their first run thanks to some sloppy Mariners defense. Drew Gilbert grounded a leadoff single into right field, then Luis Arraez hit one in nearly the same place, only to have Young throw the ball away. Somehow, this was also ruled a hit, and now Arraez’s batting title will have an asterisk.
Bryce Eldridge singled to center on a play where Gilbert was going to be held at third before Raley bobbled the ball, giving the Giants their first run and depriving the rookie of an RBI. They couldn’t capitalize further when Schmitt popped out and Devers swung through a 98 MPH fastball.
The Giants broke their three-game win streak, which ties for their longest of the season. Three games! It’s the first time in franchise history that they’ve played 98 games without putting four wins together in a row, going 0-for-6 in their attempts at extending a three-game win streak. This also means that they will become, at the very least, the first Giants team to go 101 games without a four-game winning streak as well.
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The raccoon shook the Giants because they recognized themselves in Jimothy. They’re a desperate, malformed beast of a team, a squad that’s constantly sniffing around in dumpsters, trying to scrounge up a way to save their season. Once, they had Kung Fu Panda. Now, the Giants are simply trash pandas.
Messi’s Argentina faces Spain in World Cup Final
Sports analyst Dan Dakich previews the FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and Spain, highlighting Lionel Messi’s leadership. Dakich predicts Argentina will win, praising Messi’s consistent greatness. The discussion then shifts to WNBA star Caitlin Clark, whom NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called a ‘political football’ amid physical play controversies. Dakich attributes some issues to WNBA players’ jealousy and envy.
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And just like that, it all comes down to Spain and Argentina.
The two soccer powerhouses will look to etch their names in the history books and become World Cup champions when they play at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FOX.
For Argentina, they have the opportunity to become the first back-to-back World Cup winner since Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962, and just the third country to win back-to-back titles overall. Italy first won consecutive World Cups in 1934 and 1938.
(Left) Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) reacts during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 15, 2026. (Right) Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) reacts during warm-up ahead of the World Cup Round of 16 soccer match between Portugal and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, on July 6, 2026. (Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo; Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo)
However, for a long time in Argentina’s semifinal matchup against England, it did not look like they were going to have a chance to make history. The Three Lions held Argentina off the scoresheet for 85 minutes, but Lionel Messi sparked another electrifying come-from-behind win.
Anthony Gordon got the scoring started when he buried a cross from Morgan Rogers to put England on the board first in the 55th minute with an acrobatic finish. Harry Kane sparked the counter with a long pass that left the Argentina defense flummoxed for the first time all game.
However, that would end up being the lone true scoring opportunity of the game for the Three Lions. After England got on the board, Argentina’s pressure was relentless, but England was able to stave off the Argentine attack for about 30 minutes.
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Enzo Fernandez of Argentina celebrates his goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
They finally broke through when Messi set up Enzo Fernandez just outside of the penalty box, and the 25-year-old hooked a shot around England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into the back of the net to knot it at 1-1.
Lautaro Martinez then played the hero as he came off the bench and into Argentine soccer lore by scoring the winning goal in stoppage. In the 92nd minute, Messi recorded his second assist after he gathered a loose ball and played a beautiful pass into the penalty area, where Martinez was waiting unmarked. Martinez headed the ball past Pickford to send the Argentine fans into a frenzy as they completed the comeback.
It was not the first remarkable comeback of Argentina’s run to the title game. In the Round of 16, they scored three goals in 13 minutes to erase a 2-0 second-half deficit against Egypt to keep their World Cup hopes alive .
How to watch France vs Spain: Live stream the 2026 FIFA World Cup Semifinals
For Spain, their run have not been quite as dramatic, but it still has been remarkably dominant.
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Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain celebrates after converting a penalty to score his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Lars Baron/Getty Images)
They have shut out their opponents in six of their seven matches, and has allowed just one goal all tournament. Belgium was the lone country to break through against Spain , but the Spaniards beat Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Against France in the semifinal, Spain capitalized on an early mistake and never looked back.
Veteran French defender Lucas Digne misread the ball and challenged a ball on a cross, but kicked Lamine Yamal instead, committing a foul and giving Spain a penalty kick in the 22nd minute.
Mikel Oyarzabal stepped up for Spain and buried the penalty kick, giving the Spaniards a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Pedro Porro doubled the lead for Spain in the 58th minute, when he broke through the French defense and found the back of net after beating France goalkeeper Mike Maignan on a crisp pass from Dani Olmo.
The French desperately tried to get back into the game, but the Spanish defense was too sound for them to break through , and held on for the win.
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Pedro Porro of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match between France and Spain at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 14, 2026. (David Ramos/Getty Images)
When: Sunday, July 19, 2026
Where: New York/New Jersey Stadium , East Rutherford, New Jersey
TV: FOX
Stream: Watch on FOX One and FOX Sports
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