Nimmo’s HR beats Braves
NEW YORK — Brandon Nimmo shook off an injury and came off the bench to hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning, sending the New York Mets to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night. Pete Alonso had two RBIs and the Mets avoided a three-game sweep a day after they were held hitless by three Atlanta pitchers until there were two outs in the ninth. Batting leadoff in Nimmo’s place, DJ Stewart singled on the first pitch from Braves starter Bryce Elder this time. Nimmo didn’t start after exiting Saturday’s game with discomfort on his right side, but he entered as a pinch runner in the seventh and stayed in to play left field. Jarred Kelenic homered for Atlanta against the team that drafted him sixth overall and then traded him. Marcell Ozuna’s second tiebreaking single of the night gave the Braves a 3-2 lead in the eighth. Jeff McNeil led off the bottom of the ninth with a perfect drag bunt for a single. He advanced on Tomás Nido’s sacrifice bunt before Nimmo stepped to the plate for his first plate appearance of the game. Nimmo, who also made a terrific catch at the left-field fence in the eighth, drove a full-count cutter from A.J. Minter (5-3) to right-center for his sixth home run this season. A smiling Nimmo pumped his fist as he circled the bases. He was swarmed by excited teammates at home plate after the second walk-off homer of his career. Atlanta had won four straight games since getting swept at Dodger Stadium last weekend. Minter was on the mound because Braves closer Raisel Iglesias pitched the previous two days. Edwin Díaz (1-1) worked a 1-2-3 inning for the win. Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. was picked off first base twice in the matchup of National League East Division rivals. Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley exited in the fourth inning Sunday with tightness on his left side. He was replaced by Zack Short, who made his Atlanta debut. The Braves were headed home to begin a threegame series against the Chicago Cubs.
FOOTBALL
› COSTA MESA, Calif. — The Los Angeles Chargers signed outside linebacker Bud Dupree on Saturday, helping bolster an already formidable pass rush. The 31-yearold Dupree has 53 career sacks in nine NFL seasons, including 6 1/2 last year in his lone season with the Atlanta Falcons. Dupree joins a group of edge rushers that includes Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, who combined for 23 1/2 sacks last season. Dupree was a first-round pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Kentucky in 2015. He had a career-high 11 1/2 sacks for the Steelers in 2019 and totaled 39 1/2 in six seasons with the team. Dupree signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and played two seasons in Nashville before being released last year. He signed with Atlanta in April 2023 and tied Calais Campbell for the team lead in sacks while starting 16 games.
BASKETBALL
› STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford will now play on Tara VanDerveer Court. The school is naming the court inside Maples Pavilion for the Hall of Fame coach who retired in April as the all-time wins leader in college basketball. There will be an unveiling and celebration for the court at a home game in November. In addition, the 70-year-old VanDerveer will be honored by having her name associated with one of the assistant coaching positions. “The Tara VanDerveer Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach” position was made possible by a gift from longtime Stanford supporters Tashia and John Morgridge. VanDerveer’s official final day of work with the Cardinal was Wednesday.