Sports
Mariners hope Julio Rodriguez can return against Giants
Jul 17, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez (44) watches play from the dugout during the fifth inning against San Francisco at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The Seattle Mariners expected to have star center fielder Julio Rodriguez back in the lineup when they returned from the All-Star break on Friday.
That didn’t happen, but they hope he will be able to play Saturday when their three-game interleague series with the San Francisco Giants continues in Seattle.
Rodriguez has been on the seven-day concussion list since July 3. He suffered the injury when was hit in the back of the helmet by a thrown ball while beginning a slide into second base against the Los Angeles Angels the day before.
Rodriguez worked out with the Mariners on Friday and planned to take some swings in the batting cages.
“If that goes well, we’ll see where he’s at (Saturday) in terms of (if he’s) ready for activation or needs more time,” Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. “There’s not been a setback or anything. We need to check every box before he gets out here and plays a major league game.
“Obviously you don’t want to mess around with head injuries, and they all sort of come in different forms and feel differently for different guys over a period of time.”
The Mariners, who have lost six of their past seven games to drop behind first-place Texas in the American League West race, certainly could use Rodriguez, who is batting .259 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs.
“I think it’s maybe less about what he does and how he kind of responds to it,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “But getting a chance, I think, (Friday) to take some pitches off the (pitching machine) in there, a chance to see some more game-like reps or off the machine. That kind of thing. All of the reports have been good, and he seems ready for all of that. It’s a matter of getting those reps, being OK with it and then responding well and being ready to go.”
The Mariners continued to struggle on offense Friday as they lost 7-0 to San Francisco.
Landen Roupp allowed only two hits over seven innings for the Giants, who got a grand slam from Willy Adames and a two-run shot by Bryce Eldridge.
It was the third consecutive victory for the Giants, matching a season high.
“It’s nice to kind of see the fresh-start attitude and vibe that’s going around,” Giants manager Tony Vitello said. “One thing we’ve struggled with, I think, is that you’ve got great expectations going into the season, and the past can weigh on you a little bit. The future is not here yet, and the past is over and done with. The best thing we can do is focus on today. It’d be nice to build a little momentum.”
The Giants will look to continue to do that Saturday when they send All-Star Logan Webb (5-7, 3.86 ERA) to the mound against a fellow right-hander in the Mariners’ Bryan Woo (7-6, 4.23), who grew up in the Bay Area.
Webb has lost his past two starts, to Colorado and Toronto, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits over 10 innings. He’s 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.
Woo got a no-decision his last time out July 7 at Miami, when he allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings in his team’s 6-5 loss in 10 innings. He’s 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA at home this season and 1-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts against the Giants, his boyhood team.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Shak Muhammad's late goal lifts Nashville SC over Atlanta United
Jul 17, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Atlanta United midfield Miguel Almirón (10) dribbles the ball against the Nashville SC during the first half at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images Shak Muhammad scored in the 79th minute Friday night and Nashville SC stayed atop the East table with a 1-0 win over visiting Atlanta United.
Nashville (11-1-3, 36 points) was outplayed for a good chunk of the match but was able to generate the only clinical finish off a sudden buildup down the left side. Matthew Corcoran’s long pass found Alex Muyl, who crossed into the middle. Muhammad’s header to the left side of the net easily beat Lucas Hoyos.
Atlanta (3-10-2, 11 points) earned a 12-8 advantage in shots and put five shots on net to Nashville’s four. But All-Star goalie Brian Schwake turned in his seventh clean sheet of the season.
Schwake’s best save came in the 59th minute when Luke Brennan had a point-blank chance to initiate scoring. Brennan tried to chip the ball over Schwake from the top of the 6-yard box, but Schwake punched it over the crossbar.
That moment seemed like a microcosm of the season for both teams. Nashville has conceded just 11 goals in 15 matches, and Atlanta has managed only 14 goals in 15 fixtures. It marked the seventh time this year that Atlanta has been blanked.
Emmanuel Latte Lath had a chance to equalize for Atlanta in the second minute of stoppage time, but his shot from the left side sailed wide of the goal.
Atlanta exerted a surprising amount of control over a scoreless first half, holding the possession advantage for the first half-hour. Nashville experienced some difficulty punching into Atlanta’s half of the field to create quality chances.
Despite losing midfielder Ajani Fortune in the 11th minute with a left hamstring injury, Atlanta still doubled Nashville in shots (6-3) and put two shots on frame to the Coyotes’ one.
Atlanta’s best chance came in the 43rd minute, but Enea Mihaj’s shot from the center of the box was easily turned away by Schwake. Hoyos got Atlanta to the half with a clean sheet by punching out a free kick in stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braden Montgomery's 4 RBIs help White Sox pound Blue Jays
Jul 7, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Colson Montgomery (12) reacts after hitting a fly ball against the Boston Red Sox during the eighth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Braden Montgomery had four RBIs and Colson Montgomery added three RBIs Friday night as the visiting Chicago White Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 12-4.
Sam Antonacci hit a two-run home run for the White Sox in the opener of a three-game series that followed the All-Star break. Reliever Tyler Schweitzer (1-0) allowed one infield hit and a walk over the final three innings to earn his first major league win.
Luis Arias, George Springer and Brandon Valenzuela hit solo shots for the Blue Jays, who have lost all four games against the White Sox this season.
The White Sox took a 5-0 lead in the second against Spencer Miles (4-2).
Colson Montgomery and Andrew Benintendi started with singles. Kyle Teel blooped an RBI double to left. Braden Montgomery’s grounder to shortstop resulted in an out at third while Benintendi scored. Chase Meidroth stroked an RBI single to center then Antonacci homered to right on a 3-1 fastball.
Toronto scored once against Anthony Kay in the third. Ernie Clement was hit by a pitch and took third when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a single off the glove of first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Kazuma Okamoto walked to load the bases. Clement scored on a fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop by George Springer.
Urias lined a homer into the Blue Jays’ bullpen in left on a first-pitch sinker with one out in the fourth.
Meidroth led off the fifth with a single to right and Adam Macko replaced Miles. Antonacci singled to left and Murakami walked to load the bases. Colson Montgomery cleared the bases with a double to left center.
Miles allowed six runs, six hits and no walks with four strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Kay allowed two runs, two hits and three walks with two hit batters and five strikeouts in four innings.
Springer homered to left on a 3-1 fastball from Trevor Richards with two out in the fifth. Valenzuela led off the home sixth with a homer to right against Richards on a 1-0 fastball.
Chicago took a 12-4 lead in the seventh. Miguel Vargas singled against Patrick Corbin and Colson Montgomery walked. The bases were loaded after Okamoto threw errantly to second on Randal Grichuk’s grounder to third. Braydon Fisher replaced Corbin with one out and allowed Braden Montgomery’s triple to right. Tristan Peters hit a sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Frustrations abound as France, England face off in third-place match
July 14, 2026; Arlington, Texas, U.S.; France coach Didier Deschamps and Ousmane Dembele look dejected after the match as France are eliminated from the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Playing your final World Cup match one day prior to the championship game is not the assignment anybody desires.
But it’s the reality for France and England as the two countries will take the field in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Fla.
“None of our players, and none of the French players, wants to play the third-place match,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “They want to play the final. We gave everything to achieve it.”
England missed out on the title match after allowing two late goals to Argentina to fall 2-1 on Wednesday in the semifinals. One day earlier, France came up short when largely outplayed in a 2-0 loss to Spain.
France coach Didier Deschamps isn’t the least bit thrilled about competing for the consolation prize.
“The best thing for France and England would be for this match not to exist,” Deschamps said.
The contest will be the final one as Les Bleus coach for the 57-year-old Deschamps, whose 14-year tenure includes guiding the nation to the 2018 World Cup crown.
“I know that it’s the last match and I don’t want anybody to cry, and I don’t think anybody here will cry,” Deschamps said. “I had the privilege to go through amazing moments and to go also through some more difficult moments, so the end is coming near but life goes on.”
France star Kylian Mbappe is tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi with eight goals in the Golden Boot competition. Mbappe is the defending winner after also having eight goals in 2022.
But first, Mbappe is coping with the fact that his side didn’t reach the final.
“As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility,” Mbappe said of falling against Spain. “I have no problem with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.”
Mbappe has 20 career World Cup goals, one behind Messi’s record.
Three other players in this match are second-hand contenders for the Golden Boot: England’s Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have scored six goals and France’s Ousmane Dembele is a longshot at five.
Kane won the 2018 Golden Boot with six goals. This will be the final World Cup match of his “prime” as he turns 33 on July 28.
It could conceivably be his final World Cup match, but Kane isn’t ready to discuss that possibility.
“It’s too early to talk about that,” Kane said. “I mean, as a person, it’s always just about taking it year by year and how I feel. The national team is my pride and joy. It’s what I love to do most, more than anything.
“Obviously, four years is a long way away. I’m 33 in the summer, but as you saw on the other end with Messi (who is 39) there, he’s still performing at the highest level. So, I never want to put a limit on these things.”
Kane and Bellingham have had standout World Cup performances for the Three Lions despite the disappointment of not reaching the final.
Tuchel has been roundly criticized for his tactics after England went up 1-0 in the 55th minute against Argentina on Anthony Gordon’s goal.
England loaded up the back end and played passively on offense. Instead of seeking a two-goal lead, England were playing not to be tied.
The strategy was foiled as Argentina scored goals in the 85th minute and the second minute of stoppage time to dash the dreams of English fans.
“No regrets, the team gave everything, and we were very, very close,” Tuchel said. “We deserved to be up one-nil. We played one of our better matches, maybe the best match. The team was top, but we couldn’t bring it over the line. No regrets.”
–Field Level Media
Shak Muhammad's late goal lifts Nashville SC over Atlanta United
Braden Montgomery's 4 RBIs help White Sox pound Blue Jays
