Sports
Mets ride magical week into NLDS showdown vs. rival Phillies
Oct 3, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates with teammates after hitting a three run home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the ninth inning during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images PHILADELPHIA — When the New York Mets begin their National League Division Series on Saturday afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies, they will hope to author another chapter in what is fast becoming a storybook season.
The Mets advanced to the NLDS when Pete Alonso keyed a four-run rally in the ninth inning Thursday night by slugging an opposite-field three-run homer, lifting New York to a 4-2 victory over host Milwaukee in Game 3 of the teams’ wild-card series.
“You go through those scenarios as a little kid,” Alonso said. “It’s like, ‘Alright, you’re in the playoffs, you’re down by two runs.’ I don’t know. Words can’t explain it.”
The Mets managed just two hits in the first eight innings and entered the ninth in a 2-0 hole. But Francisco Lindor coaxed a leadoff walk from Brewers closer Devin Williams, and one out later Brandon Nimmo grounded a single through the middle.
That set the stage for Alonso, who since Sept. 19 was in a 5-for-41 slump and had not managed an extra-base hit. The right-handed slugger worked the count to 3-1, then lined Williams’ changeup over the right field fence to give the Mets the lead.
Later in the inning, Starling Marte singled home Jesse Winker, accounting for the final margin.
It was the latest bit of heroics by the Mets, who qualified for the postseason by beating Atlanta 8-7 in the first game of a doubleheader Monday on Lindor’s two-run ninth-inning homer. They used a five-run fifth inning to beat Milwaukee in Game 1 of their series, then saw the Brewers come from behind to win Game 2 5-3.
The Mets were just 24-35 on June 2, but went 65-38 thereafter to finish 89-73, six games behind the Phillies in the National League East. This is the teams’ first postseason meeting.
The Phillies will send their ace, ex-Met Zack Wheeler, to the mound Saturday. Wheeler thrust himself into the NL Cy Young Award conversation by going 16-7 in the regular season, with a 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings.
“You always get nervous,” Wheeler said Friday of postseason appearances, “but once you get out there you kind of settle down a little bit, kind of forget about (the fans) and just do your normal job.”
The Mets will counter with right-hander Kodai Senga, who because of shoulder and calf injuries pitched one game all season — a July 26 victory over Atlanta, in which he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed two runs on two hits, one of them a homer. Senga, a native of Japan, went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA as a rookie in 2023.
The Phillies have been among the best teams in baseball all season. Their victory total (95) was exceeded only by the Dodgers, who won 98, and their run differential (113) was fourth-best behind the Dodgers, Yankees and Brewers.
But while the Mets have played five games this week, the Phillies have been resting, playing only an intrasquad game on Wednesday.
History suggests that down time might not be the best thing. Of the eight teams to earn first-round byes in the first two years of the current playoff format, five were eliminated in the divisional round. Only one — Houston, in 2022 — won the World Series.
The Phillies were on the losing end in that series, and last year fell to Arizona in the National League Championship Series, a series in which they seized a 3-2 lead but surprisingly lost the final two games in their raucous home stadium.
They own a 12-4 home record the last two postseasons, and this year they won the season series from the Mets, 7-6. That includes a split of a two-game series the teams played in London in June. New York did, however, win three of the teams’ last four meetings.
–Gordie Jones, Field Level Media
Sports
Report: A's sign LHP Dallas Keuchel to minor league deal
Jul 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dallas Keuchel (60) throws during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images The Athletics signed former American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel to a minor league contract, ESPN reported Saturday.
The 38-year-old left-hander, a two-time All-Star, last pitched in the majors for the Milwaukee Brewers on July 13, 2024.
He has 13 years of major league experience, most prominently with the Houston Astros (2012-18). In 2015, he went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and 216 strikeouts, en route to winning the AL Cy Young Award.
The veteran will now attempt another comeback with the Athletics. Per ESPN, he will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.
With the Astros, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins and Brewers, Keuchel is 103-92 with a 4.04 ERA and 1,254 strikeouts in 282 games (267 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Magomed Ankalaev puts away Bogdan Guskov at UFC Abu Dhabi
Oct 4, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Magomed Ankalaev (red gloves) reacts after the fight against Alex Pereira (blue gloves) during UFC 320 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images After a slow-paced, grueling affair that drew boos from the Etihad Arena crowd, No. 1-ranked former UFC light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev finally put away No. 9 Bogdan Guskov with fifth-round ground-and-pound at 2:41 to cap off Saturday’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi.
The main event was a slog for the first 15 minutes. The opening frame saw very little action, and the second round was largely uneventful aside from Ankalaev (22-2-1, 1 NC MMA) securing a clinch and landing a few knees. The lack of output continued into the third, prompting the restless Abu Dhabi crowd to loudly voice their frustration and shower both men with boos as they returned to their corners.
Ankalaev shifted gears in the championship rounds, immediately taking Guskov (18-4-1 MMA) to the mat to open the fourth. He worked his way to full mount before settling into half guard, eventually threatening with a rear-naked choke that Guskov managed to defend to survive the frame.
Guskov, who landed just 42 strikes throughout the entire fight, nearly pulled off a miracle head-in-arm choke early in the fifth round. Ankalaev calmly escaped the sudden submission threat and eventually took Guskov’s back. Despite a brief reversal from Guskov in a desperate scramble, Ankalaev regained top position and unleashed a vicious barrage of ground-and-pound to force the stoppage.
The victory gave Ankalaev his 13th UFC win, the most among active light heavyweights.
“I want to say thank you to Bogdan (Guskov) for coming in here and saving the fight,” Ankalaev said. “I feel good. Thank you.”
Watching the grueling affair cageside was reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg, who is currently sidelined recovering from a torn ACL. With the stoppage victory, Ankalaev likely solidified his position as the next challenger for Ulberg once the champion is cleared to return to the Octagon.
Flyweight Ramazan Temirov (20-3 MMA) secured his 12th consecutive victory in spectacular fashion, thoroughly dominating former title challenger Steve Erceg (14-5 MMA) en route to a first-round knockout.
Temirov set the tone early with a spinning back attack to begin the bout. Later in the frame, he unleashed a barrage of punches before putting the finishing touches on the performance. The final sequence began with a right hand before Temirov dropped and flatlined Erceg with a single punch to end things at the 4:21 mark.
Following the spectacular finish, Temirov used his post-fight interview to call out reigning UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van for a future title fight.
“I’m ready for everyone,” Temirov said. “Whoever is champion, I’m ready.”
Lightweight Magomed Zaynukov (9-0 MMA) leaned on highly effective striking and mixed combinations to secure a unanimous decision victory (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Damian Rzepecki (10-1 MMA). After a slow-paced opening frame, Zaynukov found his rhythm and dictated the action down the stretch, opening noticeable cuts over Rzepecki’s nose and eyes to cruise to the win.
Heavyweight Rizvan Kuniev (14-3-1 MMA) wore down an incredibly game Tyrell Fortune (18-4 MMA), ultimately securing a TKO victory with a devastating knee to the head at the 1:12 mark of the third round. Kuniev nearly finished the bout in both the first and second frames with a barrage of knees and elbows, but Fortune showed immense toughness, surviving the early onslaught and continuing to fight despite a severely compromised right rib.
In the main card opener, Abubakar Vagaev (25-4 MMA) leaned on a balanced attack of striking and timely takedowns to secure a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Saygid Izagakhmaev (22-4 MMA).
Saturday’s main card was unexpectedly reduced from six fights to five just three hours before the event began. The UFC announced that Islam Dulatov was forced to withdraw from his scheduled welterweight bout against Wellington Turman due to an illness, prompting a last-minute cancellation.
Heavyweight Valter Walker (16-1 MMA) made history on Saturday’s preliminary card, securing his fifth consecutive submission victory to tie former middleweight title challenger Demian Maia for the longest submission streak in modern UFC history. Walker finished Thomas Petersen (11-5 MMA) via first-round calf slicer — an incredibly rare finish that marks only the fourth of its kind ever successfully executed inside the Octagon.
Saturday marked the UFC’s 23rd event in Abu Dhabi since 2010. The promotion also announced during the broadcast that it will make its 24th trip to the United Arab Emirates on Oct. 24 for UFC 333.
The UFC returns to action next Saturday, kicking off August with a trip to Serbia for UFC Fight Night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
May 25, 2026; Paris, France; Anna Bondar of Hungary reacts during her first round match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on day two at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images No. 4 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary outlasted Elina Avanesyan of Armenia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in a three-hour, 29-minute match on Saturday to advance to the final of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open in Germany.
Bondar will face fifth-seeded Tamara Korpatsch of Germany, who advanced in her semifinal match when Mayar Sherif of Egypt retired in the second set with an injury. Bondar reached the final at Hamburg for the second consecutive year.
Bondar was down 5-3 in the opening set against Avanesyan before rallying then taking the final four points of the tiebreaker for the set. Bondar also lost serve to fall behind 2-0 in the deciding set then won the first five points of the tiebreaker to advance.
Korpatsch dominated the opening set 6-1 then went up 2-0 in the second set before Sherif was forced to bow out. Sherif was coming off her first title in four years at the Iasi Open in Romania.
Prague Open
Lilli Tagger of Austria pulled off an upset of No. 2 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and earned her way into the final with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) semifinal victory.
Both semifinalists from the Czech Republic fell in their home country with No. 5 seed Tereza Valentova losing 7-6 (4), 6-3 to No. 8 seed Daria Snigur of Ukraine.
After losing the opening set, Tagger rallied by breaking Krejcikova’s serve to go up 4-2 in the second set. She broke serve again in the fourth game of the final set then won the final three points in the tiebreaker to win the match.
Snigur and Valentova each broke serve twice in the opening set before Snigur won the final four points of the tiebreaker. Snigur then broke Valentova’s serve twice in the second set, including once to take a 5-3 lead before serving for the match.
–Field Level Media
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Report: A's sign LHP Dallas Keuchel to minor league deal
