The Sportsletter - Year of the Yankees ⚾️

BY JEFF YODER

JUN. 28, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

It’s a mid-summer breeze of a sports week. The Yankees are eyeing history. Wimbledon has begun, and Kyrie Irving is officially staying in Brooklyn. We’ll turn the page to MLB All-Star ballots and NBA free agency as the week rolls into the holiday break.

Editor's Note: The Sportsletter will not be delivered Friday (July 1) — Tuesday (July 5). We’ll return to our normal send schedule beginning Wednesday (July 6).

Letter Rip!

MLB

Year of the Yankees

Photo: Mike Stobe / Getty Images

New York Rallies for 23rd Comeback Win of the Season; On Pace for Record-Setting 118 Wins

Nothing can stop the Yankees… After cool down towards the end of the month, New York is back on fire. Following Aaron Judge’s walk-off blast in extra innings on Sunday, the Yanks used a four-run rally in the 7th inning to top the A’s (9-5) for their league-best 23rd comeback win of the season. That gives them nearly half of their wins via comebacks in 2022.

The Year of the Yankees

The Pinstripes are now 54-20 with 88 games to play, putting them on pace for 118 wins by season’s end. That would break the record (116 wins) for the best season in MLB history set by the 2001 Mariners and 1906 Cubs. The Yanks also boast a +148 run differential, more than 20 runs above the next-best team (Dodgers, 128). While the Mets (47-27) hold the league’s next best record across town, it’s still the Year of the Yankees in the big leagues.

Watch: Yankees Rally for 23rd Comeback Win of the Season

MLB Quick-Hitters

Suspensions From Sunday Brawl: A total of 12 players and coaches received suspensions on Monday for the Mariners-Angels melee that occurred Sunday in Anaheim.

Gausman’s Gem: Toronto’s Kevin Gausman tossed a 10-K gem to boost the Blue Jays past the Red Sox in an AL East battle (7-2).

Kuhl Quiets Dodgers: Rockies right-hander Chad Kuhl put the hush on one of baseball’s best lineups, tossing a three-hit shutout against the Dodgers last night with 5 Ks in a 4-0 win.

TENNIS

Unlucky 7s at Wimbledon

Photo: Justin Setterfield / Getty Images

7-Seeds Hurkacz and Collins Upset; #1 Djokovic & #5 Alcaraz Survive 1st-Round Scares

The first day at the All England Club is in the books, and it wasn’t a good day for the 7-seeds. Both #7 Danielle Collins and #7 Hubert Hurkacz suffered stunning first-round exits at Wimbledon to mark the biggest upsets of Day 1. There were also early scares for No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz, but both survived. Andy Murray also burst through Round 1 in comeback fashion. Day 2 is underway from London.

Wimbledon Highlights (Round 1)

M: #1 N. Djokovic def. S. Kwon (6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4)

M: A. D-Fokina def. #7 H. Hurkacz (7-6, 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6)

M: #5 C. Alcaraz def. J. Struff (4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4)

M: A. Murray def. J. Duckworth (4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4)

W: #2 A. Kontaveit def. B. Pera (7-5, 6-1)

W: #3 O. Jabeur def. M. Bjorklund (6-1, 6-3)

W: M. Bouzkova def. #7 D. Collins (5-7, 6-4, 6-4)

W: #10 E. Raducanu def. A. Van Uytvanck (6-4, 6-4)

Today’s Schedule (Top Matches)

M: #2 R. Nadal vs. F. Cerundolo (9:45 am ET)

M: #4 S. Tsitsipas vs. A. Ritschard (11:55 am ET)

M: #8 M. Berrettini vs. C. Garin (8:00 am ET)

M: #12 D. Schwartzman vs. S. Kozlov (9:50 am ET)

W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. J. Fett (8:30 am ET)

W: #5 M. Sakkari vs. Z. Hives (6:00 am ET)

W: #11 C. Gauff vs. E. Ruse (8:00 am ET)

W: S. Williams vs. H. Tan (11:45 am ET)

Additional Storylines

NBC: Serena Williams Set for Round 1 of Wimbledon

ESPN: Novak Djokovic Overcomes 2nd-Set Stumble to Win Wimbledon

WNBA

Russia Sets Griner Trial

Photo: Kirill Kudrayavtsev / Getty Images

Russian Court Finally Schedules Trial for Brittney Griner on Friday

After four months in a Russian prison for allegations of drug smuggling, WNBA star Brittney Griner finally has a trial date set for Friday, July 1. The Phoenix Mercury player attempted to leave Russia — where she plays during the WNBA offseason — at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war. She was arrested for possession of cannabis oil and accused of transporting significant amounts of narcotics, an offense the Russian government claims is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

What Comes Next?

Griner attended her preliminary hearing Monday (seen above) at Khimki court outside Moscow. Griner’s supporters have continuously encouraged President Biden to take action. The U.S. Embassy will send a diplomat to her hearing on Friday, and the State Department continues to claim she’s been “wrongfully detained.” Russia’s continued detention — which reportedly includes another six-month extension — has been widely viewed as a political tactic, using Griner as a pawn for leverage. Friday’s trial details will certainly yield more information.

Griner was named an honorary WNBA All-Star starter last week for the game on July 10 in Chicago.

Additional Storylines

Yahoo! Sports: Brittney Griner’s Detention in Russia Extended by 6 Months

NBC News: WNBA Star Brittney Griner’s Trial Set for July 1st in Russia

THE STORYLINES

🏒 Starting A Legacy

The Avalanche ended the Lightning's bid for their third straight Stanley Cup. With a talented young core in place, this might not be the last time you see this team in this position in the coming years. (Bleacher Report)

🏀 The Top-40 Free Agents

NBA free agency starts on Thursday evening (June 30, 6:00 pm ET). Here’s a look at 40 intriguing players ready to hit the open market and , including Kyrie Irving, Zach LaVine and more… (CBS Sports)

🏈 10 Non-Superstar Impact Players

Talent at the top of the roster is required for a Super Bowl run, but so is depth. And these difference-makers could determine whether their teams are playing into January, or watching from home. (The Ringer)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Kyrie Irving Opts Into $36.5 Million Contract With Nets (ESPN)
• LIV Golf’s Upcoming First U.S. Event Drawing Ire in Oregon (SI)
• Supreme Court Sides With Coach Who Lost His Job for Praying at 50-Yard Line (Yahoo! Sports)
• John Wall to Sign With Clippers After Receiving Buyout From Rockets (CBS Sports)

• NFL Recommends Indefinite Suspension of No Less Than a Year for Browns QB Deshaun Watson (USA Today)

• Phillies’ Bryce Harper Reportedly Expected to Need Surgery on Fractured Thumb (B/R)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

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