Cincinnati >> TJ Friedl hit a decisive two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds rallied for their third straight win, 6-5 over the Twins on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati has won eight of its last 11 games to climb within two games of the third NL wild-card spot.

Byron Buxton’s solo homer off Andrew Abbott put the Twins ahead 1-0 in the third.

David Festa held Cincinnati hitless until the fourth when Will Benson’s two-run double put the Reds ahead 2-1.

Festa left the game in the fourth with a right hand contusion after allowing four runs, two earned.

Jake Fraley drove in two more runs with a single to make the score 4-1.

A throwing error by Reds third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand opened the door for a Twins rally in the sixth.

Harrison Bader’s three-run homer caromed over the wall off Fraley’s glove to put them ahead 5-4.

Abbott allowed five runs, but only one earned, dropping his earned-run average to 1.84.
He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Friedl’s double in the sixth off Brock Stewart (1-1) drove home the go-ahead runs.

Emilio Pagán pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his 17th save. Scott Barlow (2-0) earned the victory for Cincinnati with 1 1/3 innings, striking out two.

Key moment

Buxton reached over the center field wall to rob Benson of a solo home run to end the second, then came to bat with one out in the third and hit a solo homer just over Friedl’s glove in nearly the same spot.

Key stat

Abbott has allowed a run in the first inning just once in his past 24 starts. He allowed five runs in the first on Aug. 7, 2024 against the Marlins.

Sunrise, Fla. >> Stanley’s stay in South Florida is getting extended.
The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the final on Tuesday night, becoming the NHL’s first back-to-back winners since Tampa Bay in 2020 and ’21 and the third team to do it this century.

Sam Reinhart scored four goals, becoming just the sixth player in league history and first since Maurice Richard in 1957 to get that many in a game in the final. His third to complete the hat trick sent rats, along with hats, flying onto the ice. Matthew Tkachuk, one of the faces of the franchise, fittingly scored the Cup clincher.

More rats were part of the victory celebration when the clock hit zeroes. Panthers players mobbed in the corner, while the Oilers watched in dismay.

“Good evening, South Florida,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said before presenting the trophy to captain Aleksander Barkov. “It feels like we just did this.”

Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, closing the door on a rematch with the same end result. The only goal came from fellow Russian Vasily Podkolzin in garbage time, long after the outcome was decided.

That was followed by chants of “We want the Cup!” as time ticked down. The Panthers already had it. Now they get to keep it.

“This is as good as the first one,” Reinhart said. “We learned some lessons. We stayed on the gas, foot on the pedal, and obviously the result speaks for itself.”

Not long after the Lightning made three trips to the final in a row, Florida has done the same and now has the makings of a modern-day dynasty. The Panthers have won 11 of 12 playoff series since Tkachuk arrived by trade and Paul Maurice took over as coach in the summer of 2022.

“We’ve got to be a dynasty now,” Tkachuk said. “Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group.”

The only time they have been on the wrong side of a handshake line was the final in Vegas in 2023, only after several key players were banged up and gutting through significant injuries.

From the core of Tkachuk, Reinhart, Barkov and Sam Bennett on down the roster, they were much healthier this time around and were boosted by key trade deadline additions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones. Bennett led all goal-scorers this postseason with 15, and Marchand had six in the final alone.

Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Barkov handed the Cup to first-time champion Nate Schmidt, and all the others winning it for the first time got it soon after.

“It’s amazing to be able to be here,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

Getting depth contributions from throughout the lineup allowed them to overpower Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers, who struggled with Florida’s ferocious forecheck and switched goaltenders multiple times in the final. Stuart Skinner got the nod in Game 6 and was again done in by mistakes in front of him that ended with the puck in the net behind him and had his own blunder on Reinhart’s second goal.

McDavid tried to take over but was again stymied by Barkov, Jones and Bobrovsky. He finished with seven points in his second career trip to the final, again denied his first title.

“We lost to a really good team,” McDavid said. “Nobody quit, nobody threw the towel in, but they’re a heck of a team. They’re back-to-back Stanley Cup champions for a reason.”

Canada’s Stanley Cup drought reached 31 seasons and 32 years dating to Montreal in 1993. Teams in the U.S. Sun Belt have won it five of the past six times, four of them in Florida.

This run through Tampa Bay in five, Toronto in seven, Carolina in five and Edmonton in six showed how clinical the Panthers have become under Maurice, who has coached more NHL games than everyone except Scotty Bowman and is now a two-time champion.

So is Marchand, who last hoisted the Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins. The 14-year gap is the third-longest in league history, just shy of 16 for Chris Chelios from 1986 to 2002 and 15 for Mark Recchi from ’91 to ’06.

“It’s incredible,” Marchand said. “It’s a feeling you can’t really describe. Seeing the family and everyone up there and everyone that supported me and helped me get to this point, words can’t put this into reality how great it feels. Such an incredible group.”

Which DragonBall Z toys are best?

“DragonBall Z” is one of the most popular anime television shows today. This high-octane show features Goku and his friends as they journey through space to face godlike opponents and collect the legendary DragonBalls. The fantastically choreographed fight scenes are thrilling and the engaging storyline will keep viewers of all ages hooked. “DragonBall Z” influenced pop culture and continues to be a favorite for many viewers across the globe.

Which DragonBall Z toys are the most popular?

The obvious gifts for a “DragonBall Z” fan are all of the DVDs and video games of the show. But if they already have those, there are plenty of other options. There’s a huge market for “DragonBall Z” toys for both collectors and casual play. And whether you’re shopping for a fan or you’re looking for yourself, you can’t go wrong with a Funko Pop Goku & Nimbus figurine.

What to consider before buying a DragonBall Z toy

DragonBall Z background

“DragonBall Z” has been on the air since the 80s, and there are various spinoff series as well, so there’s a lot of material to draw from. There’s “DragonBall,” “DragonBall Z,” ”DragonBall GT” and “DragonBall Super,” plus a dozen or so movies. If you want to stick with “DragonBall Z,” which is the classic show that most people will know, there are some classic storylines you can look for. Check for toys from the Saiyan arc, the Namek arc, the Cell Games arc, and the Majin Buu arc.

DragonBall Z characters

Goku is one of the main protagonists in “DragonBall Z” and he comes in several different versions. One of the most popular versions is the Ultra Instinct, where Goku has silver hair and bright silver eyes to match. You can also find a more classic version with Goku as a Super Saiyan. If you want a villain to match Goku, consider purchasing toys of the characters Cell, Frieza or Vegeta.

Age of the recipient

Before you make your purchase, consider the age you’re buying for. Not all toys are for playing and may have small parts that are dangerous for young children. That said, there is a wide range of action figures and toys for all kinds of “DragonBall Z” fans to enjoy. Whether it’s an action figure, a stuffed animal, or a board game, there’s something for everyone.

What are the best DragonBall Z toys to buy?

Funko Pop Goku & Nimbus figure

What you need to know: This Funko Pop Goku sports the uniform from the original series. It shows him riding Nimbus and carrying his iconic staff.

What you’ll love: This is perfect for any “DragonBall Z” fan or anyone with a Funko Pop collection.

What you should consider: It has a big head, so it’s top-heavy and may knock over more easily.

S.H. Figuarts Frieza action figure

What you need to know: Frieza is a classic villain and was the first to fight against Super Saiyan Goku. His character remains a fan favorite to this day.

What you’ll love: This figure comes with changeable arms, legs, energy blasts, and even expressions. It’s versatile and looks great in a display case.

What you should consider: It’s definitely on the more expensive side and is more of a collectors’ item than a children’s toy.

Super Saiyan Goku figurine

What you need to know: This classic Super Saiyan Goku is from “DragonBall Super” and comes with a secondary set of attachable hands and a Shenlong dragon head.

What you’ll love: This Goku is agile and has easy-articulating limbs that make posing simple. The hand and energy blast options make customization even more fun.

What you should consider: Some felt it wasn’t a good choice for younger fans, since there are so many parts that can fall off and get lost during play.

Final Form Cell

What you need to know: In “DragonBall Z,” Cell holds a tournament to decide the fate of the world, and only the Z fighters can stop him. This Cell action figure comes with a different set of hands and stands half a foot tall.

What you’ll love: The proportions and design are accurate to the source material and look very high-end considering its price point.

What you should consider: His shoulder sockets can pop out, and his detachable wings tend to come off when posing his arms.

DragonBall Z Monopoly

What you need to know: There’s nothing more fun than a game night. With the Monopoly DragonBall Z game, the “DragonBall Z” fighters fight to become the richest warrior.

What you’ll love: Plenty of characters from the show make an appearance in this game, and die-hard fans will appreciate the details.

What you should consider: Even though it’s the same Monopoly game, the new theme makes this a great buy for families. That said, the game may be too complicated for young fans.

Super Saiyan 2 Gohan

What you need to know: Super Saiyan 2 Gohan is an iconic character, and this figurine shows him at his peak during his fight with Cell.

What you’ll love: The intricate details in this figurine’s face and body look almost exactly like the show. It has 16 points of articulation for a wide variety of fighting poses.

What you should consider: The low price shows in the joints, which has limited movement in the hips and shoulders.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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After opening his concert Tuesday night at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor told the crowd of about 12,000: “Minneapolis. It’s great to be back.”

But a few songs later, the 77-year-old corrected himself and then told a great story about Minnesota guitar maker Jim Olson. Back in 1989, Olson heard Taylor was going to be in town to play a benefit show and managed to get one of his guitars into Taylor’s hands. “I haven’t put it down since,” Taylor told the crowd, looking down at his six string. (Olson, he added, was in the audience Tuesday.)

That’s the kind of night it was at the X. With the mild manner of a retired Presbyterian minister, Taylor played a two-hour set of some of the gentlest popular music of his generation. His voice has retained much of its warmth, in part because he’s never been about power, but rather intimacy.

As such, Taylor gave the show the feel of an intimate club gig on a breezy summer evening. The crowd certainly helped matters by sitting in quiet rapture, applauding and cheering only at appropriate times. Yeah, the occasional fan would yell “We love you James” or “You’re kicking ass, JT” between songs, but even Taylor didn’t seem to mind.

For the first part of the show, Taylor played a series of songs about traveling, including “Wandering,” “Walking Man,” “Stretch of the Highway,” “Mexico” and “My Traveling Star.” Between numbers, he chatted with the crowd, offering plenty of dad jokes along the way. He also poked fun at his age, showing the crowd the comically oversized set list he was reading from and offering to take out his teeth after he took off his jacket.

Taylor also took time throughout the show to introduce the members of his All-Star Band, a group of seasoned musicians that aren’t household names, but have played with plenty of them over the decades. Among them was bassist and Minneapolis native Jimmy Johnson and Taylor’s son Henry, who has been singing backup in the band since 2021.

Kate Markowitz, Dorian Holley and Andrea Zonn joined Henry and provided some gorgeous harmonies for the main attraction. The rest of the band, too, gave Taylor plenty to work with and even occasionally rocked out — well, as much as Taylor rocks out — on songs like “(I’ve Got to) Stop Thinkin’ ‘Bout That” and “Up on the Roof” (a song Taylor’s pal Carole King co-wrote for the Drifters). After the latter, Taylor told the crowd “No Kings, except Carole” and earned some of the biggest cheers of the evening in the process.

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