3 days ago
CLEVELAND — A lack of offense put the Guardians' backs firmly against the wall against the Chicago White Sox in an American League Division Series before Jose Ramirez came to the rescue in three consecutive games.
Now in the AL Championship Series, an all-too-familiar — and all-too-unwelcome — lack of timely hitting has every ounce of the Guardians' weight again on their heels, with nowhere else to go but forward or home.
The Guardians lost 3-1 to the Rays in Game 5 of the ALCS, giving Tampa Bay a 3-2 series lead and putting the Rays on the brink of a World Series berth. Trailing in the series for the first time, the Guardians travel to Tampa Bay (without the benefit of an off day to regroup after Game 4 was pushed back) for must-win Games 6 and 7.
They had to win three consecutive games to get to the ALCS. Now, they must again defy the odds and rally to win two connective road games to play the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.
"I think it'll help a ton knowing we're able to do it, facing elimination," said outfielder Steven Kwan, who made two highlight reel defensive plays in Game 5 to save at least two runs. "I think we feel a little better on this one as opposed to the [ALDS] since we've got some wins under our belt.
#series #games #alcs
Now in the AL Championship Series, an all-too-familiar — and all-too-unwelcome — lack of timely hitting has every ounce of the Guardians' weight again on their heels, with nowhere else to go but forward or home.
The Guardians lost 3-1 to the Rays in Game 5 of the ALCS, giving Tampa Bay a 3-2 series lead and putting the Rays on the brink of a World Series berth. Trailing in the series for the first time, the Guardians travel to Tampa Bay (without the benefit of an off day to regroup after Game 4 was pushed back) for must-win Games 6 and 7.
They had to win three consecutive games to get to the ALCS. Now, they must again defy the odds and rally to win two connective road games to play the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series.
"I think it'll help a ton knowing we're able to do it, facing elimination," said outfielder Steven Kwan, who made two highlight reel defensive plays in Game 5 to save at least two runs. "I think we feel a little better on this one as opposed to the [ALDS] since we've got some wins under our belt.
#series #games #alcs
1 month ago
Aaron Judge hit his first home run in nearly four months … and it highlighted a night in which the New York Yankees secured a postseason berth.
Judge, who missed three months of the 2026 season with a fractured rib, hit a three-run home run off of Minnesota Twins left-hander A.J. Minter in the eighth inning of an 8-3 win on Monday, Sept. 14. It was Judge's first round-tripper since May 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge now has 18 home runs in 65 games played this season.
Since his return to the Yankees' lineup on Sept. 8, Judge had gone 3-for-17 in five games played before clobbering a cutter from Minter into the third deck at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
The Yankees entered Monday needing a win over the Twins or loss by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Detroit Tigers to clinch at least a wild card berth. Detroit closed out a 6-5 win moments before the Yankees defeated the Twins, making the Yankees the second American League team to secure a playoff spot.
Judge said the injury traced back to a diving play in Houston in late April. He played through rib and shoulder discomfort for about a month before the team finally shut him down May 31. He was hitting .248 through 59 games at the time – a career worst – with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
#minter #sept
Judge, who missed three months of the 2026 season with a fractured rib, hit a three-run home run off of Minnesota Twins left-hander A.J. Minter in the eighth inning of an 8-3 win on Monday, Sept. 14. It was Judge's first round-tripper since May 24 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Judge now has 18 home runs in 65 games played this season.
Since his return to the Yankees' lineup on Sept. 8, Judge had gone 3-for-17 in five games played before clobbering a cutter from Minter into the third deck at Target Field in Minneapolis on Monday.
The Yankees entered Monday needing a win over the Twins or loss by the Toronto Blue Jays against the Detroit Tigers to clinch at least a wild card berth. Detroit closed out a 6-5 win moments before the Yankees defeated the Twins, making the Yankees the second American League team to secure a playoff spot.
Judge said the injury traced back to a diving play in Houston in late April. He played through rib and shoulder discomfort for about a month before the team finally shut him down May 31. He was hitting .248 through 59 games at the time – a career worst – with 17 home runs and 38 RBIs.
#minter #sept
1 month ago
One of Ben Shelton's humungous serves went viral during his US Open clash with Frances Tiafoe for breaking the all-time record. Here's a look at what actually happened.
Ben Shelton has made the first Grand Slam final of his career, in which he will be facing off against Alexander Zverev. Perhaps the most important aspect of his game that brought him this far is his serve.
Shelton took the match against Carlos Alcaraz with a monster ace. Against Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final, he was at it again.
One of his services was clocked at a whopping 158 mph (254 kmph) during the game, which would blow the Grand Slam record for fastest serve ever out of the water. However, there is a twist in the tale.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
#shelton #grand
Ben Shelton has made the first Grand Slam final of his career, in which he will be facing off against Alexander Zverev. Perhaps the most important aspect of his game that brought him this far is his serve.
Shelton took the match against Carlos Alcaraz with a monster ace. Against Frances Tiafoe in the semi-final, he was at it again.
One of his services was clocked at a whopping 158 mph (254 kmph) during the game, which would blow the Grand Slam record for fastest serve ever out of the water. However, there is a twist in the tale.
Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
#shelton #grand
1 month ago
Four years after plying their trade in the semi-professional fourth division of German football, newly promoted SV Elversberg welcome defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on Sunday.
Elversberg, a village with a population of just 13,000 and no train station, became the smallest in German league history to host a top-flight side this season.
The minnows have not been awed by the bright lights, either. Elversberg have won two from two this season, including a 3-2 win over 2023-24 double winners Bayer Leverkusen to open their maiden top-flight campaign.
Club technical director Josef Welzmueller credited hard work rather than wizardry for their achievement.
"I know that it sounds like magic or like a fairytale," Welzmueller told AFP this month, "(but) we did it step by step, and it didn't feel like a fairytale, to be honest."
#like #german
Elversberg, a village with a population of just 13,000 and no train station, became the smallest in German league history to host a top-flight side this season.
The minnows have not been awed by the bright lights, either. Elversberg have won two from two this season, including a 3-2 win over 2023-24 double winners Bayer Leverkusen to open their maiden top-flight campaign.
Club technical director Josef Welzmueller credited hard work rather than wizardry for their achievement.
"I know that it sounds like magic or like a fairytale," Welzmueller told AFP this month, "(but) we did it step by step, and it didn't feel like a fairytale, to be honest."
#like #german
1 month ago
The Baltimore Orioles (70-75) and the Cleveland Guardians (73-72) continue their three-game series tonight at Camden Yards. The Orioles opened the series last night with a 6-4 win to snap a six-game losing streak and pull them to within three games in the race with Cleveland for the final Wild Card spot.
Baltimore grabbed control early. Dylan Beavers delivered an RBI double in the second inning to score Samuel Basallo, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead. In the third, the O's advantage increased to 4-0 thanks to a Coby Mayo solo homer followed by control issues for Cleveland's hurlers as evidenced by the fact they walked in a couple runs prior to the end of the inning. Mayo added a two-run blast in the sixth, extending the Orioles' lead to 6-1. On the mound, Trevor Rogers was excellent, working 7.1 innings, allowing just one earned run, six hits, and striking out six without a walk. The Guardians made things interesting in the ninth when Nathaniel Lowe blasted a three-run homer, but Baltimore closer Jordan Walker recorded the final out to preserve the win and arguably, Baltimore's season.
Tanner Bibee (5-15, 4.06 ERA) takes the ball for the Guardians tonight. His last outing came against the Blue Jays on September 3. As he has for much of the season, Bibee struggled, lasting only four innings while allowing five earned runs on four hits. Over his last five starts, Bibee has posted a 5.08 ERA. Brandon Young (9-3, 3.42 ERA) is expected to be on the mound for the O's. Young's most recent appearance came against Boston on September 3, when he worked 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. Over his last five outings Young owns a 3.37 ERA.
Lets dive further into tonight's game and find a sweat or two.
We've got all the info and **** ysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
#game #Guardians
Baltimore grabbed control early. Dylan Beavers delivered an RBI double in the second inning to score Samuel Basallo, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead. In the third, the O's advantage increased to 4-0 thanks to a Coby Mayo solo homer followed by control issues for Cleveland's hurlers as evidenced by the fact they walked in a couple runs prior to the end of the inning. Mayo added a two-run blast in the sixth, extending the Orioles' lead to 6-1. On the mound, Trevor Rogers was excellent, working 7.1 innings, allowing just one earned run, six hits, and striking out six without a walk. The Guardians made things interesting in the ninth when Nathaniel Lowe blasted a three-run homer, but Baltimore closer Jordan Walker recorded the final out to preserve the win and arguably, Baltimore's season.
Tanner Bibee (5-15, 4.06 ERA) takes the ball for the Guardians tonight. His last outing came against the Blue Jays on September 3. As he has for much of the season, Bibee struggled, lasting only four innings while allowing five earned runs on four hits. Over his last five starts, Bibee has posted a 5.08 ERA. Brandon Young (9-3, 3.42 ERA) is expected to be on the mound for the O's. Young's most recent appearance came against Boston on September 3, when he worked 6.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits. Over his last five outings Young owns a 3.37 ERA.
Lets dive further into tonight's game and find a sweat or two.
We've got all the info and **** ysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
#game #Guardians
2 months ago
Virginia Tech is off to a sensational start in the James Franklin era after cruising to a 73-3 victory over VMI. The new Virginia Tech head coach watched his team deliver a dominant performance in its season opener and praised several aspects afterward.
However, one moment during the blowout victory genuinely irritated Franklin. Officials penalized the Hokies for a celebration, and their head coach did not hesitate to express his frustration with the call, leading to plenty of reactions from college football fans.
College football has specific rules governing excessive celebrations, and Virginia Tech found itself on the wrong side of one of them in its opening game.
Officials flagged Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. for unsportsmanlike conduct after he scored his third touchdown and immediately made his way toward a large group of cadets.
Hawkins proceeded to high-five several of them, but an official in the end zone determined that the celebration warranted a penalty.
#franklin #college #head #several
However, one moment during the blowout victory genuinely irritated Franklin. Officials penalized the Hokies for a celebration, and their head coach did not hesitate to express his frustration with the call, leading to plenty of reactions from college football fans.
College football has specific rules governing excessive celebrations, and Virginia Tech found itself on the wrong side of one of them in its opening game.
Officials flagged Virginia Tech running back Marcellous Hawkins Jr. for unsportsmanlike conduct after he scored his third touchdown and immediately made his way toward a large group of cadets.
Hawkins proceeded to high-five several of them, but an official in the end zone determined that the celebration warranted a penalty.
#franklin #college #head #several
2 months ago
Gianluca Mancini took to social media to share his thoughts after Roma's victory over Atalanta.
The Giallorossi defender, who starred in the match at the Olimpico with a highly intense performance, praised the team's spirit after a comeback victory thanks to goals from Mario Hermoso and Matias Soulé. Below is what the Giallorossi number 23 posted.
"Until the last ball, until the last play, until the last breath… let's keep going, all together," Mancini wrote on Instagram, accompanying the message with some images of the evening at the Olimpico.
#victory #atalanta #mario #hermoso
The Giallorossi defender, who starred in the match at the Olimpico with a highly intense performance, praised the team's spirit after a comeback victory thanks to goals from Mario Hermoso and Matias Soulé. Below is what the Giallorossi number 23 posted.
"Until the last ball, until the last play, until the last breath… let's keep going, all together," Mancini wrote on Instagram, accompanying the message with some images of the evening at the Olimpico.
#victory #atalanta #mario #hermoso
