'Absolutely ridiculous selection decision': Gautam Gambhir slammed for benching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India's dead rubber 4th T20I vs NZ originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dropped for the fourth T20I against New Zealand despite scoring 45 off 19 ******* .
Ishan Kishan returned from injury and fell for a duck as India chased 260.
Fans on social media criticised Gautam Gambhir for the selection in a dead rubber.
MORE: IND vs NZ 4th T20I 2026 live scorecard, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Eden Park, Auckland

#gautam #selection #rubber

Michael Douglas reflects on his decades-long career and personal life in his new memoir One **** uva Ride, available now
In this week's PEOPLE cover story, he opens up about sharing deeply personal stories about his drug use and affairs
The two-time Oscar winner also reflects on family, legacy and life after his cancer diagnosis
Michael Douglas once had dreams of being a race car driver after burning rubber at 150 mph with Steve McQueen in the late star's Porsche 908.
For his PEOPLE cover shoot more than 50 years later, he's cruising through the streets of New York City in a 1962 Aston Martin convertible, a rare vintage sports car that would turn the head of even Wall Street's Gordon Gekko.

#personal #life #ride #oscar

George Clooney used to prank Kaia Gerber with a rubber snake, which she says "got me every time"
Clooney, who is good friends and business partners with Rande Gerber, would subject Kaia to his "infamous pranks," she shared on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'
"His pranks will last years. He'll spent years just so that he can get you," she said
Even Kaia Gerber isn't safe from George Clooney's antics.
The Shards actress, 25, opened up about her bond with Clooney, 65, during her Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance on Wednesday, Sept. 9. And as she revealed, Clooney — who co-founded Casamigos with Gerber's dad and his good friend, Rande Gerber — would often subject her to his classic pranks.

#clooney #kimmel #live

CNBC reported that The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT) has extended the timeline for its "Goodyear Forward" turnaround plan after key financial targets went unmet.
CEO Mark Stewart told CNBC the company is trying to reach a 10% operating margin and generate meaningful cash flow, but debt remained above $7 billion at the end of the second quarter. Goodyear posted a $453 million net loss through the first half of the year against operating income of just $131 million, a 1.6% margin. The business has been hit by tariffs, elevated raw material costs, and expanding competition from cheaper Chinese tire imports. Capital expenditures, which ran roughly $2 billion combined in 2024 and 2025, are expected to fall to $725 million this year as the company prioritizes debt paydown and refinancing.
Copyright: baranq / 123RF Stock Photo
The core business is still generating a positive operating margin even amid a large net loss. Operating income of $131 million over six months shows The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NASDAQ:GT)'s core tire operations are not losing money at the operating level, suggesting the much larger net loss stems mainly from the cost of servicing its debt rather than the core business itself failing.
Management is showing real capital discipline and not just promises since cutting planned capital expenditures to $725 million this year from roughly $1 billion annually in 2024 and 2025 combined is a measurable step toward freeing up cash for debt reduction. Moreover, tangible customer-facing investments, like the new retail concept store Stewart showcased in Detroit.

#goodyear #tire

The Yankees lost the rubber-game to the San Diego Padres on Sunday, falling by a score of 4-3.
-- It was an inauspicious start by Gerrit Cole in this one after he allowed back-to-back-to-back home runs to the first three batters of the game in Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado which gave the Padres a 3-0 lead in the blink of an eye and brought Petco Park to a frenzy.
Cole settled down after that and gave up just two singles until the seventh inning when the long ball reared its ugly head once again. Leading off, Luis Campusano rocketed one to left-center field for San Diego's fourth homer off Cole which extended its lead to 4-0. The right-hander ended his outing by retiring the next three hitters and going seven innings for just the third time this season.
Three of the four home runs allowed by Cole came on his four-seam fastball and he's now given up 17 home runs in 111 innings across 19 starts this season.
-- Campusano's home run proved to be pivotal as New York's offense, which had been shut out for the first seven innings against former Yankee Michael King (six innings) and Bradgley Rodriguez (one inning, 2 Ks), scored three times in the eighth inning to draw closer.

#home #innings #runs #Padres

After a couple of crazy games — one loss and one win — the Rockies will look to take their final game against the St. Louis Cardinals in this afternoon's rubber match. If they win, they will tie the season series 3-3.
The Rockies have played 19 rubber matches so far this season and are 6-13, the second-worst rubber match winning percentage (.316) behind the Boston Red Sox (5-14, .263). Seven of their rubber match losses have come by two or fewer runs, and they are 3-5 in home rubber matches (3-8 on the road). Wednesday's rubber match against the Orioles marked the first time the Rockies have won three-straight rubber matches since winning five-straight May 7-June 25, 2023.
Tanner Gordon (1-4, 5.18 ERA) will take the mound for the Rockies. Gordon was on a roll in his last outing before being stymied by a one-hour and 38-minute rain delay. Gordon managed to toss five innings before the delay, only allowing three hits and one run with one walk and three strikeouts. But he only threw 60 pitches, so hopefully that means he'll be fresh this afternoon. He has faced the Cardinals twice (one start) and is 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in 9.1 innings.
Gordon will face Colorado Mesa product, and Boulder native, Kyle Leahy (10-4, 3.13 ERA). Leahy is in his fourth MLB season, but first where all of his appearances have been starts. He made 98 appearances from 2023-2025, but only one start — the Cardinals' final game against the Chicago Cubs last September where he pitched three perfect innings with a strikeout. In his last outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Leahy pitched three innings and allowed one run (a solo homer) on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. He has faced the Rockies six times in his career, and started against them this year on August 7th in St. Louis. He is 2-0 against them with a 4.05 ERA in 13.1 innings.
First Pitch: 1:10pm MT

#leahy

No matter what may you look at it, this was a tough one. After the San Diego Padres walked off the New York Yankees on Friday night, they took a gut punch in Game 2, losing 5-1. Much of that was thanks to starter Robbie Ray failing to get out of the third inning.
After setting down the first three batters, Ben Rice singled to lead off the second inning. Ray got the next two batters out before giving up a double, three consecutive walks and a two-run single. Ray's command completely eluded him, after he had looked strong to start the night. That, along with a quiet offense, marked the death of the Padres on Saturday night. They'll now face New York in the rubber match this afternoon, trying to win their first series in two weeks.
Cole spent the beginning of 2026 stuck on the injured list. The veteran's first start of the year came on May 22 after receiving from Tommy John surgery. He's been solid in that time, pitching to a 3.29 ERA through 104 innings. The strikeout numbers are modest, with 110 K's in that same time.
But, in his last seven starts. Cole has turned up his game. He's pitched to a 2.36 ERA across 42 innings. That being said, the last two games have been his worst in that time. Cole has surrendered six runs over his last 11 1/3 innings, giving up three runs in each of his two recent starts. San Diego will try to take advantage of that to win the series finale.
King has been fantastic this year, with a 3.11 ERA to back up that claim. Through 162 innings, King has proved that 2024 was not a fluke, posting incredibly consistent numbers through most of the season. King has been especially fantastic lately, with a 2.86 ERA across his last 15 starts.

#first

For the vast majority of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, George Russell appeared completely in control of his own destiny. After pulling off a sharp opening-lap move on pole-sitter Pierre Gasly and surviving the Lap 3 red flag triggered by Charles Leclerc's crash, the Mercedes driver looked poised to convert his front-row start into a commanding victory at the Temple of Speed.
Instead, a critical strategic gamble under a late Virtual Safety Car completely upended the race, leaving Russell defenseless on fading rubber while his teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli charged from the back of the grid to **** the win.
Mercedes opted for an extreme tire management strategy with Russell, keeping him out on a single set of hard compound tires following the early race stoppage. But when a late Virtual Safety Car period neutralized the field, the Silver Arrows pit wall was forced to make a high-stakes tactical call: preserve track position or pit for fresher, faster rubber.
While Russell remained out on track to protect the race lead, Antonelli and Red Bull's Max Verstappen both dove into the pits for fresh tires. The stark difference in grip proved decisive in the final laps, as Antonelli rapidly eliminated the gap and swept past Russell to claim an astonishing victory from 19th on the grid.
Speaking post-race, Russell admitted he never expected the team to bring Antonelli in.

#russell

Laura Dern found the ideal sneaker to wear with a summery dress. The Oscar winner was spotted at the Hotel Excelsior on the Venice Lido pier during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Thursday, wearing a Gabriela Hearst outfit with casual and affordable Vivaia sneakers. Laura Dern is seen at the Hotel Excelsior on the Venice Lido pier during the 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Thursday in Venice, Italy. Getty Images She opted for the Vivaia Lexi round-toe casual sneakers in the seashell and castle wall colorway, which retail for $159. The style is a lightweight everyday sneaker that blends soft nylon on the upper with a beige and white toe area, with a sculptural bubble design on the rubber outsole. Those details help the shoe be part of both the current low-profile sneakers and two-tone shoe trends for fall. The Lexi is also made with a flexible, non-restrictive upper, with upgraded cushioning and a supportive insole that create a soft, steady underfoot feel. The sneaker is also available in chestnut brown, dark green, and black. The Vivaia Lexi Sneakers. The "Marriage Story" star paired the cream shoes with a Gabriela Hearst Maude Pleated Mia's Flowers Midi Shirtdress in ivory. The dress
Follow Footwear News on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

#venice

The Mets (63-77) took the rubber match of their three-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays (83-56), 10-4 the final score.
-- The Amazins wasted no time taking an early lead over Rays right-handed starter Griffin Jax. Juan Soto reached base on a single up the middle, but was retired on a fielder's choice groundout by Bo Bichette. Carson Benge walked to put runners on first and second with two outs, and Jared Young capitalized with an RBI single. Tampa catcher Liam Hicks couldn't hold onto the ball when applying the late tag on Bichette, and the ball skittered away, the error allowing Benge to score and Young to move up to second base on the play as well. Marcus Semien added to the damage with a double down the left field line to bring Young across home plate, and the Mets were up 3-0.
-- The Mets engineered another two-out rally in the third inning. They loaded the bases after A.J. Ewing hustled out an infield single, and Brett Baty capitalized with a big opposite-field swing which ricocheted off the very top of the wall in left-center field, clearing the bases and knocking Jax out of the game.
-- 29-year-old righty Justin Hagenman was called on to make the start for the Mets on Wednesday, marking his first MLB appearance of the season. He threw 46 pitches, allowed two hits, walked one batter, and allowed one earned run while striking out two over three full innings.
-- Right-handed reliever Chris Devenski came in for Hagenman, and had a nightmare outing. After recording two outs in the fourth inning, Devenski unraveled, allowing three earned runs on three hits, including a two-run homer off the bat of Richie Palacios. Taylor Walls extended the inning with a double to force Mets interim skipper Andy Green to call on Dedniel Núñez to strand the runner in scoring position and hold the Mets' 6-4 lead.

#single #field #bichette

Under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez helped the club win the 2025 Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup later that summer but noises emerged at the start of this year about him wanting to leave.
It began once Maresca left Stamford Bridge in January and two months later, following Chelsea's Champions League exit, Fernandez said he did not know whether he would be at the club next season.
His first choice was to join Real Madrid but the La Liga giants never came in with an offer, feeling the Premier League midfielder was overpriced.
New Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso spoke to Fernandez this summer in an attempt to try and change his mind and for him to stay, but the player's heart was set on leaving.
Having been jeered by his own supporters during the home pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad, there was only one direction of travel thereafter and that exit was seemingly rubberstamped after being left out of the wins over Luton and Brighton.

#club

CHICAGO — Rookie Sal Stewart homered for the third straight game to help offset two more home runs by Pete Crow-Armstrong, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday night after rain delayed the start 25 minutes.
Dane Myers hit a go-ahead homer off Shoto Imanaga (8-10) leading off the fifth inning and Tyler Stephenson followed with a two-run shot after a single by Elly De La Cruz for a 6-3 lead. De La Cruz left after that with left quad tightness.
Stewart homered for the 31st time — off Trent Thornton — for the Reds' final run in the seventh.
Crow-Armstrong homered leading off the first against Chase Burns (15-3) to give the Cubs the lead. It his fourth in seven at-bats after hitting three Saturday in a 17-5 victory over the Reds. The NL's MVP front-runner hit his 38th homer — a solo shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagán in the ninth before the right-hander finished off his 19th save.
Burns allowed three runs — two earned — on six hits in 5 2/3 innings as Cincinnati beat the Cubs in the rubber game of the series after losing six of seven matchups previously.

#stewart

Aug. 30—BEMIDJI — On Saturday, history was made at the Sanford Center parking lot.
That sentence may not have ever been written before, but it's fitting after the Sanford Center Super Special, a street stage that capped the 2026 Ojibwe Forests Rally.
Rally superstars whipped around the pavement in front of hundreds of fans, all there to witness drifts, high speeds and burnt rubber.
By the end of the weekend, it was Lia Block, the 19-year-old daughter of racing legend Ken Block, standing at the podium in the national overall class with co-driver Alessandro Gelsomino. Not only was it her first American Rally ***** ociation national overall victory, but she became the first female driver to do so in the top class.
"Unfortunately, it's taken this long to happen," she said jokingly. "We've been working toward it for a long time."

#overall #long

On August 28, Frontline (NYSE:FRO) posted the best quarter in company history, with net income of $659 million and adjusted profit of $580 million for the second quarter of 2026, up $235 million from the prior quarter. The gains came from tanker rates that climbed across every vessel class Frontline operates, from its largest crude carriers to its smaller product tankers. CEO Lars Barstad described a market with no playbook, one where geopolitical disruption is reshaping how oil moves around the world. The bigger question left hanging on the call is how much of that strength holds once the disruptions ease.
VLCC rates hit $153,000 per day in the second quarter of 2026, while Suezmax and LR2/Aframax vessels earned $111,000 and $92,400 per day. That strength has carried into the third quarter, where Frontline has already booked 86% of VLCC days at $157,000 per day, 79% of Suezmax days at $117,000 per day, and 70% of LR2 days at $81,000 per day, evidence that rates are holding rather than sliding back. The fleet backing those numbers is young and efficient, averaging 6.6 years old, fully eco-designed, and 69% scrubber-fitted, which keeps cash breakeven costs between $22,200 and $25,700 per day, well under what the ships are currently earning.
That spread between cost and rate is throwing off real cash. Management estimated annual cash generation potential at $2.3 billion, or $10.35 per share, based on rates as of August 28, a 24% yield against the current share price. The balance sheet has room to match it: $1.2 billion in liquidity, no debt maturities until 2030, and a refinancing that cut the average interest rate margin by 52 basis points to 1.26%. Frontline also collected $270 million selling two VLCCs at about $135 million apiece, with Barstad noting some buyers are paying premiums for older tankers just to control their own logistics chains.
Much of the current rate strength traces back to friction rather than growth in oil demand. Crude exports from inside the Strait of Hormuz are down 82% amid recent disruptions, and China's crude imports have fallen 35%, cushioned by inventory drawdowns rather than fresh buying. Barstad pointed to a 23% increase in VLCC idling days, driven by ship-to-ship transfers off Fujairah and Malaysia that can triple the distance a cargo travels before reaching its final buyer. That inefficiency is tightening effective fleet supply even as actual volumes shrink, which is a different story than genuine demand growth.

#million #vlcc #strength #rather

SEATTLE -- The Sparks (14-25) have one more to go before going on their two-and-a-half-week FIBA World Cup break. They will take on the Storm (8-31) in Seattle for a little Sunday matinee action.
The last time these two teams faced each other? It was an embarrassing effort at home. They just had an eight-day break and they scored the second least points of the season at 64.
The Sparks did, however, beat them in their first encounter this season in June. So they have the rubber match on Sunday.
The team made a lot of moves this weekend as they claimed Aaliyah Nye off waivers, signed Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda to a developmental deal, and let go of Kate Martin and Alissa Pili (developmental deal). Neither Nye nor Mwenentanda will be available on Sunday so they'll have 11 available for the game. For Seattle, Awa Fam, who represents Spain, has already left for the World Cup. Natisha Hiedeman will also be out due to a shoulder injury.
These two teams are out of the running for the playoffs. But it's about pride and a strong finish to the season.

#break #teams #developmental

PRAIRIE VIEW - State championships aren't won in the heat and humidity of late August.
Brian Randle and his players have a more lucid understanding of that reality than most. The Randle High School football program has ended each of its past two seasons with a high-stakes game right before Christmas.
With 16 more weeks remaining before the UIL hands out its gold-plated plaques in Arlington, the Lions are embracing the journey. They're calling this season "The Reckoning," and it's started with a momentous victory.
This campaign was never going to be about one opponent. Randle is simply 1-0 after Friday night's 20-14 triumph against Dallas powerhouse South Oak Cliff. But in a rubber match between the programs that have faced off for the past two Class 5A Division II state **** les, taking care of the Golden Bears was the first order of business.
"I mean, we had to break the tie," said Randle, whose team avenged a 35-19 loss from last December's championship game and is now in Class 5A Division I. "We had to break the tie. It's funny because I love what Dallas does. I love what SOC does. But their fans, they talk a lot. So it feels good to have bragging rights for another 12 months until we meet again."

#past

I have a confession to make. This whole season, I have been waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop for Eduardo Rodriguez. I had a difficult time believing the same pitcher who had posted consecutive seasons with ERAs north of five could somehow transform himself into a legitimate Cy Young candidate. There were some legitimate reasons for that doubt too between his whiff percentage, strikeout rate, and chase rate all leave something to be desired – to say nothing of expected stats that paint an even worse picture. But at some point, you have to throw out all the other pieces of evidence and recognize that however he's doing it, Rodriguez is putting together one of the best pitching seasons in franchise history. And at a time in the season where every win is crucial, he delivered once more with an absolute gem against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon. In seven innings of scoreless work, Rodriguez racked up nine strikeouts and allowed just five baserunners all game, inducing a whopping 18 swings and misses along the way.
It was a fairly dominant performance for the veteran lefty, but it wasn't all smooth sailing. In the visiting half of the sixth, Pete Crow-Armstrong, who was mostly contained in the series, stroked a leadoff double down the line and then moved over to third on Seiya Suzuki's groundout. After a shallow flyout from Alex Bregman wasn't deep enough for PCA to score, he decided to take matters into his own hands and bluffed a straight steal of home by sprinting halfway down the third base line. That move unsettled Rodriguez enough for him to shuffle off the pitching rubber before delivering to James McCann behind the plate. The entire Cubs dugout clamored for a balk call, but after a quick umpire consultation, it was declared not a balk – much to PCA's chagrin as he charged directly at the third base umpire and had to be held back by his coaches. After a few replays of the incident, I do think (as does Bob Brenly) that it probably was a balk. E-Rod clearly takes his left foot off the rubber before coming home with the ball, which would be very deceiving to a baserunner and which has always been the intent behind the balk rule. The play also highlighted the fact that every play should be reviewable as other angles show enough that the Cubs at least had an argument and when the margin is so thin, the call should be correct. It's worth watching the whole sequence for yourself to see where you fall on the decision:
View Link
For what it's worth, Chicago starter Matthew Boyd nearly matched Rodriguez zero for zero as the veteran journeyman allowed the same number of baserunners (five) in six innings of work and continued the excellent starting pitching the Cubs had in the series. His only mistake was a hanging changeup that Jordan Lawlar just lifted over the right field fence for the only run allowed by a Cubs starting pitcher. The D-Backs added an insurance run in the eighth when consecutive leadoff singles from McCann and La

Clippers 3, Indians 4
It's been a tough season for Yorman Gomez, and that continued today. He allowed four earned runs on six hits including three home runs. His ERA on the season is up to 7.19. Steven Perez, Connor Brogdon, and Carlos Hernandez combined for 4.2 scoreless innings of relief.
It wasn't a great day for the offense but Daniel Schneemann went 2-4 with a HR. Kyle Manzardo went 1-3 with a walk and an RBI double, and Kody Huff went 1-4 with an RBI double.
RubberDucks 7, Patriots 5
Jake Fox and Bennett Thompson were the story of this game. Jake Fox went 3-3 with three RBIs and a triple. He is now hitting .311 with an .878 OPS on the season. Bennett Thompson went 3-4 with an RBI double.

#went #thompson #clippers

Last night, the Athletics fell to 19-39 at Sutter Health Park after dropping the series-opener against the Minnesota Twins, 9-6. Starter Jeffrey Springs struggled once again, and the offense's last-ditch rally came a few runs short. Tonight presents an opportunity for the last-place A's to earn their 20th home win and force a rubber match tomorrow.
Rookie left-hander Gage Jump will be on the ***** p this evening for the home team. The 23-year-old enters his 17th start of the season with a 5-8 record, a 4.83 ERA, a 1.51 WHIP and 88 strikeouts over 82 innings. Jump has endured some turbulence lately, going 2-4 with a 6.75 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP over his past seven starts. In his most recent outing against the Kansas City Royals, Jump took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits over four innings.
This evening, the A's would greatly appreciate a quality start from Jump in his first career appearance against the Twins. Through his first several MLB starts, Jump has alternated between stellar outings that have the team envisioning a future with him near the top of the rotation and poor performances that highlight the youngster's areas for growth as he adjusts to major league hitters. It would be beneficial for Jump to finish the season strong, although the team must be mindful of his workload to avoid increasing the southpaw's injury risk.
Here's the Athletics' lineup tonight:
From the jump, this lineup sets the A's up well defensively. Tommy White is a better fit at first base, as last night's bunt debacle showed he is a bit stretched at the other infield corner.

#runs #home

After taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves, the team with the best record in the NL East, the Brewers will now head to the Big Apple to take on the worst team in the NL East.
Starting for the Mets is rookie left-hander Zac Thornton, who's made nine starts for New York this year. Thornton has been good at limiting runs (3.04 ERA) and sports a solid 1.15 WHIP, although his underlying numbers paint a somewhat less flattering picture. His 4.09 FIP is more than a full run higher than his ERA, he's struck out just 6.4 batters per nine innings, and his Statcast chart is almost entirely blue.
On the rubber tonight for the visiting team will be Kyle Harrison, who went five shutout innings against the Mariners last time around. Harrison allowed only two hits and struck out eight in a game Milwaukee would go on to win 22-0. The 25-year-old lefty has been consistently great this year, pitching to a 2.84 ERA through 20 starts in his first season as a Brewer.
Jackson Chourio, who's hitting .393 with a .916 OPS over his last seven games, leads off for the Brewers. He's followed by fellow regulars Brice Turang and William Contreras.'
Jake Bauers is dealing with a sore foot after fouling a ball off his foot on Sunday, so he's out of tonight's lineup. For what it's worth, Bauers has said he's fine to play. He's just a little dinged up right now, and the Brewers can afford to be patient — especially because they still have Andrew Vaughn (1.054 OPS vs. lefties) to hit cleanup.

#brewers #year #starts

The 2026 Dutch Grand Prix sprint race provided McLaren with plenty of data, but it also delivered a sobering realization: Ferrari might currently possess the fastest race car on the grid.
While McLaren continues to fight at the front of the pack, Team Principal Andrea Stella was quick to single out Charles Leclerc's Sprint performance as the ultimate benchmark for long-run speed around Zandvoort.
Ferrari raised eyebrows across the paddock when they sent Leclerc to the Sprint grid on a used set of soft tires, bypassing the standard medium compound favored by the majority of the field.
However, Stella acknowledged that the Italian squad's aggressive strategy was rooted in hard data. "When we saw Leclerc starting on a used soft, we thought that that was quite ambitious, but eventually the information they got through the running in practice will have given them the confidence to do so," Stella told the media.
Leclerc's ability to manage the softer rubber over the course of the Sprint confirmed the ominous pace Ferrari had demonstrated earlier in the weekend. "I think the lap times of Ferrari in continuous laps that they showed during practice one, they were the best, and probably in the race Leclerc was still the best in terms of pace," Stella noted.

#stella #race #grid

A top-three finish in a Formula 1 Sprint is typically a solid platform to build on, but for Lando Norris, stepping out of the car at Zandvoort brought a stark reality check.
Despite securing third place and banking valuable championship points in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Sprint, Norris bypassed the usual post-session pleasantries to deliver an unvarnished diagnosis of McLaren's current machinery. For all the team's aerodynamic strides, the twisty Dutch circuit has laid bare a critical, ongoing limitation in the car's operating envelope: a glaring deficit in slow-speed corners.
When quizzed after the Sprint about whether tyre balance on the medium compound had hindered his run, Norris was quick to dismiss surface-level excuses.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Norris made it clear that the shortfall was rooted in pure mechanical and aerodynamic fundamentals rather than rubber management.
"Yeah, not a bad result, not the best," Norris admitted. "It would have been nice to be a little bit faster today… I don't think it was the tyres, just real race pace. We're not quick enough, and we have some work to do".

#aerodynamic #despite #grand

KANSAS CITY, MO - Suddenly, Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton didn't look comfortable.
He stomped on the mound in Kauffman Stadium, trying to fix his landing spot. He knelt behind the rubber and scraped at his cleats. The usually unflappable pitcher seemed out of sorts at the end of his outing in a 5-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals o Friday, Aug. 21. He gave up a pair of home runs, which was odd on its own – he had given up only one dinger in his last eight starts.
So, that was weird. But now, here's a little perspective: He ended up giving up just two earned runs in 5⅔ innings and it felt like a bad start, which tells you how impressive he has been.
But on this night, the Tigers were doomed by the long ball.

#kansas #runs #melton

KANSAS CITY, MO - Suddenly, Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton didn't look comfortable.
He stomped on the mound in Kauffman Stadium, trying to fix his landing spot. He knelt behind the rubber and scraped at his cleats. The usually unflappable pitcher seemed out of sorts at the end of his outing in a 5-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals o Friday, Aug. 21. He gave up a pair of home runs, which was odd on its own – he had given up only one dinger in his last eight starts.
So, that was weird. But now, here's a little perspective: He ended up giving up just two earned runs in 5⅔ innings and it felt like a bad start, which tells you how impressive he has been.
But on this night, the Tigers were doomed by the long ball.
SHUFFLING THE ROTATION: Keider Montero getting extra days of rest from Detroit Tigers

#runs #melton

On August 13, Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT) held its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings call, and the numbers surprised even the company's own leadership. Organic sales grew 9.7%, the fastest pace in more than three years and a sharp jump from the 6% growth reported just one quarter earlier. For a distributor whose fortunes track the health of American manufacturing, that kind of acceleration is not a small thing, and it set up a call that ended with management raising its long-term ambitions rather than just its short-term guidance.
The breadth of the improvement stood out as much as the headline number. Twenty of the company's top 30 end markets posted positive year-over-year sales growth in the quarter, up from 17 last quarter and just 15 a year earlier, with metals, technology, utilities and energy, machinery, rubber and plastics, and pulp and paper leading the way. Automation sales jumped more than 20% year-over-year, the strongest growth in over four years, as customers lean into robotics, machine vision, and what management called physical AI.
The technology vertical now makes up more than 15% of the Engineered Solutions segment, with semiconductor demand and data center buildouts both contributing. The Service Center segment grew organic sales 8%, up from 4% last quarter, with 27 of 30 verticals positive. That segment has averaged 8% organic sales growth and 13% EBITDA growth over the past five years, a track record management pointed to as evidence the business is more durable than investors might ***** ume. All of that flowed through to the bottom line. EBITDA margin expanded more than 60 basis points to above 13%, EBITDA grew 16%, and SG&A expense fell to 18.6% of sales. The company generated $461 million in free cash flow for the year, returned $317 million to shareholders through buybacks, raised its dividend 11%, and used the momentum to lift its five-year targets, pushing the sales objective to $7 billion from $5.5 billion and the EBITDA margin goal to 14% from 13%.
The guidance Applied issued for fiscal 2027 tells a more cautious story than the quarter it just posted. Full-year sales growth guidance sits at just 4% to 6.5%, well below the 9.7% just delivered, with management citing tougher comparisons in the back half of the year and limited visibility into how trade policy and geopolitical dynamics evolve. Inside Engineered Solutions, flow control sales growth was muted in the quarter, weighed down by a difficult prior-year comparison and softer MRO activity across process end markets like chemicals and refining, both of which also declined outright for the year alongside lumber and wood and transportation.

#ebitda #management #organic #years

With one out in the 8th inning of Thursday's afternoon rubber match, Cleveland Guardians center fielder Petey Halpin singled, then got caught leaning by JT Brubaker. The pickoff throw went to Bryce Eldridge, who ran Halpin to Willy Adames, who threw to Osleivis Basabe, who dropped the ball.
Three pitches later, Halpin was at third after Brubaker threw a wild pitch. One pitch after that, he'd scored the final run of Cleveland's 5-2 win over the San Francisco Giants on an RBI single from Brayan Rocchio.
The Giants would make it interesting in the 9th, drawing two walks off closer Cade Smith (32 saves) after being down to their last strike, but Rafael Devers flew out to end the game and send the Giants to their sixth straight series loss, and their 9th road series loss in a row.
The story of the game was, once again, poor Giants defense. Little Leaguers can successfully execute a pickle, but not the Cement Glove keystone duo of Basabe and Willy Adames, who committed his 18th error of the season and also fumbled the exchange on a potential double play.
Cleveland's three-run first-inning rally got a boost from a ground-ball single from Travis Bazzanna that went under Basabe's glove, giving the Guardians first and third with no one out instead of a rally-killing double play. A bloop single and a sacrifice fly made it 2-0, then Adames booted a second double-play ball grom Angel Genao. That opened the door for an RBI single from Patrick "Patty Barrels" Bailey, the first hard-hit ball of the inning off of Landen Roupp (7-13) despite it being a 3-0 game.

#Giants #adames #single #play

TimesofIndia.com in Galle: The match was over. The formalities were completed, and both teams had already left the stadium. The broadcast crew was busy packing up for the next game, but the work was only getting started for Manjula and the 130 groundstaff at the Galle International Cricket Stadium. It rained immediately after the two teams completed their handshakes, but unlike the preceding week, there was no urgency to cover the square or the ground. Overseeing operations, Manjula stood on top of the advertising board and kept a close eye as the covers were neatly folded and parked after a week of intense activity.

Since India and Sri Lanka arrived in the coastal city for the series opener, rain has appeared frequently enough to keep Manjula and his team on their toes. Not all of them are employees of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Only 16 are permanent staff in Galle, while 10 came from Hambantota to help with the international fixture. The remaining staff were hired as daily workers.

"We have 16 permanent employees and 10 come from Hambantota whenever an international match comes to Galle. For the rest, we hire daily workers for the duration of the match and practice sessions, and they are paid between 2,500 LKR and 4,000 LKR per day for the work," says Manjula.
From anticipation to execution, the groundstaff stuck to their methods and ensured there was no chaos, even during a heavy downpour. The average time they take to cover the entire ground is less than five minutes, and they work quickly depending on the situation. They look for cues, observe the cloud behaviour and are always staring towards the Indian Ocean near the Galle Fort.

"We keep our eyes there," he says, pointing towards the ocean near the fort. "When clouds start building up, we know it's coming. Then we are ready and wait for the official signal to start covering the pitch, square, run-up and then the entire ground. That's the order we follow."

"The reaction time is very important," he adds.
When the groundstaff run from all directions, dragging the covers, the synchronised effort is a sight. The first batch, covering the pitch and square, times their runs so there is no overlapping, and speed cannot be compromised because the run-up and the remainder of the field must be covered next. These are anything but light covers, and a 100x100 piece can weigh over 650 kg. Add to this the challenges of wind and rain.

"These are not light," Manjula says with a laugh. "They are well over 650 kg each for a 100x100 piece, and there are about 28 pieces we have to cover the entire ground and ensure no damage is done to the outfield."
While the covers are heavy enough to stay grounded on their own, heavy crosswinds present a challenge, and the next step is to carefully place heavy rubber tyres to keep the covers in place. More than 300 tyres are ready to be rolled onto the ground the moment rain arrives.

"We keep these tyres over the covers because, as you have seen, it does

Patrick Sandoval has been playing with fire baserunners all season since returning from Tommy John surgery this year, and it finally blew up on the Red Sox over the weekend. Now we're hearing that an injury may be playing a role in his performance, even if it's a small one. Sandoval apparently has been battling a blister on his left foot (the foot he uses to push off the rubber) for most of the year. (Jon Conahan, NESN)
If Sandoval does go on the IL — or if he's just ***** ped from the rotation for underperformance — the Sox do have another experienced starter on the roster who could take his rotation spot in Brayan Bello. The problem is that Bello, for whatever reason, is thriving in his long relief role after struggling in the first inning all season long. "Does this mean Brayan can't start anymore? That's not the case," Chad Tracy said. "It's difficult to ignore how very, very effective he has been coming out of the bullpen in a bulk relief role and taking down innings. So I don't think that we've closed the book on that by any means. It just feels like that's the way to do it right now." (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)
Bello is pitching so well in his long relief role that it's hard not to think about what the narrative of his season would be if he was able to perform this way as a conventional starter. He has an ERA of 0.85 in over 50 relief innings, and if he were performing anywhere close to that while starting games, we'd be talking about him having a career year and thrusting himself into the Cy Young conversation. As it stands, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees seems to have that award locked up, though Sonny Gray is currently projected to finish fifth. (Jason Foster, MLB.com)
Sonny Gray is rightly heralded as one of the best offseason acquisitions any big league team has made this year. But, so far, the Red Sox trade deadline acquisitions aren't faring nearly as well. (Rob Bradford, WEEI)
Bello isn't the only Red Sox veteran who went missing from this team for most of the middle of the season, of course. Trevor Story has been out since mid-May recovering from sports hernia surgery, after struggling through the first weeks of the season. But he now hopes to return as early as Friday. It's fair to ask whether he still should get the nod at shortstop given his poor performance before hitting the IL, but Chad Tracy says the goal is for him to be the everyday shortstop again. (Tim Healey, Boston Globe)

#year #role #long

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.
For the first time in nearly a month, the Pirates secured a series win after defeating the Red Sox 8-3 in Sunday's rubber match at PNC Park.
Bottom 1st, 2-0 PIT: The Pirates (61-65) manufactured a pair of runs on three consecutive pitches from Patrick Sandoval (1-2). Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back doubles and Brandon Lowe plated the latter with a single to left.
Click here to read more on PGHBaseballNOW.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

#back #park #patrick #esmerlyn

PITTSBURGH — For the first time in nearly a month, the Pirates secured a series win after defeating the Red Sox 8-3 in Sunday's rubber match at PNC Park.
Bottom 1st, 2-0 PIT: The Pirates (61-65) manufactured a pair of runs on three consecutive pitches from Patrick Sandoval (1-2). Esmerlyn Valdez and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back doubles and Brandon Lowe plated the latter with a single to left.
Bottom 3rd, 7-0 PIT: The Pirates sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs in the inning. Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe each had an RBI single, Nick Yorke brought home two with a base hit to center and Henry Davis chipped in a sacrifice fly.
Top 5th, 7-3 PIT: Connor Wong blasted a three-run home run to left-center off Hunter Barco (1-1) to get the Red Sox (66-58) on the board.
Bottom 7th, 8-3 PIT: Yorke delivered again for the Pirates with an two-out RBI single to right field off Raymond Burgos.

#brandon #lowe #runs #three