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Deadspin | Rafael Devers homers to power Giants past Pirates  May 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) looks toward the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images   Robbie Ray threw six effective innings, Luis Arraez broke open a close game with a two-run single in the seventh and the San Francisco Giants opened a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-2 victory Friday night.  Rafael Devers homered, singled and scored twice for the Giants, who had lost eight of their previous nine games.  After Devers and Pittsburgh’s Marcell Ozuna traded solo homers in the early going, San Francisco took the lead for good against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Heliot Ramos.  The homers were the fourth of the season for both Devers and Ozuna.  The score remained 2-1 until Drew Gilbert drove in Willy Adames with a single in the seventh. Three batters later, Arraez stroked his single to right, sending Gilbert and Ramos home to complete San Francisco’s scoring.  Ray (3-4) left a 2-1 game after throwing 93 pitches in his six innings. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out seven in ending a personal three-game losing streak.  After Keaton Winn and Matt Gage threw a hitless inning apiece, the Pirates made things interesting against Caleb Kilian in the ninth.   Pittsburgh got within 5-2 on a one-out, RBI single by pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz, before Kilian got Brandon Lowe to pop up and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn to ground to third when both represented the potential tying run.  In losing for the third time in his last four starts, Mlodzinski allowed just two runs and seven hits in his six innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.  Adames, Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee joined Devers with two hits apiece for the Giants, whose 12 hits were the team’s most since 13 in a 10-inning loss at Philadelphia last Thursday.  Ozuna added a single to his home run for the Pirates, who totaled just five hits. The loss was just Pittsburgh’s second in its last seven games.  The homers by Devers and Ozuna, and a double by Ramos, were the only extra-base hits of the contest.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Rafael #Devers #homers #power #Giants #Pirates

Deadspin | Rafael Devers homers to power Giants past Pirates
Deadspin | Rafael Devers homers to power Giants past Pirates  May 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) looks toward the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images   Robbie Ray threw six effective innings, Luis Arraez broke open a close game with a two-run single in the seventh and the San Francisco Giants opened a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-2 victory Friday night.  Rafael Devers homered, singled and scored twice for the Giants, who had lost eight of their previous nine games.  After Devers and Pittsburgh’s Marcell Ozuna traded solo homers in the early going, San Francisco took the lead for good against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Heliot Ramos.  The homers were the fourth of the season for both Devers and Ozuna.  The score remained 2-1 until Drew Gilbert drove in Willy Adames with a single in the seventh. Three batters later, Arraez stroked his single to right, sending Gilbert and Ramos home to complete San Francisco’s scoring.  Ray (3-4) left a 2-1 game after throwing 93 pitches in his six innings. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out seven in ending a personal three-game losing streak.  After Keaton Winn and Matt Gage threw a hitless inning apiece, the Pirates made things interesting against Caleb Kilian in the ninth.   Pittsburgh got within 5-2 on a one-out, RBI single by pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz, before Kilian got Brandon Lowe to pop up and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn to ground to third when both represented the potential tying run.  In losing for the third time in his last four starts, Mlodzinski allowed just two runs and seven hits in his six innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.  Adames, Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee joined Devers with two hits apiece for the Giants, whose 12 hits were the team’s most since 13 in a 10-inning loss at Philadelphia last Thursday.  Ozuna added a single to his home run for the Pirates, who totaled just five hits. The loss was just Pittsburgh’s second in its last seven games.  The homers by Devers and Ozuna, and a double by Ramos, were the only extra-base hits of the contest.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Rafael #Devers #homers #power #Giants #PiratesMay 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) looks toward the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Robbie Ray threw six effective innings, Luis Arraez broke open a close game with a two-run single in the seventh and the San Francisco Giants opened a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-2 victory Friday night.

Rafael Devers homered, singled and scored twice for the Giants, who had lost eight of their previous nine games.

After Devers and Pittsburgh’s Marcell Ozuna traded solo homers in the early going, San Francisco took the lead for good against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Heliot Ramos.

The homers were the fourth of the season for both Devers and Ozuna.

The score remained 2-1 until Drew Gilbert drove in Willy Adames with a single in the seventh. Three batters later, Arraez stroked his single to right, sending Gilbert and Ramos home to complete San Francisco’s scoring.

Ray (3-4) left a 2-1 game after throwing 93 pitches in his six innings. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out seven in ending a personal three-game losing streak.


After Keaton Winn and Matt Gage threw a hitless inning apiece, the Pirates made things interesting against Caleb Kilian in the ninth.

Pittsburgh got within 5-2 on a one-out, RBI single by pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz, before Kilian got Brandon Lowe to pop up and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn to ground to third when both represented the potential tying run.

In losing for the third time in his last four starts, Mlodzinski allowed just two runs and seven hits in his six innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.

Adames, Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee joined Devers with two hits apiece for the Giants, whose 12 hits were the team’s most since 13 in a 10-inning loss at Philadelphia last Thursday.

Ozuna added a single to his home run for the Pirates, who totaled just five hits. The loss was just Pittsburgh’s second in its last seven games.

The homers by Devers and Ozuna, and a double by Ramos, were the only extra-base hits of the contest.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rafael #Devers #homers #power #Giants #Pirates

May 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers (16) looks toward the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

Robbie Ray threw six effective innings, Luis Arraez broke open a close game with a two-run single in the seventh and the San Francisco Giants opened a three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 5-2 victory Friday night.

Rafael Devers homered, singled and scored twice for the Giants, who had lost eight of their previous nine games.

After Devers and Pittsburgh’s Marcell Ozuna traded solo homers in the early going, San Francisco took the lead for good against Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski (2-3) in the fourth on a two-out RBI single by Heliot Ramos.

The homers were the fourth of the season for both Devers and Ozuna.

The score remained 2-1 until Drew Gilbert drove in Willy Adames with a single in the seventh. Three batters later, Arraez stroked his single to right, sending Gilbert and Ramos home to complete San Francisco’s scoring.

Ray (3-4) left a 2-1 game after throwing 93 pitches in his six innings. He gave up four hits and four walks while striking out seven in ending a personal three-game losing streak.

After Keaton Winn and Matt Gage threw a hitless inning apiece, the Pirates made things interesting against Caleb Kilian in the ninth.

Pittsburgh got within 5-2 on a one-out, RBI single by pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz, before Kilian got Brandon Lowe to pop up and pinch-hitter Ryan O’Hearn to ground to third when both represented the potential tying run.

In losing for the third time in his last four starts, Mlodzinski allowed just two runs and seven hits in his six innings. He struck out one and didn’t walk anyone.

Adames, Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee joined Devers with two hits apiece for the Giants, whose 12 hits were the team’s most since 13 in a 10-inning loss at Philadelphia last Thursday.

Ozuna added a single to his home run for the Pirates, who totaled just five hits. The loss was just Pittsburgh’s second in its last seven games.

The homers by Devers and Ozuna, and a double by Ramos, were the only extra-base hits of the contest.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Rafael #Devers #homers #power #Giants #Pirates

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making  When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.  #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8  Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026  #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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