The Sportsletter - AL Shines Again 🌟

BY JEFF YODER & MARISSA KASCH

JULY 20, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

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Good Morning,

Make it nine straight victories for the American League in the All-Star Game, courtesy of Giancarlo Stanton. The ESPYs take center stage tonight in a week seemingly hosted by Los Angeles. And the Tour de France rides to the finish this weekend. Our summer sports swing is in full effect. Speaking of swings...

Letter Rip!

MLB ALL-STAR GAME

AL Does It Again 🌟

Photo: Wally Skalij / Getty Images

Stanton (MVP) & Buxton Hit Back-to-Back Jacks for American League’s 9th Straight All-Star Game Win (3-2)

The 2022 MLB All-Star Game had a little bit of everything Tuesday night in Los Angeles. In the end, it was Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton who swung the game and won the MVP award. Stanton and Byron Buxton (Twins) hit back-to-back home runs in the 4th inning to flip the scoreboard. By night’s end, fans saw Clayton Kershaw got the start at his home ballpark and pick off Shohei Ohtani in the first inning. Alex Manoah had a three-up, three-down frame, and Ryan Hesley hit 103 mph on the gun, twice. There was plenty of fun, but Stanton and Buxton’s 4th-inning magic captured the win.

MVP: Giancarlo Stanton

On a night where just five runs were found — four via home runs — it was Stanton’s 457-foot two-run blast that made the difference and earned him the MVP award.

American League Win Streak

The American League extended their win streak to nine straight in the All-Star Game. The AL hasn’t lost the Midsummer Classic since 2012.

Best Moments From 2022 MLB All-Star Game

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Back-to-Back HRs Fuel AL’s 9th Straight All-Star Game Win

FOX Sports: MLB All-Star Game: Top Moments as AL Edges NL (3-2)

SI: Clayton Kershaw Finally Takes It All In at Dodger Stadium

ESPN: MLB All-Star Game: Best Sights & Sounds From ASG in Los Angeles

WNBA

WNBA Heat Check 🔥

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Sky & Storm Clicking on All Cylinders With 10 Games Left in WNBA Regular Season

The WNBA season is 2/3 complete, and we’re checking in on the action to get a clearer look at the playoff picture with 10 games to go. The defending champion Chicago Sky are hotter than ever with nine wins in their last 10 games. The Las Vegas Aces are still in 2nd place despite a recent lull. And the Seattle Storm — winners of four straight — have stepped up to the challenge. Here’s where they stand with roughly 10 games to play before the postseason.

WNBA Standings

1. Chicago Sky (19-6)

2. Las Vegas Aces (18-8)

3. Seattle Storm (17-8)

4. Connecticut Sun (17-9)

5. Washington Mystics (16-11)

6. Atlanta Dream (12-14)

7. Los Angeles Sparks (11-14)

8. Dallas Wings (11-14)

In the Hunt: 9. Phoenix Mercury (11-16) | 10. Minnesota Lynx (10-17) | 11. New York Liberty (9-16) | 12. Indiana Fever (5-23)

Additional Storylines

WNBA: Nneka Ogwumike Drops 35 in Sparks’ Win (Video)

ESPN: Handicapping the 2022 WNBA Playoff Race With a Month Left in the Season

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THE STORYLINES

⚾️ Mysterious MLB Futures

It's not often that three of baseball's brightest stars — in this case, Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and Aaron Judge — find themselves staring at unclear futures. (FOX Sports)

⚽️ USWNT’s Next Gen is Ready

Securing a spot in the World Cup and Olympics was the priority. The real benefit of the CONCACAF championship was that the U.S. women’s next generation learned what it takes to win a title. (USA Today)

🏈 Predicting NFL Win Totals

Expectations vary based on circumstances, and DraftKings set the demarcation lines for each squad's upcoming forecast. Will teams exceed or fall short of those projections? (Bleacher Report)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Big 12 & Pac-12 Nix Talks of Potential Merger (CBS Sports)
• Serge Ibaka Agrees on Deal to Stay With Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN)
• Nick Saban Claims Alabama Players Made $3 Million in NIL Deals Last Season (SI)
• Cameraman Wanders Onto Track & Impedes Steeplechase at World Athletics Championships (Yahoo! Sports)

• NASCAR Set to Make History With Chicago Street Race in 2023 (ESPN)

• Hornets Miles Bridges Charged With 3 Counts of Felony Domestic Violence Child Abuse (USA Today)

• Aaron Judge Hints at Yankees Exit Amid Contract Buzz (B/R)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Content Intern: Marissa Kasch

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Stealing Sunday

Photo: Glyn Kirk / Getty Images

How Cameron Smith Stole Sunday at The Open Championship From Rory McIlroy (By Marissa Kasch)

On Sunday at the 150th Open Championship, the attention was on Rory McIlroy. Most people at St. Andrews followed him and Viktor Hovland, but Australian Cameron Smith was putting on a show just one group ahead. Needless to say, there was a lot of pressure on McIlroy. It seemed like everyone was pulling for him, which is what begged the question: Did Cameron Smith win The Open, or did Rory lose The Open? The answer to that question is yes, to both. But Cameron Smith delivered one of the most iconic back-nine performances in major golf history, and he deserved every bit of his victory. 

On Saturday, Cameron Smith was devastated as he carded a 73. He thought it was all over for him. And most others did too, seeing as he was four shots off the lead. Fans watching at home saw the reality that it would be between Hovland and McIlroy, and those at St. Andrews were ecstatic that the Northern Irishman was in contention on Sunday with a very good chance of winning. Entering the final round, Smith stayed near the top of the leaderboard. Things looked promising for fans at St. Andrews: Rory has been playing fantastic golf this year and he’s overdue for another major after eight years of waiting. Plus, isn’t it kind of destiny for him to win in his homeland where everyone is cheering just for him? You’d think so.

Rory was doing a lot of things right, and he certainly stuck to his game. He played it safe, as he does. On Sunday, he avoided bunkers, stuck greens, and hit fairways as best he could. He hit all 18 greens in regulation (pretty much unheard of). Unfortunately for Rory and the crowd at St. Andrews, it wasn’t enough. As he said in his post-tournament interview, “I didn’t do much wrong today, but I didn’t do much right either.” His putts simply wouldn’t drop, and with 36 of them it was becoming impossible to win at the Old Course. What would set Smith apart is that he did not experience the same problem. Not even close as a matter of fact.

Smith birdied two holes on the front nine for a 34, but remained three shots behind McIlroy and one behind Hovland. Then, Smith, who was considered the underdog that day, did something magical. Once he made the turn, he caught fire, stringing together five birdies in a row, and claiming the sole lead at 19 under par. His putter was undoubtedly the best and the most important club in his bag that day: it won him the tournament. After a clutch par save on #17 and another birdie on #18, he carded a 64 and finished at 20 under par on the weekend. 

After his surreal performance on the back nine and his unlikely comeback, Cameron Smith hoisted the Claret Jug and wondered what any 28-year-old would: how many beers he could fit inside of it. This was the first time he showed emotion all day. During his round, he was completely stoic. If you were to watch him without seeing his score, you’d have no idea whether he was shooting 20 under or 20 over. It seemed his only thought was to focus on the process and keep doing what he’s doing. Because, as Cam Smith knows better than anybody, it’s not over until it’s over. 

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