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Penn State puts new outlook up against energized Minnesota

NCAA Basketball: Minnesota at UCLAFeb 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers forward Dawson Garcia (3) drives against UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) during the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Coming off its best game in weeks, visiting Penn State aims to ride the momentum into a Saturday afternoon matchup against resurgent Minnesota in a Big Ten contest at Minneapolis.

The Nittany Lions (14-13, 4-12 Big Ten) sit in last place in the conference standings, due in large part to a seven-game losing streak that the team ended Wednesday with a resounding 89-72 home win over Nebraska.

Zach Hicks and Yanic Konan Niederhauser each scored 19 points, while Ace Baldwin Jr. chipped in 10 points, eight assists and six steals. Penn State had lost 11 of its previous 12 games.

“I just thought for a stretch, we were just playing with so much pressure,” Nittany Lions coach Mike Rhoades said. “You could see it. And when it doesn’t go well, you’ve got to work through that, and some guys are better than others with it. … I thought (Wednesday) we played with more freedom and more spirit, and you saw that.”

One of Penn State’s defeats during its long losing streak was a home setback against Minnesota on Feb. 4. The Golden Gophers posted a 69-61 victory behind Dawson Garcia’s 19 points and 14 rebounds.

“Dawson’s always going to get it going,” said Minnesota’s Brennan Rigsby, who chipped in 14 points. “When we get another couple guys going, it’s really hard to stop us.”

The Gophers (14-12, 6-9) enter the weekend after posting a pair of three-point wins in Los Angeles against USC and UCLA. Tuesday was another episode of the Dawson Garcia Show, as the senior forward registered a season-high 32 points in a 64-61 come-from-behind win over the Bruins.

Garcia scored 27 points in the second half alone, helping Minnesota overcome a 17-point, first-half deficit.

“It’s a great emotion just to share it with guys who put everything into it,” said Garcia, who shot 7-for-10 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free-throw line in the second half.

“I’m super happy for my teammates, the coaches, the university and just blessed to be in this position.”

–Field Level Media

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MLB roundup: Marlins end 12-game skid by overtaking Phillies in ninth

Jul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;  Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack (80) douses left fielder Griffin Conine (18) after his winning hit against the Philadelphia Phillies following the game at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn ImagesJul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack (80) douses left fielder Griffin Conine (18) after his winning hit against the Philadelphia Phillies following the game at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Griffin Conine’s walk-off single capped a three-run ninth inning for the Miami Marlins, who snapped a franchise-record 12-game losing streak with an 8-7 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

Heriberto Hernandez and Conine homered for Miami, which had not won since July 9. The Marlins appeared destined for another defeat before Hernandez’s two-run single tied it against Jhoan Duran (1-4), who had previously blown only one save this season.

Bryce Harper hit an early two-run homer and J.T. Realmuto also had two RBIs for Philadelphia, which has lost seven of 10 since the All-Star break. Zack Wheeler struggled through three innings, allowing a season-high five runs and six hits.

With Miami trailing 7-5, Jakob Marsee opened the ninth with a single up the middle and advanced to third on Otto Lopez’s single to right. Duran hit Kyle Stowers with a pitch, loading the bases for Hernandez, whose single up the middle tied the game.

Pirates 3, Diamondbacks 2 (10 innings)

Brandon Lowe’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Billy Cook and propelled host Pittsburgh to a victory over Arizona.

Lowe’s game-winner off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) was a liner that got past first baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Lowe finished with three hits and two RBIs.

Max Kepler had three hits, drove two runs and had a chance to give the Diamondbacks a lead in the top of the 10th. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Kepler lined out to center against Mason Montgomery (4-3).

Yankees 9, White Sox 5

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits and two RBIs and Ali Sanchez blasted his first major league homer in the eighth inning to break the game open as visiting New York defeated Chicago.

New York overcame an early three-run deficit for its fourth win in five games. The Yankees scored a total of five runs in the seventh and eighth innings and navigated two errors in the ninth to hold on. Jasson Dominguez and Ben Rice contributed two hits each for New York.

AL Central-leading Chicago committed three errors as its lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians fell to two games. The White Sox have lost three of their past four. Chicago reliever Bryan Hudson (3-4) allowed one run and two hits in the seventh.

Mets 14, Braves 3

Francisco Lindor hit two homers and drove in six runs as New York battered visiting Atlanta.

Tyrone Taylor went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and Marcus Semien also had three hits and a homer for the Mets, who have won consecutive games for the first time since July 8-9. New York starter Zac Thornton (2-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

Braves reliever Connor Thomas (0-1) was blasted for 11 runs on 10 hits across 2 2/3 innings. Ozzie Albies homered, singled and drove in three for Atlanta.

Rangers 7, Mariners 3

Joc Pederson homered in each of the first two innings as Texas defeated Seattle in Arlington, Texas.

Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger both homered in the third for the Rangers, who won three of four games in the series to take a 2 1/2-game lead over the Mariners atop the AL West. Brandon Nimmo hit a pair of doubles and Evan Carter had another as seven of the Rangers’ 11 hits were for extra bases.

Randy Arozarena went deep for the Mariners, who have lost five of their past six.

Orioles 8, Tigers 5

Coby Mayo homered and drove in three runs as visiting Baltimore powered past Detroit.

Leody Taveras and pinch hitter Tyler O’Neill also homered for the Orioles, while Jackson Holliday supplied four hits and scored twice. Grant Wolfram (3-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and was credited with the victory.

Hao-Yu Lee drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have lost three straight. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry each had two hits, a run and an RBI. Detroit starter Keider Montero (7-6) allowed six runs, four earned, and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Blue Jays 3, Nationals 2

Luis Urias homered, Myles Straw had two hits and Toronto beat the Nationals in Max Scherzer’s return to Washington.

Scherzer, who spent 6 1/2 seasons in Washington and won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, came off the injured list to make the start. He gave up a run on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. Mason Fluharty (5-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win for the Blue Jays, who have alternated losses and wins for six games.

Andres Chaparro homered for the Nationals, who had won two straight. Nationals opener Eddy Yean (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Cubs 7, Cardinals 3

Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner homered and had four hits apiece as Chicago opened a four-game series at St. Louis with a win.

Bregman doubled twice and drove in two runs and Hoerner had four RBIs for the Cubs, who tallied 14 hits and won for the third time in four games. David Peterson (6-7) allowed two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Jose Fermin hit a solo homer and Masyn Winn had two hits for the Cardinals, who have lost eight of 11 games since the All-Star break. Matthew Liberatore (5-8) gave up three runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Astros 6, Angels 4

LaMonte Wade Jr. drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk during a four-run ninth inning as Houston rallied past Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

The decisive rally featured just one hit, a single that did not knock in a run. Taylor Trammell homered, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored twice as Houston earned its sixth win in seven games. Astros reliever Cristian Javier (1-1) allowed three hits and no walks over five shutout innings, striking out seven.

Vaughn Grissom went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs for Los Angeles, which lost for the ninth time this season when leading after eight innings. Jose Fermin (3-2) was charged with three runs, one earned, while recording only one out.

Red Sox 4, Athletics 2

Ceddanne Rafaela smacked his first career grand slam and scorching Boston won for the 18th time in 20 games, beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Payton Tolle (6-6) struck out seven and gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings for the Red Sox. Aroldis Chapman worked out of a ninth-inning jam for his 25th save in 27 opportunities.

Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim homered for the Athletics, who lost for the 24th time in their past 30 games. A’s starter Jack Perkins (2-6) was charged with two runs and one hit over 5 2/3 innings.

Giants 3, Brewers 0

Tyler Mahle limited Milwaukee to three hits over six-plus innings, Grant McCray smacked a two-run homer and San Francisco defeated the visiting National League Central leaders.

Mahle (3-9) never allowed a runner past second base, aided by three double plays. En route to their third win in four games on their current homestand, the Giants took the lead for good in the third.

Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-6) went six innings and was charged with all three Giants runs on six hits.

–Field Level Media

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Franchise-worst skid over, Marlins shoot for another win over Phillies

Jul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;  Miami Marlins left fielder Griffin Conine (18) celebrates his wining hit against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn ImagesJul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins left fielder Griffin Conine (18) celebrates his wining hit against the Philadelphia Phillies during the ninth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Griffin Conine and the Miami Marlins will look to build off a rare victory when they continue their home series with the scuffling Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

Miami had lost 12 straight games — a franchise record — before rallying to stun Philadelphia on Monday in the series opener. The Marlins trailed 7-5 entering the ninth inning before plating three runs against Phillies All-Star closer Jhoan Duran, capped by Conine’s walk-off hit.

“I think it was just believing the whole time that we could win this game,” Conine said after his first career game-ending hit.

Conine supplied a homer earlier in the game, while Heriberto Hernandez homered in addition to delivering the game-tying two-run single in the ninth inning.

“Everybody feels good,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “It’s no lie. Everybody in the building has been grinding hard for a couple of weeks. … Certainly it feels great to get a win.”

Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer for Philadelphia, while J.T. Realmuto also drove in two runs. Zack Wheeler lasted just three innings — his shortest start of the season — and allowed a season-worst five runs.

“That was a weird game in that they got to two of our very best pitchers,” said Realmuto, whose team is just 3-7 since the All-Star break.

Miami will look to continue the momentum behind right-hander Sandy Alcantara (10-6, 4.01 ERA), who absorbed a loss Wednesday against the Houston Astros. The former National League Cy Young Award winner gave up five runs and nine hits in seven-plus innings in that game, although he didn’t get much run support in the 5-2 defeat.

“He was fantastic,” McCullough said. “I thought he was in control most of the night. He had a very efficient pitch count. He really moved things along well after the first couple of innings. I hate how things went down there (when Alcantara allowed three runs in the eighth), but I thought he threw the ball fantastic.”

The Marlins have scored a total of five runs in Alcantara’s past three outings.

Alcantara is 7-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 23 career starts against the Phillies. He faced Philadelphia once this season and allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings in a 12-4 win on June 17.

The Phillies will turn to right-hander Aaron Nola (3-8, 5.82), who has not won a game since May 26, going 0-4 with a 5.92 ERA in 10 starts. He is 0-3 with a 5.01 ERA in four starts this month, although he has generally been solid in July aside from giving up five runs in 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

Nola gave up two home runs vs. Los Angeles and has surrendered six homers over his last three starts and 14 in his past eight outings.

“When I have gone out the sixth and seventh, I’ve been hurt by the long ball,” Nola said. “I’ve struggled with the long ball this year, which I’ve got to be better at.”

Nola is 6-12 with a 3.59 ERA in 26 lifetime starts against Miami. He faced the Marlins on May 4 and worked six scoreless innings in a 1-0 triumph.

Philadelphia holds a 5-3 lead in the season series with Miami.

–Field Level Media

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Troy Melton, opposing Orioles, attempts to end Tigers' skid

Jul 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton (52) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn ImagesJul 17, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Troy Melton (52) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images

Dean Kremer gave up a season-high six runs in his latest start. The Baltimore Orioles right-hander will try to turn things around in the second contest of a three-game road series against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday.

Kremer gave up four of those runs in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday but managed to hang around for six innings.

“It was a grindy performance by Dean,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “They did a great job of having some really tough at-bats against him, being able to move the ball forward and fight off some tough pitches and get some hits, and then the pitches that were out over the plate, they did damage on. But Dean grinded through and gave us six.”

Kremer (1-3, 5.06 ERA) was making his fourth start since missing 2 1/2 months due to a quad injury. He went 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA in the prior three outings.

Kremer, 30, lost both of his starts against the Tigers last season, allowing nine runs in 12 2/3 innings. He has a 0-3 record and a 7.13 ERA in three career appearances (two starts) against Detroit.

Troy Melton (5-1, 1.95 ERA) will be Kremer’s mound opponent. The 25-year-old right-hander has surrendered two runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts this season.

He dealt with control issues in his past two starts, walking four each time. Melton threw 90 pitches to get through five-plus innings against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, but he allowed just two runs on five hits.

Melton made his season debut against Baltimore on May 24 after recovering from an elbow injury. In his lone career outing against the Orioles, he permitted one run and two hits in 5 2/3 innings while walking three and fanning three.

The Tigers won’t be able to stack as many left-handed batters as they would like against Kremer. Outfielder Kerry Carpenter was placed on the injured list on Monday due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot.

Carpenter had 26 homers in 130 games in 2025 and 13 long balls through the end of June this season. Battling a heel issue, Carpenter had no extra-base hits or RBIs in 52 July at-bats while batting .115.

Right-handed-hitting Eduardo Valencia was called up from Triple-A Toledo to take Carpenter’s spot on the active roster.

“It’s always a balance act,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’ve seen Hao-Yu Lee (a right-handed hitter) step up against right-handed pitching and not be as much of a platoon decision for us in his role. And there are things we can changes series by series if we need to.”

The Orioles took the series opener 8-5 on Monday thanks in large part to the production of Coby Mayo and Jackson Holliday. Mayo hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs. Holliday delivered a four-hit game and scored twice for Baltimore, which has alternated losses and wins for six games.

The Tigers have dropped three straight games. The margin of victory on Monday marked the first time in five games that a Detroit outcome wasn’t decided by a single run.

Lee, who drove in two runs on Monday, will carry a 12-game hitting streak into the Tuesday contest.

–Field Level Media

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