Latest news with #grand slam
The Guardian
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Monica Seles adapting to ‘new normal' after being diagnosed with neuromuscular disease
Monica Seles says she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis – a neuromuscular autoimmune disease – three years ago. The nine-time grand slam singles champion says she first noticed symptoms of the disease while she was swinging her racket. 'I would be playing with some kids or family members, and I would miss a ball. I was like, 'Yeah, I see two balls.' These are obviously symptoms that you can't ignore,' Seles said. 'And, for me, this is when this journey started. And it took me quite some time to really absorb it, speak openly about it, because it's a difficult one. It affects my day-to-day life quite a lot.' Seles, who won her first major, the 1990 French Open, at the age of 16 and played her last match in 2003, said she was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis three years ago and is speaking publicly about it for the first time before this month's US Open to raise awareness of the condition. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke calls it 'a chronic neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the voluntary muscles' and 'most commonly impacts young adult women (under 40) and older men (over 60) but … can occur at any age, including childhood'. There is currently no known cure. The 51-year-old said she'd never heard of the condition until she was referred to a neurologist after noticing symptoms such as double vision and weakness in her arms – 'just blowing my hair out … became very difficult,' she said – and legs. 'When I got diagnosed, I was like, 'What?!'' said Seles. 'So this is where – I can't emphasize enough – I wish I had somebody like me speak up about it.' The disease can also cause difficulty in swallowing, speaking and affect facial expressions. It's been three decades since Seles returned to competition at the 1995 US Open, making it to the final, more than two years after she was stabbed at a tournament in Germany. 'The way they welcomed me … after my stabbing, I will never forget,' Seles said about the fans in New York. 'Those are the moments that stay with you.' Seles says she is learning to live a 'new normal' and characterized her health as another in a series of life steps that required adapting. 'I had to, in tennis terms, I guess, reset – hard reset – a few times. I call my first hard reset when I came to the US as a young 13-year-old [from Yugoslavia]. Didn't speak the language; left my family. It's a very tough time. Then, obviously, becoming a great player, it's a reset, too, because the fame, money, the attention, changes [everything], and it's hard as a 16-year-old to deal with all that. Then obviously my stabbing – I had to do a huge reset,' Seles said. 'And then, really, being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis: another reset. But one thing, as I tell kids that I mentor: 'You've got to always adjust. That ball is bouncing, and you've just got to adjust. And that's what I'm doing now.' Seles won nine grand slam singles titles during her playing career, with Wimbledon being the only major she missed out on, although she did reach the final in 1992. Her 178 weeks at No 1 is sixth all-time in WTA history.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mariners' Cal Raleigh joins historic company with grand slam vs. Tigers
The post Mariners' Cal Raleigh joins historic company with grand slam vs. Tigers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh continues to rewrite the record books with a historic first half of the 2025 MLB season. In the Mariners' 12-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers, Raleigh slugged two home runs, including a grand slam in the ninth inning, bringing his season total to 38 home runs, just one shy of Barry Bonds' all-time record of 39 before the All-Star break set in 2001. Raleigh's performance Friday night at Comerica Park was phenomenal. Facing Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and a team with the best record in the American League, the Mariners overcame a late-night arrival and recent sweep by the Yankees to secure a crucial win. Raleigh's 37th home run came in the eighth inning off Tyler Holton, a 383-foot solo shot with an exit velocity of 98.1 mph. His 38th was a grand slam off Brant Hurter, traveling 405 feet at 107.1 mph, putting the game out of reach. The switch-hitting All-Star has now homered from the right side of the plate 16 times this season and has hit multiple home runs in eight games, tying a Mariners franchise record held by Ken Griffey Jr. and matching Mickey Mantle's MLB record for most multi-homer games in a season by a switch-hitter. With 38 home runs, Raleigh not only leads all of Major League Baseball in homers but also in RBIs, tallying 81 through 94 games. He joins Yankees slugger Aaron Judge as the only two players with an OPS over 1.000 this season, Raleigh currently holds a .264/.377/.645 slash line, good for a 1.022 OPS. Raleigh's power surge this season has already placed him among the best. He passed Hall of Famer Johnny Bench for the most home runs by a catcher before the All-Star break with his 28th and 29th homers on June 20. He has now surpassed legends such as Chris Davis (37 in 2013), Mark McGwire (37 in 1998), and Reggie Jackson (37 in 1969) for the second-most home runs in the first half of a season. Friday's grand slam was the latest milestone in a breakout year that saw Raleigh sign a six-year, $105 million contract and earn a starting spot in the 2025 All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. He has six hits over his last 10 games, all home runs. The Mariners are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, sitting at 49-45 and holding down second place in the AL West, and Cal Raleigh has been a big reason for that. With just two games left before the All-Star break, he's got a real shot at topping Barry Bonds' legendary first-half home run record. Related: Mariners' Cal Raleigh has perfect reaction to latest HR feat Related: Mariners' Cal Raleigh puts Tigers away with home runs No. 37, 38 this season
CBS News
20-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Schwarber's grand slam, Harper's homer lead Philadelphia Phillies to win over Los Angeles Angels
Kyle Schwarber hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and Bryce Harper capped the scoring with a two-run homer in the eighth, carrying the Philadelphia Phillies to a 9-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night. Schwarber's shot to right field off reliever José Fermin was his eighth career grand slam and 32nd homer of the season. Taylor Ward and Jo Adell hit back-to-back home runs for the Angels in the fourth inning for a 3-1 lead that wouldn't stand after Los Angeles starter Yusei Kikuchi left after five solid innings. The Phillies ruined what could have been a big inning in the first, when Schwarber and Trea Turner got caught in rundowns and were tagged out on the same grounder by Harper. Nick Castellanos followed that with a two-out, RBI single for a 1-0 lead. Los Angeles turned it around in the fourth on Ward's and Adell's home runs. Zach Neto also plated a run with a single that inning, but the Angels left the bases loaded. The Phillies got a run back on Turner's RBI single in the fifth. Yoan Moncada hit a home run in the sixth to restore a two-run Los Angeles lead. Seth Johnson (1-0) struck out two in one inning of work. Sam Bachman (2-3) took the loss. Schwarber's 32nd homer in the sixth moved him into a tie for second in the National League with the Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani. Arizona's Eugenio Suárez hit two home runs Saturday, which gave him a league-leading 33. Harper has gone 12 for 24 over the past six games, with seven doubles and four home runs. The Phillies will go with lefty Ranger Suárez (7-3, 2.15 ERA) against the Angels' José Soriano (6-7, 3.90) in the Sunday series finale.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cal Raleigh has 2-homer day, reaches 38th home run this season in Mariners' win over Tigers
Cal Raleigh just can't stop hitting dingers — and making history. The Seattle Mariners catcher had another big game on Friday, hitting two home runs in the Mariners' 12-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Raleigh's two homers marked his 37th and 38th of the season — with the second one being a grand slam in the top of the ninth. Advertisement The latest tallies bring Raleigh within one home run of a stunning record: If Raleigh gets another homer this weekend, he will tie Barry Bonds for the most homers (39) before the All-Star break. (Bonds set the record in 2001; however, his association with MLB's steroids era has put an asterisk on many of his stats.) Raleigh has been on a tear this year, already tying his previous career high for home runs despite only being halfway through the season. In addition, Raleigh is one of few high-performing switch hitters in the league, and has hit a number of extra records as a result of that. Last month, the catcher became the first switch hitter to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break. Advertisement Friday's game was Raleigh's eighth multi-home run game this season, which has him tied with Mickey Mantle for most by a switch hitter in a season (1961). Raleigh still has 68 games this season to unseat Mantle — and possibly keep going. Raleigh has been well-rewarded as a result of his home run heroics: The catcher will be participating in his first All-Star Game and his first Home Run Derby next week. Now, though, he will have two more games against the Tigers to shoot for Bonds' record — and beyond. Long-term, Raleigh will be shooting for MLB's home run title. He currently leads Aaron Judge, who is in second with 34 home runs, by four homers; Shohei Ohtani is next on the list with 31.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Red Sox' Wilyer Abreu makes history with two firsts on 'very special' night
BOSTON — On any other night, hitting two homers in the same game would make for a pretty special achievement. And for one of those home runs to be a grand slam would make it even noteworthy. But to hit a grand slam and an inside-the-park homer in the same game? That would be history-making. Advertisement To put things in perspective, Wilyer Abreu had never hit an inside-the-park homer or a grand slam in his career. Then, he hit both within the span of a few innings. That's the kind of night he had Monday night. In a 13-6 rout of the Cincinnati Reds, the Red Sox right fielder circled the bases in the fifth inning on a ball that bounced around the triangle in right-center, then added a bases-loaded shot over the bullpen three innings later. 'When I hit the ball, I thought it was a home run,' said Abreu of the inside-the-park shot. 'When I saw that the ball was heading to the triangle, I thought the ball might not be (going out), so I started running hard and luckily, I was able to get an inside-the-parker.' Advertisement The ball struck the top railing of the Red Sox bullpen nearest center field and bounded away from Cincinnati center fielder T.J. Friedl. As Abreu motored past second, he could hear the crowd urging him on and then got waved home by third base coach Kyle Hudson, beating the relay throw home from shortstop Elly de la Cruz. 'I was screaming, 'Run!' from the get-go,' said Alex Cora. 'For some reason, it's the summer, it's hot, but (Fenway) doesn't play like back in the day; it doesn't. Me and (Jason Varitek), we've been talking about it the last couple of days. So when he hit it, he thought he had it (out), but I was yelling, 'Run!' Then after that, he did.' 'That's something that doesn't happen every day,' said Abreu. 'I saw the last time it happened (for a member of the Red Sox) was 2018 or something like that, so it was very special for me to be the one.' 'To me,' said teammate Trevor Story, 'it's one of the most exciting plays in the game. I'm jealous because I don't have one yet. I'm always rooting for it, and seeing the possibility of it off the bat...I knew he hit it to the deepest part. I was kind of telling him, 'Hey, let's go! Let's go!' because you never know what can happen out there. But he made it easily. He was in no hurry in the beginning, so he deserved that one. That was awesome.' Advertisement Abreu said he had never hit an inside-the-park homer at any level before. Asked which he enjoyed more - the inside-the-park homer or the grand slam, he equivocated some. 'Obviously, the inside-the-parker, but you get tired,' he said with a smile. 'So for me, if you hit the ball and just jog around the bases, it's better.' The Red Sox have been pushing Abreu to drive fastballs down in the zone, and Cincinnati reliever Connor Phillips threw him one in the eighth that Abreu didn't miss. 'He gets a lot of pitches, especially fastballs, and he fouls them straight back,' Cora said. 'There's been a lot of communication lately about who you are as a hitter and what we need to attack. It's getting to the point of the season that tendencies are out there and you know who you are. So far, it's been an outstanding season for him. It's been great.' Advertisement Abreu became the first Red Sox player since Eduardo Nunez on March 29, 2018 to hit an inside-the-park homer and the first to do so at Fenway since Jacoby Ellsbury on Sept. 19, 2011. He also became only the fifth player in baseball history to hit an inside-the-park homer and a grand slam, joining Everett Scott (1923) Charlie Gehringer (1930), Jim Tabor of the Red Sox (1939) and Roger Maris (1958). Monday marked the eighth time in Red Sox history that a player had hit an inside-the-park homer and a conventional homer in the same game, and the first since Pokey Reese on May 8, 2004. Since returning from an IL stint with an oblique strain, Abreu is hitting .324 with three homers and 13 RBI in 10 games. Advertisement '(The at-bats) have been incredible,' said Abreu. 'I feel very good since coming back from the IL and you can see the results.' Abreu has 16 homers this season, or more than he hit all of last year, his first full season in the big leagues. He's on pace to hit nearly 30, but doesn't want to get caught up in projections. 'We'll see at the end of the year, what the numbers say,' he said. 'Personally, I feel very comfortable at the plate, I feel healthy. I feel like the experience is helping me a little more to get some adjustments going.' 'He's just an impact bat,' said Story of Abreu. 'He can do it all, man. He's very simple at the plate, he's very repeatable (with his swing). When he's hitting four-seamers like that, he can be really dangerous. Advertisement 'He turned around 99 mph a couple of times tonight. He's got 16 and he's missed a couple weeks of games. Just shows you the impact of his bat. He's a big part of our team.' More Red Sox coverage Read the original article on MassLive.
