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A16 SPORTS
Tuesday 25 July 2023
Following a historic start, the slumping Rays are suddenly playing

catch-up in the AL East

By FRED GOODALL make his first start until May
AP Sports Writer 27.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Springs (left elbow) was
The slumping Tampa Bay placed on IL after going
Rays believe in themselves. 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in three
Baseball's best team for April starts, and Rasmussen
much of this season has (right elbow) was pitch-
seen a historic start give ing well (4-2, 2.62 in eight
way to a July swoon that's starts) when he went down
loosened its hold on the in May. Both will miss the re-
top record in the American mainder of the year, mean-
League. ing the Rays may be in the
The surging Baltimore Ori- market for some help at the
oles won three of four be- trade deadline.
tween the division rivals McClanahan, an All-Star
over the weekend, taking for the second straight sea-
over first place in the AL son, spent 17 days on the
East and dropping the reel- IL due to mid-back tight-
ing Rays, who opened the ness before rejoining the
year with 13 consecutive rotation on July 17. Eflin
victories, two games off the missed time in April due to
pace. low back tightness but has
Tampa Bay entered July been everything the Rays
with a season-high 6½- Tampa Bay Rays' Randy Arozarena hits an RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game hoped they were getting
game division lead but has against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, July 22, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Associated Press when the former Phillies
stumbled to an AL-worst pitcher signed a $40 million,
4-14 record this month a tough spot right now," They've scored three or Shane McClanahan, Tyler three-year contract that's
while sputtering offensively Cash said. fewer runs 11 times in July, Glasnow, Zach Eflin, Drew the largest deal for a free
and weathering injuries "I'm guessing every guy in including five games with Rasmussen and Jeffrey agent in Rays history.
that are testing the depth there right now is feeling a one run. Springs, the Rays entered "You always hate losing
of their starting pitching. sense of urgency of want- "The hardest part of this spring training with expec- people and having people
The Rays haven't compiled ing to contribute and want- game is hitting. ... Our job is tations of having one of the go down. ... But at the end
one of the best marks in ing to be that big swing or to just keep on working, try deepest pitching staffs in of the day we're focused
the majors over the last have that big swing that to stay positive," All-Star first the majors. on the game that's in front
decade without being gets us going," Cash added baseman Yandy Diaz said All five have served stints of us, the game today," Ef-
resourceful and resilient, after Sunday's 5-3 loss to the through a translator. on the injured list, forcing lin said. "Nobody is down in
though, which is one rea- Orioles. "It's just not coming "And we still have a lot of Cash to constantly adjust the dumps or anything."
son manager Kevin Cash right now." time. We still have about pitching plans. With a potent lineup fea-
is confident his team will Since winning two straight two months or so to go," While McClanahan (11-1, turing Diaz and fellow All-
rebound and finish strong against last-place Kansas Diaz added. "We're going 2.89 ERA) and Eflin (11-5, Stars Randy Arozarena and
as it aims for a fifth straight City coming out of the All- to stay focused and stay 3.36) have been outstand- Wander Franco, Cash said
playoff appearance. Star break, the Rays have positive, and I think we're ing, Glasnow (left oblique it's only a matter of time be-
"We're just a very talented dropped seven of eight gonna come out of it." strain) began the season fore the offense gets back
team that is going through to fall behind the Orioles. With a projected rotation of on the injured list and didn't on track.q

NBA Board of Governors approves Michael

Jordan’s sale of the Charlotte Hornets

person familiar with the a Black majority owner. ers ever. Charlotte went
situation. The person spoke Plotkin has been a minor- 423-600 under Jordan, the
to The Associated Press on ity stakeholder with the 26th-best record over that
Sunday on condition of Hornets since 2019, while span. The Hornets never
anonymity because the Schnall has been a minor- won a playoff series in that
sale won't become official ity owner of the Atlanta time and haven't been to
for at least another week. Hawks since 2015. He has the postseason in the past
The decision ends Jordan's been forced to sell his in- seven seasons.
13-year run as majority vestment in that team. The owner members of
Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan speaks to the media owner of the franchise. He The sale price is reportedly the Hornets new owner-
about hosting the NBA All-Star basketball game during a news will remain on as a minority around $3 billion, accord- ship group include artist J.
conference, Feb. 12, 2019, in Charlotte, N.C. owner.mJordan agreed to ing to ESPN. Cole, Dan Sundheim, Ian
Associated Press sell the team on June 16. As an owner Jordan never Loring, country music sing-
However, when an NBA came close to matching er-songwriter Eric Church,
By STEVE REED Michael Jordan's sale of owner decides to sell it first his success as a player, Chris Shumway and sev-
AP Sports Writer the Charlotte Hornets to must be approved by the where he won six NBA ti- eral local Charlotte inves-
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — an ownership group led league's Board of Gover- tles with the Chicago Bulls tors, including Amy Levine
The NBA Board of Gover- by Gabe Plotkin and Rick nors. Jordan's decision to while becoming one of Dawson and Damian
nors has voted to approve Schnall, according to a sell leaves the NBA without the game's greatest play- Mills.q