Sports
Tigers, returning to health, chase road sweep of Rays
Jun 2, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch felt his team would add some punch with some healthy additions creating a more potent lineup.
He was right so far.
Riding their first two-game winning streak in a month, the Tigers will try to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon when the teams meet in the finale of a three-game series in St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Tigers have slugged their way to 18 runs, eight home runs, 15 extra-base hits and 24 hits in the two victories.
Power-hitting outfielder Kerry Carpenter (left shoulder sprain) returned Sunday in Chicago, and second baseman Gleyber Torres (oblique) homered in his first at-bat back on Tuesday as Detroit rolled to an 8-0 victory.
“They are huge bats to get back for us because it just slots guys in better spots to be successful,” Hinch said. “It’ll allow the middle of our order to have an on-base threat in front of them. Whether I hit Gleyber 1 or 2, he generally gets on base at a high clip.
“That’s going to help (Dillon Dingler), Riley (Greene), it’s going to help Kevin (McGonigle) if he hits behind him. Guys on base just change the dynamic of an inning.”
Carpenter batted cleanup in his Sunday return, going 1-for-2, then hit No. 3 in the order on Monday against the Rays, going 3-for-5 with a homer. He got a day off on Tuesday. Carpenter’s presence is key, as the Tigers managed only 80 runs while compiling a .602 OPS during his three-week absence, the lowest marks in the big leagues during that stretch.
“With Carp, we just missed the big blow,” Hinch added. “The big homer, the threat that comes with it and the carefulness which they pitch Carpenter. He’s a difference-maker.
“Those two guys lengthen the lineup and stabilize what we hope is a better offense in June … more similar to April. We swung the bats well then. May? I’d like to forget as soon as possible.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash, as he tries to forget the past two games, likely will pencil in some combination of Taylor Walls, Ben Williamson and Richie Palacios to man the middle infield on Wednesday.
Walls has transformed into a defensive wizard.
“Taylor Walls is the best shortstop in the league, and to watch him go to work every single day? Truly, it’s an honor,” Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan said. “There’s probably six or seven or eight plays so far this season where I’m like, ‘It’s a hit,’ and there’s Taylor.”
Williamson has provided some timely hits, and he pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the Tuesday blowout.
The latest loss left Tampa Bay with a 2-7 record since a five-game winning streak from May 17-22.
“We’re going through it,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Simple as that. We’re just not playing that well. We’re not being opportunistic like we are. We’re not preventing runs like we are (used to), but we’ll turn it around here real soon.”
Rays right-hander Nick Martinez (5-1, 1.62 ERA) gets the ball on Wednesday, attempting to extend his season-long hot streak. Through 11 starts, he has yet to allow more than two runs in an outing. He has a 5-0 record and a 1.21 ERA in his past seven starts.
Martinez is 2-2 with a 4.63 ERA and a save in eight career appearances (four starts) against the Tigers.
The visitors counter with right-hander Troy Melton (1-0, 1.42 ERA), who will make his third appearance of the season, all starts. He will be opposing Tampa Bay for the first time.
Melton, 25, is coming off a strong start against the Chicago White Sox on Friday. He threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out one, in a no-decision.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NBA Europe closes in on 2027 launch despite EuroLeague uncertainty
Mark Tatum, Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer of the NBA, speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, June 12, 2025, at the Wheeler-Dowe Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis. The club was renovated to include a new repurpose room that includes games and new technology as part of the NBA Cares Finals Legacy Projects. NBA Europe is eyeing a 16-team league that will tip off in October 2027, regardless of whether the EuroLeague is involved in the venture, NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said Tuesday.
“We remain in active discussions with the EuroLeague,” Tatum said. “We believe all parties must be aligned, and we are also realistic. We are ready to proceed with FIBA and our partners if needed. There will be a meeting with the EuroLeague in the next couple of weeks.”
The EuroLeague encompasses most of the continent’s basketball powers, including Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce and Barcelona.
According to Sports Business Journal, EuroLeague clubs would need to pay between $500 million and $1 billion for permanent NBA Europe franchises, but those commitments have yet to come.
“We’ve expressed to the EuroLeague, and we’ve talked to them about (how) the only way to guarantee a permanent spot in our league is through a successful bid for permanent franchise,” Tatum said. “But … we’re also ready to proceed with our partners and investors if we can’t come to some sort of an agreement.
“It would not be ideal, obviously, but … we continue to pursue a constructive, collaborative and aligned outcome across the entire European ecosystem. We’ve been consistent in that, in believing that all parties should align here for the best interest of basketball.”
Tatum added, “At the end of the month, the bids will be finalized, and after that, we will go through our process. There’s no specific timeline for announcements. We have to finalize our negotiations with the clubs for a tipoff in October 2027.”
Tatum acknowledged the recent news that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic is investing in an NBA Europe team that will play in Rome.
“It’s amazing to have someone like Luka, who played in the EuroLeague, to return this way to European basketball,” Tatum said. “He is very excited about our project. Luka played in the EuroLeague, and he understands the need for a construct and a system that will benefit the sport.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
A’ja Wilson scores 25 points to carry Aces past Sparks
Jun 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) is defended by Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) as she drives to the basket during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images A’ja Wilson scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Jackie Young added 16 points and nine assists and the visiting Las Vegas Aces opened their Commissioner’s Cup schedule with a 79-69 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday.
Chelsea Gray scored 12 points while handing out 11 assists for the Aces (6-3), who have won consecutive games following a two-game losing streak that started with a home loss to the Sparks.
The Aces are one of three teams to have reached the Commissioner’s Cup final twice in the first five seasons of the tournament, winning it all in 2022. This season’s final is scheduled for June 30.
Rae Burrell scored a career-high 22 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 12 points with 12 rebounds as the Sparks (4-5) dropped to 1-2 without guard Kelsey Plum, who sprained her right ankle in practice last week. Plum, who leads Los Angeles with an average of 26.8 points per game, played for Las Vegas from 2018-24.
The Aces shot 44.9% from the floor, while the Sparks shot a season-low 30.8%.
The Aces took a 14-10 lead after one quarter by holding the Sparks to 23.1% shooting from the floor. Las Vegas grabbed a 31-16 lead with 6:05 remaining in the first half after a 3-pointer from Young, before the Sparks pulled within 35-30 with 1:35 left before halftime.
The Aces led 37-30 at the break by holding the Sparks to 29.0% from the floor, while getting 13 points and eight rebounds from Wilson.
Los Angeles was within 43-38 with 7:25 remaining in the third quarter before Las Vegas went on a 14-4 run to take a 57-42 lead with 2:38 left in the period. The Aces entered the fourth quarter with a 64-51 advantage.
Las Vegas led 71-56 with 5:16 remaining before Los Angeles went on an 8-0 run to pull within 71-64 with 2:48 remaining after a three-point play from Burrell. The Aces halted the run on a three-point play from Wilson with 1:40 remaining.
Burrell had to be helped off the floor after the final buzzer with an apparent right ankle injury.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rockies build 8-run lead, secure series win over Angels
Jun 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Colorado Rockies second baseman Willi Castro (3) hits a three run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the fourth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Hunter Goodman, Willi Castro and T. J. Rumfield homered to help the Colorado Rockies to an 8-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels in the middle game of their three-game series on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Jake McCarthy, Troy Johnston and Edouard Julien each contributed two hits and scored a run for the Rockies, who have won four of five, including a 9-8 victory in the series opener on Monday. The series wraps up on Wednesday.
Rockies right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (5-4) allowed two runs and five hits over five innings, striking out five and walking two.
Blas Castano, TJ Shook and Juan Mejia combined for four innings of two-hit shutout relief for Colorado.
Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez (2-2) was tagged for eight runs and eight hits in 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked three.
Wade Meckler had two doubles and two RBIs for the Angels, who have lost four of five.
Goodman hit the first pitch of the second inning into the seats in the left field corner for a 1-0 lead.
Johnston followed with a double down the right field line and he continued to third when Jo Adell’s relay throw was errant. Ezequiel Tovar then flied out to Adell in right to score Johnston for a 2-0 lead.
After back-to-back walks, the runners moved up on a groundout and one scored on a single to right by Julien to make it 3-0.
Colorado blew the game open by scoring five runs with two outs in the fourth.
After two straight singles, McCarthy went the other way with a third, driving in Kyle Karros from second base for a 4-0 lead.
Castro then belted a 433-foot home run to right field on a full-count fastball to extend the lead to 7-0.
Rumfield followed with a high fly to deep right that nicked off the glove of Adell on the warning track, bounced off his head and carried over the yellow line on the wall. Rumfield initially stopped at second base before the umpires confirmed it was a home run, extending the lead to 8-0 and ending the night for Rodriguez.
The Angels put a runner in scoring position in four of the first five innings, but couldn’t capitalize until the fifth, when Meckler delivered a two-out double to right-center field that scored two runs and cut the lead to 8-2.
Sam Aldegheri blanked the Rockies on four hits over the final 5 1/3 innings.
–Field Level Media
NBA Europe closes in on 2027 launch despite EuroLeague uncertainty
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