Sports
Athletics' Nick Kurtz headed for MRI on left forearm
Jul 29, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz (16) is looked at by manager Mark Kotsay (7) and a staff member after getting hit by a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images Athletics All-Star first baseman Nick Kurtz, hit by a pitch on the left forearm on Wednesday, will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday morning.
Kurtz exited the Athletics’ game against the Boston Red Sox after the first inning, shortly being plunked. Boston left-hander Patrick Sandoval nailed Kurtz with an inside full-count pitch, and Kurtz was writhing in obvious pain. Kurtz eventually went to first and ran the bases before leaving the contest.
Jeff McNeil ran out to play first base at the top of the second.
“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” manager Mark Kotsay said after the Athletics’ 4-2, 10-inning loss. “The X-rays were kind of unclear right now, so we’re hoping for the best.”
For the moment, the A’s are calling the injury a left forearm contusion.
Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game because of the thumb injury.
Kurtz is in a 1-for-30 slump over his past 10 games. The hit was a three-run homer against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Overall, Kurtz is batting .260 with 21 homers and 69 RBIs. Wednesday marked his 97th appearance of the season.
The Athletics are already without four key offensive players — All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers (knee), designated hitter Brent Rooker (season-ending knee surgery), infielder Zack Gelof (knee) and infielder Josh Kuroda-Grauer (ruptured testicle).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Goldeneyes move Cara Gardner Morey from GM to head coach
A general view of hockey sticks. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images The Vancouver Goldeneyes are moving Cara Gardner Morey to head coach after serving as general manager during their inaugural PWHL season in 2025-26.
Gardner Morey, 47, previously served as head coach of the women’s ice hockey team at Princeton from 2017-25.
“I’m excited to return to coaching,” she said in a news release on Thursday. “Over the course of the offseason, I spent a lot of time reflecting and discussing what was best for our team and for me personally. Through that process, I realized how much I missed being behind the bench.
“While I continue to be incredibly proud of what we built in Vancouver during our inaugural season, coaching is where I know I can make the biggest impact. To have the opportunity to coach the roster we’ve assembled is an incredible privilege, and I can’t wait for us to take the ice later this year.”
Coach Cara ??
°The Vancouver Goldeneyes announced today that Cara Gardner Morey has been named Head Coach after serving as the team’s General Manager during its inaugural season.
°A search for the team’s next General Manager will begin now.
Details: https://t.co/urKPuV7R3B pic.twitter.com/JeymVedqjx
— Vancouver Goldeneyes (@PWHL__Vancouver) July 30, 2026
Gardner Morey helped Princeton win an Ivy League title and capture its first ECAC Tournament championship during her time with the Tigers.
Under previous head coach Brian Idalski, the Goldeneyes finished in sixth place in the PWHL standings during their debut season with 37 points. Idalski is now the head coach of the women’s team at Syracuse.
The league will lead the search for Vancouver’s next general manager.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Zach Johnson grabs first-round lead at Portugal Invitational
Zach Johnson participates in the trophy presentation after winning the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. PGA Tour Champions rookie Zach Johnson carded an 8-under-par 64 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the Portugal Invitational in Algarve.
Johnson posted nine birdies and one bogey at The Els Club Vilamoura to build a one-shot lead against Slovakia’s Rory Sabbatini, who is in solo second place after a bogey-free round with seven birdies.
Alex Cejka of Germany, Charlie Wi of South Korea, Padraig Harrington of Ireland and Mikael Lundberg of Sweden are tied for third place at 6-under-par, with six golfers another shot behind in a tie for seventh place.
Johnson, 50, already has won three times on the senior tour this season, including two of his last three tournaments at the Principal Charity Classic and Kaulig Companies Championship. He finished T7 at last week’s Senior Open.
“I would argue it’s the best tour in the world,” he said. “I’m enjoying it. I would love to have my family out more, but I know my wife’s enjoying it as well. She likes to watch golf and take a nap, so that works out well.”
Johnson opened with birdies at the first three holes, suffered his only bogey at the par-4 13th hole and grabbed the clubhouse lead with another birdie at the par-4 18th. He birdied all five par-5s on the course.
“It was just solid,” Johnson said. “There were very few stressful situations. I hit an errant tee shot on 13, just complete brain meltdown, just lack of focus on the tee shot, and it cost me a bogey. But other than that, it was a very simple day.”
Sabbatini started on the back nine and also played the par-5 holes in 5-under.
“The par-5s are scoring opportunities but you still have to be very cautious because if you try and be overly aggressive on them, they tend to bite you pretty hard,” Sabbatini said. “So you’ve got to try and remain within yourself on those holes and give yourself opportunities, but be prepared that if you try and take off a little bit more than you should, it’s probably going to result in either a par if you’re lucky and sometimes some bogeys.”
This is the first PGA Tour Champions tournament ever held on Portuguese soil.
Sixty-four of the 78 golfers shot even par or better on Friday. In addition to Harrington, the field includes World Golf Hall of Famers Retief Goosen, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tigers scratch RHP Casey Mize with trade deadline looming
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers scratched right-hander Casey Mize with a non-injury designation ahead of Friday’s game against the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, may be joining two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in departing Detroit ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. Both become free agents at the end of this season.
“There’s a lot of unknown with what the next (few) days are going to bring,” Mize said Wednesday. “I’m just as curious as anybody. It’s all around us, can’t really avoid it. We’ll see. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m aware. (Last Saturday) could’ve been my last home start.”
Mize, 29, has battled a nagging groin issue all season and made a pair of stints on the injured list.
He owns a 4-6 record with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts this season.
The Tigers, who did not announce a replacement for Mize on Friday, are seven games below .500 and rank among the American League’s biggest disappointments as the trade deadline nears.
Detroit was part of the playoff field the past two seasons but enter Friday’s play 4 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Guardians, who hold the AL’s third wild-card spot. Four teams stand between the Guardians and Tigers, with the Toronto Blue Jays just one game worse than Detroit.
–Field Level Media
Goldeneyes move Cara Gardner Morey from GM to head coach
Zach Johnson grabs first-round lead at Portugal Invitational
