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(Milwaukee, WI) — Cincinnati jumped out to a 5-0 lead and never let up in Thursday afternoon’s 7-2 victory over the Brewers. That allowed the Reds to avoid being swept. A four-run rally in the fourth inning put the game out of reach. Milwaukee’s runs scored on Garrett Mitchell’s solo homer in the fifth and Brice Turang’s double in the sixth. Jacob Misiorowski took the loss. Lefty Kyle Harrison starts tonight’s first game of a weekend series in Arizona.
Pregame at 8:10pm. First pitch at 8:45pm on AM1240 & 96.5FM

(Milwaukee, WI) — We’re getting a behind-the-scenes report on the Bucks’ trade of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Sporting News analyst Bill Simmons says it came down to what kind of contract extension the Boston Celtics were willing to offer Milwaukee’s star. Antetokounmpo wanted a three-year extension worth 35 percent of the salary cap, and the Celtics stopped at two years and 30 percent of the cap. That’s one big reason the Greek Freak will play for Miami next season.

(Madison, WI) — Badgers basketball star Nolan Winter has revealed that he had ankle surgery during the offseason. Winter says his right ankle had been bothering him since he was in high school. BadgerExtra reports the athlete had the procedure right after last season ended, and he says he’s almost back to normal now. Winter is being counted on to lead the Wisconsin team in his senior season. He missed the Big Ten Conference tournament last year with an ankle injury, then returned for the NCAA first round. That was his left ankle.

(Green Bay, WI) — Packers quarterback Jordan Love is called a “borderline star” by CBS Sports. NFL analyst Bryan DeArdo says Love is a “tier two” quarterback who hasn’t reached the upper echelon at his position because his team has failed to match the success seen in his rookie season. Yahoo Sports reports that Love has turned into a solid quarterback under head coach Matt LaFleur, but Green Bay isn’t paying him 220 million dollars over four years to just be solid.

NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Clark was voted to start her third straight WNBA All-Star Game and will be joined by Indiana Fever teammates Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston. It’s the second time in four years that three players from the same team were chosen to start the game, with Las Vegas doing it in 2023. Clark wasn’t able to play in last year’s game that the Fever hosted because she was injured right before it. Clark and Mitchell will be joined this year in the backcourt by Paige Bueckers and rookie Olivia Miles. It’s the fourth consecutive year that a rookie was chosen as an All-Star starter. A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart, Jessica Shepard, Natasha Howard and Gabby Williams were selected for the frontcourt for the game that will be played in Chicago on July 25.

TORONTO (AP) — Goncalo Ramos headed in the stoppage-time winner as Portugal beat Croatia 2-1 in a wild finish that also included a Croatian goal disallowed for offside just before the final whistle in a World Cup round of 32 match. The game featured a matchup 40-somethings Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, in his sixth World Cup, and Croatia’s Luka Modrić, making his fifth bid for a tournament title. Ronaldo initially tied things up in the 68th minute on a penalty kick and give the megastar his first knockout stage goal at the World Cup before being subbed out in the 81st minute. But, it was Ramos who gave Portugal the victory and a berth in the round of 16.

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Mikel Oyarzabal scored two goals and Spain beat Austria 3-0 for its first World Cup victory in a knockout match since winning the title in 2010. Pedro Porro added a goal in the second half for Spain, which put on its most impressive performance of the tournament while dominating possession and demonstrating the offensive creativity across its vaunted lineup. Spain also has yet to allow a goal at this year’s World Cup, with Unai Simón keeping his fourth consecutive clean sheet. La Roja will next face Portugal, a 2-1 winner over Croatia, in Dallas in the round of 16.

The Americans are seeing red over the biggest red card so far in the World Cup. The United States celebrated a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina but fans and players were angry and frustrated by a second-half red card that sent off star striker Falorin Balogun. he will miss the next match against Belgium on Monday. The penalty was called after the referee watched a video replay. The red card also ignited debate over whether it was too harsh and whether other players, most notably Argentina’s Lionel Messi, have unfairly avoided similar punishment.

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THURSDAY

>>Major League Baseball

–NL Central Division

Cincinnati 7, Milwaukee 2

FRIDAY

>>Major League Baseball

–NL Central Division

Milwaukee @ Arizona

SATURDAY

>>Major League Baseball

–NL Central Division

Milwaukee @ Arizona

SUNDAY

>>Major League Baseball

–NL Central Division

Milwaukee @ Arizona