| Saturday, September 12th |
Premier League | Anfield
3PM BST/10AM EST
A couple of words maybe a single short para serving as a micro preview for the match, why it's important, what the main concerns are, or whatever. Mostly it's to make sure the word count gets up to 170 so that the story gets picked up by search.
PREVIEW & HOW TO WATCH
Full Match Preview: Liverpool vs. Fulham
Television & Streaming: No Legal Coverage Still in 2026 (UK); NBCSN & Peacock (USA); Stan Sport (Australia); FuboTV (Canada); Star Sports 3 Asia (India); Astro Premier League (Malaysia); SuperSport Maximo 2 (Nigeria); StarHub TV+ (Singapore); SuperSport Maximo 2 (South Africa); other listings at LiveSoccerTV

#league #match #september

After an emotional 20-point comeback win at Ponte Vedra, Merritt Island played its first home game of the season against district foe Astronaut on Sept. 11.
The Mustangs showed no hangover effect, scoring five touchdowns and one field goal on six offensive possessions to defeat the War Eagles 45-0.
"I thought we came out and played a really clean game. That was the big point of emphasis this week. Last week, we had about 19 penalties in the first quarter and 27 overall and that's not indicative of what we are as a culture and as a football team," Merritt Island head coach Tyler Murray said. "We got after them a little bit this week. We played really smart. We celebrated with our teammates. We were firing on all cylinders."
It was a balanced offensive distribution for Merritt Island as five different players scored a touchdown. The Mustangs finished the game with 428 yards on 27 plays.
"We want to play basketball on a football field," Murray said. "We want to distribute the ball as much as we can."

#week

MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - After a close game that came down to the end, the Midland Bulldogs fell 17-14 to Amarillo. Midland now drops to 0-3 on the season.
Next week, the Bulldogs will look for their first win of the season when they hit the road to face Bastrop.
Watch the video above for the highlights.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin.

#kpej

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - An unorthodox pitching plan worked about as well as the Houston Astros could have hoped Friday. Their offense could not capitalize against another American League contender.
Junior Caminero cranked a walk-off, two-run home run against Bryan Abreu to send the Astros to a 3-1 loss in the opener of a series against the Tampa Bay Rays, who became the first American League team to clinch a spot in this year's playoff field. Houston, which entered the day with a three-game lead in the AL West, ended it with a 75-73 record.
Using an opener, three Astros pitchers combined to hold the Rays to two hits before the ninth inning. Jonathan Aranda hit a one-out double against Abreu. With first base open, the Astros opted to face Caminero, the AL home run leader, who crushed a first-pitch fastball 417 feet to ignite a celebration at Tropicana Field.
The Astros totaled nine hits. But they were 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, with neither of the hits scoring a run, and stranded six men on base.
A 1-1 tie reached the ninth inning. The teams took different routes there. Rays starter Drew Rasmussen worked seven innings, navigating eight hits. One run against him scored on a fielder's choice. He threw 92 pitches before Tampa Bay turned to its bullpen.

#astros #houston #abreu #tampa

Junior Caminero hit his 40th home run of the season to lift the Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 walk-off win over the Houston Astros on Friday. With the victory, the Rays became the first MLB team this season to clinch a postseason berth.
This story will be updated with more information.

#rays #season

Rudy Martin Jr. spent 12 seasons in the minor leagues without reaching the majors. At 30 years old, he came closer than ever to walking away from baseball.
The newest member of the Toronto Blue Jays admitted he seriously considered retirement before getting his long-awaited call-up Friday. Martin said his family helped him through that difficult stretch and refused to let him give up.
MORE: Astros announce latest update on Yordan Alvarez's injury ahead of Rays game
"I wondered if it might be over after 12 minor-league seasons," Martin said, according to Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith. "My family helped me through some really tough times. They weren't gonna let me give up on it that easy."
Martin's promotion comes after a difficult month. The Blue Jays designated him for ****** ignment twice, but he continued to wait for another opportunity.

#family

American League triple-crown contender Yordan Alvarez is out of the Houston Astros' lineup for Friday due to a sore right ankle.
Alvarez twisted his ankle while running the bases in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. He went 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts against Phillies starter Zack Wheeler.
But Alvarez reached base in the eighth inning on an intentional walk from José Alvarado. He advanced to third base on a Jose Altuve double, but stumbled over the bag and was checked out by trainers.
Alvarez stayed in the game, but did not have to run on a Daulton Varsho pop-up. As the designated hitter, he didn't have to take the field in the bottom of the inning.
Astros manager Joe Espada said no imaging was necessary for Alvarez's ankle, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. He did some hitting earlier in the day and could be available to pinch-hit.

#ankle #Phillies #inning

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes is in trouble in return from torn ACL to face Broncos appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming into 2026 with a clean slate after a nightmare campaign in 2025, headlined by an injury to Patrick Mahomes and a disastrous 6-11 finish.
Most players who tear their ACL late in the season won't be ready, or even that close to ready, to return by Week 1 of the next season. Packers star Micah Parsons' torn ACL from a similar timeline is going to bleed well into the 2026 season, and Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers is still working his way back from the same injury much earlier in 2025. But Mahomes has taken all of the first-team reps in training camp and appears ready to go for Week 1.
Watching whether Mahomes is at 100% or not upon his return will be what many have their eye on when the Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos to open the 2026 season on Monday Night Football in Kansas City. But even if he is feeling like his old self, he will have his hands full against a Broncos defense that was one of the best in the NFL last season and returns all of its starters in 2026.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#patrick #city

Ex-Astros World Series champion with 11.74 ERA DFA'd by Mets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Mets made a notable bullpen move on Friday afternoon.
Today, the NL East club announced that right-hander Jack Weisenburger was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
Weisenburger replaces fellow righty Chris Devenski, who was designated for ******* ignment by the Mets.
Devenski, 35, is an 11-year veteran reliever who has pitched for seven clubs. He made just six appearances with the Mets, allowing eight earned runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings.

#METS #made #astros #preferred

Astros fans, for all the criticism Joe Espada has received during his tenure as manager, maybe it's time to take a step back, look at what he's actually been asked to work with, and give the man his flowers.
Managing a baseball team is easy to criticize from the outside.
Every pitching change can be second-guessed. Every lineup can be dissected. Every decision involving the bullpen, a pinch hitter or a defensive replacement can become a debate.
Espada certainly hasn't been perfect.
But when you stop evaluating individual decisions and start looking at the bigger picture, it's difficult to argue with what he's accomplished.

#every #fans #received

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq may have left England, but the troubles from Pakistan's disastrous tour don't seem ready to leave them just yet.

According to Geo News, the Pakistan duo have now been summoned by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) over information reportedly obtained from their mobile phones. And as if that wasn't enough, both players are also set to miss the opening round of the President's Trophy Grade-I after failing to undergo mandatory fitness tests.

It has been quite the homecoming.

Rizwan and Imam were among seven players sent back to Pakistan by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the team's heavy defeat to England at Lord's. The decision came after Pakistan's struggles in the Test series, but the drama clearly didn't end when the players boarded their flights home.
According to Geo News, the NCCIA has issued notices to Rizwan and Imam as part of an investigation involving information retrieved from their mobile phones.

The PCB had reportedly taken custody of the players' phones before handing them over to the relevant authorities. Geo News reported that Rizwan and Imam were questioned by the NCCIA for around two hours, with the inquiry reportedly linked to alleged dressing-room leaks during the England series.

The exact circumstances surrounding the investigation remain unclear, and being questioned does not establish any wrongdoing by either player. But for two cricketers who probably wanted nothing more than to forget the England tour, it is certainly an unusual sequel.
As if a cybercrime investigation wasn't enough post-tour paperwork, Geo News sources have now reported that Rizwan and Imam will miss the opening round of the President's Trophy Grade-I. The reason is far less dramatic but equally awkward: mandatory fitness-test reports.

According to the report, Rizwan's SNGPL and Imam's OGDCL did not have the required fitness reports for the two players. Under PCB rules, departmental teams must conduct the fitness tests and submit the reports before players can feature in first-class cricket.

As a result, both will miss the tournament's opening round, scheduled from September 12 to 15. Imam had been named OGDCL captain, while Rizwan was appointed vice-captain of SNGPL.

#england

Rams news: Stephen A. Smith calls out Los Angeles' 'mistake' in loss vs. 49ers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams' unusual travel strategy to Australia is already receiving criticism after their disastrous season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Stephen A. Smith called out the Rams for arriving in Melbourne roughly 28 hours before kickoff ahead of their 27-7 loss to the Niners.
"You got there 28 hours before the game; clearly that appeared to be a mistake," Smith said. On the Rams' worst day, they are scoring more than seven points. On their worst day, they are averaging more than 6.2 yards per play. Being up 7-3 and being outscored 24-0 after that is not the Los Angeles Rams."
The Rams intentionally stayed on Pacific Time and arrived shortly before the game, while the 49ers took the opposite approach. San Francisco arrived about a week early, giving Kyle Shanahan's team significantly more time to acclimate to Melbourne and its 17-hour time difference from Los Angeles.

#angeles

Raz B and Mona Li announced the unexpected death of their 3-month-old son, Astro Monte Thornton
The couple, who also share a son and Li's daughter from a previous relationship, requested privacy during this time
Raz B recently completed the Boys 4 Life Tour, and Li celebrated his achievements and their growing family
B2K's Raz B and wife Mona Li's 3-month-old baby son has died.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, David Robinson, the Thornton family publicist and a spokesperson for the couple, confirmed that Raz B, whose real name is De'Mario Monte Thornton, and his wife Li's son Astro Monte died. USA Today was first to share the news.

#thornton #astro #Share

Sept 9 (Reuters) - The photos tell a story of lives, interrupted.
The schoolroom, gaily decorated with paintings and letters. The paint shop, where the shelves still contain rows of once colourful cans. The bathroom, the closet that held neatly piled clothing, the ‌yards. All are now covered with a thick layer of river mud that descended without warning on bustling communities.
As the waters ‌recede, the survivors remain stunned, grieving and praying.
A string of miracle rescues in recent days has kept hopes alive that more people might still be saved from the catastrophe of August 26 when a glacier collapsed, sending a mass of mud and rock crashing into a river along the border between Nepal and China's Tibet. The resulting floods washed away villages, snapped highways like twigs, and buried homes in the mud.
At least 1,380 bodies have so far been pulled from the wreckage, some far downstream from the site of the disaster. A wall outside a Kathmandu hospital plastered with photos and desperate appeals hints at the unfinished ‌story of an estimated 5,500 people who remain ⁠missing.

#nepal

Bo Bichette's future with the New York Mets remains uncertain as the team prepares for the Subway Series against the New York Yankees.
The Mets signed Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract last winter. He now faces a major decision after the season.
MORE: Phillies announce results on Brandon Marsh's X-rays after 1-run loss to Astros
Bichette can opt out of the deal and enter free agency. If he stays, he would earn $42 million in each of the next two seasons.
ESPN's Jeff Passan recently called the decision a "genuine coin flip," according to reports on Bichette's future. That shows just how difficult the choice could be.

#METS #bichette #series

The 2026 MLB postseason is right around the corner. And with less than three weeks left in the regular season, every team with World Series aspirations still has a lot left to play for.
Let's break down the MLB standings and the playoff picture as it looks ahead of games on Sept. 10. (This post will be updated every day until the end of the regular season.)
The MLB postseason begins on Sept. 29.
Wild card: No. 6 Cleveland Guardians vs. No. 3 Houston Astros
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Chicago White Sox

#sept #wild #left #World

On August 4, Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) reported second-quarter results that read like two different stories stapled together. Revenue climbed, the dividend grew for the 36th time in 35 years, and the merger with American Water inched closer to the finish line. But earnings per share actually dipped from a year earlier, and the company had to strip out merger costs just to show flat profitability. For a utility this steady, that split is worth a closer look.
Essential's regulated water segment posted revenue of $357.5 million in the quarter, up 7.6% from $332.3 million a year earlier, and the whole company's first-half revenue climbed 7.2% to nearly $1.4 billion. Much of that growth came from rate cases: state regulators approved $43.9 million in new annual water revenue across Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina and Indiana, plus $12.7 million more for the gas business in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Another $79.7 million in water rate requests and a $163.2 million gas case in Pennsylvania, tied to replacing aging pipelines, are still working through the process.
The company keeps buying its way into new customers, too. In May, it closed a $4.9 million wastewater deal in Bastrop County, Texas, and it has signed agreements worth roughly $282 million to add over 200,000 more customers in Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and New Jersey, including the $276.5 million purchase of Philadelphia-area sewer authority DELCORA. Since 2015, acquisitions have added more than 138,000 customers to Essential's base.
Layer on the pending American Water merger, which cleared Virginia and Ohio regulators this year after nearly unanimous shareholder approval in February, and Essential is positioning itself as a much larger multi-state utility by early 2027. The board's decision to raise the dividend 5.25% to $0.3606 per share, continuing a streak of 36 increases over 35 years, signals confidence that this growth is durable.
Look past the top line and the picture gets less flattering. Second quarter net income actually fell to $105.7 million from $107.8 million a year ago, pulling GAAP earnings per share down to $0.37 from $0.38. Essential had to report an adjusted $0.38 figure just to exclude merger-related costs and show earnings roughly matching last year's. The slide is sharper over six months: net income dropped to $330.1 million, or $1.16 per share, from $391.6 million, or $1.41 per share, in the first half of 2025.

#water #pennsylvania

The Yankees were one of a handful of teams that didn't play on Labor Day, but not many top American League contenders were in action. The Rays, White Sox, Astros, and Rangers all joined the Yanks in taking a breather on the offday. At least Aaron Judge is officially back! So call that a notable exception to the absence of action.
Here's what the teams that were active were up to on Labor Day.
I hope no one actually had any real expectations of the hapless Angels going into Fenway and doing much of anything. Brayan Bello needed 103 pitches to get through five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, but again, these are the Angels. They didn't do much with their opportunities, and they were put in a 5-0 hole in a hurry anyway.
Erstwhile Orioles prospect Grayson Rodriguez was terrible, inflating his season ERA to 6.28 in 17 starts when both Jarren Duran and Adley Rutschman homered off him in the second. His old batterymate's dinger high off the Pesky Pole was a three-run blast and proved to be a crushing blow.
View Link

#Angels #yankees

Prince William and Meghan Markle may face an uphill battle to repair their fractured relationship, with an astrologer claiming that a lack of trust could be one of the biggest obstacles. According to TJ Higgs, their zodiac signs reveal contrasting approaches to protecting family and expressing themselves.
Her reading comes as the Sussexes' return to the UK brings fresh attention to the family's complicated dynamics. While a close relationship may be unlikely, Higgs believes mutual respect could eventually create an opening.
Astrologer TJ Higgs claims Prince William and Meghan Markle may have very different ways of approaching family, privacy, and personal expression. Speaking to the Daily Express U.S., Higgs looked at their zodiac signs and used a tarot card to offer her view on whether their relationship could eventually improve.
Higgs pointed to William being a Cancer and Markle being a Leo. In her interpretation, those signs can have very different priorities. "Cancer protects. Leo expresses," she said. The astrologer further suggested that William may place particular importance on family, privacy, and the institution he is expected to inherit. Markle, meanwhile, may want greater freedom to speak openly and make her own choices.
That difference, Higgs believes, could help explain the tension between them. However, she also sees some common ground. Both signs can be "incredibly loyal," according to her reading. "When they love someone, they will fight for them," she added.

#relationship

The new ownership at the Los Angeles Angels cannot come quick enough for supporters as another season without a playoff berth has been confirmed.
It has been a dismal season for the Angels, who sit rock bottom of the AL West, which has been far from impressive this year.
A 54-90 record has seen the Angels ruled out of playoff contention ahead of Stan Kroenke's proposed takeover.
The Houston Astros are currently sat top of the division with a record only just over .500 through their 73-71 record.
It is a division that is there for the taking under new ownership, but, for now, unwanted records are being created by the Angels.

#record #west

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) have advanced 13% and 14%, respectively, year to date. The driving force behind those double-digit gains has been strong earnings growth, particularly among technology companies involved in the artificial intelligence infrastructure build-out.
However, by one valuation measure, the stock market is repeating a pattern last seen during the dot-com bubble. Is the AI boom destined to end in a catastrophic market crash? Of course, no one can predict the future, but here's what investors should know.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Image source: Getty Images.
The S&P 500 recorded a cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio of 41.1 in August. The index's CAPE ratio has now exceeded 40 in five consecutive months, something that has only happened once before: during the dot-com bubble in 2000.

#NVIDIA #market #ratio

Nepal is holding a day of mourning to remember those who died in the catastrophic floods that hit the country nearly two weeks ago. Meanwhile, rescuers are continuing to scour the ruins for hundreds of people still missing, including 18 Americans. It comes as a 64-year-old woman was rescued from the mud and debris alive, after being trapped below her collapsed home for ten days. NBC's Janis Mackey Frayer reports for TODAY.

#meanwhile #americans #mackey

Lindsay Clancy's future remains uncertain after a mistrial was declared Friday in her triple murder case. Now the district attorney is left to contemplate a retrial. NBC's Valerie Castro reports and legal ******* yst Danny Cevallos joins TODAY with insight into what may come next.

#Friday #valerie

There is a solid list of two-start options for a second straight week, as there are three pitchers who can be started in most leagues and a couple others who will make sense for managers who have some room to risk their ratios.
On the hitting side, managers will struggle to find streamers during the next four days, as most teams play three games and there is a lack of obvious matchup advantages. The Pirates and Phillies may be the best source of help.
Jacob Lopez, Athletics, 42% (vs. TOR, vs. SEA): Lopez limits quality contact as well as any player in baseball, which has enabled him to log a 2.36 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in the second half. He has worked at his hitter-friendly home park in five of nine starts over that stretch, allowing no more than two runs in each of those outings. Lopez is a great bet to stay hot this week, when he faces the Blue Jays and Mariners, who rank 27th and 30th respectively in runs scored.
Andrew Painter, Phillies, 33% (vs. HOU, @ ATL): We may have finally found a sustainable version of Painter. The former top prospect with a reworked **** nal has logged a 3.12 ERA and 0.89 WHIP across his past seven starts and has tallied at least six strikeouts in five of those outings. The right-hander can provide a double-digit whiff total for those who are starting the fantasy playoffs, and his matchups are only slightly harder than average, as the Astros and Braves rank 10th and 12th respectively in OPS versus righties.
Hayden Wesneski, Astros, 33% (@ PHI, @ TB): Wesneski has fared well in seven starts since returning from May 2025 Tommy John surgery (3.18 ERA, 3.32 FIP, 1.06 WHIP), and he has looked especially good while allowing one run over 17 innings in his past three starts. The right-hander is set to face two above-average offenses next week (Phillies, Rays), which slots him behind Lopez among the recommended options. But at this time of year, managers may opt to go with someone who has been pitching well over someone who has questionable skills and favorable matchups.

#whip #starts

After Friday's mistrial, Massachusetts prosecutors now must decide whether to retry Lindsay Clancy in the killing of her three children. While they work out next steps, Clancy remains at a Massachusetts state hospital under psychiatric care. NBC News' Valerie Castro reports.

#must

On August 4, Essential Utilities (NYSE:WTRG) reported second-quarter results that read like two different stories stapled together. Revenue climbed, the dividend grew for the 36th time in 35 years, and the merger with American Water inched closer to the finish line. But earnings per share actually dipped from a year earlier, and the company had to strip out merger costs just to show flat profitability. For a utility this steady, that split is worth a closer look.
Essential's regulated water segment posted revenue of $357.5 million in the quarter, up 7.6% from $332.3 million a year earlier, and the whole company's first-half revenue climbed 7.2% to nearly $1.4 billion. Much of that growth came from rate cases: state regulators approved $43.9 million in new annual water revenue across Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina and Indiana, plus $12.7 million more for the gas business in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Another $79.7 million in water rate requests and a $163.2 million gas case in Pennsylvania, tied to replacing aging pipelines, are still working through the process.
The company keeps buying its way into new customers, too. In May, it closed a $4.9 million wastewater deal in Bastrop County, Texas, and it has signed agreements worth roughly $282 million to add over 200,000 more customers in Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and New Jersey, including the $276.5 million purchase of Philadelphia-area sewer authority DELCORA. Since 2015, acquisitions have added more than 138,000 customers to Essential's base.
Layer on the pending American Water merger, which cleared Virginia and Ohio regulators this year after nearly unanimous shareholder approval in February, and Essential is positioning itself as a much larger multi-state utility by early 2027. The board's decision to raise the dividend 5.25% to $0.3606 per share, continuing a streak of 36 increases over 35 years, signals confidence that this growth is durable.
Look past the top line and the picture gets less flattering. Second quarter net income actually fell to $105.7 million from $107.8 million a year ago, pulling GAAP earnings per share down to $0.37 from $0.38. Essential had to report an adjusted $0.38 figure just to exclude merger-related costs and show earnings roughly matching last year's. The slide is sharper over six months: net income dropped to $330.1 million, or $1.16 per share, from $391.6 million, or $1.41 per share, in the first half of 2025.

#million #revenue #merger #year

Christopher Bell — winner: "It's been too ***** long. Oh my gosh, man. I'm just so, so proud of all these guys. All this No. 20 car. All the mechanics. All the pit crew members. They deserve it more than anyone. This has been a long time coming. Darlington has been one that I've always wanted to win since I got into the sport. This is the ultimate driver's track. I knew we'd able to win it. We can win any week. It just hadn't happened yet. But yes, when I was sitting in the infield care center at Michigan, I thought my season was over. I thought I was going to be out a couple of weeks. I thought I wasn't going to make the Chase. We're still in it, baby."
Ty Gibbs — second: "Well, I think it's just goes back to where we started. They had a pretty squirrelly metric, and we started 28th ranked in the fourth seed. Hopefully we can fix that for next time. I feel like the Toyota Camry was great. Yeah, I don't know. I'm glad Christopher won. I'm happy for him and the 20 team. We just missed it a little bit and had some issues happen a little bit. But appreciate all the effort from everyone on my team."
Tyler Reddick — third: "We just had a little hiccup on the left front on one of those green-flag cycles in Stage 2. The guys did a great job catching it. That could have been catastrophic in the first pit stall. Good job the boys not making a mistake much worse. Just lost a little bit of track position at a critical time. I think for us, where our car went was just track position. We got where it needed to be for that final restart. It was a little tough at the end, but we know where we need to be at the end of this race and years to come. Good day for the Chase. Really want to win this race bad and one day we will. It's good to be in contention every year."
WILL BE UPDATED

#thought #christopher

Botafogo drew 0-0 with Palmeiras at Nilton Santos Stadium in a match valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship this Sunday (06). Alvinegro returns to the field next Saturday (12) against RB Bragantino at Nilton Santos for the 27th round of the Brasileirão.
MATCH REPORT:
Date and Time: 09/06/2026 (Sunday), at 6:30 PM Location: Nilton Santos
Referee: Rodrigo José Pereira de Lima (PE) **** istant 1: Francisco Chaves Bezerra Junior (PE) **** istant 2: Karla Renata Cavalcanti de Santana (PE) 4th official: Fabio Augusto Santos Sá Junior (SE) VAR: Gilberto Rodrigues Castro Junior (PE)
GOALS: -

#junior #round

A sputtering lineup stirred in the eighth inning. Jose Altuve struck a one-out double, putting him on the cusp of a career milestone. Christian Walker flared a single into shallow left field. LaMonte Wade Jr. did the same, driving in Altuve and paring a deficit to one run.
The current Houston Astros offense can make that seem sizable. The additional hit it required did not appear. Jonathan Loáisiga got Daulton Varsho to wave at a third-strike changeup. Taylor Trammell, the second pinch-hitter of the inning, popped out to end it.
With a 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Astros dropped the deciding game of their series at Daikin Park and concluded a 4-3 homestand with consecutive defeats. They went 8-5 over a 13-game stretch with no off-day, emerging from it with a 73-71 record.
Houston scored three or fewer runs in eight of 13 games during that stretch. Its offense entered Sunday averaging 3.9 runs over its past 30 games, scoring the fifth-fewest runs in the majors in that stretch. Its .220 average was the sport's lowest in that span and its .368 slugging percentage the sixth-lowest.
Sunday, the Astros took three at-bats with a man in scoring position in the first seven innings and went hitless in them. Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez allowed one run in six innings on a first-inning home run by Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez also popped out with two runners on base to end the seventh.

#astros #runs #altuve #offense

The Diamondbacks came into the game looking for a series win, and with a little bit of luck, putting some more ***** e between their competition for the final NL Wild Card spot. Having Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound was a point in their favor, but the offense still RVSP'd maybe when invited to the game.
The Diamondbacks were quiet in the top of the first, with the only baserunner being a Geraldo Perdomo hit by pitch, and that allowed the Astros to strike first. E-Rod got Jeremy Pena to ground out, but Yordan Alvarez absolutely clobbered one for a solo home run. That was the first indication that Rodriguez didn't have his best stuff today, but the next few batters hammered that home, even if there wasn't much damage done. He walked both Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker, but alternated those walks with a line out from Jose Altuve and got out of the jam with a Nelson Velasquez strike out. 0-1 Astros
This, of course, did raise some concerns amongst the faithful about the early need to score more than one run. That's been a challenge for the Diamondbacks, last night's four run outbreak aside. The offense decided to do some to ***** uage those fears, but did not manage to score multiple runs right away. Corbin Carroll started off the second inning with a double, advanced on a sac bunt from Tommy Troy, and then scored on a sac fly from James McCann. Illdemaro Vargas tried to keep things going with a two out single, but Lawler was unable to step up and ended the inning with a line out to third. Tied 1-1
Rodriguez issues with command continued right away in the bottom of the second, walking Dalton Varsho. Never a good idea to walk someone like him, as he showed when he stole second to get into scoring position two outs later. Too late for it to matter, though, as Jeremy Pena only saw three pitches and flew out to end the inning.
The third inning was… something. Perdomo singled to lead off the inning, bringing Ketel Marte to the plate. Marte got an 86 MPH changeup down and away and turned it around for what looked like an easy single. The only with that is the ball also acted as a heat seeking missel straight to Perdomo's helmet. He hit the ground immediately and quickly found himself surrounded by trainers from both teams. Eventually he left under his own power to a nice ovation from the Houston crowd, as one does.

#astros