Christian Walker hit two home runs, Zac Gallen pitched five excellent innings, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Texas Rangers 6-0 on Tuesday night.
Arizona (81-64) is now half a game behind San Diego (82-64) for the top National League wild card spot. The Braves and Mets (both 79-66) are two games behind the Diamondbacks and are tied for the last playoff spot.
Texas is seven games behind for the final American League wild card with 17 games remaining and needs to catch up with five other teams.
Joc Pederson and Walker hit back-to-back solo home runs in the first inning, giving Arizona a 2-0 lead. Walker homered again in the third inning, hitting it to the opposite field for the second time in the game, to extend Arizona’s lead to 4-0.
“Chase is a big park, so it’s nice to know you can still be rewarded that way,” Walker said. “Sometimes it feels like you’ve got to crush it pull side and really get ahold of it to hit it out. It’s nice to put a clean swing on a ball, hit it in the air, hit it hard and be rewarded.”
Nathan Eovaldi pitches in the 1st inning
Walker hit these two homers since returning on September 3 from an oblique injury, bringing his season total to 25. He also made a great defensive play by catching a fly ball over his shoulder in short right field.
Gallen (12-6) allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out seven in his second strong start in a row. He had previously thrown six hitless and scoreless innings in a win over the Giants on September 4.
“This is usually a game of runs,” Gallen said. “When you’re feeling good, you’re trying to harness it and stay hot for as long as you can. That’s kind of what I’m doing.”
The Diamondbacks’ bullpen, consisting of Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez, gave up only one hit over four innings.
Manny Machado hit a two-run homer to become the career home runs leader for the San Diego Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. also contributed with a three-run homer, and the Padres defeated the Seattle Mariners 7-3 on Tuesday night.
Machado’s 164th homer for the Padres was a line drive to center field off George Kirby in the sixth inning, giving San Diego a 5-2 lead. The ball left his bat at almost 109 mph, and Machado watched it from home plate.
This was Machado’s 26th homer of the season, breaking his tie with Nate Colbert for the Padres’ top spot. Machado has 339 career homers from his time with Baltimore, the Dodgers, and San Diego.
He managed to get the ball back from where it landed in the park without needing any trades.
“Huge, especially in the situation of the game, give us the lead there and give us a nice little cushion,” Machado said. “Definitely a special moment there for sure that I’ll never forget.”
While Machado’s homer was significant, Tatis helped put San Diego ahead. Tatis hit a homer to right field for a 3-2 lead, marking his first home run since June 20 due to a long injury recovery from a stress reaction in his right thighbone.
George Kirby pitches in the 1st inning
Machado also added a two-run single in the seventh inning, which hit pitcher Austin Voth and then bounced into center field.
“You have guys that anchor your lineup and he’s definitely that guy that anchors it, offensively, defensively,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.
Yu Darvish pitched five innings in his second game since coming back to the Padres. Darvish (5-3) gave up solo home runs to Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley but managed to get out of a tough spot in the third inning after Seattle put the first two runners on base. Darvish struck out Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena, with a flyout from Raleigh in between.
Darvish gave up seven hits, struck out five, and didn’t walk any batters. This win marked his 201st career victory, including games in Major League Baseball and Japan’s big leagues, tying him with Hideo Nomo for second among Japanese-born pitchers, just two behind Hiroki Kuroda.
Brian Kelly reacts to a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nicholls State
No. 16 LSU will adjust its defensive line setup due to Jacobian Guillory’s season-ending injury. Instead of promoting one backup to a starting spot, the team will modify their front line to fit the skills of their current players, according to coach Brian Kelly on Monday.
Kelly confirmed that Guillory tore his Achilles tendon during the victory over Nicholls State on Saturday night. The coaches are discussing with Guillory and his family the possibility of a medical redshirt, which could allow him to return for next season.
“He was a crucial part of our defense, a strong presence at the line of scrimmage,” Kelly said as the team started preparing for their game against South Carolina this Saturday. “Losing him means we need to find someone to fill that gap.”
Junior college transfer Shone Washington took over most of the snaps after Guillory’s injury but that won’t be the sole solution moving forward.
Tyreek Hill scores in the 2nd half
“Washington performed very well. He will be the primary player to take on some of Guillory’s responsibilities,” Kelly said.
Dominick McKinley, who hasn’t played in the first two games, might see more action sooner than expected.
Another approach could involve shifting a versatile defensive end to the interior to boost the pass rush. Kelly mentioned that Guillory was not known for his pass rushing, and he himself would agree with that.
Kelly also gave updates on receiver Chris Hilton, left guard Garrett Dellinger, and receiver Kyle Parker, suggesting that they might be able to play this weekend.
Hilton, who has been sidelined with a bone bruise, is now “day-to-day” and cleared for football activities, though his return will depend on his comfort level.
Maquel Haywood runs past Clemson linebacker Kobe McCloud in the first half of an NCAA college football game
Clemson backup linebacker Kobe McCloud will be out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury he sustained in the Tigers’ victory over Appalachian State, coach Dabo Swinney announced on Monday.
Swinney mentioned that McCloud will need surgery on his right knee, though the date for the operation has not been set yet.
McCloud, a 5-foot-11, 225-pound junior from Tampa, Florida, is the main backup to starters Barrett Carter and Wade Woodaz. He started two games last season, recording 17 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, and forced a fumble.
Tahj Brooks runs for a first down in the 1st half
In McCloud’s absence, Swinney said freshman Sammy Brown and sophomore Jamal Anderson will take on more responsibilities.
Brown, a five-star recruit from the recent class, led the team with seven tackles in the last game. Anderson, a 6-2, 215-pound sophomore from Buford, Georgia, is the son of former Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson.
Graham Mertz looks to pass the ball in the 1st half
Florida is introducing a two-quarterback system, giving highly regarded freshman DJ Lagway a chance to show that his impressive debut was not just a fluke.
It remains to be seen how coach Billy Napier will use Lagway and veteran senior Graham Mertz together. This duo — particularly Lagway — will be a key focus when the Gators (1-1) play against Texas A&M (1-1) on Saturday for their Southeastern Conference opener.
“I don’t want to reveal all the details just yet,” Napier said on Monday.
Napier emphasized that he always planned to get Lagway “into every game,” but the top-rated QB recruit of 2023 only appeared in the opener against then-No. 19 Miami after Mertz suffered a concussion on the last play of the third quarter.
With Mertz out last week, Lagway made his first career start against Samford, a lower-division team, and delivered one of the best performances ever by a freshman quarterback at Florida.
Lagway completed 18 of 25 passes for 456 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-7 win. He broke the previous freshman record of 268 yards set by Chris Leak in 2003 against Kentucky.
Billy Napier at the sidelines in the NCAA college football
“If we were playing the Chicago Bears on Saturday, it would be a different situation,” Napier said, trying to manage the excitement around Lagway.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Texan made six passes of at least 30 yards — something Mertz and the Gators did only 14 times last season. His well-placed TD passes to Tank Hawkins and Aidan Mizell was as impressive as any performances from former Florida QBs Kyle Trask or Anthony Richardson.
“He gains more experience each week, and for him to have the chance to start, practice with the first team, and perform the way he did, showing poise and composure, proves he’s ready for what we have planned for him moving forward,” Napier said.
Mertz, who is in his second year at Florida after transferring from Wisconsin, had a decent but not outstanding season last year. He passed for 2,903 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions before injuring his collarbone at Missouri in mid-November.
The Gators ended the season with a 5-7 record and did not make a bowl game, which was only the third time they missed out since 1990. Napier considered Mertz’s choice to stay at Florida “a huge deal” for the team. Mertz spent much of last week helping Lagway get ready.
“What I learned about myself is really just that I can adapt to anything,” Lagway said. “Just be ready for any opportunity that comes my way.”
Some people close to the team believe Mertz would handle a smaller role well, even if it means Lagway takes the lead for the rest of the year.
Wink Martindale looks on in the 1st half of an NCAA college football
“We’re going to do what’s in the best interest of the team,” Napier said. “I think both these players can make our team better. That’s what we intended to do.
“The great thing is there is a great relationship there, confidence, humility from both guys, and a healthy respect from the team and staff for both players.”
Napier is under pressure to manage the quarterback situation well. He is already facing intense scrutiny after two underwhelming seasons marked by in-game mistakes and puzzling decisions. There is a growing belief that he might be fired if losses continue to accumulate.
He has a 12-15 record at Florida over three seasons, including 2-10 against ranked teams and 1-8 against rivals like Miami, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee. Napier already has as many home losses as Steve Spurrier had in twelve years at Florida.
So, would he prefer to rely on the 23-year-old Mertz or the 19-year-old Lagway to shape his future?
Mike Wright passes the ball against Jaylen Stinson in the 1st half
Northwestern is making a change at quarterback.
Jack Lausch will take over as the starter this week when the Wildcats (1-1) play against Eastern Illinois. This decision comes after Mike Wright had a tough time in the first two games, according to coach David Braun.
Lausch has appeared in 10 games over the past two seasons, accumulating 78 yards passing with no touchdowns and one interception. He lost the starting job in the preseason competition.
David Braun leads the team onto the field
Wright, who transferred from Mississippi State after playing three seasons at Vanderbilt, has only 334 passing yards with one interception and no touchdown passes this season. He has also scored a touchdown on the ground.
Wright had a rough performance in the season opener against Miami (Ohio), which was the first game held at Northwestern’s temporary lakefront stadium. He struggled further in an overtime loss to Duke at home on Friday, completing 19 of 35 passes for 156 yards and throwing an interception that led to a Duke touchdown.
Former Michigan football stars Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, along with other ex-Wolverines players, are suing the NCAA and Big Ten Network.
They claim they missed out on over $50 million during their college careers due to the NCAA’s previous ban on athletes receiving compensation for their name, image, and likeness.
The federal class-action lawsuit, filed on Monday in the Eastern District of Michigan, represents all Michigan football players who played before 2016. It also includes former players Mike Martin and Shawn Crable.
The NCAA and major college conferences are currently working to settle three antitrust lawsuits concerning athlete compensation for name, image, and likeness. They have a tentative agreement to pay $2.78 billion in damages to numerous college athletes dating back to 2016.
Braylon Edwards waves at the crowd
In 2021, the NCAA updated its rules to allow athletes to earn money through sponsorships and endorsements after a long period of prohibition.
Last week, a federal judge overseeing these cases did not approve the settlement agreement and sent it back to the attorneys for further adjustments.
The Michigan lawsuit seeks to recover the money that stars like Robinson and Edwards were denied during their playing days. It argues that players should be compensated for the highlights and replays of their performances still used by TV networks.
“These iconic moments have been repeatedly shown and replayed on BTN (Big Ten Network) and related networks, helping continue the fascination and passion of the sport. They have significantly contributed to the revenue generated by the NCAA and its partners,” the lawsuit said.
Wink Martindale looks on in the 1st half of an NCAA college football
It turns out that the flow of coaches between college and the NFL goes both ways.
While the Big Ten lost its most high-profile coach, Jim Harbaugh, who moved to the NFL to lead the Los Angeles Chargers after guiding Michigan to a national title, the conference has welcomed four new coaches with Super Bowl experience who were NFL coordinators last season.
These new additions include Steve Belichick, the defensive coordinator at Washington, Eric Bieniemy, the offensive coordinator at UCLA, and Wink Martindale, the defensive coordinator at Michigan.
Belichick is starting his first college coaching job after being with the New England Patriots, where he worked from 2012-23 under his father Bill Belichick.
Bieniemy, who was formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders, hasn’t coached in college since his time at Colorado from 2011-12.
Jim Harbaugh watches the game from the sidelines
Martindale had spent nearly 20 years in the NFL before his role at Michigan, with his previous college experience being at Western Kentucky from 2000-03.
They are confident in their ability to adjust.
“I think you just need to teach and coach,” Bieniemy said after getting the job. “Teaching and coaching does not change, you still have to do a great job of overcommunicating clarity.
You’ve got to make sure that you’re reaching your guys in the room. It’s never easy regardless of whether it’s the pro, it’s college or high school because everybody accepts or retains information differently.”
Additionally, Jack Del Rio, another former NFL coordinator, joined the Big Ten just before the season began. Wisconsin hired Del Rio as a senior adviser to coach Luke Fickell.
Del Rio was the defensive coordinator for the Commanders from 2020-23 and has had a long career in the NFL, including head coaching roles with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2003-11) and the Oakland Raiders (2015-17).
Alan Bowman hands off the ball to Ollie Gordon II in the 2nd half
Cam Skattebo has stepped into the main running back role at Arizona State, a position the team initially planned for him. Last season, he had to adapt by playing quarterback, receiver, and even punter for the Sun Devils.
In the Big 12, which had a record six returning 1,000-yard rushers and added two more through transfers, Skattebo is leading the rushing stats after an impressive performance.
Coach Kenny Dillingham praised Skattebo’s performance after he rushed for 262 yards on 33 carries and caught three passes for 35 yards in the Sun Devils’ win over Mississippi State. Skattebo was named the AP national player of the week.
The Big 12 is off to a strong start with six players averaging over 100 rushing yards per game. Skattebo leads this group with an average of 155.5 yards per game. Arizona’s Quali Conley, who transferred from San Jose State, is also among the top rushers, averaging 101 yards per game.
Big 12 rushers who gained 1,000 yards last season, like RJ Harvey from UCF, DJ Giddens from No. 14 Kansas State, and Devin Neal from Kansas, have each surpassed 100 yards in both games this season.
Harvey leads the Power Four players with six rushing touchdowns, while Cincinnati’s Corey Kiner is averaging 100 yards per game after a strong showing against Pittsburgh.
However, the top two rushers from last season in the Big 12, Ollie Gordon II from 13th-ranked Oklahoma State and injured Texas Tech back Tahj Brooks, are missing from this list.
Cam Skattebo runs with the ball in the 1st half
After rushing for 126 yards and three touchdowns in the opener against defending FCS champion South Dakota State, Gordon struggled with just 49 yards on 17 carries against Arkansas. However, he scored the game-winning touchdown and added a 2-point conversion in double overtime.
Gordon leads the league with 45 rushing attempts but is averaging only 3.9 yards per carry, down from 6.1 last season. He is seventh in the league with 87.5 yards per game.
“Not getting going early, that’s not really good,” Gordon said. “But you have teammates like I do, it’s great for the team, so you’re good.”
Last season, Gordon also had a slow start, with only 109 rushing yards in the Cowboys’ three non-conference games. He improved significantly in the Big 12 games, averaging 163 yards per game and ending with 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Brooks missed last week’s game at Washington State due to an arm injury after rushing for 153 yards in Tech’s opener. Coach Joey McGuire mentioned that Brooks might return for Saturday’s game against North Texas if he performs well in practice.
Last year, the Big 12 had eight 1,000-yard rushers, the Sun Belt had six, and the MAC, ACC, and SEC each had five. All five rushers from the MAC are still active, but three have moved to different leagues.
Tahj Brooks runs for a first down in the 1st half
Peny Boone moved from Toledo to UCF and joins Harvey in the top Division I rushing offense, which averages 419 yards per game.
Among the SEC’s five 1,000-yard rushers from last year, only Quinshon Judkins is still active, having transferred from Ole Miss to Ohio State. Rutgers’ Kyle Monangai is the only returning 1,000-yard rusher from the Big Ten. Marcus Carroll moved from Georgia State in the Sun Belt to Missouri.
Skattebo moved from Sacramento State to Arizona State, where he had a strong performance in his only Pac-12 season last year.
He rushed for 793 yards and nine touchdowns, added 286 yards and a touchdown receiving, and completed 6-of-15 passes for 130 yards with a touchdown and an interception during 50 snaps at quarterback. He also averaged 42.3 yards on eight punts.
His 262 rushing yards against Mississippi State were the second-most in Sun Devils history. He ran for 93 yards in the fourth quarter, with his longest run being 39 yards on his last carry.
“I’m always expecting to have it in my backpack, but it’s not an every-week thing, and this week it was,” Skattebo said. “I’m glad I was able to do that. I’m glad these guys trust me to be able to do that.”
Ashton Dulin celebrates a touchdown in the 2nd half
Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce showed promise during his first two NFL seasons.
On Sunday, he made significant progress toward meeting the high expectations the Colts have for him.
Pierce, formerly of the Cincinnati Bearcats, delivered his best single-game performance yet with three catches, 125 yards, and his first touchdown of the season in Indy’s 29-27 loss to the Houston Texans, the reigning AFC South champions.
“That’s what I pride myself in doing, I think it’s the best part of my game,” Pierce said, referring to his two catches over 55 yards. “I’m just glad to be able to do it for the team.”
The Colts, who drafted Pierce in the second round of the 2022 draft at No. 53 overall, liked his speed and ability to make difficult catches. However, his performance dipped at times.
Alec Pierce celebrates a touchdown in the 1st half
There were concerns about Pierce’s route-running and inconsistency. He had only one other 100-yard game and four games with more than three catches, with three of those four in his rookie season.
This season looks different for Pierce.
With the Colts enhancing their receiving group by picking former Texas receiver Adonai Mitchell in the second round of this year’s draft and slot receiver Josh Downs out with a high ankle sprain, the pressure was on Pierce to step up.
Quarterback Anthony Richardson, who never lost faith in Pierce, was rewarded on Sunday. Richardson said, “If I just put the ball in a decent spot for him and allow him that 50-50 chance, I feel like AP is going to go up there and get it.”
He added that Pierce made a spectacular catch on a touchdown pass that he described as the best pass he’s ever seen.
Stefon Diggs makes a touchdown reception in the 2nd half
The Houston Texans have struggled with finding a consistent running back in recent years, and no one has managed to reach 1,000 rushing yards. This changed with their offseason trade for Joe Mixon, and after just one game, it seems he might be the solution they needed.
Mixon had a career-high 30 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown, helping the Texans secure a 29-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. His 159 rushing yards are the sixth-best in Texans history, and he is only the third player to rush for over 100 yards in his debut for the team, the first since 2016.
“Joe really came through for us,” said coach DeMeco Ryans. “We needed him to run the ball, and he did exactly that. Despite the Colts knowing we were going to run, he still made the plays. It was great to see him perform like that in his first game after showing promise in training camp.”
Mixon scored a 3-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push Houston’s lead to 22-13.
C.J. Stroud looks to pass the ball in the 2nd half
Even when the Colts narrowed the gap late in the game, Mixon made a crucial 9-yard run to secure a first down and help the Texans run out the clock.
“We were just being physical out there,” Mixon said. “We ran hard and made the most of every opportunity.”
Mixon’s performance, which also included 19 yards receiving, was impressive, especially since he had only one 100-yard rushing game last season.
The Texans had another standout debut on Sunday with receiver Stefon Diggs, who joined the team from Buffalo and scored two touchdowns against the Colts.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud noted that adding Mixon and Diggs to an already strong offense gave the team a significant boost. He also mentioned that both players were actively encouraging their teammates on the sideline to keep improving.
The Miami Dolphins are off to a 1-0 start after overcoming a 14-point deficit to win in a dramatic finish. They now face a big matchup against division rival Buffalo on Thursday night.
Under normal circumstances, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel would be focusing on the upcoming game. But these are not ordinary circumstances.
The major news from Sunday involved wide receiver Tyreek Hill being handcuffed and seen on the ground near the stadium before the season opener. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell was also briefly handcuffed when he tried to intervene.
Despite the commotion, both Hill and Campbell played and contributed to the 20-17 win over Jacksonville. The team came together strongly after learning about the incident.
McDaniel, who appeared emotional, talked about how being involved in the NFL and preparing for a game provides a welcome distraction from difficult situations.
Mike McDaniel speaks in the post-game news conference
“I think a lot of times, it’s therapeutic to be in the process of NFL game week, a Thursday night division opponent.
There’s a lot of very constructive things to think about. Sometimes, that can be our greatest gift, that gift of supreme distraction,” McDaniel said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava stated that an investigation into the officers’ actions will address concerns and is part of a broader discussion on police use of force.
Despite the major distraction, the Dolphins managed to beat the Jaguars. The issue will certainly continue to affect the team as they prepare for Thursday’s game.
McDaniel expressed that he was deeply troubled by the incident and his feelings remained strong. “It’s been hard for me not to find myself more upset, the more I think about it,” McDaniel said.
Nevertheless, he was pleased with the result of Sunday’s game and the team’s response in the locker room.
