Sports
Jared Jones, offense deliver as Pirates cool off Guardians
Jul 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Jake Mangum (28) hits a two-run home run in the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Esmerlyn Valdez and Jacob Gonzalez both hit two-run homers and Nick Gonzales had a solo shot, all off Gavin Williams, as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-1 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.
Gonzalez belted a 428-foot homer onto the concourse in right field in the second inning, plating Tyler Callihan to open the scoring. Valdez and Gonzales each went deep in the sixth, upping the lead to 5-1 in sending the Pirates to their fourth consecutive victory.
The Guardians, who had won four straight, fell one game behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central.
Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones (2-1) struck out a season-high nine over five innings, giving up one run on three hits with one walk. The right-hander threw 74 pitches, remaining on a limited workload following reconstructive elbow surgery.
Jones retired the first eight batters before Steven Kwan singled in the third, snapping his streak of 30 consecutive outs that began on July 2 at the Philadelphia Phillies. Jones then worked six perfect innings on July 8 against the Atlanta Braves.
After the Guardians pulled within 2-1 on Travis Bazzana’s RBI triple in the third, Valdez brought home Bryan Reynolds in the sixth with his 11th homer in 29 games in the majors. The rookie outfielder has driven in 17 runs in July, giving him 29 on the season.
Williams (10-5) tied his career high by allowing three home runs in six innings, while matching his season best with 11 strikeouts. He gave up five runs on six hits without a walk in his fifth double-digit strikeout performance of 2026.
Pittsburgh tacked on two runs in the eighth against Matt Festa on a Ryan O’Hearn sacrifice fly and a wild pitch that scored Brandon Lowe. Reynolds had two hits and two runs.
Carmen Mlodzinski followed Jones with three scoreless innings and Isaac Mattson worked the ninth. The Pirates moved within one game of the third and final National League wild-card berth.
The Friday series opener was postponed due to poor air quality in Northeast Ohio, caused by drifting smoke from the Canadian forest fires. Light rain overnight cleared most of it from the skies before the teams arrived at the ballpark on Saturday morning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charlie Woods' U.S. Junior run ends with bogey in playoff
Charlie Woods watches his tee shot during the 109th Florida Amateur Championship at The Club at Admiral’s Cove on June 11, 2026, in Jupiter, Florida. Charlie Woods’ run at the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur ended early Wednesday with a bogey on the first playoff hole.
The 17-year-old son of Tiger Woods fell shy of advancing to match play at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa.
Charlie Woods was one of 14 golfers in the playoff, competing for two spots in match play. The Florida State commit went 76-70 in stroke play, topping his previous performances of 80-74 in 2025 and 82-80 in 2024.
Woods was 6-over-par through five holes in Monday’s round before rebounding strong and playing his next 31 holes in 1-under par.
In Wednesday’s playoff, Woods’ tee shot at the par-5 first hole found the middle of the fairway, about 270 yards from the hole. With two players ahead of him having already carded birdies, he went for the green in two but found thick rough. His pitch ended up on the fringe and his birdie chip slid past the hole, ending his day.
Eli Wessel, Hudson Kutchma and Leo Gao birdied to advance to the second playoff hole, where Wessel and Kutchma made pars to move on to match play.
Woods is heading into his senior season of high school and is expected to sign with the Seminoles, where he will join No. 1-ranked junior Miles Russell in the 2027 recruiting class. Russell shared medalist honors this week and entered match play as the No. 2 seed.
Woods entered the week ranked No. 174 by the American Junior Golf Association.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stephen Curry first active player showcased by Hall of Fame
Sep 25, 2022; San Francisco, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) poses with the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophies during Media Day at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame will break with tradition Friday when it opens an exhibition highlighting the career of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry. No other player in league history has received such an honor while still active.
The exhibition is titled “Stephen Curry: Beyond the Arc” and takes a look at the four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP both on and off the court. Curry’s business team partnered with the Hall of Fame on the project.
“The exhibit is designed to explore his multifaceted legacy as a basketball icon, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and family man,” the Hall of Fame said in a news release.
This will be the first look at Curry’s legacy at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass., but not the last. He is certain of being selected for enshrinement into the hall as soon as he is eligible, post-retirement.
“When I think about my journey, I think about the people who believed in me, the work that happened when nobody was watching and the moments that shaped me on and off the court,” said Curry, 38.
“To have that story told while I’m still playing is something I don’t take lightly. My hope is that fans walk through this experience and feel the joy, the purpose and the gratitude that basketball has given me, and maybe see a little bit of their own journey in it too.”
A closing date has not been set for the exhibition.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals OL Isaiah Adams facing gun charges in Canada
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams (74) watches from the sidelines during the team’s practice at State Farm Stadium on July 29, 2025. Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Isaiah Adams is facing multiple charges related to a guns and gangs investigation in his native Canada.
Adams turned himself into Durham Regional Police in the Toronto area on Sunday on charges of possessing a weapon by crime, possessing a restricted or prohibited firearm without a license, possessing a loaded firearm and possessing a prohibited device.
His 27-year-old sister, Allyson Mae Adams, was charged with the same crimes as part of the investigation.
Adams, who turned 26 on Tuesday, has since returned to Arizona and is expected to report to training camp on Wednesday, according to ESPN. The Cardinals begin practice on Thursday.
The Cardinals said Tuesday that they were aware of the situation.
“Out of respect for the process, we will refrain from commenting further at this time,” a team spokesperson said.
A third-round draft pick by Arizona in 2024, the 6-foot-4, 315-pound Adams appeared in 32 games with 16 starts in his first two NFL seasons. He is expected to compete with rookie Chase Bistonis for the starting job at right guard.
–Field Level Media
Charlie Woods' U.S. Junior run ends with bogey in playoff
Stephen Curry first active player showcased by Hall of Fame
