KRISTIE RIEKEN Sports Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is stripped of the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White rally Bucs to 20-19 win over Texans

September 15, 2025

Baker Mayfield led an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by Rachaad White’s 2-yard touchdown run with 6 seconds left, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied past the Houston Texans 20-19. Mayfield threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Bucs, and his 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 kept the game-winning drive going. The Texans took a 19-14 lead on a 25-yard TD run by Nick Chubb with 2:10 left. Houston went for 2 but C.J. Stroud was sacked. The Bucs improved to 2-0 while the Texans fell to 0-2. Stroud threw for 207 yards and a touchdown.

Texas A&M defensive tackle DJ Hicks (5) and defensive end Cashius Howell (9) sack Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes (16) during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell sacks Utah State QB three times in a row

September 6, 2025

Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell sacked Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes on three consecutive plays in the second quarter Saturday. Howell muscled past left tackle Jake Eichorn each time, forcing a punt. The first sack resulted in a 6-yard loss, the second in a 7-yard loss and the third in an 8-yard loss. A fifth-year senior, Howell entered the game with 15 1/2 career sacks and had just four last season. Saturday marked the first time a player has had sacks on three straight plays since Jack Cichy did it for Wisconsin against Southern California in the 2015 Holiday Bowl, according to research by the Texas A&M communications staff.

Houston Astros' Jose Altuve (27) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Altuve’s homer and Garcia’s strong return power the Astros past the Angels, 8-3

September 1, 2025

Jose Altuve hit a two-run homer and an RBI single and Ramón Urías also went deep to back up a strong start from Luis Garcia and lead the Houston Astros to an 8-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Garcia got the win in his return after sitting out more than two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He allowed three hits and three runs with six strikeouts in six innings in his first start since May 2023. Zach Neto hit a solo home run and Jo Adell added a two-run shot for the Angels, whose two-game winning streak was snapped. Yusei Kikuchi took the loss.

Houston Astros' Carlos Correa acknowledges the crowd as he come up to bat against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Correa plays 1st game in Houston since trade as Bregman visits for 1st time since joining Red Sox

August 11, 2025

Carlos Correa has made a triumphant return to the Houston Astros after a trade from the Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, Alex Bregman is visiting Daikin Park for the first time as a Boston Red Sox player. Houston manager Joe Espada says both players have been incredible for the organization. Bregman, drafted by the Astros in 2015, spent nine seasons in Houston, helping the team achieve significant success. Correa, who waived his no-trade clause to return, is back after playing for the Twins since 2022. He’s feeling rejuvenated and is now playing third base. Both players express excitement about their new roles and opportunities.

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, July 7, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Guardians snap 10-game losing streak with 7-5 win over Astros

July 7, 2025

José Ramírez and David Fry homered and Brayan Rocchio added a two-run double as the Cleveland Guardians beat the Houston Astros 7-5 to snap a 10-game skid. Cleveland’s last win was on June 25. Emmanuel Clase closed the game with a perfect ninth inning for his 19th save. Houston’s Taylor Trammell and Isaac Paredes also homered, but it wasn’t enough. Guardians starter Tanner Bibee allowed four runs in under five innings, while Houston’s Colton Gordon gave up five runs in nearly six innings but stayed in after being hit by a line drive.

FILE - Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gestures during the second half of an NBA basketball game on March 9, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

GM Stone thrilled to add Kevin Durant to Rockets despite tough decision to move on from Jalen Green

July 7, 2025

Adding a player of Kevin Durant’s caliber was too valuable an opportunity for the Houston Rockets to pass up, even though it meant moving on from Jalen Green just four seasons after they drafted him second overall. Durant was officially acquired from Phoenix on Sunday in a complicated seven-team transaction that sent Green and Dillon Brooks to the Suns and brought Clint Capela back to Houston from the Hawks. General manager Rafael Stone is thrilled to add the future Hall of Famer, who will turn 37 in September, to a team which made a huge leap last season to earn the second seed in the Western Conference.

FILE - Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka watches during the second half of Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Coach Ime Udoka agrees to a contract extension with the Houston Rockets, AP source says

June 19, 2025

Coach Ime Udoka has agreed to a contract extension with the Houston Rockets, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the deal hadn’t been announced. No details on the terms of the contract were available. The move comes after Udoka led the Rockets to the second-best record in the Western Conference this season and their first playoff berth since the 2019-20 season.

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. reacts after a throw during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Lance McCullers gets 24-hour security after online death threats, some aimed at 5-year-old daughter

May 30, 2025

Houston’s Lance McCullers is one of two MLB pitchers whose families have received online death threats this month as internet abuse of players and their families is on the rise. Boston reliever Liam Hendriks posted on social media soon after the incident with McCullers to call out people who were threatening his wife’s life and directing “vile” comments at him. The Astros contacted MLB security and the Houston Police Department following the threats to McCullers and an HPD spokesperson said Thursday that it remains an ongoing investigation. McCullers, who has two young daughters, reached out to the team to inquire about providing security for his family. Astros owner Jim Crane stepped in and hired 24-hour security.

KRISTIE RIEKEN Sports Writer.