Yordan Alvarez capped a three-hit, six-RBI night with a walkoff two-run home run as the Houston Astros rallied from a five-run deficit to outslug the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 10-8 on Saturday.

Alvarez plated Jose Altuve with his 29th home run of the season and second of the game with no outs in the ninth inning. He smacked a 1-2 fastball from Rays reliever Casey Legumina (2-2) 424 feet to straightaway center field to snap the Rays’ nine-game winning streak.

The Astros pulled even at 8-8 with a three-run seventh inning that featured an Alvarez sacrifice fly, an Isaac Paredes RBI single and a pinch-hit RBI single from Zach Dezenzo. The Rays jumped out to their early lead in part thanks to another Junior Caminero homer, his 11th in the last 11 games, which opened the scoring in the first inning.

Neither Houston’s Hunter Brown nor Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen pitched effectively for their respective teams. Brown allowed seven runs on six hits over four innings, while Rasmussen allowed a season-high-tying five runs on six hits over five innings.

Mariners 11, Blue Jays 0

Logan Gilbert pitched 7 1/3 innings of one-hit ball and Randy Arozarena belted a grand slam as Seattle routed visiting Toronto.

Cal Raleigh hit a three-run homer and Dominic Canzone added a two-run shot as the Mariners won for the fourth time in their past five games and moved past Texas and into first place in the American League West.

Gilbert (7-5) retired the first 14 Blue Jays before Yohendrick Pinango blooped a single into shallow left field with two outs in the fifth. He retired his final eight batters before exiting after 91 pitches, notching seven strikeouts with no walks. Toronto starter Shane Bieber (0-1) gave up seven runs on six hits in four-plus innings.

Pirates 7, Nationals 1

Brandon Lowe and Henry Davis each drove in two runs and Braxton Ashcraft struck out seven in a solid start as Pittsburgh earned a road win over Washington.

Ashcraft (9-3) allowed one run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales each had two hits for the Pirates, who evened the three-game series ahead of Sunday’s series finale.

James Wood hit his 23rd home run of the season and Daylen Lile had two hits for the Nationals. Starter Carson Palmquist (0-1) allowed four runs on four hits in one-plus inning.

Twins 11, Yankees 4

Kody Clemens lifted a two-run homer in the first inning for Minnesota, which raced out to a six-run lead and hit six homers in a victory over host New York. On a 95-degree day, the Twins hit three of their homers off New York rookie spot starter Brendan Beck (0-1).

Clemens homered for the fifth time in eight games when he followed a walk by Trevor Larnach and an RBI double by Byron Buxton with a drive to right-center off Beck’s full-count slider. Luke Keaschall and Alex Jackson hit back-to-back homers in the second. Larnach hit a 2-1 sinker into the right-field seats off Tim Hill in the fourth. Josh Bell homered in consecutive at-bats to left off Ryan Yarbrough and Camilo Doval in the seventh and eighth, respectively.

Minnesota won for the eighth time in its past 11 road games and hit six homers for the first time since Sept 4, 2023. The Yankees lost for the eighth time in nine games and allowed six homers for the first time since Aug. 15, 2019 against Cleveland.

Tigers 3, Rangers 0

Riley Greene blasted a two-run homer to support a strong outing by Jack Flaherty as Detroit blanked Texas in Arlington, Texas.

All three of the Tigers’ runs were scored in the first two innings on Greene’s 12th homer of the season and an RBI groundout by Ben Malgeri. Flaherty (2-8) scattered three hits in 5 2/3 innings and has pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings since coming off the injured list. Keider Montero threw the final three innings to notch his first career save.

Texas starter Cal Quantrill (3-1) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings. Ben Peoples tossed two scoreless innings in his major league debut for the Rangers, who had won seven of their last eight.

White Sox 3, Guardians 1

Colson Montgomery hit a tiebreaking home run and had two of Chicago’s RBIs as the White Sox snapped a three-game skid with a win against host Cleveland.

White Sox starter Sean Burke notched a career-high 11 strikeouts while holding Cleveland to one run on seven hits in six innings. Brandon Eisert (2-1) tossed a perfect seventh and eighth and Grant Taylor came on in the ninth to earn the save.

Parker Messick gave up one run on five hits in five innings for the Guardians, who had won three in a row and plated their only run on Austin Hedges’ fifth-inning solo homer. Tim Herrin (1-4) gave up Montgomery’s go-ahead homer in the eighth inning.

Orioles 8, Reds 5

Rookie Samuel Basallo smacked a three-run home run in the first inning and Adley Rutschman drilled a two-run double during a five-run fourth to help Baltimore defeat host Cincinnati.

Pete Alonso provided three hits and an RBI as the Orioles, who won their third in a row, bounced back after falling behind during Cincinnati’s three-run second. Baltimore starter Brandon Young worked through five-plus innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits.

Jose Trevino had three hits and an RBI and Elly De La Cruz added two hits and an RBI for Cincinnati, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven. The Reds outhit Baltimore 11-10 but left nine runners on base.

Phillies 6, Royals 1

J.T. Realmuto, Gabriel Rincones Jr. and Alec Bohm homered in support of Jesus Luzardo as visiting Philadelphia topped Kansas City.

Luzardo (7-4) allowed one run and four hits in six innings, as the left-hander struck out nine without issuing a walk. Kyle Schwarber, one of five Phillies named to the All-Star team earlier Saturday, notched three hits in a supporting effort.

Kansas City starter Michael Wacha (5-6) allowed four runs in six innings, issuing eight hits and a walk while striking out seven. Nick Loftin drove in the only run for the Royals, who have lost eight of their last nine games.

Braves 14, Mets 3

Eli White homered and drove in four runs to spark Atlanta to a win over visiting New York.

White was 2-for-2, hit one of the Braves’ five home runs and matched his career high with four RBIs. Also going deep were Mauricio Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski, Austin Riley, who ended a 36-game homerless streak, and Michael Harris II, who homered off position player Luis Torrens. Chris Sale (9-6) pitched five-plus innings and gave up three runs on seven hits.

The Mets have lost 12 of their last 14 and fell 17 games behind Atlanta in the National League East. Starter Sean Manaea (1-4) allowed six runs on six hits over five innings. Tyrone Taylor and Mark Vientos homered for New York.

Red Sox 8, Angels 1

Sonny Gray allowed a run and four hits in six innings and Willson Contreras and Romy Gonzalez hit home runs as Boston routed Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

Wilyer Abreu added two RBIs and scored two runs for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the series. Boston took control of the game with a four-run fifth inning, with all those runs coming against Samy Natera Jr.

Josh Lowe homered for the Angels, who lost their fifth in a row. Starter Sam Aldegheri (3-4) gave up three runs and one hit in four innings.

Cardinals 3, Cubs 0

JJ Wetherholt hit a home run and reached base four times as St. Louis shut out Chicago, which has scored just once in two games against the Cardinals after scoring 35 runs in a three-game sweep of the San Diego Padres.

The rookie homered in the first, walked in the third, doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh as St. Louis picked up its fifth win in six games. Starter Kyle Leahy (7-4) gave up three hits in five innings. Riley O’Brien picked up his 22nd save with a hitless ninth.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (5-7) gave up four hits and two runs in four 2/3 innings. The southpaw walked three and had eight strikeouts over 86 pitches.

Diamondbacks 4, Brewers 3

Adrian Del Castillo blasted a three-run homer in the first inning and Arizona maintained that lead throughout their win against Milwaukee in Phoenix to level the series.

Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly (6-8) ended a five-start losing streak by limiting Milwaukee to two runs and scattering eight hits over five innings. Ildemaro Vargas provided a crucial RBI double in the eighth before Paul Sewald gave up a home run to Jackson Chourio in the ninth but still closed out his 20th save.

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff (2-2), who was making his third start after an injured list stint of nearly two months, walked off the mound with a trainer with two outs in the fourth after a sudden drop in velocity. Christian Yelich also homered for Milwaukee, which got three hits from Brice Turang for the second straight night.

Marlins 7, Athletics 2

Otto Lopez celebrated being named to his first career All-Star Game by going 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs to help Miami beat the host Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.

Kyle Stowers added a two-run shot and Joe Mack had a solo blast for the Marlins, who have scored 19 runs while winning the first two games of the series. Liam Hicks had three hits and scored twice, while Sandy Alcantara (10-4) allowed one run and six hits over eight innings to record his seventh consecutive win.

Carlos Cortes, Henry Bolte and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer each had two hits for the Athletics, who lost for the 10th time in the past 13 games. Aaron Civale (5-6) gave up four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings in losing his fifth straight start.

Giants 6, Rockies 4

Robbie Ray won his fifth consecutive decision, Bryce Eldridge homered and San Francisco evened its three-game series against Colorado in Denver.

Luis Arraez had three hits, while Sam Hentges, Dylan Smith and Caleb Kilian combined for three innings of one-run relief, allowing the Giants to keep their hopes alive of a .500 road trip with a second win in five tries. Ray (8-6) served up a three-run homer to Cole Carrigg in the first, but no other runs over six innings.

Rockies rookie left-hander Sean Sullivan (0-3), a late replacement for scheduled starter Tomoyuki Sagano, worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing all six Giants runs on 12 hits.

Dodgers 3, Padres 0

Freddie Freeman hit a home run and Yoshinobu Yamamoto delivered seven scoreless innings as Los Angeles continued its winning ways with a 3-0 victory over visiting San Diego.

Yamamoto (9-5) matched his season high with 10 strikeouts, while allowing three hits and two walks. Andy Pages opened the scoring with an RBI single and Freeman added an eighth-inning RBI single to close it, improving Los Angeles’ record to 10-2 since June 22 and 7-2 against the Padres this season.

Padres right-hander Griffin Canning (1-6) gave up one run on two hits over four innings. Fernando Tatis Jr. had two of San Diego’s four hits, but couldn’t halt the Padres’ losing streak which reached eight games, the franchise’s longest since a 10-game skid in 2013.

–Field Level Media

Germany are in talks with Jurgen Klopp to replace head coach Julian Nagelsmann following an early World Cup exit.

The German Football Association (DFB) made the announcement Friday after granting Nagelsmann’s request to be relieved from his duties.

The four-time World Cup champions were eliminated by Paraguay on Monday in a penalty shootout in the round of 32.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking in the days since our elimination and have consulted with trusted individuals both personally and within the federation,” said Nagelsmann, 38. “The decision was anything but easy for me. My top priority has always been the team’s success. After such a bitter disappointment, they deserve the chance for a fresh start.”

DFB sporting director Rudi Voller thanked Nagelsmann for his efforts.

“After the disappointing World Cup exit for everyone, Julian’s decision deserves our respect, because he’s taking responsibility where he’d like to continue shaping things, and putting the national team as a whole above himself,” Voller said. “Of course, we all would have liked a different outcome to the tournament and a more convincing performance from our team. But Julian is and remains an excellent coach, and I’m convinced he’ll continue on his successful path.”

The DFB confirmed it will enter talks with Klopp, 59, the former Liverpool (2015-24) and Borussia Dortmund (2008-15) manager. He was named the FIFA Coach of the Year in 2019 and 2020.

“We will now seek talks with Jurgen Klopp,” the football association said. “He has already signaled his general willingness to take on the position.”

Klopp has been working as the head of global soccer at Red Bull since leaving Liverpool in May 2024.

–Field Level Media

LeBron James would have taken his talents to Madison Square Garden next season had the building’s tenants not just won the NBA title, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul said.

Given the New York Knicks ended their 53-year NBA title drought last month, James and Paul have been left to examine their options with the former once again testing free agency. Paul, who also is James’ agent, used a whiteboard to dissect his client’s potential destinations during the latest episode of his “Game Over” podcast.

“If the Knicks hadn’t won, there would be no board,” Paul said. “He’d be going to the Knicks.”

That said, the Knicks are not out of contention to land James, who on Tuesday informed the Los Angeles Lakers that he will continue his NBA career elsewhere.

James, 41, has spent the past eight seasons with the Lakers, highlighted by helping the franchise win the 2020 NBA title.

Paul, however, knows James would come under fire if he joined the Knicks and inadvertently became the face of the defending champions.

“When LeBron comes onto your team, I don’t care if you just won a championship, I don’t care if you’ve been the best player — it’s different, man,” Paul said. “Jalen Brunson would have to literally pick up the phone and say, ‘Hey man, it’s no issue with me. It’s no issue with me.’ I’m not saying that would make his decision, but you’ve gotta respect that.”

The Philadelphia 76ers garnered Paul’s attention given their recent moves, namely acquiring star guard Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics for 36-year-old Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

“How could you not have the attention when you have (Tyrese) Maxey, (V.J.) Edgecombe, Brown and (Joel) Embiid?” asked Paul, who also noted James’ had worked with new 76ers president Mike Gansey during his previous stint in Cleveland.

The Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets were solid contenders on the whiteboard, while the Golden State Warriors, Celtics, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks also serve as potential candidates.

A four-time NBA MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer, James just completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season. He officially became a free agent at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this past season with the Lakers. The 22-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).

–Field Level Media

–Field Level Media