The Boston Red Sox’s lineup poses plenty of problems for opposing pitchers, and those troubles start right away. That’s because Mookie Betts awaits at the top of Boston’s order, and the Red Sox right fielder has been excellent when leading off games this season. After Saturday night’s first-inning homer against the Los Angeles Angels, Betts now is batting .352 with five doubles, six homers and a .626 slugging percentage when taking the Sox’s first at-bat of the game. Watch NESN’s Tom Caron and Dennis Eckersley break down Betts’ early success in the video from “Red Sox Gameday Live” above. Thumbnail photo via Richard Macks... NESN.com
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Jackie Bradley Jr. Takes Over As Red Sox’s Cleanup Hitter Vs. Angels
David Ortiz won’t be in the Boston Red Sox’s starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, which means Jackie Bradley Jr. will slide up to the cleanup spot. The Red Sox center fielder certainly has been hitting like a cleanup hitter of late with his .342 batting average, three home runs and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. Hear what NESN’s Dave O’Brien and Steve Lyons had to say about Bradley in the video from “Red Sox Gameday Live” above. Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images ... NESN.com
Red Sox Notes: Albert Pujols Soaking Up David Ortiz’s Greatness One Final Time
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is relishing his final chance to face his good friend David Ortiz on the baseball field. Pujols, 36, grew up near the Seattle Mariners’ baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, and used to go watch the players there practice as a kid. Among those players was Ortiz (then known as David Arias), a teenager signed as an amateur free agent by the M’s. “I used to leave school early to watch them practice,” Pujols told the Orange County Register in a recent story. “He gave me a lot of advice, especially the times that I struggled in my career when I went to the American League.
Vikings Quarterback Suffered Ankle Injury While Breaking Into Own Home
Taylor Heinicke might want to invest in Netflix. The Minnesota Vikings backup quarterback revealed Thursday that he suffered a leg injury a couple of weeks ago while trying to break into his own home following a late-night trip to the movies. “I was locked out of my house after a late-night movie,’’ Heinicke told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I came back and there’s no one home, and I’m trying to nudge the door a little. It was one of those double doors. I thought it just needed a little nudge. “Me and my buddy were getting it going a little, but when I put my foot to the door, my foot kind
Dee Gordon’s Apology For PED Use, Suspension Shows Right Way To Own ‘Mistake’
Dee Gordon is returning to Major League Baseball on a mission to redeem himself. The reigning National League batting champion is expected to return from his 80-game suspension Thursday when the Miami Marlins take on the St. Louis Cardinals. MLB sanctioned Gordon for using performance-enhancing drugs, and his three-month absence seems to have taught him a lot. On Wednesday night via Uninterrupted, Gordon apologized to Marlins and baseball fans for letting them down, showing a high level of contrition for what he calls “a mistake.” We’ll learn in the coming hours, days, weeks and months how fans will respond to Gordon. Thumbnail... NESN.com
Reports: Julian Edelman Faces Paternity Controversy After Model Files Suit
A few days after rumors swirled around Julian Edelman’s dating life, the New England Patriots wide receiver reportedly is facing a paternity suit. Swedish model Ella Rose filed a suit, which says Edelman is the father of her unborn child, in L.A. County Superior Court, sources told TMZ Sports on Wednesday. Edelman has acknowledged he is the father of the unborn baby girl — who is due in October — after contesting the claim originally, sources told The Boston Globe. Edelman, who was spotted with Victoria’s Secret model Adriana Lima in Nantucket over the weekend, has had a two-year long casual relationship with Rose, according to TMZ Sports.
Conor McGregor’s Coach Predicts Result Of UFC 202 Fight With Nate Diaz
Conor McGregor’s coach expects a much different result this time around. McGregor is scheduled to fight Nate Diaz at UFC 202 on Aug. 20 in a rematch of the fighters’ UFC 196 bout, which Diaz won via a second-round submission. McGregor said after his UFC 196 loss that he became tired early in the fight — perhaps a product of him jumping up two weight classes — but the Irishman’s coach, John Kavanagh, doesn’t see that being an issue next month. In fact, Kavanagh is calling his shot, saying recently on Periscope that he expects McGregor to defeat Diaz in the fourth round at UFC 202. This obviously would mean lasting much longer than