Sports
In first on the Fourth, Guardians aim to build division lead vs. White Sox
Jun 29, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick (77) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images Parker Messick couldn’t contain his excitement when it was announced that he would start for the Cleveland Guardians on the Fourth of July against the Chicago White Sox.
The left-hander ordered snazzy red, white and blue cleats for the occasion, which he modeled for reporters earlier in Cleveland’s homestand and called “pretty sweet.”
Messick (7-5, 2.85 ERA) will take on White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (5-4, 3.69) as the top two teams in the American League Central continue their four-game series on Saturday night.
“You’re just jealous,” Messick told fellow pitcher Gavin Williams, who did appear envious of the package delivered to the clubhouse. “Just wait ‘til you see the special hats and jerseys we’re wearing, too. It’s going to be really cool.”
The Guardians’ play has been pretty sweet in the first two games of the series. They now hold a one-game lead over Chicago — and have defeated the White Sox nine straight times in Cleveland — after winning on walk-off hits Thursday and Friday.
Brayan Rocchio’s two-run homer in the ninth inning off Grant Taylor lifted the Guardians to a 6-5 victory in the opener. Rookie Kahlil Watson singled in Steven Kwan in the 10th inning to give them a 4-3 triumph Friday.
Watson, who made his major league debut on June 18, has thrived against the White Sox with a .400 average, one homer and seven RBIs in five games. His game-winning single off Sean Newcomb was his first walk-off hit.
“No moment, no scene seems to be too much for him,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It’s been really fun to see. Obviously, a really cool moment for him and a huge win for us.”
Messick is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA in two career starts against Chicago, striking out 14 with just two walks over 13 2/3 innings. The loss occurred on June 23, when he allowed two runs in 7 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts in the Windy City.
Still classified as a rookie, Messick is experiencing his first rocky stretch in the big leagues, going 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA over his past five starts. Prior to it, he had won nine of 11 decisions since making his major league debut last Aug. 20.
“It’s an ongoing process, I’m still young in my career,” Messick said. “We’re starting to figure out what makes me feel the best going into each start.”
Burke, who will be tasked with stopping Cleveland’s momentum, has been solid of late with a 3-1 record and 3.18 ERA in his past seven outings. That includes beating Messick 11 days ago, when he gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings.
In five lifetime appearances against the Guardians, Burke is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and has permitted 32 players to reach base in 20 2/3 innings.
“Our guys are really consistent,” Chicago manager Will Venable said. “They flush whatever happened in the past, and are excited to come to the ballpark and give every ounce of energy they have.”
The common thread in the losses has been poor command by White Sox pitchers, who walked nine in the opener and five Friday. In the latter, deposed closer Seranthony Dominguez was handed a 3-1 lead in the seventh, but walked Rhys Hoskins and Rocchio, and allowed them to score.
“When you’re facing the Guardians, limiting the free passes is No. 1 on the pitching side, as far as a way to beat these guys,” Venable said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Jul 3, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers (28) acknowledges the dugout while running the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Athletics during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Heriberto Hernandez hit a three-run homer and Jakob Marsee added a solo shot during a six-run first inning to help the Miami Marlins post a 12-5 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Kyle Stowers went 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs for the Marlins, who halted a two-game slide. Owen Caissie added a solo shot as Miami matched its season high with five homers.
Major league batting leader Otto Lopez had two hits to raise his average to .337 and Liam Hicks scored three times for the Marlins.
Nick Kurtz hit a two-run homer and Jeff McNeil had a three-run double for the Athletics, who lost for the ninth time in 12 games.
The Athletics’ Jack Perkins (2-4) was torched for seven runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. He matched his career high of eight strikeouts and walked four.
Lake Bachar (1-0) retired six straight batters over the seventh and eighth innings and was credited with the victory for the Marlins. He was one of five relievers who combined to allow just two hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Miami starter Tyler Phillips gave up five runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out two and walked two.
Hicks, Stowers and Lopez opened the game with singles off Perkins and Xavier Edwards walked to force in the first run. Stowers then scored on a passed ball by A’s catcher Shea Langeliers to make it 2-0.
Hernandez then swatted a three-run blast to center to make it 5-0. Perkins retired the next two batters before Marsee drilled a homer to right to cap the six-run explosion.
Miami tacked on another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Edwards.
The Athletics displayed life in the bottom of the third as Alika Williams doubled and Kurtz slugged a mammoth 457-foot, two-run homer to center, his 20th of the season.
The A’s loaded the bases in the fourth on singles by Joshua Kuroda-Grauer and Carlos Cortes and a walk to Henry Bolte. McNeil followed with a bases-clearing two-bagger into the gap in left-center to pull the Athletics within 7-5.
Stowers led off the sixth with his first homer, a shot to right off Justin Sterner. In the eighth, Hicks drew a one-out walk before Stowers hit a two-run blast to right-center off Mason Barnett to give the Marlins a 10-5 lead.
Hernandez singled to lead off the ninth against Barnett. One out later, Caissie hit a two-run homer to left-center to make it a seven-run margin.
–Field Media Level
Sports
Four-run, 11th-inning rally sends Brewers past Diamondbacks
Jul 3, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell (right) celebrates with teammate Cooper Pratt after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Brice Turang hit a two-run single in a four-run 11th inning to help the Milwaukee Brewers earn a 7-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the opener of a three-game series on Friday in Phoenix.
Turang had three hits and also a run, Jake Bauers collected three hits, an RBI and a run, and Garrett Mitchell hit a two-run homer for the Brewers, who have won four of five.
Milwaukee starter Kyle Harrison has won seven straight decisions, but he got a third straight no-decision after letting a 3-0 lead slip away. The left-hander was tagged for three runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking one on 72 pitches.
Grant Anderson (2-3) pitched the final two innings for the Brewers, yielding just an unearned run.
Ildemaro Vargas had three hits and an RBI, Gabriel Moreno produced two hits, an RBI and a run, and Nolan Arenado contributed a two-run double for Arizona, which has lost two in a row.
Diamondbacks rookie Jose Cabrera went 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out three and walking three.
After neither team scored in the 10th, Ryan Thompson (3-2) hit Cooper Pratt with a pitch to start the 11th.
A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up before Christian Yelich was walked intentionally to load the bases. Jackson Chourio hit a swinging bunt that was fielded by Thompson, but his throw home was wide. Two runs scored on the play for a 5-3 lead.
Turang followed with an opposite-field two-run single to left.
Vargas hit an RBI single in the bottom of the 11th to make it 7-4.
After Bauers led off the second with a single, Mitchell lifted the first pitch he saw from Cabrera to deep center and off a fan above the home run barrier. The play was briefly reviewed for fan interference, but the home run was confirmed, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead.
Turang, William Contreras and Bauers strung together three consecutive one-out singles in the third to extend the lead to 3-0.
Mitchell followed with a long fly ball to left that appeared destined for the seats, but Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaped and snared the ball high above the wall to rob him of a three-run homer.
Corbin Carroll lined a single to right with two outs in the bottom of the third to put runners on the corners for Moreno, who grounded an opposite-field single through the right side to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After a walk loaded the bases, Arenado pulled a 2-2 pitch off the base of the wall down the left field line for a two-run double, tying the score 3-3. That ended the night for Harrison, who threw 38 pitches in the inning.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Athletics C Shea Langeliers exits due to left thumb contusion
Jun 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) catches a foul ball against the Pittsburg Pirates during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers sustained a left thumb contusion during the team’s 12-5 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday in West Sacramento, Calif.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said after the contest that Langeliers underwent X-rays, adding, “We’ll evaluate him again tomorrow.”
Kotsay said the injury occurred on a passed ball in the first inning. Langeliers went to catch the pitch from Jack Perkins and it hit the thumb area of the glove and bounced away, allowing Miami to score a run.
Langeliers, who struck out in both of his at-bats, initially remained in the game but was removed for pinch hitter Jonah Heim in the bottom of the fourth.
Langeliers will also learn Saturday if he will be the starting catcher for the American League for the July 14 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. He and Toronto’s Alejandro Kirk are the AL finalists.
Langeliers is batting .264 with 20 homers and 44 RBIs in 80 games this season. He leads AL catchers in homers and hits (87).
–Field Level Media
Six-run first propels Marlins to runaway defeat of A's
Four-run, 11th-inning rally sends Brewers past Diamondbacks
