South Florida Local News

MIAMI — Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to exceed 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season during the most spectacular game of a history-making career for the Los Angeles Dodgers star, going deep three times and swiping two bags on Thursday against the Miami Marlins.

Ohtani hit is 49th homer in the sixth inning, his 50th in the seventh and his 51st in the ninth. He finished 6 for 6 with 10 RBIs while becoming the first big league player to hit three homers and steal two bases in a game.

“It was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible. And, you know, it’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time,” Ohtani said through an interpreter in a televised interview.

The Japanese superstar reached the second deck in right-center on two of his three homers at LoanDepot Park. In the sixth inning, he launched a 1-1 slider from George Soriano 438 feet for his 49th.

Ohtani hit his 50th homer in the seventh inning, an opposite-field, two-run shot to left against Marlins reliever Mike Baumann. Then, in the ninth, his 51st traveled 440 feet to right-center, a three-run shot against Marlins second baseman Vidal Brujan, who came in to pitch with the game out of hand. The Dodgers won 20-4 and clinched their 12th straight playoff berth.

“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised,” Ohtani said. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad that it was going well today.”

Ohtani took care of the stolen bases earlier in the game, swiping his 50th in the first and his 51st in the second.

He broke the Dodgers’ franchise record of 49 homers set by Shawn Green in 2001. And he became the third player in major league history with at least six hits, three homers and 10 RBIs in a game, joining Cincinnati’s Walker Cooper in 1949 and Washington’s Anthony Rendon in 2017.

The Japanese superstar led off the game with double against Edward Cabrera and swiped third on the front end of a double steal with Freddie Freeman, who reached on a walk.

Ohtani has been successful on his last 28 stolen base attempts.

He reached the 50-50 milestone in his 150th game. Ohtani was already the sixth player in major league history and the fastest ever to reach 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season, needing just 126 games.

Ohtani hit home runs in each of his final three at-bats and also became the 16th major leaguer to drive in at least 10 RBI in a game.

Ohtani’s previous career high in homers was 46 for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021, when he also made 23 starts on the mound and won his first of two American League MVP awards.

Already the consensus best player in baseball whose accomplishments as a pitcher and batter outpaced even Babe Ruth, Ohtani reached new heights as an offensive player while taking the year off from pitching.

Ohtani signed a $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers last December. The two-way star, who previously spent six years with the Los Angeles Angels, has played exclusively at designated hitter this season as he rehabilitates after surgery a year ago for an injured elbow ligament.

Preparation was a key to Ohtani becoming the first member of the 50-50 club. He regularly huddled with the team’s hitting coaches and studied video of opposing pitchers to understand their tendencies with hitters and baserunners.

“I see all the work he puts in,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said recently. “It’s not like he goes out there and it’s too easy for him. He works harder than anybody. He scouts really hard. He’s playing a different game so it’s fun to see.”

Ohtani appeared to make the 50-50 mark his mission. He increased the frequency of his base-stealing attempts and in turn his success rate went up.

But that may not be the case next year when he returns to the mound.

“He’s not pitching this year so I think he is emptying the tank offensively,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “I do think the power, the on-base (percentage), the average, I think he can do that as a pitcher. He’s done something pretty similar like that with his OPS. But as far as the stolen bases go, I’m not sure about that.”

Ohtani’s teammates have enjoyed watching him crush home runs and scamper around the bases.

“I’m honestly kind of trying to learn from him just seeing the way he goes about his day-to-day business. He’s very consistent, the same demeanor throughout,” outfielder Tommy Edman said recently. “I think that’s why he’s such a good player.”

Third baseman Max Muncy added, “Every night I feel like he does something that we haven’t seen.”

What’s next for Ohtani?

The Dodgers are headed to the postseason in October, which will be another first for Ohtani. He never made it there with the Angels, who never had a winning record during his tenure in Anaheim.

Another potential first could be earning National League MVP honors as a designated hitter. No player who got most of his playing time as a DH — without pitching — has ever won MVP, although Don Baylor, Edgar Martinez and David Ortiz placed high in the vote.

It would be Ohtani’s third career MVP award.

An 11th-grade student at McArthur High School died Wednesday evening after he was apparently struck by lightning in Pembroke Pines, according to officials.

Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue found the student lying motionless underneath a tree in the 600 block of Southwest 67th Avenue, a residential area not far from the high school. He was in cardiac arrest and taken to Memorial Regional Hospital as a trauma alert, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue Division Chief Jason Stepp said in an email Thursday afternoon.

“We don’t have confirmation yet, but it does appear as though the patient was struck by lightning with burn wounds noted to the patient’s chest and inner thighs,” Stepp wrote.

The student died Wednesday evening, McArthur High Principal Mark Howard said in a message to parents Thursday. The student was identified in the message, but his name was redacted in the copy of the message school district spokespersons shared with the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

“Though I’m unable to share additional details regarding the student’s untimely death, I offer my deepest condolences to the student’s family and loved ones, teachers and classmates,” Howard said. “He will be missed.”

Grief counselors will be at the school starting Friday and will be “for as long as it is necessary,” Howard said.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there were 444 deaths from lightning strikes in the U.S. between 2006 and 2021. Florida and Texas are the only two states with more than 30 deaths in that time frame, the data shows.

“Florida is considered the ‘lightning capital’ of the country, with more than 2,000 lightning injuries over the past 50 years,” the CDC’s information says.

Out of the 10 people who have died from lightning strikes nationwide so far in 2024, Florida has recorded the most, with four deaths, data from the National Weather Service shows. A 19-year-old man was struck by lightning in June while running under a tree in Davie, according to the NWS data.

Deaths from lightning strikes nationwide in the past decade have ranged from a low of 11 deaths in 2021 up to as many as 40 deaths in 2016, the NWS data shows.

This is a developing story, so check back for updates. Click here to have breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.

By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS, Associated Press

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Justice Department has opened a civil rights investigation into a Mississippi sheriff’s department whose officers tortured two Black men in a racist attack that included beatings, repeated use of stun guns and assaults with a sex toy before one of the victims was shot in the mouth, officials said Thursday.

The Justice Department will investigate whether the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department has engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force and unlawful stops, searches and arrests, and whether it has used racially discriminatory policing practices, according to Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.

Five Rankin sheriff’s deputies pleaded guilty in 2023 to breaking into a home without a warrant and engaging in an hourslong attack on Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Terrell Parker. A sixth officer, from the Richland Police Department, was also convicted in the attack

Some of the officers were part of a group so willing to use excessive force they called themselves the Goon Squad. All six were sentenced in March, receiving terms of 10 to 40 years.

The charges followed an Associated Press investigation in March 2023 that linked some of the officers to at least four violent encounters since 2019 that left two Black men dead.

“The concerns about the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department did not end with the demise of the Goon Squad,” Clarke said Thursday.

The Justice Department has received information about other troubling incidents, including deputies overusing stun guns, entering homes unlawfully, using “shocking racial slurs” and employing “dangerous, cruel tactics to assault people in their custody,” Clarke said.

The attacks on Jenkins and Parker began on Jan. 24, 2023, with a racist call for extrajudicial violence, according to federal prosecutors. A white person phoned Deputy Brett McAlpin and complained that two Black men were staying with a white woman at a house in Braxton.

Once inside the home, the officers handcuffed Jenkins and Parker and poured milk, alcohol and chocolate syrup over their faces while mocking them with racial slurs. They forced them to strip naked and shower together to conceal the mess. They mocked the victims with racial slurs and assaulted them with sex objects.

Locals saw in the grisly details of the case echoes of Mississippi’s history of racist atrocities by people in authority. The difference this time is that those who abused their power paid a steep price for their crimes, attorneys for the victims have said.

In addition to McAlpin, the others convicted were former deputies Christian Dedmon, Hunter Elward, Jeffrey Middleton and Daniel Opdyke and former Richland police officer Joshua Hartfield.

U.S. District Judge Tom Lee called the former officers’ actions “egregious and despicable” and imposed sentences near the top of federal guidelines for five of the six.

“The depravity of the crimes committed by these defendants cannot be overstated,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said after the sentencing.

Malik Shabazz and Trent Walker, the attorneys for Jenkins and Parker, said in a statement Thursday that Rankin County has a “long and extremely violent legacy of departmental abuse under Sheriff Bryan Bailey” and that they applaud the Justice Department for opening the civil rights investigation

“This is a first, critical step in cleaning up the Sheriff’s Department and holding Rankin County legally accountable for the years of constitutional violations against its citizenry,” Shabazz and Walker said. “All of this took place because, despite innumerable warnings, Rankin County and Sheriff Bailey belligerently refused to properly monitor and supervise this rogue department.”

The Rankin County Sheriff’s Department is the 11th law enforcement agency in the U.S. to come under a Justice Department investigation since 2021, Clarke said.

The U.S. attorney for the southern district of Mississippi, Todd Gee, said text messages between Goon Squad members, including officers who were not present during the January 2023 assault, showed that deputies “routinely discussed extreme, unnecessary uses of force and other ways to dehumanize residents of Rankin County.” He said deputies shared a video of an officer defecating in the home of one resident.

“In Mississippi and throughout the nation, we have learned over and over that real change in civil rights sometimes requires us to dig up the past, tell painful facts and offer new ways of doing things,” Gee said. “We intend for this investigation to do that same work in Rankin County.”

____

Associated Press writer Michael Goldberg contributed.

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins second-year running back De’Von Achane has four times as many touches as any other player on the team through two games in 2024.

He has 46. Star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have 11 apiece. Fellow running back Raheem Mostert, who missed last week’s game against the Buffalo Bills, has just eight.

With Mostert out in Week 2, Achane carried 22 times and had seven receptions for 29 total touches.

That’s quite a number for a 5-foot-9, 188-pound speedster who was questionable entering the game due to an ankle injury.

But Achane is not shying away from the added work. He only embraces it.

“I felt pretty good,” he said early this week coming off the extensive activity Sept. 12. “When you play those type of games, it’s exciting to me, playing division games. So in my mind, I had it to where, ‘I’m going to play regardless; it’s just a little ankle.’

“Raheem was down, so I felt like it was up to me to step up because, to have two of us out, I feel like that’s a big loss for the team. So me coming in and having a game-time decision, I had it in my head that I’m playing.”

And Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel doesn’t feel he needs to tone down Achane’s chances, given his production with those opportunities. Achane has 120 rushing yards with a touchdown on the ground, and he has hauled in all 14 of his targets for another 145 yards receiving.

“He’s definitely earned all of the opportunities, and he could make a case for even more, McDaniel said. “I think his production with the ball right now is definitely a positive for us, because to get the ball away from him, you got to do some good stuff with it. So I think it puts pressure on all eligibles and what you do with the ball, because he’s made it very clear that, on the routine, he’s probably making the first guy miss.”

Achane could and should continue to play a large role against the Seattle Seahawks as the Dolphins prepare for backup Skylar Thompson to start at quarterback for Tua Tagovailoa.

Pounding the Seahawks with the run could work to ease Thompson into things and keep opponents from taking away Miami receivers Hill and Waddle with two-high safety looks over the top.

“I’m really hyped to see how we pound the ball with a guy that weighs 160 pounds,” Hill said laughing, exaggerating Achane’s diminutive weight for a running back by nearly 30 pounds. “Achane is different, dog. The amount of carries he had last week and to still be able to hold up.”

A potential return for Mostert could help spread the workload in the backfield.

“I always miss my dude,” Achane said of Mostert. “I can’t wait for him to come back and be back out there with us.”

But more than how many carries he gets in the run game, what’s astonishing is how proficient Achane has been as a receiver to start the season.

“Everybody doesn’t think a running back can go out there and be a receiver, but it’s — not new to me — but it’s new to other people,” Achane said.

Dolphins running backs coach Eric Studesville preaches versatility from his position group.

“One of the things in our room we talk about is being complete backs, not just runners,” he said. “If it’s pass protection, we have to be able to do that. If it’s making guys miss in space, we have to be able to do that. If it’s running routes and catching the ball, we need to be able to do that. We’ve kind of pushed that agenda, being complete backs, in the room. We’ve done that with De’Von more going forward.”

The pass-catching trait was something the Dolphins saw in Achane back when he was coming out for the draft out of Texas A&M.

“It wasn’t as much but you could see he could see the ball in the air and he could go find it,” offensive coordinator Frank Smith said. “So it was on his college tape, and his ability as a runner was on his college tape, so really, it’s like him now knowing how he needs to play, how he fits in the offense and his timing and his understanding of stuff, and I think that all goes into his process and his work ethic.

“I’m very excited with what he’s done and really look forward to Sunday and the rest of the year and seeing how he keeps growing throughout the whole season.”

The woman who ran the company that was supposed to provide around-the-clock in-home nursing care to a little boy who starved to death last Christmas, will not be allowed to post bond and go free, a Broward judge ruled Thursday.

Mirlande Moltimer, 47, owner of Samaritin Home Health Care, told Children’s Medical Services, the state agency that administers Medicaid, that she last saw Deonte Atwell on Oct. 23, 2023, according to a motion filed by the Broward State Attorney’s Office. By that time, Deonte’s health was deteriorating, from a normal weight of 46 pounds when he was 5 years old to an emaciated 7 pounds when paramedics were called to his Fort Lauderdale home two days after his 7th birthday.

“The victim was subjected to prolonged food deprivation that was carried out systematically resulting in his death by starvation,” wrote Assistant State Attorney Melissa Kelly, who heads the prosecutor’s Child Fatality and Abuse Unit. “Had the victim been receiving in-home skilled nursing in the days, weeks and months leading to his death, he would not have starved to death or have been subjected to severe medical neglect.”

Moltimer is one of five people charged in what a grand jury called Deonte’s murder. Molitmer is charged with aggravated manslaughter and third-degree murder. She’s also accused of billing Medicaid somewhere between $10,000 and $50,000 for services the child never received.

Deonte had thoracic spina bifida and hydrocephalus, a medical condition that required 24-hour in-home care and left him immobile from the waist down.

Broward Circuit Judge George Odom on Thursday granted a state motion to keep Moltimer in custody over the opposition of defense lawyer Bruce Lehr.

Also charged are Moltimer’s employee, Cassandre Lassegue, 33, whose charges include first-degree murder, and three members of Deonte’s family.

Deonte’s mother, Michelle Doe, 37, and his brother, Tyreck Irvin, 21, also face charges that include first-degree murder. The child’s grandfather, James Graham, the only one of the five to be released on bail, is facing charges of aggravated manslaughter, child neglect and failure to report child abuse.

All are due back in court on Oct. 31.

Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda. 

By ERIC TUCKER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the FBI said this week that Iran had tried to provide Democrats with material stolen from Donald Trump’s campaign, it was only the latest allegation of foreign interference with the U.S. election.

The 2024 presidential campaign is encountering a spate of efforts by adversaries to weaken faith in the outcome and potentially alter the results. While much of the attention has been focused on Iran, Russia is still seen as the biggest threat.

The Biden administration has moved aggressively in recent weeks to call out the operations in hopes of alerting Americans so they remain vigilant to wide-ranging, often hidden, foreign efforts to influence their views on hot-button social issues as well as the candidates.

A look at the latest development and broader concerns about foreign election meddling:

What Iran is alleged to have done

Iranian operatives stand accused of hacking the Trump campaign and attempting to spread internal communications they pilfered. They also sought access to the Democratic presidential campaign, but there’s no indication those efforts were successful.

Several media organizations said last month they received apparently stolen information but declined to publish it. Politico, for instance, reported that it began receiving emails in July from an anonymous AOL account identified only as “Robert” that passed along what appeared to be a research dossier the campaign had apparently done on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.

The latest revelation came Wednesday when intelligence officials disclosed that Iranian operatives had offered people associated with the Biden campaign information stolen from the Trump side.

The FBI said a few people connected to Biden’s reelection effort received unsolicited emails in late June and early July, before he dropped out of the race, that contained an excerpt “taken from stolen, non-public material” from the Trump campaign.

The outreach to both the media and to Biden campaign associates suggests Iran was trying to pull off a hack-and-leak operation reminiscent of the Russian election interference that was meant to benefit Trump during his 2016 race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

No signs Democrats accessed the stolen material

The effort fell flat: There’s no evidence anyone ever even responded to the emails.

Morgan Finkelstein, a spokeswoman for Democrat Kamala Harris’ campaign, said in a statement that the material was not sent directly to the campaign but rather to just a few people associated with the campaign and that the emails looked like a phishing attempt or spam.

She said the campaign has cooperated with law enforcement ever since being made aware that Biden associates were “among the intended victims of this foreign influence operation.”

“We condemn in the strongest terms any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections including this unwelcome and unacceptable malicious activity,” she said.

Trump’s unsupported claims

Despite the lack of evidence that anyone connected to the Biden or Harris campaigns tried to take advantage of the stolen material, Trump has seized on the FBI announcement. He falsely claimed on his Truth Social platform that the Harris campaign had been caught “illegally spying on me.”

“This is real election interference, not the phony crap they’ve been trying to pin on me with Russia, Russia, Russia for years,” Trump said in a Wednesday night campaign appearance.

That’s a reference to an FBI investigation into whether the Trump campaign had coordinated with Russian operatives to tip the outcome of the 2016 election.

Though the investigation did not establish a criminal conspiracy, officials did determine that Trump associates actively welcomed the Russian assistance and hoped to exploit the help for political gain. That includes Trump, who on July 27, 2016, memorably said: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press,”

That was a reference to the 30,000 emails reportedly stored on the private email server that Clinton, his opponent, used as secretary of state. Within hours of his statement, Russian hackers for the first time targeted Clinton’s personal office.

Why might Iran be doing this?

One goal, according to U.S. intelligence officials, is to stoke discord in the United States and to undermine public confidence in the integrity of an election that Tehran sees as consequential for its own security interests.

It’s also not the first time, either. In the 2020 election, American officials linked Iran to “a multi-pronged covert influence campaign intended to undercut former President Trump’s reelection prospects” that was likely authorized by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and implemented by Iran’s military and intelligence services.

Intelligence officials have said Iran opposes Trump’s reelection, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran.

Trump’s administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iran’s leaders to vow revenge. A Pakistani man who spent time in Iran was recently charged in a plot to carry out political assassinations on U.S. soil, including potentially of Trump.

What other acts of interference have been detected?

Despite all the news around Iran, the U.S. government still regards Russia as the primary threat to the integrity of the election.

The Justice Department announced a pair of criminal cases this month that officials say exposes the lengths that Russia is prepared to go to influence the election.

One case charged two employees of RT, a Russian state media company, with funneling millions of dollars through shell companies to a Tennessee-based content creation firm to churn out English-language, pro-Russia videos, which have generated millions of views. Right-wing influencers linked to the Tennessee firm, Tenet Media, were kept in the dark about the Russian funding and worked unknowingly for a company that was a front for a Russian influence operation.

Another case involved a Russian government scheme to produce AI-generated content on bogus news websites that masqueraded as legitimate outlets.

Speaking Wednesday at a cybersecurity event, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said a “more diverse set of actors” than before was threatening elections.

“They are acting more aggressively,” Monaco said. “They are doing so in a much more polarized environment than we’ve ever seen before. And they’re utilizing more and more disruptive technology.”

After more than a month of checkpoints and sheriff’s patrol cars snaking around the perimeter of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, Palm Beach County officials are calling for help to fit the bill.

In a letter signed by County Mayor Maria Sachs, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Town of Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Moore, they detail how the Sheriff’s Office will have spent $6.8 million by heightening security for the “Trump detail.” That accounts for the “extraordinary measures for security” required by the Secret Service ahead of the November election to protect the homes around Mar-a-Lago and Trump himself.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a situation where we have been in such a conflict-ridden campaign, where violence seems to be everywhere,” Sachs said. “We just want to be sure that whatever extraordinary means are necessary to protect Trump as well as to protect any presidential candidate, including Vice President Kamala Harris, that those resources are here. … Palm Beach County taxpayers can’t do it alone.”

These enhanced security measures began on July 20, and the nearly $7 million needed to sustain them will cap out by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. And without reimbursement from federal funds, taxpayers may be on the hook for the extra costs.

PBSO and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue have both had to beef up security, much of which necessitates overtime pay. Beyond establishing a presence along Southern Boulevard before the Mar-a-Lago mansion at all hours of the day, PBCFR “has been asked to provide additional protective measures during motorcades and other times … primarily when the former president is in residence and while a local motorcade is mobilizing and in transit,” according to the letter.

A road closure prevents traffic from the Southern Boulevard bridge from passing Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach after a suspect was arrested Sunday afternoon after Secret Service agents saw a firearm sticking out of bushes at Trump International Golf Club near West Palm Beach where former President Donald Trump was playing. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Extra protection also has been needed for visits from dignitaries to Mar-a-Lago, such as when Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on July 26, just days after the first assassination attempt of Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania. The letter also requests help in offsetting traffic-related costs, including the efforts to reduce the impact of the road closures and security measures on drivers.

The letter also details how the Town of Palm Beach has financially suffered from the weight of the new security requirements.

Law enforcement and fire rescue resources add up to at least $3,600 a day, which could increase if Trump or one of his visitors is in the area. The Palm Beach Police Department also has to spend money on ensuring 24/7 staffing and responding to any demonstrations near Mar-a-Lago.

“Prior to July, we didn’t have road closures in place. We didn’t have participation in a command center,” said Palm Beach Police Department spokesperson Will Rothrock.

Without the increase in security levels, Rothrock said the town would not have these costs.

“As you can see, our local governments are incurring significant expenses in safety and protective measures related to recent changes implemented by federal government agencies,” the letter states.

The letter is addressed to the county’s congressional delegation members, including Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Reps. Lois Frankel, Brian Mast, Jared Moskowitz and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.

“I received the letter from Palm Beach County regarding the overtime costs incurred while assisting the Secret Service in protecting the former president, and I am always thankful to the Palm Beach County law enforcement officers working to keep our community safe,” Frankel said in an emailed statement. “I am working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to identify resources to support these efforts.”

Sachs said she has received assurances from the congressional delegation that the necessary federal funds will be requested.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of whether they would do it. It’s just a matter of when the monies will be coming into our budget to reimburse our security measures,” she said.

In 2017, Congress enacted a Presidential Residence Protection Assistance grant, which reimbursed state and local law enforcement agencies for costs spent on protecting any non-government residence for a U.S. president. But now, a new law needs to be created, and Palm Beach County is seeking reimbursement until one is, whether or not Trump wins or loses this year’s election.

“These extraordinary measures, these extraordinary means, do need to be taken care of by the federal government to reimburse our taxpayers,” Sachs said.

Today is Thursday, Sept. 19, the 263rd day of 2024. There are 103 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 19, 2022, Great Britain and the world said a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers — and crowds who thronged the streets of London.

Also on this date:

In 1796, President George Washington’s farewell address was published. In it, America’s first chief executive advised, “Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.”

In 1881, the 20th president of the United States, James A. Garfield, died 2 1/2 months after being shot by Charles Guiteau; he was succeeded by Vice President Chester A. Arthur.

In 1955, President Juan Peron of Argentina was ousted after a revolt by the army and navy.

In 1957, the United States conducted its first contained underground nuclear test, code-named “Rainier,” in the Nevada desert.

In 1985, the Mexico City area was struck by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 9,500 people.

In 1988, Olympic diver Greg Louganis suffered a concussion after striking his head on the diving board during the preliminary round of the 3-meter springboard diving competition at the Seoul Summer Games; Louganis would recover from the injury and win a gold medal in the event the following day.

In 1995, The New York Times and The Washington Post published the manifesto of Unabomber Ted Kaczynski (kah-ZIHN’-skee), which proved instrumental in identifying and capturing him.

In 2004, Hu Jintao (hoo jin-tow) became the undisputed leader of China with the departure of former President Jiang Zemin (jahng zuh-MEEN’) from his top military post.

In 2008, struggling to stave off financial catastrophe, the Bush administration laid out a radical bailout plan calling for a takeover of a half-trillion dollars or more in worthless mortgages and other bad debt held by tottering institutions. Relieved investors sent stocks soaring on Wall Street and around the globe.

In 2011, Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees recorded his 602nd save, making him baseball’s all-time leader in the category.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Actor Rosemary Harris is 97.
• Singer-songwriter Paul Williams is 84.
• Singer Bill Medley (The Righteous Brothers) is 84.
• Singer Sylvia Tyson (Ian and Sylvia) is 84.
• R&B singer Freda Payne is 82.
• Actor Jeremy Irons is 76.
• Model-actor Twiggy Lawson is 75.
• TV personality Joan Lunden is 74.
• Musician-producer Nile Rodgers is 72.
• Rock singer Lita Ford is 66.
• Musician Jarvis Cocker (Pulp) is 62.
• Country singer Trisha Yearwood is 60.
• Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is 59.
• News anchor Soledad O’Brien is 58.
• Actor Sanaa Lathan (suh-NAH’ LAY’-thun) is 53.
• “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon is 50.
• Actor Columbus Short is 42.

General Daily Insight for September 19, 2024

Change is a good thing, even when it isn’t easy. The Sun in responsible Virgo is making a harmonious trine to rebellious Uranus in sensual Taurus, giving us the supplies to shake up our lives before resettling with better and more productive foundations. Meanwhile, the Moon in Aries will make a supportive sextile to expansive Jupiter before conjoining Chiron, opening our minds to less common ways of healing. A final lunar opposition to Venus in Libra will have us craving peace and prosperity.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

A little effort can yield wonderful results. The Sun in your competent 6th house is making a special trine to rebel Uranus in your money-loving 2nd house, reminding you of any work necessary to earn a big reward. A last-minute professional opportunity could arise, or perhaps you’ll land a client out of the blue who comes with a hefty payload attached. You may also stumble across a sound investment opportunity. Just make sure to do your due diligence before signing up for anything!

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

There is nothing wrong with letting your freak flag fly! An undeniable dose of excitement is lighting you up as the Sun in your artistic 5th house trines change-maker Uranus in your sign, giving you the urge to put on a show and express any sides of yourself that don’t always see the light of day. If you’ve been stuck in a bit of a rut, then this opportunity will feel especially exciting. No matter what, a little change should be enjoyable.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your emotions may surprise you at any moment. Even if you picture yourself entirely put together, a sudden shift could strike when the Sun in your responsive 4th house trines Uranus in your subconscious sector. This angle is actually quite a positive one, so there shouldn’t be too many difficulties demanding your attention at once. That said, no matter how good, such a curveball can still catch you off guard, so some strong feelings might arrive with it. Any tears should be positive, at least!

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

It’s the perfect time to socialize. The Sun in your connected 3rd house shines brightly on your efforts to connect as it reaches out to create a lovely trine with change-maker Uranus in your 11th House of Networking. This expands your efforts to connect with exciting people far and wide. Uranus loves to shake things up, so consider introducing some new energy to your social circle, whether by trying a fun and unusual activity or inviting new faces to join the usual crew.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

You can make leaps and bounds on the professional front. Thanks to a trine between the Sun in your income sector and Uranus in your career zone, there is a metaphorical portal to success. Gathering your willpower and taking action is the best way to step through this portal. Keep your eyes open for any opportunities — even if they don’t look like your normal cup of tea, you can still do great things with them. Think outside the box to obtain the greatest rewards.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Get ready to be your most courageous self! The Sun is in your sign, lighting you up with fantastic energy. Today it also inspires Uranus in your 9th House of Expansion, in turn encouraging you to break out of any ruts and go explore the world to your heart’s content. Boundaries or limitations that may have blocked you in the past could currently fall away at the lightest touch, so don’t let previous fears hold you back. It’s your time to soar.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

A little extra support is always welcome. You might be on the receiving end of a helping hand as the Sun in your hidden 12th house strengthens unpredictable Uranus in your transformational 8th house. This alignment can result in windfalls landing right in your lap when least expected. Plus, with the Sun in your subconscious sector, it’s highly likely you won’t even realize that someone has their eye on you with the intention of doing you a good turn. You deserve this blessing.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

It only takes one person to change your life. The Sun in your 11th House of Friendships is trining Uranus in your 7th House of Cooperation, encouraging you to connect with others in your pursuit of whatever you’re searching for. People who strike you as different or perhaps even eccentric could prove especially suited to helping you reach your goals. That’s right: you don’t need to follow any previous examples of what might have worked before. It’s time for something new!

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

The road to success isn’t following its usual route right now, Sag. There is a potent trine between the Sun in your work sector and rebel Uranus in your routine sector, showing you a fresh path toward your finish line of choice. Consider doing something to mix up your normal approach to work — you never know, the results could turn out to be the ticket to your next big achievement! VIPs and other supervisors should take notice of your ingenuity.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Fun doesn’t always look the same. The stars are showing you interesting ways to enjoy yourself as the Sun in your adventurous 9th house makes an electrifying trine to eclectic Uranus in your upbeat 5th house. Don’t hesitate to follow your heart into unknown territory. The 5th house is all about taking a chance on yourself, so take a gamble on something different! You may end up pleasantly surprised by just how much you enjoy the experience. Let loose and dive into something exciting.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

It’s easy to get overwhelmed on a day like this, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a positive way forward. The Sun in your obsessive 8th house is potentially forcing you to deal with a lot of heavy issues. That said, its trine to Uranus in your domestic 4th house could result in someone coming forward, perhaps a relative or roommate, to give you a boost when you need it most. There’s nothing wrong with leaning on others, so don’t give yourself any grief.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

When was the last time you talked to someone who totally gets you? You could encounter such a person unexpectedly as the Sun in your relationship sector befriends surprising Uranus in the most neighborly part of your chart. Try greeting an acquaintance the next time you see one when out and about — they may end up feeling like a long-lost best friend! Don’t avoid interactions, because the universe is calling you to be your friendliest self. A smile might be all it takes.

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s sputtering offense will be without top playmaker Tre Wilson for the second week as the Gators seek a rare road win at Mississippi State.

The team’s leading receiver, with 13 catches for 191 yards, is out a week after he was questionable with an undisclosed injury but did not play during a 33-20 loss at home to Texas A&M.

“We’re definitely a better team with Tre Wilson,” coach Billy Napier said following Wednesday’s practice.

The SEC announced Wilson’s status at 8:10 p.m., after Napier had addressed reporters. He did say Wilson was injured during the Gators’ 45-7 win Sept. 7 against Samford, highlighted by his 85-yard touchdown following a shovel pass from true freshman DJ Lagway.

While Wilson left defenders in the dust, GPS tracking clocked him at team-record 23.42 mph. The Gators built much of their attack around the 5-foot-10, 183-pound sophomore because of his explosiveness and instincts.

But the Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) struggled to unleash Wilson during a 41-17 season-opening loss to Miami. Without him against Texas A&M, UF was shut out during the first half for the first time at home since 2015.

Transfer receivers Elijhah Badger (Arizona State) and Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) combined for 11 catches — 6 by Dike for 185 yards. Each scored a touchdown.

“Dike and Badger stepped up in a major way,” Napier said. “We have the ability to in formation plays to get the primary guys in position, much like we’ve done the past. We’ve got to continue to create ways to get the ball to the best players.

“Who’s the third? That’s the question mark.”

Billy Napier, in his third season, is 12-16 after the Gators’ SEC-opening loss to Texas A&M at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium last week. (James Gilbert/Getty)

Sophomore Aidan Mizell of Orlando and true freshman Tank Hawkins went without a catch against Texas A&M after each caught long touchdown passes from Lagway against Samford. Hawkins is listed as questionable this week as the Gators face struggling Mississippi State (1-2, 0-0).

Each team will seek a fast start.

Florida trailed Texas A&M 20-0 at halftime and Miami 24-10 after 30 minutes. Meanwhile, first-time head coach Jeff Lebby’s Bulldogs were outscored 55-6 during the first half the last two weeks at Arizona State and vs. Toledo.

“It’s a key to winning football,” Napier said. “It’s an area in particular for us on offense where we have had some success in the past, and we’ve got to get back to that. We’ve typically been able to get going early.

“We need to do that.”

Napier will again deploy a two-quarterback rotation with veteran Graham Mertz and Lagway. Against Texas A&M, Mertz, who finished 12 of 15 for 195 yards, a touchdown and an interception, outperformed Lagway, who was 6 of 13 for 54 yards, a touchdown and 2 picks.

“Some of it is open-ended,” Napier said of each player’s usage. “They know that. Ultimately my expectation is they both prepare well, they both practice well and they both play lights out when given a chance.”

The Gators also have to get their run game on track against a Bulldogs defense that allowed 346 rushing yards during a 30-23 loss two weeks ago to Arizona State. Napier’s offense is built around establishing the run, but averaged just averaged 95.5 yards and 3.6 yards per carry in two losses.

“Hence my frustration,” Napier said. “We got to do better in that area. It’s one of the things that makes the engine go.”

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Florida at Mississippi State

When: Saturday, Davis Wade Stadium, noon

TV: ESPN

By PAUL NEWBERRY

ATLANTA (AP) — Another big Atlanta crowd finally got a chance to see Lionel Messi in an MLS match.

They nearly watched United pull out a much-needed win over league-leading Inter Miami.

Alexey Miranchuk scored with a booming shot in the 84th minute and the home team pressed hard for the winning goal in stoppage time, only to settle for a 2-2 tie with Messi’s Miami club before an announced crowd of 67,795 on Wednesday night.

After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old Argentine star, who is coming back from national team duties and an ankle injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.

Messi trotted on the field in the 61st to a big roar, shortly after Leo Campana scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn’t find the net in his limited time on the field, drawing plenty of attention from the United defenders.

“You’ve gotta keep an eye on him,” Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan said with a wry smile.

In June, Messi made an Atlanta appearance for Argentina in the opening game of the Copa America. But he didn’t play a year ago when Miami visited Atlanta, disappointing a crowd of 71,635.

He made the trip this time around, thrilling the crowd simply by warming up with three teammates shortly into the second half. Fans in the lower deck whipped out their phones and began snapping pictures.

Miami moved to 19-4-6 for 63 points with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons are eight points ahead of Cincinnati and LA Galaxy in the race for the Supporters’ Shield and home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.

Messi showed flashes. most notably with a point-blank shot that was swatted away by Guzan. Luis Suárez, who also came off the bench, collected the rebound with an open goal in front of him, only to be blocked at the line by Atlanta defender Pedro Amador.

In stoppage time, Messi dribbled around three players in the penalty area but failed to get off a shot. Finally, he threw up his arms in frustration when a pass was intercepted by Atlanta.

“Whoever plays, we try to support each other,” Miami defender Franco Negri said through a translator. “We know what Leo means, the importance he has.”

Martino was suspended for the match due to an accumulation of staff cautions, leaving assistant coach Javier Morales to run the team.

“I think we had a good performance,” Morales said. “But of course, Atlanta is at home. They’re going to push. They had a big crowd, and this was the kind of game we were expecting.”

With the home team trailing 2-1, Miranchuk unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters out that found the top left corner of the goal.

United had been waiting for a moment like this from the Russian player who joined the club during the summer transfer window for reported $13 million fee, one of the highest ever for an incoming player to MLS. It was his first goal in four league matches.

“There’s not many goalkeepers in the world that are gonna save that one,” Guzan said. “That’s a glimpse of his quality and what he can do with the ball at his feet. We’re trying to encourage him to do that more often.”

Both teams pressed forward in the closing minutes, with Atlanta creating the bulk of the chances, but neither could break through.

It was a discouraging result for Atlanta, which is 11th in the Eastern Conference and one point of out a playoff berth.

“We need three points,” Guzan said. “You have as many chances as we had, we should be coming away with three points.”

Miami grabbed the lead on David Ruiz’s goal in the 29th off another deflection. Negri’s pass hit someone just outside the area, somehow got through three other players and wound up going right to Ruiz, who was all alone between two Atlanta defenders and slid the shot past Guzan.

United tied it in the 56th when Saba Lobjanidze’s header slipped between the legs of Miami keeper Drake Callender.

Campana put the Herons ahead with a free kick that was intended for the right corner of the Atlanta goal. But the ball deflected off Dax McCarty and ricocheted into the net on the left side. Guzan, diving the other way, never had a chance.

Two minutes later, Messi came on for Julian Gressel.

UP NEXT

Inter Miami: Faces New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Atlanta United: Travels to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

___

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

MIAMI (AP) —

Shohei Ohtani stole his 49th base and moved closer to becoming the first player in major league history with 50 homers and 50 steals in a season as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 8-4 Wednesday night.

Ohtani, who began the day two shy of each mark, singled to lead off the game then swiped second. He flew out to left, struck out, lined out to right and struck out in his next four plate appearances.

“What a season – it is remarkable that he can hit as a DH but what’s more remarkable is that he keeps his legs loose to be able to steal,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Tommy Edman hit his sixth homer in the last eight games for the NL West-leading Dodgers (90-62), who remained 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego. Enrique Hernández and Will Smith also went deep and Freddie Freeman had three hits.

The Dodgers reached 90 victories for the 11th consecutive season of 162 games.

“It’s pretty impressive. It’s one of the best organizations in baseball as far as consistency of winning,” Roberts said. “You can’t take it for granted because getting to play in October isn’t a rite of passage for any organization.”

Dodgers starter Landon Knack (3-4) gave up two hits over five scoreless innings. He walked two and struck out seven. For Knack, the outing overcame the frustrations of his previous start, when he gave up five runs and seven hits in two innings against Atlanta last Friday.

“Obviously, not happy with that one,” Knack said. “I was very angry and ready to bounce back.”

Smith gave Los Angeles an early lead with his solo homer in the second. He drove a fastball from Miami starter Ryan Weathers over the wall in left for his 19th homer.

The Dodgers broke it open with a five-run fourth against Weathers (3-6). Edman hit a two-run homer and Hernández added a three-run drive.

“I’ve had some bad habits that I’ve developed and I’ve been working hard to correct those,” Edman said of his recent power surge. “It’s still a work in progress but I think it’s getting better.”

Miami narrowed the deficit on Otto López’s two-run single off Zach Logue and Nick Fortes’ sacrifice fly against Blake Treinen in the seventh.

Chris Taylor increased Los Angeles’ lead with a two-run single in the eighth.

Weathers’ outing ended after Freeman’s one-out double in the fifth. The left-hander, who made his first appearance since June 7, gave up six runs and eight hits while striking out five. He was sidelined because of a left index finger strain.

“I was happy to be back,” Weathers said. “I wish I could have thrown the ball better.”

Wednesday’s crowd of 17,138 put the Marlins season attendance at 1,007,039, ahead of only the Oakland A’s.

Before the game, the Dodgers activated right-handed reliever Joe Kelly from the injured list and selected Logue’s contract from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kelly relieved Knack and pitched a perfect sixth. The club optioned right-handed pitchers Bobby Miller and Michael Grove to Oklahoma City.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: LHP Clayton Kershaw (left big toe bone spur) threw a bullpen session on Wednesday and manager Dave Roberts considered it an important step in his rehab. … INF Miguel Rojas was a late scratch because he was “feeling under the weather,” according to Roberts.

Marlins: RHP Max Meyer (right shoulder bursitis) is continuing his rehab program at the club’s spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. He will be evaluated in the next days for a possible throwing program.

UP NEXT

RHP Jack Flaherty (12-7, 3.04) will start the series finale for the Dodgers on Thursday while the Marlins will go with RHP Edward Cabrera (4-7, 4.55).

___

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

By TRÂN NGUYỄN

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California now has some of the toughest laws in the United States to crack down on election deepfakes ahead of the 2024 election after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three landmark proposals this week at an artificial intelligence conference in San Francisco.

The state could be among the first to test out such legislation, which bans the use of AI to create and circulate false images and videos in political ads close to Election Day.

But now, two of the three laws, including one that was designed to curb the practice in the 2024 election, are being challenged in court through a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Sacramento.

Those include one that takes effect immediately that allows any individual to sue for damages over election deepfakes, while the other requires large online platforms, like X, to remove the deceptive material starting next year.

The lawsuit, filed by a person who created parody videos featuring altered audios of Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, says the laws censor free speech and allow anybody to take legal action over content they dislike. At least one of his videos was shared by Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, which then prompted Newsom to vow to ban such content on a post on X.

The governor’s office said the law doesn’t ban satire and parody content. Instead, it requires the disclosure of the use of AI to be displayed within the altered videos or images.

“It’s unclear why this conservative activist is suing California,” Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon said in a statement. “This new disclosure law for election misinformation isn’t any more onerous than laws already passed in other states, including Alabama.”

Theodore Frank, an attorney representing the complainant, said the California laws are too far reaching and are designed to “force social media companies to censor and harass people.”

“I’m not familiar with the Alabama law. On the other hand, the governor of Alabama had hasn’t threatened our client the way the governor of California did,” he told The Associated Press.

The lawsuit appears to be among the first legal challenges over such legislation in the U.S. Frank told the AP he is planning to file another lawsuit over similar laws in Minnesota.

State lawmakers in more than a dozen states have advanced similar proposals after the emergence of AI began supercharging the threat of election disinformation worldwide.

Among the three law signed by Newsom on Tuesday, one takes effect immediately to prevent deepfakes surrounding the 2024 election and is the most sweeping in scope. It targets not only materials that could affect how people vote but also any videos and images that could misrepresent election integrity. The law also covers materials depicting election workers and voting machines, not just political candidates.

The law makes it illegal to create and publish false materials related to elections 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. It also allows courts to stop the distribution of the materials, and violators could face civil penalties. The law exempts parody and satire.

The goal, Newsom and lawmakers said, is to prevent the erosion of public trust in U.S. elections amid a “fraught political climate.”

But critics such as free speech advocates and Musk called the new California law unconstitutional and an infringement on the First Amendment. Hours after they were signed into law, Musk on Tuesday night elevated a post on X sharing an AI-generated video featuring altered audios of Harris.

“The governor of California just made this parody video illegal in violation of the Constitution of the United States. Would be a shame if it went viral,” Musk wrote of the AI-generated video, which has a caption identifying the video as a parody.

It is not clear how effective these laws are in stopping election deepfakes, said Ilana Beller of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization. The group tracks state legislation related to election deepfakes. None of the law has been tested in a courtroom, Beller said.

The law’s effectiveness could be blunted by the slowness of the courts against a technology that can produce fake images for political ads and disseminate them at warp speed.

It could take several days for a court to order injunctive relief to stop the distribution of the content, and by then, damages to a candidate or to an election could have been already done, Beller said.

“In an ideal world, we’d be able to take the content down the second it goes up,” she said. “Because the sooner you can take down the content, the less people see it, the less people proliferate it through reposts and the like, and the quicker you’re able to dispel it.”

Still, having such a law on the books could serve as a deterrent for potential violations, she said.

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the law she authored is a simple tool to avoid misinformation.

“What we’re saying is, hey, just mark that video as digitally altered for parody purposes,” Pellerin said. “And so it’s very clear that it’s for satire or for parody.”

Newsom on Tuesday also signed another law to require campaigns to start disclosing AI-generated materials starting next year, after the 2024 election.

MIAMI GARDENS — One of the most anticipated games of the Miami Dolphins’ season takes place Sunday in Seattle vs. the Seahawks.

Everyone wants to see how quarterback Skylar Thompson performs as the replacement for Tua Tagovailoa.

But it’s also important how coach Mike McDaniel handles this situation.

The Dolphins (1-1) visit the Seahawks (2-0) in a road game that is viewed as the start of a tenuous time in this pivotal season.

One of the big questions is was it worthwhile to give contract extensions and restructures to McDaniel, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey? If so, let’s see them earn their big bucks.

In that spirit, here are five things to watch for in Sunday’s game against Seattle.

Skylar Thompson

The most important thing for Thompson is to be himself. Don’t run the offense the way Tagovailoa runs it best, run it how you run it best. Use your legs. Use your arm strength. 

Seattle has some good defenders with Pro Bowl safety Julian Love and Pro Bowl slot/nickel cornerback Devon Witherspoon. 

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Thompson should spread the ball among wide receivers, tight ends and running backs in an effort to force the Seahawks to defend the entire field instead of just two players. 

Dolphins big-money, high-profile players — Hill, Waddle, Armstead, Ramsey, etc

Wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, left tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and others must be better. Period.

Veterans such as linebackers David Long Jr. and Jordyn Brooks must also be better. The same goes for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips. And safeties Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer.

The Dolphins’ big-money players, high-profile players and proven veterans must all play better.

Not many were very good in the blowout loss to Buffalo, and now, with Tagovailoa sidelined, they must all be better to help Thompson.

Anthony Weaver’s familiarity with Seattle coach Mike Macdonald … and vice versa

Weaver, the Dolphins defensive coordinator and former Baltimore defensive line coach, was on the same staff as Seattle’s Mike Macdonald, an ex-Baltimore defensive coordinator, last season.

They should know each other’s tendencies.

The Dolphins might catch a break because running back Kenneth Walker III (oblique) could miss his second consecutive game.

But that could lead to quarterback Geno Smith going to wide receiver DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba more frequently. Both had more than 100 yards receiving in last Sunday’s 23-20 overtime win at New England.

Weaver is dealing with a snap count for Phillips (Achilles). The Dolphins are also watching the snap count for Ramsey (hamstring).

But Weaver has done multiple things with Phillips and Ramsey in defensive formations, and that should work to his benefit against Seattle.

Phillips, Campbell workload

Keep an eye on a pair of defensive lineman — Phillips and Calais Campbell (38 years old). It’ll be interesting to see if they’re impactful this week.

Phillips and Campbell played just 23 snaps against Buffalo. Of course, the Bills only had 45 offensive snaps so they each played 51%.

For the season, Phillips has two tackles and one sack in two games and a total of 57 snaps. 

Campbell has four tackles and one sack in two games and a total of 58 snaps.

The Dolphins, who had a franchise-record 56 sacks last season, have 3.0 sacks this season.

If Phillips and Campbell have their snaps limited look for edge rushers Chop Robinson and Quinton Bell to have an increased workload, and linemen D’Shawn Hand and Benito Jones to have an increased workload.

Mike McDaniel

McDaniel must make life easier for Thompson while finding a way to get the most out of an offense that’s missing a valuable piece in Tagovailoa.

In the meantime, McDaniel must also find a way to win aside from out-scoring his opponents. 

And McDaniel must get something from his defense, special teams and assistant coaches.

It’s asking a lot.

But McDaniel is the head coach for a reason.

It’s his plan to have Thompson as the No. 2 quarterback.

And it’s up to him to make the whole plan work.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — can Miami win in Seattle with a backup QB? | VIDEO

DANIA BEACH — Scientists have moved about 300 endangered sea corals from South Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast for research and restoration.

Nova Southeastern University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researchers packed up the corals Wednesday at the NSU’s Oceanographic Campus in Dania Beach. The sea creatures were then loaded onto a van, taken to a nearby airport and flown to Texas.

Researchers were taking extreme caution with the transfer of these delicate corals, NSU researcher Shane Wever said.

“The process that we’re undertaking today is a really great opportunity for us to expand the representation of the corals that we are working with and the locations where they’re stored,” Wever said. “Increasing the locations that they’re stored really acts as safeguards for us to protect them and to preserve them for the future.”

Each coral was packaged with fresh clean sea water and extra oxygen, inside of a protective case and inside of insulated and padded coolers, and was in transport for the shortest time possible.

NSU’s marine science research facility serves as a coral reef nursery, where rescued corals are stored, processed for restoration and transplanted back into the ocean. The school has shared corals with other universities, like the University of Miami, Florida Atlantic University and Texas State University, as well as the Coral Restoration Foundation in the Florida Keys.

Despite how important corals are, it is easy for people living on land to forget how important things in the ocean are, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researcher Keisha Bahr said.

“Corals serve a lot of different purposes,” Bahr said. “First of all, they protect our coastlines, especially here in Florida, from wave energy and coastal erosion. They also supply us with a lot of the food that we get from our oceans. And they are nurseries for a lot of the organisms that come from the sea.”

Researchers help sort and label coral at NSU’s Oceanographic Campus on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Abnormally high ocean temperatures caused widespread coral bleaching in 2023, wiping out corals in the Florida Keys. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi turned to NSU when its partners in the Keys were no longer able to provide corals for its research. Broward County was spared from the majority of the 2023 bleaching so the NSU offshore coral nursery had healthy corals to donate.

“We’re losing corals at an alarming rate,” Bahr said. “We lost about half of our corals in last three decades. So we need to make sure that we continue to have these girls into the future.”

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is using some of these corals to study the effects of sediment from Port Everglades on coral health. The rest will either help the university with its work creating a bleaching guide for the Caribbean or act as a genetic bank, representing nearly 100 genetically distinct Staghorn coral colonies from across South Florida’s reefs.

“We wanted to give them as many genotypes, which are genetic individuals, as we could to really act as a safeguard for these this super important species,” Wever said.

MIAMI GARDENS — On a team that continues to make surprising headlines, now it’s Jaelan Phillips’ turn.

Phillips, the Miami Dolphins’ fifth-year edge rusher who spoke last year about early-season mental struggles as a result of injuries, posted a deeply emotional Instagram story Tuesday that admirably and boldly touched on self worth, self confidence, self hatred and self doubt issues.

It courageously pulls back a curtain on person some might regard as a superhero and makes him an everyday hero.

It begins:

“I have to work really hard to not attach my self worth and confidence to how I perform on the field. When I have a poor performance or even just a subpar performance, I feel like I’m worthless, like I let my team and fans down, and often my confidence can waiver. The self hatred and doubt can feel so heavy in these moments, sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever pull myself out of it.”

I’ve always found Phillips to be an intelligent, emotional guy.

In his post and explanation he’s delivering a vitally important message about stigmas and self help.

“Some people might see it as soft to speak about your emotions,” Phillips said. “but I think it’s important, like I said, to convey that message and show people that they can be themselves.”

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Phillips further explained Wednesday in the locker room that the post wasn’t meant to garner sympathy.

“I just wanted to convey a message to people,” Phillips began. “It’s really anybody in general, but especially young athletes and stuff.

“I feel like some people are just naturally supremely confident. But I feel like a lot of people have struggled with their confidence. I just wanted to convey the message that even if you do struggle with your confidence, you can still move past it, you can still be successful. It’s really about how you handle those times like that and how you move forward from it.”

Phillips’ Instagram story continued.

“It takes a concerted effort to change my way of thinking in those moments, and see failure/adversity as a learning experience instead of the end of the world. I pick my head up, and fall back on routine and discipline, which are the only things that matter. It’s all about the process, not the results. It’s so much easier to spiral and self-deprecate, but nothing good is ever easy. Keep chopping wood, things will get better. You can do it. Believe in yourself. And trust God.”

An inspirational message brought to you by Jaelan Phillips today. pic.twitter.com/KsgSRjkMfO

— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 17, 2024

Phillips explained further Wednesday not to get caught up in a stigma. He said it’s also important to fight back against feelings of self doubt and low confidence.

“That’s kind of what I went through after the game on Thursday,” he said of the Dolphins’ 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, a game in which Phillips had two tackles in 23 snaps.

“I feel like I have a lot of high expectations for myself and I didn’t live up to my standard. So, kind of instantly, all the negative voices in my head kind of started berating me. Like I said (Tuesday), it takes a concerted effort to switch that mindset, mind frame, and start to love yourself and start to talk to yourself positive things instead of just calming yourself down.”

What’s been the response?

“A lot of love,” Phillips said. “It’s not like I was asking or trying to, you know, pity me, woe is me, this and that.

“Like I said, it was more about conveying that message, and really it was on my heart and I just wanted to share that because I think it’s a valuable lesson.”

Sometimes we all regard athletes as robots with one-track minds, that nothing ever affects them, that they’ll be OK regardless of the circumstances.

This is a good reminder that they’re human.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Furones, Perkins on how Miami can win in Seattle with Skylar Thompson | VIDEO

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) runs a drill during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel talk during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterbacks Tyler Huntley (18), right, and Skylar Thompson (19) throw footballs during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks past quarterbacks, from right; Tyler Huntley (18), Skylar Thompson (19), and Tim Boyle (14) as they stretch during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) puts his helmet on during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterbacks Tyler Huntley (18), Skylar Thompson (19), and Tim Boyle (14) stretch during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks past quarterbacks Tim Boyle (14) and Skylar Thompson (19) during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili (96) is shown during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterbacks Tyler Huntley (18) and Skylar Thompson (19) chat while stretching during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) tosses a football during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19), with Tyler Huntley (18) behind him, runs a drill during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks (20) is shown during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18), stretches with Skylar Thompson (19), and Tim Boyle (14) during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) and wide receiver Braxton Berrios (0) speak during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, left, and general manager Chris Grier speak with wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili (96) runs a drill during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel speaks with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) as quarterbacks Tyler Huntley (18) and Skylar Thompson (19) walk past during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

• Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Brandon Pili (96) is shown during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson (19) runs a drill during practice at Baptist Health Miami Dolphins training complex in Miami Gardens on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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By ERIC TUCKER and DAVID KLEPPER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Iranian hackers sought to interest President Joe Biden’s campaign in information stolen from rival Donald Trump’s campaign, sending unsolicited emails to people associated with the then-Democratic candidate in an effort to interfere in the 2024 election, the FBI and other federal agencies said Wednesday.

There’s no indication that any of the recipients responded, officials said, and several media organizations approached over the summer with leaked stolen information have also said they did not respond. Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign called the emails from Iran “unwelcome and unacceptable malicious activity” that were received by only a few people who regarded them as spam or phishing attempts.

The emails were received before the hack of the Trump campaign was publicly acknowledged, and there’s no evidence the recipients of the emails knew their origin.

The announcement is the latest U.S. government effort to call out what officials say is Iran’s brazen, ongoing work to interfere in the election, including a hack-and-leak campaign that the FBI and other federal agencies linked last month to Tehran.

U.S. officials in recent months have used criminal charges, sanctions and public advisories to detail actions taken by foreign adversaries to influence the election, including an indictment targeting a covert Russian effort to spread pro-Russia content to U.S. audiences.

It’s a stark turnabout from the government’s response in 2016, when Obama administration officials were criticized for not being forthcoming about the Russian interference they were seeing on Trump’s behalf as he ran against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

In this case, the hackers sent emails in late June and early July to people who were associated with Biden’s campaign before he dropped out. The emails “contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign as text in the emails,” according to a statement released by the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

The agencies have said the Trump campaign hack and an attempted breach of the Biden-Harris campaign are part of an effort to undermine voters’ faith in the election and to stoke discord.

The FBI informed Trump aides within the last 48 hours that information hacked by Iran had been sent to the Biden campaign, according to a senior campaign official granted anonymity to speak because of the sensitive nature of the investigation.

The Trump campaign disclosed on Aug. 10 that it had been hacked and said Iranian actors had stolen and distributed sensitive internal documents. At least three news outlets — Politico, The New York Times and The Washington Post — were leaked confidential material from inside the Trump campaign. So far, each has refused to reveal any details about what it received.

Politico reported that it began receiving emails on July 22 from an anonymous account. The source — an AOL email account identified only as “Robert” — passed along what appeared to be a research dossier that the campaign had apparently done on the Republican vice presidential nominee, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The document was dated Feb. 23, almost five months before Trump selected Vance as his running mate.

In a statement, Harris campaign spokesperson Morgan Finkelstein said the campaign has cooperated with law enforcement since learning that people associated with Biden’s team were among the recipients of the emails.

“We’re not aware of any material being sent directly to the campaign; a few individuals were targeted on their personal emails with what looked like a spam or phishing attempt,” Finkelstein said. “We condemn in the strongest terms any effort by foreign actors to interfere in U.S. elections including this unwelcome and unacceptable malicious activity.

Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt called the effort to dangle stolen information to the Biden campaign “further proof the Iranians are actively interfering in the election” to help Harris.

Intelligence officials have said Iran opposes Trump’s reelection, seeing him as more likely to increase tension between Washington and Tehran. Trump’s administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, an act that prompted Iran’s leaders to vow revenge.

Iran’s intrusion on the Trump campaign was cited as just one of the cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns identified by tech companies and national security officials at a hearing Wednesday of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Executives from Meta, Google and Microsoft briefed lawmakers on their plans for safeguarding the election, and the attacks they’d seen so far.

“The most perilous time I think will come 48 hours before the election,” Microsoft President Brad Smith told lawmakers during the hearing, which focused on American tech companies’ efforts to safeguard the election from foreign disinformation and cyberattacks.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 18, the 262nd day of 2024. There are 104 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Sept. 18, 2020, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a towering champion of women’s rights who became the court’s second female justice, died at her home in Washington at age 87, of complications from pancreatic cancer.

Also on this date:

In 1793, President George Washington laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol.

In 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Act, which created a force of federal commissioners charged with returning escaped slaves to their owners.

In 1851, the first edition of The New York Times was published.

In 1947, the National Security Act, which created a National Military Establishment and the position of Secretary of Defense, went into effect.

In 1961, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold (dahg HAWM’-ahr-shoold) was killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).

In 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27.

In 1975, newspaper heiress Patricia Hearst was captured by the FBI in San Francisco, 19 months after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.

In 2014, voters in Scotland rejected independence, opting to remain part of the United Kingdom in a historic referendum.

Today’s Birthdays:

• Hockey Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman is 91.
• Singer Frankie Avalon is 84.
• Actor Anna Deavere Smith is 74.
• Neurosurgeon-author-politician Ben Carson is 73.
• Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino is 72.
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., is 70.
• Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Šťastný is 68.
• Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is 65.
• Actor Holly Robinson Peete is 60.
• R&B singer Ricky Bell (Bell Biv Devoe, New Edition) is 57.
• Basketball Hall of Famer Toni Kukoč is 56.
• Actor Aisha Tyler is 54.
• Actor Jada Pinkett Smith is 53.
• Actor James Marsden is 51.
• Rapper-TV host Xzibit is 50.
• Comedian-actor Jason Sudeikis is 49.
• Former soccer player Ronaldo is 48.
• TV host Sara Haines is 47.
• Actor/comedian Billy Eichner is 46.
• Rapper Dizzee Rascal is 40.
• Country singer Tae Kerr (Maddie and Tae) is 29.
• Soccer player Christian Pulisic is 26.

General Daily Insight for September 18, 2024

A few hurdles are ahead on our way to the end of the day. Confusion obscures the starting line as the Moon conjoins mystical Neptune in Pisces. On top of that, the planets will throw more mental roadblocks in front of us when Mercury opposes stoic Saturn at 4:50 am EDT. Satisfying conclusions could seem out of reach, especially once Luna stumbles into Aries and squares Mars in sensitive Cancer. We can push through if we don’t let our emotions overwhelm us.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Even your most productive urges could hit a wall without warning. This is just one of those times, as Mercury in your efficient 6th house locks into a tense opposition with stern Saturn in your subconscious sector. Blockages may pop up where you least expect to find them! It wouldn’t be surprising if no matter how hard you try, you can’t quite seem to cross the finish line with any particular project. That’s okay — take a break and don’t try to force the impossible.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Your present path to pleasure might take you into complicated territory. You’re on a mission to enjoy and express yourself while Mercury moves through your creative 5th house. Contrastingly, the argument between Mercury and Saturn in your communal 11th house could make it feel like you must check in with others before you can run free. You likely have to play your part in a group effort, and that may require putting your bliss on ice. Patience is key to getting what you want.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

Your emotions can only take you so far. You’re prone to rolling around in your feelings while your sign’s ruler Mercury drifts through your tender 4th house. Contrastingly, Mercury’s opposition to stoic Saturn in your ambitious 10th house might force you to jump up and throw yourself into facing the world head on. If you’re feeling especially delicate, then take space as you can. Still, Saturn isn’t a very forgiving planet, so pick your battles wisely! Above all, don’t give up on yourself.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

The boundless opportunities in the world may currently feel beyond your grasp — that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Try not to let trickster Mercury’s opposition to stern Saturn convince you that you’re missing out on something bigger by remaining in your neighborhood. Even if you are definitively unable to do something fun, try to distract yourself by laying out future fun plans. If that’s still too dreary, you can always escape through a good book or another piece of media you enjoy.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

A debt of some kind may need to be paid today. You’re focused on your finances while messenger Mercury spins through your 2nd House of Budgeting, and other people get looped in once Mercury pokes cold Saturn in your 8th House of Pooled Investments. You may need to parse out a matter regarding credit, taxes, or inheritances, or you’ll potentially have to chase someone down who owes you money. Perhaps it’s the other way around! Regardless, complicated conversations won’t be easily avoided.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

People might shoot down your ideas seemingly without a second thought. You’re ready to play verbal tennis while eloquent Mercury zips along through your sign. That said, its opposition to icy Saturn in your partnership sector could leave you feeling like people simply aren’t meeting you halfway. There’s no use in pounding on a wall, hoping to turn it into a door. If someone isn’t giving you what you need, don’t waste time trying to get it out of them. You’re allowed to move on!

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Daydreams won’t necessarily serve you at a time like this. You’re prone to being a bit out of it while messenger Mercury glides through your sleepy 12th house, even as its opposition to Saturn in your responsible 6th house demands that you snap out of it and deal with every intricate detail. In addition, co-workers, clients, or similar acquaintances might seem less helpful or supportive than usual. Start prepping to detangle any ongoing issues (and keep an eye on any potential thorns in your side).

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

To stand in the spotlight or find your place in the chorus — that’s today’s question. The universe is tensing up as Mercury in your group-focused 11th house opposes Saturn in your fame-seeking 5th house, giving you the urge to blend in with the herd one moment, then to step out onto center stage the next. It’s alright if you can’t quite find an easy way to balance this energy; Mercury will soon move on to less complicated places for you.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

There are mountains to be climbed, but they are closer to home than you may realize. You’d likely love to charge into the public eye and make a name for yourself while Mercury emphasizes your 10th House of Reputation. Hold on! Mercury’s squabble with Saturn in your rooted 4th house could stir up a domestic matter that requires your attention first and foremost. Whatever plans you had for yourself will possibly need to be put on ice while you put out metaphorical fires.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

You can only go so far at once. You may be tempted to fly far and wide while Mercury zips through your 9th House of Voyaging, but Mercury’s opposition to Saturn in your 3rd House of Distractions could force you to stick closer to home. You may have wonderful plans as you think about all the possibilities available. Still, for now, those probably need to remain ideas, rather than realities. That won’t always be the case, but at least temporarily, keep it simple and local.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

You may feel a little strained at the moment. There is a tense angle between Mercury in your intense 8th house and Saturn in your security-conscious 2nd house. The best way to overcome this energy is to prepare yourself to be on top of your game! You may feel like others are trying to take advantage of you or expect more than you are willing to give. Even if they profess to have good intentions, be ready to lay down the law when necessary.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

People may expect more than you’re willing to give right now. Mercury in your relational zone is reaching out to serious Saturn in your visionary sign, which could create a tug-o-war between what people want you to do and what you want to do for them in turn. You may prefer to walk alone under this aspect, but if you’ve been putting off any important conversations or negotiations, then brace for them to a head! Compromise should be less stressful than avoidance.

By ALANIS THAMES

MIAMI — Jesús Sánchez doubled twice and drove in three runs, and the Miami Marlins beat Shohei Ohtani and the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Tuesday night.

Ohtani struck out three times but hit his 48th home run as he tries to become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. He did not steal a base for the fifth straight game and remains at 48.

All eyes have been on the star as he tries to reach the historic mark. Fans at the Marlins’ home stadium cheered his name all evening, but Ohtani said he doesn’t necessarily feel any pressure.

“No pressure, just trying to maintain quality at-bats regardless of the situation,” he said. “It is something I’ve been trying to do over the course of the entire season.”

Sánchez went 5 for 5, while Otto López and Jake Burger homered for the Marlins.

Burger’s home run was a two-run shot in the eighth that made it 11-7 and gave the Marlins a needed cushion, as Max Muncy brought the Dodgers within two on a two-run double off Jesús Tinoco in the ninth.

“Any time you’re playing that lineup, you feel like no lead is safe no matter what,” Burger said. “It doesn’t matter how good our pitching is, it’s just one of those things that when you have Shohei Ohtani at the top of their lineup, there’s a chance that a three-run home run can put them in striking distance.”

Connor Norby became the first Marlin with four runs scored in a single game this season. He went 2 for 3 with a single, double and two walks. Kyle Stowers had an RBI triple in the fourth and added a run-scoring double in the sixth for the Marlins, who had 15 hits.

Muncy singled in a run, doubled and stole a base earlier in the game for the Dodgers, who began the day 3 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Diego, which was set to play Houston later Tuesday.

The Dodgers are currently the NL’s No. 2 seed behind Philadelphia. Manager Dave Roberts said last week there was a “slim” chance of Ohtani pitching in the postseason, but Ohtani said Tuesday he hasn’t yet discussed taking the mound.

“There was no conversation that was brought about with the pitching coach in terms of pitching in the postseason,” he said. “But we’re going to have a meeting back in LA to discuss the overall rehab progression.”

Ohtani has not pitched this season — his first with the Dodgers — after elbow surgery.

Reliever Anthony Veneziano picked up his first major league win after striking out two and allowing one hit over 1 1/3 inning.

The Marlins scored four runs in the first two innings off starter Bobby Miller, who was lifted after allowing seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. The Dodgers responded with a four-run third jumpstarted by Ohtani’s two-run shot against starter Darren McCaughan that he crushed 402 feet to right.

“I don’t want to see him at the plate, ever,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Ohtani. “We made some really good pitches. … He hit one a long way. He’s hit a lot of them a long way this year. Those are going to happen at times. When there’s nobody on base it’s better.”

Michael Grove (4-4) took the loss after relieving Miller in the third and giving up a go-ahead RBI double to Sánchez in the fourth that made it 6-5. Sánchez then scored on Stowers’ triple, and the Marlins didn’t relinquish their lead from there.

“They’re a really strong team,” Sánchez said. “There’s no doubt about that. That’s the truth. What we did was execute our game plan, and we did it very well.”

McCaughan pitched 3 2/3 innings, surrendering six hits, five runs and striking out four. Miguel Rojas also homered off McCaughan in the fourth that tied it at five.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Dodgers: Roberts said RHP Tony Gonsolin will make another rehab start soon and could rejoin the team if that goes well. Gonsolin hasn’t pitched since having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last August.

Marlins: RHP Sandy Alcantara threw his first live batting practice since having Tommy John surgery in October. … LHP Braxton Garrett allowed three hits in five innings and 80 pitches in a start for Triple-A Jacksonville.

UP NEXT

Dodgers RHP Landon Knack (2-4, 3.70 ERA) will start the second game of the series against Marlins LHP Ryan Weathers (3-5, 3.55).