Sports
Hunter Brown, Astros tasked with slowing down Rays
Jul 1, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown (58) in the dugout prior to the game against the Minnesota Twins at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Houston’s Cristian Javier was reinstated from the 60-day injured list before the Astros opened a three-game series against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays with a 3-1 loss on Friday.
Javier is the second of five Houston starting pitchers either already back in the fold or soon to rejoin the active roster.
Fellow right-hander Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.78 ERA), who returned last month, has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday night when they continue their series against the Rays, who have won nine games in a row.
Right-handers Lance McCullers Jr. (shoulder) and Ronel Blanco are set to make rehab starts on Tuesday, while right-hander Hayden Wesneski has a rehab start set for Sunday. Blanco and Wesneski are coming back from elbow surgery.
McCullers Jr., Blanco and Wesneski could be in line to return following the All-Star break, and reinforcements would be welcome for the Astros, who are four games under .500.
“You can never have enough pitching,” manager Joe Espada said. “These guys are progressing well, and we’re entering that time of the year where we’re going to need all the help we can get.
“Those guys are coming along, and they’re throwing the ball really well.”
Brown did not factor into the decision of a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers on June 28 after allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings. That marked his third start following a two-plus-month stint on the injured list (shoulder). Brown has a 2.45 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 14 2/3 innings in those outings.
He is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA across six career appearances (four starts) against the Rays. He finished 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against Tampa Bay last season, including a home start on June 1, 2025, during which he threw six scoreless innings with five strikeouts, one hit and four walks allowed in the Astros’ 1-0 victory.
Right-hander Drew Rasmussen (7-4, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday for the Rays.
Rasmussen recorded his fifth consecutive quality start on June 28 against the Arizona Diamondbacks after working six shutout innings in a 5-1 victory. He was named American League Pitcher of the Month for June after finishing 3-2 with an 0.82 ERA across six starts.
Rasmussen is 2-2 with a 4.01 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Astros. In his previous outing against them, on Aug. 13, 2024, Rasmussen worked two scoreless innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts in the Rays’ 3-2 home loss.
Tampa Bay played its 14th game of a stretch of 23 games in 24 days on Friday, and manager Kevin Cash is mindful of providing his regulars rest when viable. Second baseman Richie Palacios had Friday off, and left fielder Chandler Simpson (hand) was a late scratch.
“We’ve got to mix and match and get some guys in there,” said Cash, whose Rays completed a three-game series sweep on the road against the Royals before arriving in Houston. “Get some guys off their feet. It was hot in Kansas City, so watching guys’ workload for sure.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jake McCarthy belts leadoff homer, slam as Rockies rout Giants
Jul 3, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy (31) celebrates after hitting a first pitch home run in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Jake McCarthy hit the first pitch of the home half of the first inning for a home run and later added a grand slam, propelling the Colorado Rockies to a 15-3 shellacking of the San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series Friday night in Denver.
McCarthy finished with four hits and a career-high six RBIs, and Cole Carrigg drove in three runs and tripled twice for the Rockies, who won their third game in a row.
The 15 runs were Colorado’s second most this season, one more than the Rockies put up in a 14-4 home win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday but far below their total in a 23-9 win over the Athletics on June 14 in Las Vegas.
McCarthy’s first-swing homer came off Giants ace Logan Webb (5-6), the National League Pitcher of the Month for June. Webb struggled through a three-inning outing, allowing seven runs and 11 hits. He walked two and struck out two.
The Rockies wasted no time piling on Webb after McCarthy’s homer. They scored twice more on three more hits in the first inning, then tallied two more in both the second and third innings, building a 7-1 lead.
Ezequiel Tovar launched his seventh homer to account for the second-inning runs. Carrigg had his first triple in the third before scoring on a fielder’s choice, and McCarthy added an RBI single.
Up 7-2, Colorado busted the game wide open with a seven-run fifth, highlighted by McCarthy’s second career grand slam. The blast made the left fielder just the seventh player in major league history to record a leadoff home run and a grand slam in the same game, according to MLB.com.
The two homers gave McCarthy nine for the season.
Rockies starter Ryan Feltner (3-2) coasted through six innings, striking out nine. He allowed all three Giants runs, two earned, on six hits and no walks.
Making his major league debut, Gabriel Hughes shut out the Giants on two hits over the final three innings to earn a save.
Kyle Karros scored three times, while McCarthy, Tovar, Carrigg, Hunter Goodman and Edouard Julien all scored twice for the Rockies, who improved to 3-1 against the Giants this season. Tovar also compiled three hits and three RBIs, Karros had the club’s third triple among his three hits, and Goodman and Mickey Moniak chipped in with two hits apiece.
Colorado totaled 18 hits, seven for extra bases.
Rafael Devers belted his 16th home run among two hits and Casey Schmitt had a pair of singles for the Giants, who have lost three of four to begin a six-game trip.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Early goal carries Colombia past Ghana, into round of 16
July 3, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.; Colombia’s Jhon Arias celebrates scoring their first goal. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Jhon Arias scored the lone goal in the 14th minute and Colombia earned a spot in the World Cup’s round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Ghana on Friday in Kansas City, Mo.
Arias’ goal held up as the Colombian defense didn’t allow Ghana to get a single shot on goal against goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
Colombia will face Switzerland in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Vancouver.
Colombia didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup, but they did reach the round of 16 in 2018 and the quarterfinals in 2014.
Lawrence Ati Zigi was stellar in goal with seven saves for Ghana.
Colombia had a 16-8 edge in shots and placed eight on target.
Luis Suarez set up the Colombia goal when he sent a cross from the right side toward the center. The ball narrowly sailed over the heads of two players — one from each team — to the wide-open Arias, who sent a right-footed shot into the far corner.
Luis Diaz had a solid opportunity for Colombia in the 39th minute, but his close-range right-footed shot was wide left.
Colombia kept the heat on and had a chance in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Daniel Munoz sent a cross over to Johan Mojica, but his header was knocked aside by Zigi’s right hand.
Zigi made two big saves in a short span of the second half to keep the margin at one.
In the 55th minute, Gustavo Puerta took a shot from the left side and pinpointed it for the far post, but Zigi knocked the ball away with both hands. Three minutes later, Diaz had another close-range opportunity, but Zigi again thwarted his right-footed shot.
Colombia took another shot at adding to the lead on Juan Fernando Quintero’s corner kick in the 81st minute. Davinson Sanchez fought to find positioning, but his header was saved by Zigi.
As time dwindled away, Colombia kept on the pressure as Ghana struggled to come close to an equalizer.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kahlil Watson, Guardians walk off White Sox again, move atop division
Jul 3, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges (27) tags out Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth (10) at home plate during the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images Kahlil Watson singled up the middle off Sean Newcomb in the 10th inning, scoring Steven Kwan to give the Cleveland Guardians a 4-3 victory over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Friday night.
Travis Bazzana led off with a single, moving automatic runner Kwan to third. Watson, a 23-year-old rookie, followed with Cleveland’s second consecutive walk-off hit to open the four-game series.
The Guardians took a one-game lead over Chicago in the American League Central.
Erik Sabrowski (3-1) pitched a clean 10th for Cleveland, preventing pinch runner Luisangel Acuna from leaving second base. Newcomb (0-2) failed to record an out.
The Guardians tied the game 3-3 in the seventh inning on back-to-back, two-out RBI singles from Austin Hedges and Kwan against Bryan Hudson.
Shortstop Colson Montgomery got a glove on Hedges’ hit, but deflected it. Left fielder Sam Antonacci fumbled Kwan’s sharp liner for an error.
Rhys Hoskins and Brayan Rocchio scored on the singles by Hedges and Kwan, respectively, after both reached on walks issued by Seranthony Dominguez.
Chicago had gone ahead 3-1 in the fifth when Miguel Vargas hit a three-run homer off Gavin Williams — ending a 10-pitch at-bat — immediately before a two-hour rain delay.
Tristan Peters and Antonacci came around on Vargas’ 374-foot shot to left. Williams threw two strikes to begin the duel, which saw thousands of fans seek shelter as it played out.
As soon as Vargas’ ball cleared the fence, third base umpire Vic Carapazza called for the tarp to be placed on the infield.
The Guardians managed only one hit off Anthony Kay in the first four innings, an RBI single by Bazzana in the third that plated Gabriel Arias.
Kay exited following the delay with two strikeouts and two walks. Dominguez was charged with two runs in one-third of an inning.
Williams worked 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked a pair.
On Thursday, Cleveland won 6-5 on Rocchio’s two-run homer off Grant Taylor that hit the foul pole in right field in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
Jake McCarthy belts leadoff homer, slam as Rockies rout Giants
Early goal carries Colombia past Ghana, into round of 16
