Sports
Salvador Perez ties Royals all-time HR mark in sweep of Giants
Jul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo (67) throws a pitch in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Salvador Perez’s two-run shot tied the Royals’ all-time franchise home run record and highlighted a five-run seventh inning as Kansas City rallied to sweep a three-game home series over the San Francisco Giants with a 5-4 win Wednesday.
Kansas City managed just two hits against San Francisco starter Landen Roupp through six innings, when it trailed 3-0. However, Vinnie Pasquantino opened the bottom of the seventh with a double, where he was deemed to be pushed off second base by San Francisco’s Willy Adames on the tag. Giants manager Tony Vitello was ejected after arguing the call.
Perez then followed by matching George Brett’s club record of 317 home runs, ending Roupp’s day with a 437-foot drive that landed into the fountains over the right-center-field wall. Perez took a curtain call, and the milestone ignited a rally that would help the Royals complete a 5-1 homestand.
Kansas City starter Seth Lugo (4-6) allowed three runs, three hits and two walks over seven innings, while Steven Cruz overcame yielding Casey Schmitt’s solo homer in the ninth for his first career save.
Following Perez’s homer, San Francisco’s Sam Hentges (1-3) replaced Roupp. Hentges threw wildly to first on an infield single by Michael Massey, who eventually scored the tying run when pinch hitter Nick Loftin dropped a single into left off Keaton Winn. The Royals loaded the bases with two outs, and Lane Thomas delivered a tiebreaking two-run single to right-center field for a 5-3 lead.
Lugo allowed just a Rafael Devers’ double through the first five innings. Meanwhile, Roupp surrendered only a third-inning bunt single to Andrew Velazquez in the same span.
Lugo walked Adames to open the sixth, then hit Drew Gilbert. Both runners advanced on Drew Cavanaugh’s sacrifice bunt, and Adames scored via Luis Arraez’s flyout to center.
The Giants added on in the seventh. Devers drew a one-out walk, then after Schmitt struck out, he scored from first on Jung Hoo Lee’s double. Adames followed with a run-scoring ground-rule double to make it 3-0.
Roupp was charged with two runs, while striking out seven, in six innings as the Giants lost their fifth straight contest.
The Royals placed All-Star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (lower back tightness) on the 10-day injured list for the first time in his five-year career.
–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
