Sports
Fire, Cincinnati bring unbeaten streaks into rematch of draw
Apr 18, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Fire FC forward Hugo Cuypers (9) scores a goal during the first half of an MLS match against FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images Two weeks after playing to a draw, the Chicago Fire and visiting FC Cincinnati battle again on Saturday.
The 3-3 draw in Cincinnati on April 18 contributed to both teams’ ongoing unbeaten streaks in MLS play. FC Cincinnati (3-4-3, 12 points) are 1-0-3 in their last four regular-season matches, while the Fire are 4-0-1 in their last five.
Chicago (5-2-2, 17 points) did suffer a 2-1 home loss on Wednesday, when St. Louis City SC eliminated the Fire in the U.S. Open Cup’s Round of 16.
The Fire held leads in all three of their losses in all competitions this season, and also led 3-1 through 78 minutes against Cincinnati before settling for the draw.
Midfielder Anton Saletros told On Tap Sports Net on Wednesday that the Fire are “very, very hungry” for Saturday’s rematch.
“We had the three points against Cincinnati and they slipped through our fingers. We are very eager to play at home again and to keep pushing,” Saletros said.
In regular-season play, the Fire have outscored opponents 11-2 at home while posting a 4-1-0 record. FC Cincinnati are winless on the road this season (0-3-2), but unbeaten (4-0-1) in their last five matches in Chicago.
Cincinnati is tied for fifth in the league with 19 goals, but the team’s 23 goals allowed are the fourth-highest total in MLS. Chicago is tied for 10th in goals scored (17) while allowing the sixth-fewest goals (eight) in the league.
The April 18 result gives FC Cincinnati confidence that they can handle the well-rounded Fire.
“It’s … looking at how do they gain advantages to put this really strong attacking group in positions to make plays, and that’s what our focus is,” Cincinnati coach Pat Noonan said. “Hopefully our attack continues and hopefully our defending improves to limit their strengths.”
Nick Hagglund and Matt Miazga were in full training this week, and Noonan said the defenders could return from leg injuries Saturday.
Hugo Cuypers leads Chicago with eight goals and Kevin Denkey leads Cincinnati with six. Both strikers have scored a brace in each of their last two regular-season matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rays outlast Astros in pitcher's duel for ninth straight win
Jul 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson (15) tags out Houston Astros right fielder Cam Smith (11) during the fourth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images Junior Caminero smacked his 10th home run over his last 10 games and Nick Fortes added a pair of run-scoring extra-base hits as the visiting Tampa Bay Rays extended their winning streak to nine games with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Friday.
Caminero, the American League Player of the Month in June, snapped a 1-1 deadlock with his 25th home run in the top of the seventh inning, a solo shot off Astros reliever Steven Okert (1-1). Fortes homered in the sixth and added an RBI double with two outs in the eighth.
Three Tampa Bay relievers combined to work 3 2/3 perfect innings. Bryan Baker notched his 23rd save while Kevin Kelly (5-3) earned the victory in relief.
Rays right-hander Nick Martinez and his Houston counterpart, right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, were locked into a duel before Fortes helped the Rays break through in the sixth.
Martinez did not allow a hit until Cam Smith stroked a one-out single to right in the fourth. Martinez hit Isaac Paredes with a pitch in the first inning and Jake Meyers reached on a Caminero fielding error leading off the third, and they represented the lone runners to reach before Christian Walker worked a walk against Martinez ahead of the Smith single.
Smith ran the Astros out of the inning when he attempted to tag from first on a Taylor Trammell fly out to center field. Cedric Mullins threw out Smith as he slid into second to close the frame.
Arrighetti rebounded from a ragged month of June by working six quality innings. He carried a shutout into the sixth before Fortes crushed his second home run out to left-center with two outs in that frame.
Martinez quickly surrendered that lead when Yordan Alvarez bashed a 2-2 sinker into the home bullpen in right-center, a 427-foot blast that knotted the score on his 27th homer of the season.
Martinez departed after surrendering an infield single to Paredes. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
Arrighetti allowed one run on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts. He finished 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA in five starts last month.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees snap their longest skid since 2023 with win over Twins
Jul 3, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) follows through on a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Ben Rice hit a go-ahead two-run homer with two outs in the third inning, and the New York Yankees snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
The Yankees ended their longest losing streak since dropping nine straight from Aug. 12-22, 2023, and won for only the fourth time in their last 15 games.
Following a 53-minute rain delay, Rice lifted a full-count fastball from Minnesota rookie starter Mike Paredes into the right field seats for his 24th homer. Rice went deep after entering the third with two hits in his previous 26 at-bats.
Trent Grisham accounted for three runs after missing 18 games with a strained right hamstring. Grisham, who hit his 11th career leadoff homer, preceded Rice’s homer with a base hit that caromed off first base and lifted a sacrifice fly when the Yankees scored twice in the seventh.
Jose Caballero added an RBI single and scored on a headfirst slide when Grisham flew out.
Gerrit Cole (3-3) allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven, walked none and improved to 6-0 in his career against the Twins.
Cole was also warming up following the delay when Rice homered.
The game was paused after Cole struck out Brooks Lee to end the third inning. During the delay, the scoreboard in center field displayed Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32.
Kody Clemens homered off Cole’s 1-2 knuckle curve in the first and Victor Caratini lined a two-strike RBI single in the fourth before Ryan Kreidler struck out.
Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn each pitched a perfect inning for the Yankees before Fernando Cruz got Royce Lewis on a forceout with the bases loaded to end the eighth. David Bednar struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth to secure his 17th save.
Paredes allowed three runs on four hits in four innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked two.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees snap longest skid since 2023 with win over Twins
Jul 3, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice (22) follows through on a two run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Ben Rice hit a go-ahead two-run homer with two outs in the third inning and the New York Yankees snapped their seven-game losing streak with a 5-2 win over the visiting Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
The Yankees ended their longest losing streak since dropping nine straight from Aug. 12-22, 2023, and won for only the fourth time in their last 15 games.
Following a 53-minute rain delay, Rice lifted a full-count fastball from Minnesota rookie starter Mike Paredes (0-2) into the right-field seats for his 24th homer. Rice went deep after entering the third with two hits in his previous 26 at-bats.
Trent Grisham accounted for two runs and two RBIs after missing 18 games with a strained right hamstring. Grisham, who hit his 11th career leadoff homer, preceded Rice’s homer with a base hit that caromed off first base and lifted a sacrifice fly when the Yankees scored twice in the seventh.
Jose Caballero added an RBI single and scored on a headfirst slide when Grisham flew out.
Gerrit Cole (3-3) allowed two runs on five hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven, walked none and improved to 6-0 in his career against the Twins.
Cole was warming up following the delay when Rice homered.
The game was paused after Cole struck out Brooks Lee to end the third inning. During the delay, the scoreboard in center field displayed Argentina’s 3-2 victory over Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32.
Kody Clemens homered off Cole’s 1-2 knuckle curve in the first and Victor Caratini lined a two-strike RBI single in the fourth before Ryan Kreidler struck out.
Brent Headrick and Paul Blackburn each pitched a perfect inning for the Yankees before Fernando Cruz got Royce Lewis on a forceout with the bases loaded to end the eighth. David Bednar struck out the side in a 1-2-3 ninth to secure his 17th save.
Paredes allowed three runs on four hits in four innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked two.
–Field Level Media
Rays outlast Astros in pitcher's duel for ninth straight win
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