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Astros brace for tall task in slowing Cedric Mullins, Rays

Jun 27, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (31) gets ready before the start of a game against Arizona Diamondbacks at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn ImagesJun 27, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Cedric Mullins (31) gets ready before the start of a game against Arizona Diamondbacks at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

While Junior Caminero had his franchise-record-tying streak of consecutive games with a home run snapped at six on Thursday, the Tampa Bay Rays extended their winning streak to eight.

The Rays capped a three-game sweep of the Kansas City Royals with a 5-2 victory and will open a three-game set at the Houston Astros on Friday night riding their longest winning streak since a 13-0 start in 2023.

Caminero didn’t continue his streak on Thursday, but Cedric Mullins homered for the third consecutive game and the seventh time since June 3.

“Two months ago, he was missing some pitches that were frustrating him that he normally handles,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Mullins. “Subtle adjustments here and there, and then just a lot of work to get that timing. Thrilled for what he’s doing because he’s another guy that can add that power element to our game.”

Right-hander Nick Martinez (7-2, 2.66 ERA) is the probable starter for the Rays in the series opener.

Martinez limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run on six hits with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-1 victory last Friday. He improved to 6-1 with a 2.92 ERA over his last 11 starts.

Martinez is 4-5 with a 3.94 ERA over 15 career appearances (10 starts) against the Astros. In his previous appearance against them on May 9, 2025, Martinez allowed three runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts over six innings in a 3-0 loss with the Cincinnati Reds.

Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (7-4, 4.00 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Friday.

Arrighetti allowed a season-worst eight runs on five hits — including three home runs — and five walks with seven strikeouts over a season-low three innings in an 8-0 road loss to the Detroit Tigers last Friday.

Named the American League Pitcher of the Month for April after going 4-1 with an 0.93 ERA, Arrighetti went 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA across five starts in June.

He made his lone career start against the Rays on Aug. 4, 2024, and took a 1-0 loss after allowing one run on five hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts across six innings.

Astros right-hander Cristian Javier will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list on Friday and will work out of the bullpen. Javier (0-1, 12.54 ERA in three outings) was placed on the IL with a Grade 2 shoulder strain on April 9. Of his 127 career appearances, 34 have come in relief.

“We looked into how he’s pitched, our need right now,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “Our starters, mapping out the next two weeks, just right now using him that way (makes sense). It doesn’t mean that he’s going to remain that way, but for now that’s the decision that we came to.

“All hands on deck. We need all these guys to stay healthy, but we’re also looking for some good performances from some of these guys. Our goal is to go day by day and see where it takes us.”

–Field Level Media

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Bryce Miller's strong outing propels Mariners past Angels

Jul 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn ImagesJul 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller (50) pitches to the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Bryce Miller took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Los Angeles Angels 1-0 Thursday night to complete a three-game sweep of their American League West rivals.

Cal Raleigh drew a bases-loaded walk off Angels starter Walbert Urena (5-7) with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to score the game’s lone run.

Miller (4-2) allowed two hits, didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight after the right-hander had lost his previous two starts.

Neither team had a hit until Seattle’s J.P. Crawford led off the bottom of the sixth with a double into right-center field. Dominic Canzone and Randy Arozarena drew one-out walks before Urena struck out Josh Naylor on three pitches. Urena got ahead 0-2 in the count to Raleigh before last season’s home-run champ rebounded to draw a walk.

The Angels’ only baserunner through six innings came on a throwing error by third baseman Crawford after a grounder by Denzer Guzman with two outs in the fourth.

Los Angeles’ first hit came when Nolan Schanuel hit a bloop nearly off his hands into shallow right leading off the seventh, the ball falling just past the reach of second baseman Cole Young and in front of sliding right fielder Weston Wilson. Guzman followed with a fly ball down the right-field line that went off the glove of a diving Wilson, putting runners at first and second.

Miller struck out Jorge Soler, got Wade Meckler to fly out to center field and got Jo Adell to ground into a force out to get out of the jam.

Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo retired the side in order in the eighth with two strikeouts and closer Andres Munoz worked the ninth for his 16th save of the season.

Munoz issued a leadoff walk to Zach Neto before picking him off first base. Schanuel lined a single to center and Soler grounded a two-out single to left, putting runners at first and second. Munoz got Meckler to ground out to short to end the game.

The Mariners threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out on a walk, error and hit by pitch, before Urena got Josh Naylor to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Urena gave up one run on one hit over 5 2/3 innings. The righty walked four, hit two batters with pitches and fanned six.

Mariners outfielders Julio Rodriguez and Victor Robles both left the game due to injuries. Rodriguez was hit in the back of the helmet by an errant throw from first baseman Schanuel while running the bases in the first inning and Robles, who replaced Rodriguez in the third, was hit by a pitch in the right wrist/forearm area by a 97.9 mph Urena sinker and exited in the fifth.

–Field Level Media

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Paige Bueckers leads Wings to comeback win over Sun

Jul 2, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Diamond Miller (1) in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn ImagesJul 2, 2026; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) passes the ball against Connecticut Sun forward Diamond Miller (1) in the first half at PeoplesBank Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Paige Bueckers scored a game-high 25 points and Jessica Shepard made two key free throws in the final seconds as the Dallas Wings came back from 11 points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Connecticut Sun 86-83 on Thursday in Hartford, Conn.

The Sun led by 13 points in the second quarter and by eight at halftime but by just seven after an uneven third period. Dallas closed within 72-68 on Azzi Fudd’s jumper with 5:05 to play and within 74-72 on a layup by Bueckers with 3:08 left.

Dallas (12-8) tied the game at 78 on Li Yueru’s 3-pointer with 1:51 remaining and then took the lead on a three-point play by Bueckers with 1:17 to play.

The Sun responded with a basket and free throw by Aaliyah Edwards on the ensuing possession that tied the game again. Fudd and Edwards traded buckets before Bueckers converted 1 of 2 free-throw chances with 25.9 seconds left to put the Wings up by a point.

The Sun’s Leila Lacan missed a contested jumper in the lane with five seconds left, and the rebound was taken by Shepard, who was fouled and made both free throws with three seconds to play.

Connecticut could not get off a 3-point attempt in the final seconds.

Shepard finished with 14 points while Alanna Smith added 11 for Dallas, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

Lacan led the Sun (4-16) with 18 points. Charlisse Leger-Walker had 14 points, Brittney Griner amassed 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Edwards and Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored 11 points apiece as Connecticut had a two-game winning streak snapped.

The Sun racked up the final seven points in the first period to take a 22-16 lead after 10 minutes of play. Connecticut expanded its advantage to 32-20 after a three-point play from Kennedy Burke with 5:23 left in the second quarter, but Bueckers’ floater with 42 seconds remaining in the first half allowed the Wings to pull to within 43-35 at the break.

Bueckers and Lacan scored 12 points each to lead their respective teams before halftime.

Griner’s turnaround jumper four minutes into the third quarter rebuilt the Sun’s lead to 14 points.

–Field Level Media

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Switzerland blank Algeria, reach round of 16 for 4th straight World Cup

July 2, 2026; Vancouver, Canada; Switzerland's Breel Embolo celebrates scoring their first goal.  Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images July 2, 2026; Vancouver, Canada; Switzerland’s Breel Embolo celebrates scoring their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images

Breel Embolo scored in the first half, Dan Ndoye tallied at the start of the second half and Switzerland advanced to the World Cup’s round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Algeria on Thursday night in Vancouver.

Johan Manzambi set up the first goal with a dazzling run and Gregor Kobel made two saves as the Swiss reached the round of 16 for the fourth consecutive World Cup.

Switzerland will face either Colombia or Ghana on Tuesday in Vancouver. The latter two squads meet Friday night in Kansas City, Mo. The Swiss will be looking to earn their first World Cup quarterfinal berth since 1954.

Luca Zidane made two saves for Algeria.

Switzerland’s first goal came in the 10th minute after a long run by Manzambi.

As Manzambi neared the goal line, he sent a pass back toward Embolo in front of the net. Embolo was able to get his left leg on the ball for an easy tap-in.

Switzerland had a solid chance in the 37th minute off a free kick, but Denis Zakaria sent a header high and wide of the right post.

Switzerland made it 2-0 in the first minute of the second half after Algeria’s Rafik Belghali sent a clearance attempt directly to Ndoye.

Ndoye capitalized by immediately sending a sharp right-footed shot into the left corner of the net.

The quick goal right after the break took some of the charge out of Algeria, who struggled to create chances.

Switzerland failed to pad the lead in the 81st minute as Zakaria’s centering pass went by a sliding Embolo to a wide-open Fabian Rieder at the far post. But despite the net being wide open, Rieder meekly hit the ball with his left heel and Zidane recovered to make the save.

In the 88th minute, Algeria seemed to have a rare chance when Anis Hadj Moussa took a left-footed shot from beyond the box. Kobel knocked the ball aside, but an offside call wiped out the play anyway.

Switzerland outshot Algeria 11-8 and had a 5-2 advantage in shots on target.

–Field Level Media

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