Nick Kurtz 4 Home Runs

Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz made baseball history Friday, becoming the first rookie ever to hit four home runs in a game.

Kurtz crushed his fourth homer off Houston Astros position player Cooper Hummel in the ninth inning.

That blast completed an incredible 6-for-6 night for Kurtz with four homers, five extra-base hits, and eight RBIs. His 19 total bases tied Shawn Green's MLB record from 2002. Green and Kurtz are the only players to record six hits and four home runs in the same game.

Kurtz is the 20th player in MLB history to hit four homers in a game, and the first Athletics hitter to do it.

Justin Jefferson hamstring injury

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson suffered a mild hamstring strain and will be held out of practice, head coach Kevin O'Connell announced Friday.

Jefferson will be re-evaluated next week.

"The best thing is we avoided anything serious," O'Connell said, according to ESPN's Kevin Seifert. "I see no concerns in regards to (Week 1) and have no worry at all that we'll be able to get Justin ready to go for the regular season."

Yankees land Ryan McMahon

The New York Yankees acquired third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Colorado Rockies for pitching prospects Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz, the clubs announced Friday.

The Yankees have been looking for help at the hot corner and had reportedly been eyeing McMahon for weeks. New York was also interested in Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, but there was a gap in trade talks, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network.

McMahon fills a defensive void for a New York team that's been error-prone of late, as he sits in the 91st percentile for outs above average. The left-handed hitter is slashing .217/.314/.403 with 16 home runs and 35 RBIs this season, but his 127 strikeouts are the most in the National League. The 30-year-old is also under contract through the 2027 campaign and is still owed $32 million over the final two years of his deal.

Seattle Mariners land Josh Naylor

The Seattle Mariners added some thump to their lineup Thursday, acquiring first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks for pitching prospects Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi.

"We are thrilled to add Josh as we make a push for the postseason," Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said. "Josh's ability to hit for both average and power is unique and we are excited not to have to face him anymore."

Naylor fills a glaring hole in his new team's lineup at first base. Mariners first basemen have been worth a combined 0.4 fWAR while hitting only 16 homers this season. Rowdy Tellez, Seattle's Opening Day starter at the position, was released in June.

Dylan Cease in demand



The market for Dylan Cease is taking shape with the July 31 trade deadline approaching fast.

The Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets have contacted the San Diego Padres about the talented right-hander, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The Padres entered Thursday's action in the NL's last wild-card spot. However, the club is reportedly listening to offers for Cease because he's slated to hit free agency this offseason. The 29-year-old is expected to be one of the top pitchers available during the winter.

Hurricanes sign Jackson Blake

The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Jackson Blake to an eight-year, $45-million extension that starts in the 2026-27 season, the club announced Thursday.

Blake recorded 17 goals with 17 assists for 34 points in his rookie campaign in 2024-25. He added another six points (three goals, three assists) across 15 playoff contests during the Hurricanes' run to the Eastern Conference Final.

The 21-year-old ranked first among NHL freshmen with six game-winning goals last season.

Blue Jays thump Tigers

Ernie Clement and Joey Loperfido hit back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning to help the surging Toronto Blue Jays rout the slumping Detroit Tigers 11-4 on Thursday night in a matchup of first-place teams going in opposite directions.

The AL East-leading Blue Jays have won 19 of their last 24 games, and the AL Central-leading Tigers have lost 10 of 11.

Judge rules NOT GUILTY for Canada Juniors

An Ontario judge acquitted five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team on Thursday in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant's allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges.

Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote.

All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in an encounter that took place in a London, Ontario, hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018. Years of speculation regarding the allegations — fueled by a lawsuit settlement, parliamentary hearings and revived investigations by the police and Hockey Canada, along with an NHL investigation — all preceded a complex trial earlier this year that included a mistrial and the dismissal of the jury, leaving the verdict to Carroccia.

Hulk Hogan passes away at 71

Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing, bicep-busting icon of professional wrestling who turned the sport into a massive business and stretched his influence into TV, pop culture and conservative politics during a long and scandal-plagued second act, died Thursday in Florida at age 71.

Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital less than 90 minutes after medics in Clearwater arrived at his home to answer a morning call about a cardiac arrest, police said.

Connor McDavid 700 Assists

 

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid notched his 700th career assist during his team's 3-1 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.

McDavid is the third-fastest player in NHL history to reach the milestone. Only Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux required fewer games.