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Notre Dame wins its College World Series opener, holding down the Texas offense in a 7-3 victory

OMAHA, Neb. — John Michael Bertrand and two relievers held Texas’ potent offense in check, and Notre Dame scored in all kinds of ways in a 7-3 victory Friday night in its first College World Series game in 20 years.The Irish (41-15) carried over their momentum from eliminating No. 1 overall seed Tennessee in the super regionals with a strong all-around performance against the program making its record 38th appearance in Omaha.AdvertisementNotre Dame will play Oklahoma on Sunday. The Longhorns (47-21) will face rival Texas A&M in an elimination game.Bertrand (10-3), roughed up in his start against Tennessee last week, limited the Longhorns to three runs on six hits in 5 ⅓ innings. Alex Rao and Jack Findlay gave up no hits in 3 ⅓ innings, with Findlay earning his fourth save.AdvertisementNotre Dame’s Jared Miller, right, celebrates his home run with Carter Putz during the first inning of a College World Series game against Texas on Friday in Omaha, Neb. The Irish won 7-3. (John Peterson/AP)The Irish scored six runs on nine hits against Texas starter Pete Hansen (11-3). They picked up single runs on Jared Miller’s home run in the first inning, an RBI groundout in the third and a safety squeeze in the fourth, and they scored three more in the fifth on Tristan Stevens’ balk and a couple of singles.Carter Putz’s homer in the ninth gave the Irish a four-run lead.The Longhorns arrived in Omaha with a program-record 128 homers, most among the CWS teams and fourth nationally, and had hit three or more home runs in each of its previous four games. They mustered only six singles against the Irish and were the only team in the first two CWS games to not hit a homer.Douglas Hodo II had an RBI single, and the Longhorns scored on a squeeze play and wild pitch.

Sports

Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen share the 2nd-round lead at the US Open, with 10 golfers within 2 shots

BROOKLINE, Mass. — For every Collin Morikawa and his back-to-back years winning a major is a Joel Dahmen, who only four years ago would have been thrilled even to play in one.Jon Rahm is the defending U.S. Open champion, one shot out of the lead. He will be playing on the weekend at The Country Club with Hayden Buckley, who studied while playing at Missouri because he figured he would need to find a job after college.AdvertisementThe dozen players separated by two shots going into the weekend include the top three players in the world rankings and four of the top seven — Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Morikawa. Nick Hardy, an Illinois and Glenbrook North alumnus, is among five golfers two strokes back. Nick Hardy putts on the fifth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (Julio Cortez/AP)“I think it’s great for the game of golf that the highest-ranked players and the best players are up there, especially in the tournament where truly the best player ends up winning,” Rahm said.AdvertisementIt also includes two PGA Tour rookies and two players who have never won on tour.Indeed, this U.S. Open has something for everyone. It just doesn’t have Phil Mickelson, who missed the cut by eight shots.Morikawa was searching for something in his game and found a “baby draw” instead of his traditional fade, and it’s been working beautifully at Brookline. He matched the low score of the championship Friday with a 4-under 66 for a share of the lead with Dahmen, the cancer survivor and popular everyman in golf.Collin Morikawa reacts after putting on the ninth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (Julio Cortez/AP)Rahm did his best to keep pace with an eagle and a series of big par putts that felt just as valuable. Rahm had a 67 and was in the group of five players one shot behind. That included McIlroy, coming of a win at the Canadian Open, who was never more entertaining.McIlroy was two holes into his round when an errant approach landed in waist-high fescue. He took a hack. And then another. The third try finally found the green, and he holed a 25-foot putt to salvage a double bogey.McIlroy hit his stride on the back nine with three birdies over his last four holes for a 69.“After 36 holes in a major championship, that’s all you want to do is put yourself right in the mix going into the weekend,” McIlroy said. “For a little part of the day there, it seemed like I was going to be a few more behind. But I dug deep and played the last eight holes really, really well.”Not to be overlooked was Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, who chipped in from thick rough short of the par-5 14th green for an eagle that brought the Texan back into the mix with a 67. He was two shots behind.AdvertisementMorikawa, Rahm and Scheffler have combined to win four of the last nine majors. And then there’s McIlroy, who has four majors but none since 2014.Jon Rahm hits on the sixth hole during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (Charlie Riedel/AP)“It’s the U.S. Open. No one has taken it deep so far and run away,” Morikawa said. “The last few days is a huge confidence booster for me heading into this weekend, and hopefully we can make some separation somehow.”The idea of the U.S. Open is to identify the best players. Some of them require some introductions to major championship contention on the weekend.Start with Dahmen, who will never be accused of taking himself too seriously, even if he takes his game seriously. He thought about withdrawing from the 36-hole qualifier twice last week before it started and after the first round.But he stuck it out, and with a 68 on Friday plays in the final group of a major for the first time. He joined Morikawa at 5-under 135.“We don’t tee off until 3:45 tomorrow. I typically have to be home at 5 for dinner,” Dahmen said. “So this will be different, for sure.”AdvertisementThe group one shot behind includes Buckley, who wasn’t in the U.S. Open until making a 20-foot birdie putt in a playoff for the last spot in his qualifier 11 days ago.He was fading, like so many others, with three bogeys during a five-hole stretch around the turn when he got back on track. Birdies on the last two holes gave him another 68.Also at 136 were Aaron Wise, with one PGA Tour victory and nothing better than a tie for 17th in his nine previous majors; and Beau Hossler, who featured on the weekend at Olympic Club as a teenage amateur in 2012 but hasn’t been heard of since then in the majors.They were examples that the U.S. Open being open to all doesn’t just stop with qualifying for the right to play the toughest test in golf.The weekend won’t have Mickelson, hardly a surprise. He took a four-month hiatus over his inflammatory remarks about the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed league he was promoting, wound up joining LIV Golf and returned to competition last week with poor results.The U.S. Open was a slightly stronger test and Mickelson was exposed, particularly on the greens, with rounds of 78-73 to miss the cut. His next stop is Oregon in two weeks for another LIV Golf event, 54 holes and no cut.AdvertisementMcIlroy never panicked after his double bogey. He took advantage of the birdie chances on the drivable par-4 fifth and the short par-5 eighth. And he finished strong to get right in the mix, his main goal going into the weekend.Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the U.S. Open on Friday at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (Charles Krupa/AP)Adding to the anticipation for McIlroy was seeing so many familiar names at the top.“You want to go up against the best to try to bring the best out of yourself,” McIlroy said. “And to see Collin and Jon and Scottie and Sam (Burns) up there and whoever else, that’s what major championship golf is all about. That’s what competition is all about.“And that’s at the heart of this game. I’m excited to be in that mix going into the weekend.”

Sports

Chicago White Sox 3B Yoán Moncada exits Friday’s game against the Houston Astros with a right hamstring injury

HOUSTON — Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada left the game Friday against the Houston Astros in the third inning with right hamstring tightness.He is being evaluated, the Sox said.AdvertisementMoncada talked with the training staff in the dugout at Minute Maid Park after grounding out to shortstop Aledmys Díaz in the second inning. He remained in the game for the bottom of the second. Josh Harrison replaced him in the third.Yoán Moncada left the game with right hamstring tightness and is being further evaluated.— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) June 18, 2022

Moncada is slashing .179/.230/.292 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 29 games. He began the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain and played his first game May 9. He experienced quad discomfort, limiting his playing time in late May.AdvertisementMoncada had a career-high five hits Wednesday in a 13-0 victory against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Moncada went 5-for-6 with five RBIs, hitting a three-run home run in the first, a single in the fourth, a double in the sixth and RBI singles in the eighth and ninth.

Sports

‘He’s ready’: Michael Kopech is in line to start Sunday for the Chicago White Sox against the Houston Astros

HOUSTON — Michael Kopech gave a thumbs-up after a bullpen session Thursday at Minute Maid Park.The right-hander passed his tests, putting him in line to start Sunday for the Chicago White Sox against the Houston Astros.Advertisement“The big test for me was (Thursday) having that bullpen and seeing if it would be extra sore (Friday) and how it was going to feel,” Kopech said Friday. “I came in and it felt better (Friday) than it did (Thursday). It’s a good sign. I’m improving every day. I think I’ll be ready to go.”Kopech left his last start Sunday against the Texas Rangers after two-thirds of an inning with right knee discomfort. He exited after throwing 13 pitches.Advertisement“I definitely didn’t think it was going to be this quick,” Kopech said. “I don’t know what it was, but the way it felt and not being able to bear weight on it when I got on the mound and tried to throw another pitch, I definitely thought it would be pretty bad news. I’m definitely grateful for what I did get.”He hobbled off the mound after throwing a pitch to Adolis García in the first inning at Guaranteed Rate Field.White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech reacts after suffering a right knee injury in the first inning against the Rangers on June 12, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Quinn Harris / Getty Images)After a discussion with the training staff, Kopech went back on the mound to prepare for a warmup pitch. He stopped just as he was beginning, walked behind the mound and threw the ball to the ground in frustration. But after the game, Kopech said he was relieved to hear it wasn’t a more serious injury, and manager Tony La Russa brought up the possibility of Kopech pitching in Houston.“I came back with surprisingly good news from that and every day has been surprisingly better,” Kopech said. “If you had asked me (Sunday) if this would be the case, I probably would have been pretty doubtful about it. I feel good.”The good news meant he didn’t have to miss extended time.“I think there would have been that thought if there was anything structurally going on,” Kopech said. “But looking at the MRI and seeing the movements I’ve been able to make in a short amount of time since, I just don’t think there’s any point in doing that. Try to keep going.”As far as having to keep tabs on the knee the rest of the season, Kopech said, “I think TBD,”“For the most part, where I’m at with it, I think I’m going to feel it for the rest of the year probably,” Kopech said. “But it’s just being able to tolerate it, and I can tolerate it. As long as it’s not painful and getting in the way of me doing what I need to do, I can deal with a little discomfort.Advertisement“But it’s gotten better day to day. Who knows? Maybe by Sunday I’m not feeling anything at all.”Kopech threw between 30-35 pitches Thursday. La Russa liked what he saw.“He feels great,” La Russa said. “He’s ready.”White Sox starting pitcher Michael Kopech, right, is checked on by a team trainer after suffering an injury during the first inning of a game against the Rangers on June 12, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)Kopech has been one of the team’s top pitchers as he moved back into the rotation after spending most of 2021 in the bullpen. He’s 2-2 with a 1.92 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 11 starts. He has limited opponents to one hit while pitching at least five innings in four of his starts.One of his best outings came in a Sunday night game. Kopech allowed one hit with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings in Game 2 of a May 22 doubleheader against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. He retired the first 17 batters before Rob Brantly broke up the perfect game with a two-out double in the sixth.He’s set for another opportunity on that stage, this time in his home state. Kopech resides in Tyler, Texas.Advertisement“As far as how it feels physically, the humidity reminds me of home,” Kopech said. “Definitely being closer to the family and closer to some friends that I’m familiar with over here, I’m excited.”

Sports

Keegan Thompson’s career-best start the sets tone as the Chicago Cubs end a 10-game losing streak

“Go Cubs Go” reverberated through the home clubhouse postgame Friday at Wrigley Field as players belted along to the song.The Chicago Cubs’ season-high 10-game losing streak had come up against the Atlanta Braves’ franchise-record-tying 14-game winning streak. So when small ball in the eighth inning produced the game’s lone run on Christopher Morel’s sacrifice fly and David Robertson worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure the 1-0 win, they had plenty to celebrate.AdvertisementThe Cubs — finally — were back in the win column.Friday marked the first time since Sept. 15, 1999, that a team with a double-digit losing streak beat a team on a double-digit winning streak, according to Elias Sports Bureau.Advertisement“Look, we’ve had some ugly ones lately, but I haven’t questioned the effort or the intensity of the guys at all,” manager David Ross said. “And nobody’s been making excuses. … There’s something about a starting pitcher going out and setting the tone.”Right-hander Keegan Thompson delivered the type of start the Cubs desperately needed. Coming off bad starts in Baltimore and New York in which he was tagged for a combined 12 runs (10 earned) in 3⅔ innings left Thompson searching to get back on track. Ultimately he and the Cubs determined pitch selection, not mechanics, were at the root of his struggles.Cubs starting pitcher Keegan Thompson delivers during the second inning against the Braves on Friday at Wrigley Field. (Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images)Thompson needed to throw more fastballs. Well, the Braves certainly saw plenty en route to Thompson pitching into the seventh inning for the first time in his major-league career. Thompson’s four-seam fastball accounted for 52% of his 92 pitches, getting 10 whiffs and nine called strikes with the pitch. His 18 total swings and misses were the most by a Cubs pitcher this season.“My core belief — and I’m probably not the norm in the new age — is you pitch with your fastball, especially the starter,” Ross said. “He did that today. That was what you do. Nobody took good swings.”Thompson made a conscious effort to go to his fastball early and often against the Braves. He knew how important it would be to establish his fastball, a pitch that has been important during his successful outings this season. Thompson admitted he got away from throwing his fastball in his previous two starts when he was roughed up.Rather than overthinking his mechanics, Thompson believes finding the right tempo and timing combined with more fastballs and attacking hitters are his keys to success.“I think it was trying to place balls the last time instead of just going after guys and staying in the zone and letting them put it in play,” Thompson said. “There was a couple of fastballs that were hit in one of my outings and I think it just took me away from it. I was throwing more offspeed stuff or two seams instead.”The only time the Braves advanced a baserunner past first against Thompson came on a soft fly ball in the fifth inning. It landed inside the white chalk as right fielder Jason Heyward was unable to reach it before the ball bounced out of play for a ground-rule double. Orlando Arcia’s fluky double had a .010 expected average. Thompson responded by striking out Michael Harris II for a career-high ninth strikeout to keep the game scoreless.AdvertisementA seven-pitch sixth resulted in Ross sending Thompson back out for the seventh on a batter-by-batter approach. Thompson’s day ended after a four-pitch walk to Matt Olson, the Braves’ first hitter of the inning. But unlike other days during the Cubs’ losing streak, the bullpen threw zeros. Morel’s heroics capped the Cubs doing the little things right in the eighth. Pinch hitter Jonathan Villar walked and advanced on Andrelton Simmons’ sacrifice bunt. Villar stole third base during Morel’s at-bat and beat Harris’ throw home.The Cubs’ Jonathan Villar, left, scores on a sacrifice fly by Christopher Morel as Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud applies a late tag during the eighth inning Friday at Wrigley Field. (Nam Y. Huh / AP)The Cubs’ Jonathan Villar slides home safely before the tag from Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud to score the winning run in the eighth inning on Friday at Wrigley Field. (Chase Agnello-Dean / Getty Images)Morel had struck out three times against starter Charlie Morton before coming through with the go-ahead RBI against the Braves bullpen. Before Morel’s final plate appearance, Willson Contreras told him not to chase the low stuff like he did in his previous at-bats and look to attack something high.“Just the small things, that’s what (Ross) said to us is going to be the key to winning games,” Morel said through an interpreter.Thompson has an opportunity to build off his stellar performance as he tries to establish himself as a big-league starter. He set a career high in innings (six-plus) and strikeouts while holding a hot Braves offense to two hits and two walks.“He’s back,” an impressed Contreras said afterward.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy talked with Thompson ahead of Friday’s start and put his two ugly road outings in perspective: “You’ve had really good stretches, chalk it up to having a bad week.” AdvertisementIt was important for Thompson to how to compete even when things aren’t going well. Hottovy said those struggles didn’t change the Cubs’ minds at all about what Thompson can do as a starter.“That’s part of learning in this league,” Hottovy told the Tribune. “You can learn a lot having success. You learn way more when you fail.”The Cubs will continue to lean on their less-experienced starters, particularly Thompson and Justin Steele, with three veteran pitchers on the injured list. Marcus Stroman (right shoulder inflammation) might return the soonest, though after playing catch Friday he couldn’t put a timeline on his return. Stroman hopes it will be a few weeks “give or take.”Thompson’s ability to bounce back Friday rather than letting two bad starts snowball into extended struggles is a great development for the 27 year old.“It does show a lot about Keegan because for a good while there he goes and has a couple hiccups that you tend to want to abort ship and try to correct everything,” said Yan Gomes, who caught him Friday. “He’s not the kind of guy that is. For him is just like almost having that bulk mentality of just come out, throw as hard as you can and throw all your pitches with major conviction.“He’s got the potential to be a tremendous starter. He’s just got to find himself a little bit more, and you’re starting to see big spurts of that.”