Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka made quite the impression on the NFL stage in his rookie year in 2025.
But the Ohio State product doesn’t just think it’s his purpose to help his team reach its Super Bowl goals — preaching his faith is high on his priority list as well.
Like many in the NFL, Egbuka uses his platform on the professional level to share his Christian faith, something he said he found five years ago at a point in his life where he needed it.
Emeka Egbuka of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks the field before an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 3, 2026.(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Today, if you go to his Instagram page, you’ll see his name is “Christ Follower,” and he explained to Fox News Digital how his faith drives him on and off the field.
“To put it simply, it’s such a big part of my life because of what Jesus has done in my life, and I know that he offers the same for every single person,” Egbuka said over Zoom after helping USAA with its “Huddle UP For Hurricane Prep” by building disaster kits and educating his fellow Tampa Bay citizens about hurricane safeguarding.
“He kinda met me where I was five years ago now, which seems crazy to say. I’ve been walking with Him ever since.
Five years ago, Egbuka was just a freshman at Ohio State, hoping to make an impact for the Buckeyes. As he continued to grow across three more years of college football, he ended up helping the Buckeyes win a national championship during the 2024 season.
At the same time, he said he started to find “peace” and “joy” with his faith and God, which he feels still today.
“The sense of identity that I have that I didn’t have before. There’s a lot of things in my life and a lot of ways I was battling mentally that He pulled me out of,” Egbuka explained. “That’s stuff that goes unnoticed. That’s stuff behind the curtains that people don’t see every day because we put on these masks, put on these faces [and] facades.
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Emeka Egbuka #2 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers walks off the field after defeating the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Jan. 3, 2026.(Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
“But deep down, everybody deals with stuff. It’s life. It’s tries all of us. There’s trials and tribulations that come every single day, and we can do our best to stand true and hold strong. At the end of the day, we’re human. We can only do so much to hold ourselves up when it comes to a point we make it to the end of ourselves – that’s where I was when God met me.
“Just being able to preach about Him, use my platform to spread the Gospel. Just the hope that there is in Jesus is what I feel my purpose is.”
Entering the NFL community, Egbuka noticed others like Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and many more sharing their faith as well.
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“I think it’s a blessing and privilege that we have to be able to be so open,” Egbuka added. “Obviously, it didn’t always be like that, but even nowadays in different countries, you can be murdered and killed for professing your faith and everything like that. We’re just in a society and culture that we’re able to share that openly without any hostility or backlash at us. I think it’s a huge privilege we have to be able to share our platform and use it to spread the Gospel.”
Another way Egbuka uses his platform is impacting his community like he did on Tuesday at the USAA Tampa Office, where he focused some of his offseason efforts on bringing awareness to hurricane preparation for an area susceptible to such natural disasters.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka surrounded by USAA volunteers creating hurricane disaster kits ahead of hurricane season in Florida.(USAA)
“This isn’t my first time working with USAA, so I’m glad to be partnering with them again,” he said. “Just such a great staff and everybody who works here. They’ve been so hospitable to me and my team, and obviously it hits close to home. I have a grandfather who was a Navy SEAL, father who was an active duty soldier for a while and now works at the Department of Defense as a civil engineer. Definitely been surrounded by the military my entire life.
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“Some of the disaster kits we made today, they have the whistles, the safety blankets – anything you might need when a disaster strikes. That’s what we were focused on doing today. There’s nothing we can do to prevent a hurricane from happening. Obviously, staying on top of the weather and paying attention to the alerts and everything like that. I know my house came with hurricane shutters and everything to stay on top of that. Really just trying to do our best to be proactive with it, and I think those kits we made today will go a long way.”
NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) explained on Thursday why Bengaluru was not chosen to host the IPL 2026 final, with board secretary Devajit Saikia saying the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had sought a large number of complimentary tickets beyond the allowed quota.While Dharamshala and New Chandigarh will host the other playoff matches, the final will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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James Franklin explains SRH’s bowling strategy after win over Punjab Kings
Speaking to news agency ANI, Saikia said IPL rules allow only 15 per cent of the total stadium capacity as complimentary tickets for the host association.“As per IPL protocol, we are required to provide only 15 per cent of the total seating capacity as complimentary tickets to the host association. This constitutes the standard protocol; all host state associations receive a 15 per cent allocation of their total capacity in the form of complimentary tickets,” Saikia said.He added that the BCCI received reports that KSCA had been asking for far more tickets during IPL league matches.“However, we received information from various sources indicating that during the hosting of IPL league matches, the Karnataka State Association was claiming a significantly higher number of complimentary tickets far exceeding the stipulated 15 per cent,” Saikia said.According to Saikia, the BCCI then wrote to KSCA seeking details. He said the board was surprised by the reply received on May 2.“Consequently, we sent them an email requesting precise details regarding this matter. We were shocked when we received a response via email from the Karnataka State Cricket Association on May 2nd; in that email, they stated that, over and above the 15 per cent complimentary ticket quota, they would require an additional, substantial allocation of tickets for their members, affiliated clubs, and various others,” Saikia said.“Most surprisingly, they also requested tickets for their local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Members of the Legislative Council. And also to the government of Karnataka, 700 complimentary tickets. Thus, over and above the 15 per cent allocation, they were demanding approximately 10,000 additional tickets,” he added.In March, Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar had announced that each MLA would get three free tickets for IPL matches, while two complimentary tickets would be given for international matches, with an option to buy two more. The announcement came after discussions with KSCA representatives.The issue had also been raised by legislators in the Karnataka Assembly, who complained about ticket and seating arrangements at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Following that, Assembly speaker U T Khader had asked the government to ensure that every MLA receives four VIP tickets during matches at the venue.
Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to complete a famous double, with the title race against Manchester City heading towards the final day, too.
Uefa has switched the kick-off time for this year’s final, however, with the game kicking off at 5pm BST on 30 May.
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That is three hours earlier than previous years, when the match kicked off at 8pm BST, with Uefa detailing their reasons for the move.
“The decision is designed to enhance the overall matchday experience for fans, teams and host cities by optimising matchday logistics and operations, while delivering several tangible benefits,” read a Uefa statement. “Our goal is to make match day a truly enjoyable experience for everyone who wants to be part of the excitement, while creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for families and children to attend the biggest and most important club football match of the season.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, catches the ball as Luis Enrique, Head Coach of Paris Saint-Germain (Getty)
“For travelling supporters, it will mean improved access to public transport – especially after the match – and a safer, more convenient journey back from the stadium. For the host cities, it will boost the positive economic impact of the event by giving fans the possibility to continue their celebrations.
“The new kick-off time also aligns with a more accessible broadcasting window, helping the final reach an even broader television and digital audience worldwide, with a particular focus on engaging younger viewers.”
While Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin added that the change would allow fans to enjoy the rest of their evening and debrief on the match and season overall for their teams.
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He added: “With this change, we are placing the fans’ experience at the heart of our planning. The UEFA Champions League final is the highlight of the football season, and the new kick-off time will make it even more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for everyone involved.
(Adam Davy/PA Wire)
“While a 21:00 CET kick-off is well suited for midweek matches, an earlier kick-off on a Saturday for the final means an earlier finish – regardless of extra time or penalties – and offers fans the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the evening with friends and family, reflecting on the game of the season.”
How can I watch?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage on the channel from 7pm BST. A live stream will also be available via HBO Max and the HBO app.
In the United States, the match will be broadcast in English on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+. Spanish-language coverage is available on Univision and TUDN, which can also be streamed via Fubo.
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Who is performing in the pre-match show?
The Killers are headlining the pre-match entertainment on the night. In recent years, artists such as Linkin Park and Lenny Kravitz have performed at the final
The school hired Matt Campbell as its new head coach after he spent 10 years with the Iowa State Cyclones, turning them from a 3-9 team to a school that made seven bowl appearances after going four years without making one.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell looks on from the field during the Penn State Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026.(Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht, who transferred to Penn State from Iowa State, talked Wednesday about how Campbell will be able to change the culture within the program.
“He wants to build a player-led program,” he told ESPN. “When you’re not all aligned with the same goals and expectations, you’re not going to win those big games. … Last year, it wasn’t really player-led and the culture just wasn’t always there.
Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht reacts during the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026.(Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
“Right now, where we are, everyone is completely bought in.”
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Campbell is taking over for James Franklin, who was with Penn State for 12 years before he was fired in the middle of the 2025 season as the team lost three games in a row, including an upset loss to unranked UCLA when the team was ranked seventh in the nation.
Terry Smith took over for Franklin and helped salvage the season with a Pinstripe Bowl win over Clemson.
Now, with a new head coach, new quarterback and a 12-team College Football Playoff, the excuses for the Nittany Lions to not make it to the postseason are running out.
Penn State made the College Football Playoff in 2024, but lost to Notre Dame in the semifinals. It was the team’s only CFP appearance.
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Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Matt Campbell answers questions from the media following the Blue-White Spring game at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pa., on April 25, 2026.(Matthew O’Haren/Imagn Images)
Fans of Paris Saint-Germain football team celebrated late into the night on May 6 after their victory over Bayern Munich, which secured their place in the Champions League final on May 30.
TKO’s Mark Shapiro provided certain details about WWE during the first-quarter 2026 earnings call.
Some of the topics Shapiro focused on were WWE’s rising ticket prices, creative criticism by the fans, and the fate of events planned for Saudi Arabia, among others.
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He spoke about premium live events and those being the revenue-driving factor for the quarter. Mark Shapiro revealed that WWE Elimination Chamber’s had a “meaningful” YOY increase after it’s debut on ESPN. The premium live event has emerged as the second-highest arena gate in the company’s history.
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Apart from Elimination Chamber, Shapiro revealed that Royal Rumble 2026 was the event that kick-started the increase in YOY for live events and hospitality.
Mark Shapiro revealed where the company stands with fan criticism about prices and creative decisions
WWE has been criticized by fans for the way storylines are unfolding and the rate at which ticket prices are increasing. TKO’s focus on revenue over affordability has caused several fans to opt out of purchasing tickets to premium live events.
Shapiro has claimed that the company makes it its top priority to listen to criticism and act as much as possible to improve the situation. However, he also revealed that what WWE is hearing as creative criticism isn’t new, and dissatisfaction will always persist within the WWE Universe.
Coming to commercial elements and ticket prices, TKO’s COO revealed that while the company has heard the criticism with utmost priority and is working around it, when it comes to commercial elements, there is no magic formula to make things work. Trial-and-error is the way to figure out how to make the change work for both fans and the company.
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Apart from that, Mark Shapiro clarified that the planned events for Saudi Arabia are not cancelled and will move ahead as previously stated.
Lately, news has surfaced that TKO was directly behind the recent wave of superstar releases and how the situation was handled. Even Kevin Nash pointed out the irony in offering lower wages to superstars while the top executives bagged in billions.
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SEATTLE, WA – MAY 06: Members of the Atlanta Braves stand during a tribute to Braves owner Ted Turner prior to the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Adam Silver has paid tribute to former Atlanta Hawks governor and Turner Broadcasting System founder Ted Turner following news of his passing.
In a statement released by the NBA, Silver called Turner “a true pioneer whose vision transformed modern media.”
He praised Turner’s impact on sports broadcasting, saying: “Through the creation and development of Turner Broadcasting, Ted changed the way fans experience live sports and brought leagues like the NBA to a broader national and global audience.”
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Silver also described Turner as “a passionate steward of our game for decades,” both as a longtime Hawks owner and as someone who helped grow the league’s reach around the world.
“On behalf of the NBA, I send my deepest condolences to Ted’s family and friends,” Silver said.
Turner was one of the most influential figures in sports media and played a major role in expanding the NBA’s audience through television broadcasting.
Bayern Munich board member for sport Max Eberl has signaled that he is open to extending his contract beyond the summer of 2027.
“Right now, I think we’ve set a lot of very, very good things in motion. I feel very, very comfortable here,” Eberl, who took over the role in 2024, said in an interview with DAZN.
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“People should judge my work. And if they think I’m doing a good job, then I’m also willing to stay at Bayern longer,” he added.
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The former Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig executive also admitted that his beginning at the Bavarian club were not always straightforward.
“I think everything I’ve invested here – the passion, the work I’ve done together with the people here – wasn’t entirely easy at first, because naturally a few strong personalities came together,” he explained.
“But I think that’s also what helps a big club like Bayern Munich – that people challenge each other and have discussions together.”
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Meanwhile, FC Bayern supervisory board member and honorary president Uli Hoeneß recently stressed that formal talks over Eberl’s future can’t begin just yet – even if the club wanted them to.
“First of all, you need to know that board contracts cannot be extended more than one year before they expire,” Hoeneß told DAZN, while confirming that Eberl’s future has already been discussed internally.
“We spoke about a possible contract extension for the board member for sport for the first time at the last board meeting almost two weeks ago,” the honorary president revealed, but declined to go into further detail.
“I don’t want to preempt the discussions that can begin in July,” he stressed.
May 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages (44) crosses home plate after hitting a three run home run against the Houston Astros during the third inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Andy Pages’ career-best three home runs and six RBIs carried the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers to a 12-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
Los Angeles starter Tyler Glasnow left after an inning with back spasms, but manager Dave Roberts said he didn’t think the injury was serious or a long-term issue. Jack Dreyer (2-1) earned the win by throwing two scoreless frames. Six Dodgers relievers combined to hurl eight innings of one-run, four-hit ball.
Shohei Ohtani posted two hits, two runs and an RBI for the Dodgers, who won their third game in four tries and took the three-game set.
Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. (2-3) lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits. Reliever Jason Alexander yielded five runs on nine hits across 4 1/3 frames. Brice Matthews homered for Houston.
Pirates 1, Diamondbacks 0
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Paul Skenes allowed two hits over eight stellar innings and Brandon Lowe hit a towering homer as Pittsburgh edged Arizona in Phoenix.
Lowe’s first-inning blast off Michael Soroka was all the offense Skenes (5-2) needed as he silenced Arizona hitters. The right-hander struck out seven and walked none while pitching at least eight innings for the fourth time in his career.
It was the longest scoreless outing ever produced by Skenes, who has yet to last nine innings in a game. Gregory Soto worked around a one-out walk in the ninth for his second save. Soroka (4-2) allowed one run and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.
Cubs 7, Reds 6 (10 innings)
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Michael Busch drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the 10th inning and Chicago beat visiting Cincinnati for its eighth straight win.
Ian Happ went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer for the Cubs, who have opened the four-game series with three straight walk-off victories. Trent Thornton (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th inning in his Cubs debut. Chicago has won 14 straight games at Wrigley Field, matching the team’s longest home-winning streak since winning 14 in a row in 2008.
Matt McLain homered among his two hits for the Reds, who have lost a season-high six consecutive games and eight of their past 10.
Angels 8, White Sox 2
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Travis d’Arnaud hit a three-run homer to highlight a five-run second inning and Walbert Urena (1-3) allowed one run on two hits over six innings to pick up his first major league win as Los Angeles defeated Chicago in Anaheim, Calif.
It marked the first time since April 16-17 that the Angels won back-to-back games. It also was just their third series win of the season and the first at home since April 3-5 against the Seattle Mariners.
Colson Montgomery doubled and scored a run and Chase Meidroth had two hits and a walk and scored a run for the White Sox, who have lost three of the past four.
Rays 3, Blue Jays 0
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Shane McClanahan fired 5 2/3 scoreless innings and Tampa Bay recorded its 10th straight home victory by shutting out Toronto in St. Petersburg, Fla.
McClanahan (4-2) allowed just two hits to stretch his scoreless streak to 16 2/3 innings over the past three starts and drop his ERA to 2.60. The Rays swept their six-game homestand over the San Francisco Giants and the Blue Jays and moved to 12-1 over the past 13 games with a sixth straight win.
Myles Straw went 2-for-3 with a double, but the Blue Jays, on a four-game losing streak, managed only four hits. Patrick Corbin (1-1) tossed 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on five hits.
Brewers 6, Cardinals 2
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Andrew Vaughn hit a three-run homer and Milwaukee used five pitchers to limit host St. Louis to four hits.
Vaughn, reinstated from the injured list Monday after breaking the hamate bone in his left hand on Opening Day, capped a four-run first with his first homer of the season, which he hit off Andre Pallante 403 feet to left-center field.
Aaron Ashby (6-0) fired two scoreless innings for the Brewers, who pounded out 11 hits to split the abbreviated two-game series. Pallante (3-3) permitted five runs on eight hits in six innings.
Padres 5, Giants 1
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Ty France broke a seventh-inning tie with a two-run, pinch-hit triple, Xander Bogaerts added a two-run homer in the eighth, and San Diego captured a series win at San Francisco.
After taking over from opener Bradgley Rodriguez, Matt Waldron (1-1) threw five innings of one-run ball. Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller combined for six strikeouts over the final three innings, allowing just one hit.
Jesus Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles for the Giants, who have lost eight of their past nine.
Rangers 6, Yankees 1
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Nathan Eovaldi pitched eight stellar innings and was backed by two early homers as visiting Texas quieted New York.
Eovaldi (4-4) struck out a season-high eight and walked none for the second time this season. The Rangers’ Corey Seager homered three batters into the contest, and Evan Carter hit a two-run shot in the third.
Aaron Judge hit his 12th homer in his past 23 games, but the Yankees saw a five-game winning streak end and lost for the third time in their past 18 games. Will Warren (4-1) was tagged for six runs on seven hits in four innings.
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Mariners 3, Braves 1
Bryan Woo allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings and Julio Rodriguez homered as Seattle defeated visiting Atlanta.
The only hit Woo (2-2) gave up was a two-out single to right by Mauricio Dubon in the fourth inning. The right-hander walked two and matched his season high with nine strikeouts.
Dominic Smith drove in the lone run for the Braves, who took their first series loss of the season by dropping two of the three games.
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Red Sox 4, Tigers 0
Sonny Gray pitched five scoreless innings in his return to action and visiting Boston completed a three-game sweep of Detroit.
Gray (3-1) came off the injured list and gave up four hits while recording two strikeouts. Gray strained his right hamstring in a start last month against the Tigers. Tyler Samaniego struck out three in two innings. Zack Kelly and Greg Weissert each pitched an inning to complete the shutout.
Masataka Yoshida had two hits and scored a run for Boston while Caleb Durbin supplied an RBI double. Riley Greene had two hits for the Tigers. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (0-3) fanned 10 while yielding four runs, two earned, in five innings.
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Orioles 7, Marlins 4
Pete Alonso hammered a three-run homer and Adley Rutschman smacked two run-scoring doubles as Baltimore beat host Miami.
Orioles starter Brandon Young (3-1) worked six innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Rico Garcia pitched the ninth for his second save as four pitchers combined on a six-hitter.
Jakob Marsee drove in two runs, but the Marlins lost their fourth game in a row and fell for the fifth time in six games.
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Nationals 15, Twins 2
CJ Abrams had three hits including a grand slam, Miles Mikolas pitched into the sixth inning and host Washington routed Minnesota.
Brady House, Drew Millas and Jose Tena each had two hits including a home run for the Nationals, who collected 14 hits. Abrams also had two doubles and five RBIs, and James Wood and Jacob Young each had two hits.
Three Washington pitchers held the Twins to three hits. Matt Wallner had two hits including a home run for Minnesota, which had won two straight.
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Guardians 3, Royals 1
Rookie Chase DeLauter’s two-run, go-ahead single in the fifth inning highlighted a two-hit night, and Joey Cantillo yielded one run over five innings as visiting Cleveland defeated Kansas City.
DeLauter extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Cantillo (2-1) allowed three hits as the Guardians snapped a three-game skid.
Maikel Garcia had two of the four hits collected by the Royals, who had a five-game winning streak end.
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Phillies 6, Athletics 3
Edmundo Sosa delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth inning as host Philadelphia rallied past the visiting Athletics.
Brandon Marsh had three hits and an RBI for the Phillies, who improved to 8-1 under interim manager Don Mattingly. Adolis Garcia homered for the Phillies while J.T. Realmuto, Garcia and Sosa each had two hits.
A’s left-hander Jeffrey Springs gave up two runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. Nick Kurtz finished with two hits and an RBI as he reached base for the 30th straight game.
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Mets 10, Rockies 5
Marcus Semien had four hits, including a home run, Juan Soto led off the game with a homer, and New York beat Colorado in Denver for its third win in a row.
MJ Melendez, Bo Bichette, Carson Benge, Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez had two hits apiece for the Mets. Freddy Peralta (2-3) scattered four hits in five shutout innings, and Devin Williams got two outs to earn his fifth save.
TJ Rumfield homered among his three hits and Jake McCarthy also went deep as the Rockies took their sixth consecutive loss. Michael Lorenzen (2-4) allowed seven runs on 11 hits in five-plus innings.
Given his track record of achievements over 20-plus years, the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford ranks highly among Joe Pride’s preferred fixtures on the schedule.
In 2004, Red Oog failed to deliver victory on Pride’s first go, yet the race acted as a crucial step forward for the eventual double Group 1 victor, his initial exposure to top-tier black-type open events.
Pride has since triumphed five times overall, with Title (2011), See The World (2012), and Ball Of Muscle (2015) notching their stakes debuts in the Gosford sprint, while Kuro (2017) claimed his midway through his career.
Think About It provided the most current win three years prior, utilizing the contest to propel into Group 1 glory via the Kingsford-Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap next up, en route to The Everest success in spring.
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“I’m not sure there is another race I’ve won more times than this one,” Pride said.
“I’ve had good success. I even ran into Takeover Target when he won it, and who it’s named after now. That was with Red Oog, who ran third.
“I have quite often been able to use it as a progression race. It’s a nice race along the way for a horse being introduced to stakes racing.”
On Saturday, Pride unleashes Kerguelen in the feature, the Godolphin gelding well-positioned to augment his trainer’s formidable history there.
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Kerguelen pursues black-type honors post Group assignments in recent starts, including a sharp sectional display to place fifth behind fellow stable runner Mazu in the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m).
“He ran amazing sectionals and that’s what he can do. He can break 33 (seconds) coming home,” Pride said.
“He will do that again on Saturday, it’s just what sort of head start he will be giving. But he will be the horse to beat.
“I want to get him into the Stradbroke, but he needs to be winning a race like this to go there.”
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Think About It’s go-to rider Sam Clipperton rejoins Pride for the Kerguelen mount.
Clipperton had retired 14 months after the 2023 Everest, citing diminished drive, but the sabbatical restored his zeal, leading to a comeback last year.
The trainer observes the evolution and welcomes Clipperton enthusiastically.
“He’s a different person now. He was stale at the end, and Sam will tell you that,” Pride said.
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“His mind wasn’t in the right place but, gee, he’s focused now. He’s a good rider, and he looks very stylish on a horse.”
Pride fields a pair for Godolphin at Gosford, with Crepe Myrtle also drawing praise ahead of the Triple M Thunder Handicap (1000m).
“I saved her from last week because I didn’t like the draw. She’s got a better draw this week and she will be hard to beat,” he said.
“I think she is on the right trajectory to be getting to a stakes race this campaign.”
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Head to betting sites for the latest racing odds on the Takeover Target Stakes.
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