Sports
Esmerlyn Valdez's six RBIs leads Pirates over Brewers
Jul 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) celebrates his grand slam home run with outfielder Billy Cook (25) against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Esmerlyn Valdez delivered a go-ahead grand slam to help the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 win against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
Braxton Ashcraft allowed five runs of five hits and struck out six in five innings for the Pirates. Gregory Soto got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth for the save.
Brewers starter Brandon Sproat surrendered three runs on two hits, fanning three, before he was lifted after the third.
Valdez, who had six RBIs, connected for his second home run of the game in the seventh to put Pittsburgh ahead 7-6. Henry Davis singled against Chad Patrick, who was then replaced by Aaron Ashby (12-2).
Ashby gave up back-to-back singles to load the bases before Valdez mashed a sinker to right.
Down a run, Milwaukee rallied in the fifth to grab the lead.
Luis Lara doubled and then scored to tie the game 3-3, when Cooper Pratt followed with a double of his own.
Sal Frelick launched a two-run shot to the right field deck to put the Brewers ahead 5-3.
They added another in the seventh off Carmen Mlodzinski (6-3). William Contreras knocked a single to bring Garrett Mitchell in from second and make it 6-3.
The Pirates capitalized on a shaky start by Sproat to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Sproat caught Jake Mangum with a fastball off the foot to lead off the frame and, two batters later, a curveball dipped down and grazed off Bryan Reynolds’ left foot. Valdez followed with a single that drove in Mangum.
Reynolds and Valdez each advanced on a wild pitch before Reynolds came scored on a throwing error by third baseman Joey Ortiz on a hit from Nick Gonzales.
The Brewers responded in the second. After Contreras opened with a double to left, Jake Bauers hit a home run to right field to tie the game.
Pittsburgh went ahead 3-2 the bottom of the third when Valdez smashed a two-out cutter to dead center for his eighth home run of the season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Public memorial for Kyle Busch set for Oct. 9 in Charlotte
May 23, 2026; Concord, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Motor Speedways’ main video board pay homage to deceased driver Kyle Busch before qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images A public memorial service for NASCAR champion Kyle Busch will take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 9.
The celebration of Busch’s life, achievements and lasting legacy will follow the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
Busch, the winningest driver across NASCAR’s three national series, died on May 21 at age 41 after a sudden illness.
“The service will be free and open to the public, providing fans, members of the motorsports industry, friends and loved ones an opportunity to come together in remembrance and tribute to one of racing’s most influential and accomplished competitors,” NASCAR posted on its website.
Additional details about the service, including specific times and speakers, will be announced in the coming days as plans are finalized.
Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series championship in 2015 and 2019. His 234 combined wins across multiple series include the most ever in both the Craftsman Truck Series (69) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Brewers place LHP Kyle Harrison (forearm) on 15-day IL
Jul 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Kyle Harrison against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers placed left-hander Kyle Harrison on the 15-day injured list Saturday with forearm tightness.
The move is retroactive to Thursday, one day after Harrison pitched four innings and took the loss in the Brewers’ 5-1 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Harrison, 24, is 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 17 starts this season, his first with Milwaukee. He was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in February.
Also on Saturday, the Brewers recalled left-hander Robert Gasser, 27, from Triple-A Nashville. He is 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA in eight starts with Milwaukee this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tim Merlier wins 2nd straight stage at Tour de France
Tim Merlier celebrates after crossing the finish line to win Stage 8 of the Tour de France from Perigueux to Bergerac on Saturday. Belgium’s Tim Merlier bolted to his second straight Tour de France stage win on a sweltering Saturday, becoming the first cyclist in three years to win two in a row.
The 33-year-old sprinter caught up to breakaway rider and countryman Liam Slock with about 1.5 kilometers left in the relatively flat 180.4-kilometer Stage 8 trek from Perigueux to Bergerac.
It was Merlier’s fifth career stage win as he became the first to go back-to-back since Jasper Philipsen in the opening days of the 2023 Tour de France. Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay finished second and Dutchman Olav Kooij was third.
Four-time champion Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. Two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark is two minutes and 42 seconds behind, followed by Mexico’s Isaac del Toro in third place.
The area is under an extreme high temperature warning, with Bergerac hitting 97 degrees on Saturday. Because of the scorching heat, officials announced a change to the course ahead of a hilly Stage 9 on Sunday. The route was reduced from 185.5 to 155.5 kilometers and will now run from Malemort to Ussel.
“This decision has been made necessary by the exceptional weather conditions. It aims to ensure that the race can take place under conditions compatible with the red heatwave alert,” organizers said.
–Field Level Media
Public memorial for Kyle Busch set for Oct. 9 in Charlotte
NYT Pips hints, answers for July 12, 2026
