Bells News

The Bells are officially playoff bound. With yesterday’s loss by Wenatchee, the Bells were crowned first-half champions of the North Division, which clinches them the division’s #1 seed for the playoffs in August.

The Bells also picked up a 2-1 win in Game 2 against the Kelowna Falcons last night. The game was knotted at one run apiece heading into the ninth inning, where Noah Meffert hit a sac fly to score Aiden Aguayo for the winning run.

Cal Young threw five strong innings of one-run ball in the start and Mack Edwards backed him up with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

The Bells will look to win their first series of the second-half in tonight’s rubber match in Kelowna. First pitch is at 6:35.

Mariners News

The Mariners are looking to bounce back in Game 3 against the Royals tonight. The M’s suffered a 6-3 loss against KC last night to even the series at one game apiece.

Salvador Perez hit a key two-run double in the fifth inning to help the Royals get just their second win in 10 games. Emerson Hancock struggled in the start, giving up five runs through six innings. The team announced today that it’s sending Hancock down to Triple-A Tacoma.

Randy Arozarena kept up his hot hitting with another home run, his third in the last two games. But Cal Raleigh finally cooled off, striking out all four times he stepped up to plate.

Both teams are back at T-Mobile tonight for the third of their four-game series. Coverage begins at 5:30 and first pitch is at 6:40 on KPUG with Logan Gilbert taking the mound.

Meanwhile, the Mariners had three prospects named to the All-Star Futures Game. Catcher Harry Ford, outfielder Lazaro Montes and switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje all made the cut for the Futures Game, which takes place on July 12 just ahead of the All-Star Game.

Montes was just promoted from High-A Everett to Double-A Arkansas last week and leads the entire minor leagues with 21 home runs across both levels this season.

The M’s were tied with the Detroit Tigers for the most Futures Game selections of any MLB team.

Competitive Eating News

This 4th of July will feature the return of one of the holiday’s all-time icons. Competitive eater Joey Chestnut is coming back to the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest after being banned last year.

He had been a staple at the Coney Island contest every year before he was barred by Major League Eating in 2024 after striking a deal with a plant-based food company.  Chestnut has won the “Mustard Yellow Belt” 16 times, and ate a world record 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2021.