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Ben Rice hit two home runs to help the New York Yankees to a 12-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday. The Yankees (51-42) split the four-game series with the Rays at Tropicana Field, remaining four games behind Tampa Bay (54-37) for first place in the AL East.

With his two homers, Rice now has 28 for the season, one fewer than the Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez for the AL home-run lead. He moved past the Rays’ Junior Caminero with his second home run on Thursday.

Caminero briefly moved ahead of Rice with his 27th homer of the season in the first inning off Yankees opener Paul Blackburn. That was his first home run in his past five games, following an 11-game span during which he hit 11 homers.

Rice finished the day batting 2-for-4 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI. With 65 RBI, the Yankees’ DH now ranks third in that category among AL sluggers behind Alvarez and Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz.

Ryan McMahon also drove in two runs for the Yankees, with Trent Grisham, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, José Caballero and Austin Wells each getting an RBI. Wells got his on his fifth home run of the season.

The Mets were blown out in the finale against the Blue Jays, 9-3, at Rogers Centre, to drop the series. The Mets have now lost ten of their last twelve, and are 2-4 in the Andy Green era.

Starter Freddy Peralta was awful again putting the Mets behind early. Of all the Mets’ disappointments this season, the alleged ace’s shortcomings might be the most perplexing. Peralta is in his career prime and physically hasn’t provided any hint of ailment.

Offensively, the Mets didn’t show life until the eighth, when Carson Benge delivered a two-run homer. Francisco Lindor hit a solo homer in the ninth. The Mets finished with five hits. All told it was just another sloppy loss in a season full of them.

Luke Weaver has been one of the most dominant relievers in all of baseball, but should the Mets trade him at the deadline since he still has another year on his contract?

The Mets’ next stop is Atlanta for four games. The Mets won two of three games against the NL East-leading Braves at Citi Field last month.

The 96th MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will take place on July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park, airing on FOX at 8 p.m. ET.

The Braves, Dodgers and Phillies are each sending five players to the All-Star Game, tied for the most selections of any club. That includes the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman earning his 10th selection, and top vote-getter Shohei Ohtani getting his sixth. Braves ace Chris Sale will also make his 10th trip to the All-Star Game.

Phillies star Bryce Harper, who was selected to the game by Commissioner Rob Manfred as a “Legend Pick,” is now a nine-time All-Star. And Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who was voted in as a starter for the American League, leads all players with 12 All-Star selections.

There are 26 first-time All-Stars on this year’s squads, including four rookies: the Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle, the Reds’ Sal Stewart, and the Guardians’ Parker Messick and Travis Bazzana.

The New York State Gaming Commission has unanimously approved licenses for three new casinos in New York City. The decision paves the way for Bally’s in the Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, and Resorts World near the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens to begin development. 

According to Gaming Commission Chairman Bryan O’Dwyer, the licensing fees are expected to generate $1.5 billion for the state.

The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, a significant part of the approved projects, is a partnership between Hard Rock International and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. The $8.1 billion project will transform 50 acres of parking lots around Citi Field into a large-scale entertainment and gaming complex.

The complex will feature a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a Hard Rock Live concert center, multiple restaurants and bars, a retail store, and a 25-acre public park. Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, expressed excitement about extending their reputation as a world-class entertainment company to Queens.

The New York Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza.

The move comes with the team in the midst of a miserable season in which the Mets sit at 34-47 — one of the worst records in the National League — despite one of the highest payrolls in MLB.

Andy Green will take over as the team’s interim manager, the team announced.

A few hours after the news broke, Mendoza released a statement thanking the Mets’ organization and the team’s fans for the past three seasons.

Mendoza put up a 206-199 record in three years with the team.

Mendoza’s dismissal is the third managerial change this season. The two other teams to make changes — the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies — acted early, with Boston firing Alex Cora and Philadelphia firing Rob Thomson in April.

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player in his sport to become a billionaire, joining the ranks of the wealthiest athletes.

Catapulted by a contract with a Saudi Arabian team, the veteran Portuguese player, now 40, is the first soccer player to be worth 10 figures, Bloomberg reported. 

Ronaldo recently signed a two-year contract with Riyadh-based Al-Nassr FC, a team that competes in the Saudi Pro League, which is reportedly worth more than $400 million, according to Bloomberg. Ronaldo does not have to pay taxes on his Saudi earnings. 

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index pegs the champion athlete’s net worth at $1.4 billion, marking the first time a soccer player has landed on the list. The outlet notes that his net worth accounts for his career earnings, plus investments and sponsorships. 

Ronaldo, who is from Madeira, Portgual, dropped out of school at 14, to focus on soccer. He has lucrative endorsement deals with Nike, Armani, and Castrol, among others, according to his website.

Spain, France, and England are currently the leading favorites to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the latest odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. The tournament, which kicks off on June 11, will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with the final set for Sunday July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

France follows closely, while England is next. Argentina aims to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups. 

Teams like Portugal and Germany also feature among the top contenders, while host nation the United States is considered a long shot. Odds will shift as the group stage and knockout rounds unfold, reflecting team performance, injuries, and betting trends.

Star players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are expected to make their final World Cup appearances, joined by rising stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. 

With the World Cup’s expanded field of 48 teams and 104 matches, fans and bettors can expect significant odds movement as results, injuries, and standout performances shape the path to the semifinals and beyond.

Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper each homered for the second straight game and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the New York Mets 6-2 on Sunday night.

The Phillies duo followed up their historic night on Saturday in which Schwarber hit three home runs and Harper hit for the cycle, by both going deep against the Mets again.

Schwarber launched a second-deck blast, a three-run homer off of Mets starter David Peterson in the second inning, for his Major League-leading 29th home run.

Harper finished with three hits, which included a solo shot, his 17th this season, and a double, giving him five extra base hits in the last two games.

Zack Wheeler (7-1) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs and four hits with seven strikeouts as the Phillies won the weekend series from New York.

The NFL has added another location to its international series.

Melbourne, Australia will be included in its international slate in 2026 at a date and time to be determined later, but will feature the Los Angeles Rams as the designated team against an opponent announced at a later date.

“Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

“We’re thrilled the NFL will be touching down in the sporting capital of Australia. Victoria is now the first-ever state in Australia to host a regular season NFL game,” said a government spokesman. “It’s a win for jobs, a win for businesses and a win for fans who will get to see American football.”

Australia is viewed to be a significant global market for the NFL’s international growth with a fan base estimated to be 6.6 million nationwide. The Rams, along with the NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, hold marketing rights in Australia as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, an initiative that rewards teams with international marketing rights to build brand awareness beyond the United States.

Rick’s girl Claudine said, “We know a lot about hockey because Madison Square Garden is just one block away and Rick’s is the favorite club for so many people who attend NY Rangers games and then visit us for our famous post-game parties.” 

“Congratulations to the Hurricanes,” said Rick’s girl Melody. “We invite the team and all of their fans to celebrate with us. It’s always party time at Rick’s Cabaret! Flexing, popping bottles, making it rain, and captivating and seductive girls everywhere you look!” 

“Nobody throws a party better than Rick’s Cabaret New York,” said Rick’s girl Monica. “We love to show off our bodies and party and play.” 

Providing the ultimate in VIP treatment, the multi-level Rick’s Cabaret features private VIP suites, luxury Skyboxes, a Rooftop Cigar Lounge, and the Rick’s Steakhouse that offers daily lunch specials, dinner, and the city’s best late-night menu: serving all the way until 3AM.

Rick’s Cabaret New York

50 West 33rd Street

RICK:NASDAQ LISTED

Roof Top Cigar Lounge

Rick’s Steakhouse Open Late

Daily Lunch Specials