Sports
Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox wrap twin bill vs. Rays with 11th straight win
Jul 17, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu (52) reacts at home plate after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images Wilyer Abreu hit home runs in back-to-back at-bats as the Boston Red Sox won their 11th straight game and swept a day-night doubleheader, defeating the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 on Friday night.
Abreu cranked a two-run homer — the first of back-to-back shots with Willson Contreras — in the first inning before leading off the third with a go-ahead solo blast.
The victory came in a bullpen game for Boston, with six relievers combining to 6 2/3 scoreless innings with four hits behind Eduardo Rivera, who allowed three runs over the first 2 1/3 innings.
Greg Weissert (2-2) earned the win, while Aroldis Chapman pitched a clean ninth for his 20th save. Boston relievers faced the minimum over the final three innings.
Junior Caminero, who hit a solo home run in the third, and Jonny DeLuca both had multi-hit games for Tampa Bay.
The Rays scored a pair of two-out runs to jump out to a first-inning lead, forcing Rivera to throw 36 total pitches after the first two batters were retired on five. A Caminero single and two walks in succession loaded the bases for DeLuca to knock a two-run single past diving Boston shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng.
However, the visitors’ lead did not last long. After Ceddanne Rafaela hit a one-out double down the left field line, Abreu cleared the right-center-field bullpen for a game-tying two-run homer, and Contreras flipped the scoreboard with a solo shot over the Green Monster in the next at-bat.
The long ball trend continued for both teams in the third. Caminero knotted the score again with a one-out solo shot just inside the left field foul pole, but Abreu deposited the second pitch of the bottom half of the frame to deep right-center to put Boston back in front 4-3.
Tampa Bay starter Mason Englert (0-3) retired the next three batters after Caleb Durbin was caught stealing and then got two outs in the fourth, but the Red Sox expanded their lead as Cheng walked and scored from first on Anthony Seigler’s two-out double off the base of the wall in the right field corner.
Boston’s bullpen did the rest. After Weissert recorded the final two outs of the third, Jovani Moran had the longest outing of the bunch, throwing back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.
The Rays’ stable of relievers was also strong. Craig Kimbrel, Cole Sulser and Cam Booser did not allow a hit over three innings behind Englert, who was tagged for eight hits and five runs across the first five frames.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Chandler Smith races to dominant Craftman series win at North Wilkesboro
NASCAR Truck Series driver Chandler Smith (38) races during the Allegiance 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Saturday, May 30, 2026. NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C – Last year at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Chandler Smith led one lap in winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series over Front Row Motorsports teammate Layne Riggs.
In sharp contrast, Smith was the quintessence of dominance on Saturday, leading the final 105 laps to claim victory in the FaithFest 250 presented by Mercer Transportation, again with series leader Riggs securing second place.
Last year’s race ended under caution, after the trucks of Riggs and Corey Heim collided on the last lap. On Saturday, Smith ran away with the race in the final stage, beating Riggs to the finish line by 8.479 seconds – a record margin on a short track in Truck Series history.
“We’re ready to rip,” Smith said after a race run in extreme heat on the 0.625-mile asphalt surface. “If the Lord wills it, we don’t plan on backing down from here going forward. We were just biding our time, keeping the fenders clean and taking what (the No. 38 Ford) would give me.”
Smith took the lead off pit road for a Lap 152 restart to begin the final stage and never looked back. Riggs restarted eighth and worked his way to second on Lap 210 but had nothing for his teammate over the final 40 circuits.
The race ran without a caution for the final 99 laps.
“Part of me wanted to have a restart,” Riggs said. “Part of me knew if that happened there was probably going to be some carnage. So I was very happy just finishing the race there, knowing our teammate got the win. Congratulations to Chandler. He did a great job.”
Riggs, who won the opening stage and led 25 laps, had to overcome the heat to hold second over third-place NASCAR Cup Series regular Shane van Gisbergen, who matched his best NASCAR national series finish on an oval track.
“It was hot today,” Riggs acknowledged. “I ice-bagged on every stop. My cool shirt was on – I took it off already. It was probably one of the hottest races I’ve ever been in. I think we need to add some heat shields to these things …
“But my mind stayed sharp, and I stayed in the game.”
Riggs extended his series lead to 59 points over 11th-place finisher Kaden Honeycutt.
Christian Eckes finished fourth, followed by Landen Lewis, who scored his second straight top-five finish after a runner-up run last Saturday at Lime Rock Park.
Giovanni Ruggiero, Chase Elliott, Stewart Friesen, Heim and Stage 2 winner Ty Majeski completed the top 10.
The race for the final spots in the postseason Chase tightened on Saturday. With three races left to set the Chase field, Friesen and 19th-place finisher Tyler Ankrum are tied for the 10th and final postseason berth, with Jake Garcia just 11 points back in 12th place after coming home 13th at North Wilkesboro.
Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar led 74 laps but couldn’t recover from a cut left-front tire that dropped him two laps down and relegated him to a 27th-place finish.
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service.
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race – FaithFest 250 presented by Mercer Transportation
North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro, North Carolina
Saturday, July 18, 2026
1. (9) Chandler Smith, Ford, 250.
2. (1) Layne Riggs, Ford, 250.
3. (19) Shane Van Gisbergen(i), Chevrolet, 250.
4. (18) Christian Eckes, Chevrolet, 250.
5. (16) Landen Lewis, Chevrolet, 250.
6. (5) Giovanni Ruggiero, Toyota, 250.
7. (6) Chase Elliott(i), Chevrolet, 250.
8. (10) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 250.
9. (4) Corey Heim, Toyota, 250.
10. (27) Ty Majeski, Ford, 250.
11. (7) Kaden Honeycutt, Toyota, 249.
12. (30) Tyler Reif, Chevrolet, 249.
13. (15) Jake Garcia, Ford, 249.
14. (22) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 249.
15. (3) Christopher Bell(i), Toyota, 249.
16. (17) Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 249.
17. (12) Nick Leitz, Toyota, 249.
18. (14) Tanner Gray, Toyota, 249.
19. (24) Tyler Ankrum, Chevrolet, 249.
20. (21) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 249.
21. (23) Brenden Queen #, RAM, 249.
22. (11) Cole Butcher #, Ford, 249.
23. (20) Andres Perez De Lara, Chevrolet, 248.
24. (25) Ryan Newman, RAM, 248.
25. (8) Grant Enfinger, Chevrolet, 248.
26. (13) Justin Haley, RAM, 248.
27. (2) Carson Hocevar(i), Chevrolet, 248.
28. (28) Mini Tyrrell #, RAM, 248.
29. (34) Corey LaJoie, RAM, 247.
30. (26) Kris Wright, Chevrolet, 247.
31. (35) Clayton Green, Ford, 246.
32. (36) Frankie Muniz, Ford, 246.
33. (29) Luke Baldwin, Ford, 245.
34. (33) Nathan Nicholson, Chevrolet, Accident, 242.
35. (31) Kasey Kleyn, Chevrolet, Electrical, 203.
36. (32) Donovan Strauss, Chevrolet, Overheating, 134.
Average Speed of Race Winner: 91.627 mph.
Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 42 Mins, 19 Secs. Margin of Victory: 8.479 Seconds.
Caution Flags: 4 for 34 laps.
Lead Changes: 7 among 6 drivers.
Lap Leaders: C. Hocevar(i) 1-50;L. Riggs 51-75;J. Garcia 76-97;C. Hocevar(i) 98-121;C. Elliott(i) 122;T. Majeski 123-145;C. Smith 146-250.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Chandler Smith 1 time for 105 laps; Carson Hocevar(i) 2 times for 74 laps; Layne Riggs 1 time for 25 laps; Ty Majeski 1 time for 23 laps; Jake Garcia 1 time for 22 laps; Chase Elliott(i) 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 34,77,38,62,7,5,11,91,17,9
Stage #2 Top Ten: 88,38,99,91,52,19,44,17,5,7
Sports
Orioles, RHP Kyle Bradish agree to 5-year extension
Jun 28, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish (38) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images The Baltimore Orioles agreed to a five-year contract extension with right-handed starter Kyle Bradish on Saturday.
The deal is worth $90 million, per ESPN. Per the report, the length of the contract buys out Bradish’s last two years of arbitration and the first three seasons of what would have been his free agency.
The 29-year-old has been a strong starter for the Orioles over the past five seasons, turning in a 3.50 ERA, 1.206 WHIP and 485 strikeouts across 465 innings with a 25-24 record.
This season, Bradish’s output has been in line with his career numbers, going 6-9 with a 3.61 ERA, 1.351 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 107 1/3 innings.
“Keeping players of Kyle’s caliber in an Orioles uniform is an important part of our long-term vision,” Orioles owner David Rubenstein said in a statement. “We are grateful to Kyle for his commitment to our organization and to Baltimore. Thanks to (president of baseball operations and general manager) Mike Elias and the entire baseball operations department for their dedication throughout this process.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matthew Boyd, Nico Hoerner lead Cubs past Twins
Jul 18, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch (29) hits a home run during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Matthew Boyd threw six quality innings and Nico Hoerner delivered the fifth four-hit game of his career on Saturday afternoon, helping the Chicago Cubs earn a 6-2 victory over the visiting Minnesota Twins.
Boyd (6-1) allowed one run on three hits, striking out four and walking one for the Cubs, who won their sixth game in nine tries and evened the weekend series after losing 5-2 on Friday. Michael Busch homered, while Pedro Ramirez and Miguel Amaya each drove in a pair of runs.
Taj Bradley (9-4) allowed five runs on seven hits across five innings, striking out six and walking three for the Twins, who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Kody Clemens hit two solo home runs for Minnesota, which will search for its three-game series win at Wrigley Field since Sept. 2020 on Sunday.
Chicago opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, as Busch launched his 12th home run of the season – a 402-foot shot to the right field bleachers.
Minnesota evened the score in the second on Clemens’ 17th homer of the year.
After Bradley allowed Hoerner’s one-out single and Ramirez’ walk, Amaya’s two-run double gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second.
Chicago tacked on two more runs in the third. Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ both worked walks off Bradley, before Hoerner’s RBI single and Ramirez’ run-scoring double made it 5-1.
Mike Paredes threw a scoreless sixth in relief of Bradley.
Caleb Thielbar took over for Boyd in the seventh, allowing Clemens’ second home run of the game, cutting Minnesota’s deficit to 5-2. The 391-foot blast cemented Clemens’ second multi-homer game of the year.
In the bottom of the seventh, Ramirez drove in another run with a single to push the margin back to four.
Jacob Webb threw the ninth, surrendering Josh Bell and Victor Caratini’s back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Brooks Lee then singled to center, but both Bell and Lee were caught in a rundown, resulting in a double play. Webb then got Clemens to strike out to end the game.
–Field Level Media
Chandler Smith races to dominant Craftman series win at North Wilkesboro
Orioles, RHP Kyle Bradish agree to 5-year extension
