Category Archives: professional sports

Mercury overcome 13-point deficit in 4th quarter, beat Lynx 86-81 to advance to WNBA Finals

PHOENIX (AP) — Alyssa Thomas scored 23 points, and DeWanna Bonner made two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Phoenix Mercury overcame a 13-point deficit in the final period to beat the short-handed Minnesota Lynx 86-81 in Game 4 on Sunday night. With the victory, Phoenix advances to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2021.

The Mercury will face the winner of the Indiana-Las Vegas series in the championship round. Indiana forced a decisive Game 5 earlier Sunday with a 90-83 home victory. Phoenix won the final three games of the best-of-five semifinal series to secure their spot in the Finals.

The top-seeded Lynx were without head coach Cheryl Reeve, who was suspended for Game 4 due to her behavior and comments toward officials during Game 3. Minnesota also played without All-Star guard Napheesa Collier, who suffered an ankle injury near the end of the previous game.

Phoenix trailed 68-55 heading into the fourth quarter but began their comeback with a 3-pointer from Sami Whitcomb that brought the score to 70-69 with 4:46 left in the game. Bonner then hit a crucial three-pointer to give the Mercury a 72-70 lead, followed by another triple with 2:03 remaining to extend the lead to 77-73.

Minnesota’s Kayla McBride responded by hitting her sixth 3-pointer of the second half, cutting the gap to 77-76 with 1:04 left. The 38-year-old Bonner then made a pair of free throws to push Phoenix ahead 79-76. Bonner finished the quarter with 11 points.

Satou Sabally led the Lynx with 21 points, while McBride scored a game-high 31 points, shooting 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. Courtney Williams added 20 points for Minnesota.

Earlier in the game, Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to give the Mercury their first lead at 41-38. However, the Lynx countered with a 23-9 run, fueled by three three-pointers from McBride, regaining control of the game. Minnesota had jumped out to an early 12-1 lead, but Phoenix steadily chipped away at the deficit.

Just before halftime, Thomas assisted Bonner for a layup that tied the game at 38. Sabally led Phoenix with 18 points before the break.

Phoenix will now play in the WNBA Finals for the first time in four years, aiming to win their first championship since 2014.

— AP WNBA
https://www.mymotherlode.com/sports/basketball-general-news/10005095/mercury-overcome-13-point-deficit-in-4th-quarter-beat-lynx-86-81-to-advance-to-wnba-finals.html

Mets All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso will opt out of contract and test free agency again

MIAMI (AP) — Pete Alonso has announced he will opt out of his contract with the New York Mets and enter free agency again, following the team’s failure to make the playoffs this season.

Alonso previously tested the free agent market last offseason before deciding to stay with the franchise that drafted him in 2016 out of Florida. In February, he signed a two-year, $54 million contract that paid him $30 million this season, with a $24 million player option for the next year.

The All-Star first baseman indicated he would like to return to the Mets once more but emphasized his desire to win a championship.

“There’s some great guys in this clubhouse, there’s some great people on the staff,” Alonso said. “And every single day, it’s just been a pleasure coming to work and putting on the orange and blue. I’ve really appreciated it and been nothing but full of gratitude every single day. Nothing’s guaranteed, but we’ll see what happens. I’ve loved being a Met, so hopefully they’ve appreciated me in the same way.”

At 30 years old, Alonso earned his fifth All-Star selection this season, batting a career-best .272 with 38 home runs, 126 RBIs, and a career-high 41 doubles. Along the way, he broke the Mets’ franchise record for home runs, surpassing Darryl Strawberry’s previous mark of 252.

“I think the biggest thing is, I want to win,” Alonso said. “I know we didn’t this year, but we had the right pieces — I think we just didn’t do it. At the beginning of the year, you just want to have the best possible chance to hold up the trophy at the end and see yourself being a champion. So for me, it’s why I do this. I want to be on top of the mountain. I want to win a World Series. That’s the ultimate goal.”

The Mets entered Sunday’s regular-season finale needing a win and a Cincinnati loss at Milwaukee to make the playoffs. However, New York could not overcome a four-run fourth inning by the Miami Marlins and was eliminated from postseason contention following a 4-0 loss.

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AP MLB
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/baseball/2025/09/28/mets-all-star-first-baseman-pete-alonso-will-opt-out-of-contract-and-test-free-agency-again

Report: Bucs WR Mike Evans expected to miss less than 4 weeks with hamstring injury

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https://triblive.com/sports/report-bucs-wr-mike-evans-expected-to-miss-less-than-4-weeks-with-hamstring-injury/

Pablo López departs early as Twins fall to Guardians

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**Game Recap: Twins vs. Cleveland Guardians**

Pablo Lopez raced off the mound after a ball deflected off his foot. After retrieving it, he quickly shoveled the ball to first baseman Kody Clemens, beating the runner Angel Martinez. Lopez dove face-first into the grass during the play but got up smiling and gave a thumbs up as he walked back to the mound.

Though Lopez secured the out, the third-inning play contributed to his early departure after four innings and just 61 pitches. This was his third start since returning from a teres major strain that sidelined him for three months. Lopez left the game with right forearm tightness attributed to the dive.

For much of the game, those were the only two runs on the board. The Twins (66-87) struggled offensively, being shut down for the first five innings by Cleveland (82-71) rookie starter Parker Messick. The Twins finally broke through in the sixth inning with hits from Austin Martin, Luke Keaschall, and Royce Lewis, producing two runs.

The score remained 2-2 until the eighth inning when Guardians star Jose Ramirez sparked a two-out rally with a double. The Twins intentionally walked Kyle Manzardo to face Bo Naylor. Ramirez and Manzardo then stole third and second base, respectively, before Naylor brought them both home.

Cleveland added two more runs off reliever Michael Tonkin in the ninth. This late offensive surge lifted the Guardians to a 6-2 victory, marking their eighth consecutive win. The Guardians have now won 13 of their past 14 games and, with a Detroit loss on Friday, have moved 2½ games behind first place in a division race that once seemed out of reach.
https://www.twincities.com/2025/09/19/pablo-lopez-departs-early-as-twins-fall-to-guardians/

Royals score four in the eighth to snap Seattle’s 10-game winning streak

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adam Frazier hit a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning as the Kansas City Royals snapped the Seattle Mariners’ 10-game winning streak with a 7-5 victory on Wednesday night.

Eugenio Suarez ended an 0-for-32 slump with a breakout performance for Seattle, recording four hits, two RBIs, and two runs. Despite Suarez’s efforts, the Mariners fell a half-game behind the Houston Astros in the AL West following Houston’s win.

Lucas Erceg (8-4) earned the win for Kansas City, even after giving up the lead on J.P. Crawford’s homer in the eighth inning. Carlos Estevez allowed a ninth-inning run but secured his Major League Baseball-best 40th save of the season.

Seattle’s Matt Brash (1-3) struggled, allowing four runs and four hits in just two-thirds of an inning. Cole Ragans, making his first start for Kansas City since June 5 after recovering from a strained left rotator cuff, pitched 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on one hit while striking out four and issuing two walks. Ragans started strong, throwing his first six pitches for strikes and striking out the side on 10 pitches in the first inning.

On the mound for Seattle, Bryce Miller allowed three runs on eight hits across five innings.

The game’s early scoring came from Royals’ Salvador Perez, who blasted a 435-foot, three-run home run to center field in the first inning. Suarez responded quickly for the Mariners with a 416-foot, two-run homer in the second, trimming the deficit to 3-2.

Seattle tied the game in the seventh when Suarez led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mitch Garver.

The pivotal moment arrived in the eighth inning when Frazier’s home run put Kansas City back in front after the Mariners briefly took the lead earlier in the inning.

Statistically, the Royals capitalized well with runners in scoring position, going 5-for-13, while the Mariners were unable to reach base in similar situations, going 0-for-4.

Looking ahead, the two teams will conclude their three-game series on Thursday. Seattle is set to start right-hander Luis Castillo (9-8, 3.76 ERA), while Kansas City will counter with right-hander Stephen Kolek (5-5, 3.71 ERA).

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AP MLB: David Smale, The Associated Press.
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/royals-score-four-eighth-snap-024402150.html