Sports
Rays score two late runs to sweep Blue Jays
Sep 22, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz (11) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Christopher Morel’s sacrifice fly and Brandon Lowe’s homer helped the Tampa Bay Rays close out a strong final homestand Sunday afternoon, sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays with a 4-3 win in St. Petersburg, Fla.
After the Blue Jays (73-83) tied it 2-all in the top of the seventh on Ernie Clement’s RBI single, Morel plated Jose Siri with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.
Lowe added his 20th homer this season in the eighth, which proved pivotal after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stroked a ninth-inning RBI single against Edwin Uceta.
Uceta allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth. He retired Luis De Los Santos on a game-ending groundout with runners at first and third to secure his fourth save.
The Rays (78-78) won their fourth straight game and completed a 5-1 homestand. They finished 42-39 at home this season and went 9-4 overall against Toronto.
Jonathan Aranda homered in his third straight game for Tampa Bay, putting the Rays ahead 2-1 with a two-run shot in the sixth.
Rays starter Shane Baz allowed a run on four hits and a walk while fanning six over six innings.
Kevin Kelly (5-2), the third of six pitchers used by the hosts Sunday, got the final out of the seventh after surrendering Clement’s game-tying single that made it 2-2.
Clement and Guerrero had three hits apiece, and Guerrero collected his 100th RBI this season. Jonatan Clase was 2-for-4 with a double as the Blue Jays lost their third straight game.
Blue Jays reliever Genesis Cabrera (3-3) took the loss after allowing Morel’s go-ahead sacrifice fly.
In the final road game for Toronto and home contest for Tampa Bay, pitching was at the forefront through the first three innings of the 13th meeting between the division foes.
Following opener Ryan Burr’s exit, Toronto created a contrast of styles in the matchup by opting to turn to former Rays left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, a soft-tosser specializing in a finesse approach.
Meanwhile, the Rays relied on the hard-throwing Baz, who allowed two runs and two hits over seven strong innings to beat the Boston Red Sox Tuesday.
Toronto loaded the bases against Baz in the fourth after singles by Clement and Guerrero and Addison Barger’s one-out walk. Leo Jimenez’s sacrifice fly gave the visitors their first lead in the three-game series.
After going deep against Toronto starters Jose Berrios Friday and Yariel Rodriguez Saturday, the lefty-swinging Aranda lifted Zach Pop’s low 93 mph cutter to right-center for his sixth home run.
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLS to investigate Inter Miami over Casemiro signing
June 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Brazil’s Casemiro celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Major League Soccer has announced a review into a tampering allegation against Inter Miami in the signing of Brazilian superstar midfielder Casemiro on Wednesday.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro, 34, is under contract through 2027 with an option until June 2029 following five years with Premier League side Manchester United. Inter Miami acquired his discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
“While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro just helped Brazil reach the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, increasing his career totals to 91 caps and 10 goals with the national team. It was his third World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me,” Casemiro said.
“I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust — not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the club has shown me.”
Casemiro has recorded 73 goals and 61 assists in 663 club appearances with Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Spain’s Real Madrid, Portugal’s Porto and Manchester United. His 21 club trophies include five UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real Madrid from 2013-22.
“Casemiro’s arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami,” said managing owner Jorge Mas. “We never settle. We’re always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. We’ve built a global club with the vision of becoming not only the best club in the United States, but also a benchmark globally.
“Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game,” Mas added. “After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in fútbol, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Inter Miami family.”
Casemiro now joins forces with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, his former rivals at FC Barcelona.
“I’m very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami,” said co-owner David Beckham. “He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game, and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”
Defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami (15-9-2, 31 points) are in second place in the Eastern Conference as they return from the World Cup break to host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: St. Louis City signing Carlo Holse on $6M transfer fee
Jul 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Capita Capemba (7) is congratulated after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the first half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images Aiming to boost a struggling offense, St. Louis City are bringing in Danish attacker Carlo Holse for an approximate $6 million transfer fee, The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Holse, 27, will be a designated player when St. Louis City and Holse’s club, Samsunspor, finalize the deal.
Only five MLS clubs have scored fewer than St. Louis’ 19 goals, so Holse will be a welcome addition. St. Louis (5-6-4, 19 points) sits 10th in the Western Conference, just one point behind the Los Angeles Galaxy for the final playoff spot with 19 matches remaining. The clubs face off Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Holse posted eight goals and four assists in the Turkish Super Lig last season and has scored at least eight goals per season with Samsunspor since 2023. In 10 appearances in the UEFA Conference League, he contributed two goals and five assists in the club’s run to the round of 16.
Holse, who has one cap for Denmark’s national team, can join fellow attacker Marcel Hartel in St. Louis’ dual No. 10 slots in head coach Yoann Damet’s 3-4-2-1 formation. Holse is capable of contributing as a scorer or goal creator, having posted 16 assists in one season for Norwegian side Rosenborg.
Over nine professional seasons in Denmark, Norway and Turkey, Holse has 42 goals and 36 assists in 242 matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stefano Mazzoli accepts PGA Tour membership
Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli won the 2026 Puntacana Championship. Stefano Mazzoli officially accepted his PGA Tour membership on Wednesday, one day before he was set to compete in the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn.
Mazzoli was added to the field at TPC Twin Cities on Monday after winning the Corales Puntacana Championship in just his third start on the PGA Tour. The 29-year-old Italian drained a 24-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to win by one stroke in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Since he was not a member of the PGA Tour at the time of his victory, he received a one-year exemption on the Tour. He also is eligible to compete in the 2027 Players Championship and 2027 PGA Championship.
A rookie on the DP World Tour, Mazzoli earned his promotion from the HotelPlanner Tour just last year.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, this past year,” Mazzoli said after his maiden PGA Tour victory.
South Africa’s Casey Jarvis also accepted Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour and is eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the season. Jarvis, 22, has two wins on the DP World Tour this season and reached the threshold for the Special Temporary Membership with his tie for sixth at The Open Championship.
–Field Level Media
MLS to investigate Inter Miami over Casemiro signing
Report: St. Louis City signing Carlo Holse on $6M transfer fee
