Sports
Vancouver Canadians win Northwest League Championship
The Vancouver Canadians have capped the season with a championship.
The Toronto Blue Jays‘ high-A affiliate captured the Northwest League title on Friday with a 9-8 win in 12 innings over the Eugene Emeralds to sweep the best-of-five series.
Catcher Ryan Sprock drove in shortstop JoJo Parker for the winning run in the top of the 12th. Right-hander Jack Eshleman closed the game out by pitching the final four innings to get the win.
The victory came after the Canadians scored once in the eighth and three times in the ninth, including a two-run home run from right-fielder David Calabrese, to erase a 7-3 hole and force extra innings. Left fielder Austin Smith also homered in the game.
The team features four players who are on the Blue Jays’ top 30 prospects list, according to MLB Pipeline: Parker (No. 1), left-hander Dasan Hill (No. 8), shortstop Ty Southisene (No. 19) and outfielder Jake Casey (No. 25).
The Canadians went 64-68 during the regular season, but surged in the second half with a record of 37-29 to reach the championship series against Eugene.
The win marked Vancouver’s first championship since 2023 and its sixth overall.
The Cleveland Guardians are surging while their playoff rivals are falling away.
The Guardians defeated the Minnesota Twins for their third win in five games. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox all extended their losing streaks.
With the win, the Guardians moved to within half a game of the White Sox for the AL Central lead, and two games clear of all challengers in the wild-card race.
The Baltimore Orioles, who beat the Blue Jays, were the only other team in the hunt for a spot to win on Friday.
Here is how the American League standings look after Friday’s games:
New York Yankees: vs. NY Mets, 1:35 p.m.
Toronto: vs. Baltimore, 3:07 p.m., Sportsnet, Sportsnet+
Cleveland: at Minnesota, 4:10 p.m., Sportsnet+
Boston: vs. Kansas City, 4:10 p.m.
Houston: at Rays, 6:10 p.m.
Chicago White Sox: at St. Louis, 7:15 p.m.
Texas: vs. Arizona, 8:10 p.m., Sportsnet, Sportsnet+
TORONTO — Dylan Beavers hit his first career leadoff home run, Coby Mayo added a solo blast and Baltimore beat Toronto in the opener of a series between AL wild-card contenders.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand had three hits and Beavers had three RBIs as the Orioles won for the third time in four games after losing the previous six. Baltimore is 3-7 in September.
Toronto rookie Brett Bateman had three hits, including his first career home run, a two-run blast off Alex Hoppe in the ninth.
Rico Garcia retired Alejandro Kirk on a fielder’s choice to end it for his eighth save in 14 chances.
The Blue Jays came in one game behind Cleveland for the final wild-card spot. Baltimore entered three games back.
Chris Bassitt (7-5) struck out five in five-plus innings to beat his former team. Bassitt allowed two runs and six hits.
Beavers homered on Max Scherzer’s second pitch of the game, his seventh.
Scherzer (2-8) allowed six runs and a season-high seven hits in five innings.
MINNEAPOLIS — Angel Martínez hit a two-run homer and his double in the ninth inning keyed the game-winning rally as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Minnesota Twins 5-2 on Friday night.
The Guardians moved two games ahead of Toronto in the race for the AL’s third wild-card spot.
Martínez gave the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the seventh with his 15th homer of the season.
After the Twins tied it on Kalen Culpepper’s RBI single in the seventh, Martínez hit a one-out double off Yoendrys Gómez (2-3) that moved Travis Bazzana to third. Bazzana scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Gómez and Brayan Rocchio brought home two more with a double.
Hunter Gaddis (4-3) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Cade Smith retired the side in the ninth for his 36th save.
Twins starter Taj Bradley gave up one hit and four walks while striking out six in six scoreless innings.
Parker Messick held the Twins to three hits and one run with two walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
NEW YORK — Cody Bellinger hit a three-run homer in the second inning off rookie Nolan McLean, and the New York Yankees beat the New York Mets 6-4 on Friday night.
Ben Rice also homered as the Yankees won for the 17th time in 24 games and moved a season-high 23 games over .500 on a night the team remembered the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Rookie Spencer Jones added an RBI single in the first inning and Ryan McMahon hit an RBI single in the eighth as the Yankees remained three games behind Tampa Bay in the AL East and moved 5 1/2 ahead of Boston for the first American League wild card.
Carlos Rodón (6-3) allowed two runs and three hits in a season-high 6 1/3 innings. The left-hander notched two of his eight strikeouts on slugger Juan Soto, who heard boos from Yankee fans before each at-bat.
Bellinger homered after catching the ceremonial first pitch from Brielle Saracini, whose father Victor Saracini was the pilot on United Airlines Flight 175, which was flown into the South Tower of the World Trade Center.
Bellinger gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead by hitting a full-count curveball off McLean (11-9) into the right field seats. Rice added his 37th homer by sending a sinker the opposite way into the left field seats on the first pitch of the fifth.
After scoring 31 runs in a three-game sweep at Miami, the Mets had their four-game winning streak stopped. Christopher Morel hit a tying RBI groundout in the second, A.J. Ewing had an RBI single in the seventh and homered on the first pitch of the ninth.
DIAMONDBACKS 9, RANGERS 1
PHOENIX — Ketel Marte had two doubles and three RBIs to please the Chase Field crowd, Corbin Carroll added a two-run homer and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Texas Rangers 9-1 on Friday night.
Marte’s performance came less than two weeks after he was booed by the home fans Aug. 31 in his return from the injured list. The three-time All-Star missed 13 games after an unexpected no-show before a game in Boston, leading to days of confusion about his health and frame of mind.
The veteran second baseman eventually apologized for how he handled the situation. He received mostly cheers before Friday’s game and the crowd roared in approval after his two doubles.
It was a much-needed breakout from Arizona’s offence, which was averaging less than three runs per game so far in September. The D-backs are locked in a tight battle with the San Diego Padres for the final National League wild card.
The D-backs scored four runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth to take a 9-1 lead. Marte had a two-run double in the fourth while Carroll and Arenado had back-to-back homers in the sixth.
It was Carroll’s 20th home run of the season and the fourth straight season he’s gone deep at least 20 times.
ST. LOUIS — Rookies Joshua Báez and Leo Bernal each had three hits and drove in two runs, and the St. Louis Cardinals overcame a pair of home runs by Chase Meidroth to beat the Chicago White Sox 7-3 on Friday night.
Chicago lost its fourth straight game and had its AL Central lead trimmed to one half game over Cleveland, which beat Minnesota 5-2. The White Sox have lost four in a row and nine of their last 12 games.
The heart of the Cardinals’ lineup combined to go 10 for 16 with six RBIs and six runs scored. Alec Burleson added an RBI single and an RBI double, and Jordan Walker singled, doubled and scored twice.
Anthony Kay (9-9) fell to 0-4 in his last six starts for Chicago. He lasted four innings, yielding three runs on five hits. The Cardinals added three more runs off of Trevor Richards in the fifth. Walker had a one-out double followed by consecutive run-scoring hits by Burleson, Báez and Bernal.
Gordon Graceffo (8-1) got the win for getting the final two outs of the fifth, including striking out pinch-hitter Tristan Peters with the bases loaded to protect a 3-2 lead. The White Sox also came up empty after loading the bases with one out in the sixth as Randal Grichuk struck out and Miguel Vargas flied out.
BOSTON — Carter Jenson had a two-run double, Salvador Perez added an RBI and Kansas City beat Boston.
It was the second straight win for the Royals, who’d lost four of their previous five. Jensen, a rookie catcher, extended his on-base streak to 15 games.
Kansas City’s Seth Lugo (7-8) pitched five innings and allowed two runs off seven hits, striking out seven to earn his first career victory in five starts against Boston. Steven Cruz pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.
Boston has lost three straight after winning five in a row.
Boston’s Sonny Gray (17-5) was pulled after six innings, yielding three runs off six hits with two walks and five strikeouts
The Royals led 3-0 before Red Sox closed the gap to 3-2 in the fifth via a solo homer by Mickey Gasper and a Wilyer Abreu RBI double off the Green Monster.
That remained the score in the eighth when Trevor Story got doubled off reliever Nate Pearson, and moved to third after Nick Sogard flied out to right. But Caleb Durbin struck out to end the threat.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Junior Caminero hit a game-ending, two-run homer in the ninth inning, and Tampa Bay clinched a playoff berth with a victory over Houston.
Caminero’s 417-foot shot to left-center off Bryan Abreu (6-4) was his 40th of the season and sparked a joyous celebration at the plate. The 23-year-old hit 45 homers in 2025, his first full year in the majors, and he joins Aaron Judge as the only active major leaguers with consecutive 40-homer seasons.
AL-best Tampa Bay became the first team in the majors to secure a playoff spot.
Bryan Baker (2-2) worked a scoreless ninth.
Victor Mesa Jr. homered in the fifth for the Rays, but that was one of only two Tampa Bay hits through eight innings.
In the ninth, Jonathan Aranda doubled off the right-field wall with one out. He was replaced by pinch-runner Jonny DeLuca, and Caminero walked it off on the next pitch.
The Astros scored in the fourth against Drew Rasmussen when Isaac Paredes doubled and came home on a grounder by Yainer Diaz.
Rasmussen worked seven innings, allowing eight hits. He struck out four and walked none.
CHICAGO — Alex Bregman hit his 25th homer and doubled among three hits, Shota Imanaga tossed six effective innings and Chicago pounded Pittsburgh to end a four-game slide.
Seiya Suzuki had three hits, including a wind-blown triple, scored three runs and drove in one as the Cubs finished with 16 hits against three Pittsburgh pitchers and ended the Pirates’ four-game winning streak. Chicago remains well behind NL Central-leading Milwaukee but is in position for a wild card.
Michael Busch doubled and had three RBIs, and Carson Kelly doubled in a pair of runs. All of Chicago’s starters had at least one hit, and five finished with two or more.
Bregman went deep in the fourth inning, a two-run shot off Khristian Curtis that made it 9-1.
Imanaga (10-10) allowed two runs on five hits in a second straight solid start and win. The left-hander struck out four and walked two.
Bryan Reynolds hit a solo shot for Pittsburgh, which came in having won 9 of 11 to climb back above .500. Rookie Konnor Griffin tripled among two hits.
DETROIT — Riley Greene had three hits, Dillon Dingler homered and Detroit beat Colorado.
The Tigers have won three of four after a 5-17 skid that dropped them out of the American League wild-card race.
Colorado has lost eight straight road games, scoring just 17 runs during the streak.
Framber Valdez (10-10) picked up the win, allowing one unearned run on six hits and two walks in six innings. Valdez has won each of his last two starts, allowing zero earned runs in 13 innings. Kenley Jansen got the last out for his 19th save.
Rockies starter Mason Adams allowed one run on two hits and three walks in five innings, but the bullpen gave up four runs in the sixth.
Rookie Max Clark tied it for Detroit in the sixth with his third career homer.
WASHINGTON — Jorbit Vivas hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the eighth inning to lift Washington to a victory over Los Angeles that snapped its seven-game losing streak.
The Angels led 2-1 before pinch-hitter Andrew Pinckney tied it with a sacrifice fly off Samy Natera Jr. (1-2) in the eighth. Then Vivas hit a fly ball that dropped into the corner in right field to make it 4-2.
Clayton Beeter (6-5) won in relief, and Erik Tolman worked the ninth for his second save. Tolman allowed an RBI double by Christian Moore that very nearly cleared the wall in right-center for a tying homer, but it stayed in the park and the left-hander retired pinch-hitter Kyren Paris on a flyball to end it.
Mike Trout homered for the first time in over a month for Los Angeles.
Trout hadn’t gone deep since Aug. 10 against Texas, but after 27 consecutive homerless games, he connected off Cade Cavalli in the first inning to put the Angels up 1-0.
After a pair of walks in the fourth put men on first and second, James Wood delivered a two-out single that tied the game at 1.
It stayed that way until the seventh, when Cavalli walked the first two hitters and Moore followed with an RBI single to left, chasing the Washington starter. Cavalli allowed two runs, three hits and two walks in six-plus innings, striking out nine.
MIAMI — Kyle Tucker hit his sixth career grand slam and fell a double shy of the cycle as Los Angeles beat Miami to stretch their season-best winning streak to eight games.
Tucker connected on a 1-1 sweeper from reliever Cade Gibson for a 6-1 lead in the seventh. He singled in the first and tripled in the sixth.
Max Muncy had three hits and a walk and Will Smith added a run-scoring single for the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Blake Snell (4-1) allowed one run and struck out eight while scattering four hits over 5 2/3 innings.
MILWAUKEE — Garrett Mitchell hit Milwaukee’s first grand slam of the season, one of four homers in a rout of Cincinnati that clinched a playoff spot for the majors’ best team.
William Contreras, Bryce Turang and Jake Bauers also went deep for the Brewers, who have a commanding lead in the NL Central but for now are assured of at least a wild-card spot. They lead second-place Chicago by 10 games in the division, and their magic number to clinch that title is four.
Dustin May (7-9) and Garrett Stallings combined on a two-hitter while Milwaukee pounded out a season-high 23 hits. May worked six innings, giving up two singles to standout Reds rookie Sal Stewart in his seventh start for the Brewers. He was acquired from St. Louis at the trade deadline.
Stallings got the last nine outs for his first save.
BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 5, 11 INNINGS
ATLANTA — Drake Baldwin doubled to center field in the 11th inning to score Ha-Seong Kim from first base and Atlanta beat Philadelphia in the opening game of a key NL East series.
The first-place Braves extended their lead over the Phillies to five games. The teams split a four-game series in Philadelphia that began last Friday.
Luis Arraez’s single to left field off Didier Fuentes (7-2) in the 11th drove in designated runner Garrett Stubbs to give Philadelphia a 5-4 lead. Kim’s single off Brooks Raley (5-6) in the bottom of the inning drove in Ozzie Albies to tie it. Baldwin followed with the winning double.
Phillies right-hander Jonathan Bowlan blew a 3-2 lead in the ninth. Bowlan gave up a one-out single to Mike Yastrzemski. Pinch-runner DaShawn Keirsey Jr., who was recalled before the game, scored from first on Sean Murphy’s single up the middle and center fielder Derek Hill’s fielding error.
Aaron Nola gave up homers to Matt Olson in the first and Austin Riley in the seventh. Braves left-hander Chris Sale allowed three runs on only three hits in seven innings but struggled with two outs in the second. Edmundo Sosa singled before Sale walked Bryan De La Cruz and hit J.T. Realmuto with a pitch to load the bases. Derek Hill doubled off the center-field wall to drive in three runs.
ATHLETICS 6, MARINERS 5, 10 INNINGS
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Donovan Walton hit a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th inning to give the Athletics a 6-5 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
Lawrence Butler had three hits, including a two-run home run in the third inning and a double in the ninth for the Athletics. Jeff McNeil reached base three times, had two hits, an RBI, and scored twice.
Julio Rodríguez’s RBI single in the 10th inning gave the Mariners a 5-4 lead before Walton ended the game with his homer off Eduard Bazardo (3-4).
Behind by two runs, Seattle’s Josh Naylor reached first base on a fielding error by reliever Scott Blewett in the sixth inning. On the next at-bat, pinch-hitter Lázaro Montes sent a 430-foot shot over the right-center wall to tie the game 4-all.
Butler, hitless in his last 16 plate appearances, hit a two-run home run on a full count in the third inning to give the A’s a 4-2 lead.
SAN FRANCISCO — Former Giants pitcher Robbie Ray threw five innings for his 100th career victory and the San Diego Padres extended their winning streak to five games with a 7-5 decision over San Francisco on Friday night.
Mason Miller struck out Bryce Eldridge looking with the bases loaded to end the game. Miller earned his 35th save as San Diego maintained a half-game lead over Arizona for the final NL wild-card spot. The Diamondbacks routed Texas 9-1.
San Francisco dealt the 34-year-old Ray (12-8) to San Diego for two minor leaguers at the trade deadline Aug. 3. On Friday, the left-hander gave up five runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked four and improved to 100-89 in his 13-season career.
The Giants had won their previous three games. They remained the only team in the majors without a four-game winning streak this season.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Barcelona winger Raphinha and Paris Saint-Germain veteran Marquinhos headline Brazil’s 26-member squad for their historic first-ever meeting with India on October 3.
The Selecao will face India at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata at 7.30 pm local time, in what will be a landmark fixture for Indian football.
The match is scheduled after Brazil’s two-game Australia tour, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side facing the hosts in Townsville on September 25 and Brisbane on September 29.
Ancelotti named his first squad since the 2026 World Cup at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday before addressing the media.
Vinicius, Raphinha and Marquinhos form the experienced core of the squad, with Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes also retaining their places.
The much-anticipated game promises to be a grand spectacle for football-crazy Kolkata, with Brazil bringing three 2026 Ballon d’Or nominees in Vinicius, Marquinhos and Gabriel for their historic first meeting with India.
Brazil’s rebuild ========= Ancelotti has called up several players who will also be eligible for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while Marquinhos, who captained Brazil at the 2026 World Cup, remains the most experienced member of the squad. The five-time champions were eliminated by Norway in the round of 16.
“We have to make a balanced list, with players who played in the last campaign and young players who can bring new energy to the team. The idea is to build something for the future without losing our competitiveness,” said Ancelotti.
The most striking changes are likely to come at the back as Brazil have left out their World Cup goalkeeping trio of Alisson, Ederson and Weverton, with Corinthians’ Hugo Souza taking over as the first-choice goalkeeper.
Coritiba’s Pedro Morisco and Cruzeiro’s Otavio have been named as his back-ups.
The defence has also been rejigged, with Arthur Dias, Jair, Matheuzinhoand Mauro Junior included alongside more established players such as Marquinhos and Magalhaes.
The Brazil coach said the changes are part of a longer-term plan to build a side capable of competing at the 2030 World Cup, while maintaining the quality expected of the national team.
“We are looking at young players with potential. We are working together with the youth teams because we want to know which players can help the national team in the future. We have to give them the opportunity when they are ready,” he said.
The squad has six players aged 20 or younger, while eight players are in line to make their senior international debuts.
The debutants are goalkeepers Pedro Morisco and Otavio, defenders Arthur Dias and Jair, full-backs Matheuzinho and Mauro Junior, and midfielders Breno Bidon of Corinthians and Gabriel Bontempo of Santos.
Ten players in the squad play club football in Brazil, underlining Ancelotti’s emphasis on current form and physical condition.
“We are watching players everywhere. It is not important where they play. What is important is their condition, their quality and what they can give to the national team,” Ancelotti said.
The Australia and India fixtures are non-competitive, but Ancelotti sees the FIFA international windows as crucial to developing the team before the 2028 World Cup.
“We have four years, so we have time to work. We have to be patient and use the FIFA windows well. We don’t have much time together, but we have enough time to prepare a team with a clear idea and a strong collective.” The Copa America in two years’ time will be Brazil’s next major competitive target, and Ancelotti’s rebuild appears to be towards having a new-look side ready for that tournament.
Squad ==== Goalkeepers: Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), Otavio (Cruzeiro).
Defenders: Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Jair (Nottingham Forest), Marquinhos (PSG), Matheuzinho (Corinthians), Mauro Junior (PSV Eindhoven), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), Wesley (Rome).
Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Breno Bidon (Corinthians), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Douglas Luiz (Juventus), Gabriel Bontempo (Santos).
Forwards: Endrick (Real Madrid), Stephen (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Samuel Lino (Flamengo), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid).
Shooting Stars have stepped up preparations for their CAF Confederation Cup second-leg clash against Tunisian side CS Sfaxien with a beach recovery session in Tunisia.
The Oluyole Warriors arrived in Tunisia ahead of the important match after travelling from Nigeria, with the team using the beach session to help the players recover and get ready for the challenge ahead.
Shooting Stars hold a 1-0 advantage from the first leg played in Nigeria and will need to protect their lead in Tunisia to progress to the next stage of the competition.
The team is staying in Sousse and is expected to travel to Sfax as part of its plan to keep the players focused and away from unnecessary distractions before the match.
The Nigerian club had earlier raised concerns over training arrangements after CS Sfaxien reportedly offered them an artificial pitch instead of a natural grass surface for their pre-match training.
Shooting Stars Director of Football, Tobi Adepoju, said the club had requested a natural grass pitch and was willing to pay for its use.
“We asked for a grass pitch as an option to train in Sfax, and we offered to pay,” Adepoju said.
He added that the Nigerian side expected better cooperation, especially after CS Sfaxien were allowed to train at the match venue during the first leg in Abeokuta.
Despite the challenges, Shooting Stars have continued their preparations as they look ahead to what promises to be a tough return leg.
With a narrow first-leg lead to protect, the Oluyole Warriors know they must be ready for the challenge in Sfax and give everything to secure qualification.
Inspired by the Japanese but equally wary of the challenge they will pose, India’s Commonwealth Games gold-winning judoka Asmita Dey says she is trying to sharpen her holds, pins and submission techniques to present a strong challenge at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Dey said she has spent considerable time trying to ace the three aspects of ground fighting as the Asian Games will be a significantly tougher test than the CWG in Glasgow, where she became the first Indian judoka to win a gold.
“The Asian Games, as compared to the Commonwealth Games, will be very tough for me because at the Asian Games we have some of the world’s best from rankings 7-14 competing there,” the 23-year-old Dey told PTI Videos as she looked forward to her maiden appearance at the Asian Games beginning September 19.
“Our master in Judo is Japan, so Japanese judokas are also there, so it is tough for me. I need to work on my Ne-Waza because if I am in the final, my opponent will most likely be Japanese.
“So a Japanese opponent will be tough for me even if I go toe-to-toe with them while standing. Their Ne-Waza is very strong,” she said.
Ne-waza refers to the phase of a judo bout fought on the ground, where athletes attempt to control their opponents through Osaekomi-Waza, or holding and pinning techniques, while also looking for opportunities to finish the contest with submission techniques.
Dey is drawing inspiration from one of Japan’s biggest judo stars, Uta Abe, whose technique and style have particularly impressed the Indian.
Abe, 26, is the reigning world champion in the women’s -52kg category and a five-time world champion.
She won her fifth world title at the 2025 World Judo Championships and is also the Tokyo Olympics gold-medallist in the same weight category. She has remained at the top level in 2026, winning the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam in June.
“I take a lot of inspiration from Uta Abe. I really like her a lot as a judoka. She is an Olympic champion and multiple-time World Champion as well for a long time, and her brother is also a judoka, so I like her technique a lot and her style of game,” Dey said.
Abe’s success has also made her one of the most recognisable faces of Japanese judo.
She and her elder brother Hifumi Abe won Olympic gold on the same day at the Tokyo Games, becoming the first siblings in the world to achieve such a feat.
For Dey, however, it is Abe’s technical prowess that stands out.
“Whenever she is able to get hold of the hand grip, she is able to execute Sode and Uchi-mata so that’s something I am very impressed by,” she said.
Uchi-mata is an inner-thigh throwing technique, while sode-based throws use the opponent’s sleeve grip to help execute the attack.
Dey’s Commonwealth Games triumph has given her a significant confidence boost, although she admitted that extensive travel following the Glasgow Games has disrupted her training rhythm.
“Winning the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games has given my confidence a huge boost but I have travelled a lot as well which has disturbed my training a bit. But I am trying to get back to my training and rhythm,” she said.
“I will try my level best with my training and hard work and win a medal for my country at Asian Games as well,” Dey said.
Eight matches played. Four points for the United States. Four points for the Europeans. If there’s anything we learned after Friday’s first-day play at the Solheim Cup, it’s that the next two days should be good at Bernardus Golf course in the Netherlands.
The biggest drama on Friday was saved for the very end.
Solheim Cup Saturday preview
On the par-4 18, the European duo of Carlota Ciganda and Julia Lopez Ramirez and Americans Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin were all square in their four-ball match — and Ciganda’s clubface on the tee wasn’t square. She went right. On her second shot, she played up the adjacent first hole. From right of the green with her third shot, she pitched to 10 feet. Ahead of her, the Americans were in with a par, and Lopez Ramirez bogeyed.
Then came Friday’s final stroke.
Ciganda made her par putt.
Each side won a half-point. And the Europeans and the Americans will enter Saturday knotted at 4.
“I love this week,” Ciganda said on Golf Channel afterward. “I just love playing for the team, for my teammates. Anna [captain Anna Nordqvist] is a good friend of mine, so I just want to win for her. So I’ve been playing alongside Julia, my good Spanish friend. It’s been amazing.
“We had a tough match against Nelly and Lauren, very consistent, but we fought hard and at least we got half a point, which I think is really important.”
2026 Solheim Cup TV schedule
TV coverage of the 2026 Solheim Cup will be provided by Golf Channel.
Here’s the full Solheim Cup TV schedule for the weekend:
Saturday, Sept. 12: 1:30 a.m.-1 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
Sunday, Sept. 13: 5 a.m.-12 p.m. ET (Golf Channel)
2026 Solheim Cup streaming schedule
You can watch streaming coverage of the 2026 Solheim Cup via Golfchannel.com and the Golf Channel app, including live simulcasts of Golf Channel’s coverage starting at 1:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and 5 a.m. ET on Sunday.
2026 Solheim Cup Saturday matchups, tee times (ET)
Foursomes (alternate shot)
1:40 a.m. – Allisen Corpuz and Nelly Korda (USA) vs. Maja Stark and Linn Grant (Europe)
1:52 a.m. – Jennifer Kupcho and Rose Zhang (USA) vs. Leona Maguire and Esther Henseleit (Europe)
2:04 a.m. – Andrea Lee and Auston Kim (USA) vs. Mimi Rhodes and Nastasia Nadaud (Europe)
2:16 a.m. – Alison Lee and Lauren Coughlin (USA) vs. Charley Hull and Lottie Woad (Europe)
Four-ball (best ball)
TBD
“>
Will history repeat itself in Saturday’s Ohio State-Texas battle or will the Longhorns find a way to win?
And which team will kick off the weekend with a spotless record after the Missouri-Kansas tilt?
Here are the five must-watch college football games for Week 2.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.
Friday, Sept. 11
Spread: Missouri -5.5
Moneyline: Missouri -218; Kansas +180
O/U: 51.5
What To Know: Missouri rolled to an easy straight up (SU) win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Week 1. However, the Tigers failed to cover the 54.5-point spread, as the final score was Mizzou 54, Pine Bluff 14. This week, Missouri faces a tougher opponent in Kansas. Unlike the Tigers, the Jayhawks covered the 41-point spread set in their game by defeating Long Island University 51-6. When these two squads faced off last season at Missouri, the Tigers won 42-31. “The Tigers have the better quarterback, and their run game is still rather awesome even without Ahmad Hardy in the backfield,” FOX Sports college football writer RJ Young explained about his Mizzou-over-Kansas pick.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Spread: Oregon -23.5
Moneyline: Oregon -2100; OSU +1100
O/U: 57.5
What To Know: Oregon got a scare last week when Boise State kept it close well into the fourth quarter. The Ducks ended up getting the 34-27 win but did not cover the 24.5-point spread. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, lost to Tulsa in Week 1 24-10. While the Cowboys controlled possession for more minutes, they had four turnovers and six penalties for 59 yards. In 2025, Oregon won easily when they faced each other, defeating Oklahoma State 69-3. “The Ducks had their “wake-up call” last week vs. Boise State,” FOX Sports college football and soccer writer Laken Litman noted, “but Dan Lanning will have his team ready to go.”
Dante Moore and the Ducks struggled in Week 1. Was it a wake-up call? (Getty Images)
Spread: Oklahoma -5.5
Moneyline: Oklahoma -218; Michigan +180
O/U: 43.5
What To Know: It took a wing and a prayer, two Hail Marys and a controversial extra second on the clock for Michigan to get past Western Michigan in Week 1. But the football gods sided with the Wolverines and they narrowly escaped 13-12. The loss dropped them from No. 16 to completely out of the Top 25. Will Michigan bounce back in Week 2? FOX Sports betting analyst Will Hill believes UM will at least cover. “The Wolverines still appear to have a very solid defense,” he wrote. “They should be able to adopt an “Us vs. The World” mentality — especially as a home ‘dog.”
Spread: Tennessee -12.5
Moneyline: Tennessee -470; Georgia Tech +360
O/U: 55.5
What To Know: Georgia Tech’s 2026 got off to an unexpected start as the Yellow Jackets got upset by Colorado in Atlanta. Now Tech hosts double-digit-favorite Tennessee. It’s been nine years since these two played one another, and that ended in a double-overtime win for Rocky Top. In Tech’s loss last week, the Jackets put up 288 total yards of offense. The Vols put up 638 against Furman in their Week 1 victory.
Spread: Texas -1.5
Moneyline: Texas -122; Ohio State +102
O/U: 49.5
What To Know: Both these teams are near the top of the national championship oddsboard and both have players near the top of the Heisman board as well. So which title contender comes out of Week 2 unscathed? RJ Young picked Ohio State, noting that wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is a “cheat code.” For added context, in last year’s battle, the Buckeyes got the 14-7 win on their own home turf.
Ben Shelton stands one win from achieving the American dream after booking his place in Sunday’s US Open final against Alexander Zverev.
The 23-year-old from Florida beat compatriot Frances Tiafoe on a poignant day when New York remembered the September 11 terror attacks, 25 years on.
Eighth seed Shelton will bid to become the first man from the US to lift the trophy – or win any grand slam title for that matter – since Andy Roddick triumphed here in 2003.
He said: “First, ‘Foe’ is like a big brother to me. This is where we want to be, at the tail end of this tournament.
“I know what my goal is, what my job is. I’m going for it here. Let’s do this for the USA!
“One more thing. It’s a difficult day to be out here playing. My thoughts and prayers go to all the families who were impacted by 9/11.”
Tiafoe, known as ‘Big Foe’, played his part in the Big Apple, but ultimately came up short after four hard-fought sets.
He was the aggressor in the first set and the pressure told when he brought up break point at 4-4 and Shelton promptly double-faulted.
The gloves were off at the start of the second, Shelton breaking to love and Tiafoe hitting straight back to 15.
A 78mph backhand winner brought Shelton – showing no ill-effects from the 3.33am Wednesday morning finish when he knocked out defending champion Carlos Alcaraz – another break point to level the match.
A cross-court backhand winner secured Shelton a break in the third to put him ahead for the first time.
He struck again at the end of the fourth to wrap up an emotional 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-5 win and reach his first grand slam final.
Top seed Zverev, into a third successive major final after winning the French Open and finishing runner-up at Wimbledon, had said “hopefully I cannot make the American dream come true” after beating Karen Khachanov.
The German is going to face a partisan crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium, one that already made its feelings clear when he was given a time violation for his incessant bouncing of the ball before serving.
Khachanov, the Russian world number 50 who lost 6-3 7-6 (7) 7-6 (6) in just under three hours, said: “I mean, the way he bounces the ball, look, it annoys not only me, of course, a lot of players, because it takes so much time.
“You don’t know how to prepare for the serve. You are, like, ready, and then it’s another 12 bounces, you know, so you again do a split step. Every point is like that.
“At the end of the day, if it’s within the rules with the time between points, I cannot say anything against that. If he extends the time, then he gets a time violation, so it’s as simple as that.”
Zverev insisted it is not a deliberate ploy. He said: “I have no idea why. I’m not doing it on purpose.
“I saw a stat, like, I’d bounced it 12,000 times or something like that. That’s quite funny.”
Sports
US Open 2026 results: Ben Shelton beats Frances Tiafoe to set up final against Alexander Zverev
In the evening session, with a star-studded crowd watching on, it was over to Shelton and Tiafoe to provide the entertainment – and they did not disappoint.
The pair combined for 74 winners, with 47 coming from the racquet of Shelton, who also sent down 20 aces as he backed up a stunning quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz with another memorable showing.
He won 77% points behind his first serve, while successfully targeting the second serve of Tiafoe, winning 62% of points when he opponent failed to land a first serve.
Shelton signalled his intent with an ace hammered down the T to start the match as the pair went at each other from the outset.
While an early break-point chance passed Tiafoe by, the 11th seed continued to threaten the Shelton serve and, aided by a double fault, broke for 5-4 before serving out the set.
Shelton wasted no time in mounting his comeback in the second, though, as he lasered a forehand down the line to break to love for a 2-0 lead.
Although Tiafoe broke back immediately, Shelton remained in the ascendancy and the pressure told as he broke to lead 5-3 before seeing out the set.
The third set included a number of scintillating rallies, Tiafoe coming out on top after 31 shots back and forth to stave off a break point – only for his opponent to hit a winner at the end of a 28-shot rally to break a couple of games later.
Shelton broke again at the end of a gruelling 15-minute game to take a two-sets-to-one lead.
The chance to regroup and take a breather between sets resulted in a refreshed Tiafoe mounting an early attack in fourth, but he failed to convert two break points in the opening game, Shelton got his chance at 6-5 and brought up three match points.
Shelton netted on the first of them, but that was the last shot he played as a Tiafoe double fault gave a thrilling contest a rather tame end.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Christian Pulisic has not appeared in any of the three AC Milan games this season, and on Friday coach Ruben Amorim shared at a Friday press conference that the star forward is “upset” about that. While Pulisic has been listed as a substitute in each of the three games, he did not appear in them.
The stated reason for the lack of playing time is recovery from a bone bruise and microfracture to his right tibia, which were revealed following the United States’ exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“He is angry because he has had zero minutes so far and I like that in my players,” said Amorim, per GOAL. “Don’t forget that he had an injury in the summer and then in the first training session he took a knock and had to stop.”
Amorim has led AC Milan to two wins and a draw in the season’s early going, without any minutes from Pulisic. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/AC Milan via Getty Images)
Pulisic might not have to wait very long to finally appear in a game, however, as Amorim also shared that he is likely to play this weekend. “You will see him tomorrow, I don’t know whether from the start or during the game. I think he will play a few minutes.”
Amorim also revealed that just because Pulisic is a “name” does not mean that he gets to disrupt the current flow for AC Milan. “I will not take out those who are doing well just to put in a ‘name’: this is my way of managing the group and I will die with these principles,” Amorim told assembled media. “Pulisic is very important for me. After the international break there are eight weeks with three games a week: everyone will be tired because of how much they will play. Pulisic is important and he will play a lot of matches. But you have to understand the context and my history to understand why I make certain choices. But you will see Pulisic from this weekend onwards.”
Christian Pulisic Related Stories
Amorim took over as AC Milan’s coach before this season, replacing Massimiliano Allegri. The former player began his career managing in 2017, and is a two-time Primeira Liga manager of the year. Pulisic is in his fourth season with AC Milan, where he started in 32 and 29 games in his first two seasons, before playing in 30 games but starting just 18 in the 2025-2026 season.
WATERBURY – In his very first game as head coach of the Crosby football team, Quintin Tyson said his goal was to make people understand that the Bulldogs aren’t pushovers, and that if the team could show that then maybe it could steal a few victories along the way.
The Bulldogs accomplished both goals Friday night at Municipal Stadium’s Ray Snyder Sr. Field. They beat Waterbury Career Academy 21-0 for only Crosby’s second victory in the series that dates back 11 years when WCA began varsity football.
Advertisement
“It is very simple. I am looking to have this team compete each week and just be a tough out,” Tyson said. “Every year I just want it to be known that Crosby isn’t a walkover. So if we can go into every game and compete at a high level, I believe that will give us a chance to win some football games people don’t expect us to win.”
The game was wrought with mistakes on both sides, but the Bulldogs made the big plays when they needed them behind a trio of young skill players who all rose to the occasion.
Wide receiver Iziah Weir scored two of the team’s three touchdowns on passes of nine yards and 28 yards from quarterback Raquim Chapman, a senior making his first start at quarterback.
“(Chapman is like) Family, I love him to death,” Weir said. “Even though this is his first year, he didn’t act like it at all. We needed it, and he stepped up for real.”
Advertisement
He connected with Weir for the first score with just 1:06 left in the first half after Crosby took over at the WCA 30-yard line due to a poor snap on a punt attempt.
Ahzair Inabinett broke off a 24-yard run on the first play of the Bulldogs’ possession to put them in scoring range. Despite one of several delay of game penalties coming just after that, Weir and Chapman gave Crosby the lead on their first pass completion of the game on 4th-and-goal.
“It got us all riled up,” Weir said. “Everybody on the sidelines was cheering. The cheerleaders, the fans, all our teammates, everybody was cheering. That meant everything for us, because the momentum shifted to the second half. We needed that.”
Weir also clinched the win for Crosby with his 28-yard TD late in the fourth quarter. He finished with four catches for 60 yards.
Advertisement
“It was very exciting,” Weir said. “Everybody wanted it, but I wanted it more. That last touchdown meant everything. I really wanted it and I came down with it.”
The best receiver and overall athlete in the game may well have been WCA’s Jaiden Rousseau, but as the only starter returning for the Spartan’s from last year’s team, he couldn’t make up for the team’s youthful mistakes. He had six catches for 46 yards, three rushes for 26 yards and probably had plays negated by penalties for just as many yards.
The other Crosby touchdown was scored by Ahzair Inabinett on a 2-yard run. The sophomore who played Pop Warner last year instead of high school football, ran for 100 yards on 15 carries to allow the Bulldogs to move the sticks just enough to control the game.
Tyson said he knew that Inabinett had the talent to make a difference on this team. The sophomore was confident, as well.
Advertisement
“I felt like I came into the game prepared, me, my group and my family had been working for this moment, and I felt like today it showed,” Inabinett said. “It felt special, but it felt meant to be, because that is what I have been working for the whole preseason and since I have been playing youth. This was a show of my hard work and dedication.”
With an infusion of young skill players, Crosby beat WCA for the first time since 2017, its only other win in the series. Weir said he meant everything to get Tyson his first win, and the team was definitely locked in on that challenge.
“It meant everything: from the first snap to the last snap and pouring water on him, everybody wanted it,” Weir said. “It was everything to us.”
Player of the game
Iziah Weir, Crosby. The junior receiver scored two of the game’s touchdowns, including a spectacular 28-yard catch with 5:53 to play
Advertisement
Quotable
“It was a tough day, because 3-4 years ago, my grandmother, Willa Mae Owens, passed on this day, and I spoke to the kids about this. For my family to be here and for us to get a win like this with everyone representing, I’m at a loss for words.” – Crosby coach Quintin Tyson on winning his first game as a varsity head coach.
Crosby 21, WCA 0
CROSBY 0 7 7 7 – 21
WCA 0 0 0 0 – 0
C – Iziah Weir 9 pass from Raquim Chapman (Gabriel Ferreira kick)
C – Ahzair Inabinett 2 run (Ferreira kick)
C – Weir 28 pass from Chapman (Ferreira kick)
Records: WCA, 0-1; Crosby, 1-0.
This article originally published at Crosby football proves it’s not a pushover anymore, at least in season opening win over WCA.
Fire crews called to unattended bonfire in Yorkshire
(VIDEO) Ben Shelton Beats Frances Tiafoe to Reach First US Open Final, One Win From Historic Title Sunday
Kalshi plans 24/7 Tesla, Apple and Nvidia perps
Memory prices are slowing because buyers ran out of money
Micron Stock Climbs Above $1,031 as AI Memory Crunch and a $50 Billion Outlook Fuel the Rally
AMD Stock Climbs After Management Lifts 2027 Data Center Outlook Toward $70 Billion in AI Sales
-
Tech4 days ago
Memory prices are slowing because buyers ran out of money
-
Business2 days agoMicron Stock Climbs Above $1,031 as AI Memory Crunch and a $50 Billion Outlook Fuel the Rally
-
Business2 days agoAMD Stock Climbs After Management Lifts 2027 Data Center Outlook Toward $70 Billion in AI Sales
-
Crypto World3 days agoBitcoin price risks $76K drop as $78K support weakens
-
Crypto World4 days agoRobinhood Stock: How To Take Advantage With Reduced Risk
-
Crypto World3 days agoEthereum price stalls below $2,500 as ADX drops to 11
-
Crypto World1 day agoOKX launches 10x OpenAI, Anthropic X-Perps in Europe
-
NewsBeat4 days agoEngland up in reading, maths and science rankings as Scotland and Wales dip
-
Crypto World4 days agoIntel Stock Jumps 9% on Chip Price Hike Report, US Stake Gains $36 Billion
-
Crypto World2 days ago2 Chip Stocks Broke Out This Week. Neither Was Nvidia
-
NewsBeat3 days agoWhat went right this week: an ‘historic’ fall in violent crime, plus more
-
Crypto World2 days agoBitcoin price risks $70K if $78K neckline breaks
-
Business3 days agoMeta debuts long-awaited personal AI agent, Muse
-
Crypto World3 days agoBitcoin price holds near $79K as cycle drawdowns narrow
-
Crypto World1 day ago
Ethereum Price Analysis: Consolidation at $2.5K Tests Momentum as On-Chain Activity Surges
-
Crypto World21 hours agoDiesel Tops $6 a Gallon for the First Time as 28 States Set Records
-
Sports4 days agoPhones confiscated, players sent home: Pakistan’s England tour turmoil revives memories of Mohammad Amir, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif’s 2010 Lord’s spot-fixing scandal | Cricket News
-
Crypto World4 days agoPump Fun and Kraken delete Hunter Biden $LAPTOP promotion
-
Crypto World4 days agoBrent Crude Oil Moves Above $100 for the First Time in 3 Months
-
Entertainment2 days agoCase Sees Major Update As Jury Deliberations Begin
You must be logged in to post a comment Login