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TB's Caminero leaves All-Star Game
PHILADELPHIA -- Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was hit by a pitch on the outside of his left hand and immediately left Tuesday night's All-Star Game.
Caminero was struck by St. Louis Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien with a 98 mph sinker that didn't sink in the top of the third inning with the American League up 3-0.
The 23-year-old Caminero, fourth in the major leagues with 28 home runs, stayed down for a few moments before he popped up and ran straight into the clubhouse.
X-rays were negative.
He was replaced by Miguel Vargas of the Chicago White Sox.
Caminero hit 17 total home runs a night earlier at Citizens Bank Park in the Home Run Derby. He hit 45 home runs with 110 RBIs last season, and this season has led the Rays to the top of the AL East.
He batted fourth on Tuesday and became the first Ray to start an All-Star game in two straight seasons. Caminero grounded out in his first at bat against Phillies' ace and NL starter Cristopher Sánchez.
Caminero -- who advanced to the final round of last season's Home Run Derby before losing a close contest to Seattle slugger Cal Raleigh -- this season become the youngest player since at least 1900 to homer in six straight games.
Texans' co-founder dies at 89
HOUSTON -- Janice S. McNair, who alongside her late husband Robert "Bob" McNair brought the NFL back to Houston after the Oilers left for Tennessee by founding the Texans, has died. She was 89.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce Houston Texans co-founder and senior chair Janice S. McNair passed away peacefully in Houston this afternoon with her family by her side," the Texans said in a statement on Tuesday.
After her husband Bob died in 2018 following a battle with both leukemia and squamous cell carcinoma, Janice took over the Texans organization as owner. McNair's son, Cal, was approved as primary owner of the team in 2024.
"Mom was exceptional. She exuded kindness, radiated joy, had an endless amount of hope and love, and lived an incredible life centered around faith, family, philanthropy and football," Cal said in a statement.
"I remain honored to lead this franchise and build on the foundation my parents set when they brought football back to Houston. Mom leaves an indelible mark on our family, our team and our community, and her giving spirit will always be embedded in the fabric of our organization. While I'm heartbroken, I take great comfort in knowing she is now reunited with my dad, her favorite teammate."
Janice McNair grew up in South Carolina, and moved to Houston with Bob in 1960. Bob McNair made his fortune as the founder of Cogen Technologies, an energy company which was sold to Enron in 1999 for $1.5 billion.
The couple was committed to charity in the city, including causes such as The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, The Robert and Janice McNair Educational Foundation in Forest City, North Carolina, and the Houston Texans Foundation.
Janice is survived by four children, 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, according to the team.
Hotel employee fired for sending slur
LAS VEGAS -- Hilton Grand Vacations has fired an employee who sent a racial slur via social media to Las Vegas Aces guard Chelsea Gray following the team's 109-75 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday.
The 33-year-old Gray posted the message she received that included a racial slur on her Instagram story on Monday. Hilton Grand Vacations confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that the individual who messaged Gray is no longer employed with Hilton Grand Vacations.
"The person responsible for posting this information is no longer with the company," Hilton Grand Vacations said in a statement. "His behavior was in violation of multiple company policies and does not reflect our company's values in any way."
The Aces did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In March, the WNBA and its players' union agreed on a transformational new collective bargaining agreement. It sought to enhance security, improve technological support, reinforce mental health resources, enforce a stronger fan code of conduct and protect players through an anti-hate campaign.
But, the harassment Gray faced comes in the aftermath of Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas saying she also received racial slurs. Thomas said she received death threats as well following her one-game suspension after she made contact with her fist to Caitlin Clark's throat during a 111-109 win against the Fever.
Thomas also criticized WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert for not doing more to protect the league's players when she spoke with reporters in June at the team's practice facility.
"It's unfortunate that it's come to this over basketball," Thomas said. "A lot of us -- myself included -- didn't even know the play took place until after the game. Now we're being painted as thugs. There's death threats out on us. It's really unacceptable. It's something that needs to change in this league and I'm just really sick and tired of it."
Jazz's Alexander suffers bruised rib
LAS VEGAS -- Utah Jazz guard Trey Alexander was taken from the court on stretcher Monday night with a bruised rib suffered on a drive to the basket in an NBA Summer League game against the Chicago Bulls.
Alexander, who signed a two-way deal with Utah last week, made contact with the Bulls' Caleb Wilson while driving toward the basket and, after tossing the ball toward the hoop, went behind the basket clutching his side. He then dropped to the ground, seemingly in great pain.
The 23-year-old Alexander was taken from the Thomas & Mack Center court on a stretcher. The incident occurred with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Jazz said Tuesday that Alexander had a left rib contusion.
Alexander played three seasons at Creighton and skipped his final year of eligibility to turn pro. The G League rookie of the year for the 2024-25 season played 24 games for the Denver Nuggets the same season and nine game for the New Orleans Pelicans last season.