08282025 SPORTS

SPORTS

Together this quartet has won six Super B owls and a whopping 721 NFL games. For good measure, throw in three college football national championships, when also including Carroll’s two at

Jonquel Jones records her 101st career double

By JONATHAN BURROWS

In a tense matchup, Jonquel Jones delivered another masterclass performance, securing her 101st career double-double, and the New York Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun, 81-79. Jones scored 18 points, shooting an efficient eight of 10, with 11 rebounds and six assists.

The Liberty needed every bit of Jones’ efficient night against her former team now led by DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas.

It would be Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu’s gamesaving block in the final seconds of the game to secure the victory.

“WE JUST HAVE TO BE CONSISTENT NOW. WE KNOW WE CAN DO IT AND WE’RE

IT.”

— Jonquel Jones

This win maintained the streak of 33-0 in games where Jones records a double-double.

Speaking after the game, Jones emphasised the importance of consistency for the Liberty.

“We just have to be consistent now. We know we can do it and we’re successful when we do it,” Jones told the New York Post. This double-double also marked her 11th this season in just 26 regularseason game appearances. Jones’ steady production remains the team’s backbone as the Liberty prepares for the playoffs.

and Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) in the fourth quarter of a WNBA basketball game on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)

The Bahamas at Inter-Caribbean Show Jumping Challenge MASTER CLASS

TEN-year-old Madison

Miller became the youngest equestrian to compete for The Bahamas on the Caribbean equestrian circuit thus far, riding in the inaugural Inter-Caribbean Show Jumping Challenge held at St. Ann’s Polo Club in Drax Hall, Jamaica. The competition featured 27 riders from French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, Poland and Suriname, as well as Miller who was the lone rider from The Bahamas. Riders competed on borrowed horses in three

divisions according to their respective level: Beginner (0.50m); Espoir (0.85m), and Elite (1.00m). Miller competed as an individual in the Espoir (0.85m) category, as The Bahamas did not send a team to the event. She rode ‘Patron’, owned by Julian Hyde, and finished 14th overall in her division. The Inter-Caribbean Show Jumping Challenge was conceived as an initiative to expand the Grand JUMPING - See Page E2

By JONATHAN BURROWS

BAHAMAS Lawn Tennis Association (BLTA) president Perry Newton addressed the press earlier this week in response to growing unrest within the local tennis community regarding the administration of the association. Newton acknowledged that in recent weeks we have seen heightened criticism of the BLTA’s operations with coaches and past players voicing frustrations about the overall direction of the sport and the association’s administration and its duties. “We have always been an organisation that believes in unity and transparency and everything that we do is for growth and the development of the sport,” said Newton.

“A lot of times persons may not agree with the process and they may want you to go left when you’re going right,” he also added. Despite the tensions, Newton expressed optimism about the future of Bahamian tennis.

“I think that we have had a lot of success and I think that we have a vision for the future and that is the most important thing is when you have a vision and then you know see the fruits,” Newton said. Newton also appealed for unity within the tennis community.

THE SPORTS CALENDAR

BASKETBALL NPACBO OFFICIAL REFEREES

IF you are interested in becoming a basketball referee, the New Providence Association of Certified Basketball Officials is looking for you. The NPACBO is inviting all interested persons to sign up to become a certified basketball referee and a certified table official.

All you have to do is call 242-808-6839 or 242-423-0328 for email npcobahamas@

Aug.

gmail.com for more information.

SOFTBALL ATLANTIS ALL-STAR WEEKEND THE Atlantis Softball League has announced that its All-Star Weekend is scheduled for 3:30pm Wednesday, September 3, in the Archdeacon William Thompson Softball Park at the Southern Recreation Grounds. The draft is slated to be held for the team

AUG. - See Page E2

ORGANISERS PROPOSE MOVING 2028 OLYMPIC DIVING TO PASADENA FOR AN ESTIMATED $17.6M SAVINGS

LOS ANGELES (AP)

— Organisers of the 2028 Summer Olympics want to move the diving competition from Los Angeles to nearby Pasadena.

LA28 organisers said yesterday the proposed relocation would accomplish up to $17.6 million in combined savings and revenue growth.

They said the move would address athlete safety concerns and reduce “operational complexities” in the Exposition Park zone south of downtown.

The pool used in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, located near the University of Southern California campus south of downtown, was originally chosen to host diving in 2028.

Now, LA28 organisers want to move the event to the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center.

That is located south of the Rose Bowl stadium, which will host the

semifinals and finals of men’s and women’s soccer.

Organisers said the new location requires fewer improvements, provides more athlete amenities and spectator seating and, most importantly to their goal, significant revenue increases and cost savings for the overall games budget.

The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center opened in 1990.

It hosted the final practices of the 2000 U.S. Olympic swimming and diving team and the U.S. national diving championships were held there in 2008.

The Los Angeles City Council ad hoc committee on the 2028 Olympics voted yesterday to move the venue relocation proposal to the full City Council for a vote at a later date.

MILLER, of The Bahamas, aboard Julian Hyde’s Patron.

MADISON MILLER BECOMES YOUNGEST EQUESTRIAN TO COMPETE FOR BAHAMAS ON CARIBBEAN EQUESTRIAN CIRCUIT

JUMPING - from page E1

Caraïbe League and provide more competition opportunities for aspiring Caribbean equestrian athletes.

The event was organised by Julian Hyde, owner of Hyde Riding Academy of Jamaica, and supported by other equestrian officials of the English-speaking Caribbean, including Equestrian

SPORTS CALENDAR

AUG. - from page E1

selection for the All-Star Game and Community Family Fun Day that will be staged at 11am on Saturday, September 13.

BASKETBALL

BBSF TOURNAMENT

THE Bahamas Baptist

Sports Federation is scheduled to hold a meeting 6pm

Bahamas president Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, who served as president of the Ground Jury, becoming the first Bahamian to officiate at an international equestrian competition. Final results of the team competition were as follows: Guadeloupe – 1st place; Martinique – 2nd place; Jamaica – 3rd place; Suriname – 4th place; French

today at its office upstairs in the Bahamas Baptist College, Jean Street, for all churches interested in participating in the 2025 Basketball Tournament.

The tournament is scheduled for the weekend of September 26-27 at the CI Gibson Gymnasium for the 12-and under and open divisions. Each team will consist of 12 players. Trophies sponsored by AID will be distributed to the champions and runners-up in each category as well as medals for the third-place teams.

Interested persons can contact Sean Bastian at seanbasbastian@gmail.com or call 826-8535 or Brent Stubbs at stubbobs@gmail. com or call 426-7265 for more information.

FAST PITCH

ESA

CLINIC

THE Exuma Softball Association is scheduled to hold a softball fastpitch pitching clinic over the weekend of August 29-30 in George Town, Exuma. Friday’s session will run from 6-9pm and Saturday will be from 10am to noon and 6-9pm.

Male pitchers Thomas Davis and Delano Cartwright and female pitchers Mary “Cruise” EdgecombeSweeting and Marissa Lockhart as well as coach Desmond “Big Country” Dean will conduct the sessions. Interested persons can call 242-457-0180 for more details.

NPSA SEASON

THE New Providence Softball Association is scheduled to continue its regular season action this week in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex with the following games on tap: Thursday 7pm - Platinum Sharks vs Black Scorpions (L)

Guiana – 5th. In the individual classes, the overall winner of the Beginner class was Lauren Shaw of Jamaica - the winner of the Espoir class was Franci Russel of Jamaica and the winner of the Elite class was Josepha Berthier of Guadeloupe. The Inter-Caribbean Show Jumping Challenge is expected to become an annual event.

9pm - Gremlins vs Titans (M)

Saturday

7pm - Ballers Elite vs Pool Sharks (L)

9pm - Gremlins vs Renegades (M)

LEGENDS

TRACK MEET THE Devynne Charlton Barrier Breakers Foundation is scheduled to hold the Legends Track and Field Devynne Charlton Invitational on January 24, 2026 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The event, which is expected to bring in a number of top athletes from around the world, will be held in honour of Charlton for her achievement as the world indoor two-time 60 metre hurdles champion and world record holder.

TRACK & FIELD

CLASSIC

THE Baptist Sports Federation is slated to hold its 2025 Track and Field Classic during the Baptist month of activities on Saturday, October 25 at the Thomas A. Robinson Track and Field Stadium.

Odd distance events will be staged for competitors in the under-7, under-11, under-15, under-17, under20, under-40, under-60 and 60-and over categories for men and women. There will also be a Pastors/Ministers category. Trophies will be presented to the divisional champions and medals to the top three finishers in each event.

Interested persons can contact Ann Thompson at ann87609@gmail. com or call 425-3667 or Brent Stubbs at stubbobs@ gmail,com or call 426-7265 for more information.

BARRIER BREAKERS

THE Devynne Charlton Barrier Breakers Foundation is scheduled to hold the Legends Track and Field Devynne Charlton Invitational on January 24, 2026 at the Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium. The event, which is expected to bring in a number of top athletes from around the world, will be held in honour of Charlton for her achievement as the world indoor two-time 60 metre hurdles champion and world record holder.

‘Jazz’ Chisholm Jr and New York Yankees rout Nationals 11-2

By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) —

Aaron Judge hit a two-run homer and Cody Bellinger homered on the next pitch as the New York Yankees went deep four times and scored nine runs in the third inning of an 11-2 rout of the Washington Nationals yesterday.

Max Fried (14-5) took a no-hit bid into the sixth before allowing three straight hits. He allowed one run and four hits in seven innings for his longest start since June 25.

The Yankees entered the third with a 1-0 lead after Trent Grisham hit his sixth leadoff homer this season off Washington starter Cade Cavalli (1-1).

Judge hit a two-run homer above Monument Park in centre field and Bellinger followed with a drive into the Yankees’ bullpen in right-centre.

Ryan McMahon hit a three-run homer after Washington catcher Drew Millas fractured a finger on a catcher’s interference play.

Ben Rice, who had three hits, also homered to give the Yankees a 9-0 lead.

Jasson Domínguez hit an RBI double and had a runscoring infield single in the 40-minute third inning.

Austin Wells added a homer in the fourth.

And Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr stole second base in the third inning.

Washington lost its fifth straight and allowed six homers for the second time this season.

Jacob Young ended Fried’s no-hit bid and CJ Abrams hit an RBI single.

Cavalli allowed eight runs — seven earned — and eight hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Key moment McMahon turned the game into a rout with his second homer since joining the Yankees.

Key stat The Yankees clinched their 34th consecutive season with a winning home record.

Up next Nationals LHP Mitchell Parker (7-14, 6.01 ERA) opens a three-game series against the Rays on Friday in Washington. Yankees RHP Will Warren (7-6, 4.47) opposes RHP

3.93)

By The Associated Press

Washington Mystics (1622, 8-9 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (23-15, 12-5 Eastern Conference)

New York; Thursday, 7 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTS-

BOOK LINE: Liberty -13; over/under is 163

BOTTOM LINE: Washington Mystics visits the New York Liberty after Shakira Austin scored 30 points in the Mystics’ 84-82 loss to the Seattle Storm.

The Liberty are 12-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 6.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Nyara Sabally averaging 1.7. The Mystics have gone 8-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Washington ranks third in the Eastern Conference shooting 33.8% from 3-point range.

New York averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game, 2.1 more made shots than the 7.7 per game Washington gives up. Washington has shot at a 44.5% clip from the field this season, 2.3 percentage points above the 42.2% shooting opponents of New York have averaged.

The two teams match up for the third time this season. The Liberty defeated the Mystics 86-78 in their last meeting on June 5. Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 26 points, and Kiki Iriafen led the Mystics with 17 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Sabrina Ionescu is shooting 40.0% and averaging 18.8 points for the Liberty. Jonquel Jones is averaging 16.5 points over the last 10 games.

Austin is averaging 13.1 points and 6.4 rebounds for the Mystics. Sonia Citron is averaging 17.8 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 5-5, averaging 81.9 points, 32.3 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 5.4 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.5 points per game.

Mystics: 3-7, averaging 78.5 points, 30.9 rebounds, 20.5 assists, 6.6 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 81.6 points.

NPSA REGULAR SEASON: RENEGADES OUTSLUG MIGHTY MITTS

15-12,

WILDCATS BLAST SHARKS 21-2 IN LADIES’ OPENER

THE New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season action with two exciting match-ups on Tuesday night in the Bankers’ Field at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. In the men’s marathon affair in the nightcap, the Renegades outslugged the Chances Mighty Mitts 15-12, while the Sunshine Auto Wildcats blasted the Platinum Sharks 21-2 in the ladies’ opener. Here’s a recap of the two games played: Renegades 15, Mighty Mitts 12

Jahim Davis emerged as the winning pitcher, while manager Alphonso “Chicken” Albury was tagged with the loss.

Junel Bain led the offensive attack for the Renegades, going 2-for-3 with a triple, driving in two runs and scoring as many runs, while Lindero Hanna was 4-for-5 with a triple and a pair of RBI and runs scored as well. The game was tied at 11-11 at the end of regulation and had to go to the ninth inning when the Renegades put up four runs on two hits to seal the deal. They also had a run on a hit in the first, three runs on two hits in the second, six runs on five hits in the third and one run on a hit in the fifth inning.

Chances could only respond with a run on a hit in the ninth of the extra two frames. They had three runs in both the first and second on one and two hits respectively, one run on one hit in the third, another run on three hits in the fourth, two runs on two hits

in the sixth and one run on two hits in the seventh.

Avery Moxey went 3-for-5 with a RBI and run scored and Caleb Knowles was 2-for-6 with a double, a RBI and two runs scored in a losing effort for the Mighty Mitts.

Wildcats 21, Sharks 2

Ramona Hanna out-duelled Yvanna McDonald on the mound in this lopsided encounter.

Hanna also helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 with a RBI and two runs scored, but it was Kenya Forbes with the big bat as she was a perfect 3-for-3 with three doubles, three RBI and four runs scored.

Daria Cambridge was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored, Donette Edwards was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored to also help Sunshine Auto in the win.

The Wildcats opened the game with four runs on two hits in the first, but blew the game open in the third with 10 runs on seven hits and added seven more insurance runs on three hits in the fourth for the abbreviated victory. Platinum’s only two runs were unearned in the second inning. They were hitless in the game.

Thursday 7pm - Platinum Sharks vs Black Scorpions (L) 9pm - Gremlins vs Titans (M) Saturday 7pm - Ballers Elite vs Platinum Sharks (L) 9pm - Gremlins vs Renegades (M)

SUÁREZ’S THREE-RUN HOMER LIFTS MARINERS OVER PADRES 4-3

By The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit his second three-run homer in two games and the Seattle Mariners held off the San Diego Padres 4-3 yesterday.

Luke Raley had an RBI double and Bryan Woo earned his 12th win to help the Mariners take two of three in the series. They hold the final American League wild-card spot and sit just behind first-place Houston in the AL West.

Fernando Tatis Jr. laced an RBI double with two outs in the ninth inning for the Padres. He was stranded at third when Andrés Muñoz retired Ramón Laureano on a game-ending groundout.

San Diego, in position for a National League wild card, is right on the heels of the rival Dodgers atop the NL West.

The Padres and Mariners share a spring training site in Peoria, Arizona.

Suárez, who hit a three-run shot Tuesday, replicated the feat in the fourth when he turned on a cutter from starter Yu Darvish (3-4). It was Suárez’s 42nd home run of the season, third-most in the majors.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the second when Raley flared a runscoring double with two outs.

Gavin Sheets had an RBI single off Woo (12-7) in the sixth, and another run came around when Jake Cronenworth was hit by a pitch from reliever Gabe Speier. Muñoz got three outs for his 31st save.

ATLANTA 12, MARLINS 1 MIAMI (AP) — Ozzie Albies homered and drove in five runs, and Atlanta beat Miami.

Jurickson Profar hit two solo homers for the Braves, who outscored the Marlins 21-1 over the last 10 innings of their threegame series. Matt Olson and Michael Harris II also went deep.

Atlanta star Ronald Acuña Jr. walked four times and was hit by a pitch, leading to the ejection of manager Brian Snitker.

Braves starter Joey Wentz (3-3) permitted one run and five hits in 6 2/3 innings.

After winning six consecutive series to get to 55-55 on Aug. 3, the Marlins (62-71) lost their seventh straight series. Olson hit a two-run homer and Albies added a three-run drive against Ryan Gusto in the third. It was Albies’ third homer of the series after he hit two on Tuesday.

GUARDIANS 4, RAYS 3 (10 innings) CLEVELAND (AP) — Kyle Manzardo hit a game-ending single with two out in the 10th inning, and Cleveland topped Tampa Bay. Angel Martínez opened the 10th on second as the automatic runner and advanced on Bo Naylor’s sacrifice. Steven Kwan drew an intentional walk and advanced to second on defensive indifference.

After Brayan Rocchio struck out, Manzardo lined an 0-2 fastball from Griffin Jax (1-7) into center to give Cleveland its second straight win and snap a three-series losing streak. It was the third gameending hit of the season for Manzardo. He is the first Cleveland player with at least three such hits since Jim Thome in 2001. Nolan Jones hit a tying solo drive to right-center off Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks with one out in the ninth. Jones’ fourth homer was Cleveland’s first extrabase hit in 45 innings, going back to the eighth inning of Friday’s game at Texas.

Will Wilson added a career-high three hits. Cade Smith (6-5) got the win after retiring the Rays in order in the 10th. Brandon Lowe hit a two-run homer in the third inning for Tampa Bay, which has dropped six of nine. Everson Pereira added an RBI single. RED SOX 3, ORIOLES 2 BALTIMORE (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift Boston to a victory over Baltimore.

After Keegan Akin (4-4) worked out of a jam in the eighth to preserve a onerun lead, the left-hander couldn’t contain Boston in the ninth.

Jarren Duran led off with a single and Rafaela followed with a towering fly that cleared the wall in left-center.

An apparent miscommunication between Duran and Rafaela helped Baltimore take a 2-1 lead in the seventh. After Baltimore’s Dylan Beavers drew a two-out walk, Dylan Carlson hit a liner that landed at the base of the wall between the two Boston outfielders, each of whom appeared unsure who was going to try to make the catch.

Boston starter Brayan Bello allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Greg Weissert (6-4) got the win, and Aroldis Chapman worked a perfect ninth for his 26th save and his 14th consecutive hitless appearance.

Roman Anthony got Boston started with a shot to center off Dietrich Enns on the fifth pitch of the game. Two nights earlier, the rookie became the youngest player in Red Sox history (21 years, 104 days) to hit a leadoff homer.

METS 6, PHILLIES 0 NEW YORK (AP) — Nolan McLean became the first New York Mets pitcher to win his first three major league starts, tossing eight magnificent innings in a victory over Philadelphia that completed a three-game sweep.

Mark Vientos homered and drove in three runs as the resurgent Mets moved within four games of firstplace Philadelphia in the NL East. They improved to 7-2 against the rival Phillies this year, clinching the season series and a potential postseason tiebreaker. The teams play a fourgame series in Philadelphia from Sept. 8-11.

New York began the night with a 3 1/2-game lead over Cincinnati for the final National League wild card.

The Mets are 8-3 since McLean (3-0) made his debut Aug. 16 against Seattle. The 24-year-old right-hander allowed four hits and walked none with six strikeouts, throwing 95 pitches and lowering his ERA to 0.89. He retired 15 straight batters following Alec Bohm’s second-inning single and faced the minimum until Bryce Harper’s two-out single in the seventh.

Bohm and Max Kepler opened the eighth with singles, but McLean preserved the shutout by

retiring Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott on medium-depth flyouts and inducing Harrison Bader to hit a squibber back toward the mound. McLean pounded his right fist into his glove as the Citi Field crowd of 41,893 roared.

Brooks Raley tossed a one-hit ninth to close out the five-hitter.

BLUE JAYS 9, TWINS 8 TORONTO (AP) — Addison Barger had a two-run double in the eighth inning and Toronto rallied to beat Minnesota. Toronto trailed 8-6 heading to the bottom of the eighth against reliever Génesis Cabrera, but pinch-hitter Ty France cut the deficit to one with his second home run of the season.

Pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk chased Cabrera with a single and Michael Tonkin (2-1) walked George Springer before Barger doubled off the wall in right.

Davis Schneider homered twice and Andrés Giménez also connected for the Blue Jays. Toronto is 58-4 when scoring five or more. Schneider hit a two-out homer in the second and a leadoff drive in the fourth in his third career multihomer game. The homers were his ninth and 10th.

Seranthony Domínguez (3-4) got two outs for the win and Jeff Hoffman finished for his 29th save in 36 chances.

PIRATES 2, CARDINALS 1 ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tommy Pham hit a two-run single in the sixth inning to lead Pittsburgh to a victory over St. Louis.

The highly-touted Bubba Chandler (1-0) pitched four scoreless innings of relief of starter Carmen Mlodzinski for his first win in his second major league game. The 6-foot-3 right-hander allowed one hit, struck out three and walked one.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled leading off the sixth against Sonny Gray (12-7). Jared Triolo walked and Spencer Horwitz reached on a throwing error by first baseman Willson Contreras to load the bases. Gray retired Bryan Reynolds on a forceout at home before Pham hit the next pitch up the middle.

Masyn Winn had a twoout single off Mlodzinski in the second and Thomas Saggese walked before Pedro Pagés singled to put the Cardinals up 1-0. Isaac Mattson pitched a scoreless eighth for Pittsburgh and Dennis Santana finished for his 10th save in 12 opportunities.

ASTROS 4, ROCKIES 0

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez homered for the first time since returning from a fractured right hand, helping Framber Valdez and Houston beat Colorado. Alvarez hit a two-run drive off Angel Chivilli in the eighth inning for his fourth homer this season. The slugger was activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and went 0 for 2 with two walks in his first game back.

Valdez (12-7) allowed three hits — all singles — in seven innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two.

Cam Smith also went deep for Houston, which remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Seattle for the top spot in the AL West.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, BREWERS 2

MILWAUKEE (AP)

— Blaze Alexander and Geraldo Perdomo homered, Ryne Nelson limited Milwaukee to a run in six innings and Arizona beat the major leagueleading Brewers to end a three-game losing streak. Nelson (7-3) allowed six hits and struck out three without walking a batter for his first victory since July 19. Andrew Saalfrank got the final five outs for his third save.

Arizona took a 2-1 lead in the sixth against Erick Fedde (4-13), with Perdomo singling and Alexander hitting an opposite-field shot to right.

After fouling a pitch off his toe, Perdomo made it 3-1 in the eighth with a homer to right off Nick Mears.

Milwaukee’s William Contreras homered off Juan Burgos in the eighth. The Brewers got two innings out of opener Aaron Ashby before turning things over to Fedde, the right-hander who signed a one-year contract earlier Wednesday.

ROYALS 12, WHITE SOX 1 CHICAGO (AP) — Salvador Perez hit a leadoff

homer and a two-run double in Kansas City’s eight-run fifth inning as the Royals pummeled Chicago.

Perez’s double gave him 993 RBIs — one more than Amos Otis for third place in Royals history. Next on the list is Hal McRae with 1,012. George Brett leads with 1,596. Ryan Bergert (2-1) pitched a season-high six innings, allowing one run and six hits for his first win in five starts with Kansas City. Jonathan Bowlan, Angel Zerpa and Daniel Lynch IV finished with a scoreless inning apiece. Perez tied it at 1 with his 23rd homer when he connected off Aaron Civale (3-9). Bobby Witt Jr. chased Civale with a two-out, two-run single and Vinnie Pasquantino greeted Tyler Gilbert with a two-run single for a 5-1 lead. Adam Frazier doubled in Perez for an 8-1 advantage.

Mike Yastrzemski hit his 14th homer — a three-run shot off Gilbert in the sixth to make it 11-1. Yastrzemski doubled and scored on Maikel Garcia’s single in the eighth. Witt went 2 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 16 games.

RANGERS 20, ANGELS 3

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adolis García, Joc Pederson and Kyle Higashioka each hit a three-run homer, Corey Seager went deep a team-leading 21st time and Texas blew out Los Angeles.

García’s 17th home run highlighted a four-run first inning, Pederson made it 7-1 in the second with his seventh of the season and Seager added a two-run shot in the fourth.

Higashioka’s 10th homer for a 20-3 lead came on the last of 21 pitches — all between 30 and 40 mph — from Oswald Peraza, who moved to the mound from first base in the seventh and allowed eight runs while getting one out.

The first three homers came against Jack Kochanowicz, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake before the game for his 23rd start in his third stint with the Angels this season. Kochanowicz (3-11) allowed 11 runs with 10 earned — both career highs — in 3 1/3 innings. The right-hander’s ERA rose to 6.81.

US Open foes Townsend and Ostapenko get into a tense back-and-forth after match

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) —

U.S. Open opponents

Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko got into a face-to-face argument on the Court 11 sideline right after their second-round match ended yesterday.

“She told me I have no class, no education, and to see what happens when we get outside the U.S.,” Townsend, who is from Chicago, said after her 7-5, 6-1 victory over 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko, who is from Latvia.

After the two players met at the net for a postmatch handshake, they stayed near each other instead of going their separate ways, as players usually do. The 25th-seeded Ostapenko wagged a finger at Townsend as they spoke.

“I mean, it’s competition,” Townsend said.

“People get upset when they lose.”

Added Townsend:

“When she was playing well, I didn’t say anything. That just shows class.”

When they finally stopped talking to each other, Townsend went over to the stands and egged on the partisan crowd, waving her arm overhead and the noise from spectators only grew louder.

After things had calmed down, Townsend noted during her on-court interview that she had beaten Ostapenko on another occasion — their career head-to-head series was tied at 1-all before Wednesday — and said: “So let’s

see what else she has to say.”

During one extended trip to the locker room by Ostapenko while the match had still been going on, Townsend pulled out a jump rope and used it while there was a delay

in the action. Ostapenko has gotten into kerfuffles with opponents during matches before, including in 2021 when she lost to Alja Tomljanovic at Wimbledon. Tomljanovic accused Ostapenko of lying about needing to leave the

court for a medical timeout to address an abdominal issue.

Townsend recently rose to No. 1 in the WTA doubles rankings. But this is her first time reaching the third round in singles at a Grand Slam tournament

since 2023. In singles, Townsend is No. 139. She is the lowest-ranked American woman to beat a past Grand Slam champion in singles at a major since Kristie Ahn defeated — guess who? — Ostapenko at the 2019 U.S. Open.

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of $42,500 by the U.S. Open yesterday — more than a third of his $110,000 tournament prize money — for his meltdown during a first-round loss after a photographer wandered onto the court during the match.

Tournament referee Jake Garner docked Medvedev $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and another $12,500 for racquet abuse. When the match ended, Medvedev repeatedly smacked a racket against his sideline chair, destroying the equipment.

Medvedev, a former No. 1-ranked player who won the championship at Flushing Meadows in 2021, was angered on Sunday night when chair umpire Greg Allensworth decided to allow opponent Benjamin Bonzi another first serve after the bizarre interruption.

Bonzi was a point from winning while leading 5-4 in the third set when the photographer — whose credential was later revoked — began walking along the side of the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium just after a fault.

Allensworth told the photographer to get off the court, then announced that Bonzi would get another first serve because of the delay.

Medvedev approached the official to complain, and that is when things got wild. The crowd began booing and chanted, “Second serve!” In all, play was held up for more than six minutes as Medvedev riled up the fans and insulted Allensworth.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC BACK IN THE 3RD ROUND

By HOWARD FENDRICH

NEW YORK (AP) —

For the second contest in a row at this U.S. Open, Novak Djokovic appeared a bit sluggish, a bit off, for a stretch. This time, he even dropped the opening set. And then, as always at Flushing Meadows, the 24-time Grand Slam champion progressed to the third round.

Djokovic improved to 36-0 across the first and second rounds in New York, a place he’s won four championships, by coming back to beat 145th-ranked American qualifier Zachary Svajda 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 at Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday.

“I really tried to soak it in and enjoy the moment, especially when I won the first set,” said Svajda, a 22-year-old from San Diego.

“It kind of shocked me. I was like, ‘Wow!’”

Asked on court afterward how he felt in his first competition since losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon semifinals on July 11 while hindered by a groin injury, Djokovic replied: “Not that great, to be honest.” Svajda noticed.

“He was missing a little bit,” said Svajda, who got cramps in his legs and arms as the match wore on. “He was getting a little frustrated.”

At his news conference later, the 38-year-old Djokovic spoke a little more about his mood.

“It’s not a motivation thing. It’s just like me a bit frustrated with my game, and then I kind of go through stuff internally that — you don’t want to know the details what I’m going through and telling myself,” he explained after getting to the third round at a major for the 75th time, breaking a tie with Roger Federer for the most such appearances by a man.

“I’m just trying to be locked in. Just trying to solve the riddle once I’m on the court,” Djokovic continued. “It’s not like I’m not finding joy on the court competing. I enjoy competing, but I don’t enjoy not playing well. That’s why I put extra pressure on myself and my team to be better the next day, the next match.”

That will come against Cam Norrie, a British lefthander who reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2022, or Francisco Comesana of Argentina.

Whichever man it is will face the task that Svajda did Wednesday against Djokovic.

“He does everything so well, which is incredible,” Svajda said. “I was talking to my team and coaches before, trying to figure it out. It’s Novak Djokovic, so there’s not a big weakness.”

What else happened at the U.S. Open on Wednesday?

Winners included both of last year’s runners-up — Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz — along with No. 10 seed Emma Navarro and 2021 champion Emma Raducanu. No. 12 Casper Ruud, whose 0-3 record in Grand Slam finals includes a loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Flushing Meadows in 2022, was eliminated 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 by Raphael Collignon of Belgium. The 107th-ranked Collignon had never won a match at a major or played a five-setter until this tournament.

Alcaraz

were scheduled to play their second-round matches in Ashe at night. Who is scheduled to play today at

Past U.S.

14 seed Tommy Paul.

MAN UNITED HUMILIATED IN PENALTY SHOOTOUT LOSS TO

4TH-DIVISION

GRIMSBY, England

(AP) — Manchester United sank to a new low under Ruben Amorim by getting eliminated by fourth-tier Grimsby Town after a marathon penalty shootout in the second round of the English League Cup yesterday.

Grimsby won 12-11 on spot-kicks at 9,000-capacity Blundell Park on England’s east coast, with Bryan Mbeumo missing the decisive penalty. United needed late goals by Mbeumo and Harry Maguire just to salvage a 2-2 draw in regulation, having trailed 2-0 at halftime.

It will go down as one of the most embarrassing results in United’s history and leaves the team winless in three games so far this campaign, after a woeful 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Grimsby’s jubilant fans stormed onto the field to celebrate with the players after Mbeumo’s spot kick rebounded off the crossbar to seal United’s fate.

“It’s an amazing feeling, one that will live on forever,” said Grimsby’s

TEAM GRIMSBY TOWN IN LEAGUE CUP

Charles Vernam, who scored one of the team’s goals. Grimsby is currently fourth in League Two, and finished the match with a lineup containing several academy graduates and a Faeroe Islands international.

United, meanwhile, had 200 million pounds ($270 million) worth of new signings just in its attack in Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. Cunha also failed in the shootout by having his weak attempt saved and Sesko took United’s 10th penalty — only ahead of goalkeeper Andre Onana. After Onana and Grimsby goalkeeper Christy Pym converted their penalties, the shootout reverted to the outfield players once again. Bruno Fernandes scored his for United, but Mbeumo couldn’t. “Going into the penalty shootout, the gaffer (manager) said to us, ‘Lads, all the pressure is on them,’ and it was really,” Grimsby midfielder Kieran Green said. It was a bittersweet moment for Pym, who said:

came into the game with 16 wins from his 44 matches in charge of United after

being hired in November. He sat in the dugout during the shootout, not even watching the kicks.

A 1-0 loss to Arsenal in the opening round of the Premier League featured an encouraging performance by a new-look United team, but some worrying old habits returned when fading to a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.

The exit at Grimsby quickly brought back the gloom of last season.

“The way we started the game without any intensity, we were completely lost,” said Amorim, who apologised to United’s fans.

United was only playing in the second round — for the first time since 2014 — after failing to qualify for European competition last season. That year, the team lost 4-0 at third-tier MK Dons in the second round. Big win for Brighton In other results Wednesday, Brighton won 6-0 at second-tier Oxford, Everton beat third-tier Mansfield 2-0 and Fulham won 2-0 against second-tier Bristol City.

NFL Season Preview

Never have we seen so much coaching pedigree concentrated in one division as the AFC West features now that former Seattle head coach Pete Carroll has returned to the sideline Carroll is leading the Las Vegas Raiders a er a oneear hiatus from coaching following 14 years with the Seahawks.

Kansas City’s Andy Reid is the eague ’ s active leader with 301 victories, including playo s. He s won three of the last six Super B owls.

Carroll is 181131-1 and Denver s Sean Payton is 179-114 and like Carroll, has a Super B owl ring Carroll won his in 2014 with the Seahawks and Payton won his in 2010 with the Saints.

Jim Harbaugh, who led the 49ers to the Super B owl in 2013, took over the Los Angeles hargers last year a er winning a national title at the University of Michigan. He guided the Chargers to the playo s as he did three times in four seasons in San Francisco Harbaugh’s 60-29-1 mark as an NFL head coach gives him a .672 winning percentage, the highest of the bunch.

TTogether, this quartet has won six Super B owls and a whopping 721 NFL games. For good measure throw in three college football national championships, when also including Carroll s two at USC. BY ARNI E S TA

he AFC is stacked with so much passing prowess that B engals quarterback Joe Burrow had to watch the playo s from his den last winter despite having had a career year to go with Ja Marr Chase winning the NFLs receiving “ Triple Crown” by topping the league in catches, yards and touchdowns and Trey Hendrickson leading the league in sacks.

Such is the state of the AFC, which features more star power at quarterback than ever starting with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, even though Jalen Hurts and the reigning Super B owl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles, reside in the NFC.

Mahomes was 10-0 in one-score games last season and Jacksons 41 touchdown passes with just four interceptions weren’t enough to keep Allen from winning his rst NFL MVP award

Once again, Mahomes led the Chiefs to the Super B owl where their quest for an unprecedented three-peat was quashed by Hurts and the Eagles.

row in the Pittsburgh Steelers new 41-year-old QB and that AFC foursome of Aaron Rodgers, Mahomes, Jackson and Allen features a collective nine NFL MVP awards, four Super B owl MVP honors and four parades.

Burrow is still on a quest to join that club, but he led the league in 2024 with 4,918 yards passing and 43 touchdowns, and he’s had a terri c o season, featuring Tee Higgins and Chase his two main playmakers — signing big extensions to keep the NFL’s premier wide-receiving duo intact.

Burrow also enjoyed his healthiest o season yet as he aims for a faster start and a return to the postseason party as he traverses the gauntlet of star QBs in the AFC.

Just like ever y year you want to get bigger stronger faster Re ne things you can re ne, Burrow said I ve had injuries that kind of change the o season mindset a little bit. is year I don t have any of those, and that s great, because I can focus on getting better all around and become a more well-rounded player ” A better Burrow? Maybe he’ll get his hands on some of that shiny hardware too

OT H ER S TO WATC H

Several other AFC quarterbacks are also poised for big steps in 2025.

Despite a middling ground game and nonexistent threat at tight end last year Denver’s B o Nix threw 29 TD passes, two shy of the NFL rookie record and he was contending for the league s o ensive Rookie of the Year honors before Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels late-season surge

Sixth-year pro Tua Tagovailoa completed a career-best 73% of his passes last year and he s never had a losing record in Miami C.J Stroud has led Houston into the second round of the playo s in each of his rst two seasons e Titans made University of Miami QB Cam Ward the No 1 overall dra pick and Jacksonville’s former overall top pick Trevor Lawrence is healthy again Joe Flacco a Super B owl winner with Baltimore returns to Cleveland Ex-Giants QB Daniel Jones gets another shot in Indianapolis. Justin Fields joins the Jets. Drake Maye enters his second season as the established starter in New England Geno Smith followed Pete Carroll to Las Vegas. Mahomes still rules the AFC, having led the Chiefs