Sports
North Carolina draws archrival Duke after embarrassing loss
Sep 21, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Jacolby Criswell (12) reacts with wide receiver J.J. Jones (5) in the first quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Looking ahead to Saturday’s game at Duke is the top priority for North Carolina after last week’s disturbing result and a hectic few days.
Tar Heels coach Mack Brown said it’s a good time to play the neighboring Blue Devils in Durham, N.C., because the Tar Heels need to bond together for a common cause.
Duke (4-0) will play its third home game, while the Tar Heels (3-1) will arrive wounded after a 70-50 home loss to James Madison.
That outcome spawned an array of upheaval regarding Brown’s longevity and a long list of defensive deficiencies. Reports that Brown offered to step down were rebuffed by the winningest active Division I coach.
“I love my job and I want to keep doing it,” Brown said. “Excited about the future and love my job. Love these kids, and I love this place, and that’s why I hate losing so much. … Let’s go, let’s move forward. Can’t wait to get back to work and go play Duke.”
Brown and his coordinators have provided the only explanations for what happened in the James Madison game and the challenges of facing Duke. Tar Heels players weren’t available for comment after Saturday’s game or leading up to the Duke game.
“Obviously, a lot of things to fix,” Brown said. “We couldn’t have done more things wrong in a game.”
It’s the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both programs.
Duke first-year coach Manny Diaz said playing a longtime rival to start league play is a big deal.
“All other types of distractions which really aren’t the focus of what actually will matter Saturday at 4 o’clock which is how well we block, how well we tackle, how well we throw, how well we catch,” Diaz said.
Jacolby Criswell became the third North Carolina starting quarterback of the season in the James Madison game. Turnovers hurt the Tar Heels, but Criswell gave a boost to the offense.
“I think it’s all there,” Brown said. “This offense can be really, really good after what we saw from Jacolby.”
Duke quarterback Maalik Murphy, who’s in his first season in the program, threw three touchdowns last week against Middle Tennessee.
However, Diaz said the Blue Devils can’t be content with airing it out against North Carolina. Duke running back Star Thomas has exceeded the 100-yard rushing mark in each of the past two games
“Not just the way that he can see holes, but what he does when he gets downfield,” Diaz said. “His toughness is inspiring our football team.”
Duke’s defense is averaging 11 1/2 tackles for loss. That could be troublesome for North Carolina’s offensive line.
“We’ve got our hands full,” Brown said.
North Carolina prevailed 47-45 in double overtime against Duke in Chapel Hill last year to claim the Victory Bell.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets star Juan Soto (calf) goes on IL, could face lengthy absence
Jul 20, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images New York Mets All-Star outfielder Juan Soto was placed on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left calf strain prior to Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
An MRI exam revealed the damage that will cause Soto to miss a significant amount of time. New York didn’t immediately release a timetable.
“It’s not what we were hoping for,” Mets interim manager Andy Green told reporters. “He’s a guy we love having on the field. He’s a guy who loves being on the field competing. We’ll be without him for a period of time now.”
Soto missed 15 games with a right calf injury in April. The current injury is considered more serious.
Soto, a five-time All-Star, departed Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Dodgers in the sixth inning due to the calf ailment. Green told reporters Soto aggravated it while running to second base in the second inning on Bo Bichette’s double-play grounder.
Recently, Soto has seen occasional time as a designated hitter to help with the calf issue. He played left field against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 16 and left the game in the eighth inning. He also sat out Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers because of the injury before the team’s Thursday off-day.
Still, the injury worsened, as evidenced by Friday’s departure while serving as the DH and culminating in Saturday’s news.
Green feels this is a situation in which nobody should have regrets.
“This last week, we gave him at-bats, we gave him rest in times when we felt it appropriate, and then yesterday he couldn’t get over the hump,” Green said. “Is it possible we could have looked back and thought we could have moved a little bit quicker on this, given where we’re at today? Yes.
“I don’t know that that ultimately changes the situation we’re in right now. I respect somebody who’s trying to get on the field and play through things.”
Soto is batting .283 with 21 homers and 52 RBIs in 84 games, his second with the Mets as part of a 15-year, $765 million contract.
Green doesn’t believe the injury is season-ending but thinks it’s wise to review Soto’s routine.
“Juan wants to be and expects to be a generational, Hall of Fame-type player,” Green said. “So the way he’s wired, he’s going to look at whatever he can to keep himself on the field going forward, and we’ll partner with him in trying to find what those answers are and if there are adjustments to make in anything from prep to recovery to anything that is possible to be considered.”
New York recalled first baseman Eric Wagaman from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. The 28-year-old Wagaman batted .162 (6-for-37) with two homers and four RBIs in 21 games with the Mets earlier this season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Nick Martinez stifles Guardians as Rays roll to victory
Jul 25, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) delivers a pitch during the second inning against Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images Nick Martinez tossed six shutout innings and Yandy Diaz recorded his 1,000th career hit with Tampa Bay as the Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Martinez (10-2) allowed four singles with no walks and five strikeouts. He has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 19 of his 20 starts this season.
Cole Sulser and Garrett Cleavinger each pitched a scoreless inning before Bryan Baker worked around a one-out single in the ninth for his 27th save.
Chandler Simpson and Diaz had two hits apiece for Tampa Bay, which recorded its seventh shutout and won for the fifth time in its last six games.
Diaz lined a leadoff single to right field in the first inning against Tanner Bibee (4-10) to become the fourth player in franchise history to record 1,000 hits with the team.
Cleveland lost its fourth straight game and has scored a total of four runs in its last three.
Tampa Bay threatened to move ahead with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, but Bibee escaped unscathed on Ben Williamson’s groundout.
The Rays broke the scoreless tie in the fifth. Diaz hit a one-out double and moved to third on Jonathan Aranda’s single before scoring on Junior Caminero’s double off the right-field wall. Cedric Mullins followed with a sacrifice fly to put Tampa Bay ahead 2-0.
With runners on the corners and one out in the sixth, the Rays added to their lead when Victor Mesa Jr. scored on Hunter Feduccia’s sacrifice bunt.
Bibee yielded three runs on nine hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out five while throwing a season-high 107 pitches.
The Guardians were stymied by Martinez, who threw 60 of his 84 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 2.45, second best in the American League.
Cleveland drew its first and only walk of the day when pinch-hitter David Fry walked with two outs in the eighth. Steven Kwan followed by lining out to center.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Charlotte FC maintain early advantage to sweep Red Bulls
Jul 25, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Charlotte FC offense Liel Abada (11) and midfield Ashley Westwood (8) celebrate after a goal by midfield Pep Biel (16) during the first half against Red Bull New York at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images A pair of early goals from Pep Biel and Ashley Westwood lifted Charlotte FC to a 2-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday evening in Harrison, N.J.
The victory completes a season sweep for Charlotte (7-6-4, 25 points), who beat the Red Bulls (6-7-4, 22 points) 6-1 on March 21. The match extends Charlotte’s four-game unbeaten streak going into August.
The result also means the Red Bulls have gone 17 matches without a clean sheet. New York has lost its first two matches since returning from the international break in July. The loss puts them on the edge of the playoff picture as New York continues to battle for a postseason berth.
Charlotte keeper Kristijan Kahlina ended the game with five saves, while New York’s Ethan Horvath saved one shot.
Charlotte struck first in the seventh minute when Liel Abada burst down the left wing past his marker. Abada laid the ball off to Biel at the top of the box, who slotted his shot into the bottom right corner to give Charlotte an early advantage. The goal was Biel’s eighth of the season, a team high.
Charlotte doubled its lead just five minutes later when Vargas found open room down the right wing on a counter-attack. Instead of dribbling to the baseline, Vargas cut inside with his left foot and found Ashley Westwood waiting outside the penalty box. Westwood cleanly sent his shot past Horvath to put Charlotte up 2-0.
New York’s best chance of the game came after an unforced error in the 64th minute, when Kahlina mishit a pass in front of his own net as Emil Forsberg closed him down. Kahlina did enough to toe Forsberg’s shot away and preserve Charlotte’s lead, but the pressure from New York’s attack remained.
Despite outshooting Charlotte 23-4 and holding 64% of the possession, New York failed to translate its chances into goals. Most of New York’s shots came from far away, and when they got close enough to have a clear look at goal, Charlotte’s compact defense quickly hustled them off the ball.
Red Bulls midfielder Anis Mehmeti received a second yellow card for dissent two minutes into stoppage time, capping off an exasperating night for New York. Mehmeti, who looked visibly frustrated while disagreeing with a call, will miss New York’s Aug. 1 game against Orlando City.
–Field Level Media
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Mets star Juan Soto (calf) goes on IL, could face lengthy absence
