sport

SAINT-DENIS, France (AP) — A transparent victory in a single relay and one other that was so close. A protracted-awaited celebration for France and a high jump competition that seemed never to finish.

What held every part together on this hectic final day of Olympic athletics on the Stade de France was essentially the most familiar sight of all: Americans on the winners' podium, again and again.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Gabby Thomas finished the track with a win in the ladies's 4×400 relay on Saturday, earning America's thirty fourth track medal and its 14th gold medal. Thomas was a part of the USA's gold medal win in the ladies's 4×100 relay the night before.

The 400 hurdles and 200 meter gold medalists made the race an actual laugh within the second and third rounds, helping the USA to victory as they finished greater than 4 seconds ahead of the runner-up and just 0.1 second behind the world record set by the USSR in 1988.

The winning time: 3 minutes, 15.27 seconds.

“I think this generation of track and field athletes is just at a different level,” said McLaughlin-Levrone, who has won 4 gold medals in 4 disciplines (and 6 world record runs) during her profession. “Everything is improving, including us, including our technique, including our preparation. I don't think anything is impossible at the moment.”

In one other race, American hurdles gold medalist Rai Benjamin beat Botswana's 200-meter champion Letsile Tebogo in the lads's relay by just 0.1 seconds.

“I calculated this run very well, down to the smallest detail,” Benjamin said. “I have a really good, high running IQ about people, how they run and how to run a fast time, so I didn't have to go too hard. Let's just save it for when we get home.”

Fittingly, on the ultimate day of an athletics meeting stuffed with close calls and surprises, there have been two more races decided by 0.01 seconds – a victory within the 800 meters by Kenyan Emmanuel Wanyonyi and a victory within the 100 meters hurdles by American Masai Russell.

Russell beat France's Cyrena Samba-Mayela in a bitter victory, however it was the primary and only medal for the French team on the athletics meeting and sparked the most important cheers on an evening that saw eight finals.

“I want to celebrate with the French public because they have supported and encouraged me throughout all these Olympic Games,” said Samba-Mayela.

In the high jump event, it sometimes looked as if the choice in regards to the gold medal would only be made on Sunday.

New Zealander Hamish Kerr and American Shelby McEwen each missed thrice at 2.38 metres, in order that a play-off for the title took place at the identical height.

They each missed, causing the bar to go down. McEwen missed. Then Kerr missed. Then McEwen missed again – the eleventh goal in a row for the pair.

Finally, Kerr cleared the two.34 meters, broke free from the mat, ran a big semicircle into the javelin throwing zone – which, fortunately, had long since been out of service by this point – collapsed on his back and put his hands over his face.

One of essentially the most memorable moments of the last Olympic Games was when the highest two divers finished tied, shared the gold medal after which hugged to have fun. This time, an unprecedented first prize of $50,000 was at stake, somewhat damaging that wonderful Olympic spirit.

Did McEwen have the $50,000 in mind when he decided to bet on the win quite than the tie?

“Absolutely,” he said. “I have a family to support. So of course it was that way.”

Despite McEwen's loss, the United States still won 34 medals – the best variety of any country at a non-boycotted Games for the reason that early twentieth century, when there have been more competitions and fewer nations involved.

The 14 gold medals are essentially the most at an Olympic Games and not using a boycott since Bob Beamon and Tommie Smith led the USA to fifteen victories in 1968.

With such a dominant performance, it seemed only fitting that McLaughlin-Levrone played a job in the ultimate act.

The 25-year-old, who holds the fourth fastest time on the planet within the 400-meter race along with her recent world record within the hurdles, ran her leg in 47.71 seconds, 0.91 seconds faster than the subsequent fastest woman in the sector, Femke Bol, who took silver for the Netherlands.

The slight collision between McLaughlin-Levrone and Thomas throughout the baton exchange between the second and third rounds felt like a distant memory – long forgotten when the Star-Spangled Banner was played for the last time throughout the final medal ceremony of the evening.

About 200 meters from the finish, “Gabby and Syd started running on the track and they had to pull them back,” said Shamier Little, who ran the primary leg. “We were kind of celebrating. Of course, anything can happen.”

“But it wouldn't happen.”

In a quick men's 800-meter race, Wanyonyi beat Canadian Marco Arop by 0.01 seconds in a photograph finish, ending with a time of 1:41.19, just 0.28 seconds slower than the world record.

The national record of 1:41.67 by American Bryce Hoppel was simply enough for fourth place.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen won the 5,000 metres in a comparatively dramatic race after ending a disappointing fourth within the highly anticipated 1,500-metre race against Britain's Josh Kerr 4 nights earlier.

Ingebrigtsen won in 13 minutes and 13.66 seconds, securing her title on the last two World Championships.

Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi finished second and Grant Fisher from the USA finished third.

Haruka Kitguchi won Japan's only medal on the competition – a gold medal – together with her season's best throw of 65.80 metres. She is the primary Japanese woman to win a medal in a throwing event on the Olympic Games.

Soft-hitting Mickey Moniak landed the decisive blow on Tuesday night because the Athletics squandered their likelihood for a giant inning early and late with a 7-5 road loss to the Los Angeles Angels.

Moniak, the Angels' center fielder because Mike Trout was injured, hit a grand slam within the fourth inning against the A's' starter and loser, Mitch Spence (4-4). Tyler Anderson kept getting the A's free baserunners, but didn't pay for his mistakes often enough. He made it through five innings and improved his record to 7-7.

The Athletics, 29-53, hope to avoid a series sweep against the Angeles on Wednesday afternoon before leaving for Arizona and have won 14 of their last 17 games. The Angels are 32-46.

The grand slam was Moniak's fourth home run of the season. The A's got a house run from designated hitter Brent Rooker, his 14th. Taylor Ward hit a solo shot against Sean Newcomb within the seventh inning, his 14th of the season and his second home run in two nights.

The A's scored twice within the eighth inning against Jose Marte to get inside 7-5, with Armando Alvarez scoring a run on a bloop single that got here immediately after a bloop single by Gelof that brought home Shea Langeliers, who got here in on an error by Luis Rengifo at third base.

Pinch hitter Lawrence Butler hit the ball hard to center, but Moniak chased after him and scored on a sacrifice fly, and the rally ended there when Ben Joyce got JJ Bleday to hit a ground ball and make a double play.

Carlos Estevez picked up his 14th save for the Angels, allowing only a two-out single to Tyler Soderstrom and striking out two players.

The Angels chased Spence within the sixth inning after he allowed a walk to Moniak, who reached second base on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Jo Addel, putting the A's behind 6-3.

“There were a lot of errors in the inning where he allowed five,” A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. “The lefties seemed to have a good plan against him tonight. Other than that inning, I thought he did a good job.”

Anderson was replaced by Hunter Strickland after five innings after throwing 109 pitches, including 62 strikes, with five walks and two strikeouts.

“We have released him from responsibility,” said Kotsay. “All the best to him and the year he has.”

Rooker's home run against Anderson was a no brainer, driving the bat 107.2 mph down the left field line and traveling 418 feet, putting the A's inside 5-3. It was his first home run in 11 games since June 9 against Toronto.

Rook absolutely rocked it pic.twitter.com/cFKxc02pYP

— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) 26 June 2024

Moniak's first profession grand slam was the game-winning five-run hit within the fourth inning after Spence had effortlessly played through the primary three innings.

Ward hit a double to start out the inning and was hit by a single to 3rd base by Willie Calhoun. O'Hoppe hit a single to center to attain the Angels' first run, and Spence hit Zach Neto on a bunt try to load the bases.

That brought in Moniak, who got here in with a .193 batting average but sank a 1-1 pitch over the right-side fence for a 5-2 lead.

has taken the lead in a GREAT way #RepTheHalo pic.twitter.com/9nmhuk55iZ

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) 26 June 2024

The Athletics had Anderson in trouble within the third inning, scoring on an RBI bloop single by JJ Bleday and a bases-loaded walk by Tyler Nevin, however the rating was 2-0 and might have been higher.

Alvarez, the 29-year-old rookie who was called as much as the team on Saturday, opened the inning with a double to right followed by a walk to Max Schuemann. Daz Cameron struck out before Bleday hit a dunker to center to usher in Alvarez. Bleday was thrown out trying to succeed in second base while Schuemann went to 3rd base.

After seven years and 800 minor league games, Alvarez finished 3-for-4 together with his first hit and RBI.

“It was amazing,” Alvarez said. “I was on cloud nine. I was floating on clouds as I walked the bases.”

Alvarez said he gave the ball to his father, who was present, from his first hit.

Anderson then walked Miguel Andujar and Rooker to load the bases and hit Nevin to force in a run. Hopes for a greater inning ended when Langeliers hit a grounder to shortstop on the primary pitch for the third out.

At the tip of the inning, Anderson had thrown 69 pitches with 4 walks and one hit batter and was lucky to have allowed only two runs.

Spence, however, needed only 35 pitches with no walks and two strikeouts, while keeping the Angels to zero in the identical period.

NOTEWORTHY

— The A's missed a likelihood to attain one other run within the fourth inning when Cameron's hit to right center was ruled a success into the web and a ground rule double. Alvarez, who had hit a single with one out, easily scored on that play and was sent back to 3rd base. Anderson then caught Bleday on a fly to right.

Joe Ryan became the most recent pitcher to sign one in all the Major Leagues' weakest offensive teams on Thursday, and Carlos Correa continued his hitting streak because the Minnesota Twins beat the Athletics 6-2 at Target Field.

Ryan, of San Anselmo, improved his record to 5-5 by going seven innings for the fifth time within the last seven games. He allowed a house run to Tyler Soderstrom within the second inning and almost nothing else, giving up three hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

“He's a good starter. It's hard to get baserunners against him,” A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. “We reduced the strikeouts against him and put the ball in play, but no hard contact other than Tyler's home run.”

The Athletics struck out 18 times in a loss to San Diego on Wednesday and managed just seven against Minnesota, but there have been few baserunners with only three runners left on base.

Correa essentially decided the sport for Minnesota with a two-run home run against Sean Newcomb in the underside of the seventh inning and was 3-for-4. It was Correa's sixth home run of the season.

After Soderstrom's home run, the A's didn't put one other runner in scoring position against Ryan. Griffin Jax and Jorge Alcala closed the sport for Minnesota, which improved to 37-32 on the season while the A's fell to 26-45.

For the A's, it was the ninth loss within the last eleven games and the twelfth within the last 15.

Soderstrom hit a house run within the second inning for the Athletics, his fourth within the last eight games. Soderstrom, whose potential game-winning hit died against the left outfield fence against Toronto and San Diego recently, drove a Ryan pitch 430 feet to center field at 112 mph for his fourth home run of the season.

The home run gave Soderstrom a five-game hitting streak, and he achieved a batting average of .357 during that period.

“He left one up the middle and I hit it good,” Soderstrom told reporters. “I'm just trying to take it day by day, enjoy being up here and enjoy the process. I'm keeping my head down and continuing to work hard.”

Kotsay, who said before the sport he had a superb feeling about Soderstrom's approach, echoed that sentiment afterward. Soderstrom was a first-round draft pick in 2020 (No. 26 overall) who struggled last season after his promotion to the main leagues.

“The at-bats have been better,” Kotsay said. “He's showing signs of maturity, signs of growth and becoming the hitter we know he can be.”

Athletics starter Luis Medina (0-2) was finished after five innings after allowing eight hits, 4 runs (all earned) with one walk and three strikeouts. In his three starts since being recalled from Las Vegas, Medina has pitched 5 2/3, 4 2/3 and five innings.

Minnesota bothered Medina although they didn't get any walks, as he threw 102 pitches, 67 of which were strikes, before giving option to Vinny Nittoli within the sixth inning.

Ryan, alternatively, retired the last ten batters he faced, throwing 95 pitches in seven innings, 65 of which were strikes.

The Twins reached Medina for 2 runs within the second and tied the rating at 2-2 when Byron Buxton hit a single to center, bringing home Max Kepler and Carlos Correa.

Sode is on fire pic.twitter.com/pYD3v7MArP

— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) June 14, 2024

Kepler opened the inning with a single to right and Correa, who entered Wednesday with a five-hit game and a 15-29 hitting streak, got lucky with a swinging bunt that Medina couldn't fend off. Both runners advanced when Medina threw a wild pitch three-quarters of the best way up the screen.

Correa struck again within the third inning when he hit a ground single past Zack Gelof at second base. He brought home Trevor Larnach, the previous College Park High star who had earlier been given a walk, and gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead. The Twins scored one other run within the second inning on an infield out by Austin Martin. The inning began with an infield single by Buxton and a single by Jeffers that moved Buxton to 3rd base.

Correa's home run within the seventh inning brought home Royce Lewis, who reached the primary with a single.

The Twins were more successful than the A's with a rating of 13:4.

NOTEWORTHY

— Soderstrom and Gelof collided within the second inning while chasing a foul ball off Ryan Jeffers' bat down the first-base line. Gelof caught the ball and was out, but hit Soderstrom in the pinnacle along with his elbow. Soderstrom was shaken up but stayed in the sport after being examined by the coaching staff.

“Everything's fine. Just a little confused,” Soderstrom said. “No problems.”

— The A's hit their seventieth double play of the season within the sixth inning. They entered the sport trailing Colorado by one point for the main league lead.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jose Siri made a terrific catch early within the ninth inning and singled within the second half to attain the game-winning run within the Tampa Bay Rays' 4-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday night.

Amed Rosario hit a double against Michael Kelly (2-2) within the ninth inning, reached third base on Alex Jackson's sacrifice bunt and scored on Siri's hit.

Pete Fairbanks (1-2) survived the ninth inning after allowing a leadoff double to Miguel Andújar. He retired the subsequent three batters with balls that every one reached 102.3 mph or more, including Zack Gelof's 107.7 mph faster drive to center that Siri caught with a leaping catch.

The Athletics (23-34) won the primary game of the series, making Thursday's day game the deciding game of the series.

Andújar hit a sacrifice fly within the fourth inning and gave the Athletics a 2-1 lead with an RBI infield single within the sixth inning. He hit a three-run homer in Oakland's 3-0 victory over the Rays on Tuesday night.

Max Schuemann was on second base when JJ Bleday hit a single to left within the eighth inning. After receiving the signal to try and rating, he stopped and returned to 3rd base as left fielder Randy Arozarena threw to the plate. When Jackson threw to second to take Bleday out of the sport, Schuemann charged to the plate and scored, tying Oakland at 3-3.

Isaac Paredes had an RBI double within the seventh inning to offer Tampa Bay a 3-2 lead.

Tampa Bay tied the sport at 2-2 with a run-scoring single by pinch-hitter Jonathan Aranda within the sixth inning. The inning ended when Arozarena was thrown out by Scott Alexander on a direct try and steal the house run while Jackson, who’s currently hitting 0-for-25, was at bat.

The Rays tied the sport 1-1 within the fourth inning with Brandon Lowe's RBI triple against Joey Estes.

Estes, in his fourth start this season and sixth overall, allowed one run and two hits in five innings. Rays starter Ryan Pepiot allowed two runs, three hits and struck out seven players in 5 2/3 innings.

The game was halted for about 10 minutes when umpire Brian O'Nora left the sector and an out was called within the fifth inning. O'Nora seemed to be affected by cold symptoms early on and was hit within the mask by a foul ball within the fourth inning.

Second base umpire Derek Thomas replaced O'Nora on the plate.

TRAINING ROOM

Athletics: 1B JD Davis, who left the sector Tuesday night with a bruised hand after being hit by a pitch, didn’t play but didn’t go on the injured list.

Rays: INF prospect Junior Caminero (quadriceps strain) was placed on the injured list from Triple-A Durham and is predicted to miss 4 to 6 weeks.

NEXT

A's LHP Kyle Muller (0-1, 3.48 ERA) is scheduled to make his first start of the season on Thursday after 13 relief appearances. Rays LHP Tyler Alexander (2-3, 6.06 ERA) is scheduled to begin or replace an opener.

And then there have been two.

The Athletics placed Opening Day starter Alex Wood on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to rotator cuff tendonitis, where the veteran left-hander will join Paul Blackburn (metatarsal stress response) and Joe Boyle (lower back strain).

In an 8-4 loss at Seattle on Sunday, Wood struck out a season-low two innings, with each manager Mark Kotsay and Wood acknowledging there was a difficulty along with his shoulder. Wood returned home for a health care provider's visit and an MRI.

It is unknown how much time Wood is predicted to miss. Kotsay is predicted to talk to the media before the A's tackle the Houston Astros within the third game of a four-game series at Minute Maid Park.

The A's also signed right-hander Aaron Brooks from the Las Vegas roster and promoted left-hander Hogan Harris for the second time this season. Brooks is the scheduled starter Wednesday night against Houston.

Brady Basso, a left-hander who was called up from Double-A Midland on Tuesday as a long-term “just in case” backup, was sent back to Triple-A Las Vegas. Additionally, shortstop Darell Hernaiz (ankle) was placed on the 60-day injured list.

Brooks can be just the third pitcher outside of the unique rotation to start out for the A's, joining Joey Estes and Osvaldo Bido. With Wood on the sidelines alongside Blackburn and Boyle, JP Sears and Ross Stripling were the one starters remaining on the schedule.

The 33-year-old Wood has struggled to return to form after playing an unfamiliar role as a starter and backup under Gabe Kapler with the Giants last season. He pitched five innings or more just 4 times in nine starts, with a 5.26 earned run average.

Additionally, Wood's strike zone command, a strength in his good years, was an issue. He has a 62 percent strike rate, in comparison with 68 percent in 2022 as a Giant, and has averaged greater than 19 pitches per inning. In 2021, Wood thrived by staying one step ahead of hitters and inducing early soft-contact outs, throwing just 12.7 pitches per inning.

Harris, 27, was called up earlier this month and pitched 5 1/3 innings against Texas on May 7. He pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up eight hits and 4 earned runs with one walk and five strikeouts. He pitched 4 scoreless innings in his return to Las Vegas on Sunday and might be a starting candidate given the rotational injuries.

The Athletics arrived in Houston on Monday night in an unfamiliar situation, holding a three-game lead over the struggling fourth-place Astros.

The final result was all too familiar: Houston hit two home runs from Alex Bregman and a two-run double within the eighth inning to beat the A's 9-2 at Minute Maid Park.

Houston, the six-time American League West champion within the last seven years, improved to 16-25 and the A's improved to 19-24 after the primary game of a four-game series.

The Astros, who scored six runs within the seventh and eighth innings, have won 11 of their last 14 games against the A's in Houston and 17 of the last 21 overall.

“They had extra runs, which we've been able to prevent for most of this season, but not in the last few days,” A's manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. “These guys are professional batsmen, they have a strong line-up and if you make a mistake you will be punished.”

Bregman hit a solo home run for Houston within the fourth inning, his second of the season, and added his third within the seventh off reliever Mitch Spence to make the rating 4-2.

Houston opened the sport with 4 runs within the eighth inning, with Bregman hitting a two-run double off reliever Easton Lucas and Victor Caritini adding one other two-run double down the left field line.

The A's helped tie the rating for Houston within the inning with a walk by Lucas and an infield error by shortstop Max Schuemann.

Houston scored within the seventh to make it 5-2 when Jose Altuve hit a single off Jake Meyers, who walked, stole second and advanced to 3rd on a throwing error by catcher Shea Langeliers.

Starter Ross Stripling (1-7) pitched five innings, giving up 4 hits and three runs — two earned — with two walks and a strikeout. His counterpart, Spencer Arrighetti (1-4), also pitched five innings and yielded five hits and two runs, each earned with two walks and five strikeouts.

“We're certainly aware of the Astros' record, but it doesn't appear to be their offense,” Stripling said. “We poked the bear a little bit with Bregman and hope we didn’t get him going too much today.”

Houston, which scored within the second on an RBI groundout by Jon Singleton and within the third on a run-scoring double by Kyle Tucker, added one other rating within the third on a solo home run by Bregman off Stripling to go up 3-1 within the lead within the fourth.

The Athletics edged Arighetti within the fourth when Brent Rooker doubled down the road within the run and Tyler Soderstrom scored with a single to left center. In the fifth, the A's made it 3-2 when JJ Bleday brought home Abraham Toro, who had walked and stolen second base, with a double.

The A's tied it within the eighth after Soderstrom Rooker doubled to 3rd with two outs, but Pressly, trailing 3-1, got here back and struck out Seth Brown.

Remarkable

– Stripling acknowledged the A's are feeling the pressure of losing Paul Blackburn, Alex Wood and Joe Boyle to injuries.

“A turnaround in the rotation where we lost Boyle, Blackburn and Woody,” Stripling said. “Me and JP (Sears) were joking about how we were pitching in a bubble and just trying to stay healthy. That’s a difficult turn of events when you’ve played the same five for over a month and lost three of them.”

– Esteury Ruiz, who led the majors with 67 stolen bases last season, is struggling in that area in a part-time role. Ruiz, filling in for Brett Harris firstly of the seventh, was ejected by Caritini during a steal attempt on backup Bryan Abreu. Ruiz has 4 stolen bases and has been ejected 4 times this season.

— The Athletics committed three errors, giving them 34 this season.

OAKLAND – Joe Boyle and two reserves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Athletics played a generally efficient offensive game with a 5-1 victory on the Coliseum on Monday night, opening a 10-game homestand.

The paid attendance was 3,528, the fourth time in 14 home games that the A's drew fewer than 4,000 fans.

Tyler Nevin hit a solo home run for the A's in the primary inning, his third of the season.

The A's improved to 13-17. They didn't win their thirteenth game in 2023 until June sixth, after they were 13:50. Pittsburgh fell to 14-16.

Boyle (2-4) was effectively wild in five innings with 4 walks and 4 strikeouts, throwing 91 pitches, lower than half of which (45) were strikes. Boyle had two wild pitches in the primary inning with just 10 hits in 26 pitches and threw a ball into the backstop with no runner on board.

Nevertheless, the damage was minimal.

“It was the most important part of the game,” Boyle said. “Set the tone for the rest of the trip. It was important to get out there and settle in, and I think that put them on their heels a little bit.”

A's manager Mike Kotsay would favor Boyle to not continue to exist the fringes as much as he does.

“He got through it,” Kotsay said. “I give the kid credit for going on and getting through five innings after showing a lot of character the first time. Command is a struggle for him and it will be an ongoing process to get him in the zone as much as possible in his supporting work and in the bullpen and make him a focal point.”

The only run the Pirates scored in the primary got here when Ke'Bryan Hayes scored on a wild pitch. Hayes led off the sport with a ground single to right.

“I looked it up in the sixth or seventh and they still only had one hit and I didn’t actually remember the hit,” Nevin said. “That also keeps us in rhythm at the plate. It’s very complementary baseball.”

Pittsburgh would only rating yet another hit the remaining of the evening, with Dany Jimenez getting zeros within the sixth and seventh innings and Michael Kelly within the eighth and ninth innings. Oneil Cruz singled off Kelly within the ninth, however the A's ended things with a groundball double play.

Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter (2-2) was out after five innings in favor of Roansy Contreras, giving up five earned runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. The hardest-hit ball got here from Nevin, whose home run to left-center traveled 404 feet at 102.8 mph in the primary.

The Athletics took a 3-1 lead within the fourth inning against Falter, with an inning that might warm the guts of any execution-oriented hitting coach.

Brent Rooker led off with a line single to center and was doubled to 3rd base by Abraham Toro, who found open space in right-center.

Shea Langeliers was next and flew deep enough up the center to attain Rooker, and Max Schuemann hit a liner to left that put Toro home.

Things continued in the underside of the fifth when Darell Hernaiz hit a single and was sacrificed to second base by Nick Allen. That put him in position to attain with a double against Esteury Ruiz's left field fence. After Ruiz stole the third, Nevin hit the A's third sacrifice fly in two innings to provide Falter a 5-1 lead.

A number of what’s happening is pitching and defense, however the offense helped us rating enough runs,” Kotsay said. “To be a successful offensive team, we have to do those things right and extend leads, which is another area we've struggled with.”

Nevin added a bloop single to his home run and sacrifice fly and is within the midst of a seven-game hitting streak. He is batting .310 with an OPS of .802 in 23 games.

“I try to keep the same routine, not do too much and just remember what made me feel good and ride that wave,” Nevin said. “I try to have a good shot every time and stack them.”