Sports
Orioles outlast Astros in 11 innings
Jul 18, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Tyler O’Neill (9) hits an RBI infield single against the Houston Astros during the 11th inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Tyler O’Neill and Leody Taveras delivered back-to-back run-scoring singles with two outs in the 11th inning as the visiting Baltimore Orioles outlasted the Houston Astros 4-2 on Saturday.
O’Neill beat out an infield single to second baseman Jose Altuve that allowed Gunnar Henderson to score from second base. Taveras followed with a single to right field that plated Taylor Ward, who walked to open the inning against Enyel De Los Santos (0-3), the sixth pitcher of the day for the Astros.
Pinch hitter Jeremiah Jackson gave the Orioles a 2-1 lead in the top of the 10th with a sacrifice bunt that scored Taveras, who opened the frame as the automatic runner at second base and advanced to third on an infield single. The Astros matched in the bottom of that inning when Yordan Alvarez produced an RBI double that plated Lucas Spence, but Houston failed to secure the victory despite loading the bases with no outs against Orioles reliever Andrew Kittridge (1-1).
Nick Allen, an injury substitution for Jeremy Pena (hamstring) in the fourth inning, delivered a perfect squeeze bunt that scored Zach Dezenzo from third base and knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh. Allen was the first batter faced by Orioles reliever Rico Garcia.
The Orioles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Pete Alonso (walk) and Samuel Basallo (hit by pitch) reached in succession to open that frame. Dylan Beavers followed with a double into the right field corner off Astros right-hander Spencer Arrighetti that plated Alonso.
That was the lone hit allowed by Arrighetti, who worked five innings but issued four walks. Arrighetti notched six strikeouts.
Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers carried a shutout into the seventh inning before faltering. He surrendered three hits in the first but induced a double-play grounder from Alvarez before Christian Walker struck out.
Walker was the first of nine consecutive batters retired by Rogers, with LaMonte Wade Jr. snapping that stretch when he reached on a fielding error by third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand with two outs in the fourth. Wade replaced Walker mid-plate appearance after Walker departed due to right hip tightness.
Dezenzo and Spence singled in succession with one out in the seventh and chased Rogers from the hill. Rogers posted his fifth consecutive start allowing one run or fewer and notched a season-high eight strikeouts. He surrendered one run on seven hits and one walk over 6 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: WTA to mandate genetic gender test
![STOCK | A tennis racket and tennis balls rest alongside the court during an FHSAA District 3-1A high school girls tennis match in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 14, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://dailyfacthub.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/25937937.jpg)
STOCK | A tennis racket and tennis balls rest alongside the court during an FHSAA District 3-1A high school girls tennis match in Jacksonville, Florida, on April 14, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union] The Women’s Tennis Association has changed its eligibility policy and will require athletes to submit to a one-time genetic gender test to establish eligibility, the organization revealed early this week.
In a Reuters report detailing the specifics of the new requirements, players will be required to be tested for the SRY gene, which helps determine biological sex. The test can be administered via cheek swab or blood test.
“Player screening will begin in 2026, following all appropriate confidentiality and data privacy safeguards and concurrent with a comprehensive player engagement program,” a WTA spokesperson told Reuters. “The WTA recognizes that this is a sensitive and complex issue and is committed to treating all players with dignity and implementing the policy in a respectful and thoughtful way.”
Previous policy allowed transgender women the ability to compete if their testosterone level was lowered past a specific threshold for more than two years prior to participation, though no known transgender women are currently active in professional tennis.
The International Olympic Committee adopted a similar policy involving a one-time test earlier this spring. Other sports organizations to adopt the testing have included the World Athletics federation and World Boxing federation.
Current and former pros have voiced their support and opposition to such testing, with critics arguing that it is discriminatory.
Martina Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion and gay rights proponent, has spoken in opposition to the inclusion of transgender athletes, as has current world No. 1 player Aryna Sabalenka.
Yet Billie Jean King, famous for once winning the “battle of the sexes” in 1973, has described exclusion of transgender athletes as discrimination.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers acquire RHP Seth Halvorsen from Rockies
May 29, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Seth Halvorsen (54) delivers a pitch in the sixth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-handed reliever Seth Halvorsen in a trade with the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
The Rockies received a pair of minor leaguers in right-hander Nick Frasso and outfielder Landyn Vidourek.
Halvorsen, 26, is 0-1 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 relief appearances for the Rockies this season. In three major league seasons with Colorado, he is 3-4 with a 4.31 ERA in 75 relief appearances.
After just spending time on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation, Halvorsen made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday and pitched a scoreless inning. Los Angeles is expected to send Halvorsen to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Frasso, 27, was 1-0 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 appearances (one start) with Oklahoma City this season, while Vidourek, 22, was batting .170 with six home runs and 24 RBIs in 59 games at Single-A Ontario.
Also on Monday, the Dodgers optioned right-hander Kyle Hurt to Oklahoma City. Hurt was the additional 27th man on the roster for the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees and pitched two scoreless innings.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Royals star SS Bobby Witt Jr. (back tightness) exits vs. Giants
Jul 18, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) makes a diving stop during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Royals All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. left Kansas City’s game against the San Francisco Giants after four innings Monday due to low back tightness.
Witt, who has dealt with back issues of late, returned to the lineup Monday after he was given the day off Sunday against the San Diego Padres. He went 0-for-1 with a walk before exiting the contest.
Nick Loftin replaced Witt at shortstop.
An All-Star for each of the past three seasons, including the starting shortstop for the American League in last week’s Midsummer Classic, Witt is batting .279 in 94 games with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and an AL-high 30 stolen bases. He has been durable since reaching the majors in 2022, playing at least 150 games in every season.
Meanwhile, San Francisco starting pitcher Trevor McDonald came out for the bottom of the fifth, but never threw a pitch in the inning as he exited with a trainer. His injury was not yet known. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three on 67 pitches.
–Field Level Media
Report: WTA to mandate genetic gender test
Dodgers acquire RHP Seth Halvorsen from Rockies
