Tim Benz: Just enough for Pittsburgh sports fans to get you through the mid-summer lull

Tim Benz | Wednesday, July 14, 2021 6:02 a.m.

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Adam Frazier before a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 9, 2021, in New York.

We are still about two weeks away from Steelers training camp. The Stanley Cup Finals are over. So is the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Home Run Derby and the draft.

Besides the Pirates grinding toward a potential 100-loss season, what can Pittsburgh sports fans watch to get their fix until the Steelers preseason starts?

Here are some ideas.

• A local guy on the NBA’s big stage: Cam Johnson is more than just an afterthought in the NBA Finals. The OLSH alum and one-time Pitt Panther has totaled 32 points over the first three games as his Phoenix Suns are up 2-1 on the Milwaukee Bucks.

His thunderous throwdown over P.J. Tucker during Game 3 was one of the dunks of the year.

CAM'S SLAM from EVERY ANGLE #NBAFinals on ABC pic.twitter.com/v8i86fI1xR

— NBA (@NBA) July 12, 2021

Johnson had 14 points in 30 minutes in that game. Game 4 is Wednesday night at 9 p.m.

• Good ol’ American vengeance: After two humiliating exhibition losses to Australia and Nigeria for the 2021 USA Basketball Men’s National Team, Gregg Popovich’s team won big Tuesday over Argentina 108-80.

Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal had 17 points each to lead the way.

Wait, Pop, I thought Team USA never blew out any of its opponents. Right?

Gregg Popovich gets into exchange with reporter after Team USA's loss to Australia. pic.twitter.com/5XEp114qIh

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 13, 2021

On Friday, the American team tries to avenge one of those defeats en route to the Olympics. They get the Aussies again at 6 p.m. The Olympics are July 23 to Aug. 8.

• A potential perfect game: There will be at least one upcoming Pirates game worth watching — whichever one Jacob deGrom starts for the Mets this weekend. It’s believed that game will be Friday night at PNC Park.

Are there any betting sites that will allow you to bet on a no-hitter in advance? I’ll take those odds.

After skipping the All-Star Game — and missing the four-game series against the Pirates in New York last week — deGrom will be rested and ready. His last start was Wednesday, July 7.

That’s scary. His ERA this season is 1.08 to go along with a 7-2 record. The right-hander has 146 strikeouts against just 11 earned runs and 11 walks.

Forget the no-hitter. How about a perfect game? First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Friday.

• White Sox games: After Adam Frazier got his All-Star game hit Tuesday night, the Pirates sent this tweet.

Doesn't matter the venue. He just hits. pic.twitter.com/e5TtxGcXSF

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 14, 2021

That’s good. Does that statement include Guaranteed Rate Field on Chicago’s Southside? Because I’m still betting that is where Frazier winds up before the July 30 trade deadline.

Heck, I’m surprised Frazier didn’t start the game in a National League uniform, then finish the game in an American League jersey after getting traded to the White Sox at the seventh inning stretch at Coors Field.

If not there, maybe Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, Citi Field in Flushing or Oracle Park in San Francisco. They’d all make sense.

Regardless of where Frazier goes, I hope his hot streak continues through the second half. After dragging this batting order (Bryan Reynolds aside) through the first half of the year, he deserves to play a key role on a pennant contender.

• The Open Championship: Golf’s final major takes center stage this Thursday through Sunday in Sandwich, England.

The 149th Open Championship will be held at Royal St. George’s Golf Club.

With the Open Championship canceled last year because of covid, Shane Lowry is the defending champ from 2019. Meanwhile, Jon Rahm is at +750 as the gambling favorite (bet $100 to win $750). Brooks Koepka at +1400 (bet $100 to win $1,400) and Xander Schauffele at +1600 (bet $100 to win $1,600) are next. That’s according to MGM.

After winning the U.S. Open, Rahm is trying to be the first golfer to win consecutive majors since Jordan Spieth won the Masters and U.S. Open back-to-back in 2015.