The All-Star Shootout
08/26/2021By: Jeff Yoder
Good Morning,
It’s a mid-week change of pace with a stunner in the MLS All-Star Game and a Little League World Series no-hitter. The second event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs is about to tee off. Big things on the way this weekend.
Letter Rip!
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MLS
Pepi’s PK Wins MLS All-Star Game
Screenshot: MLS
MLS All-Stars Defeat Liga MX All-Stars in Penalty Shootout (1-1, 3-2 PKs)
The historic MLS All-Star Game featuring the best players from the top two leagues in North America lived up to the billing. In front of fans at LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium, the team from Mexico tried to avenge Mexico’s 1-0 loss to the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final and got on the board first with a goal in the 20th minute from Jonathan Rodríguez.
However, shortly after halftime, a pair of hometown favorites connected as Jesús Murillo scored on a header from a David Atuesta corner and the two LAFC players leveled the score. Despite scoring chances for both sides, neither could break the deadlock, leading to an always dramatic penalty shootout.
After each team converted their first penalty, New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Turner made a big save and Sporting Kansas City striker Dániel Sallói scored to give the MLS a 2-1 advantage. Each team then missed their next two penalties through a combination of impressive stops and errant attempts.
The Liga MX All-Stars tied things up at 2-2, leaving the final penalty to be taken by 18-year-old Ricardo Pepi. The FC Dallas youngster drilled his kick off the underside of the crossbar and in, giving the MLS All-Stars a 3-2 win in the shootout. Pepi was the hero, but New England goalkeeper Matt Turner won the MLS All-Star Game MVP.
Watch: MLS All-Star Game Shootout Highlights
Additional Storylines
Bleacher Report: MLS Tops Liga MX on Penalties to Win 2021 MLS All-Star Game
FOX Sports: MLS & Liga MX: The ‘Best (Soccer) League in the World’ Forming Soon?
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LLWS
Fear the Weir
Photo: Screenshot from LLWS
South Dakota’s Star Pitcher Gavin Weir Tosses 2nd No-Hitter of LLWS
The Sioux Falls, SD Little League has been one of the biggest stories of this year’s Little League World Series, with much of the attention centered around ace pitcher Gavin Weir. Weir tossed 5 ⅔ innings no-hit ball in the team’s opening game against Louisiana before teammate Cason Mediger finished the combined no-hitter.
On Wednesday, in the team’s third game, Weir was back on the mound, and this time he did it all himself, throwing another no-hitter and striking out 14 as his team defeated California 1-0.
Watch: Gavin Weir Ks 14 in Epic LLWS No-Hitter
South Dakota (3-0) now advances to the Tom Seaver bracket championship, where they’ll play the winner of California-Ohio on Saturday. The winner of that game plays in the overall championship on Sunday. However, due to his pitch count and required rest, Weir will be ineligible to pitch in either of those games.
In the Hank Aaron bracket, Hawaii shut out Michigan 2-0 to advance to the finals, where they will play the winner of Michigan and Texas. The Little League World Series nears its final four, and the stakes ramp up in Williamsport.
LLWS Schedule (Today)
Texas vs. Michigan (3:00 pm ET)
Ohio vs. California (7:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
USA Today: South Dakota ace Gavin Weir throws his second no-hitter in 2021 Little League World Series
Star-Advertiser: Honolulu shuts out Michigan to move 1 win away from Little League World Series title game
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PGA
FedEx Cup Playoffs: Round 2
Photo: Rob Carr / Getty Images
The BMW Championship Tees Off Today for 2nd of 3 FedEx Cup Playoff Events
Event No. 2 incoming. The FedEx Cup Playoffs roll on with the second event in the three-week postseason. The PGA playoff heads to Owings Mills, Maryland for the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club, and the stakes get even higher. Tony Finau won the Northern Trust to open the playoffs and leapfrog to the top of the standings while 55 golfers were sent home. This weekend’s tournament will determine the final order for starting strokes heading into the PGA Championship at East Lake next week. Here’s where they stand before the final field of 70 tees off today.
FedEx Cup Standings
1. T. Finau (3,348 points)
2. J. Rahm (2,763 points)
3. C. Smith (2,739 points)
4. P. Cantlay (2,302 points)
5. J. Thomas (2,218 points)
Tee Times (Notable Players)
10:28 AM: D. Johnson, D. Berger, S. Scheffler
10:57 AM: X. Schauffele, B. Koepka, V. Hovland
11:21 AM: T. Finau, J. Rahm, C. Smith
1:31 PM: J. Spieth, H. English, B. DeChambeau
1:43 PM: J. Thomas, P. Cantlay, C. Morikawa
1:55 PM: R. McIlroy, B. Horschel, S. Im
*All Times Eastern
Additional Storylines
CBS Sports: BMW Championship Odds, Picks & Predictions
Golf Digest: What Makes Caves Valley, Set for Its PGA Tour Debut, a Golf ‘Fairytale Land’
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
️ MLB: Miguel Sano Blasts 495-Foot HR
Twins’ slugger Miguel Sano crushed a hanging slider over the green monster in Fenway for a statcast-measured 495-foot home run — the longest homer this season in the majors.
WNBA: Mercury’s Big 3 Ball Out
Wednesday’s lone WNBA matchup was a one-sided affair between the Mercury and Liberty (106-79). The Mercury’s three stars — Skylar Diggins-Smith (27), Britney Griner (26) and Diana Taurasi (21) — combined for 74 points to nearly outscore New York by themselves. It was Phoenix’s fifth straight win.
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THE STORYLINES
️ O’s Avoid Historic Losing Streak
The Baltimore Orioles were just a few minutes from their 20th consecutive loss, putting them shoulder-to-shoulder with their 1988 brethren who lost an American League record 21 straight, when a terrible Los Angeles Angels bullpen interceded on their behalf. (USA Today)
Biggest Winners & Losers of NFL Training Camps
NFL training camps are still ongoing, but with a month of practices and most preseason games now in the books, some players and teams are emerging as clear winners and losers. The regular season kickoff is just two weeks away, so here’s what we know. (Bleacher Report)
️ Top Transfer Targets Before Deadline Day
There’s less than one week before the summer transfer window closes for 2021, meaning all the big clubs are racing to fill gaps in the squad. There are storylines everywhere, from Kylian Mbappe to Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo to Erling Haaland. So who lands where? (ESPN)
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THE HEADLINES
L.A. Rams Trade for Patriots RB Sony Michel
(Bleacher Report)
Serena Williams Pulls Out of US Open With Hamstring Injury
(USA Today)
Harry Kane Says He’ll Stay at Tottenham After Manchester City’s Failed Transfer Bid
(CBS Sports)
ESPN Eyeing Michael Irvin to Combat Stephen A. Smith on ‘First Take’
(Yahoo! Sports)
No. 3 Basketball Recruit Emoni Bates Commits to Memphis
(ESPN)
Seahawks TE Luke Willson Announces Retirement After Offseason Health Issues
(NBC Sports)
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READER POLL
Question of the Day
Which NFL quarterback on a new team do you think will have the best season in 2021?
Los Angeles Rams
Indianapolis Colts
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
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