WJPA Sports

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe singled home Billy Cook in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lowe finished off a three-hit night with a line drive that bounced off Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, allowing Cook to score from third. Mason Montgomery worked around an error and escaped a bases-loaded jam to earn the victory. Pittsburgh pulled into a tie with Arizona for the third National League wild-card spot with the win. The victory came at a cost for the Pirates. Pittsburgh lost promising rookie outfielder Esmerlyn Valdez to a left-hand injury in the fourth inning.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder Esmeryln Valdez has been removed from a game against Arizona after being hit in the left hand by a pitch. Valdez, who has 14 homers in limited playing time this season, took a 92 mph fastball from Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly to the area around his left hand and wrist. The 22-year-old Valdez winced in pain while being tended to by medical staff. He walked slowly toward the Pittsburgh dugout and was replaced by Jared Triolo. Valdez’s emergence has helped the Pirates stay in playoff contention despite injuries to other key players.

Tuesday is the first day of Steelers Training Camp at Saint Vincent College.  Players will report then and the first practice on Wednesday morning will be open to the public.  On Monday, August 3^rd, players will hold their first padded practice which is open to the public.  Saturday, August 8^th will be their annual night practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium and on Thursday, August 13^th, they’ll play a pre-season game with the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium.  Monday, August 17^th will be their final practice at Saint Vincent College and that will be open to the public.  On Tuesday, August 18^th, the players will break camp.

North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi has been placed on paid administrative leave. The school announced the move with a statement Monday morning. It didn’t provide details as to the reason, noting that employees and athletes aren’t permitted to address the topic “as is standard procedure with personnel matters.” Lombardi joined Bill Belichick in making the NFL-to-college move when the school hired the former New England Patriots coach in December 2024. Lombardi’s career as an NFL executive had included being the GM of the Cleveland Browns in 2013.