Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam speaks after Game 6 win
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Game 2 win over Knicks, challenges still ahead
Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle met the media after his team took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals over the New York Knicks by winning two games on the road in Madison Square Garden. Carlisle discussed what went right in New York, and the challenges that are still ahead for his team as the series shifts to Indiana.
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New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
New day, same story: Reds lose game, series to Brewers
CINCINNATI — For a couple of hours, at least, it felt like the Cincinnati Reds had broken the curse of the Milwaukee Brewers. Tuesday night, the Reds scored in the last two innings off Brewers relievers, overcame what could've been a costly error, and ended the game with TJ Friedl robbing the score-tying home run. Not only that, but Andrew Abbott, who had allowed just a pair of earned runs during his six starts in May, was on the mound against an opener for the Brewers. Advertisement Everything was set up for the Reds to break their streak of 11 straight series losses to the Brewers, winners of the National League Central each of the last two seasons. But the Reds didn't, losing 9-1 in the series finale. Not only have the Brewers now won 12 straight series against the Reds, but they're also 42-16 against the Reds since July 16, 2021, and 24-9 against the Reds since the start of 2023. The Brewers are also 31-11 at Great American Ball Park since Aug. 24, 2019. 'I do think sitting and watching them play and the way that they play against us is a good thing to learn what it takes to win, defense, hitting, regardless of what it is,' Abbott said after the game. 'They have beaten us, and eventually it will turn around.' Abbott paused for a split second before adding, 'Hopefully.' It was that sense of hope that the Reds had Tuesday night. While Friedl's catch was replayed over and over, there were other signs: big opposite-field hits by Will Benson, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz; hits late in the game against the Brewers' bullpen; an actual comeback victory, something the team has struggled to put together. It was just the third win this year when the Reds were tied after six innings. 'People will say a spark or whatever, but to end the game like that (Tuesday), it's obviously something to build off of, just momentum going into (Wednesday) and a chance to win the series,' Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said following the game. Is this the dagger? #ATOBTTR — Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) June 4, 2025 That momentum stopped dead with Brewers opener DL Hall. The Reds are one of the league's best offensive teams against starters and one of the worst against relievers. Cincinnati's OPS against starters is .759 against starters, fifth-best in baseball, and .641 against relievers, 26th in baseball. 'We kind of talk about stuff like that,' Reds manager Terry Francona said. 'If I had an answer, we wouldn't be like that. It's not like everybody shuts it down. I'd like to figure that out better. I don't have an answer for you.' Neither does his team. 'Back in the day, it was beat the starter and let's get into the bullpen,' said Reds catcher Jose Trevino, who had three of the team's four hits on the day. 'You know, these guys are a good bullpen. I think we just keep taking pride in our craft, get as prepared as we can and go from there.' Advertisement None of the first 14 batters of the game reached base until the Brewers' No. 9 hitter, Brice Turang, doubled with two outs in the third. Andruw Monasterio singled him in, and then Jackson Chourio added another single. The Brewers didn't score again in the inning, but did make Abbott throw a total of 24 pitches in the inning — five more pitches than he threw in the first two innings combined. Trevino doubled to lead off the bottom of the third inning. And after a strikeout, Milwaukee's Hall walked No. 9 hitter McLain and then leadoff man Friedl, loading the bases with just one out for third baseman Santiago Espinal. 'That's probably a guy we'd like to hit when there's a lefty on the mound,' Francona lamented. Espinal hit a weak line drive to second for the second out, and then De La Cruz grounded out to end the threat, leaving the bases loaded. The Reds would get De La Cruz in scoring position two more times, but finished the game 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Abbott then allowed a pair of two-run home runs, the first to Brewers center fielder Chourio in the fifth and then to left fielder Daz Cameron in the sixth. Abbott allowed five runs, the most he's allowed in any start this season, but had his best fastball velocity of the season, averaging 93 mph. 'It was just two pitches: a cutter that didn't move that was middle of the plate to Chourio and then a changeup up to Cameron,' Abbott said. 'You know, in all fairness, they should hit those a long way. They didn't miss them.' Heading into an off day, the Reds are 30-32, four games behind the third-place Brewers, but seemingly further away on the field. The Reds left Great American Ball Park 9.5 games behind the Cubs for the NL Central lead. The Reds are seven games ahead of the floundering Pittsburgh Pirates, but unless something changes, it seems that's where they'll stay. Advertisement It didn't help that Hunter Greene was placed on the injured list for the second time this year before the game. Wade Miley, who was signed to step into Greene's spot in the rotation, gave up four runs in the last two innings of mop-up duty. Miley is scheduled to start Monday in Cleveland against the Guardians. 'The expectation of our team is to win,' Trevino said. 'Everybody in this clubhouse, we expect to win. We want to win. We're here to win. When we can't stack those Ws up there, it's frustrating.' And it's even more frustrating when the games are lost in the same way to the same team. 'They've got good arms — they've got good starters, they've got good bullpen arms. They're scrappy. They're a good team. They're a really good team. But I think we can play with them.' The question isn't whether the Reds can play with the Brewers; they've shown they can play with them — three of the Reds' five losses to the Brewers this season have been by one run. But beating the Brewers is another story. The script was similar to the first meeting between the two teams this season, with the Brewers winning the first game by a run (and the second in the four-game series in Milwaukee), the Reds making noise and seemingly confident in the penultimate game of both series, only for the final game to be as predictable as a Hallmark Channel movie. (Top photo of Terry Francona: Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
Fox News
11 minutes ago
- Fox News
Trans pitcher hits 2 doubles, throws another complete game to send team to Minnesota state championship
After a dramatic, walk-off win in Wednesday's semifinal, the Champlin Park Rebels are headed to the Minnesota High School Girls' Softball State Championship — and so is their transgender pitcher Marissa Rothenberger. After giving up two early runs in a shaky start, Rothenberger settled in and pitched a complete game to help No. 2-seeded Champlin Park edge past No. 6 White Bear Lake, 3-2, in the Class AAAA state semifinals. Rothenberger gave up seven hits and two runs (one earned) and struck out three in the effort. But it was Rothenberger's hitting that really sparked the comeback. The junior led off the fifth inning with a double that began Champlin Park's rally to tie the game at 2 apiece. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Rothenberger — who went 2-for-3 at the plate — opened the inning with another double. Rothenberger was replaced by a "courtesy runner," who eventually scored the game-winning run on a two-out, walk-off hit from junior outfielder Ava Parent. Champlin Park will face No. 4-seeded Bloomington Jefferson in the championship game on Friday at the University of Minnesota's Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Jefferson upset top-seeded Forest Lake earlier Wednesday. But while Champlin Park celebrated its walk-off win, the scene in the White Bear Lake dugout was far different. Many of the girls were visibly emotional, some in tears, as the reality of the season-ending loss set in. One player turned to her father and asked, "Why can't you do something?" No parents were willing to go on record, but OutKick spoke with two White Bear Lake dads in the stands who expressed deep frustration with the system that allowed their daughters to compete against a male athlete — namely, the Democrat politicians who prioritize ideology over fairness. "You're looking at a whole team of future Republicans," one man said. Another dad agreed, saying this might be an eye-opening experience for the parents: "They're like, "Oh, they're crushing my kid's dreams? Maybe I made the wrong choices." Despite President Donald Trump's executive order, the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) allows student-athletes to compete in events consistent with their gender identity, regardless of biological sex. MSHSL said that the eligibility of transgender student-athletes is "determined by state law, through the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Minnesota Constitution." Despite national governing bodies — like USA Softball and the NCAA — instituting female-only eligibility policies, such state-level laws create enforcement loopholes that leave parents and female athletes feeling helpless. And today in North Mankato, Minn., that helplessness was written all over the faces of the White Bear Lake players. As one girl walked off the field, her father met her behind the dugout. "That's not fair," she said. "That's Minnesota," he replied. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Raiders coordinator Patrick Graham embraces learning from Pete Carroll's defensive expertise
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Pete Carroll, like Antonio Pierce just a year prior, retained Patrick Graham as the Raiders' defensive coordinator even after both took over the program and largely cleaned house. Keeping Graham was a testament to the respect both coaches have for the job he has done in Las Vegas. The defense was Graham's to run as he saw fit under Pierce and Josh McDaniels before him, but how much autonomy he will have under Carroll is something to watch. Carroll is a defensive-minded head coach known for creating the famed Legion of Boom in Seattle that was pivotal to the Seahawks making back-to-back Super Bowls and winning one in a 43-8 blowout over Denver. 'Any time you get a chance to work with someone with that experience, that level of success, I couldn't be happier ... just in terms of to bounce ideas off of him and hear different ways of doing things,' Graham said after practice Wednesday. 'It's been really beneficial for my growth, if I'm being selfish. It's just something really good and positive for me. The track record, I mean, why wouldn't you listen? It's been great.' The Raiders likely are far from those great Seahawks defenses, but led by end Maxx Crosby, they aren't devoid of talent. This was a top-10 defense just two years ago, allowing 19.5 points per game. Even more was expected last year before that side of the ball was decimated by injuries beginning in training camp when pass rusher Malcolm Koonce suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Las Vegas gave up nearly an additional touchdown per game, dropping to a tie for 25th with Cincinnati. But even during those struggles, the Graham-led makeshift defense found a way to hold six consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points during one stretch in the season's second half. Now the challenge is fitting in new players after watching key components such as linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo and defensive backs Nate Hobbs and Tre'von Moehrig leave in free agency. There also is major concern about the rehabilitation setback of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whose return from a broken foot creates a noticeable shadow over the unit. That's why the 46-year-old Graham — who interviewed for Jacksonville's head coaching job in January — didn't make a big deal about the continuity his presence means to the team as the Raiders go through organized team activities. 'Each season is so different,' Graham said. 'You take a step back, look at and evaluate yourself, like, 'What did I do, what can I do better, what was good?' Then you look at the defense and see what was good, what was bad. Then you've got to look within the league and see what the trends are. Because if you don't stay ahead of it, you can get in trouble.' No matter the changes, be with the coaches or the players, Graham understands the importance of communication. It's something new Raiders linebacker Elandon Roberts quickly came to appreciate. 'When he talks, I'm just kind of zoned in on it,' Roberts said. 'I've spent a lot of time with PG. We only get a certain amount of time in the building, and shoot, I'm trying to pull up on PG at his house. 'I'm telling you, PG is the type of guy he wakes up in the morning, he thinks about football. He can be eating something, he's thinking about football.' Graham and Roberts kept missing each other until now. Graham was on New England's staff from 2009-15 and Roberts played for the Patriots from 2016-19. Then Graham was Miami's defensive coordinator in 2019 and Roberts played for the Dolphins from 2020-22. 'He was running from me,' Roberts said jokingly. 'I get out here and said, 'It's about time.'' And this is the time for teams, the Raiders included, to be optimistic. Many of the post-practice media questions reflected that mindset. Games will be played soon enough, and then Graham will know what kind of defense he has. There also should be more clarity on how he Carroll will work together. Graham was asked about Carroll multiple times, so it's clear that storyline isn't going away any time soon. 'You can see the energy he has and the ability to teach the position and coach the whole team,' Graham said. 'This has been really a great situation for myself, for the players, the coaches. We're watching a master teacher working at his craft and seeing it live and in person. This is really beneficial for us.' ___ AP NFL:
