Sports
Giants seek better outcome at home against similarly inconsistent Padres
Apr 18, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello (23) looks on against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images Two teams struggling offensively hope a change of scenery can provide a cure when the San Diego Padres open a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night.
The National League West rivals will be meeting for the second time this season, with the Giants having won two of three in San Diego in the initial head-to-head in the first week of the schedule.
The Giants have won just four of nine series since then, neither of which came on a just completed 0-6 trip to Philadelphia and Tampa Bay in which the visitors never homered and totaled just nine runs.
To add insult to injury, both getaway-day games were lost in extra innings, including a 2-1, 10-inning affair against the Rays on Sunday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
“On the mental side, it’s a confidence challenge,” first-year Giants manager Tony Vitello explained to reporters after Sunday’s loss. “Confidence is a choice, but it’s not an easy choice. A lot of times it’s dictated by results and outcomes, and we literally had nothing to show for the road trip.”
The trip also had a negative impact in another way. Because of a rainout in Philadelphia and a subsequent doubleheader on Thursday, Vitello opted to use two of his starting pitchers — Logan Webb and Adrian Houser — in the twin bill.
So, instead of having Hauser rested and ready to throw the series opener Monday, the Giants are expected to start Trevor McDonald in his season debut after recalling the right-hander from Triple-A.
McDonald was summoned from Triple-A Sacramento to possibly start the second game Thursday as the doubleheader-allowed 27th man, but Vitello chose to go with Hauser. McDonald was sent back to Sacramento the next day.
The 25-year-old has pitched four games for the Giants over the past two seasons (two starts), none of which having been against the Padres. He is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, three walks and 15 strikeouts over 18 innings in 2024-25.
San Diego completed a 2-4 homestand with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The Padres, who had lost their previous four games, were held to four runs or fewer for the fifth straight time.
Mason Miller saved the streak-snapping win with a three-strikeout performance in a one-run game in the ninth inning, recording his major league-leading 11th save.
The record-setting closer recorded his first 48 saves for the team that used to reside across the San Francisco Bay — the then-Oakland Athletics. He’s been even better as a second-year Padre, striking out 32 in 16 1/3 innings this season.
Without intending to disrespect his A’s coaches, Miller has credited Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla for his rise to prominence in San Diego.
“The results and the success of the pitching here in recent years under Ruben is undeniable,” Miller assured the media recently. “He does a great job of empowering his guys, supporting them, pushing them, challenging them.”
Right-hander Randy Vasquez (3-0, 2.94 ERA) is expected to get the ball to get the series rolling for the Padres. He did not pitch in the earlier series against the Giants and, in fact, has never faced them in his four-year career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jude Bellingham stars as England beat Norway to reach semis
July 11, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring their second goal. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Jude Bellingham deposited the go-ahead goal in the third minute of extra time and England hung on for a 2-1 victory over Norway in a World Cup quarterfinal classic on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Bellingham scored both goals for the Three Lions to dig them out of a 1-0 hole while tying teammate Harry Kane with six in this tournament. Anthony Gordon had an assist and Jordan Pickford made three saves for England.
England, 60 years removed from their only World Cup title, secured just their fourth semifinal berth in history and their second in the past three tournaments. They’ll face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday in Atlanta.
After missed chances during the second half, England took the lead early in extra time. Substitute Morgan Rogers fired a shot from outside the box that Orjan Nyland failed to catch, the ball deflecting into the goalmouth. Bellingham darted in and beat his man to the ball for the easy putback.
Andreas Schjelderup scored in the 36th minute and Nyland made six saves for the Vikings, who were playing in their first World Cup quarterfinal game.
Norway subbed out Erling Haaland halfway into extra time. That decision ended his record 14-match streak of competitive international appearances with a goal.
England controlled play for the first half-hour. They won a pair of free kicks just outside the box but could turn neither into a real threat.
Norway’s opening goal was preceded by a nice look for Haaland, whose close-range header went straight to Pickford. England attempted to advance it up the pitch, but Kane was dispossessed from behind and the Vikings returned to their attack. Schjelderup, from the left side of the box, unleashed a left-footed rocket that banged in off the far post.
Kane stayed on the ground seeking a foul, but no foul was issued and the goal was upheld after VAR review.
But England’s attack was rewarded on Bellingham’s equalizer two minutes into stoppage time. Gordon hit the centering pass as Bellingham was afforded too much space amid the Norway defense. He dribbled in and as he fell down struck a left-footed shot across Nyland’s body.
With momentum recovered, England thought they added a second on the final play of the half on Kane’s chip shot, but he was immediately ruled offside.
It was Norway’s turn to believe they’d taken a 2-1 lead in the 55th when Torbjorn Heggem deposited a rebound at the end of a crazy corner-kick sequence. The VAR took it off the board as Haaland pushed Elliot Anderson to the ground before the corner kick was played.
–Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson powers Aces to franchise-record 48-point win over Mercury
Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) reacts after scoring against the Phoenix Mercury during the first quarter of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images A’ja Wilson recorded 21 points and 15 rebounds and the Las Vegas Aces notched the largest margin of victory in franchise history by steamrolling the visiting Phoenix Mercury 106-58 on Saturday.
Backup Justine Pissott scored 19 points in the final quarter on 7-of-8 shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range, for the Aces (17-6). Pissott was making her WNBA debut after signing with Las Vegas on Tuesday.
Chelsea Gray registered 15 points and 12 assists and reserve Cheyenne Parker-Tyus added 15 points and seven rebounds for Las Vegas. NaLyssa Smith chipped in 14 points for the Aces, who held a 47-29 rebounding advantage.
The 48-point margin of victory topped a 42-point win by the then-San Antonio Silver Stars, who drubbed the Mercury 89-47 in 2012. The franchise moved to Las Vegas ahead of the 2018 season.
Monique Akoa Makani scored 13 points and Lexi Held had 11 off the bench for Phoenix (8-16), which lost its third straight game.
The Aces shot 50.6% from the field, including 14 of 35 from 3-point range, while winning their second straight game.
Phoenix connected on 34.8% of its shots and was just 7 of 31 from behind the arc.
Earlier this season, the Mercury routed the Aces 99-66 in Las Vegas.
This time, the Aces controlled the game from the outset by scoring the first nine points and 16 of the initial 18.
Gray ended the first quarter with back-to-back 3-pointers, giving the Aces a 29-9 lead.
The lead reached 30 on Jewell Loyd’s 3-pointer that pushed the score to 48-18 with 3:04 remaining in the first half.
Las Vegas later led by 37 before settling for a 57-22 halftime advantage. Wilson had 16 points and 11 rebounds in the half.
A turnaround basket by Smith gave Las Vegas a 70-29 edge with 4:42 left in the third quarter.
The margin was 45 late in the period before the Aces took a 79-36 lead into the final stanza.
Pissott scored all the points during an 8-0 Las Vegas run as the lead grew to a game-high 54 with 6:48 remaining.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lucas Glover hangs onto narrow lead at ISCO
Lucas Glover heads down the fairway after driving the ball off the 1st tee to start of the third round of the ISCO Golf Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club.July 11, 2026
Lucas Glover shot a 2-under-par 68 Saturday to remain in first place at the ISCO Championship at Hurstbourne Country Club in Louisville, Ky.
Glover shot his worst round of the tournament after carding a 63 and 64 on Friday and Saturday, respectively. But his day still left him two strokes under par, 15 under for the tournament and featured an eagle and two birdies. More importantly, he held onto the lead he has now maintained through three rounds.
“it means you’re doing something right so you’ve got something to lean on there,” Glover said. “Just whatever you’re doing right, keep doing it.”
The 46-year-old stepped up to the par-5, 566-yard seventh a stroke over par. But his first two shots left him within a few feet of the hole, and he calmly sank the putt for an eagle that put him back on track for another stellar round.
Glover credited his drive for the eagle.
“That’s kind of a hard tee shot for me … with the fairway running left to right and the creek on the right, but hit a nice one there.”
Birdies on Holes 10 and 12 ensured another good day and another lead for the pro seeking his first win of the 2026 season. A win would be his seventh on the PGA Tour overall.
Aaron Wise made up two shots on the leader on Saturday, firing a 4-under 66 to get to within a shot of the pole position. Wise had six birdies on the day.
Interestingly, one of his two bogeys came on the seventh, the same hole Glover had his greatest success.
“Just kind of had to keep hanging in there because the score wasn’t showing it, it was just little things here or there,” Wise admitted. “But I look at tomorrow more as whatever happens, it’s just going to be a learning experience.”
Wise and Glover figure to have plenty of competition on Sunday.
Three golfers are tied for third at 13 under, among them Germany’s Stephan Jaeger, who carded a 5-under 65, one of the better rounds of the day. He balanced six birdies against a solitary bogey.
He’s joined by Steven Fisk and Chan Kim, who shot matching 68s on Saturday.
Zac Blair (64) and Tom Hoge (65) are tied for sixth at 12 under.
Rounding out the top ten at 11 under are four golfers: Canada’s Ben Silverman (64), Puerto Rico’s Rafael Campos (66), Canada’s Taylor Pendrith (66) and William Mouw (68).
–Field Level Media
Jude Bellingham stars as England beat Norway to reach semis
A'ja Wilson powers Aces to franchise-record 48-point win over Mercury
