July 12, 2025 9:32 am
WASHINGTON, PA–The Washington Wild Things fell to the Lake Erie Crushers by a score of 5-0 in Friday’s series opener. The Wild Things had strong pitching from Jordan DiValerio, but the Crushers struck early in the third and later in the ninth to help seal the win. The Washington Wild Things dropped the first game of a three-game series against the Lake Erie Crushers in front of a packed house during Fireworks Friday presented by PA Lottery at EQT Park. The night saw the first sellout crowd of the season at the ballpark, announced at 3,286. Pitching looked strong early for Wild Things starter Jordan DiValerio, who had four strikeouts through two innings. In the third, Davie Morgan reached first from a hit by pitch to start the inning and was later driven in by Zach Campbell, who doubled. Campbell would score too after a throwing error to first. It made it 2-0 Lake Erie. The scoring halted until the seventh inning when Burle Dixon singled, stole second, and was driven in by Zach Campbell for the Crushers. This run marked the end of DiValerio’s quality start. His line on the night would be 6.2 innings pitched, four hits, three runs (two earned) and eight strikeouts. The Crushers added insurance runs in the ninth when Derek Vegas doubled and Sam Franco cleared the bases with a two-run home run. The Crushers would lead by a 5-0 score at that point and went on to seal it at that score. Washington falls to 30-25 on the season, while Lake Erie improves to 27-25. The Wild Things will remain at home and play game two of their three-game series with the Lake Erie Crushers tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 during Jimmy Buffett Night.
July 12, 2025 5:54 am
MINNEAPOLIS — Trevor Larnach hit a two-run homer, Joe Ryan outpitched Paul Skenes. and the Minnesota Twins beat Pittsburgh 2-1 on Friday night to hand the Pirates their seventh straight loss.
Ryan (9-4) allowed one run and five hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings. He threw 54 of his 86 pitches for strikes and has surrendered two runs or fewer in 14 of 18 starts this season. The Twins used five relievers to close it out with Jhoan Duran pitching the ninth for his 15th save in 17 opportunities.
Skenes (4-8) allowed two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in five innings. He fanned Matt Wallner looking to end the fourth for his 300th career strikeout. He struck out the side in order in the first on 12 pitches. Skenes threw 53 of 78 pitches for strikes and is winless in his last eight starts dating to May 28 despite allowing two runs or fewer in 17 of 20 outings.
Both pitchers had their starts moved up so they would be available to pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star Game in Atlanta.
Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Spencer Horwitz singled and scored on a two-out double by Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
Byron Buxton beat out a grounder to third leading off the bottom of the inning after Skenes was perfect through three. Larnach hit his 13th homer one out later to put the Twins up 2-1.
Hortwitz singled with one out in the ninth and pinch runner Jac Suwinski stole his fifth base to get in scoring position. Duran struck out both Adam Frazier and Kiner-Falefa swinging to end it.
July 11, 2025 4:18 am
DALLAS (AP) — The Stars have traded Matt Dumba to Pittsburgh in a swap of defensemen as Dallas gets Vladislav Kolyachonok while sending a 2028 second-round pick to the Penguins. Dumba never had an impact after signing a $7.5 million, two-year contract in free agency last year. He was a healthy scratch for all 18 playoff games as the Stars lost in the Western Conference final for the third consecutive year. The 30-year-old Dumba had one goal and nine assists in 63 games during the regular season. Kolyachonok played for the Penguins and Utah last season.
July 11, 2025 4:23 am
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have joined the lineup for Monday night’s All-Star Home Run Derby in Atlanta. Rooker, representing the Athletics, says he won’t change his usual approach at the plate. This marks the first time an A’s player has participated since 2021. Rooker has hit 58 home runs since 2024, third among American League players. His former youth coach, Joe Caruso, will pitch to him during the event. Chisholm, a Yankees infielder, is making his Derby debut. Other participants include Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton, Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Cal Raleigh and James Wood.
July 11, 2025 4:21 am
Lee Elia, a former major league player and coach who was managing the Chicago Cubs in 1983 when he famously criticized the team’s fans in a memorable postgame rant, has died. He was 87. The Philadelphia Phillies say Elia died on Wednesday. No further details were provided by the team. Elia, a Philadelphia native, had a 238-300 record in four seasons as a big league manager, two with the Cubs and two with the Phillies. He was a shortstop during his playing career, batting .203 with three homers and 25 RBIs in 95 games with the White Sox and Cubs.
July 10, 2025 4:27 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice, Jac Caglianone hit the longest measured homer by a Royals rookie, and Kansas City beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep. Perez broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning with his longball off Isaac Mattson. He opened the scoring with a 444-foot shot to center in the second. But the most impressive homer of the game belonged to Caglianone — a 466-foot, two-run drive to center in the fourth against Bailey Falter. It was the longest homer by a Royals rookie since Statcast started tracking in 2015 and the fourth-longest by any Kansas City player at Kauffman Stadium.
July 10, 2025 4:29 am
Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero announced he will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday in Atlanta. Hours later, he learned he will start at third base for the American League in the All-Star Game on Tuesday. All that came after Caminero belted his 22nd homer in a 7-3 win over Detroit. The 22-year-old leads AL third basemen in home runs during his breakout season and is batting .254 with 58 RBIs. Caminero joins five others in the Derby lineup, with two spots still open. Rays manager Kevin Cash calls it a “coming-out party” for Caminero, showcasing his talent to fans nationwide.
July 10, 2025 4:31 am
LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon semifinals for a men’s-record 14th time as he pursues his unprecedented 25th title from all Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7 (6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday to set up a showdown against No. 1 Jannik Sinner for a berth in the final. Sinner eliminated Ben Shelton 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-4 and didn’t play like someone dealing with an injured right elbow. He used terrific serving and his usual booming forehand to win against Shelton for the sixth consecutive time. Sinner hurt his elbow in a fall during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov on Monday night.
July 9, 2025 4:33 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then won it in the ninth with a one-out RBI single as the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3. Rookie Jac Caglianone homered for the Royals, a 421-foot drive leading off the second inning that was his first extra-base hit in 14 games at Kauffman Stadium. He had been 5 for 46 at home before Tuesday. Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz tied it in the fourth with a 458-foot shot over the fountains in right field on the day he was announced as a participant in next-week’s Home Run Derby.
July 9, 2025 4:35 am
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz has been added to Monday’s Home Run Derby in Atlanta. He joins Cal Raleigh, Ronald Acuña Jr., Byron Buxton and James Wood. Cruz is known for his powerful homers, and he hit his 16th of the season Tuesday night at Kansas City. On May 25, he hit a homer with a record-breaking 122.9 mph exit velocity. That was the fastest since Statcast started tracking in 2015. The 26-year-old Cruz hit a career-best 21 homers last season.
