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THREE POINTS: Houston Dynamo begin road stretch on Wednesday in Seattle

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THREE POINTS: Houston Dynamo begin road stretch on Wednesday in Seattle

NEED TO KNOW:

 

Houston face Seattle for the first time since 2019

Five Houston Dynamo FC players to miss Wednesday’s match due to international duty

Dynamo return from international break on July 20 against Vancouver

 

HOUSTON – Houston Dynamo FC begin a three-game stretch away from BBVA Stadium on Wednesday when they face Seattle Sounders FC at Lumen Field. The Dynamo will take a break for the Concacaf Gold Cup and return to action on July 20 against the Vancouver Whitecaps and travel to Northern California on July 24 to face the San Jose Earthquakes.

 

Houston enters Wednesday’s game with a four-game unbeaten run after Saturday’s 1-1 draw with FC Cincinnati at BBVA Stadium. Tyler Pasher scored the fastest goal of the regular season for the Dynamo and gave Houston a 1-0 lead in the third minute. Houston conceded a few minutes later to split the points with their first rival from the Eastern Conference this season. Pasher will join four additional players at the Concacaf Gold Cup this month and will not be available for selection on Wednesday.

 

Dynamo midfielder Matias Vera will return to the gameday roster after serving a one-match suspension for yellow card accumulation last Saturday. The Dynamo will also have defender Teenage Hadebe available for selection and defender Griffin Dorsey may be eligible pending the receipt of his ITC certificate.

 

This is the first meeting between both sides since 2019 and Houston will look for their first victory in the all-time series away from home. Houston has only earned two points from 10 matches against the Sounders at Lumen Field.

 

The Dynamo return to action on July 20 against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Rio Tinto Stadium. Houston will remain on the road and travel to Northern California on July 24 to face the San Jose Earthquakes.

 

WHO: Houston Dynamo FC at Seattle Sounders FC

WHEN: Wednesday, July 7 – 8:00 p.m. CT

TV: QuestTexas ch. 55

Glenn Davis and Eddie Robinson

TeleXitos ch. 47.2

Alex Parra and Daniela Rodriguez

 

RADIO:  Spanish: TUDN Radio Houston 1010 AM

Daniel Mejia and Lester Gretsch

 

Here are three key points ahead of today’s game:

 

  1. MARIC KEY TO UNBEATEN RUN: Dynamo goalkeeper Marko Maric has tallied 15 saves in the last four games to keep Houston unbeaten since May 29. The shot stopper has the fourth most saves in the Western Conference and tallied seven assists in his last outing on the road against Real Salt Lake on June 26. The 25-year-old earned MLSSoccer.com Team of the Week honors after his performance in Utah, a first for the goalkeeper. Maric is also second in the Western Conference in clearances with 14 and looks for his second clean sheet of the season on Wednesday.

 

  1. DYNAMO ADDS DEPTH: Dynamo navigate Wednesday’s game with a limited roster after five players reporter for international duty on Sunday. Houston will have a pair of new faces following the signing of defender Griffin Dorsey on Monday and the addition of Teenage Hadebe to the roster. Dorsey’s availability is pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate from the Canadian Soccer Association. Dorsey joined the Dynamo in May as a trial player after three seasons with Toronto FC. Hadebe trained with the full team for the first time on Friday, July 2 following a quarantine period due to international travel.

 

3.      SEATTLE UNBEATEN TO OPEN SEASON:  Seattle is the only unbeaten team left this season and enter Wednesday’s game tied with Sporting Kansas City for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Sounders earned a 1-1 draw on the road against the Colorado Rapids on Sunday evening. Seattle will be without Will Bruin and Carlos Roldan on Wednesday, but Houston will have to contain Raul Ruidiaz and Joao Paulo who combine for 10 goals and six assists this season. Houston will look to snap a five-game losing streak on Wednesday against the Sounders who also navigate a limited roster due to international duty and injuries.

Columbus Crew Announces Call-ups for July International Window and Concacaf Gold Cup

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Columbus Crew Announces Call-ups for July International Window and Concacaf Gold Cup

Etienne Jr., Fraser, Molino, Room and Zardes receive call-ups with respective national teams

 

COLUMBUS – Columbus Crew today announced that five players have earned an international call-up ahead of the July international window: Derrick Etienne Jr. (Haiti), Kevin Molino (Trinidad and Tobago), Liam Fraser (Canada), Eloy Room (Curacao), and Gyasi Zardes (United States).

 

Etienne Jr. and Molino will represent their national teams in Concacaf Gold Cup qualifiers today, Tuesday, July 6 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Etienne Jr. and Haiti defeated Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6-1 on Friday, July 2 and are set to face Bermuda in the second preliminary round tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET. Similarly, Molino and Trinidad and Tobago defeated Montserrat 6-1 on July 2 and face French Guiana at 4:30 p.m. ET this afternoon. Should Haiti or Trinidad and Tobago advance, they would enter the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup, with Etienne Jr. and Haiti entering Group B and Molino and Trinidad and Tobago entering Group A.

 

Etienne Jr. has been capped 26 times by Haiti, most recently appearing in a 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup qualifying match and scoring the third goal against Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on July 2, 2021. He has scored four goals and provided three assists. Molino has made 48 caps for Trinidad and Tobago, last appearing in a 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup qualifying match and scoring the first goal against Montserrat on July 3, 2021. He has scored 21 goals for Trinidad and Tobago.

 

Fraser, Room, and Zardes will join their national teams for the Concacaf Gold Cup, with the tournament beginning on Saturday, July 10. In Group B, Fraser and Canada, as well as Zardes and the United States, will play three matches at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas. Canada faces Martinique on July 11, a yet-to-be-determined opponent on July 15, and the United States on July 18, while the United States faces the yet-to-be-determined side on July 11, Martinique on July 15, and Canada on July 18.

 

Room and Curacao will play three matches in the Dallas, Texas area during the group stage of the tournament. In Group A action, Curacao open against El Salvador at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas on July 10, take on Mexico at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas on July 14, and face a yet-to-be-determined side on July 14 at Toyota Stadium.

 

Fraser has earned five caps for Canada, last appearing in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Aruba on June 5, 2021. Zardes has been capped 56 times by the United States, last appearing in a friendly against Costa Rica on February 1, 2020. He has scored 12 goals and provided nine assists. Room has earned 40 caps with Curacao, last appearing in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Panama on June 15.

 

Columbus Crew’s current roster features 11 players that have received a senior National Team call-up: Harrison Afful, Luis Diaz, Derrick Etienne, Jr., Waylon Francis, Liam Fraser, Perry Kitchen, Jonathan Mensah, Kevin Molino, Darlington Nagbe, Eloy Room and Gyasi Zardes.

 

This weekend, the Crew travels to face FC Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on Friday, July 9 [7:30 p.m. ET / Bally Sports Ohio, Bally Sports App (Stream) / 97.1 The Fan & 971thefan.com (English); ColumbusCrew.com (Spanish)].

NFL list of team-by-team completed transactions report for 7-7-21

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NFL list of team-by-team completed transactions report for 7-7-21

The following are the NFL transactions for Wednesday, July 7.  This version includes waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades.

 

WAIVER SYSTEM TRANSACTION

TERMINATION VIA WAIVER SYSTEM

NEW YORK JETS
    Peters, Jordyn DB Auburn      

*Indicates player’s accrued seasons at end of 2020 season.

Blue Jays roster moves

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Blue Jays roster moves

The Toronto Blue Jays have made the following roster moves:

 

  • RHP Trent Thornton has been optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.

 

·      RHP Trevor Richards has reported to the Major League team and will be active for tonight’s game.

Twins return Michael Pineda from rehab assignment and reinstate from 10-day injured list

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Twins return Michael Pineda from rehab assignment and reinstate from 10-day injured list

Griffin Jax optioned to Triple-A St. Paul

 

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have returned right-handed pitcher Michael Pineda from rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 10-day Injured List.

 

Pineda, who has missed the Twins’ last 19 games with right elbow inflammation, made one rehab start for Triple-A St. Paul last Thursday against Omaha, pitching 4.0 innings with four hits allowed, three walks and one strikeout. Pineda has made 11 starts this season, going 3-4 with a 3.70 ERA (56.0 IP, 23 ER), 15 walks, 51 strikeouts, a .230 opponent batting average and a 1.14 WHIP.

 

To make room for Pineda on the 26-man roster, the Twins have optioned right-handed pitcher Griffin Jax to Triple-A St. Paul. Jax appeared in five games and made one start for the Twins, going 1-1 with an 8.66 ERA (17.2 IP, 17 ER), eight walks and 14 strikeouts. He earned his first career win on June 25 vs. Cleveland with 4.1 innings of relief.

White Sox reinstate Adam Engel from injured list; designate Adam Eaton for assignment

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White Sox reinstate Adam Engel from injured list; designate Adam Eaton for assignment

MINNEAPOLIS – Prior to today’s series finale at Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox reinstated outfielder Adam Engel from the 10-day injured list and designated outfielder Adam Eaton for assignment.

 

Engel, 29, was placed on the injured list on June 22 for the second time this season with a strained right hamstring. He is batting .241 (7-29) with three home runs, four RBI and five runs scored over 10 games in 2021. Engel has hit all three of his homers over his last seven contests.

 

Eaton, 32, is hitting .201/.298/.344 (38-189) with eight doubles, two triples, five home runs, 28 RBI and 33 runs scored over 58 games this season in his second stint with the White Sox.

NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Final Edition – July 7, 2021

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NHL Morning Skate: Stanley Cup Final Edition – July 7, 2021

THREE HARD LAPS

 

* The Lightning return to AMALIE Arena with another chance to win their third Stanley Cup in franchise history – a place where they have averaged 4.09 goals per game played in the 2021 postseason.
* Tampa Bay has not lost consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since being swept by the Blue Jackets in the 2019 First Round – a streak spanning 47 contests.

 

* Nick Suzuki helped the OHL’s Guelph Storm overcome a 3-0 series deficit during the 2019 playoffs and looks to aid Montreal in doing the same when he takes to the ice in Game 5.

 

LIGHTNING RETURN TO AMALIE ARENA WITH CHANCE TO CLINCH AT HOME

The Lightning return home to AMALIE Arena with another opportunity to capture their second straight Stanley Cup after dropping Game 4 in overtime. Tampa Bay, without consecutive losses in the playoffs since the 2019 First Round, has recorded an NHL-leading eight home wins this postseason.

* A Stanley Cup-clinching win in Game 5 would mark the Lightning’s ninth victory at AMALIE Arena in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tying the franchise mark for most in a single postseason first set in 2004 – a run that concluded with a 2-1 victory at St. Pete Times Forum over Calgary in Game 7 of the Final.

* Tampa Bay can become just the seventh franchise in the NHL’s expansion era (since 1967-68) to have multiple Stanley Cup-clinching wins on home ice. Edmonton (4: 1984, 1985, 1987 & 1988), Montreal (3: 1968, 1979 & 1993), NY Islanders (3: 1980, 1981 & 1983), Detroit (2: 1997 & 2002), New Jersey (2: 1995 & 2003) and Los Angeles (2: 2012 & 2014) have all done so.

* The Lightning’s success at AMALIE Arena during this playoff run has also featured the club produce 4.09 goals per game played at home – the highest single-postseason total in franchise history. Since Tampa Bay skated in its inaugural season in 1992-93, only one Stanley Cup champion has generated a higher-such average on home ice in the playoffs: Colorado (4.36 GF/GP in 1996)

* Tampa Bay, which already has two series-clinching wins at AMALIE Arena in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs (R1 & SCSF), holds an all-time record of 14-6 (.700) when given the chance to close a series out on home ice. Just six franchises in the last 15 years have recorded at least three series-clinching wins on home ice in a single postseason: Anaheim (4 in 2007), Carolina (3 in 2006), Boston (3 in 2011 & 2013), Chicago (3 in 2013), Pittsburgh (3 in 2016), Nashville (3 in 2017) and St. Louis (3 in 2019).


DEFENDING CHAMPS HAVE MADE A HABIT OF BOUNCING BACK

The hopes of hoisting the third Stanley Cup in franchise history tonight will once again rely on Tampa Bay’s resiliency following a loss in the postseason. The Lightning have not lost consecutive games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since being swept by the Blue Jackets in the 2019 First Round – a streak spanning 47 contests.

* The Lightning were 4-2 in potential series-clinching contests during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs where they rebounded to close out the series in Game 6 after both aforementioned losses (CF & SCF). Since its first postseason berth in 1996, Tampa Bay has only dropped consecutive games in which it could clinch a series three times: 2018 (Game 6 & Game 7 of CF vs. WSH), 2016 (Game 6 & Game 7 of CF vs. PIT) and 2015 (Game 4 & Game 5 of R2 vs. MTL).

* Andrei Vasilevskiy, the lone Lightning goaltender to mind the crease through all 47 of those contests, has benefited from that stretch and stands as the NHL’s only netminder with more than 20 playoff wins since 2020 (33-14). In fact, Vasilevskiy owns a career record of 17-7 following a postseason loss (2.06 GAA, .926 SV%, 4 SO).

* Overall, Vasilevskiy is 6-0 immediately following a loss in the 2021 postseason, including three shutouts. He can register seven such wins in a single postseason for the second time in as many years (also 7-0 in 2020).


CANADIENS LOOK TO STAVE OF ELIMINATION . . .  AGAIN

The Canadiens will look to keep their season alive with another win to avoid elimination, after taking their first lead of the series in Game 4 and securing their sixth overtime victory of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs – tied for fifth most by a team in a single postseason in NHL history. While Tampa Bay has been dominant at home, Montreal has successfully played spoiler as the visitor throughout its playoff run.
* Montreal has seven road wins in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, tied with Tampa Bay for the most among all teams. The Canadiens have the opportunity to establish a franchise record for most wins as visitors in a single postseason with a win tonight in Game 5 at AMALIE Arena, which would surpass their mark in 1989 (7).

* The Canadiens look to win consecutive games when facing elimination in the Stanley Cup Final for the fourth time in franchise history, doing so in 1971 (Game 6 & Game 7 vs. CHI), 1954 (Game 5 & Game 6 vs. DET) and 1931 (Game 4 & Game 5 vs. CHI). Montreal went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1971 and 1931, but has never won three straight contests when facing elimination in the Final.

* Overall, Montreal has won four straight games when facing elimination in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, after battling back from a 3-1 deficit in the opening round against Toronto (Game 5, Game 6 & Game 7 of R1 and Game 4 of SCF).


WILL THE STANLEY CUP FINAL GO TO GAME 6?

 

* Three teams in NHL history have rallied from a 3-0 series deficit in the Stanley Cup Final to force a Game 6: 2012 Devils (4-2 L), 1945 Red Wings (4-3 L) and 1942 Maple Leafs (4-3 W). Toronto’s comeback remains the only instance in the history of the NHL, NBA or MLB in which a team overcame a 3-0 series deficit in a best-of-seven in the final series to win a championship.

 

* The 2021 Stanley Cup Final is the third time in which Tampa Bay has taken a 3-0 series lead against Montreal, with the Canadiens avoiding a sweep for the second time (also 2015 R2). During the 2015 Second Round, Carey Price (24 saves) helped Montreal win Game 5 before Nikita Kucherov’s second career three-point outing helped Tampa Bay advance to the Conference Finals in Game 6.


GOODROW, COLEMAN, SUZUKI LOOK TO EXTEND FINAL POINT STREAKS
Barclay Goodrow, Blake Coleman and Nick Suzuki each factored on their team’s first goal of the game on Monday to extend their respective Stanley Cup Final point streaks:

 

* Goodrow (1-3—4 in 4 GP) and Coleman (2-2—4 in 4 GP) have both found the score sheet in each game of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, marking the longest playoff point streaks of their careers. Only two Lightning players have recorded longer such runs in the Stanley Cup Final: Nikita Kucherov (1-7—8) and Brayden Point (5-3—8) each posted five-game stretches in 2020.

* Suzuki (2-1—3 in 3 GP), who became the youngest player in franchise history to record a point in three straight games during a Stanley Cup Final series on Monday, aims to become the seventh different Canadiens player, of any age, in 50 years to record a point in four consecutive games within a Stanley Cup Final.

* Suzuki is also no stranger to overcoming a 3-0 series deficit. The forward was an instrumental part of the Guelph Storm besting the top-seeded London Knights in the Second Round of the 2019 OHL Playoffs after falling behind 3-0. After that comeback, he also helped the club erase 3-1 and 2-0 series deficits in the Western Conference Championship series and OHL Championship series, respectively. Suzuki concluded that playoff run with a single-season franchise record 42 points (16-26—42 in 24 GP) before hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champion and earning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as playoff MVP.

D-backs recall Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A Reno; activate Jordan Weems; option Nick Heath to Reno

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D-backs recall Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A Reno; activate Jordan Weems; option Nick Heath to Reno

The Arizona Diamondbacks made the following roster moves:

 

Recalled OF Stuart Fairchild (No. 63) from Triple-A Reno.

 

Will be making his Major League debut.

Was hitting .328 (21-for-64)/1.083 OPS with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs and 18 RBI in 17 games with the Aces this season.

Acquired from Reds with INF Josh VanMeter on Aug. 31, 2020 for RHP Archie Bradley and cash considerations.

Activated RHP Jordan Weems (No. 41).

 

Optioned OF Nick Heath to Reno.

White Sox place Yasmani Grandal on injured list; recall Seby Zavala from Triple-A Charlotte

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White Sox place Yasmani Grandal on injured list; recall Seby Zavala from Triple-A Charlotte

MINNEAPOLIS – Prior to tonight’s game at Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox placed catcher Yasmani Grandal on the 10-day injured list with a torn tendon in his left knee and recalled catcher Seby Zavala from Class AAA Charlotte.

 

Grandal, 32, left last night’s game during his sixth-inning at-bat. He is expected to miss approximately 4-6 weeks before returning.

 

Grandal is hitting .188 (34-181) with 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 60 walks and a .388 on-base percentage in 63 games this season, his second with Chicago.

 

Zavala, 27, is hitting .178 (21-118) with four doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in 33 games with Charlotte. He made his major-league debut with the White Sox in 2019, going 1-12 (.083) in five games.

Dodgers recall Garrett Cleavinger

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Dodgers recall Garrett Cleavinger

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled left-handed pitcher Garrett Cleavinger and placed left-handed pitcher Victor González on the 10-day injured list with left plantar fasciitis.

 

Cleavinger, 27, returns for his fourth stint with the club after being optioned last night. On the season, he is 2-3 with a 2.03 ERA (3 ER/13.1 IP) and 15 strikeouts in 15 games. He was acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies in the three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Phillies on December 20, 2020. He was originally drafted in the 3rd round of the 2015 First Year Player Draft by the Phillies out of the University of Oregon.

 

González, 25, has appeared in 36 games for the Dodgers posting a 3-1 record with a 2.57 ERA (8 ER/28.0 IP) and 26 strikeouts against 15 walks. He suffered his first career loss last night after beginning his Major League career with a 6-0 record. In two seasons with the Dodgers, he is 6-1 with a 2.05 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 48.1 Innings. He was originally signed as an international free agent on July 2, 2012 by the Dodgers.

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