Sports
Diamondbacks eye wild-card race, welcome woeful Athletics
Jul 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) is greeted by teammates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images The Arizona Diamondbacks aim to build off a big win when they host the Athletics for a three-game series beginning Monday in Phoenix.
Trailing 7-0 entering the sixth inning Sunday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals, the Diamondbacks rallied with eight unanswered runs over the next five innings, culminating in Max Kepler’s walk-off RBI double in the 10th to take an 8-7 victory.
“Obviously, we needed it as a team,” said third baseman Nolan Arenado, who tied the game with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
“Just a well-fought game for us, just to come back like that was incredible. Arguably, our best win of the year, but just to see us — the way we fought and didn’t give in, we could have easily done that. We didn’t, so that was great.”
The win, which matched the largest come-from-behind victory in franchise history, was key for Arizona in the race for a playoff spot. It pulled the team within a half a game of St. Louis, the Miami Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates for the final wild-card spot in the National League.
It also clinched the season series against the Cardinals with just one game remaining between the two clubs, as Arizona has taken four of six. That would give the Diamondbacks the first tiebreaker edge should the two teams finish the season with identical records.
“What looks so good to me is the guys are very focused on their task despite it being a very rugged terrain for them to climb through. And they managed it,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said.
Designated hitter Adrian Del Castillo, recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday, went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs in Sunday’s win.
“Del is a good hitter,” Lovullo said. “When his timing’s right, when the flow to the swing is on time, he can impact the baseball, he can impact a baseball game.”
Mitch Bratt (0-0, 6.00 ERA) will take the mound for the hosts in search of his first career win in his third appearance. The 23-year-old rookie allowed three runs on three hits over three innings a no-decision in his last outing, a 5-3 Arizona road win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 12.
The Athletics will counter with fellow left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 6.08), who is 1-0 with a 2.79 ERA in three career appearances (one start) against the Diamondbacks.
The lefty surrendered six runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings in the Athletics’ 6-1 loss to the host Detroit Tigers on July 8. Springs hasn’t won since earning his third straight victory on April 14. Since then, he is 0-9 over his past 15 appearances.
The Athletics will be hoping for a strong outing from Springs as they try to break out of a stretch of 19 losses in their past 23 games. They snapped a 10-game skid with a 15-1 win against the Washington Nationals on Saturday before falling 5-2 in the finale of the three-game set on Sunday.
They went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine in their most recent loss.
“We just couldn’t get the big hit to get back in that game,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “The guys took good at-bats. … We couldn’t put them together enough and capitalize with some guys in scoring position with two outs.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nationals place LHP PJ Poulin (flexor) on 15-day injured list
Jul 10, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher PJ Poulin (50) throws to the New York Yankees during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images The Washington Nationals placed left-hander PJ Poulin on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a left flexor strain.
The move was retroactive to Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals signed free agent lefty Matt Krook. Washington transferred lefty Richard Lovelady (left triceps strain) from the 15- to 60-day IL to make room for Krook on the 40-man roster.
Poulin, who turns 30 on July 25, last pitched on July 11, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings as the opener in a 4-2 home loss to the New York Yankees.
Poulin is 3-0 with three saves, a 2.70 ERA, 21 walks and 25 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings over 35 games (11 starts) this season. Since making his major league debut last season, Poulin is 5-1 with four saves, a 3.08 ERA, 34 walks and 52 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings over 63 games (11 starts).
The Nationals selected Krook, 31, off waivers from the Athletics on July 4 and designated him for assignment on July 12. He was granted free agency last Tuesday.
Krook was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings across three relief appearances for the Nationals. He was 0-0 with a 14.73 ERA in 3 2/3 innings for the Athletics earlier this season.
For his career, Krook is 0-1 with a 14.11 ERA, 14 walks and 15 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over 16 games with four teams since 2023.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
Arizona Cardinals logo at the Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe on May 6, 2016. Two days after Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, his attorney responded, calling the allegations “blatantly false” and stating that they would be appealing the ruling.
On Friday, the league took the action after determining that Gold had disclosed confidential draft details and placed wagers involving football games. The NFL did not state to which parties that Gold had provided the information.
The league revealed that Gold disclosed inside information regarding Arizona’s 2026 draft picks prior to their announcement. Additionally, investigators discovered he took part in parlays involving NFL and college football games.
The suspension took effect immediately, but an appeal is permitted.
“Ryan Gold has been an outstanding NFL executive for over a decade,” attorney Mike Caspino said in a statement on Sunday. “The accusations made by the league regarding his participation in prohibited gambling activities are blatantly false. We have demanded an appeal and we look forward to clearing his good name.”
Caspino claimed that Gold’s wife, Jennifer, was making $10 weekly bets with a group of high school friends on parlays and that Gold played no role in that activity.
He added that Gold did not know whom the Cardinals were selecting because only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort knew and did not share that information.
NFL rules prohibit league and club employees from betting on sports, assisting others with wagers or providing information that is not available to the public.
“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected,” the NFL said in Friday’s statement, “the league takes any violation of the gambling policy with the utmost seriousness.”
The league said its investigation included interviews and a review of electronic records. It found no evidence that any Cardinals player, coach or other employee knew about or participated in Gold’s actions. There was also no indication that a play or game had been compromised.
The Cardinals on Friday issued a statement saying they “fully support the league’s decision in this matter.” They removed Gold’s bio from the team’s official website.
Gold was entering his 13th year with the organization and his second as director of college scouting. He was promoted to the position in June 2025 after three seasons as Arizona’s assistant director of college scouting. He previously spent four years with the organization as a college scouting coordinator.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Thunder deal Luguentz Dort to Hawks in 3-team trade
May 26, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Luguentz Dort (5) shoots during the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in game five of the western conference finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The Atlanta Hawks acquired 2025 All-Defensive wing Luguentz Dort from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Ryan Nembhard from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team deal on Sunday.
The Hawks sent former No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and a protected future second-round draft pick to the Mavericks, with two more future second-rounders going to the Thunder. Dallas is shipping one second-rounder to Oklahoma City.
While Dort has been a mainstay in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for years, the move completed a necessary stretch of offseason deals for the Thunder. They acquired seven second-round picks while going under the second apron with their trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins.
Oklahoma City picked up Dort’s $17.7 million team option, acquired three future assets and created a $17 million trade exception. Dort is now in position to sign a long-term contract in Atlanta that was infeasible with the Thunder.
Dort, 27, joins a young Hawks team led by Jalen Johnson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker that won more playoff games against the NBA champion New York Knicks than any other opponent. Atlanta also freed up $40-plus million in cap space next summer.
Dort, who finished fourth in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024-25, averaged 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 69 games last season. He averaged 11.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in seven seasons with the Thunder.
In his second NBA season, the 21-year-old Risacher averaged 9.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 67 games. However, he received just 23 minutes during the playoffs. The forward finished second to the Spurs’ Stephon Castle in the NBA’s 2025 Rookie of the Year voting.
Nembhard, 23, played in 60 games for the Mavericks as a rookie guard last season. The undrafted free agent made 27 starts and averaged 6.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds.
–Field Level Media
Nationals place LHP PJ Poulin (flexor) on 15-day injured list
Cardinals scouting director to appeal NFL's gambling suspension
