By Dylan Butler
Carles Gil put on a clinic to lead the New England Revolution to a 3-1 win over Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
And in the process, the former Landon Donovan MLS MVP placed himself in some rarefied air on Sunday.
With his 1g/2a, the Revs captain increased his career total to 152 goal contributions (57g/95a), making him the 20th player in MLS history to reach 150-plus goal contributions.
Gil picked up an **** ist on Matt Polster's 32nd-minute equalizer that canceled out Brais Méndez's opening goal for Columbus.

#contributions #england #revolution

IslamMakhachev is far more comfortable competing at welterweight andwon't move back down to 155 pounds.

Makhachev (28-1) defended the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight **** le four timesbefore moving up to welterweight. He dominantly dethroned JackDella Maddalena to win the 170-pound **** le last year and is nowscheduled to defend it against Ian Garry(17-1) at UFC330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Makhachev's coach, Javier Mendez, doesn't believe his fighter willswitch between weight classes and is likely done with lightweightentirely. Mendez recently revealed that the champion has gainedfive kilos (11 pounds) of muscle since moving up to welterweightand isn't looking to move back down.

"He's gained five kilos of muscle and feels better atwelterweight," Mendez told Alvaro Colmenero. "He prefers thisweight class. I don't think he'll ever fight at lightweight."

Notably, Makhachev has previously stated that he can compete atmiddleweight as well. When Dricus DuPlessis was the 185-pound champion, then-lightweight kingMakhachev claimed that if the UFC offered him a **** le fight againstthe South African, he would gladly accept. However, the Russianhasn't mentioned middleweight since moving up, shining a light on170-pound contenders like CarlosPrates instead.

#mendez #welterweight #move

Stop us if you've heard this before: The Saints beat the Bats.
St. Paul extended its franchise-record winning streak against a single team to nine games with a 9-4 besting of visiting Louisville on a balmy Saturday night at CHS Field.
After a mostly quiet first inning, the Saints exploded for five runs in the second inning and four more in the third to take a 9-0 lead on the slump-shouldered Bats.
Cody Morissette got the fireworks started with an inside-the-park three-run homer on a flare to straightaway center that slipped under the glove of a diving outfielder Will Benson and didn't stop until it hit the wall. Morissette sprinted around the bases as Hendry Mendez and Kala'i Rosario both crossed home plate. The second baseman himself slide home as the throw went wayward to put the hosts up 3-0.
Ben Ross followed with a more traditional over-the-wall homer to center to score himself and Walker Jenkins as St. Paul took a 5-0 lead into the third. But they weren't done yet.

#paul #morissette #second #Third

NL exec called Giants' Luis Arraez and Robbie Rays trades their 'favorite' of deadline originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco Giants conducted a sell-off at this year's trade deadline, parting with Tyler Mahle, Luis Arraez, Robbie Ray, Erik Miller, Caleb Kilian, and Heliot Ramos by the end of the MLB trade deadline.
All of those moves helped the Giants land some intriguing prospect hauls, but of those four deals, two stood out to one National League executive.
According to Jesse Rogers of ESPN, one NL exec called out the Arraez and Ray trades as their "favorite" deals of the deadline, thanks to the pitching prospects the Giants got in those two deals.
"I really liked what the Giants did to get Ramon Marquez and Miguel Mendez in their two deals and build up legitimate starting pitching depth in their system," an NL exec said.

#robbie

The San Francisco Giants did the inevitable and got rid of multiple players in a fire sale during MLB's trade deadline in hopes of salvaging the remainder of the season with a focus on next year.
Six players were shipped out of San Francisco and on to different teams. Those players included Tyler Mahle to the Atlanta Braves, Luis Arraez and Caleb Kilian to the Philadelphia Phillies, Heliot Ramos to the New York Yankees, Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, and Erik Miller to the Boston Red Sox.
In return, the Giants got back a couple right-handed pitchers, Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair, from the Phillies. The Padres sent right-hand pitcher Miguel Mendez and infielder Joniel Hernandez to the Bay Area. The Yankees sent back left-hand pitcher Henry Lalane and shortstop Kaeden Kent, son of Giants legend and Hall of Famer Jeff Kent. San Francisco got infielder Marcelo Mayer from Boston. While Anthony Molina, who they immediately ******* igned to their Triple-A affiliate, Sacramento River Cats, came via trade with the Braves.
Notable players that remain on the roster are Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers and Willy Adames. Their names were floated around the trade rumor mill but ultimately stay put in San Francisco.
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey appeared on Bay Area sports radio station 95.7 FM "The Game" to provide insight and feedback on his approach at the trade deadline and moving forward.

#trade #Padres #boston #area

Robbie Ray is on the move again.
The two-time All-Star and 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner from Brentwood High School is headed to the San Diego Padres from the San Francisco Giants, who acquired Joniel Hernandez and Miguel Mendez in return.
The Padres made the announcement on Aug. 3 near the MLB trade deadline.
It will be Ray's sixth team in 13 MLB seasons. He will be a free agent after this year.
Ray, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound left-handed pitcher, is 10-6 with a 3.08 ERA and has struck out 107 batters this year.

#robbie #star #high

One of the San Francisco Giants' lone bright spots this season is headed out the door. The Giants are dealing starting pitcher Robbie Ray to the San Diego Padres, according to USA TODAY Sports' Bob Nightengale, in a major move before the 6 p.m. MLB trade deadline.
Shortstop Joniel Hernandez and right-hander Miguel Mendez are heading to San Francisco in the deal, Nightengale reports.
Ray has been the Giants' most consistent starter. The lefty is 9-6 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.31 WHIP, plus his 116.2 innings pitched is just behind ace Logan Webb (119) for the team lead. His departure spells trouble for a Giants team that already ranks 22nd in ERA as a team.
The 34-year-old Ray has spent the last three seasons in San Francisco, making an All-Star appearance in 2025. He's also spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers. He's made two All-Star teams across his 13-year career, winning the American League Cy Young in Toronto back in 2021.
With Ray in his mid-30s, his window to contribute to a championship team is closing sooner rather than later. San Diego, which has won eight of its last nine games, is giving him an opportunity to make another run.

#diego #nightengale #star #spent

Pitcher Robbie Ray might be moving 500 miles south down the California coast. The San Diego Padres are working on a trade to get the left-hander from the San Francisco Giants, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports.
Ray, 34, has made 21 starts (in 22 appearances) for the Giants this season, compiling a 3.08 ERA, 10-6 record and 107 strikeouts in 122 2/3 innings. He's on pace to pitch more than 180 innings for the fourth time in the past six seasons.
The 13-year veteran was in his third season with the Giants after being traded by the Seattle Mariners in 2024. He's in the final year of five-year, $115 million contract he signed in free agency.
In return for Ray, the Giants will receive right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez, according to The Athletic's Dennis Lin and Ken Rosenthal. Mendez was ranked as the Padres' No. 4 prospect by MLB.com and pitching in Double-A. Hernandez, the organization's No. 9 minor-leaguer, is playing for San Diego's Dominican Summer League team.
Moving Ray to the Padres is the third deal the Giants have made before the trade deadline.

#season

A three-run third inning carried St. Paul to a series-wrapping victory in Omaha as the Saints held on late to top the Storm Chasers 4-2 on Sunday night, ending their two-game losing skid.
Ending his team's 20-inning scoreless drought, Kyler Fedko plated Kaelen Culpepper and Matt Wallner with an RBI double in the top of the third, before coming home himself on Hendry Mendez's RBI double two batters later.
Omaha countered with single runs in the third and eighth, before a Kendez sacrifice fly drove home Culpepper with an insurance run in the top of the ninth.
It was a policy that St. Paul nearly had to cash in as the Storm Chasers' Alejo Lopez hit a two-out triple in his team's final turn at the plate against reliever Julian Merryweather. Fedko suffered an injury in the left field corner while attempting to field Lopez's hit and had to be carted from the field.
There was no immediate update as to Fedko's condition.

#field

Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, one of the greatest soccer players of all time and a former FC Barcelona superstar, entered the game after occupying the bench for 52 minutes against the Crew Aug. 1. Miami forward Luis Suarez, another former La Liga star, recorded a goal and an ****** ist in the first half while former Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro made his home debut for Miami.
But it was a former La Liga player on the Crew side who came up big late.
Making his MLS debut after the Crew acquired him during the summer transfer window, former Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Brais Mendez helped Columbus earn a point in a 2-2 draw by scoring a free kick roughly 20 minutes after he took the field in the 61st minute.
"I am very happy about my debut and the goal," Mendez said after the game via a translator. "... We want to keep this strong run going and earn wins to continue to move up in the table."
The Crew matched their best result against a Messi-led Miami team and prevented him from scoring in his World Cup return. The Crew will enter Leagues Cup play with solid performances in their last two games, including a 2-1 victory over rival FC Cincinnati last week.

#minutes

St. Paul forgot to bring their bats Saturday night, and Omaha starter Henry Williams was in no mood to help the Saints find them.
Despite entering the night with a 7.03 ERA, Williams dominated the visitors' lineup, allowing St. Paul just three hits and one walk, striking out five over six shutout innings as the Saints fell to the Storm Chasers 4-0.
The Saints managed just four singles overall against Williams and two relievers. Hendry Mendez was the only St. Paul batter to reach base twice, recording the team's lone walk to go with his base hit.
Matt Bowman (2-4, 4.81 ERA), who relieved Saints starter Ricky Castro to start the fourth, was saddled with the loss after giving up the game's first run on a sacrifice fly in the first of his two innings of work. He allowed three hits and with the one earned run.
With the win, Omaha (51-55) took a 3-2 series lead in their six-game set with St. Paul (60-46). The Saints look to even the series in Sunday's finale, with first pitch scheduled for 5:05 p.m. Trent Baker (3-3, 5.89) take to the hill for the guests, while the Storm Chasers have yet to announce a starter to oppose him.

#williams #first #chasers #three

Javier Mendez doesn't see Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry continuing the Dagestan vs. Ireland rivalry.
Welterweight champion Makhachev (28-1 MMA, 17-1 UFC) makes his first ***** le defense against Machado Garry (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in the UFC 330 main event on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia (Paramount+).
Machado Garry has called his fight against Makhachev Ireland vs. Dagestan 2, referring to Conor McGregor's bad blood with Khabib Nurmagomedov. Things got so personal with McGregor and Nurmagomedov, that Nurmagomedov jumped McGregor's corner immediately after choking him out at UFC 229.
Mendez says you can't compare the two fights.
"There are zero similarities to Conor vs. Khabib," Mendez said in an interview with NewBettingSites. "Unless Ian starts disrespecting family and religion or country, but I don't see him doing that or Islam doing it either. It's a fight between them, and I feel like if they want to include me and Khabib that's fine. We are fair game, we are trainers and part of the team. They should leave everyone else alone though."

#garry #conor

Javier Mendez detailed Islam Makhachev's preparation for his upcoming welterweight ***** le bout against Ian Machado Garry. The bout will headline UFC 330, marking Makhachev's first welterweight ***** le defense.
Mendez, Makhachev's longtime coach at AKA, believes his pupil has the correct strategy to defeat Machado Garry. The Dagestani, who is known for his grappling ability, can also hold his own on the feet, making him a well-rounded fighter. Although he does not have a training partner that can replicate the Irishman's fighting style, he benefits from training with Usman Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov, the current PFL lightweight champion, is also preparing for his fight at PFL New York. As a result, he and Makhachev can maximize their training sessions while preparing for their respective bouts.
"We don't have somebody [like Machado Garry] at our disposal that is that good. But, we do have who I happen to believe is the No.1 lightweight in the world, Usman, as a main sparring partner," Mendez exclusively told Heavy Sports via NewBettingSites.uk.
Javier Mendez also revealed how Usman Nurmagomedov has helped Islam Makhachev during his training camp. Mendez stressed the importance of Makhachev's timing, particularly when throwing strikes.

#training

Javier Mendez detailed Islam Makhachev's preparation for his upcoming welterweight **** le bout against Ian Machado Garry. The bout will headline UFC 330, marking Makhachev's first welterweight **** le defense.
Mendez, Makhachev's longtime coach at AKA, believes his pupil has the correct strategy to defeat Machado Garry. The Dagestani, who is known for his grappling ability, can also hold his own on the feet, making him a well-rounded fighter. Although he does not have a training partner that can replicate the Irishman's fighting style, he benefits from training with Usman Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov, the current PFL lightweight champion, is also preparing for his fight at PFL New York. As a result, he and Makhachev can maximize their training sessions while preparing for their respective bouts.
"We don't have somebody [like Machado Garry] at our disposal that is that good. But, we do have who I happen to believe is the No.1 lightweight in the world, Usman, as a main sparring partner," Mendez exclusively told Heavy Sports via NewBettingSites.uk.
Javier Mendez also revealed how Usman Nurmagomedov has helped Islam Makhachev during his training camp. Mendez stressed the importance of Makhachev's timing, particularly when throwing strikes.

#welterweight

Ultimate Fighting Championship Hall of Famer KhabibNurmagomedov believes IslamMakhachev is in for a tricky outing against IanGarry.

Makhachev (28-1) is set to defend his welterweight **** le for thefirst time against Garry (17-1) in the main event of UFC330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.Makhachev's friend and mentor, Nurmagomedov, notes that his protégéhas never faced an opponent as tall as Garry.
Nurmagomedov admits that Garry's elusive style is a difficultpuzzle to crack. "The Eagle" further notes that Makhachev, nearing35, is six years older than Garry. According to the former unbeatenlightweight champion, the stylistic threat from Garry, combinedwith the age difference, makes it a difficult matchup forMakhachev.

"We've never faced an opponent this tall - 193 cm [6'4"],"Nurmagomedov said on the "Smol Talk" podcast. "We'll have to chasehim, close the distance, grab him, and take him down. It will be adifficult fight. And Islam is almost 35. The stylistic matchup andthe age together make this a difficult fight… I expect a hardfight, **** uming we don't get an early finish. Spending five roundswith this opponent won't be easy. The training camp will bedifficult too, first because we have to find someone who canimitate him."

American Kickboxing Academy founder and head coach of theDagestani team, Javier Mendez, recently revealed that Professional Fighters League champion UsmanNurmagomedov is helping Makhachev by mimicking Garry intraining.

Garry has racked up 10 UFC wins and suffered his lone professionalloss to ShavkatRakhmonov, who is sidelined due to an injury. Meanwhile,Makhachev is undefeated in 16 straight Octagon outings, includingsix **** le fights. The latter is tied with AndersonSilva for consecutive UFC wins, and a victory at UFC 330 willsee the Dagestani set a new record.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up minor-league catcher Eliezer Alfonzo Jr., whose family is still navigating the tragic aftermath of the earthquakes that rocked Venezuela last week.
Per the New York Post and El Extrabase’s Daniel Álvarez-Montes, Alfonzo’s 16-year-old sister Eliana and stepmother Patricia are still missing as of Saturday. His father Eliezer has reportedly secured heavy machinery to aid rescue crews searching the wreckage of the Hotel Eduards in Macuto, where the two were staying at the time of the earthquakes.
The equipment reportedly helped turn up Eliana’s dog, who was alive, on Friday as well as Patricia’s cell phone. From the Post:
“If my daughter’s little dog turned up, I think the two of them are in there,” Alfonzo told local reporter Maryorin Méndez. “I know my wife and daughter are real fighters.”
The elder Eliezer — who played for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies during a six-year MLB career — had been staying with Patricia and Eliana at the hotel but left in the afternoon to manage his Delfines de La Guaira team.

La Liga outfit Real Sociedad have on Thursday announced a fresh departure from the club’s first-team setup. This comes amid confirmation of Brais Méndez taking his talents to the USA.
Midfielder Brais is for his part fresh off a campaign which saw him play an important role in the colours of Real Sociedad.
The 29-year-old, long hampered by fitness problems, racked up 29 appearances in Spain’s top-flight. Along the way, Brais also managed to chip in with six goals and two ***** ists.
Despite these exploits, speculation had begun to spread of late that the Spaniard was inching towards an exit from his home country with a view to next season.
And as alluded to above, on Thursday, precisely as much has been confirmed.

Having the privilege of meeting both of these amazing ladies was extraordinary..
TheAJMendez
CelesteBonin

#sportcoin #WWERaw