Sports
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays shut out Mariners to begin ALCS rematch
Jul 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez (0), left, turns a double play after forcing out Seattle Mariners centerfielder Victor Robles (10) at second base during the third inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Dylan Cease pitched seven sharp innings as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the host Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Friday in the opener of a three-game series between the teams that met in the 2025 American League Championship Series.
It was the third victory in the past four games for the Blue Jays following a six-game skid.
The Mariners saw their three-game winning streak end, and they fell out of a first-place tie with the idle Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Cease (5-4) allowed only three hits — singles by Cole Young and Victor Robles to open the bottom of the third and a one-out double by J.P. Crawford in the sixth. The right-hander walked one and struck out nine.
Blue Jays reliever Jeff Hoffman fanned two in a hitless eighth. Closer Louis Varland worked around a one-out single by Dominic Canzone in the ninth to log his 18th save in as many chances this season.
The Blue Jays scored both of their runs in the third against Mariners starter Luis Castillo (3-7). Rookie Sean Keys led off by grounding a single to center, and he came home on Andres Gimenez’s double to left-center. Nathan Lukes laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Gimenez to third, and Vladimir Guerrero lined a single to right to make it 2-0.
The Mariners threatened in the bottom of the inning following the two singles, but Cease got rookie Colt Emerson to ground into a double play. After issuing his lone walk to Crawford, putting runners at the corners, Cease induced Randy Arozarena to ground out to second.
Castillo went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits. The right-hander walked one and struck out four.
The Mariners were without standout center fielder Julio Rodriguez, who was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list earlier in the day. Rodriguez was hit in the back of the helmet by an errant throw while running the bases Thursday in Seattle’s 1-0 victory against the Los Angeles Angels.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Jul 3, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (1) celebrates with first baseman Matt Olson (28) after hitting a solo home run against the New York Mets during the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Matt Olson emphatically ended a 16-game homerless streak Friday with pair of solo shots to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 win over the visiting New York Mets in the opener of a four-game series.
It was Olson’s second multi-home run game of the season and the 27th of his career. He raised his total to a team-high 22 homers this season.
The Braves had only five hits and four left the park. Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also homered for Atlanta.
Grant Holmes (5-4) went five innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and one walk, striking out two. Raisel Iglesias allowed an RBI single to Bo Bichette in the ninth but earned his 17th save.
New York starter Christian Scott (2-1) worked four innings and allowed three runs on two hits and four walks, with seven strikeouts.
The Mets fell a season-worst 16 games below .500.
The Braves broke through in the second inning when Harris hit a two-run homer, his 15th. Harris had saved a run in the top of the first when he robbed Carson Benge of an extra-base hit by making a long running catch.
The Mets tied it in the third on an opposite-field home run by Juan Soto, his 18th of the season and 27th of his career against the Braves.
Albies put the Braves on top again in the third with a solo homer, his 14th, for a 3-2 lead.
Atlanta got another run in the fifth inning when Olson hit a solo homer to the right-center-field seats. The homer came against reliever A.J. Minter and ended a streak of 25 consecutive scoreless appearances by the left-hander. It was the first earned run the former Brave has allowed this season.
Olson hit another solo homer in the eighth off Kodai Senga.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
July 3, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Folarin Balogun of the U.S. speaks to media before training. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Forward Folarin Balogun disagreed with the red-card ruling that will see him miss the United States’ World Cup round of 16 match against Belgium, and he admitted to experiencing a range of emotions since being sent off.
In the United States’ 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in Inglewood, Calif., Balogun scored his third goal of the tournament in the first half before receiving a second-half red card for his tackle on Tarik Muharemovic.
No foul was called against Balogun originally, but a video review led to the referee sending him off.
Speaking Friday in Seattle, where the U.S. will oppose Belgium on Monday, Balogun said, “I’ve seen many different opinions and takes. For me personally, I think a yellow card would have been fair. It’s something that’s happened, so we have to move forward and I have to accept it. But the most important thing is just to focus on the bigger picture, which is Belgium.”
He added of the aftermath of the red card, “It’s been a roller coaster. There’s been lots of different emotions. I’ve been upset. I’ve been happy. It’s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion.
“There’s still lots of people we’re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things even when you think it’s unjust.
“So I felt I did that. And as I said, I’m happy with the support, not just that I’m receiving, but the team. And I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what we can do against Belgium.”
As for how the U.S. will cope against Belgium while missing their top scorer in the event, midfielder Tyler Adams said, “When you miss a player like (Balogun), obviously things change a little bit, but we’ve been flexible. Guys have shown that they’re ready to play. …
“If it’s (Ricardo) Pepi, if it’s Haji (Wright filling in for Balogun), if they go a different direction, who knows? I’m not the coach. But yeah, it should be an exciting opportunity for everybody.”
The USMNT were officially notified that Balogun’s suspension is the standard one match, so Balogun would be able to return to action in the quarterfinals against Spain or Portugal on July 10 in Inglewood should the U.S. win on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spacestation, Liquid reach OWCS NA Stage 2 upper-bracket final
YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Spacestation Gaming and Team Liquid advanced to the upper-bracket final of the Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 playoffs with a pair of 3-0 sweeps on Friday.
Spacestation blanked LuneX Gaming and Liquid did the same to Dallas Fuel, the team that finished second in the regular-season standings. LuneX and Dallas will meet in the lower-bracket semifinal on Saturday before Spacestation and Liquid square off in the upper-bracket final, with a chance to punch their ticket to the grand final.
Six teams participated in a round-robin regular season, with the top four advancing to the playoffs, which run from Friday through Sunday. All matches in the double-elimination bracket are best-of-five, except for the grand final, which will be best-of-seven.
In addition to earning shares of the $75,000 prize pool, the top four Stage 2 finishers advance to Stage 3. The top three finishers also will qualify for the Overwatch Champions Series’ Midseason Championship, a $1 million event scheduled for July 29-Aug. 2 in Paris.
On Friday, Spacestation hardly let LuneX get on the scoreboard, prevailing 2-0 on Ilios Control, 2-1 on King’s Row Hybrid and 3-0 on New Junk City Flashpoint.
Team Liquid opened with a 2-0 victory on Ilios Control, pulled out a 4-3 result on Dorado Escort and shut out the Fuel 3-0 on King’s Row Hybrid.
Overwatch Champions Series’ North American Stage 2 prize pool
1. $30,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
2. $15,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
3. $12,000, qualifies for Midseason Championship and NA Stage 3
4. $8,000, qualifies for NA Stage 3
5-6. $5,000, qualifies for NA Stage 2 promotion/relegation — The Kafe, Disguised
–Field Level Media
Matt Olson breaks out of homerless rut, helps Braves top Mets
Folarin Balogun on red card: 'Yellow card would have been fair'
