TOKYO (AP) — Heavy downpours triggered flooding in parts of western Japan on Friday as two approaching tropical storms added to a seasonal rain front already stuck above the country.
Storm Mekkhala was off the western coast of Japan's southern remote island of Amami as of late afternoon Friday as it headed northeast, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Another storm, Higos, was traveling nearby and the two storms are expected to reach the Tokyo region Saturday while dumping heavy rain, the JMA said.
Earlier Friday, a man was injured as he fell into a waterway in Nara, according to Japan's NHK public television.
Television footage from Kyoto showed the Kamo River swollen with muddy water. A flooding alert was issued in parts of Kyoto, Osaka and other areas in western Japan.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said more than 30 homes were flooded in Nara and Hiroshima on Friday. Heavy rain also disrupted some train operations and flights in the area.
Passengers check train service status as two approaching tropical storms trigger heavy rainfalls, at JR Odawara station in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Kyodo News via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) — Derek Hill robbed Juan Soto of a two-run homer with a spectacular catch that helped Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the reeling New York Mets 2-1 on Friday night.
Trea Turner drove in Hill with a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning, and Philadelphia spoiled Andy Green’s debut as Mets interim manager by handing New York its seventh consecutive defeat.
Green replaced Carlos Mendoza, who was fired Friday morning after the high-priced Mets reached the season’s midpoint at 34-47 and 9 1/2 games back of the NL’s last wild-card berth.
Mendoza, who went 206-199 in 2 1/2 seasons, became the third major league manager to lose his job since the season started. Boston’s Alex Cora was replaced by Chad Tracy and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson by Don Mattingly, both in late April.
The Phillies have gone 37-17 under Mattingly to move into the top NL wild-card spot.
Bryce Harper also had an RBI single for Philadelphia, which has won four straight and six of seven. Turner’s two-out hit off reliever Huascar Brazobán (4-2) made it 2-1 in the seventh, six innings after Hill — racing at full speed — leaped at the right-center wall and snared Soto’s drive high above the fence.
Wheeler grinned before Hill exchanged high-fives and chest bumps with right fielder Brandon Marsh. The crowd of 39,077 at Citi Field gasped and even applauded some when the replay was shown on the large videoboard in center.
Wheeler (8-1) allowed four hits over seven innings against his former team, including Jared Young’s run-scoring single in the fourth. He struck out five. The right-hander has a 2.03 ERA in 12 starts this year since returning from thoracic outlet decompression surgery late last season, which followed a procedure to remove a blood clot from his upper right arm.
Jhoan Duran earned his 20th save with a one-hit ninth to close out a game that took just 2 hours, 20 minutes.
Mets left-hander Zach Thornton gave up one run and five hits over six encouraging innings in his second major league start. He struck out seven and walked one.
Phillies RHP Alan Rangel (0-0, 2.25 ERA) starts Saturday against Mets RHP Christian Scott (2-0, 3.10), who is scheduled to come off the injured list.
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New York Mets' Zach Thornton (49) pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing attempts to catch a ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto for a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper runs to first base for an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Philadelphia Phillies' Zack Wheeler pitches dsecond inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
