Just last week, Leah Peters was on top of the world — or at least Jankie World ⁠— To Big Brother. But what happens comes, and she found that out the hard way in Thursday’s live eviction episode (September 26).

You see, Leah successfully dismantled The Trio by targeting T’Kor Clottey. It was a very big power move, as T’kor was considered a leading candidate for the overall win at one point in the season. However, the remaining two members of this crew — Kimo Apaka and Ruina Bernabe – worked hard to get revenge on Leah by convincing Makensy Manbeck to use her veto power to save Kimo from the block and put up Leah instead. And it worked.

Did Leah see this switcheroo coming? And how did she feel about the unanimous decision to send her away? TV Insider caught up with Leah Peters to find out. (Note: She was not aware of the consequences of the subsequent eviction at the time of the interview.)

(Also, be sure to check out our previous exit interviews with Matt Hardeman, Lisa Weintraub, Kenney Kelley, Cedric Hodges, Brooklyn Rivera, Tucker Des Lauriers, Joseph Rodriguez, Quinn Martin and T’kor Clottey.)

Were you surprised that the vote was unanimous to evict Angela, and why or why not?

Leah Peters: I’m very shocked that I’m the only unanimous voter so far Big Brother Season 26. Going up against Angela is even better because I think everyone uses Angela as a perpetual pawn and I kept trying to point out that standing next to her is how you go home. I was another one Subject of this pattern. So it’s very shocking and surprising, but also iconic. That’s why I’m happy to be one.

Do you have bad feelings for Makensy, your original throuple throw-mance ally with Matt Hardenman, after she confronted you about Kimo, her own choice?

I could never be angry with Makensy. She is someone I really care about. I think she did what she truly felt was best for her game and I will support her every step of the way.

Looking back on the season, is there anything you wish you had a mulligan on and why?

I don’t think it’s fair to ask myself what I could have done better. I firmly believe that anything I could have done differently would have had the exact same result. I’m really proud of the way I played the game. And at the end of the day, it’s easy to say all the things you would do differently. But if I had gone one step further, I would have been proud of it. So I don’t want to have any regrets in this regard and just move on.

Now that you’re on the jury, what do you expect and who might you be able to advocate for?

Oh, expect the unexpected. That is Big Brother. I really want a woman to win this season. That was my goal all along. I’m for Angela, Makensy or Chelsea. It would be absolutely amazing if three of them won and I will support them. I think they are all fantastic, highly motivated and smart women and watching them win would be an achievement for anyone.

Who are you most looking forward to spending time with outside of the house?

Outside the house, I look forward to spending time with Kimo. Honestly, T’kor, Quinn, Joseph. There are so many people. It’s hard to narrow it down, but I’m really looking forward to spending time with almost everyone, including Chelsie and Makensy, and getting the chance to build real relationships with them that aren’t about a pot of gold to crawl. They’re all amazing people and I’m really looking forward to cultivating these relationships outside of the house.

Big BrotherSundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, CBS

When MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani hit his 50th home run last week, fans packed the stands to catch the milestone baseball.

But the fight for this piece of MLB history is far from over. The argument between two fans Things are set to get even more complicated as online bidding for the iconic baseball begins Friday and continues through October 16th. The opening bid is $500,000.

On Thursday, a judge in Florida ruled that the auction could proceed despite ongoing litigation, but that the baseball could not be sold before the Oct. 10 court hearing in the case.

Earlier this month, Los Angeles Dodgers player Ohtani made history in a game against the Miami Marlins by hitting a total of 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases in a single season.

The milestone 50th home run ball landed in left field at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. – leading to a chaotic scramble among fans trying to get their hands on it. In the end, there were two men fighting for baseball – Max Matus and Chris Belanski.

In a video of the altercation released on XBelanski appears on his knees and Matus is bent over as both grip the ball tightly. Belanski later yells, “I got it!” before waving the ball in the air.

On Wednesday, Matus filed a lawsuit against Belanski, another fan, and Goldin Auctions, which purchased the baseball. In the lawsuit, Matus claims he was the first to catch the ball and Belanski stole the ball from him. It added that Matus attended the baseball game to celebrate his 18th birthday.

“Belanski wrapped his legs around Max’s arm and used his hands to rip the ball out of Max’s hands, thereby stealing the ball,” the suit said.

In an interview with ESPN, Ken Goldin, CEO of Goldin Auctions, said that a man – whom he did not name – contacted the auction house about the baseball, also known as the 50/50 ball, the day after the Dodgers game.

Matus’ attorney, John Uustal, said Thursday filed an injunction to stop the auction. The request was later rejected by a judge in Florida. A hearing is scheduled for October 10 – about a week before the auction ends.

Uustal, an attorney with the Florida-based law firm Kelley-Uustal, said the 18-year-old high school student simply wanted the ball back. “He loves baseball and he loved that ball and he would love to have it,” he said.

Uustal added that he is prepared for a long legal battle if necessary. Depending on how the judge rules at the upcoming hearing, the milestone baseball event could be out of reach for any fan until the lawsuit is resolved.

Belanski’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A Goldin spokesman said: “We are delighted to bring this item to market. Although Goldin has been named as a party in the case, there are no allegations of wrongdoing by the company.”

This isn’t the first time fights over home run balls have spilled from the stadium into the courtroom. In 2001, Barry Bonds hit a record-breaking home run. Initially the ball came into contact with Alex Popov, but later he was attacked by other fans and the ball rolled to Patrick Hayashi.

The two went to court over who was the rightful owner of the baseball. In the end, the California Supreme Court ruled that both men had the right to attend the ball and that neither could be lawfully deprived of it. The couple sold the ball and split the proceeds evenly.

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The Nintendo Switch really changed the public perception of gaming handhelds, didn’t it? Despite being far from a powerful device, the Switch sold (and still sells) remarkably well, and the much smaller Nintendo Switch Lite was a real hit too.

Now it looks like Lenovo is taking a cue from Nintendo, as a mix-up with some of the Legion Go Dock’s specs seems to have revealed that there’s not only a Legion Go Gen Two, but also a Lite version, ahem.

If this is still a secret, then it’s one that Lenovo has kept particularly close. We recently reported on text on the Legion Go’s product page that appeared to reference both a smaller device and possibly an updated version. Now the specs released for the Legion Go USB-C Dock appear to have given the game away again, with Legion Go Gen One, Legion Go Gen Two and Legion Go Lite mentioned among the supported systems.

All mentions have since been deleted, but it was Videocardz that first discovered the new product listings. Leaked images of the alleged Legion Go Lite case were also posted by a YouTuber, so at this point Lenovo might as well throw in the towel and give us a close look, I’d say.

The case itself appears to show a smaller Legion Go case without the original’s detachable controllers, which is no surprise for a model that appears to be calling itself a “Lite.” Still, we were big fans of the original Switch-like removable modules, so it’s a shame to see them go.

However, it was a bit tedious, so a Lite version seems like a smart move. PC gaming handhelds are often bulky devices to carry around – and while this new model still doesn’t look like it’ll fit in your jeans, I’d say it has a better chance of being slipped into a crowded backpack, without sticking, it comes out like a sore thumb.

And what about a full-fledged Gen 2? There’s always a chance we’ll see new, more powerful internals. The original used the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, but a lot has happened in the APU world since then.

Personally, I’m excited for any Lunar Lake handhelds coming our way now that we’re starting to see the chips in action – but I have a feeling it might just be a screen refresh (fingers crossed for OLED !), or perhaps a subtle refinement of the original design, like the Asus ROG Ally X.

More on the Steam Deck

Best handheld gaming PC: Who is the best travel partner?
Steam Deck OLED review: Our verdict on Valve’s handheld.
Best Steam Deck Accessories: Dress up.
Steam Deck battery life: What is the actual battery life?

We really won’t know anything for sure until Lenovo says something official about the new models, which it might as well do at this point. Whatever the case, if they both manage to refine the recipe (albeit in different ways), Lenovo could well have some success on its hands.

The OG Legion Go may have been a clunky affair, but it was still a pretty impressive machine. And while the world eagerly awaits more news about the Nintendo Switch 2, an advanced Legion Go coupled with a compact model could perhaps help Lenovo win over new customers.

UCF football returns after break this week for perhaps its biggest home game of the 2024 college football season.

After a thrilling 21-point come-from-behind win at TCU in Week 3, the Knights (3-0) return home Saturday to host Deion Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12 Game). to FBC Mortgage Stadium for the Big 12 home opener in Week 5.

It will be the first time in program history that UCF and Colorado will face each other, as both programs were admitted to the Big 12 the past two seasons.

Similar to UCF, Colorado is coming off a win in its last contest. The Knights’ defense will have its hands full Saturday trying to stop Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who is ranked fourth nationally in passing yards (1,340) and seventh in passing touchdowns (11) through four games. documented.

Here’s how to watch the UCF vs. Colorado game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

Melrose coach Tim Morris became the 59th football coach in state history to win 200 games Friday night when his team defeated Swampscott 34-27. He is the second trainer to do so this year, joining Bishop Fenwick’s David Woods, who claimed his 200th win last week.

The list has been updated to include tonight’s results from all active coaches.

1. Ken LaChapelle 396-134-6 (1976-present, Northbridge)

2. John DiBiaso 363-83-1 (since 1982, St. Patrick’s, Weston, Everett, Catholic Memorial)

3. Armond Colombo 316-101-5 (1960-2002, Archbishop Williams, Brockton)

4. Jim Kelliher 313-209-8 (1974-2023, Abington)

5. Jack Martinelli 306-142-5 (1982-present, Foxboro)

6. Bill Broderick 303-68-42 (1908-1942, 1949, Rindge Tech, Haverhill, Salem)

6. Tom Lopez 303-126-5 (1978-2018, Lincoln-Sudbury)

8. Mike Redding 293-100-3 (1988-present, Mansfield)

8. Vito Capizzo 293-140-8 (1964-2008, Nantucket)

10. Ron St. George 275-141-5 (1980-2020, East Bridgewater, BC High, Cardinal Spellman)

11. Norm Walker 273-61-4 (1966-2004, Wayland, Newton North, Holderness)

12. Bill Maradei 270-152-4 (1979-2018, Dom Savio, Austin Prep)

13. Bill Tighe 269-232-13 (1957-2010, Wakefield, Malden, Lexington)

14. Ken Perrone 256-84-11 (1960-1994, Maine, Salem)

15. Charlie Broderick 252-126-25 (1923-1965, Amesbury, Leominster)

16. Stan Bondelevitch 251-125-11 (1953-1986, Maynard, Hudson, Swampscott, Bishop Fenwick)

17. Owen Kilcoyne 250-164-8 (1960-2003, Hudson Catholic, Clinton, Ayer, Framingham North, St. Peter-Marian)

17. Archie Cataldi 250-141-2 (1968-2006, Springfield Classical, Clinton)

19. Tom Lamb 248-65-2 (1977-2009, Natick, Norwood)

20. Tom Caito 247-75-10 (1962-1995, Rhode Island, Holliston, Florida, Chelmsford)

20. Ed Murphy 247-175-16 (1946-1992, Dracut)

22. Steve Hayden 246-199-2 (1982-present, Pentucket)

23. Donald Herman 244-128-0 (1985-2021, Johnson, Martha’s Vineyard)

24. David Driscoll 243-133-6 (1981-2016, Dighton-Rehoboth)

24. Bill Maver 243-105-5 (1985-2016, Quincy, Acton-Boxboro)

26. Lou Silva 242-147-7 (1981-2017, Marshfield)

26. Kevin Macdonald 242-104-5 (1982-2022, Archbishop Williams, Milton Academy)

26. Walt Dubzinski 242-161-4 (1976-2014, Lunenburg, Gardner)

29. Al Dhembe 240-126-7 (1976–2015, Bay Path)

29. Bill Moge 240-105-19 (1943-1983, Westfield, Chicopee)

31. Carlin Lynch 238-81-10 (1958-2003, Somerset, Bishop Stang, Dartmouth)

32. Jim Cotter 236-149-17 (1964-2004, BC High)

33. Dick Collins 228-153-17 (1959-1995, Andover)

34. Jack Welch 224-132-6 (1964-2000, Ipswich)

35. Al Costabile 222-129-0 (1992-present, Bishop Fenwick, Shawsheen)

35. Bill Seeglitz 218-84-21 (1919-1949, Illinois, Peabody)

37. Bob Almeida 217-115-1 (since 1990, Somerville, Wilmington, Malden Catholic, Stoneham)

37. Bob Bancroft 217-120-6 (1975-2014, Whitman-Hanson, Pembroke)

37. Charles Harvey 217-99-12 (Nashua, Saugus, Northbridge)

40. Jim Pugh 216-133-0 (1989-2014, 2016-2021, Masconomet, Hamilton-Wenham)

41. John Dubzinski 215-105-6 (1980-2010, Fitchburg, Leominster)

42. Vin Hickey 214-130-1 (1975-2007, Blue Hills)

42. David Hughes 214-94-4 (1978-2007, Hopkinton)

42. Henry Knowlton 214-76-17 (New Hampshire, Plymouth, Winchester)

45. John Lee 212-33-7 (1968-1992, Walpole)

46. ​​Leo Sybertz 211-115-7 (1976-2011, West Roxbury)

46. ​​Frank Almeida 211-134-18 (1959-1999, Wareham, Old Rochester, Taunton, Bridgewater-Raynham, Coyle-Cassidy)

48. Peter Ambrose 209-169-9 (1960-2006, Cardinal Spellman)

49. Rocky Nelson 208-116-7 (1986-2016, Woburn)

50. Jim O’Leary 207-110-2 (1984-2013, St. John’s Prep)

50. Ken Owen 207-124-5 (1982-2011, 2016-2019, Rockland, Upper Cape)

50. Dan Buron 207-92 (1993-present, Bridgewater-Raynham)

53. Charlie Stevenson 206-63-1 (1993-2016, Xaverian)

54. Chuck Adamopoulos 204-79-0 (1997–2022, Central Catholic)

55. Ernie Richards 203-109-5 (1961-1997, Maine, Millis, Marlboro, Uxbridge)

56. Joe Hoague 202-79-12 (1946-1979, Taunton, Natick, Melrose)

57. Joe Crowley 201-47-18 (1946-1981, Reading, South Boston, Archbishop Williams)

57. David Woods 201-91-0 (1998-present, Bishop Fenwick)

59. Tim Morris 200-112-4 (1994-present, Melrose)

60. Jeff Cormier 199-84-0 (1999-present, Auburn)

61. Mike Dubzinski 198-132-0 (1994-present, Natick, Wachusett)

To be a master of sass – sharp-tongued as a dagger – and perhaps one of the warmest presences most of us can remember seeing on screen: that is Maggie Smith’s unique gift.

The impressive, accomplished actress died in London on Friday at the age of 89. Her acting career started at the age of 17 and never slowed down. She won two Oscars, four Emmys, a number of theater awards and the Dame Commander of the British Empire award. cultural contributions.

The final decades of her life and career harnessed this warm spice – like hot tea – and led to some of her greatest successes. Due to the timeliness of the projects, many people will remember them for their roles Downton Abbey and as Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter Franchise. They will fondly remember the plane rides they spent as a spectator The best exotic Marigold hotel and its sequel, which I think we screened together around the world as in-flight films.

She is one of the first actresses who left an impression on me with the one-two punch of her roles Hook And Sister law. (Watch her performance of “I Lie” as Mother Superior and applaud.) I echo cultural journalist David Mack’s take on OLDEST PERSON I’VE EVER SEEN. This movie came out in 1991!! She’s really adjusted to this era of her career.”

No one had a better perspective on this later career blessing than Smith himself. See it in this clip from the great documentary Tea with ladiesin which she and Judi Dench marvel at the longevity of their careers, with Smith lovingly annoyed by Dench’s demands: “If I do say so myself, you’re always asked first.” Cheeky. Warm.

But one of the nice things that happens after an actor dies is that people start posting all kinds of memories and videos of their favorite performances. In Smith’s case, I’m so glad that so many people are highlighting her Oscar-winning work The heyday of Miss Jean Brodie.

In the 1969 film, she plays a teacher at a Scottish girls’ school in the 1930s whose free-spirited passion for education becomes dominant when her romance collides with delusions and threatens her position.

If you haven’t seen the film yet, a particular clip has been circulating since the news of Smith’s death. It’s probably the scene that won her the Oscar. Fifty-five years later, it’s still fascinating. When she explodes in the face of the headmistress demanding she resign, she is both startlingly confused and completely in control. Anger erupts from her like a geyser, a monstrous eruption of emotion bundled into a breathtaking display of manipulation.

Check it out here:

“I’ve seen this so many times – every time I’m completely captivated,” one user wrote on

“Such an amazing speech and performance: goosebumps,” another user wrote. Another fan summarized: “The definition of haughty,” followed by a crown emoji.

This could be a perfect summary of Smith’s gifts: the queen of pride.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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UGC NET Result 2024 Live Updates: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is expected to announce the much-awaited results of the June 2024 re-examination of the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) soon. NTA has already released the UGC NET provisional answer keys in two phases and the objection window was closed on September 14, 2024. Once NTA announces the results, candidates who have appeared for the UGC NET Exam 2024 can visit the official website ugcnet.nta.ac.in to check and download the respective results. The final answer key will be released along with or before the results.

After the release of the provisional answer key, candidates were asked to submit objections by paying a fee of Rs 200 per question. Subject matter experts will review these challenges and if objections are found to be valid, the final answer key will be revised accordingly. The UGC NET June re-exam was held on August 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30 and September 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Computer-Based Test ( CBT) mode performed.

For latest updates on the final answer key and results, candidates are advised to stay tuned The Times of India live blog . The NTA has assured that the results will be declared soon and candidates can expect the final answer key to be released either at the same time as or shortly before the results.

MADISON, Wis. –

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted unanimously Friday to fire a communications professor who wanted to keep his job after he was fired as chancellor of one of the system’s campuses for producing pornographic films.

Joe Gow, who served as UW-La Crosse’s chancellor for nearly 17 years, argued last week that he should retain a teaching position on campus. But the university’s lawyers argued that he behaved unethically, violated the terms of his employment contract, damaged the university’s reputation and compromised its mission.

The regents met in closed session Friday morning before publicly voting to fire Gow. There was no public discussion before the board vote.

Gow said he is considering filing a lawsuit to keep his teaching job. He did not immediately respond to a message Friday morning.

Gow has been on paid leave from his faculty position since the regents fired him as chancellor in 2023, shortly after university leadership became aware of the videos posted on pornographic websites.

The case has drawn national attention both for the salaciousness of a high-ranking university official making and speaking publicly about pornographic films and for the questions it raises about free speech rights.

Gow argued that his videos and two e-books that he and his wife Carmen published about their experiences in adult films were protected by the First Amendment. The university’s attorney argued that Gow’s videos themselves were legal, but that they were not protected by his employment contract.

Zach Greenberg, an attorney with the free speech advocacy group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, called the regents’ decision “a major blow to academic freedom and the right to free expression.”

“FIRE has said time and time again: Public universities cannot sacrifice the First Amendment to protect their reputations,” Greenberg said. “We are disappointed that the UW has caved to donors and politicians by alienating a tenured professor.”

Republican lawmakers already view Wisconsin’s university system as a liberal incubator. Last year they forced the company to scale back its diversity initiatives. System President Jay Rothman has tried to avoid further angering conservatives as he seeks approval for an $855 million increase in the next state budget.

Gow’s hope of teaching in the classroom again was rejected by his department head, Linda Dickmeyer. She said that because Gow had not taught in 20 years, he would be assigned general education courses, but she declined to allow him to return to teaching in any capacity.

Gow was criticized in 2018 for inviting porn actress Nina Hartley to speak on campus. She received $5,000 from tuition fees for her performance. The university said he came up with the idea of ​​bringing her to campus after filming a pornographic video with her.

Gow and his wife’s e-books were written under the pseudonyms “Monogamy with Benefits: How Porn Enhances Our Relationships” and “Married with Benefits – Our Real Adventures in the Adult Industry.” But they also star in a YouTube channel called “Sexy Healthy Cooking,” in which the couple cooks meals with porn actors.

DALLAS, Texas (KTVT) — The former Dallas police officer convicted of murdering Botham Jean in his home six years ago will be eligible for parole Monday.

Amber Guyger, who shot Jean in September 2018, drew national attention and sparked protests across the city.

“She has caused my family tremendous pain,” said Allison Jean, Botham’s mother. “She should stay where she is.”

Guyger is due for parole on Botham’s 33rd birthday.

“She has to serve the entire 10-year sentence, which is significantly less than the sentence you get for murder,” Jean said. “Murder of an innocent man in the comfort of his home without doing anything wrong.”

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Guyger, a Dallas police officer at the time, told authorities she mistook Botham’s apartment for her own. Her body-worn camera did not record during filming because she was off duty.

Former probation officer and University of Texas Arlington professor Zerita Hall said letters from Botham’s family would be considered at a parole hearing.

“This man was murdered,” Hall said. “He was killed in his own home. So I imagine there would probably be tons of letters of support for her staying in prison.”

Guyger was convicted of murder and sentenced to ten years in prison in 2019. She appealed the conviction but lost her appeal two years ago.

“She will go before the parole board,” Hall said. “There’s a group of people asking her questions about how she’s changed and what she thinks about all these things.”

Hall said Guyger may not appear in person — the board may just be reviewing her paperwork.

“Public concern can definitely be a factor,” Hall said. “Letter of support for the victim, letter of support for the incarcerated person.”

CBS News Texas has reached out to Guyger’s attorneys several times for comment but has not received a response.

© 2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All rights reserved.

ATLANTA – As he walked off the field in the ninth inning to a thunderous standing ovation and two outs, Max Fried’s thoughts and emotions were racing. He knew he had done everything in his power to help the Atlanta Braves win a crucial game and that it might be the last time he played in an Atlanta uniform at Truist Park.

“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cross my mind,” Fried said after pitching 8 2/3 dominant innings against the Kansas City Royals on Friday. The 3-0 win helped the Braves move level with the New York Mets in the NL wild-card standings with four games remaining, including a makeup doubleheader on Monday against the Mets.

Both teams, with a record of 87-71, are one percentage point ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks (88-72) as the three vying for the final two wild-card openings.

“I hope to have a lot more (home starts) deep into the playoffs and that we can go as far as we can and hopefully win the whole thing,” Fried said. “But yeah, when I walked away and heard that, it was emotional. I am extremely grateful and very thankful.”

Max Fried had an absolute gem against Kansas City, getting within one point of a two-hit shutout before drawing a walk and a double in the ninth. He left the game to a standing ovation, Iglesias came in and made it 3-0 on a pitch #Braves win.

— David O’Brien (@DOBrienATL) September 28, 2024

Fried, who was out of contract beyond this season and eligible for free agency this fall, came within one of his pitching, which would have been his second MLB-leading shutout of the season.

But after a two-out walk in the ninth by Bobby Witt Jr. and a double by Michael Massey, Fried settled for a great outing – three hits, two walks, nine strikeouts – his third start in eight or more scoreless runs innings this year, tied for the most in the majors with Seattle’s Luis Castillo.

“He was on a mission,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “I mean, he came out of the seventh and said something like, ‘I feel good and do what you need to do.’ And after the eighth, he came out and said, “I’m fine.” Like, “I want this.” And I say, Well, go ahead, you know?”

Fried needed just nine pitches in that perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts.

Asked if Fried excelled when the Braves needed it most, Snitker said: “How many times have we seen Max do that? Just come up big when you need him to and just have another game of his life. And you notice that pretty clearly. I saw the first inning and thought, well, this is going to be a good one. He had everything under control.”

In a way, it worked out perfectly because when Fried handed the ball off to Snitker with one out left, the enthusiastic crowd was able to show their appreciation by standing together and applauding as Fried walked toward the dugout.

“He deserves everything and maybe more,” said catcher Sean Murphy, whose two-run, two-out fourth-inning home run off Royals starter Brady Singer provided all the offense until the eighth inning.

“I think that’s about all he needed tonight. He didn’t need much,” Murphy said of that two-run home run, his 10th. “That was one of the better versions of Max we’ve seen this year. …I mean, you can just talk about him tonight. He pounded through the zone and went right at the guys, and the pitch count was down. He got quick outs. Everything rolled in his direction. You couldn’t ask for more.”

As Fried left the field, instead of keeping his head down like he normally does, he looked up at the crowd and looked in different directions at the Braves fans.

“I just want to thank the fans for pushing us,” Fried said. “They motivate us a lot and make us dig deeper even though we may not think we can do it. But faith and energy help us rise up and do different things that we often didn’t think we could do. In that moment I was just able to acknowledge them a little bit and thank them.”

Raisel Iglesias needed just one throw to reach the final out – a fly to left by Salvador Perez – and complete the Braves’ sixth win in seven games, giving them a season-high 16 games over .500.

Snitker was asked if he was thinking about it possibly being Fried’s last start for the Braves at Truist Park.

“Yeah, that was on my mind before the game,” Snitker said. “This is a special place. It’s a special place to play. I’ve been saying this for as long as I’ve been here, and it wasn’t until I sat in this seat that I realized Braves Country is real. It’s a real thing. And these people are incredible. All over the Southeast – we travel all over the country and feel it.

“There is energy and adrenaline every night in this stadium outside of our dugout. It’s amazing. All summer. You know, I looked up and thought, school’s over and tonight is Friday night football at the high school, and to see the support of the crowd out there, man, that’s something. These guys see it and they feel it.”

The Braves’ final run was one of the more unexpected developments of the season as it came after a bases steal by Marcell Ozuna, the first for the veteran since 2022 and just his third in five seasons. Ozuna, who had led off from eighth base and fought on with a groundout, noticed that reliever Carlos Hernández was slow at the plate and wasn’t paying much attention to the burly DH at second base.

So Ozuna went to third and Perez’s throwing error on the play allowed him to keep running and score.

“The third baseman was behind (the base), so…two outs, so I just left,” Ozuna said, smiling as he recounted the moment. “Alone. I said I’m ready, my legs are ready, I’ve been relaxing the last few days, let me go.”

How surprised was Snitker that he took third place?

“As surprised as anyone in the baseball world,” Snitker said with a laugh. “You gave him the bag.”

In fact, a clubhouse guard grabbed the base that was leaning against Ozuna’s locker after the game.

“I mean, I was wondering,” Snitker said. “He had something there. He felt good about it. I asked myself. But like I said, he made a run that made a game like this huge.”

Ozuna was just happy to extend the lead on a night where Fried tested the team.

“Oh my God, he’s great,” Ozuna said of Fried. “Especially as the season comes to an end, he has turned things around. Another person on the hill. As for me, I never doubted him. He is one of the best. He is amazing. Amazing person. He goes out and grinds every single outing.”

The postponement of two games against the Mets on Wednesday and Thursday because of torrential rain and the approach of Hurricane Helene had the potential to be a setback for the Braves, who had won five of six and finally had some offensive flow before the soggy break.

It was also unwelcome for the Mets, who left for Milwaukee after the postponements and had to return to Atlanta on Monday to play one or both of those games in a doubleheader – the day after the other 28 MLB teams finished their seasons and on the day Before wild card series begin in both leagues.

Despite Friday’s loss, the Royals secured their first postseason berth since 2015 with the Minnesota Twins’ loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Two hours after the game, the Royals took the field at empty Truist Park and celebrated in front of the visitors’ dugout.

For the Braves and Mets, the only way to avoid having to play at least one of those games on Monday is for the NL wild card picture to be cleared before Monday, which is unlikely but not impossible, especially if the Braves continue to pitch and won, as they did when they played again on Friday evening.

Murphy had his own take on the situation, a way to turn the oddity into a positive.

“I think it’s an opportunity to be involved in something weirder, sillier and unprecedented,” he said. “You know, I think a potential doubleheader before the playoffs is kind of fun. And yeah, I think embracing it is the only thing you can do.”

(Photo: Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)