GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — South Africa defender Olwethu Makhanya joined Rangers on Thursday from Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union as part of a major squad overhaul to catch city rival Celtic.
Rangers said it signed the 22-year-old center back on a four-year deal without stating the transfer fee.
Makhanya went to the World Cup with South Africa though stayed on the bench for all four games. South Africa lost to co-host Canada in the round of 32.
Rangers placed third in the Scottish Premiership last season and has revitalized its squad for new coach Derek McInnes. He led Heart of Midlothian to the brink of the title in May until a last-day loss at Celtic, which has won the league in 14 of the past 15 seasons.
Rangers starts the new league season on Friday at Dundee United, then in the Europa League third qualifying round at Jagiellonia Bialystok in Poland next Thursday.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Toronto FC's Josh Sargent, right, battles for the ball with Philadelphia Union's Olwethu Makhanya (29) during the first half of an MLS soccer game in Toronto, April 22, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Luis Robert Jr. had a two-run single to cap an eighth-inning rally in the New York Mets' 4-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.
Bo Bichette doubled off Michael Petersen (1-2) with two outs, and Carson Benge singled and swiped second to set up Robert’s hit — just his fourth in 29 at-bats since he returned to the Mets on July 20 following a three-month stint on the injured list.
Brooks Raley (5-2), an impending free agent who is a candidate to be traded by the last-place Mets before the deadline Monday, got five outs in the seventh and eighth.
Devin Williams earned his 16th save by working around Heriberto Hernandez’s leadoff walk in the ninth.
Francisco Lindor laced a run-scoring single in the sixth for the Mets, who have won four of five — just the third time in the last two months they’ve won at least four times in a five-game span.
Kyle Stowers and Jakob Marsee each went deep for the Marlins, whose three-game winning streak was halted. Miami, which lost 12 straight prior to sweeping Philadelphia this week, slipped 2 1/2 games behind the idle Phillies and Arizona, who occupy the final two NL playoff spots.
Mets starter Nolan McLean gave up two runs and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer 10 times in his last 11 starts.
The Marlins’ Eury Pérez allowed two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts in six innings. He didn’t allow a hit until Marcus Semien singled with two outs in the fifth.
Marlins RHP Janson Junk (4-6, 4.89 ERA) was set to oppose RHP Freddy Peralta (5-9, 4.99 ERA) on Friday night in what will likely be his final start for New York.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean hands the ball to interim manager Andy Green as he leaves during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Devin Williams pitches during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. (88) celebrates with teammates after a baseball game Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. gestures to teammates after hitting a two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
New York Mets' Luis Robert Jr. hits a two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Thursday, July 30, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
