Sports
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Jul 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers (28) acknowledges the dugout while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Heriberto Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Jakob Marsee added a solo shot during a six-run first inning to help the Miami Marlins post a 12-5 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs for the Marlins, who halted a two-game slide. Owen Caissie added a solo shot as Miami matched its season high with five homers.
Major league batting leader Otto Lopez had two hits to raise his average to .337 and Liam Hicks scored three times for the Marlins.
Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer and Jeff McNeil had a three-run double for the Athletics, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
The Athletics’ Jack Perkins (2-4) was torched for seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He matched his career high of eight strikeouts and walked four.
Lake Bachar (1-0) retired six straight batters over the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the victory for the Marlins. He was one of five relievers who combined to allow just two hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Miami starter Tyler Phillips gave up five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Hicks, Stowers and Lopez opened the game with singles off Perkins and Xavier Edwards walked to force in the first run. Stowers then scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers to make it 2-0.
Hernandez then swatted a three-run blast to center to make it 5-0. Perkins retired the next two batters before Marsee drilled a homer to right to cap the six-run explosion.
Miami tacked on another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
The Athletics displayed life in the bottom of the third as Alika Williams doubled and Kurtz slugged a mammoth 457-foot, two-run homer to center, his 20th of the season.
The A’s loaded the bases in the fourth on singles by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Carlos Cortes and a walk to Henry Bolte. McNeil followed with a bases-clearing two-bagger into the gap in left-center to pull the Athletics within 7-5.
Stowers led off the sixth with his first homer, a shot to right off Justin Sterner. In the eighth, Hicks drew a one-out walk before Stowers hit a two-run blast to right-center off Mason Barnett to give the Marlins a 10-5 lead.
Hernandez singled to lead off the ninth against Barnett. One out later, Caissie hit a two-run homer to left-center to make it a seven-run margin.
–Field Media Level
Sports
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Jul 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) celebrates with first baseman Matt Olson (28) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Matt Olson emphatically ended a 16-game homerless streak Friday with pair of solo shots to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 win over the visiting New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series.
It was Olson’s second multi-home run game of the season and the 27th of his career. He raised his total to a team-high 22 homers this season.
The Braves had only five hits and four left the park. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also homered for Atlanta.
Grant Holmes (5-4) went five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out two. Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI single to Bo Bichette in the ninth but earned his 17th save.
New York starter Christian Scott (2-1) worked four innings and allowed three runs on two hits and four walks, with seven strikeouts.
The Mets fell a season-worst 16 games below .500.
The Braves broke through in the second inning when Harris hit a two-run homer, his 15th. Harris had saved a run in the top of the first when he robbed Carson Benge of an extra-base hit by making a long running catch.
The Mets tied it in the third on an opposite-field home run by Juan Soto, his 18th of the season and 27th of his career against the Braves.
Albies put the Braves on top again in the third with a solo homer, his 14th, for a 3-2 lead.
Atlanta got another run in the fifth inning when Olson hit a solo homer to the right-center-field seats. The homer came against reliever A.J. Minter and ended a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless appearances by the left-hander. It was the first earned run the former Brave has allowed this season.
Olson hit another solo homer in the eighth off Kodai Senga.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
July 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Folarin Balogun of the U.S. speaks to media before training. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Forward Folarin Balogun disagreed with the red-card ruling that will see him miss the United States’ World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, and he admitted to experiencing a range of emotions since being sent off.
In the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif., Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half before receiving a second-half red card for his tackle on Tarik Muharemovic.
No foul was called against Balogun originally, but a video review led to the referee sending him off.
Speaking Friday in Seattle, where the U.S. will oppose Belgium on Monday, Balogun said, “I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. For me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and I have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
He added of the aftermath of the red card, “It’s been a roller coaster. There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy. It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion.
“There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust.
“So I felt I did that. And as I said, I’m happy with the support, not just that I’m receiving, but the team. And I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”
As for how the U.S. will cope against Belgium while missing their top scorer in the event, midfielder Tyler Adams said, “When you miss a player like (Balogun), obviously things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible. Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. …
“If it’s (Ricardo) Pepi, if it’s Haji (Wright filling in for Balogun), if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for everybody.”
The USMNT were officially notified that Balogun’s suspension is the standard one match, so Balogun would be able to return to action in the quarterfinals against Spain or Portugal on July 10 in Inglewood should the U.S. win on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spacestation, Liquid reach OWCS NA Stage 2 upper-bracket final
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Spacestation Gaming and Team Liquid advanced to the upper-bracket final of the Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 playoffs with a pair of 3-0 sweeps on Friday.
Spacestation blanked LuneX Gaming and Liquid did the same to Dallas Fuel, the team that finished second in the regular-season standings. LuneX and Dallas will meet in the lower-bracket semifinal on Saturday before Spacestation and Liquid square off in the upper-bracket final, with a chance to punch their ticket to the grand final.
Six teams participated in a round-robin regular season, with the top four advancing to the playoffs, which run from Friday through Sunday. All matches in the double-elimination bracket are best-of-five, except for the grand final, which will be best-of-seven.
In addition to earning shares of the $75,000 prize pool, the top four Stage 2 finishers advance to Stage 3. The top three finishers also will qualify for the Overwatch Champions Series’ Midseason Championship, a $1 million event scheduled for July 29-Aug. 2 in Paris.
On Friday, Spacestation hardly let LuneX get on the scoreboard, prevailing 2-0 on Ilios Control, 2-1 on King’s Row Hybrid and 3-0 on New Junk City Flashpoint.
Team Liquid opened with a 2-0 victory on Ilios Control, pulled out a 4-3 result on Dorado Escort and shut out the Fuel 3-0 on King’s Row Hybrid.
Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 prize pool
1. $30,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
2. $15,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
3. $12,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
4. $8,000, qualifies for NA Stage 3
5-6. $5,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2 promotion/relegation — The Kafe, Disguised
–Field Level Media
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
