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Associated Press
9 minutes ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Nick Martinez and Spencer Steer just miss making history in Reds' 8-1 win over Padres
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds were on the verge of making history twice Friday night against the San Diego Padres. Nick Martinez was three outs away from becoming the 18th pitcher in Reds franchise history to toss a no-hitter, and first baseman Spencer Steer was one swing away from becoming the second Reds player to homer four times in a game. But, both Martinez and Steer fell short. It was still a memorable night at Great American Ball Park as Cincinnati beat San Diego 8-1 for their eighth win in 12 games. Martinez (5-8) didn't allow a hit until pinch-hitter Elias Diaz doubled off the left-center field wall in the ninth. Martinez matched his career high with 112 pitches. He walked two and struck out six before giving way to Taylor Rogers, who sealed the win. Martinez retired 22 straight batters between a walk in the first inning and another to Trenton Brooks to start the ninth. It was the longest no-hit bid against the Padres since Arizona's Tyler Gilbert completed the feat on Aug. 14, 2021. 'That's as nervous as I've been in a long, long time,' Reds manager Terry Francona said. 'They say good things happen to good people. What he did this week going to the bullpen. He deserved that.' It was a far cry from Martinez's last start on June 19, when he allowed seven earned runs in 2 2/3 innings in a 12-5 loss to the Twins. His next two appearances came in relief, tossing three scoreless innings. 'My last start, focus wasn't quite there, got shelled, which isn't fun,' the 34-year-old right-hander said. 'Coming out of the pen allowed me to simplify things. It definitely helped me tonight.' Martinez came within three outs of the first no-hitter by a Reds pitcher since Wade Miley on May 7, 2021, in a 3-0 win at Cleveland. Steer homered in the second inning and again in the fourth off Padres right-hander Dylan Cease. He then hit a two-run homer in the fifth off lefty Yuki Matsui. He came to bat leading off the eighth and struck out on a 3-2 pitch from David Morgan. 'With the score being 8-0 and it being the eighth inning, I can say that for the first time in my life, I didn't want to walk,' Steer said. 'I was trying to give myself a chance to hit a fourth. You never know how many opportunities you'll get at that.' It's the first career three-homer game for Steer, who has nine homers this season. The only other Reds player to go deep four times in a game was Scooter Gennett on June 6, 2017, against the Cardinals, also at Great American Ball Park. Steer said his golf game on Thursday's off day offered no indication that he'd have a big day at the plate on Friday. 'I shanked every shot I hit in the front nine,' he said, smiling. Following his third homer, Steer refused to grant the crowd's request for a curtain call. 'He's so humble, he wasn't comfortable coming out,' Francona said. 'Part of me thinks it's cool that he's so modest that he just doesn't want to do it.' The possibility of a no-hitter and a four-homer game on the same night seemed unlikely, until Friday. 'That would have been one hell of a night,' Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
20 minutes ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Centrist Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska won't seek reelection
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican who represents Nebraska's second district with its so-called 'blue dot' that includes many progressive voters around Omaha, will not seek reelection. That's according to a person familiar with his plans and granted anonymity to discuss them Friday. Bacon is known as an independent-minded Air Force veteran who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and has been at the center of many debates in Congress. He has also been chairman of the conservative-centrist Republican Main Street Caucus in the House. First elected in 2016, he won reelection in 2024, is expected to finish his term. Punchbowl News was first to report Bacon's expected decision.
Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Smith and Diaz hit 3-run homers as Astros beat Cubs 7-4, extend win streak to 5 games
HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in his first game against the Cubs since being traded to Houston and Brandon Walter threw six solid innings in his first MLB victory as the Astros beat Chicago 7-4 on Friday night. Yainer Diaz added a three-run homer as AL West-leading Houston extended its winning streak to five games. The Astros scored four runs in the third off Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-2), with Jose Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini before Diaz capped the inning with his 377-foot shot to left-center. Smith, a first-round draft selection by Chicago last year was acquired by the Astros in the offseason as part of the deal for Kyle Tucker, extended Houston's lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his home run off the left field façade, his sixth of the season. Smith had two hits and scored two runs. Walter (1-1), a 28-year-old left-hander, allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Josh Hader got the final out for his 22nd save. Jeremy Peña exited in the fifth with left rib soreness. He was hit by a pitch in his left side in the second. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury. Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Matt Shaw added a two-run double in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth for NL Central-leading Chicago. Horton allowed seven runs on eight hits with four walks in four innings. Tucker was hitless in his return to Houston. He kept the game scoreless in the first, throwing Isaac Paredes out at the plate to end the frame. Key moment Hader inducing a lineout to center by Ian Happ to end it with Tucker, representing the tying run, on deck. Key stat Houston has its second five-game winning streak for the month of June, and improved to an MLB-best 18-6 this month. Up next Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts the second game of the three-game series Saturday. Houston has not named a starter. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
35 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Jury set to begin deliberating in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial. Here's what to know
NEW YORK (AP) — For seven weeks, a jury in Manhattan has listened as prosecutors laid out a criminal sex trafficking and racketeering case against rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs. They heard his ex-girlfriends and other witnesses deliver shocking accounts of violence and drug-fueled sexual marathons. On Monday, jurors are set to begin deliberating, ultimately deciding whether Combs was running a criminal enterprise, as the government says, or — as his lawyer insists — merely living a swinger lifestyle that included recreational drug use and, regrettably, domestic violence. The answer will determine the future of one of the biggest music moguls and cultural figures of the past four decades. If convicted, Combs, 55, would face 15 years to life in prison. Here's what to know about the case: What are the charges? The three-time Grammy Award winner has pleaded not guilty to five felony charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors say Combs coerced women into abusive sex parties involving hired male sex workers, ensured their compliance with drugs like cocaine and threats to their careers, and silenced victims through blackmail and violence that included kidnapping, arson and beatings. 'He's the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said in her closing arguments on Thursday. Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, portrayed the Bad Boys Records founder as the victim of overzealous prosecutors who exaggerated elements of his lifestyle and recreational drug use to bring charges that resulted in what he called a 'fake trial.' What is racketeering? The most serious charge, racketeering conspiracy, alleges that Combs ran a criminal enterprise for two decades that relied on bodyguards, household staff, personal assistants and others in his orbit to facilitate and cover up crimes. Federal prosecutors brought the charge under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO. Congress passed the federal law in 1970 with the declared purpose of targeting organized crime, but its use has been more widespread. To prove the charge, prosecutors must show that an enterprise existed and was involved in a pattern of racketeering activity. In this case, that alleged activity includes kidnapping, arson, bribery and sex trafficking. Key pieces of evidence Early in the trial, prosecutors showed jurors 2016 security video of Combs beating and kicking his former longtime girlfriend Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel. Cassie, an R&B singer whose legal name is Casandra Ventura, testified the assault took place as she was trying to leave one of the sexual encounters, which witnesses say he referred to as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights.' Jurors saw numerous explicit clips of such encounters, some involving Cassie and others involving a later girlfriend who was identified only by the the pseudonym 'Jane.' Both women took the stand. Cassie testified over four days that she participated in hundreds of the events with paid sex workers while she and Combs were in a relationship from 2007 until 2018, often feeling like she didn't have a choice. She sued Combs in 2023, alleging years of abuse. He settled within hours, and dozens of similar lawsuits followed. Jane testified over six days that she was romantically involved with Combs from 2021 until his September arrest at a New York hotel, and that she, too, felt forced to have sex with the hired strangers in multiday sex marathons while Combs watched. The Associated Press doesn't generally identify people who say they are victims of sexual abuse unless they come forward publicly, as Cassie has done. Testimony also included hours of text message exchanges, some of which involved Combs or other people in his orbit, that were read aloud by a Homeland Security Investigations agent. In all, 34 people took the stand, all of them called by the prosecution. Combs did not testify. How will jury deliberations work? Judge Arun Subramanian will give instructions to the jurors on Monday before sending them off to deliberate inside the Manhattan federal courthouse. The jury of 8 men and 4 women must unanimously decide guilty or not guilty on each count. That means all 12 jurors must agree. If jurors don't reach an agreement, they could come back and say they are deadlocked. Traditionally, the judge would then encourage them to continue deliberating, but if they can't reach a consensus, it would be up to the judge to decide whether to declare a mistrial.
Associated Press
39 minutes ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Collier scores 26 points, Lynx use challenges in OT to top Dream, who rallied after weather delay
COLLEGE PARK, Ga. (AP) — Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and the Minnesota Lynx successfully challenged two foul calls in the last minute of overtime to beat Atlanta 96-92 on Friday night in a game that saw the Dream rally after a weather-related delay in the second quarter. The Lynx were up 92-90 when challenges reversed foul calls on Atlanta drives with 54.8 and 20.5 seconds to go. Kayla McBride then made four free throws in the last 17.5 seconds to secure the win. McBride scored 18 points for the Lynx (13-2) to surpass 5,000 for her career. Courtney Williams added 16 points and Bridget Carleton 14. Minnesota made 13 3-pointers and 17 of 18 free throws. Brionna Jones had 18 points, Allisha Gray scored 17 and Brittney Griner 16 for the balanced Dream (10-6). Rhyne Howard added 15 points, Jordan Canada had 14 and reserve Naz Hillmon 10. Atlanta had a season-high 52 points in the paint to 24 for Minnesota. After missing two games, Collier helped the Lynx get off to a strong start. Her basket — giving her 13 points — pushed the lead to 45-28 midway through the second quarter. But moments later the lights flickered off and on in the Gateway Center Arena, the result of severe thunderstorms outside. The game was delayed for eight minutes. When play resumed, the Dream were a different team, outscoring the Lynx 38-15, with Canada's back-to-back shots push the lead to 66-60 with 3:50 left in the third quarter. The Lynx recovered to take a 69-68 lead after three quarters. The Dream led by seven in the fourth quarter. Collier's free throws tied the score at 86 with 21 seconds left in regulation and Atlanta didn't get a good look on the final shot. ___ AP WNBA:
