A two-game swing was at stake. The Boston Red Sox sit eight games back of the first-place Tampa Bay Rays after pulling off a 4-3 win in 10 innings Friday night at Tropicana Field. The Rays had the Red Sox’s backs against the wall in the ninth inning, though, and Boston would sit 10 games back in the division if Craig Breslow and Alexi Ogando didn’t escape trouble and give the offense a chance to come through in the 10th. It’s hard to point to one game as a turning point. It’s especially difficult when talking about a game in June and a team that has failed to build momentum all season. But Friday
Sports
Kei Kamara’s Two Goals Too Much For Revolution, Who Fall To Crew (Video)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — MLS scoring leader Kei Kamara had two goals, and the Columbus Crew snapped a six-game winless streak with a 2-1 comeback victory over the New England Revolution on Wednesday night. Columbus (5-6-5) avenged last season’s conference semifinal 7-3 aggregate loss to New England (6-6-6), which has lost four in a row on the road and nine of its last 10 games. Kamara scored the winner with his heal in the 50th minute for his 12th goal of the season. Lee Nguyen scored for the Revolution in the first 35 seconds, drilling in a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The Crew answered right back in the fourth minute. Hector
Dustin Johnson 3-Putts, Blows Walk-Off Eagle Chance To Win U.S. Open (Video)
Poor, poor Dustin Johnson. The 30-year-old sat at 4 under for the weekend at the U.S. Open headed into his 18th and final hole, which 21-year-old Masters champion Jordan Spieth had just birdied to take a lead at 5 under. After a decent shot from the tee, Johnson set himself up wonderfully with a beautiful second shot that found a whole bunch of green. Johnson had a 12-foot eagle putt sitting between him and glory: If he sunk it, he’d have won the U.S. Open with a walk-off eagle, his first career major tournament victory. He was unable to sink the putt, however, but was left with a bunny for birdie to
Red Sox Notes: Mookie Betts’ Power Throws Royals Pitcher For A Loop
The Boston Red Sox checked out at halftime. For 4 1/2 innings Saturday, the Red Sox looked like a legitimate threat capable of riding a strong series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium toward bigger and better things. Then, reality struck in the form of a Rick Porcello collapse and a 7-4 loss to the defending American League champs. The Red Sox blew a 4-1 lead en route to their 40th defeat of the season. They also lost both third baseman Pablo Sandoval and catcher Blake Swihart to injuries amid their meltdown, which fittingly was capped by David Ortiz being ejected in the seventh inning after arguing balls and strikes with
Tiger Woods’ Two-Day U.S. Open Disaster Can Be Summed Up In One Video
The U.S. Open won’t have Tiger Woods to beat up anymore. Woods fired a second-round 76 that left him a 16-over-par 156, the second-worst score in the field before the afternoon groups teed off Friday at Chambers Bay, and assuring that the 14-time major champion will miss the cut. It’s the latest sign that Tiger’s game is unraveling, as he sets career marks — and not in a good way. ESPN loudmouth Skip Bayless went so far as to call Woods “a disgrace.” Want to know how bad it was? Look what happened to Tiger on the first hole Friday. It didn’t get any better from there. Thumbnail photo via John David
Mike Napoli Finally Feeling Better Batting, Hopes Success Continues (Video)
Mike Napoli has had a difficult season, to say the least. His home run in Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves was one of the lone bright spots for the Boston Red Sox, though, and he admitted after the game he’s starting to feel a bit more comfortable. “I have been — I’ve been feeling a little better,” Napoli told reporters. “Just timing wise and seeing the ball better. I’m just trying to go up there and give a tough at bat every time. I don’t know, I still have work to do. Just going to try to keep it going.” Check out more from the first baseman in the video above.
U.S. Open Greens At Chambers Bay In Rough Shape Before Round 1 (Photo)
The U.S. Open is the toughest major championship in golf. The USGA does its best to make the course incredibly difficult to shoot par. The fairways are narrow, the rough is thicker and more abundant, the greens are a nightmare and the hole locations are in absurd spots. This year’s U.S. Open starts Thursday at Chambers Bay in Washington. Judging by the early condition of the greens, it’s going to be a real challenge to putt with any consistency. Put simply, the greens are a mess. Martin Kaymer won last year’s U.S. Open at 9-under par, which is a rare score for this tournament. Normally the winner is much closer to even