Good Morning! Here’s what happened in the world of sports on Monday, July 28.

MLB

Two walk-offs and a battle for first place… let’s recap some baseball:

• The Red Sox took a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning last night after an RBI single by rookie Roman Anthony off Minnesota’s fireballer closer Jhoan Duran. Naturally, that was followed by a 90-minute rain delay… but the weather didn’t dampen the excitement in this one. Brooks Lee came through for the Twins with a two-run walk-off single!

• New York came into this series in San Diego riding a seven-game win streak. A Ronny Mauricio homer in the ninth gave the Mets faithful the belief that the win streak would continue, but Elias Diaz came up to bat and lined a walk-off single to left. The Padres beat the Mets 7-6.

• Chicago and Milwaukee met last night for game one of a pivotal three-game set for control of the NL Central. The home team was dominant in this one, as three different Brewers hit home runs. Now in first place by one game, the Brewers beat the Cubs 8-4.

TENNIS

Genie Bouchard burst onto the scene in 2014, making the finals of Wimbledon and the semis at the Australian and French Open. She made it all the way to number five in the world that year and looked poised to become the next big thing in tennis. Just over ten years later, the 31-year-old Canadian is a pro pickleballer, having never come close to reaching those heights again on tour. However, Bouchard is giving her fans a few more moments of magic. She’s playing her home tournament in Montreal this week and won her first pro-level match since 2023 last night. “I woke up this morning just telling myself, ‘Look, I can’t control the result. I just want to have a good attitude, have good fight, and try feel good with my shots, feel good with my game,’” said Bouchard after the match. For at least one more round at the Canadian Open, her career will continue.

NOTEWORTHY NEWS

Baseball Hall of Famer and Chicago Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg passed away yesterday after a battle with cancer. A fearsome hitter and skilled second baseman, Sandberg was the 1984 NL MVP. As Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement last night, “His dedication to and respect for the game, along with his unrelenting integrity, grit, hustle, and competitive fire were hallmarks of his career.” You can read more about Sandberg’s life on and off the field here.

“Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper stood nose to nose with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred during a meeting last week and told him to “get the f--- out of our clubhouse” if he wanted to talk about a salary cap,” reported ESPN insider Jeff Passan yesterday. Pretty sure that quote speaks for itself… if it doesn’t tell you the state of the game behind closed doors, I don’t know what will. The current collective bargaining agreement expires after next season.

Not to mention we’ve got another gambling investigation! This time it’s the star closer of the Guardians Emmanuel Clase, who’s been connected to the ongoing investigation of teammate Luis Ortiz. Potentially the most notable name to be moved before this week’s trade deadline, Clase has been placed on leave, severely altering Cleveland’s plans and shifting the marketplace for previously interested contenders.

Moving on to more positive news– the Tigers picked up starter Chris Paddack from the Twins, and the Brewers dealt for Rays catcher Danny Jansen. Good to see the lower payroll teams making moves to compete in the playoffs!

And finally, the Tennessee Titans have cut 2022 first round pick Treylon Burks. The wide receiver out of Arkansas broke his collarbone in training camp, sealing his fate after a disappointing couple of seasons in the NFL.

HAPPY GILMORE 2 REVIEW

Well, the movie is exactly what you expect it to be. But before we get to the Sandman, allow me to speak on a different issue: Sure, you can’t pause, the tickets aren’t cheap, and who knows what the person next to you will do or say during the two hours you’re stuck next to them… but comedies are so much better in a theater! I have no doubt I enjoyed this movie more because I shared the experience with a room full of people who wanted to laugh. Anyway, here’s a link to my (brief) spoiler-free review of Happy Gilmore 2. 

TODAY’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

MLB: Cubs @ Brewers, 7:40 PM

WNBA: Aces @ Sparks, 10 PM on NBA TV; season debut and return from ACL surgery for last year’s number two pick Cam Brink!

“If I stop now, it was all for nothing,” –the cover star of Men’s Health Magazine and Lakers superstar Luka Doncic, discussing his new commitment to improving his conditioning and taking better of care of his body…