INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The crowds were large and raucous. The biggest stars largely lived up to their billing. And plenty of promising young swimmers emerged over nine days in Indiana. The U.S. Olympic swimming trials wrapped up with the final two events at Lucas Oil Stadium, rounding out the roster for the Paris Games. Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel and Simone Manuel are among those who will be going for gold in Paris, joined by potential new standouts such as Kate Douglass and Thomas Heilman. Setting up a temporary pool inside the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts took the event to a whole new level. Nearly 300,000 fans turned out. The set-up drew rave reviews from the athletes.

It took longer than anticipated because of a mid-game rain delay, but the Cleveland Guardians came up with their fifth straight victory after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, 6-5.

Here are three observations and takeaways from the Guardians’ latest victory.

Triston McKenzie’s struggle with his command has been something talked about all year. It was immediately on display in his start against the Blue Jays after he walked the second batter of the game and then gave up a two-run homer to Valdimir Guerrero Jr.

Immediately going down 2-0 wasn’t ideal, but McKenzie did settle in after this. He ended up pitching 3.0 innings (cut short due to a rain delay) and struck out six batters. 

It’s nice to see Sticks bounce back to get the strikeouts, but hopefully, he can find this rhythm sooner in his next start.

Josh Naylor found himself in a little bit of a slump from the middle of May into the month of June. However, he’s been a much more productive hitter over the last two weeks, and his performance against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon was proof Naylor is officially back in a groove at the plate.

Naylor was 3-for-5 on the day including a double towering solo home run in the fourth inning to give Cleveland their sixth run of the game. He’s now hitting .345/.367/.759 over the last seven games.

The bullpen came in huge once again and combined to give Cleveland 7.0 strong innings of work after the rain delay. Sam Hentges especially made an impression with his effort in the win.

Hentges threw 1.2 innings bridged the gap and set off the save for closer Emmanuel Clase. The lefty was taxed more than he typically was in his appearance throwing 24 pitches. However, he only allowed one hit and didn’t give up a run which was huge for this bullpen which has been heavily tasked over the last week. 

Patient Care at Risk, Versiti Blood Center of Illinois Issues Plea for Donors

CHICAGO, June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Versiti Blood Center of Illinois has issued an emergency appeal for blood donations due to a dangerously low blood supply. Certain blood types have less than a day’s worth of availability, endangering the lives of local patients. Summer donations have plummeted to critical levels, with over 4,963 appointments missed in the past month alone.

All blood types are needed, with O-positive and O-negative being the most in demand. O-positive is the most common blood type, while O-negative blood is the universal type that can be safely received by all patients in emergencies when the blood type is unknown.

“We know summer is a challenging time for blood donation, and we plan for it every year, but what we see today is dire,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. “Patients’ lives are at risk. If you are healthy and able, we are pleading with you to donate blood this week.”

In addition to unfilled appointments and a rise in cancellations and no-shows, Versiti’s partner hospitals have required a significant volume of blood this past month to support organ transplant procedures and other traumas.

“The demand for blood simply does not match the number of donors coming through our doors,” added Waxman. “While we deeply appreciate our loyal donors who consistently show up, it’s important to recognize that about 3 percent of people who are eligible to donate blood actually do. If it’s been a while since your last donation or you’re a first-time donor, we are excited to welcome you.”

What happens if blood is not available for patients?

• When the local blood inventory gets as low as it is now, it jeopardizes the health and safety of patients who rely on life-saving blood transfusions. In some cases, hospitals are forced to postpone surgeries or delay critical treatments.
• Trauma victims from car accidents or shootings are at the highest risk, as their survival often depends on a healthy blood inventory. If these types of cases occur in the coming days, we might not have the blood needed to keep them alive.
• Patients undergoing organ transplants and battling cancer, and even mothers in labor, could face treatment delays or complications due to a limited blood supply.

To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call (800) 786-4483 or visit versiti.org. Walk-in donors are also welcome.

Donor center locations:

• WESTMONT: 6317 S. Fairview Ave.
• TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial Cir.
• BLOOMINGDALE: 398 W. Army Trail Rd.
• NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper Blvd.
• WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva Rd.
• JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson St.
• GENEVA: 2000 W. State St., Unit 1E
• AURORA: 1200 N. Highland Ave.
• ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean Blvd.
• CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest Hwy.
• YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans Pkwy., Suite 112
• DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
• HIGHLAND: 2126 45th St.

Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone aged 16 or older who is in good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.

About Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Aurora, IL. that specializes in blood products and services and provides expert medical and technical support. Founded in 1943, it is the oldest blood center in Illinois and serves patients at more than 85 hospitals in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. It operates 12 donor centers and conducts nearly 2,200 blood drives annually at area hospitals, churches, businesses, schools and community centers. To learn more, visit versiti.org.

SOURCE Versiti Blood Center of Illinois