July 25, 2026 3:34 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Dansby Swanson hit an RBI single and Seiya Suzuki drew a bases-loaded walk in the 10th inning as the Chicago Cubs held on for a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Swanson’s single scored automatic runner Ian Happ, who barely beat center fielder Jake Mangum’s throw to make it 2-1. The call was upheld after a video review. Suzuki’s walk came off Yohan Ramírez (6-3). Gavin Holliwell allowed a run on Nick Gonzales’ groundout in the bottom of the 10th but hung on for his first save. Caleb Thielbar (3-2) worked a scoreless ninth. The Pirates opened the scoring in the fifth inning on back-to-back walks to Marcel Ozuna and Brandon Lowe and consecutive infield singles by Jared Triolo and Henry Davis. Pittsburgh had the bases loaded with none out, but Matthew Boyd escaped the jam. Pete Crow-Armstong tied it at 1-1 in the sixth when he hit his 22nd home run of the season into the right-field stands off Jared Jones. Left fielder Happ helped to keep the score 1-1 in the seventh when he threw out Davis at home for an inning-ending double play. Crow-Armstrong also doubled in the third. Boyd surrendered only one run in seven innings despite giving up seven hits and three walks. The left-hander did not factor in the decision, but his six-game winning streak stayed intact. Jones pitched one-run ball over six innings, allowing two hits, striking out five and walking one. In his last four starts, Jones has given up three runs in 21 innings.
July 25, 2026 9:29 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James has signed a two-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining Bryce Harper as another superstar in the city. Both athletes were teenage phenoms and top draft picks. Harper, who signed with the Phillies, expressed excitement about James’ arrival. LeBron’s influence extends beyond basketball, with endorsements and a massive global following. His decision to join Philly isn’t about money but the desire to compete and win. The 76ers have struggled to advance in the playoffs, but with LeBron, expectations are high. Fans are eager to see if he can lead them to a championship.
July 24, 2026 12:47 pm
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — LeBron James is heading to the Philadelphia 76ers. James made the announcement on social media, saying it will be his “last decision” and that it comes after he strongly considered retirement. James says “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
July 24, 2026 4:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have acquired reliever Ron Marinaccio from San Diego on in exchange for signing bonus pool considerations. Pittsburgh made the move in the hopes of bolstering a bullpen that has faltered in key moments this season. The 31-year-old Marinaccio went 1-0 with a 4.79 ERA in 33 games this season for the Padres. Pittsburgh will be the right-hander’s third MLB stop. Marinaccio pitched for the New York Yankees from 2022-24. To make room for Marinaccio on the roster, Pittsburgh designated reliever Dennis Santana for assignment. Santana had 16 saves in 2025 but has struggled this year.
July 24, 2026 4:28 am
LAS VEGAS (AP) — An investment group that includes ex-Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has bought a minority stake in the Athletics in anticipation of their move to Las Vegas in 2028. Thursday’s announcement by Harbinger Sports Group did not say what percentage of the Athletics it had acquired. Cuban is the general partner and president of the Atlanta-based group. John Fisher is the majority owner of the A’s and is overseeing construction of a $2 billion, 33,000-capacity domed stadium on the Las Vegas Strip. The Athletics are currently playing in West Sacramento, California.
July 24, 2026 4:26 am
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the top overall pick in this year’s draft, signed a four-year, $57.27 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday. The Raiders hold a fifth-year option. Mendoza was the last of the Raiders’ 10 draft picks to sign. He ran the third-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp, but is expected to take on a larger role in training camp, which begins Wednesday. Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a free-agent contract worth $20 million guaranteed, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback.
July 24, 2026 4:29 am
BLAINE, Minn. (AP) — Ben Kohles eagled the final hole for a 9-under 62 and a two-shot lead Thursday after the first round of the 3M Open, leaving top-ranked Scottie Scheffler three shots back. Emiliano Grillo, Jackson Koivun and Gary Woodland opened with 64s, and Scheffler topped the group at 65 in his first appearance in the event. Scheffler, coming off a fourth-place finish Sunday in the British Open, was 1 under through eight holes, then birdied five of the next eight. Kohles’ second shot from 241 yards out on the par-5 finishing hole settled 4 feet from the cup. The short putt capped a career-best round for the 36-year-old who has split the season between the PGA and Korn Ferry tours.
July 23, 2026 4:22 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Max Fried allowed one hit over five innings in his return from a two-month layoff, Jasson Domínguez and Anthony Volpe drove in runs on consecutive pitches in the seventh and the New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-0 for a doubleheader split. Pittsburgh won the opener 5-3 in 10 innings. The Pirates’ Bubba Chandler pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-hit ball in his first scoreless outing this year. Brandon Eisert, acquired from the Chicago White Sox on July 11, relieved and walked Cody Bellinger. One out later, Domínguez doubled down the left-field line and scored when Volpe singled for his second RBI since June 19.
July 23, 2026 4:25 am
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox matched a club record set 80 years ago with their 15th straight victory. Boston beat Baltimore 6-3 on Wednesday in the first game of a doubleheader. The last time the Red Sox won 15 straight, it was 1946 and Ted Williams was on the way to an MVP season. Boston was 37-48 and in last place in the AL East on July 1. Interim manager Chad Tracy is the first manager since the 19th Century to lead a win streak of 15 games or more when he didn’t begin the season in the job. Then Baltimore took the nightcap 5-1 to end it.
July 23, 2026 4:24 am
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals agreed to a four-year rookie deal with quarterback Carson Beck on Wednesday, one day before the team has its first practice of training camp. The 24-year-old Beck looks as if he’ll be part of a three-man quarterback competition when training camp begins on Thursday, facing off against veterans Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Kedon Slovis is also on the roster. The Cardinals are led by first-year coach Mike LaFleur. Beck was drafted in the third round out of Miami after leading the Hurricanes to a runner-up finish in the College Football Playoff last season.
