Sports
Julio Rodriguez, Mariners rally from 5-run deficit to walk off Astros
Apr 11, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodríguez (44) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images J.P. Crawford’s walk-off single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning capped the Seattle Mariners’ rally from a five-run deficit in an 8-7 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Julio Rodriguez doubled and homered, his first two extra-base hits of the season, and Cal Raleigh also went deep for the Mariners and drove in three runs.
Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (0-2) struck out Luke Raley leading off the ninth, then walked the bases loaded. Crawford, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a 0-2 fastball to left field to plate the decisive run.
Mariners closer Andres Munoz (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory.
The Mariners jumped out to an early lead. Crawford, batting leadoff for a second straight night with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, drew a walk and Raleigh lined the next pitch into the right-field seats. Rodriguez followed by grounding a double down the third-base line.
With one out, Randy Arozarena hit a 102-mph liner back up the middle. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. raised his glove in a defensive motion and caught the ball, starting an inning-ending double play.
The Astros took the lead in the second, loading the bases on singles by Jose Altuve and Cam Smith sandwiched around a walk to Joey Loperfido.
Luis Castillo caught Yainer Diaz looking at a called third strike, courtesy of an ABS challenge, for the second out. Former Mariner Taylor Trammell came through with a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center field in his first at-bat of the season to make it 3-2.
The Astros scored three more runs in the third. Yordan Alvarez led off with a homer to right-center. With two outs, Carlos Correa lined a single to center and Loperfido doubled down the right-field line before Smith capped a 13-pitch at-bat by lining a two-run single to center.
Houston tallied again in the fourth. Trammell and Jeremy Pena led off with singles and, an out later, Isaac Paredes grounded a run-scoring single to left, ending Castillo’s night.
Castillo lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The right-hander walked one and fanned three.
McCullers retired 12 consecutive batters starting with his first-inning escape before running into trouble in the fifth.
With one out, Cole Young singled, Dominic Canzone doubled and Leo Rivas walked, loading the bases. Crawford lined a two-run single to center, chasing McCullers.
Reliever Steven Okert got Raleigh to hit a broken-bat liner to left, deep enough for a sacrifice fly. Rodriguez then hammered a 1-2 fastball 426 feet over the wall in straightaway center field, tying the score at 7.
McCullers was charged with six runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The righty walked two and struck out four.
Pena, the Astros’ shortstop, left in the middle of the fourth inning with what the team called right posterior knee tightness. He was replaced by Nick Allen.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC announce departure of D Strahinja Tanasijevic
Mar 15, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic (19) runs with the ball during the second half against New England Revolution at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-Imagn Images New York City FC defender Strahinja Tanasijevic has departed the club, the team announced on Wednesday.
Tanasijevic, 28, joined NYCFC in February 2024 and made 43 appearances across all competitions.
“We would like to thank Tana for the commitment and professionalism shown throughout his time with the Club,” sporting director Todd Dunivant said. “This move provides an opportunity for Tana to pursue the next step in his career while also giving the Club additional roster flexibility. We wish Tana and his family all the best moving forward.”
Tanasijevic played for several clubs in his native Serbia prior to joining New York City FC.
–Field Level Media
Sports
LeBron James on GOAT debate: 'Not taking nobody over me'
Nov 27, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) smiles after a Philadelphia 76ers foul during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images LeBron James told Time magazine that he believes he is the greatest basketball player of all time.
When asked the age-old question of who is the GOAT in the NBA, James embraced his own name.
“I’m not taking nobody over me,” he told Time in a profile published Monday. “There’s no question.”
James, however, admitted the NBA has other all-time greats, namely Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Larry Bird and Shaquille O’Neal, among others.
“But I think Mike will say the same thing,” James said. “Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt (Chamberlain), Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar). I don’t think none of us are going to take somebody else.
“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”
James, 41, just completed his record-setting 23rd NBA season, and the league’s all-time leading scorer is heading into unrestricted free agency.
“It’s up to the mind,” James told Time about whether he will suit up next season or retire. “Where the mind goes, the body will lay. When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation, if I’m out of love with getting to practice 2 1/2 hours beforehand, then I know I’ll be done. Because then I’m going to start cheating the game.”
James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds this season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 22-time All-Star, four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion is the all-time leader in games (1,622) and points (43,440).
–Field Level Media
Sports
WNBA champion Aces not invited to White House
Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) celebrates as she receives the MVP trophy after defeating the Phoenix Mercury 97-86 to win the WNBA Championship in a four-game sweep in Game Four of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 10, 2025, in Phoenix. The Las Vegas Aces did not receive an invitation to the White House after winning the 2025 WNBA title in October, a team spokesperson confirmed to USA Today on Wednesday.
The decades-old tradition of championship sports teams visiting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. has not included any WNBA or NBA teams during President Donald Trump’s second term in office.
The New York Liberty did not visit the White House after winning the 2024 WNBA championship. The 2024-25 NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder did not go either, due to what the team called a timing issue.
The Aces, who will be in Washington, D.C., for a July 22 game against the Mystics, have won three of the past four WNBA championships. They visited the White House twice during the Biden Administration.
The Aces had considered visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture as an alternate way of commemorating their championship during next month’s trip to the nation’s capital, but ran into a scheduling conflict, per USA Today.
–Field Level Media
NYCFC announce departure of D Strahinja Tanasijevic
LeBron James on GOAT debate: 'Not taking nobody over me'
