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
Ty France leads charge as Padres blank Giants
Jul 31, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Yuki Matsui (1) throws a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Jase Bowen belted his first major league homer Friday night, Ty France knocked in three runs and three San Diego Padres pitchers combined for a two-hitter in a 7-0 blanking of the visiting San Francisco Giants.
A night after San Francisco ended San Diego’s five-game winning streak with a 4-1 triumph to open the four-game series, the Padres banged out 12 hits and scored in four of the first six innings to enjoy an easy victory.
On the mound, San Diego got a 1-2-3 first inning from opener Bradgley Rodriguez, then three one-hit innings from Yuki Matsui in the longest outing of his three-year major league career. German Marquez followed that up with five one-hit frames. Matsui (2-1) got the win, and Marquez logged the first save of his 11-year big league career.
Left-hander Carson Whisenhunt (2-2) absorbed a beating in 3 1/3 innings, yielding seven hits and six runs while walking four and fanning three.
The Padres wasted little time coming after Whisenhunt, taking a 1-0 lead after six pitches as Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled, Luis Rengifo singled and Manny Machado rifled a sacrifice fly to left. Luis Campusano cashed in Rengifo with a two-out RBI single to left.
San Diego made it 3-0 after three innings via an unusual play. With runners at the corners and one out, Xander Bogaerts’ bouncer was fielded by first baseman Rafael Devers at the bag. He whirled and fired to second for a tag play on Campusano, but Jackson Merrill touched the plate before the tag, enabling the run to score.
Bowen cracked his homer with one out in the fourth into the second level of the Western Metal Supply building. The Padres blew it open later in the inning when France lined a two-run single that scored Tatis and Rengifo, who walked and then worked a double steal.
France capped the scoring in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Rengifo.
Campusano went 3-for-4, while Bowen and France each collected two hits.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Caitlin Clark's triple-double sends high-scoring Fever past Fire
Jul 31, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball against Portland Fire guard Holly Winterburn (77) during the first half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images Jump-started by Caitlin Clark’s first triple-double of the season, the Indiana Fever extended their winning streak to five games with a 112-98 decision over the host Portland Fire on Friday.
Clark put up 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Fever broke their own WNBA offensive records on Friday, rewriting league marks with a fifth straight 100-plus-point game and their 13th such game on the season.
Indiana (19-10) scored the last eight points of the first half to claim a 56-47 halftime edge. The Fever stretched the gap to 20 points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter before Portland pulled within 100-93 on a Bridget Carleton layup with 2:49 remaining.
The Fire were poised to take possession again after an offensive-foul call, but a review overturned the ruling and gave the Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell a pair of free throws that she sank. Indiana then pulled away.
Portland (11-18) dropped its fourth game in a row, allowing an opponent to reach 100 points for the third time in that span (with the fourth opponent scoring 98). The Fire entered play on Friday third-worst in the WNBA in scoring defense, allowing 90.9 points per game.
Clark was strong early, putting up 17 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Seven of her assists came after halftime. On the night, she shot 5-for-9 from the floor and connected on 14 of 17 free-throw tries in posting her fourth career triple-double.
Kelsey Mitchell added 26 points for the Fever, shooting 4-for-12 from 3-point range. Monique Billings chipped in 15 points and seven rebounds. Aliyah Boston returned from a knee injury in the first half of the Fever’s previous game to post 14 points, nine boards and six assists.
Indiana reserves Makayla Timpson and Sophie Cunningham also reached double-digit scoring. Timpson scored 15 on 7-for-8 shooting, while Cunningham drained 3 of 5 3-point tries en route to 13 points.
The Fire were led by 26 points from Carleton, who wound up 7-for-11 from beyond the arc. Carla Leite notched 20 points and 12 assists in the loss, and reserve Katie Samuelson added 13 points, connecting on 3 of 8 from long range. Emily Engstler, Nyadiew Puoch and Serah Williams each scored 10 points for Portland.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dillon Dingler's slam highlights Tigers' late eruption vs. A's
Jul 31, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (13) celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images Dillon Dingler hit his first career grand slam and Kevin McGonigle and Ben Malgeri also homered to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 13-1 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Javier Baez had three hits and three RBIs and Max Clark had three hits, two runs and an RBI in his major league debut for the Tigers, who broke the game open with 11 runs over the final two innings. Spencer Torkelson had three hits and scored three times while Dingler added two hits for Detroit.
With the trade deadline arriving Monday, the Tigers scratched right-hander Casey Mize on Friday and went with a bullpen game.
Tyler Holton was the first pitcher and gave up one run and one hit in two innings. Ty Madden (1-0) allowed two hits over three shutout innings, Drew Sommers struck out three in two perfect innings and Enmanuel De Jesus finished up with two scoreless frames.
Jonah Heim drove in the lone run for the Athletics, who have dropped six of seven games and 27 of 34.
Starter Jeffrey Springs (3-11) allowed two runs and four hits over four innings. He walked five and struck out two and is winless in his last 18 starts.
The Tigers tied the score at 1 with one out in the third when McGonigle smacked a 3-1 fastball over the wall in center, the 10th homer of his rookie season.
One inning later, Torkelson walked and Clark singled to left for his first big league hit. After Baez lined out, Malgeri walked to load the bases before McGonigle hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Torkelson.
The Tigers created distance in the eighth with a seven-run uprising.
Pinch hitter Eduardo Valencia doubled and Torkelson singled to start the inning. Clark doubled to the wall in left to give Detroit a 3-1 lead and end Brady Basso’s outing.
Luis Morales entered and Baez hit a blooper over the head of second baseman Jeff McNeil to knock in Torkelson. Malgeri hit a bouncer to third that was booted by Tommy White and Clark scored to make it 5-1.
McGonigle walked before Gleyber Torres was retired on a scorching liner hit directly at Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson. Dingler followed with his grand slam, a shot over the wall in center that increased the lead to 9-1. The homer was his team-leading 23rd of the season.
Detroit poured it on in the ninth as Torkelson singled, Clark doubled and Baez hit a two-run ground single. Malgeri followed with his first career homer to left to make it 13-1.
The Athletics struck in the opening inning when Wilson walked with one out and scored on Heim’s RBI double to center.
–Field Level Media
Ty France leads charge as Padres blank Giants
New York sues Kalshi, claiming its unlicensed gambling
