Sports
Chargers great, college Hall of Famer Billy Ray Smith Jr. dies at 64
May 10, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers former linebacker Billy Ray Smith speaks as LaDainian Tomlinson listens at the Celebration of Life for Junior Seau at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images Former San Diego Chargers linebacker and College Football Hall of Famer Billy Ray Smith Jr. died on Wednesday at age 64, his family announced.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of our beloved Billy Ray Smith Jr., who passed away peacefully surrounded by family,” the family statement read. “Billy Ray faced his long journey with dementia caused by CTE with unmatched bravery, dignity, and strength.
“Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend. On the NFL gridiron for a decade with the Chargers, and decades that followed in sports broadcasting, Billy Ray earned deep respect from teammates, colleagues, and fans, who he cherished in return.”
The son of Super Bowl champion defensive end Billy Ray Smith Sr., Smith Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps at Arkansas, where he was a two-time All-American for the Razorbacks before San Diego drafted him fifth overall in the 1983 NFL Draft.
He played his entire 10-year pro career for the Chargers, amassing 26.5 sacks, 15 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles in 126 games and earning a spot on the franchise’s 50th anniversary team in 2009.
“To know Billy Ray was to love Billy Ray,” Chargers owner Dean Spanos said in a statement. “Yes, he was a member of our 50th Anniversary team. Yes, he was a Charger for life, playing his entire 10-year career here. But he wasn’t merely a great football player. He was, truly, larger than life. Always smiling. Lighting up every room he walked into, infectious laughter. The kind of friend a friend should be. That was Billy Ray.
“When someone who brought so much positivity into the world leaves us, it’s hard to process. Hard to accept. That’s how I feel right now, and I know I’m not alone. Billy Ray loved his family, loved the Chargers, loved his teammates, loved his community and loved helping those in needs. And we all loved him back.”
After his playing career, Smith spent time as the sports director at San Diego’s ABC10 News, as a radio host in the area and as a broadcaster on college and professional football games.
He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Hunt, and their daughter, Savannah.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Sox cap historic month with victory over Dodgers
Jul 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run home run and Andruw Monasteiro added a two-run double in a five-run fifth inning as the visiting Boston Red Sox earned a 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Jarren Duran drove in two runs one day after he caused a stir when he gestured toward third base after Willson Contreras did not tag up from third base on his fly ball. Boston interim manager Chad Tracy continued to downplay the incident.
The Red Sox saw Contreras depart for precautionary reasons in the third inning after he was hit in the side of the helmet on a 95.4 mph fastball from Dodgers right-hander Will Klein.
Boston improved to 4-1 on a seven-game road trip, 12-3 since the All-Star break and 21-4 in July, their best winning percentage (.840) in any month in franchise history.
Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run home run for the Dodgers one game after he sat out with left knee discomfort. Freddie Freeman and Eliezer Alfonzo each drove in a run, while new addition Cole Irvin (0-1) was tagged for six runs on eight hits over six innings in his Dodgers debut.
The Red Sox took the early lead when Duran delivered an RBI single to center in the second off Klein, who was replaced by Irvin after hitting Contreras to load the bases. Masataka Yoshida hit a ground ball to first base that Freeman misplayed for an error, allowing two runs to score for a 3-0 lead.
The Dodgers began to chip away in the fourth on an RBI single from Freeman.
Los Angeles took a 4-3 lead in the fifth when Alfonzo had an RBI single and Ohtani followed with a two-run home run, his 24th, off reliever Jovani Moran.
The Red Sox moved back in front for good at 5-4 in the seventh on Rafaela’s two-run home run off Irvin. It was Rafaela’s 12th of the season. Five batters later, Monasterio ripped his two-run double to left and Duran followed with an RBI groundout for an 8-4 lead.
Carlos Narvaez added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Boston left-hander Ranger Suarez was charged with three runs on four hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings in his second start since returning from a left groin strain and an illness. Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello (3-6) pitched four scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins ride 3 late home runs to victory over Mariners
Jul 31, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Josh Bell (56) and third baseman Brooks Lee (22) celebrate after a 2-run home run hit by Lee during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis and Ryan Jeffers homered as the Minnesota Twins rallied for a 5-3 victory against the host Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
The Twins won for the seventh time in their past nine games to move into a tie with the Cleveland Guardians for the American League’s third and final wild-card spot.
Cole Young went deep for the Mariners, who lost their third in a row and for the eighth time in their past 10.
Twins reliever Kody Funderburk (2-1) tossed 1 1/3 perfect innings, and Yoendrys Gomez worked around two walks in the ninth for his 14th save of the season.
Trailing 3-2, the Twins took their first lead in the seventh inning.
Lewis led off with a 419-foot blast to left-center field off Mariners reliever Jose A. Ferrer (4-2).
Alan Roden reached on an infield single as Ferrer was late covering on a grounder to first baseman Josh Naylor and then couldn’t find the bag. With one out, Luke Keaschall greeted reliever Eduard Bazardo with a run-scoring double to left, putting Minnesota ahead.
Jeffers led off the eighth with a homer to left off Bazardo, providing the final margin.
The Mariners took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Randy Arozarena drew a one-out walk and Dominic Canzone doubled to right field. With two outs, Naylor walked to load the bases for Cal Raleigh, who hit a ground-rule double down the right field line off Twins starter Zebby Matthews.
Raleigh and Matthews both attended Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva, N.C.
The Twins tied it in the top of the second. Josh Bell lined a leadoff single, and two outs later, Lee went deep to right off Mariners starter Bryce Miller to make it 2-2.
Seattle regained the lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Young hit a liner just over the right field wall.
Neither starter factored into the decision after each having lost his previous three starts.
Matthews went five-plus innings and allowed three runs on four hits. The right-hander walked two and struck out a career-high 10.
Miller pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits. The righty walked two and fanned three.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Gabriel Moreno's go-ahead hit lifts D-backs over Guardians
Jul 31, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno (14) reacts at second base during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images Gabriel Moreno finished a fantastic July in style as his RBI single in the eighth inning lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the host Cleveland Guardians on Friday.
The Diamondbacks catcher was 1-for-3 and also reached on a hit by pitch as he extended his on-base streak to 27 games and a franchise-record 46 starts. In 25 games during July, he batted .362 (34-for-94) with two home runs and 19 runs driven in.
Arizona did all of its damage in the top of the eighth, spoiling what was a masterful performance by Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-11). For the first seven innings, the right-hander limited the Diamondbacks to just two hits.
Bibee got Adrian Del Castillo swinging to start the eighth, then walked Tim Tawa. Ryan Waldschmidt (2-for-3) followed with a single to end Bibee’s night. The Progressive Field crowd gave him a standing ovation as he exited, but the bullpen could not preserve the lead.
Erik Sabrowski walked Corbin Carroll to load the bases and gave up a single to Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-4) to tie the game.
Then it was Moreno’s turn. He took a 1-0 offering the other way to right field to bring home Waldschmidt with the go-ahead run. The base hit glanced off Angel Martinez’s glove, allowing the remaining runners to advance a base and make it 3-1.
Bibee limited the Diamondbacks to three hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings. His two runs were earned, and he struck out three and hit a pair of batters.
Rookie starter Mitch Bratt nearly matched Bibee as the left-hander went five innings for Arizona. He gave up three hits and four walks, and the only Guardians run came in the first.
Jose Ramirez walked with one out and stole second. After another out, Rhys Hoskins’ single put the Guardians ahead.
Four relievers allowed just a walk to Cleveland over the final four innings. Jonathan Loaisiga (3-3) gave up that free pass in the seventh but earned the win. Brandyn Garcia got his second save in as many games.
Steven Kwan got two of the Guardians’ three hits and worked a walk as the outfielder had a perfect night at the plate.
–Field Level Media
Red Sox cap historic month with victory over Dodgers
Twins ride 3 late home runs to victory over Mariners
