WE BEAT THE BRAVES IN A SERIES!

Thank God. Imagine if it was a sweep. That would’ve been perfect, heading into the weekend a game and a half up on Atlanta in the NL East.

But back to the game. Jake Arrieta pitched a gem, allowing no runs on just seven hits and striking out seven batters en route to a 4-0 shutout. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 15 innings inside Citizens Bank Park, and his ERA is 0.84 in three games at home, winning all three of them.

The Phils scored a run in three consecutive innings, thanks to RBIs from Carlos Santana, Cesar Hernandez (who extended his on-base streak to 27 games), and Maikel Franco.

Odubel Herrera also extended his “games he’s made it to at least first base no matter what the MLB says” streak to 49 games.

They’re off today, but start a weekend series with Toronto on Friday.

Elsewhere, Coggin got a chance to talk to the new Phillies’ batting practice pitcher, Shawn Senior.

Also, Lenny Dykstra was arrested again! The Phillies announced he won’t be invited to the team’s celebration of the 1993 National League champions.

One of the biggest sources of success? Pitching coach Rick Kranitz.

The Roundup:


Check out a brand new edition of Crossing Broad FC as the UEFA Champions League Final approaches. The Cham-pions!


Despite his playoff struggles, Robert Covington was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team, while Joel Embiid was a Second Team selection.

Fitting that Covington is the next player up in our Sixers season reviews.

If JJ Redick didn’t want to go to Philadelphia, we might have seen the return of Andre Iguodala.

“Bryan put a timetable on it, he said ‘You’ve got about 20 minutes to decide. I’m going into a meeting with Iguodala, who I’m going to make the same offer to. At that point I made the choice and yeah, [I have] no regrets. It was an enjoyable of a year of basketball and as enjoyable of a year being in a fun culture that I’ve had.”

Redick said he was heavily considering an offer to follow his former Clippers teammate Chris Paul to Houston, but when Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey shortened the deal from four years to “three years for $36 million” in a sign-and-trade with the Clippers, his decision became easier.

Redick talked about a slew of topics, including the Sixers’ Game 5 elimination loss to the Celtics, a game in which he missed two late threes that could have iced the game. He said the one that stings the most, one that could have put the Sixers up 112-107 with a minute left in the game, still haunts him.

“The shot that will kill me, and that I still haven’t really gotten over is 109-107 under a minute and a half to play. T.J. drove baseline in Game 5 and hit me on the wing and I probably got my best look I got all series and just missed it,” Redick said. “That would have put us up five in Game 5, at that point, we would have had a really good chance to close out that game.”


The NFL and their owners passed a new policy that makes all players stand for the national anthem while on the field, or wait inside the locker room.

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie released a very general statement regarding the policy that says pretty much nothing:

“I have always believed it is the responsibility of sports teams to be very proactive in our communities. In this great country of ours, there are so many people who are hurting and marginalized, which is why I am proud of our players for continuously working to influence positive change. Their words and actions have demonstrated not only that they have a great deal of respect for our country, but also that they are committed to finding productive ways to fight social injustice, poverty and other societal issues that are important to all of us. We must continue to work together in creative and dynamic ways to make our communities stronger and better with equal opportunities for all.”

Players and the NFLPA also came out with their statements, more specific than Lurie:

https://twitter.com/JOEL9ONE/status/999408653445795840

Nick Foles can earn as much as $500,000 per game on his new deal.

Get to know where everyone is inside the Eagles’ locker room.


The Phantoms fell 5-0 to the Toronto Marlies and are down 3-0 in their Eastern Conference Final series.

What right wingers could the Flyers look at in the NHL Draft?


In other sports news, the Washington Capitals will take on the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final after shutting out Tampa Bay 4-0 in Game 7.

The Celtics took a 3-2 series lead over the Cavaliers thanks to a 96-83 win at home. Could it get any worse?

Oh yes, the Celtics met with Donte DiVincenzo and they ate lunch. Please let’s not have this happen.

Milwaukee Police released body camera footage of their arrest of Bucks player Sterling Brown:

The NFL also announced rule changes for kickoffs.

The 49ers unveiled throwback unis from their 1994 Super Bowl championship team for this season:

Deadspin doesn’t like fun, and it’s made the site bad.


In the news, there are some weird explosion-like sounds being heard in Bucks and Lehigh counties.

Wawa will open their 800th store in Wilmington.

North Korea has appeared to destroy their nuclear test site.