Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 93

June 26, 2025

What you need to know about Warriors draft pick Will Richard

SAN FRANCISCO – When it comes to crunch time credentials, few prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft compare with Will Richard.

Chosen by the Golden State Warriors in the second round with the No. 56 overall selection, Richard scored 18 points and made all four of his 3-pointers in Florida’s victory over Houston in the NCAA title game. 

During the season and in predraft workouts, Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy saw a pro-ready skillset that should translate to the NBA game. 

Richard’s skillset was so coveted that Dunleavy moved up three spots to select him with the 56th pick. 

“We see him as a two-way player, who can shoot it and defend, and I think he’s a pretty good on-ball defender, and a very good off-ball defender,” Dunleavy told media on Thursday night. “He’s got good length, and he’s coming from a really good program and system where he’s well coached, and well taught in many years in college. This is a guy who knows how to play.”

Richard was the last of three Gators to hear their name called in the draft. Star point guard Walter Clayton went No. 18 overall to the Jazz, and Alijah Martin went No. 39 overall to the Raptors. 

The two-guard will compete for minutes with Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Buddy Hield and possibly Gary Payton II. 

Here’s what you need to know about Richard. 

Measurements: 6-foot-4, 206 pounds

Age: 22

Position: Shooting guard/wing

Where is he from: Fairburn, Ga. 

Statistics: 13.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game on 48/36/84 shooting splits. 

Biography: Richard attended Belmont University in Nashville during his freshman season, before transferring to Florida and averaging double digits in points in all three years in the Swamp. Led Woodward Academy to the 2020 Georgia 4A state title as a high school junior.

Fun fact: Richard, whose favorite NBA player is former Warrior legend Klay Thompson, says that his favorite movie ever is the Disney classic “Ratatouille.” His favorite book is “James and the Giant Peach.”

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Published on June 26, 2025 22:15

What you need to know about Warriors draft pick Alex Toohey

SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy never saw Alex Toohey play in person for the Sydney Kings in Australia’s National Basketball League. 

But that did not stop the team from going international with their first of two second-round picks in the 2025 NBA draft, choosing the Australian forward with the No. 52 overall selection.

Though he intrigued many during the pre-draft process as a well-rounded 6-foot-8 forward who could do a little bit of everything on offense, it was his potential on the other end of the floor that piqued Dunleavy’s interest. 

“With our system and the way we play, he has the versatility to play multiple positions,” Dunleavy told media on Thursday. “He’s super versatile and creates a lot of plays, which is important for us defensively with Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler and Brandin Podziemski, we have guys who can disrupt, and this guy fits that mold.”

Toohey joined fellow countrymen Rocco Zikarsky, Tyrese Proctor and Lachlan Olbrich as 2025 draft picks. He is now added to a forward rotation that also includes Moses Moody, Gui Santos and possibly Jonathan Kuminga.   

Here’s what you need to know about Toohey. 

Measurements: 6-foot-8, 223 pounds

Age: 21

Position: Small forward/Power forward

Where is he from: Canberra, Australia

Statistics: 10.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals per game on 45/30/73 shooting splits. 

Biography: Toohey attended the NBA Global Academy in Australia as a high schooler and was set to attend Gonzaga before joining Australia’s National Basketball League’s Next Stars Program. He won the NBL Next Generation Award last season. 

Fun fact: Toohey’s first love was cricket, a sport most of his family members played. He did not commit to playing basketball full-time until he was 14 years old. 

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Published on June 26, 2025 22:06

Warriors pick Alex Toohey, Will Richard in second round of 2025 NBA draft

SAN FRANCISCO – Twenty-six hours after Cooper Flagg was selected as the first pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors finally participated in the process.

On the eve of the second round, Golden State traded the No. 41 pick to Phoenix for No. 52 and 59 picks, later moving up from 59 to No. 56. 

With the No. 52 pick, the Warriors selected forward Alex Toohey out of Australia.

Toohey is a 21-year-old forward who averaged 10.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Sydney Kings in the National Basketball League. He is 6-foot-8 and 223 pounds, and made 26 of 86 3-point field goals.

“A tough, smart and energetic forward,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony said said on the network’s broadcast. “A great feel for the game and gets in the passing lanes, and gives you a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor.” 

With the No. 56 pick, the Warriors picked up 6-4 Florida guard Will Richard. The 22-year-old combo guard averaged 13 points per game and shot 36% from 3-point distance for the national champions. He scored 18 points and made all four of his 3-pointers in Florida’s come-from-behind victory over Houston in the final.

“He’s a versatile shooter, a catch and shoot guy, but also a really good straight line driver and an excellent finisher around the rim who shot about 70% at the rim,” analyst Jay Bilas said on the broadcast.

The Warriors are hoping to find second-round gold for the third consecutive season. 

Last year, they picked big man Quinten Post with the 52nd pick, and saw him develop into a rotation big who shot 40.8% from 3-point range and averaged 8.1 points per game. 

In 2023, the Warriors nabbed Trayce Jackson-Davis, who has started games for the Bay Area franchise during his first two seasons. 

Now Toohey will join a team that went 48-34 and rocketed up the Western Conference standings once Jimmy Butler joined a team featuring future Hall of Famers Steph Curry and Draymond Green. 

Golden State took out the Rockets in seven games, and then lost to Minnesota in five after Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Game 1. 

Toohey adds a cheap contract to a team that has $139.6 million devoted to just their top three players. 

With the salary cap set at $154 million and Jonathan Kuminga’s contract situation still up in the air, the team will need to make shrewd moves to stay out of the luxury tax and the dreaded financial aprons.

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Published on June 26, 2025 19:04

Canadian man held by immigration officials dies in South Florida federal facility, officials say

MIAMI (AP) — A Canadian man being held by immigration officials in South Florida has died in federal custody, officials said.

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Johnny Noviello, 49, died Monday afternoon at the Bureau of Prisons Federal Detention Center in Miami, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement press release said. The cause of death was under investigation.

Noviello was being detained pending removal from the U.S., officials said. He entered the U.S. in 1988 on a legal visa and became a lawful permanent resident in 1991. He was convicted of drug trafficking and other charges in 2023 and sentenced to a year in prison, officials said.

Noviello was picked up by ICE agents at his probation office last month and charged with removability because of his drug conviction, authorities said.

Seven other immigration detainees have died in federal custody this year, with 11 deaths reported in 2024.

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Published on June 26, 2025 17:02

Trumps drop ‘Made in the USA’ label for new phone and a debate ensues: How to define ‘made’?

By BERNARD CONDON

NEW YORK (AP) — When the Trump family unveiled a new phone before a giant American flag at its headquarters earlier this month, the pitch was simple and succinct, packed with pure patriotism: “Made in the U.S.A.”

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The Trumps are apparently having second thoughts.

How about “proudly American”?

Those are the two words that have replaced the “Made in the USA” pitch that just a few days ago appeared on the website where customers can pre-order the so-called T-1 gold-toned phones with an American flag etched on the back. Elsewhere on the site, other vague terms are now being used, describing the $499 phone as boasting an “American-Proud Design” and “brought to life right here in the U.S.A.”

The Federal Trade Commission requires that items labeled “Made in USA” be “all or virtually all” produced in the U.S. and several firms have been sued over misusing the term.

The Trump Organization has not explained the change and has not responded to a request for comment. Neither did an outside public relations firm handling the Trumps’ mobile phone business, including a request to confirm a statement made to another media outlet.

“T1 phones are proudly being made in America,” said Trump Mobile spokesman Chris Walker, according to USA Today. “Speculation to the contrary is simply inaccurate.”

The language change on the website was first reported by the news site The Verge.

An expert on cell phone technology, IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo, said he’s not surprised the Trump family has dropped the “Made in the USA” label because it’s nearly impossible to build one here given the higher cost and lack of infrastructure to do so.

But, of course, you can claim to do it.

“Whether it is possible or not to build this phone in the US depends on what you consider ‘build,’” Jeronimo said. “If it’s a question of assembling components and targeting small volumes, I suppose it’s somehow possible. You can always get the components from China and assemble them by hand somewhere.”

“You’re going to have phones that are made right here in the United States of America,” said Trump’s son Eric to Fox News recently, adding, “It’s about time we bring products back to our great country.”

The Trump family has flown the American flag before with Trump-branded products of suspicious origin, including its “God Bless the USA” Bibles, which an Associated Press investigation last year showed were printed in China.

The Trump phone is part of a bigger family mobile business plan designed to tap into MAGA enthusiasm for the president. The two sons running the business, Eric and Don Jr., announced earlier this month that they would offer mobile phone plans for $47.45 a month, a reference to their father’s status as the 45th and 47th president. The call center, they said, will be in the U.S., too.

“You’re not calling up call centers in Bangladesh,” Eric Trump said on Fox News. “We’re doing it out of St. Louis, Missouri.”

The new service has been blasted by government ethics experts for a conflict of interest, given that President Donald Trump oversees the Federal Communications Commission that regulates the business and is investigating phone service companies that are now Trump Mobile rivals.

Trump has also threatened to punish cell phone maker Apple, now a direct competitor, threatening to slap 25% tariffs on devices because of its plans to make most of its U.S. iPhones in India.

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Published on June 26, 2025 16:54

Meet the Senate parliamentarian, the official tying Republicans in knots over their tax bill

By KEVIN FREKING

WASHINGTON (AP) — A few Republicans reacted with indignation Thursday after the Senate parliamentarian advised that some of the measures in their tax and immigration bill could not be included in the legislation.

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Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., tweeted on X that Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough should be fired, “ASAP.” Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., intimated that she was partisan, asking why an “unelected swamp bureaucrat, who was appointed by Harry Reid over a decade ago” gets to decide what’s in the bill?”

It’s hardly the first time the parliamentarian’s normally low-key and lawyerly role has drawn a blast of public criticism.

MacDonough also dashed Democratic plans over the years, advising in 2021 that they couldn’t include a minimum wage increase in their COVID-19 relief bill. Later that same year, she advised that Democrats needed to drop an effort to let millions of immigrants remain temporarily in the U.S. as part of their big climate bill.

But the attention falling on MacDonough’s rulings in recent years also reflects a broader change in Congress, with lawmakers increasingly trying to wedge their top policy priorities into bills that can’t be filibustered in the Senate. The process comes with special rules designed to deter provisions unrelated to spending or taxes — and that’s where the parliamentarian comes in, offering analysis of what does and doesn’t qualify.

Her latest round of decisions Thursday was a blow to the GOP’s efforts to wring hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid over the next decade. Senate Republicans could opt to try to override her recommendations, but they are unlikely to do so.

Here’s a closer look at what the Senate parliamentarian does and why lawmakers are so focused on her recommendations right now.

The crucial role of the parliamentarian

Both the House and Senate have a parliamentarian to provide assistance on that chamber’s rules and precedents. They are often seen advising whoever is presiding over the chamber on the proper procedures to be followed and the appropriate responses to a parliamentary inquiry.

They are also charged with providing information to lawmakers and their respective staff on a strictly nonpartisan and confidential basis.

The parliamentarians and their staff only offer advice. Their recommendations are not binding. In the case of the massive tax and spending bill now before both chambers, the parliamentarian plays a critical role in advising whether the reconciliation bill’s provisions remain focused on fiscal issues.

How MacDonough became the first woman in the job

MacDonough, an English literature major, is the Senate’s first woman to be parliamentarian and just the sixth person to hold the position since its creation in 1935.

She began her Senate career in its library before leaving to get a law degree at Vermont Law School. She worked briefly as a Justice Department trial attorney before returning to the Senate in 1999, this time as an assistant in the parliamentarian’s office. She was initially appointed parliamentarian in 2012 by Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada, Senate majority leader at the time. She was retained by Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., when he became majority leader in 2015.

She helped Chief Justice John Roberts preside over Trump’s 2020 Senate impeachment trial and was beside then-Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., for Trump’s second trial the following year. Trump was acquitted both times.

In this Jan. 6, 2021, photo, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, second from left, works beside Vice President Mike Pence during the certification of Electoral College ballots in the presidential election, in the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington. Shortly afterward, the Capitol was stormed by rioters determined to disrupt the certification. MacDonough has guided the Senate through two impeachment trials, vexed Democrats and Republicans alike with parliamentary opinions and helped rescue Electoral College certificates from a pro-Trump mob ransacking the Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)In this Jan. 6, 2021, photo, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, second from left, works beside Vice President Mike Pence during the certification of Electoral College ballots in the presidential election, in the House chamber at the Capitol in Washington. Shortly afterward, the Capitol was stormed by rioters determined to disrupt the certification. MacDonough has guided the Senate through two impeachment trials, vexed Democrats and Republicans alike with parliamentary opinions and helped rescue Electoral College certificates from a pro-Trump mob ransacking the Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

When Trump supporters fought past police and into the Capitol in hopes of disrupting Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory, MacDonough and other staffers rescued those ballots and hustled mahogany boxes containing them to safety. MacDonough’s office, on the Capitol’s first floor, was ransacked and declared a crime scene.

Can the Senate ignore the parliamentarian’s advice?

Yes. The parliamentarian makes the recommendation, but it’s the presiding officer overseeing Senate proceedings who rules on provisions in the bill. If there is a dispute, it would be put to a vote.

Michael Thorning, director of structural democracy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank, said he doubts Republicans will want to go that route. And indeed, some Republican senators said as much Thursday.

“It’s the institutional integrity, even if I’m convinced 100% she’s wrong,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D.

Thorning said lawmakers from both parties view MacDonough as “very much an honest broker.”

“And the Senate relies on her,” Thorning said. “Sometimes, those decisions cut your way, and sometimes, they don’t. I also think members recognize that once you start treating the parliamentarian’s advice as just something that could be easily dismissed, then the rules start to matter less.”

Have parliamentarians been fired?

Majority leaders from both parties have replaced the parliamentarian. For more than three decades, the position alternated between Robert Dove and Alan Frumin depending upon which party was in the majority.

Thorning said the two parliamentarians weren’t far apart though, in how they interpreted the Senate’s rules and precedents.

MacDonough succeeded Frumin as parliamentarian. He said the small number of calls Thursday for her dismissal “tells you all people need to know about the current parliamentarian.”

“Senators know this isn’t somebody playing politics,” Thorning said.

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Published on June 26, 2025 16:09

Reports: Warriors make draft day trade with Phoenix Suns

A little over an hour before the start of the second round of the NBA draft, the Warriors have turned one pick into two selections.

Golden State has traded the No. 41 pick to Phoenix for No. 52 and 59 picks, per a report by ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Warriors are hoping to find second-round success for the third consecutive season. 

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Last year, they picked big man Quinten Post with the 52nd pick, and saw him develop into a rotation big who shot 40.8% from 3-point range and averaged 8.1 points per game. In 2023, the Warriors nabbed Trayce Jackson-Davis, who has started games for the Bay Area franchise during his first two seasons. 

The Warriors did not own a first round pick this year, and did not trade into the opening round on Wednesday.

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Published on June 26, 2025 16:01

Native leaders blast construction of Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ on land they call sacred

By KATE PAYNE

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is racing ahead with construction of a makeshift immigration detention facility at an airstrip in the Everglades over the opposition of Native American leaders who consider the area their sacred ancestral homelands.

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A string of portable generators and dump trucks loaded with fill dirt streamed into the site on Thursday, according to activist Jessica Namath, who witnessed the activity. The state is plowing ahead with building a compound of heavy-duty tents, trailers and other temporary buildings at the Miami Dade County-owned airfield located in the Big Cypress National Preserve, about 45 miles west of downtown Miami.

A spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, which is helping lead the project, did not respond to requests for comment.

State officials have characterized the site as an ideal place to hold migrants, saying there’s “not much” there other than pythons and alligators.

Indigenous leaders dispute that and are condemning the state’s plans to build what’s been dubbed “ Alligator Alcatraz ” on their homelands. Native Americans can trace their roots to the area back thousands of years.

For generations, the sweeping wetlands of what is now South Florida have been home to Native peoples who today make up the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.

“Rather than Miccosukee homelands being an uninhabited wasteland for alligators and pythons, as some have suggested, the Big Cypress is the Tribe’s traditional homelands. The landscape has protected the Miccosukee and Seminole people for generations,” Miccosukee Chairman Talbert Cypress wrote in a statement on social media.

There are 15 remaining traditional Miccosukee and Seminole villages in Big Cypress, as well as ceremonial and burial grounds and other gathering sites, Cypress testified before Congress in 2024.

“We live here. Our ancestors fought and died here. They are buried here,” he said. “The Big Cypress is part of us, and we are a part of it.”

Garrett Stuart, who lives about 3 miles from the site, described the crystal clear waters, open prairies and lush tree islands of Big Cypress as teeming with life.

“Hearing the arguments of the frogs in the water, you know? And listen to the grunt of the alligator. You’re hearing the call of that osprey flying by and listening to the crows chatting,” he said. “It’s all just incredible.”

Critics have condemned the detention facility and what they call the state’s apparent reliance on alligators as a security measure as a cruel spectacle, while DeSantis and other state officials have defended it as part of Florida’s muscular efforts to carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

“To have alligators and pythons be the security guards, only someone who’s never spent time in the swamp would ever say something like that,” Stuart said. “They’re afraid of human beings.”

The Florida National Guard is preparing to send up to 100 soldiers to the facility on July 1 to provide site security and staff augmentation, and other support “as directed.”

In this image from undated video released by the Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier shows an isolated Everglades airfield about 45 miles (72 kms.) west of Miami that Florida officials said an immigration detention facility dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” is just days away from being operational. (Courtesy of the Office of Attorney General James Uthmeier via AP)

“We don’t have a set timeline for this mission due to the fluid nature of the situation, but we will stay on the ground for as long as we’re needed and at the direction of Governor DeSantis,” Guard spokesperson Brittianie Funderburk said in a statement.

Tribal leaders and environmentalists are urging the state to change course, noting billions of dollars in state and federal funds have been poured into Everglades restoration in recent years, an investment they say is jeopardized by plans to house some 1,000 migrants at the site for an undetermined amount of time.

Indigenous leaders and activists are planning to gather at the site again on Saturday to stage a demonstration highlighting why the area is “sacred” and should be “protected, not destroyed.”

“This place became our refuge in time of war. It provides us a place to continue our culture and traditions,” Miccosukee leader Betty Osceola wrote in a social media post announcing the demonstration.

“And we need to protect it for our future generations,” she added.

Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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Published on June 26, 2025 15:59

SF Giants’ frustrations continue after being swept by Marlins

SAN FRANCISCO — Wilmer Flores does not typically run hot. So Willy Adames knows that if Flores is mad, something significant had to have happened.

After striking out to end the seventh inning Thursday afternoon, Flores became incensed with someone on the Miami Marlins. Instead of retreating to the Giants’ dugout, he took several purposeful steps toward the school of Marlins. The benches quickly cleared. Flores’ teammates quickly corralled him and directed him back to their bunker.

That was the extent of the extracurriculars. There was no sparring of any kind; equanimity was restored after roughly a minute. Flores was not available postgame to clarify who or what incited his anger. But the episode, one that unfolded in the middle of a 12-5 loss to the Marlins, encapsulated the Giants’ collective frustrations.

The frustration of being swept by Miami and finishing the nine-game homestand with six losses. The frustration of their hitters repeatedly getting plunked. The frustration of an offense that still remains cold even with Rafael Devers in the lineup.

“I don’t think there’s anything to say,” Adames said of being swept. “We played like crap.”

Adames did not know why Flores became so mad. Manager Bob Melvin said he was also unsure, speculating that something was said to Flores. But before the game even started, tension hung in the air.

Following Wednesday’s loss, several players voiced their displeasure about the recent stretch of San Francisco’s batters getting hit. Casey Schmitt, one of three players plunked on Wednesday, had to undergo X-rays after taking a fastball to the left wrist.

Schmitt, who was already filling in for the injured Matt Chapman, missed Thursday’s game as he underwent a CT scan. While there was no fracture, the third baseman did have a bone bruise. He wants to play Friday against the Chicago White Sox but said of his wrist postgame that “it’s pretty messed up in there.”

Following Wednesday’s loss, Logan Webb offered a cryptic message by saying he hoped “there’s a little bit of an edge” for Thursday’s series finale given Schmitt, Jung Hoo Lee and Dominic Smith all got plunked.

An edge, indeed.

Hayden Birdsong began his afternoon by retiring the first two batters he faced on a pair of popups. On his 12th pitch of the day, Birdsong plunked Otto Lopez in the leg with a 97.5 mph four-seam fastball that was nowhere near the zone. It was a beanball that unquestionably fell in line with the Giants’ ethos of protecting their hitters.

“It is what it is,” said manager Bob Melvin. “It was pretty minor.”

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 throws against the Miami Marlins in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 throws against the Miami Marlins in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

The umpiring crew congregated after the hit-by-pitch and quickly issued a warning to both sides, proactively ensuring Thursday’s game did not devolve into an afternoon of retaliation. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough immediately emerged from the first-base dugout and argued with home plate umpire Alfonso Márquez, who ejected him from the game.

If the Giants were sending a message, the Marlins sent a couple right back.

Following the hit-by-pitch, Agustín Ramírez smashed a 113.0 mph double off the left-field wall, then Kyle Stowers sent a three-run shot into Miami’s bullpen to put San Francisco in a 3-0 deficit. Two innings later, Ramírez sent a hanging 0-2 slider from Birdsong more than halfway up the left-field bleachers, a majestic two-run blast that put the Giants in a 5-0 hole.

“Things happen,” Birdsong said of hitting Lopez with two outs and nobody on. “You hit guys, you move on and I threw another slider middle-middle. That’s usually a home run.”

Down by five runs, San Francisco responded with five runs of their own. Rafael Devers trimmed the Giants’ deficit with a two-run shot in the third, and the Giants tied the game with three runs in the fourth on Adames’ RBI single and Brett Wisely’s two-run double.

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The next half inning, the The Marlins countered and took the lead for good.

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers #28 is congratulated by teammate Eric Wagaman #33 after his three-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 is congratulated by teammate Eric Wagaman #33 after his three-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Birdsong walked the first two batters he faced to start the fifth, prompting Melvin to go to the bullpen. Reliever Spencer Bivens struck out the first two batters he faced but Eric Wagaman’s two-run double and Connor Norby’s RBI single gave the Marlins an 8-5 lead that they’d never lose. Miami landed its haymaker in the eighth by scoring four runs off right-hander Sean Hjelle.

The 23-year-old Birdsong finished his outing having allowed seven runs over four-plus innings, tied for the most he’s allowed in a single outing in his career.

“Kind of like the last outing, his velo is kind of all over the place. When he gets it right, it’s 96, 97. When he doesn’t, it’s 93. Kind of big misses with his fastball, big misses with his breaking ball. When he struggles some, that’s kind of what you see and we’ve seen that the last couple times.”

With the loss, the Giants are now exactly halfway through the regular season. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played, but even with this recent skid, they’re 44-37 and a half-game out of the final NL Wild Card spot.

“It’s tough to have perspective from the beginning of the year to where we are right now,” Melvin said. “We are who we are, and we feel like we’re a lot better than we’ve played these three games. We’re not in a horrible position, yet we feel like we’re a better team than what our record is right now.”

Players including San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames #2 and manager...Players including San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames #2 and manager Bob Melvin congregate on the field after teammate Wilmer Flores struck out swinging against Miami Marlins relief pitcher Cade Gibson #58 to end the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, left, is held back by...San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores, left, is held back by umpire Alfonso Marquez after Flores struck out swinging against Miami Marlins relief pitcher Cade Gibson #58 to end the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins bench coach Carson Vitale, center, tries to clear...Miami Marlins bench coach Carson Vitale, center, tries to clear the field after San Francisco Giants’ Wilmer Flores struck out for the final out in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 watches the flight of his...Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 watches the flight of his three-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 reacts as...San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 reacts as Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 rounds the bases after his three-run home run in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 is congratulated by teammate Agustín...Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 is congratulated by teammate Agustín Ramírez #50 after his three-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the first inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 throws against the...Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 throws against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Agustín Ramírez #50 and teammate Jesús Sánchez #7...Miami Marlins’ Agustín Ramírez #50 and teammate Jesús Sánchez #7 are congratulated after Ramirez hit a two-run home run off San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 hits a...San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 hits a two-run home run off Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 rounds the...San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 is congratulated...San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams #9 after hitting a two-run home run off Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 is congratulated...San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 is congratulated by teammate Andrew Knizner #21 after hitting a two-run home run off Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 in the third inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin takes out starting pitcher...San Francisco Giants manager Bob Melvin takes out starting pitcher Hayden Birdsong #60 in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Miami Marlins at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 gets turned...San Francisco Giants designated hitter Rafael Devers #16 gets turned around avoiding a tight pitch as he’s walked by Miami Marlins starting pitcher Janson Junk #26 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Joey Lucchesi #57 throws against...San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Joey Lucchesi #57 throws against the Miami Marlins in the sixth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants third baseman Christian Koss #50 makes the...San Francisco Giants third baseman Christian Koss #50 makes the throw to first to force out Miami Marlins’ Eric Wagaman #33 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 throws against...San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Sean Hjelle #64 throws against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 and teammate Eric Wagaman #33...Miami Marlins’ Kyle Stowers #28 and teammate Eric Wagaman #33 celebrate their MLB win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Show Caption1 of 18Players including San Francisco Giants’ Willy Adames #2 and manager Bob Melvin congregate on the field after teammate Wilmer Flores struck out swinging against Miami Marlins relief pitcher Cade Gibson #58 to end the seventh inning of their MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 26, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)Expand
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Published on June 26, 2025 15:35

Horoscopes June 26, 2025: Ariana Grande, lean into precision and detail

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Ariana Grande, 32; Ryan Tedder, 46; Derek Jeter, 51; Chris O’Donnell, 55.

Happy Birthday: Take your time, collect your thoughts and eliminate errors this year. Precision and detail will make a difference in how well you do. Personal and financial growth is heading in your direction, and your efficiency will determine what transpires. Do your best, leave nothing to chance and manufacture your destiny to suit your needs. It’s up to you to influence your future. Live up to your promises and follow through. Your numbers are 5, 18, 21, 28, 36, 41, 44.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Trust your instincts and fact-check information before agreeing to proceed with changes you are considering. Immerse yourself in conversations regarding your plans and get several estimates. Protect yourself from overpaying for additional services you don’t need or want. Networking and social events will offer insight that will change your perspective. 2 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Put essentials in order and forge ahead without hesitation. Once you have your paperwork in order, your plans in place and any permits required to follow through, you’ll enjoy turning your dream into a reality. Communication, friendships, love and peace of mind are yours to discover. Personal gain is in the stars. 4 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An open mind will lead to discovery and a pathway to new beginnings. Refuse to let disgruntled individuals rain on your parade. Stick to the facts and hide in places that offer insight into your options, and you’ll enjoy your day and progress. Put yourself and your intentions first. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Step up and be the influencer who makes a difference. Stick to the truth and adopt discipline, and you’ll turn what you know and love doing into a lucrative venture. Refuse to let uncertainty and insecurity override what you can do. Live in the moment, embrace what’s available and do your best. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Listen and learn. Keep personal information to yourself. Observation is in your best interest. Abrupt changes will backfire. Volunteering your time, money or skills will require setting boundaries and a budget you can afford. It’s best to research and take baby steps to break even or come out ahead. 3 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your energy to good use. Consider utilizing your skills to bring in more cash or to meet public demand. It’s up to you to manifest opportunities. Cold calls, advertising and spreading the word throughout your community will help. You’ll boost your confidence if you update your image. 4 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Stick to the truth and do whatever you can to avoid complicating your life. Pay attention to detail, deliver what others expect of you and promptly take care of personal and professional responsibilities. A helpful attitude, enthusiasm and a unique approach will help you gain support and insight into the possibilities. 2 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Focus on whatever will bring you the best outcome. Retaliating against something you cannot control will be a waste of time. Learn to go with the flow and make the most of whatever transpires. Financial opportunities are within reach if you don’t let insecurity or manipulation get in the way. Romance is favored. 5 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Creative accounting will help you budget your finances. It’s time to dump the deadweight in your life. Sell off what you don’t need, size down if necessary or find another source of income. You have more to offer than you realize. Turn one of your hobbies into a part-time business. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Temptation will cost you. Clear your head and look at every angle before you indulge in something iffy. Fast-talkers and false accusations will impede communication. Get your facts straight before you make a deal that sounds too good to be true. Say no to excessive suggestions, and don’t ignore your budget. Romance is favored. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Temptation will lead to taking on or spending too much. Gauge what’s possible, be responsible and value your time and money before you offer to volunteer. Prioritize your home, family and yourself before outsiders, or you’ll disrupt a meaningful relationship. Choose peace over discord. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Use your energy wisely and please loved ones. Making home improvements, participating in activities that bring you closer together and doing your part to help a cause are favored. Do your best and give your all, and the possibilities will be endless. Turn your dream into a reality, ask for what you want and make things happen. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are demonstrative, passionate and caring. You are proactive and influential.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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Published on June 26, 2025 03:01