Cubs break franchise record with 8 home runs, 3 by Michael Busch
CHICAGO (AP) — Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs turned their holiday into a home run. Eight of them, to be exact. Busch hit three longballs, Pete Crow-Armstrong connected twice and the Cubs went deep a franchise-record eight times to hammer the St. Louis Cardinals 11-3 for their fourth straight victory. The fireworks started long before sunset in front of 40,038 fans at Wrigley Field. Busch went 4 for 4 with five RBIs in his first career three-homer performance and second multihomer game. The eight longballs allowed by St. Louis also broke a club mark.
Cal Raleigh ties Ken Griffey Jr.'s Mariners record for home runs before All-Star break with 35
SEATTLE (AP) — On the spot, Cal Raleigh compiled a laundry list of players he would consider for a Mount Rushmore of Seattle Mariners following their 6-0 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday. Ichiro was one of the first names off the board, followed by the likes of stud starting pitchers Felix Hernandez and Randy Johnson. When identifying who is the face of the Mariners, though, Raleigh immediately landed on Ken Griffey Jr., who he tied for the franchise record for home runs before the All-Star break with 35 with a pair of blasts. From Raleigh’s perspective, Whenever Griffey finds himself back in Seattle, which was the case when FIFA Club World Cup games were taking place at Lumen Field, Raleigh has enjoyed his chats with “The Kid.”
Liverpool players join family of Diogo Jota and his brother for funeral held in Portugal
GONDOMAR, Portugal (AP) — Liverpool players joined family and friends for the funeral of their teammate Diogo Jota and his brother on Saturday, two days after the siblings died in a car crash in Spain. The service will be held at Igreja Matriz church in the Portuguese town of Gondomar, where Jota had a home. Portugal coach Roberto Martínez and Manchester City players Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias, who are both Portuguese, also attended. Jota, 28, and his brother, André Silva, 25, were found dead near Zamora in northwestern Spain early Thursday after the Lamborghini they were driving crashed on an isolated stretch of highway just after midnight on Thursday.
Jeff McNeil's home run and sparkling defensive play carry Mets past Yankees in Subway Series
NEW YORK (AP) — Jeff McNeil's clutch performance helped the New York Mets secure a thrilling 6-5 win over the Yankees in their Subway Series opener at Citi Field. McNeil hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning off Luke Weaver and made a diving play at second base in the ninth to prevent a potential rally. The Mets overcame two deficits, while the Yankees squandered leads of 2-0 and 5-3. The Mets have won three straight after losing 14 of 17, while the Yankees have lost five in a row. Both teams were in first place when they met at Yankee Stadium in May but have faded badly of late.
Mexico President Sheinbaum hopes deported boxer Chávez Jr. will serve time in Mexico
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. wasn't arrested earlier in Mexico because of his time spent in the U.S. American authorities announced Thursday that Chávez was detained in California for overstaying his visa and lying on a green card application. Officials say he faces deportation and charges in Mexico for arms and drug trafficking. Chávez was arrested Wednesday in Los Angeles while riding a scooter. U.S. officials also allege ties between Chávez and the Sinaloa Cartel. His visa expired in February 2024 and his green card application reportedly included fraudulent claims. Sheinbaum said Friday that “the hope is that he will be deported and serve the sentence in Mexico."
How to score $20 Centre Court seats at Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) — It might just be the best deal in all of major professional sports. Tennis fans can get a chance to watch stars such as Carlos Alcaraz compete on Centre Court at Wimbledon by forking over just 15 pounds — about $20 at the current exchange rate. That’s instead of a top price Friday of nearly $220 at the stadium. The secret to saving so much cash? The official resale service. It allows anyone already on-site with a ticket to sign up via the Wimbledon app for a daily lottery to get into one of the biggest three courts at a cut rate. Those spots are offered up by spectators who leave the biggest courts before play ends.
Wimbledon: Another seed leaves when Keys is surprised by Siegemund. No. 1 Sabalenka beats Raducanu
LONDON (AP) — This most unpredictable of Wimbledons has delivered yet another surprise. Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys was a lopsided loser in the third round, eliminated 6-3, 6-3 by 104th-ranked Laura Siegemund of Germany on Friday. The No. 6 Keys’ exit left just one of the top six women in the bracket before the end of Week 1. That's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu at night. No. 2 Coco Gauff, No. 3 Jessica Pegula, No. 4 Jasmine Paolini and No. 5 Zheng Qinwen already were out. Naomi Osaka lost, while Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton and Amanda Anisimova won.
Wimbledon: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz extends winning streak to reach 4th round
LONDON (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz kept his Wimbledon three-peat campaign chugging along by beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court to reach the fourth round. Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 21 matches overall and 17 consecutive victories at the All England Club, where he’s won the past two titles. The five-time Grand Slam champion shook off a second-set wobble with an early break and by dropping only four points on his serve in the third set. Struff held tough but Alcaraz broke for a 5-4 lead in the fourth set and served out the victory.
Family of Liverpool player Diogo Jota and his brother gather for wake after fatal crash
GONDOMAR, Portugal (AP) — Family and friends of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother are gathering at a chapel where their bodies have been brought for a wake. The Portuguese soccer players were killed in a car crash in Spain on Thursday. Some hugged and wept before entering the Capela da Ressurreição São Cosme. Jota and his brother André Silva were found dead near Zamora in northwestern Spain after the Lamborghini they were driving crashed on an isolated stretch of highway just after midnight and burst into flames. Their bodies were repatriated to Portugal after being identified by the family. The funeral is planned for Saturday.
Chelsea advances to Club World Cup semifinals with 2-1 win over Palmeiras
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Chelsea scored the go-ahead goal on Malo Gusto’s 83rd-minute shot that went in after a pair of deflections, beating Palmeiras 2-1 for a spot in the Club World Cup semifinals. Cole Palmer put Chelsea ahead in the 16th minute but Estêvão, an 18-year-old who will transfer to Chelsea, tied the score against his future club with an angled shot in the 53rd. Gusto’s shot following a corner kick appeared to deflect off Agustin Giay and goalkeeper Weverton. Chelsea will face Fluminense on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey.
