When Dua Lipa stepped out for Bulgari's Serpenti Infinito celebration in New York, her shimmering camisole top turned heads for its delicate straps and eye-catching embellishment. Following this highly anticipated appearance, designer Clio Peppiatt revealed exactly where that top came from, and it isn't even on shelves yet.
Dua Lipa's Bulgari event top is an unreleased piece from Clio Peppiatt's Cruise 27 collection. Peppiatt shared the reveal on her own Instagram, confirming Lipa wore a piece from the label's upcoming Cruise 27 collection. The striking ivory and gold camisole featured dense sequin and bead embellishment arranged in a soft floral pattern. The top was held up by the thinnest metallic spaghetti straps for an elegant look. The fitted, corset-style shape hugged Lipa's torso closely, with the embellishment catching the light with every step down the street.
Peppiatt captioned the reveal "a little glimpse of what's to come," crediting photographer Lorenzo Posocco for the images. In a follow-up post, she teased that the piece belongs to an "unreleased Cruise collection launching next month." This brief announcement gave excited fans an early look at the label's next drop ahead of its official release.
Lipa paired the sparkling top with tailored black wide-leg trousers for a sleek silhouette. This choice allowed the embellished camisole to remain the clear focal point of her entire outfit. She finished the look with a Bulgari Serpenti bracelet in 18-karat rose gold, a diamond and ruby choker, and matching stud earrings, all fitting given her role as a Bulgari ambassador.
Fans reacted quickly to Peppiatt's reveal, flooding the comments with fire emojis and calling the look "iconic." The designer is well known for creating hand-embellished and statement-making fashion pieces. She has increasingly become a red carpet favorite among pop stars seeking genuine texture and shine.

#piece

Justin Martinez was immaculate on Friday.
To be more specific, the Arizona Diamondbacks reliever threw an immaculate inning against the Texas Rangers, striking out three hitters on three pitches each in the sixth frame. Six of those pitchers were faster than 100 mph.
The victims: Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Jake Burger.
Justin Martinez pitches an IMMACULATE INNING! pic.twitter.com/UzNjg4Tu4y
With only 123 immaculate innings in MLB history, it remains a feat more rare than a no-hitter, though there have been far more in recent years as pitchers dial up their velocity and throw fewer complete games.

#pitches

Violence incoming.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Featherweight headliners Jean Silva and Jose Delgado came face-to-face Friday evening following the Noche UFC 4 ceremonial weigh-ins, held ahead of their main event tomorrow night (Sat., Sept. 12, 2026) inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Delgado quickly stormed onto the stage and soaked in a massive ovation from his hometown crowd. Silva, meanwhile, took his time—as usual—and initially hid his face from the fans.
When Silva finally stepped onto the scale and struck his pose, he revealed that his face had been painted like a sugar skull.
The two Featherweights then got directly in each other's faces. Silva unleashed his trademark bark, but Delgado refused to take the bait, standing his ground and staring straight through the Brazilian contender.

#onto #ultimate

A Dominican Summer League player in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, Belfi Rivera, is at the heart of a deflating story that dropped on ProPublica about young baseball players in the Dominican Republic being preyed on and scammed.
Gus Garcia-Roberts, an investigative reporter who specializes in sports, released the article on Thursday, Sept. 10. Rivera is at the forefront as Garcia-Roberts exposes Santo Caraballo, whom Garcia-Roberts describes as "one of the most notorious moneylenders profiting from Dominican baseball," for receiving $950,000 of Rivera's money despite not having anything to do with Rivera's development.
That $950,000 is part of a $1.8 million deal the Diamondbacks pledged to pay him after he turned 16. Garcia-Roberts also found that these deals are made verbally, so no records can be found if a team decides they do not want to pay the kids.
MLB finds more players in the Dominican Republic than anywhere outside of the United States, so the league sees the country as a hotbed for talent. They work to sell the kids and families on a dream that they can become the next Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo or whichever Dominican star they look up to. Oftentimes, like in Rivera's case, the players and families they talk to come from poor financial backgrounds.
Some takeaways from the story:

#garcia #diamondbacks

The full footage is even uglier.
Nearly three months after Dustin Poirier was arrested for public drunkenness at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, an extended, 28-minute police body-camera video has been released, showing everything that happened after "The Diamond" was placed in handcuffs.
The initial footage showed an intoxicated and highly agitated Poirier confronting Delta employees before challenging the responding officer to a fight. When the officer pulled out his taser, Poirier eventually backed down and allowed himself to be arrested without a physical altercation.
At first, Poirier appeared to calm down and even complimented the officer for how he handled the volatile situation. However, the former interim UFC Lightweight champion's mood quickly shifted as officers transported him through the airport police station.

#poirier #airport #even #nearly

After a banner week throwing the football, Pieper senior Chase Lyons has been voted the Express-News Athlete of the Week.
The quarterback completed 28 of 38 pass attempts for 305 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Warriors to their first win of the season - a 56-13 rout of Buda Johnson.
The second-year starter repeatedly found receiver Cade Diamond (11 catches, 127 yards, 3 TDs) as the Warriors' passing attack shredded the Jaguars' defense.
Lyons won the weekly fan poll over four fellow finalists to earn Athlete of the Week honors.
Johnson sophomore receiver Braelyn Allen accounted for three touchdowns in the Jaguars' 38-7 road win over then-No. 23 Austin Vandegrift. He caught nine passes for 90 yards and a score and rushed for 22 yards and two scores on two carries and was named Offensive Player of the Week.

#week #jaguars

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be back in the hurt business this weekend to stage Noche UFC 4 LIVE on Paramount+ from inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Leading the way this weekend for UFC's celebration of Mexican Independence Day will be a featherweight clash between knockout specialist Jean Silva and rising contender Jose Delgado. Silva was originally expected to fight former interim UFC featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez in a long-awaited grudge match, but "El Pantera" was forced to withdraw due to injury just a few weeks ago.
Adding to the mix will be a co-main event clash between former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno and recent Ultimate Fighter winner Joseph Morales. Fight fans will also get to see Octagon appearances by Tommy McMilllen, Alexa Grasso, Dan Ige, Curtis Blaydes, David Martinez, Tim Elliott, Waldo Cortes-Acosta, and Yousri Belgaroui.
Ahead of Saturday's afternoon card, the official Noche UFC 4 ceremonial weigh ins will air LIVE and FREE on Friday night via YouTube beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.

#silva #champion

Keely Hodgkinson made serene progress into the 800m final at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in her first race back since taking silver at last month's European Championships.
The 24-year-old skipped the final rounds of the Diamond League and the Final in Brussels last week due to discomfort in her hamstring but looked relaxed and comfortable as she clocked the quickest time of the two semi-finals, 1:57.57.
As usual Hodgkinson led from the front before winding things up in the closing 200m, finishing well clear of American Addison Wiley in 1:58.14 and Australia's Sarah Billings, who clocked 1:58.37.
There was drama as Veronica Vancardo was accidentally brought down by Eloisa Coiro as the Italian attempted to edge past on the inside in the closing straight, with Hodgkinson and the other runners going to console the Swiss athlete, who appeared badly hurt. Officials later advanced her to the final after reviewing the footage and deeming she was tripped.
Hodgkinson told BBC Sport: ""I'm happy with that, I'm glad to be back running. It was a lot of fun. It's been a month since I last raced so it's nice to get that run out through the legs, hopefully go a bit better tomorrow."

#championships #closing #keely #World

Kylie Jenner showcased her new yellow gold diamond earrings and matching ring in an Instagram post
The beauty mogul recently shared updates on her Hidden Hills property, purchased in 2020
Jenner revealed plans for her dream home, including a gym, spa, outdoor dining area and pizza oven
Kylie Jenner is showing off the latest additions to her jewelry collection!
On Thursday, Sept. 10, the beauty mogul, 29, shared close-up photos and videos on Instagram of her sweeping her hair to the side to reveal a new earring stack on each ear.

#shared #hidden #sept

Spectacular goals, peerless technique and a true Nerazzurri heart: born in Belgrade on 11 September 1978, Dejan Stankovic celebrates his 48th birthday today. Deki spent nine years in Nerazzurri colours, from January 2004 to 2013, making 326 appearances, scoring 42 goals and lifting an incredible 15 trophies: one Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup, five Scudetti, and the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana four times apiece. Those achievements also earned him a place in the Club's Hall of Fame, fitting recognition of his deep bond with the Nerazzurri. To mark his birthday, Internazionale Morning Club looks back on his Inter journey through the story of one unforgettable match: the 4-3 derby victory over AC Milan on 28 October 2006.
Take a moment to picture the goal you would most like to score if you were a footballer. Your first thought is probably the right one: a goal from the halfway line. Perhaps even on the volley. Now imagine not merely dreaming of it, but actually doing it. And then doing it again in a Champions League quarter-final. This is no dream. This is Dejan Stankovic.
And yet, on reflection, perhaps there was no single position in which Dejan Stankovic was irreplaceable. He could play anywhere in a flat 4-4-2 or a midfield diamond. Look at it just as objectively, however, and it becomes impossible to leave the Serbian midfielder out of any all-time Inter XI. Indeed, he is almost always there. He went straight into the Club's Hall of Fame in 2019, receiving more votes than any other midfielder.
It is difficult to name an aspect of the game at which Deki did not excel. We have already mentioned his shooting: there were plenty of goals, and they always seemed to matter. Four came in derbies, for starters. Two arrived during the 2009/10 Champions League campaign, helping Inter emerge unbeaten from testing group-stage encounters away to Rubin Kazan and at home to Dynamo Kyiv - two important steps on the road to Champions League success.
Choosing one defining moment is no easy task. It would be all too obvious to celebrate those two masterpieces from the halfway line - or, in truth, from even farther out. Their time will come. Instead, we have chosen another: a goal scored in a derby that all but confirmed a shift in the balance of power in Milano. After two decades in which the Rossoneri generally held the upper hand, from 1986 to 2006, the 20 years since have largely belonged to the Nerazzurri.

#champions #club

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The competitive field to build out the tech infrastructure to ease the use of alternative investments in the wealth channel just got a little more crowded as New York-based fintech Aqua announced a $18.8 million Series A to back what it's calling a turnkey alternative investments platform.
The AI-native platform seeks to be a single solution that brings fund creation, operational workflows, investment lifecycle management, marketplace access, document intelligence and investor servicing into a single environment. In addition to managing off-the-shelf private market funds, advisors using Aqua can build special purpose vehicles, registered funds, fund of funds and feeder funds.
The $15 million Series A, led by Arthur Ventures with participation from Alumni Ventures, follows a 2021 $3.8 million seed round backed by Google's AI Fund, Y Combinator. It plans to use the funding to accelerate business and platform development, expand its engineering and partnership teams, and deepen integrations across custodians and fund sponsors. (The firm started as a team of six, but now has two dozen employees and it plans to continue to staff up as it onboards more advisors and fund managers.)
To be sure, Aqua is far from alone in attempting to streamline the alternative investments process. The **** e continues to be led by well-known players iCapital and CAIS, which service thousands of wealth firms through their marketplaces, and each has continued to add tech to support the lifecycle of alternative investments. Firms including SUBSCRIBE, Canoe, Gridline, Allocate, Alto, Arch, Opto, GLAS Funds, Altigo/SEI and Apex Alts also compete in the area, focusing on streamlining all aspects of the investment process. In addition, traditional TAMPs like InvestCloud, Envestnet, Orion, Addepar and Black Diamond have made enhancements to support private markets.

#Investments #subscribe #series

"Freaky" is looking to put someone's lights out.
Two of Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) most exciting undefeated Featherweight prospects, Marwan Rahiki and Tommy McMillen, will collide in the "Featured Fight" of Noche UFC 4 this weekend (Sat., Sept. 12, 2026) inside Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
And the buildup has been heated, to say the least (details here).
McMillen made UFC history in his most recent appearance. In just his second Octagon outing, "Tommy Gunz" landed a ridiculous 252 significant strikes on 517 attempts, breaking the three-round promotional record previously held by Nate Diaz.
That total also ranks third all-time in UFC history, trailing only Max Holloway's absurd beatdown of Calvin Kattar (290) and Rob Font's losing effort against Marlon Vera (271).

#freaky #fighting #marwan #rahiki

Yellowstone star Kelsey Asbille is set to marry her longtime love, filmmaker Miles Joris-Peyrafitte.
The couple got engaged during a romantic trip to Sicily and shared the happy news with family and close friends, according to a Thursday, September 10 report by Us Weekly.
Joris-Peyrafitte dropped a none-too-subtle hint on September 2, posting a series of photos to Instagram captioned "Big Year." The last shot in the carousel shows a beaming Asbille, 35, holding a stack of papers — with a serious diamond ring sparkling on her left ring finger.
Miles Joris-Peyrafitte/Instagram
"HOLDDDDD UP!" one excited loved one wrote in the comments section, followed by floating heart emojis. "WHATTTTTTT???!!!"

#peyrafitte #sicily

Two princesses are rewriting the rules on what a future queen is supposed to look like — and the story is told entirely with their jewelry boxes. Spain's Princess Leonor and the Netherlands' Princess Amalia are both heirs apparent, both members of the same Gen Z cohort now stepping into royal life, and both destined, eventually, for a crown. But side by side, they could not be telling more different stories with their jewelry.
Princess Leonor completes her college outfit with a roomy black leather bag that balances style and practicality. (@ Europa Press via Getty Images)
Diamonds have always carried outsized meaning in royal circles — treasured by some dynasties, quietly set aside by others, but historically the clearest marker of status that Europe's reigning houses had at their disposal.
That symbolism is fracturing along generational lines. As Gen Z heirs move into the spotlight, the old formula of grand dynastic jewels signaling status is splitting in two: one path toward deliberate restraint, the other toward unapologetic opulence.
Leonor has planted her flag firmly in the first camp, favoring costume pieces, pearls and low-key designers over anything resembling a vault heirloom. Amalia has done the opposite, reaching for the Orange-Nassau family's most formidable pieces when the occasion calls for it.

#princess #royal #status

Princess Diana's head-turning "revenge dress," which broke royal protocol and created a sensational pop culture moment, is going on sale for the first time in nearly 30 years.
The showstopping evening gown by Greek designer Christina Stambolian will be exhibited in London this month, before heading to Hong Kong, Geneva, and finally New York, where it is expected to sell for up to $300,000 when it goes under the hammer on December 9.
The late Princess of Wales wore the black, figure-hugging dress on June 29, 1994 — the same day that her then-husband, now-King Charles III, admitted in an ITN documentary that he'd been unfaithful. The revelation had been leaked days prior by the British press and the documentary aired to 13 million viewers nationwide.
Yet Diana chose to arrive for a party at the Serpentine Gallery in London in a gown so captivating it received its own moniker, becoming known as "the revenge dress."
Pairing the shoulder-baring silk design with black heels, a black clutch, bold red nails and a jeweled chocker – created from an antique diamond and sapphire brooch that Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, gifted her for her wedding, according to Sotheby's – Diana reclaimed her image in the public's imagination.

#princess #gown #documentary

Saoirse Ronan made her first return to the red carpet since giving birth to her first child, attending the Orizzonti Corti Fuori Concorso E Concorso screening during the Venice Film Festival at Sala Giardino this evening.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
It was an understated return, with the Irish actress wearing a navy-blue Louis Vuitton dress that kept the focus on its clean silhouette. The silver zip running along the side was the only real point of detail.
Considering this was her first red carpet appearance in some time, I wasn't expecting Saoirse to make a dramatic comeback. This felt more in keeping with her style: simple, unfussy and confident enough to let the cut do the work. I also like that the zip gives the dress some edge.
Even the jewellery followed the same approach. Saoirse wore a Les Honneurs earring and Tumbler ear cuff in white gold and diamonds from Louis Vuitton's High Jewelry collection, which added just enough sparkle without changing the mood of the look.

#concorso

Amanda Seyfried brought easy, breezy glamour to the 83rd Venice Film Festival. She arrived by water taxi in a cornflower-blue minidress that slipped playfully off her shoulders. The actress waved to photographers, embracing a look that felt right at home against Venice's striped poles and golden light.
Amanda Seyfried stuns in off-shoulder Miu Miu minidress at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Seyfried wore Miu Miu's Poplin Mini Dress, a vivid blue design cut from crisp cotton poplin. The dress featured a ruched, off-the-shoulder neckline and short puffed sleeves. This gave it a relaxed, vacation-ready silhouette that still held its own on a red carpet-adjacent occasion. A subtle logo tag peeked out from the sleeve, a quiet nod to the house's signature detailing.
She paired the dress with Miu Miu's Satin Ballerinas in black, keeping the footwear simple and low-key. For her bag, Seyfried chose the label's Solitaire Patent Leather Bag, also in black, a structured top-handle silhouette that added a polished, glossy contrast to the dress's soft, matte fabric.
The jewelry came courtesy of Tiffany & Co. Seyfried wore the brand's Victoria Pearl and Diamond Earrings, featuring a single pearl drop beneath a diamond-studded star motif, along with the Knot Double Row Ring, a sculptural design finished in diamonds. Both pieces added a delicate sparkle without competing with the dress's bold color.
Her hair was pulled back into a sleek, low updo, drawing attention to the dress's statement neckline, while her makeup stayed soft and dewy, fitting for a daytime festival appearance.

#seyfried #venice #film #blue

Taylor Swift stepped out for another stylish date night with Travis Kelce in New York City. While her shimmering Stella McCartney dress grabbed attention, the singer's carefully chosen accessories completed the sophisticated look. From metallic Aquazzura heels to statement jewelry, every piece added to the polished ensemble for the evening outing.
Swift paired her metallic brown Stella McCartney Striped Silk-Blend Halter Neck Maxi Dress, priced at $2,800, with equally glamorous accessories. Most notably, she wore Aquazzura Twist 95 Sandals in gold, priced at $944. Crafted from metallic calf leather, the heels featured elegant knot detailing, an open-toe design, and sculpted high heels that perfectly complemented the shimmering gown.
She also carried the Stella McCartney Frayme Scale-Embossed Bucket Bag, valued at $1,595, in a rich chocolate brown shade. The structured handbag added texture to the outfit while coordinating beautifully with the earthy metallic tones of her dress.
Meanwhile, Swift elevated the look with luxurious jewelry. She wore Mindi Mond Imperial Citrine & Diamond Drop Earrings, worth $19,000, adding a vibrant golden sparkle beside her face. She also accessorized with the Elizabeth Taylor Darlene De Sedle 22K Gold & Opal Diamond bracelet and ring. Additionally, she wore her custom 8-carat antique Old Mine brilliant-cut diamond engagement ring and wedding band by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. Together, the heirloom-inspired pieces added timeless elegance.
Her beauty look remained classic. Swift styled her brown hair in soft, smooth waves with full bangs framing her face. In addition, she wore her iconic red lipstick, subtle eyeliner, and softly defined eye makeup. A natural, glowing complexion completed the refined evening appearance.

#metallic #wore #diamond #heels

Taylor Swift brought some serious sparkle to her latest date night with Travis Kelce. The singer stepped out in New York City on September 6 alongside her husband, delivering an elegant evening look packed with luxe details. While her striped high-slit dress made a statement of its own, Swift's jewelry collection, including gorgeous earrings, took the look to an entirely different price bracket.
Taylor Swift accessorized with Mindi Mond's Imperial Citrine & Diamond Drop Earrings, which retail for a whopping $19,000. The striking earrings feature enormous cushion-cut citrine stones suspended beneath glittering round diamonds, bringing a rich golden-yellow pop of color to her look. According to the product listing, the earrings feature a total citrine weight of 31 carats alongside 1.20 carats of diamonds.
Swift let the statement jewels peek through her softly styled brown waves, which she wore down with her signature bangs. The warm tone of the citrine also complemented the earthy palette of her striped Stella silk blend McCartney halter-neck maxi dress without competing with it. Priced at $2,800, the dress made for a perfect date night look. It featured an asymmetric neckline and a high slit that flashed her leg as she walked.
In addition, the $19K earrings weren't the only major jewels involved. Swift also wore an Elizabeth Taylor Darlene De Sedle 22-karat gold, opal, and diamond bracelet and ring set. Most notably, her custom Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry diamond engagement ring and wedding band were also on display.
She completed the outfit with metallic Twist 95 Sandals by Aquazzura and a Frayme Scale-Embossed Bucket Bag by Stella McCartney. These luxury accessories also came with a costly price tag. She walked hand-in-hand with her husband, who wore brown pants and a soft mint-green shirt.

#earrings #dress

INDIANAPOLIS – The crown jewel was diamond at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, and the stars of the National Hot Rod ****** ociation put on a Labor Day spectacle fitting of the hardware's brilliance during the Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals.
In celebration of the NHRA's 75th anniversary, the coveted Wally trophies for the 72nd running of the U.S. Nationals were diamond-accented to mark the milestone.
The significance wasn't lost on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series drivers, particularly 60-year-old "Fast Jack" Beckman.
Beckman, who collected his 41st career win, battled a loaded Funny Car field and a mild cold to chase down John Force Racing's 15th U.S. Nationals ****** le, and he achieved the feat in a John Force tribute car from 1996.
"That was just a phenomenal weekend. We tend to give preference to the most recent accomplishment but this one might be more significant because we did it in John's tribute car," Beckman said.

#john #lucas

Ice Spice revealed tattoos reading "saint" and "sinner" written on the backs of her thighs in red ink
In July, the rapper showed off a massive diamond tongue ring
Ice Spice shut down Ozempic rumors earlier this year
Ice Spice is showing off a risqué new tattoo.
The rapper, 26, took to Instagram on Sunday, Sept. 6, to reveal her new ink: the words "saint" and "sinner" written in red script on the backs of her upper thighs.

#written #backs #ozempic

Brooks Nader ensured all eyes were on her as she stepped out in a daring scarlet ensemble during her sun-soaked getaway in Capri.
The 29-year-old model showcased her incredible figure in the plunging halter-neck design as she arrived by boat for a glamorous beach club lunch with fellow model Kylie Vonnahme.
Brooks' striking look featured a barely-there halter top with dramatic draping through the front, which she teamed with a coordinating figure-hugging red skirt.
The former Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover star completed her vacation-ready ensemble with oversized black sunglasses, sparkling diamond stud earrings and a colorful printed headscarf worn across her blonde hair.
Brooks Nader makes a glamorous arrival in Capri (@ BACKGRID)

#brooks #capri #kylie

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

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo left their matchup with the Houston Astros early on Sunday afternoon after he was struck in the helmet by a line drive.
Perdomo went down in the third inning of the contest at Daikin Park, shortly after he opened the frame with a single. Ketel Marte followed that up with a 93 mph single of his own, but the ball ended up drilling Perdomo directly in the helmet as he tried to run to second.
Perdomo fell back to the dirt and remained there for several minutes, clearly in a lot of pain, before he eventually left the field walking on his own. He did not return.
The Diamondbacks ruled Perdomo out with a head contusion. Further specifics of his injury are not yet known.
Perdomo entered Sunday's contest with a .250 batting average with 48 RBI and nine home runs this season, his sixth in the league. The Diamondbacks hold a 75-68 record and sit in second in the NL West race, just half of a game ahead of the San Diego Padres for the final wild-card spot.

#perdomo #diamondbacks #left #second

After weeks focused on his fledgling career, Keon Johnson caught up with family. The Houston Astros had the 18-year-old infielder and recent draft pick and his family attend Sunday's game at Daikin Park, with Johnson arriving from their minor-league facility in West Palm Beach, Fla., late Saturday.
"It was a pretty surreal moment to finally see them again," Johnson said. "Once I got to see them, it was like pretty much all the weight finally got back off my shoulders again."
The Astros selected Johnson in the third round in the July draft, with the No. 93 overall pick, out of First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Ga. They signed Johnson, who was committed to play at Vanderbilt, for a reported over-slot $2 million bonus. Slot value for the No. 93 pick this year was $846,900.
A shortstop listed at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, Johnson was selected as the Gatorade Georgia high school player of the year as a junior in 2025. Astros director of amateur scouting Cam Pendino deemed him an "unbelievably impressive kid" with an "exciting blend of bat-to-ball and pitch recognition" after the draft.
"We think our hitting instruction can really help unlock the contact quality here," Pendino said in July. "But when you have a guy with a special blend of bat-to-ball and approach - and really specifically bat-to-ball and pitch recognition as an 18-year-old kid with really good actions in the middle of the diamond on the dirt - it's an awesome recipe."

#year #july

Ethan Pecko entered his fifth inning Saturday unscored upon but with a reliever warming behind him in the Houston Astros' bullpen. Three batters later, his outing ended. Tim Tawa cued an infield hit into an open right side. Pecko pounced on a Ryan Waldschmidt tapper before Lars Nootbaar lined a clean single.
Nootbaar occupied the leadoff spot in the Diamondbacks' lineup and was facing Pecko for a third time in the game. His single put the potential tying run on base, brought manager Joe Espada out to remove his starter and reinforced an issue within Houston's rotation with 19 games left in a postseason race.
Two of five starters the Astros are deploying - Cristian Javier and Pecko, the right-handed prospect - are under tighter reins, with Houston hesitant to have them face opposing lineups a third time. Javier hasn't faced more than 19 batters in any of his past four outings, one of which he pitched in bulk relief.
Having three starters who will work deeper - Hunter Brown, Peter Lambert and Hayden Wesneski - can mitigate that usage somewhat. But it puts added pressure on those starters to cover innings and protect the bullpen, and on the bullpen to shoulder a significant workload at least two out of five (or six) days.
How sustainable that is down the stretch, for a club with a three-game division lead and 19 games left in the regular season, is a question. The bullpen has been arguably the Astros' biggest strength, yet it's also at less than full capacity, even with expanded rosters offering an extra spot on the pitching staff.

#starters #javier #right

In the penultimate game of playing 13 straight days, a shorthanded Houston Astros bullpen could not protect a lead. A chance to pad their division lead Saturday slipped away as a result.
Gabriel Moreno gave the Arizona Diamondbacks a go-ahead single in the 10th inning. The Astros went scoreless after the fifth, falling 4-3 in the middle game of a series at Daikin Park.
Houston lost for just the fourth time in 58 games this season when leading after six innings. It carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh. Lars Nootbaar halved the lead with an RBI double. Ketel Marte erased it with his 22nd home run in the eighth.
Jose Altuve was stranded after a one-out double in the bottom of the eighth. Josh Hader entered a tied game in the ninth and retired the side with 10 pitches. After the Astros went quietly in their half, Hader did not return for a second inning. He has worked multiple innings twice in 40 outings this season.
Bryan King drew the **** ignment, the left-hander's first outing since being recalled from Triple-A. Moreno served a one-out single to score Arizona's extra-innings runner. King allowed no further damage.

#innings #houston #moreno #hader

On August 6, Installed Building Products (NYSE:IBP) reported second-quarter results that told two different stories at once. Net revenue hit a second-quarter record of $777.8 million, yet profit and margins moved the other way, and the board still found room to raise the dividend for the fifth straight year.
The headline number was $777.8 million in net revenue, up 2.3% from $760.3 million a year earlier. That growth came almost entirely from outside the core insulation installation business. Other revenue, which covers IBP's manufacturing and distribution operations, jumped 50.4% to $67.1 million, while commercial work inside the Installation segment posted same-branch sales growth of 10.4%. Acquisitions did heavy lifting too. The company closed Diamond Energy Systems in May, then Harkraft and Builders Hardware of South Carolina in July, adding roughly $30 million in combined annual revenue. Year to date, IBP has acquired about $59 million in revenue and still expects to reach at least $100 million for all of 2026.
The balance sheet backed that ambition, with $394.5 million in cash on hand at quarter-end. Management also kept returning cash to shareholders, repurchasing about 365,000 shares for $76.2 million in the quarter, with $398 million still available under the buyback authorization through March 2027. The board topped it off by declaring a third-quarter dividend of $0.39 per share, payable September 30 to holders of record on September 15, more than a 5% increase over last year's third-quarter payout.
The strength was uneven. Residential same-branch installation sales fell 6.1% for the quarter, and job volume excluding heavy commercial work dropped 5.2%, evidence that the housing slowdown is landing directly on IBP's biggest business line. That mix shift showed up in the bottom line. Net income fell to $64.9 million, or $2.43 per diluted share, from $69.0 million and $2.52 a year ago. Adjusted EBITDA slid 2.3% to $130.9 million, with the margin compressing to 16.9% from 17.6%.
Gross profit margin also narrowed to 33.3% from 34.2%, and the company pointed to a specific cause: the faster-growing Other segment carries a 24.7% gross margin, well below the 36.5% margin in core Installation work, so revenue mix worked against profitability even as total sales climbed. Higher fuel costs added further pressure on gross margin, while administrative expense crept up as a percentage of revenue, driven by higher medical insurance costs. CEO Jeff Edwards acknowledged the backdrop directly, saying the company expects affordability and consumer confidence to keep weighing on the residential market.

#million #installation #year #sales

Diamondbacks News
Diamondbacks' Slump Is Hurting Postseason Chances
The Diamondbacks simply must find a way to get out of this scoring funk they have been in for a while now.
Diamondbacks Prospect Has Award Winning Homer Spree
The Amarillo Sodpoodles' Avery Owusu-Asiedu has had himself a great time since being promoted to AA. The outfield prospect has now homered in four consecutive games for the second time in a month. The feat hasn't been done for a few years now and was done by the Dodgers' Will SMith.
Diamondbacks Release Spring Training Schedule Despite Threat of Lockout
Anything to distract from the owners and players competing to see who can set fire to the game faster.
Diamondbacks Make Surprise Decision to DFA Jorge Barrosa
The longer the season gets into September, the more it looks like Arizona has some sort of handshake deal with Max Kepler to keep him around.

#diamondbacks #time #hurting #chances