announced

Yankees strike back, beat Angels on day team sale is announced

Spencer Jones homered and drove in three runs, Jazz Chisholm Jr. also went deep and finished with three hits, and the New York Yankees pulled away Tuesday night for a 7-3 victory over the Angels.

Jones and Chisholm launched back-to-back homers to give Gerrit Cole a 3-0 lead before even throwing a pitch in his latest return home. New York moved four games ahead of rival Boston for the top American League wild card and remained 4 1/2 games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.

A day that began with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, led by Rams owner Stan Kroenke, reaching an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in the Angels from owner Arte Moreno ended with the struggling Angels losing for the ninth time in 11 games.

Cole (8-7) gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn and John Schreiber held the Angels to one hit the rest of the way.

Angels starter Grayson Rodriguez (4-6) gave up four runs and seven hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking two.

The Angels trailed 4-1 when Wade Meckler, who had three hits, opened the sixth with a single. Moisés Ballesteros singled and Christian Moore sliced a two-run triple to right field that eluded a diving Jones and trimmed the deficit to 4-3.

Cole was pulled in favor of Headrick, who stranded Moore by striking out pinch-hitter Jose Siri and getting Oswald Peraza to fly out.

New York pushed the lead to 6-3 in the eighth when Jones walked, Chisholm singled and Trent Grisham, mired in a two-for-42 slump, fouled off two bunt attempts before hitting an RBI single. Ryan McMahon loaded the bases with a bunt single and Paul Goldschmidt hit a sacrifice fly.

Consecutive singles by Cody Bellinger, who had three of New York’s 14 hits, Luis García Jr. and Jones made it 7-3 in the ninth.

The Yankees took a 3-0 lead in the first. Bellinger singled before Jones hit a two-run homer — his second longball in two nights — and Chisholm followed with an opposite-field shot into the left-field corner.

Ben Rice singled in the third, went to third on Bellinger’s single and scored on García’s double-play grounder for a 4-0 advantage.

The Angels pulled to 4-1 in the bottom half when Zach Neto singled, stole second and scored on Meckler’s two-out single.

Up next

Yankees RHP Cam Schlittler (12-6, 2.09 ERA) faces LHP Reid Detmers (4-8, 3.54) in Wednesday night’s series finale.

DiGiovanna writes for the Associated Press.

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Opening date announced for Universal Studios’ ‘Fast & Furious’ coaster

Universal Studios Hollywood is almost ready to properly open its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster. The high-speed thrill ride, which has been operating in technical rehearsals since late July, has an opening date: Sept. 16.

The coaster has essentially been in an extended testing phase. By giving the ride an official opening date, the theme park is announcing that the attraction is ready for daily operations.

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Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, which seats riders in expertly designed mini-vehicles designed to reference real automobiles, has long been circled as the most important theme park attraction of 2026, a feat of engineering nestled on a steep hill between the park’s upper and lower lots that was 10 years in the making.

The ride — designed by Universal, manufactured by Intamin — has already changed the look and feel of Universal Studios, giving the park its first major outdoor thrill ride. Once known primarily as a studio tour park, Universal has been undergoing a large-scale overhaul throughout the last decade-plus, adding immersive lands such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.

Now it has a coaster that feels akin to taking a joyride, complete with authentic engine and brake sounds. So if you’re thinking of taking Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift for a spin, here’s what you need to know.

The view of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift from Universal Studios Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The view of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift from Universal Studios Hollywood’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Is the ride included with Universal Studios admission?

Yes. A daily ticket starts at $109.95, although prices vary by day and expect to pay in the $150 range for a weekend date. Unlike Disneyland, Universal does not require reservations, but it is recommended to buy in advance.

Are express passes available?

Universal Studios will sell front-of-the-line access as an add-on to a daily ticket — but not yet. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will not be included in express pass offerings at launch, according to a Universal spokesperson. That means all guests will have to wait in the same line. Express access is expected to be offered at a later date.

So, how long should I expect to wait in line?

A while. During technical rehearsals, afternoon waits routinely topped two hours, with some waiting longer than three and closer to four, although the last was rare. Expect operations to run a little smoother thanks to the soft open phase, but come prepared to be patient.

Is the ride included with Halloween Horror Nights?

The short answer is no. The longer answer: Those who spring for what Universal calls the R.I.P. Tour, however, will be able to ride. A guided experience, that ticket is $479 per person. (The fine print: Earlier this summer Universal did promise Hollywood Drift access with some tickets, but has since removed that option. The park has stated it will honor the terms of those who purchased the tickets before access was removed, and those buyers should have received instructions from Universal.)

Coaster cars on a loop.

The Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster features multiple inversions.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Tell me about the ride. How intense is it?

The ride reaches speeds of 72 mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s global portfolio, while traversing 4,100 feet of track, two towering inverted loops and a pretzel loop. There are four individual launch points, and the coaster cars have the ability to rotate 360 degrees. It’s intense, but it’s also incredibly smooth, which helps it feel more approachable.

Wait, 360 degrees? Will I get motion sick?

Individual results will vary, of course, but for reference I am someone who can’t do extreme coasters — Magic Mountain’s Wonder Woman Flight of Courage is too much for me — and struggle on attractions that spin, such as Walt Disney World’s Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Yet I’ve been completely fine on multiple rides of Hollywood Drift. The spinning isn’t gratuitous, as the cars turn and drift with the flow of the track, so the movement feels aligned with direction.

Can I request a specific car?

You can! But be kind and patient with Universal staffers, who may not always be able to grant such requests due to crowding. If you have a specific concern, however, raise it with the coaster staff, and they will likely accommodate.

One of the ride vehicles of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

One of the ride vehicles of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

What’s the ‘easiest’ car for those who are nervous?

The middle cars, although not by much. All rotate, all experience the same speed and inversions. There are four vehicles, and the first provides the most striking views, including of the track’s drops, so the squeamish are advised to aim for the middle two cars, as it will provide a better sense of where the coaster train is heading. I’ve been told by some at Universal that the last row of the last car — each car seats four — can feel a little more riveting as it will heighten some of the speed and lift sensations. But I’ve sat in the front and the last car, and still don’t know if any differences were in my head or not.

Is there a height requirement/maximum?

Yes, you must be at least 51 inches tall to experience the coaster. There is no listed height or weight maximum, but guests are encouraged to sit in a test vehicle outside the attraction before getting in line. Riders must be seated completely inside the vehicle, which uses a pull-down lap bar, and be fitted against the headrest.

How accessible is it?

Modern roller coasters are not known for their accessibility, but Hollywood Drift is surprisingly accommodating for how intense it is. I am not small. I am 6-foot-2 and more than 210 pounds, and found Hollywood Drift to be one of the more comfortable coasters I have been on. There’s also plenty of leg room. I know a number of people significantly larger than me who have been able to ride successfully.

Where is the ride located in the park?

Across from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But you can’t miss it, as you need to pass it to get to the park’s lower lot, and it’s viewable from pretty much anywhere.

Well, is it worth riding? What’s your verdict?

I think it’s a blast. I rode the coaster on its first day of technical rehearsals, and as I wrote in my review, it’s full of surprises, of wondering where and when a coaster vehicle will be spin, careen or accelerate. Every turn, twist, flip leaves you guessing. Some of the park’s Toluca Lake neighbors, however, may be less enamored with it.

Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride comes out every Tuesday, but we occasionally publish special editions (like this one!) when we have breaking theme park news. Make sure you’ve signed up to be the first to know.

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Channel 4 confirm return of ‘outrageous’ show as second series announced

The popular TV show first aired earlier this year with Traitors star Jonathan Ross at the helm.

The series was a huge hit with fans as contestants competed to win £100,000.

It’s been confirmed that Channel 4’s popular show Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing will be back for a second series, with presenter Jonathan Ross returning to front the programme.

Described as an ‘outrageous social experiment’, the series follows a group of strangers who have completely opposite beliefs, opinions, lifestyles and habits as they’re handcuffed in pairs.

Being together 24/7, each duo needs to try and outlast the other competitors as they take part in the ‘ultimate test of survival’, which will see them win a huge cash prize if they become the last pair standing.

In series one, which had moments of high emotion, tension and heated arguments, Channel 4 viewers saw practical homemaker Charlie win the show with adult content creator Rob, and take home a collective £100,000.

Channel 4 Commissioning Editor Tim Hancock said: “Part of Channel 4’s job is to reflect every corner of Britain, and not just the loudest or most comfortable parts.

“Handcuffed does that better than almost anything else on our slate, and its return is a vote of confidence in formats built on genuine difference.”

The first series was a huge streaming success, as over 2 million views were recorded from episode one alone, with it doing particularly well with people aged between 16 and 34.

Tom Clarke, Executive Producer, 72 Films, a Fremantle Company added: “The first series of Handcuffed got the nation talking, especially in demographics we’re often told have left TV behind.

“We’re thrilled viewers enjoyed the high-octane thrills and spills of the competition, along with the oodles of heart our pairs delivered as they really got to know each other.”

People have had nothing but praise when speaking about the programme since it aired, with many calling it ‘brilliant’.

One person said: “Ch4 #handcuffed is brilliant, it needs a big launch next year, it’s basically big brother but handcuffed with no escape. Another wrote: “Well, @Channel4 #handcuffed was absolutely brilliant TV. What a journey!”

Someone else commented: “I really hope handcuffed gets more seasons i’ve been absolutely hooked on it #handcuffed .” While a fourth shared:” #handcuffed What a great show, I’m loving this.”

It’s not yet known when the second series of the Channel 4 show will air.

Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing is available to watch on Channel 4.

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