The Sportsletter - An Unlikely Star ⭐️

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 12, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

An unlikely hero finally gets his moment at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Elias Diaz was notified that he’d be an All-Star reserve just 10 days ago. Now, he’s the MVP. Plus, the 2023 ESPY Awards are tonight. Here’s a complete list of the nominees so you can be prepared to rewind the best moments from the past year in sports. We’ll have the winners tomorrow.

Letter Rip!

  MLB ALL-STAR GAME   

An Unlikely Star ⭐️

Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images

Rockies Catcher Elias Diaz Hits Decisive 8th-Inning HR, Wins All-Star Game MVP as NL Beats AL (3-2) for 1st Time Since 2012

The National League beat the American League in Tuesday’s 2023 MLB All-Star Game (3-2), breaking an 11-year drought thanks to one unlikely hero. Rockies 32-year-old catcher Elias Dias was making his first All-Star appearance in his ninth season in the big leagues, and he made the difference. With the NL trailing (2-1) in the 8th, Diaz cracked a two-run go-ahead homer over the left-field wall. It was one of two home runs in the game, both by guys named Diaz (Yandy Diaz, Rays). That blast was the difference-maker as the Senior Circuit (NL) won its first All-Star Game since 2012. Diaz was also the first Rockies player to win All-Star Game MVP in the franchise’s history.

Top All-Star Game Performers

E. Diaz (COL): 1-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBIs

J. Martinez (LAD): 2-for-2

L. Arraez (MIA): 2-for-2, 1 RBI

Y. Diaz (TB): 1-for-2, 1 HR

Pitcher’s Paradise: The All-Star Game was a pitcher’s paradise where 20 different arms split up 18 total sides. Result? A low-scoring night. There were 16 total hits and only five runs scored. Despite the low-scoring affair, there were plenty of fun moments between players and fans alike. The AL put two men on base in the bottom of the 9th before Craig Kimbrel (Phillies) struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) and Jose Ramirez (Guardians) to end it.

Watch: NL Defeats AL (3-2) in MLB All-Star Game

MVP: Rockies Catcher Elias Diaz Wins ASG MVP

Read More

Video: Watch the MLB All-Star Game Intros

MLB: The Top 11 Moments From 93rd MLB All-Star Game

CBS Sports: Elias Diaz 1st Rockies Player Named All-Star Game MVP in History

ESPN: At Last! NL Rallies to Snap All-Star Game Losing Streak

  TENNIS   

Svitolina Strikes Down #1 Swiatek

Photo: Charlotte Wilson/Offside / Getty Images

Elina Svitolina Puts End to Iga Swiatek’s Reign, Novak Djokovic Rallies & More From Wimbledon Quarterfinals

A tumble at the top! The first major exit of Wimbledon was a stunner on Tuesday morning. Elina Svitolina struck down #1 Iga Swiatek in three sets to send the four-time major champion packing. Svitolina, a 28-year-old Ukrainian, is still in search of her first major. She advances to the semifinals with a favorable matchup against unranked Marketa Vondrousova after she shocked American #4 Jessica Pegula. The women’s draw is full of surprises, but the big names on the men’s side keep slaying challengers. #2 Novak Djokovic rallied from a first-set drop, and #1 Carlos Alcaraz and #3 Daniil Medvedev take the court this morning.

Women’s Singles Highlights (Quarterfinals)

E. Svitolina def. #1 I. Swiatek (7-5, 6-7, 6-2)

M. Vondrousova def. #4 J. Pegula (6-4, 2-6, 6-4)

Men’s Singles Highlights (Quarterfinals)

#8 J. Sinner def. R. Safiullin (6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2)

#2 N. Djokovic def. #7 A. Rublev (4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3)

Today’s Schedule (Quarterfinals)

W: #2 A. Sabalenka vs. #25 M. Keys (8:00 am ET)

W: #3 E. Rybakina vs. #6 O. Jabeur (8:30 am ET)

M: #3 D. Medvedev vs. C. Eubanks (9:15 am ET)

M: #1 C. Alcaraz vs. #6 H. Rune (9:45 am ET)

Read More

Tennis.com: Svitolina Adds Swiatek Upset to Fairytale Wimbledon Run

NY Post: Jessica Pegula Suffers Wimbledon Heartbreak With Crushing 3rd Set

  CYCLING   

Tour de France Halftime Update

Photo: Michael Steele / Getty Images

Pello Bilbao Earns Wild Stage 10 Victory; Jonas Vingegaard Holds Leader Jersey

Our first full coverage of the 110th Tour de France begins on Stage 10. The cycling phenomenon began on July 1, but the early stages have fallen to the back of our holiday schedule. That’ll change over the next week. Monday was the rest day in the midst of the 23-day, 2,200-mile race. Things picked back up on Tuesday as a fiery finish to Stage 10 saw five riders finished with a second of each other in the Vulcania stage — an instant climb through a range of extinct volcanoes. One of the toughest days of the race featured Pello Bilbao Lopez crossing the tape for his first stage victory.

Stage 10 Results

1. P. Bilbao Lopez (3h, 52m, 34s)

2. G. Zimmermann (3h, 52m, 34s)

3. B. O’Connor (3h, 52m, 34s)

4. K. Neilands (3h, 52m, 34s)

5. J. Chaves (3h, 52m, 34s)

Watch: Stage 10 Highlights

Overall, it’s a familiar two-man race with the last two winners — Jonas Vingegaard (2022) and Tadej Pogacar (2020 & 2021) holding a two-minute advantage over the pack. Twelve stages remain.

Overall Rankings (Rider, Team, OVR Time)

1. J. Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) — 42h, 33m 13s

2. T. Pogecar (UAE Team Emirates) — 42h, 33m, 30s

3. J. Hindley (Bora-Hansgrohe) — 42h, 35m, 53s

4. C. Rodriguez Cano (Ineos Grenadiers) — 42h, 37m, 35s

5. P. Bilbao Lopez (Bahrain Victorious) — 42h, 37m, 47s

Upcoming Stage Schedule

Stage 11: Today (Clermont-Ferrand → Moulins)

Stage 12: Thursday (Roanne → Belleville-en-Beaujolais)

Stage 13: Friday (Chatillon-sur-Chalaronne → Grand Colombier)

Read More

The Guardian: Tour de France 2023 Full Team-by-Team Guide

Bicycling: Here’s Where the American Riders Stand After 1st Week of Tour de France

  STORYLINES    

⛳️ The PGA-LIV Agreements

Documents released Tuesday by a Senate subcommittee during a hearing in Washington, D.C., included many ideas the PGA Tour and LIV Golf discussed, including LIV teams for Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. (Sports Illustrated)

⚾️ The Best Side of Ohtani

Is Shohei Ohtani a better hitter or pitcher? FOX Sports asked 15 MLB All-Stars to weigh in on which part of his game is more dominant. Entering the 2023 Midsummer Classic, Ohtani leads the league in home runs (32). (FOX Sports)

🏀 NBA Rule Changes for 2023-24

Don’t be surprised if there is far less flopping in the NBA next season. New rules were approved by the NBA Board of Governors on Tuesday, including a technical foul free throw for flopping, among other changes. (Bleacher Report)

  NEWS   📰 

• Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou Boxing Fight Set for Oct. 28 in Saudi Arabia (B/R)
• Free-Agent RB Dalvin Cook Has Dolphins Offer, But Still Waiting (SI)
• NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Says No Sovereign Wealth Funds to Control Teams in Near Future (ESPN)

• Oregon State QB DJ Uiagalelei Selected by Dodgers in MLB Draft (CBS Sports)

• Mavericks Kyrie Irving Signs 5-Year Shoe Deal With Chinese Sportswear Company ANTA (Yahoo! Sports)

• Saints RB Alvin Kamara Pleads No Contest to Las Vegas Fight Incident (ESPN)

• Lionel Messi Lands in Fort Lauderdale Before Inter Miami Ceremony on Sunday (The Athletic)

• NBA Eyeing Future Expansion Teams in Seattle & Las Vegas (SI)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️ 

Today's Must-Watch List

The ESPY Awards

Tonight (8:00 pm ET)

Concacaf Gold Cup Semifinals

USMNT vs. Panama (7:30 pm ET)

Jamaica vs. Mexico (10:00 pm ET)

Today’s Schedule (Quarterfinals)

W: #2 A. Sabalenka vs. #25 M. Keys (8:00 am ET)

W: #3 E. Rybakina vs. #6 O. Jabeur (8:30 am ET)

M: #3 D. Medvedev vs. C. Eubanks (9:15 am ET)

M: #1 C. Alcaraz vs. #6 H. Rune (9:45 am ET)

Tour de France

Stage 11: Clermont-Ferrand Moulins (6:30 am ET)

Download The Sportsletter's Must-Watch Calendar

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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