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Deadspin | MLB roundup: Chad Tracy wins managerial debut as Red Sox top O’s  Apr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images   Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run and Connelly Early pitched into the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox won in their first game after a surprising weekend managerial change, beating the host Baltimore Orioles 5-3.  With Chad Tracy serving as interim manager after Alex Cora’s Saturday firing, Ceddanne Rafaela recorded an RBI triple and a double as the Red Sox won consecutive games for the first time since April 15 and 17.   Early (2-1) worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with a season-low one walk. He struck out four.  Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo, who each had two hits, smacked solo home runs for the Orioles. Henderson added a second RBI on a single. Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (1-3) gave up three runs on four hits in five innings.  Braves 6, Phillies 2    Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as Atlanta beat visiting Philadelphia in the rubber game of their three-game series.    Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617. Sale also became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).    Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18. Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.  Rockies 3, Mets 1 (Game 1)    Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the fourth inning and hit into the tie-breaking, run-scoring double play in the sixth for visiting Colorado, which beat skidding New York in the opener of a doubleheader.    Jose Quintana (1-2) tossed 5 1/3 solid innings for the Rockies, who have won the first two games of the three-game set to lock up their third series win of the season. Colorado finished 43-119 last season and didn’t win its third series until July 18-20, when it took two of three from the Minnesota Twins.    Jake McCarthy added an insurance RBI single in the seventh for Colorado. Tyrone Taylor homered in the fifth for the Mets.  Rockies 3, Mets 0 (Game 2)    Chase Dollander threw seven scoreless innings in the longest outing of his career as visiting Colorado completed a doubleheader sweep of sinking New York. Four Rockies pitchers combined on a four-hitter in a 3-1 win in the opener.    Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the second inning of the nightcap and Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer one inning later for Colorado, which swept a series from the Mets in New York for the first time since 2018 to improve to 13-16.    New York has lost 15 of 17 — its worst 17-game stretch since a 2-15 skid from Aug. 28 through Sept, 13, 2004. Dollander (3-2), who made his first start of the season after six long relief outings, allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven over a career-high 105 pitches.  Blue Jays 4, Guardians 2    Jesus Sanchez homered and drove in three runs to help Toronto earn a victory over visiting Cleveland.    Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who took two of three from Cleveland. Toronto starter Patrick Corbin went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.    Slade Cecconi (0-4) saw his winless start to the season prolonged, yielding four runs on six hits across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one for Cleveland, which has dropped three of its last four games. Angel Martinez tallied two hits and an RBI in the loss.  Rays 4, Twins 2    Yandy Diaz belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run third inning, helping Tampa Bay complete a three-game series sweep of Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.    Chandler Simpson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run, and Jonathan Aranda joined Diaz with two RBIs to pace the Rays to their fourth straight victory. Jesse Scholtens (2-1), who relieved opener Griffin Jax with one out in the third, allowed two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings.    Brooks Lee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 over the last 10. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.  Tigers 8, Reds 3  Hao-Yu Lee belted a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer and Spencer Torkelson had three hits and homered in his franchise-tying fifth straight game as visiting Detroit rallied for a win over Cincinnati.  Kerry Carpenter doubled and tripled, while Gleyber Torres added three hits, including a two-run homer for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Keider Montero was charged with three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking two over five innings, while lefty reliever Brant Hurter (3-0) pitched a perfect sixth to earn the win.  Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday belted solo homers for Cincinnati, which fell for just the second time in nine games. Starter Rhett Lowder settled down after a two-run first inning, and allowed just the two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one.  Nationals 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)    Jose Tena hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the 10th inning after CJ Abrams provided a go-ahead sacrifice fly as Washington edged host Chicago.     Both pitching staffs allowed just four hits. Paxton Schultz worked around Tristan Peters’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th for his first save. Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin delivered his second consecutive quality start, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings. Griffin walked two and struck out a career-high eight. Richard Lovelady (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.     Chicago righty Sean Burke shined, as well, limiting Washington to three hits in 7 1/3 innings with zero walks and four strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez (1-3) took the loss.  Astros 7, Yankees 4  Spencer Arrighetti worked seven strong innings, Christian Walker produced a three-hit game with a home run and Houston salvaged the finale of a three-game series against visiting New York.  Arrighetti (3-0), who opened the season with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowed three hits, walked one and posted eight strikeouts on 96 pitches, 64 for strikes. Walker finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Isaac Paredes went 2-for-4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs.   Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and scored for the Yankees, who rallied for three runs with two outs in the ninth but had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Luis Gil (1-2) dished five hits through four innings, and allowed six runs.   Mariners 3, Cardinals 2  Pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder homered with one out in the ninth inning to break a tie as Seattle defeated host St. Louis.  Cal Raleigh also homered for the Mariners, who swept the three-game interleague set. Refsnyder deposited a 3-2 sweeper from reliever JoJo Romero (0-1) into the Mariners’ bullpen in left field. Eduard Bazardo (1-1) earned the victory and Jose A. Ferrer worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.  JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church went deep for the Cardinals, who have lost four in a row. St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy went six innings, and gave up one run on five hits, with no walks and a season-high six strikeouts.  Brewers 5, Pirates 0    Kyle Harrison tossed six innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts and Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.    The Brewers backed Harrison with a five-run fourth inning to avoid their first sweep against Pittsburgh since 2022 and first at home to the Pirates since a four-game series in August 2016.    The only hit off Harrison (2-1) in his 101-pitch outing was a leadoff single in the second by Marcell Ozuna, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner off Harrison came on a two-out walk in the fourth.  Athletics 2, Rangers 1    Carlos Cortes delivered a two-run triple in the first inning and the Athletics held on to beat Texas in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.    Cortes also had a pair of singles for the Athletics, while starting pitcher J.T. Ginn allowed three hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with right arm soreness. Joel Kuhnel, Jacob Lopez, Justin Sterner (1-2) and Hogan Harris followed Ginn before right-hander Jack Perkins pitched two scoreless innings for his second save.    Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz set a franchise record by drawing a walk in his 16th consecutive game. He has also reached base safely in each of his last 22 games. Josh Jung doubled twice for the Rangers, who were out-hit 10-6 and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.  Diamondbacks 12, Padres 7  Ildemaro Vargas had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as Arizona overcame a six-run deficit to beat San Diego for a split of the short two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.  Tim Tawa triggered a six-run seventh inning with his first career grand slam, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. capped it with a two-run single to give the D-Backs their first lead after having trailed 7-1. Ryne Nelson allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. He has given up 14 runs in his last two starts over 5 1/3 innings.  Manny Machado had two home runs, Luis Campusano doubled and homered and Jackson Merrill had two hits for the Padres, who had won 13 of 15. Padres starter Michael King gave up three hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.  Dodgers 6, Cubs 0  Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run in 13 games and Justin Wrobleski continued his strong start to the season with six scoreless innings as Los Angeles finished off a series victory over visiting Chicago.  Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Dalton Rushing had an RBI single in the sixth. Wrobleski (4-0) gave up four hits with six strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 30 innings over five appearances and four consecutive starts.  Shota Imanaga (2-2) gave up a season-high five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Imanaga allowed more runs than his last four starts combined (three).  Royals 11, Angels 9 (10 innings)    Lane Thomas hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the 10th inning, after Jac Caglianone clubbed a tying two-run shot in the ninth, and host Kansas City rallied past Los Angeles to complete a three-game series sweep.    In a contest whose start was moved up roughly three hours due to predicted severe weather, Kansas City trailed 6-0 after two innings and 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth. Bobby Witt Jr. and Isaac Collins also homered for the Royals, who are 4-1 since an eight-game skid.    Losers in seven of eight, the Angels wasted no time getting to Royals starter Seth Lugo. Zach Neto opened the game with the first of his three hits, then Mike Trout sent a drive off and over the top of the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead. It was the first homer allowed this season by Lugo, who yielded seven runs and a career-high 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.  Giants 6, Marlins 3  Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second consecutive day, Landen Roupp ran his personal winning streak to four games and San Francisco closed out a winning homestand with a victory over Miami.  Jung Hoo Lee had four hits, including a triple, and scored twice for the Giants. Roupp (5-1) served up a three-run homer to Graham Pauley, his first of the season, in the second inning.  The Marlins managed just two hits, both coming in the three-run second. Liam Hicks followed Xavier Edwards’ walk with a single, after which both jogged home on Pauley’s home run. Max Meyer was pulled after five innings, having limited the Giants to just one run, which was unearned.   –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Chad #Tracy #wins #managerial #debut #Red #Sox #top

Deadspin | MLB roundup: Chad Tracy wins managerial debut as Red Sox top O’s
Deadspin | MLB roundup: Chad Tracy wins managerial debut as Red Sox top O’s  Apr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images   Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run and Connelly Early pitched into the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox won in their first game after a surprising weekend managerial change, beating the host Baltimore Orioles 5-3.  With Chad Tracy serving as interim manager after Alex Cora’s Saturday firing, Ceddanne Rafaela recorded an RBI triple and a double as the Red Sox won consecutive games for the first time since April 15 and 17.   Early (2-1) worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with a season-low one walk. He struck out four.  Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo, who each had two hits, smacked solo home runs for the Orioles. Henderson added a second RBI on a single. Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (1-3) gave up three runs on four hits in five innings.  Braves 6, Phillies 2    Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as Atlanta beat visiting Philadelphia in the rubber game of their three-game series.    Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617. Sale also became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).    Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18. Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.  Rockies 3, Mets 1 (Game 1)    Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the fourth inning and hit into the tie-breaking, run-scoring double play in the sixth for visiting Colorado, which beat skidding New York in the opener of a doubleheader.    Jose Quintana (1-2) tossed 5 1/3 solid innings for the Rockies, who have won the first two games of the three-game set to lock up their third series win of the season. Colorado finished 43-119 last season and didn’t win its third series until July 18-20, when it took two of three from the Minnesota Twins.    Jake McCarthy added an insurance RBI single in the seventh for Colorado. Tyrone Taylor homered in the fifth for the Mets.  Rockies 3, Mets 0 (Game 2)    Chase Dollander threw seven scoreless innings in the longest outing of his career as visiting Colorado completed a doubleheader sweep of sinking New York. Four Rockies pitchers combined on a four-hitter in a 3-1 win in the opener.    Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the second inning of the nightcap and Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer one inning later for Colorado, which swept a series from the Mets in New York for the first time since 2018 to improve to 13-16.    New York has lost 15 of 17 — its worst 17-game stretch since a 2-15 skid from Aug. 28 through Sept, 13, 2004. Dollander (3-2), who made his first start of the season after six long relief outings, allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven over a career-high 105 pitches.  Blue Jays 4, Guardians 2    Jesus Sanchez homered and drove in three runs to help Toronto earn a victory over visiting Cleveland.    Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who took two of three from Cleveland. Toronto starter Patrick Corbin went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.    Slade Cecconi (0-4) saw his winless start to the season prolonged, yielding four runs on six hits across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one for Cleveland, which has dropped three of its last four games. Angel Martinez tallied two hits and an RBI in the loss.  Rays 4, Twins 2    Yandy Diaz belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run third inning, helping Tampa Bay complete a three-game series sweep of Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.    Chandler Simpson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run, and Jonathan Aranda joined Diaz with two RBIs to pace the Rays to their fourth straight victory. Jesse Scholtens (2-1), who relieved opener Griffin Jax with one out in the third, allowed two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings.    Brooks Lee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 over the last 10. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.  Tigers 8, Reds 3  Hao-Yu Lee belted a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer and Spencer Torkelson had three hits and homered in his franchise-tying fifth straight game as visiting Detroit rallied for a win over Cincinnati.  Kerry Carpenter doubled and tripled, while Gleyber Torres added three hits, including a two-run homer for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Keider Montero was charged with three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking two over five innings, while lefty reliever Brant Hurter (3-0) pitched a perfect sixth to earn the win.  Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday belted solo homers for Cincinnati, which fell for just the second time in nine games. Starter Rhett Lowder settled down after a two-run first inning, and allowed just the two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one.  Nationals 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)    Jose Tena hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the 10th inning after CJ Abrams provided a go-ahead sacrifice fly as Washington edged host Chicago.     Both pitching staffs allowed just four hits. Paxton Schultz worked around Tristan Peters’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th for his first save. Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin delivered his second consecutive quality start, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings. Griffin walked two and struck out a career-high eight. Richard Lovelady (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.     Chicago righty Sean Burke shined, as well, limiting Washington to three hits in 7 1/3 innings with zero walks and four strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez (1-3) took the loss.  Astros 7, Yankees 4  Spencer Arrighetti worked seven strong innings, Christian Walker produced a three-hit game with a home run and Houston salvaged the finale of a three-game series against visiting New York.  Arrighetti (3-0), who opened the season with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowed three hits, walked one and posted eight strikeouts on 96 pitches, 64 for strikes. Walker finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Isaac Paredes went 2-for-4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs.   Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and scored for the Yankees, who rallied for three runs with two outs in the ninth but had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Luis Gil (1-2) dished five hits through four innings, and allowed six runs.   Mariners 3, Cardinals 2  Pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder homered with one out in the ninth inning to break a tie as Seattle defeated host St. Louis.  Cal Raleigh also homered for the Mariners, who swept the three-game interleague set. Refsnyder deposited a 3-2 sweeper from reliever JoJo Romero (0-1) into the Mariners’ bullpen in left field. Eduard Bazardo (1-1) earned the victory and Jose A. Ferrer worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.  JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church went deep for the Cardinals, who have lost four in a row. St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy went six innings, and gave up one run on five hits, with no walks and a season-high six strikeouts.  Brewers 5, Pirates 0    Kyle Harrison tossed six innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts and Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.    The Brewers backed Harrison with a five-run fourth inning to avoid their first sweep against Pittsburgh since 2022 and first at home to the Pirates since a four-game series in August 2016.    The only hit off Harrison (2-1) in his 101-pitch outing was a leadoff single in the second by Marcell Ozuna, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner off Harrison came on a two-out walk in the fourth.  Athletics 2, Rangers 1    Carlos Cortes delivered a two-run triple in the first inning and the Athletics held on to beat Texas in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.    Cortes also had a pair of singles for the Athletics, while starting pitcher J.T. Ginn allowed three hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with right arm soreness. Joel Kuhnel, Jacob Lopez, Justin Sterner (1-2) and Hogan Harris followed Ginn before right-hander Jack Perkins pitched two scoreless innings for his second save.    Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz set a franchise record by drawing a walk in his 16th consecutive game. He has also reached base safely in each of his last 22 games. Josh Jung doubled twice for the Rangers, who were out-hit 10-6 and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.  Diamondbacks 12, Padres 7  Ildemaro Vargas had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as Arizona overcame a six-run deficit to beat San Diego for a split of the short two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.  Tim Tawa triggered a six-run seventh inning with his first career grand slam, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. capped it with a two-run single to give the D-Backs their first lead after having trailed 7-1. Ryne Nelson allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. He has given up 14 runs in his last two starts over 5 1/3 innings.  Manny Machado had two home runs, Luis Campusano doubled and homered and Jackson Merrill had two hits for the Padres, who had won 13 of 15. Padres starter Michael King gave up three hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.  Dodgers 6, Cubs 0  Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run in 13 games and Justin Wrobleski continued his strong start to the season with six scoreless innings as Los Angeles finished off a series victory over visiting Chicago.  Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Dalton Rushing had an RBI single in the sixth. Wrobleski (4-0) gave up four hits with six strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 30 innings over five appearances and four consecutive starts.  Shota Imanaga (2-2) gave up a season-high five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Imanaga allowed more runs than his last four starts combined (three).  Royals 11, Angels 9 (10 innings)    Lane Thomas hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the 10th inning, after Jac Caglianone clubbed a tying two-run shot in the ninth, and host Kansas City rallied past Los Angeles to complete a three-game series sweep.    In a contest whose start was moved up roughly three hours due to predicted severe weather, Kansas City trailed 6-0 after two innings and 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth. Bobby Witt Jr. and Isaac Collins also homered for the Royals, who are 4-1 since an eight-game skid.    Losers in seven of eight, the Angels wasted no time getting to Royals starter Seth Lugo. Zach Neto opened the game with the first of his three hits, then Mike Trout sent a drive off and over the top of the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead. It was the first homer allowed this season by Lugo, who yielded seven runs and a career-high 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.  Giants 6, Marlins 3  Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second consecutive day, Landen Roupp ran his personal winning streak to four games and San Francisco closed out a winning homestand with a victory over Miami.  Jung Hoo Lee had four hits, including a triple, and scored twice for the Giants. Roupp (5-1) served up a three-run homer to Graham Pauley, his first of the season, in the second inning.  The Marlins managed just two hits, both coming in the three-run second. Liam Hicks followed Xavier Edwards’ walk with a single, after which both jogged home on Pauley’s home run. Max Meyer was pulled after five innings, having limited the Giants to just one run, which was unearned.   –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Chad #Tracy #wins #managerial #debut #Red #Sox #topApr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run and Connelly Early pitched into the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox won in their first game after a surprising weekend managerial change, beating the host Baltimore Orioles 5-3.

With Chad Tracy serving as interim manager after Alex Cora’s Saturday firing, Ceddanne Rafaela recorded an RBI triple and a double as the Red Sox won consecutive games for the first time since April 15 and 17.

Early (2-1) worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with a season-low one walk. He struck out four.

Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo, who each had two hits, smacked solo home runs for the Orioles. Henderson added a second RBI on a single. Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (1-3) gave up three runs on four hits in five innings.

Braves 6, Phillies 2

Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as Atlanta beat visiting Philadelphia in the rubber game of their three-game series.

Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617. Sale also became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).

Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18. Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.

Rockies 3, Mets 1 (Game 1)

Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the fourth inning and hit into the tie-breaking, run-scoring double play in the sixth for visiting Colorado, which beat skidding New York in the opener of a doubleheader.

Jose Quintana (1-2) tossed 5 1/3 solid innings for the Rockies, who have won the first two games of the three-game set to lock up their third series win of the season. Colorado finished 43-119 last season and didn’t win its third series until July 18-20, when it took two of three from the Minnesota Twins.

Jake McCarthy added an insurance RBI single in the seventh for Colorado. Tyrone Taylor homered in the fifth for the Mets.

Rockies 3, Mets 0 (Game 2)

Chase Dollander threw seven scoreless innings in the longest outing of his career as visiting Colorado completed a doubleheader sweep of sinking New York. Four Rockies pitchers combined on a four-hitter in a 3-1 win in the opener.

Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the second inning of the nightcap and Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer one inning later for Colorado, which swept a series from the Mets in New York for the first time since 2018 to improve to 13-16.

New York has lost 15 of 17 — its worst 17-game stretch since a 2-15 skid from Aug. 28 through Sept, 13, 2004. Dollander (3-2), who made his first start of the season after six long relief outings, allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven over a career-high 105 pitches.

Blue Jays 4, Guardians 2

Jesus Sanchez homered and drove in three runs to help Toronto earn a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who took two of three from Cleveland. Toronto starter Patrick Corbin went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.

Slade Cecconi (0-4) saw his winless start to the season prolonged, yielding four runs on six hits across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one for Cleveland, which has dropped three of its last four games. Angel Martinez tallied two hits and an RBI in the loss.

Rays 4, Twins 2

Yandy Diaz belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run third inning, helping Tampa Bay complete a three-game series sweep of Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chandler Simpson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run, and Jonathan Aranda joined Diaz with two RBIs to pace the Rays to their fourth straight victory. Jesse Scholtens (2-1), who relieved opener Griffin Jax with one out in the third, allowed two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Brooks Lee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 over the last 10. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Tigers 8, Reds 3

Hao-Yu Lee belted a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer and Spencer Torkelson had three hits and homered in his franchise-tying fifth straight game as visiting Detroit rallied for a win over Cincinnati.

Kerry Carpenter doubled and tripled, while Gleyber Torres added three hits, including a two-run homer for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Keider Montero was charged with three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking two over five innings, while lefty reliever Brant Hurter (3-0) pitched a perfect sixth to earn the win.

Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday belted solo homers for Cincinnati, which fell for just the second time in nine games. Starter Rhett Lowder settled down after a two-run first inning, and allowed just the two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one.

Nationals 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)


Jose Tena hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the 10th inning after CJ Abrams provided a go-ahead sacrifice fly as Washington edged host Chicago.

Both pitching staffs allowed just four hits. Paxton Schultz worked around Tristan Peters’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th for his first save. Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin delivered his second consecutive quality start, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings. Griffin walked two and struck out a career-high eight. Richard Lovelady (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.

Chicago righty Sean Burke shined, as well, limiting Washington to three hits in 7 1/3 innings with zero walks and four strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez (1-3) took the loss.

Astros 7, Yankees 4

Spencer Arrighetti worked seven strong innings, Christian Walker produced a three-hit game with a home run and Houston salvaged the finale of a three-game series against visiting New York.

Arrighetti (3-0), who opened the season with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowed three hits, walked one and posted eight strikeouts on 96 pitches, 64 for strikes. Walker finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Isaac Paredes went 2-for-4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs.

Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and scored for the Yankees, who rallied for three runs with two outs in the ninth but had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Luis Gil (1-2) dished five hits through four innings, and allowed six runs.

Mariners 3, Cardinals 2

Pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder homered with one out in the ninth inning to break a tie as Seattle defeated host St. Louis.

Cal Raleigh also homered for the Mariners, who swept the three-game interleague set. Refsnyder deposited a 3-2 sweeper from reliever JoJo Romero (0-1) into the Mariners’ bullpen in left field. Eduard Bazardo (1-1) earned the victory and Jose A. Ferrer worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.

JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church went deep for the Cardinals, who have lost four in a row. St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy went six innings, and gave up one run on five hits, with no walks and a season-high six strikeouts.

Brewers 5, Pirates 0

Kyle Harrison tossed six innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts and Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.

The Brewers backed Harrison with a five-run fourth inning to avoid their first sweep against Pittsburgh since 2022 and first at home to the Pirates since a four-game series in August 2016.

The only hit off Harrison (2-1) in his 101-pitch outing was a leadoff single in the second by Marcell Ozuna, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner off Harrison came on a two-out walk in the fourth.

Athletics 2, Rangers 1

Carlos Cortes delivered a two-run triple in the first inning and the Athletics held on to beat Texas in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Cortes also had a pair of singles for the Athletics, while starting pitcher J.T. Ginn allowed three hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with right arm soreness. Joel Kuhnel, Jacob Lopez, Justin Sterner (1-2) and Hogan Harris followed Ginn before right-hander Jack Perkins pitched two scoreless innings for his second save.

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz set a franchise record by drawing a walk in his 16th consecutive game. He has also reached base safely in each of his last 22 games. Josh Jung doubled twice for the Rangers, who were out-hit 10-6 and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Diamondbacks 12, Padres 7

Ildemaro Vargas had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as Arizona overcame a six-run deficit to beat San Diego for a split of the short two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.

Tim Tawa triggered a six-run seventh inning with his first career grand slam, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. capped it with a two-run single to give the D-Backs their first lead after having trailed 7-1. Ryne Nelson allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. He has given up 14 runs in his last two starts over 5 1/3 innings.

Manny Machado had two home runs, Luis Campusano doubled and homered and Jackson Merrill had two hits for the Padres, who had won 13 of 15. Padres starter Michael King gave up three hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 0

Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run in 13 games and Justin Wrobleski continued his strong start to the season with six scoreless innings as Los Angeles finished off a series victory over visiting Chicago.

Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Dalton Rushing had an RBI single in the sixth. Wrobleski (4-0) gave up four hits with six strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 30 innings over five appearances and four consecutive starts.

Shota Imanaga (2-2) gave up a season-high five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Imanaga allowed more runs than his last four starts combined (three).

Royals 11, Angels 9 (10 innings)

Lane Thomas hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the 10th inning, after Jac Caglianone clubbed a tying two-run shot in the ninth, and host Kansas City rallied past Los Angeles to complete a three-game series sweep.

In a contest whose start was moved up roughly three hours due to predicted severe weather, Kansas City trailed 6-0 after two innings and 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth. Bobby Witt Jr. and Isaac Collins also homered for the Royals, who are 4-1 since an eight-game skid.

Losers in seven of eight, the Angels wasted no time getting to Royals starter Seth Lugo. Zach Neto opened the game with the first of his three hits, then Mike Trout sent a drive off and over the top of the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead. It was the first homer allowed this season by Lugo, who yielded seven runs and a career-high 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.

Giants 6, Marlins 3

Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second consecutive day, Landen Roupp ran his personal winning streak to four games and San Francisco closed out a winning homestand with a victory over Miami.

Jung Hoo Lee had four hits, including a triple, and scored twice for the Giants. Roupp (5-1) served up a three-run homer to Graham Pauley, his first of the season, in the second inning.

The Marlins managed just two hits, both coming in the three-run second. Liam Hicks followed Xavier Edwards’ walk with a single, after which both jogged home on Pauley’s home run. Max Meyer was pulled after five innings, having limited the Giants to just one run, which was unearned.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #MLB #roundup #Chad #Tracy #wins #managerial #debut #Red #Sox #top

Apr 26, 2026; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Boston Red Sox Interim Manager Chad Tracy looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Willson Contreras hit a two-run home run and Connelly Early pitched into the seventh inning as the Boston Red Sox won in their first game after a surprising weekend managerial change, beating the host Baltimore Orioles 5-3.

With Chad Tracy serving as interim manager after Alex Cora’s Saturday firing, Ceddanne Rafaela recorded an RBI triple and a double as the Red Sox won consecutive games for the first time since April 15 and 17.

Early (2-1) worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering two runs on four hits with a season-low one walk. He struck out four.

Gunnar Henderson and Samuel Basallo, who each had two hits, smacked solo home runs for the Orioles. Henderson added a second RBI on a single. Baltimore starter Kyle Bradish (1-3) gave up three runs on four hits in five innings.

Braves 6, Phillies 2

Chris Sale pitched six scoreless innings to earn the 150th victory of his career as Atlanta beat visiting Philadelphia in the rubber game of their three-game series.

Sale (5-1) retired the first eight batters he faced and allowed only one hit, a single to Trea Turner, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. He struck out a season-high nine batters and moved past Chuck Finley into 28th place on the career strikeouts list with 2,617. Sale also became the fourth active pitcher with 150 wins, joining Justin Verlander (266), Max Scherzer (222) and Gerrit Cole (153).

Atlanta became the first team to win 20 games, a milestone they didn’t reach until May 12 in their 41st game in 2025. The Phillies, who ended their 10-game losing streak on Saturday, have lost 15 of their last 18. Philadelphia right-hander Aaron Nola (1-3) allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out six.

Rockies 3, Mets 1 (Game 1)

Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the fourth inning and hit into the tie-breaking, run-scoring double play in the sixth for visiting Colorado, which beat skidding New York in the opener of a doubleheader.

Jose Quintana (1-2) tossed 5 1/3 solid innings for the Rockies, who have won the first two games of the three-game set to lock up their third series win of the season. Colorado finished 43-119 last season and didn’t win its third series until July 18-20, when it took two of three from the Minnesota Twins.

Jake McCarthy added an insurance RBI single in the seventh for Colorado. Tyrone Taylor homered in the fifth for the Mets.

Rockies 3, Mets 0 (Game 2)

Chase Dollander threw seven scoreless innings in the longest outing of his career as visiting Colorado completed a doubleheader sweep of sinking New York. Four Rockies pitchers combined on a four-hitter in a 3-1 win in the opener.

Troy Johnston had an RBI single in the second inning of the nightcap and Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer one inning later for Colorado, which swept a series from the Mets in New York for the first time since 2018 to improve to 13-16.

New York has lost 15 of 17 — its worst 17-game stretch since a 2-15 skid from Aug. 28 through Sept, 13, 2004. Dollander (3-2), who made his first start of the season after six long relief outings, allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven over a career-high 105 pitches.

Blue Jays 4, Guardians 2

Jesus Sanchez homered and drove in three runs to help Toronto earn a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and an RBI for the Blue Jays, who took two of three from Cleveland. Toronto starter Patrick Corbin went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out four and walking two.

Slade Cecconi (0-4) saw his winless start to the season prolonged, yielding four runs on six hits across 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one for Cleveland, which has dropped three of its last four games. Angel Martinez tallied two hits and an RBI in the loss.

Rays 4, Twins 2

Yandy Diaz belted a two-run homer to highlight a four-run third inning, helping Tampa Bay complete a three-game series sweep of Minnesota in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Chandler Simpson went 3-for-4 with a stolen base and a run, and Jonathan Aranda joined Diaz with two RBIs to pace the Rays to their fourth straight victory. Jesse Scholtens (2-1), who relieved opener Griffin Jax with one out in the third, allowed two runs on three hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Brooks Lee hit a two-run homer for the Twins, who lost their fifth straight game and fell to 1-9 over the last 10. Simeon Woods Richardson (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Tigers 8, Reds 3

Hao-Yu Lee belted a pinch-hit, go-ahead two-run homer and Spencer Torkelson had three hits and homered in his franchise-tying fifth straight game as visiting Detroit rallied for a win over Cincinnati.

Kerry Carpenter doubled and tripled, while Gleyber Torres added three hits, including a two-run homer for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Keider Montero was charged with three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking two over five innings, while lefty reliever Brant Hurter (3-0) pitched a perfect sixth to earn the win.

Nathaniel Lowe and JJ Bleday belted solo homers for Cincinnati, which fell for just the second time in nine games. Starter Rhett Lowder settled down after a two-run first inning, and allowed just the two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one.

Nationals 2, White Sox 1 (10 innings)

Jose Tena hit a pinch-hit solo home run in the 10th inning after CJ Abrams provided a go-ahead sacrifice fly as Washington edged host Chicago.

Both pitching staffs allowed just four hits. Paxton Schultz worked around Tristan Peters’ RBI single in the bottom of the 10th for his first save. Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin delivered his second consecutive quality start, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings. Griffin walked two and struck out a career-high eight. Richard Lovelady (1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the victory.

Chicago righty Sean Burke shined, as well, limiting Washington to three hits in 7 1/3 innings with zero walks and four strikeouts. Seranthony Dominguez (1-3) took the loss.

Astros 7, Yankees 4

Spencer Arrighetti worked seven strong innings, Christian Walker produced a three-hit game with a home run and Houston salvaged the finale of a three-game series against visiting New York.

Arrighetti (3-0), who opened the season with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowed three hits, walked one and posted eight strikeouts on 96 pitches, 64 for strikes. Walker finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs while Isaac Paredes went 2-for-4 with a homer, three runs and three RBIs.

Paul Goldschmidt doubled twice and scored for the Yankees, who rallied for three runs with two outs in the ninth but had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Luis Gil (1-2) dished five hits through four innings, and allowed six runs.

Mariners 3, Cardinals 2

Pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder homered with one out in the ninth inning to break a tie as Seattle defeated host St. Louis.

Cal Raleigh also homered for the Mariners, who swept the three-game interleague set. Refsnyder deposited a 3-2 sweeper from reliever JoJo Romero (0-1) into the Mariners’ bullpen in left field. Eduard Bazardo (1-1) earned the victory and Jose A. Ferrer worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.

JJ Wetherholt and Nathan Church went deep for the Cardinals, who have lost four in a row. St. Louis starter Michael McGreevy went six innings, and gave up one run on five hits, with no walks and a season-high six strikeouts.

Brewers 5, Pirates 0

Kyle Harrison tossed six innings of one-hit ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts and Milwaukee snapped a four-game skid with a victory over visiting Pittsburgh.

The Brewers backed Harrison with a five-run fourth inning to avoid their first sweep against Pittsburgh since 2022 and first at home to the Pirates since a four-game series in August 2016.

The only hit off Harrison (2-1) in his 101-pitch outing was a leadoff single in the second by Marcell Ozuna, who was erased on a double play. The only other runner off Harrison came on a two-out walk in the fourth.

Athletics 2, Rangers 1

Carlos Cortes delivered a two-run triple in the first inning and the Athletics held on to beat Texas in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.

Cortes also had a pair of singles for the Athletics, while starting pitcher J.T. Ginn allowed three hits over 3 1/3 scoreless innings before exiting with right arm soreness. Joel Kuhnel, Jacob Lopez, Justin Sterner (1-2) and Hogan Harris followed Ginn before right-hander Jack Perkins pitched two scoreless innings for his second save.

Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz set a franchise record by drawing a walk in his 16th consecutive game. He has also reached base safely in each of his last 22 games. Josh Jung doubled twice for the Rangers, who were out-hit 10-6 and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Diamondbacks 12, Padres 7

Ildemaro Vargas had three hits, including a home run, and drove in four runs as Arizona overcame a six-run deficit to beat San Diego for a split of the short two-game Mexico City Series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu.

Tim Tawa triggered a six-run seventh inning with his first career grand slam, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. capped it with a two-run single to give the D-Backs their first lead after having trailed 7-1. Ryne Nelson allowed six runs on seven hits in five innings, with four strikeouts and two walks. He has given up 14 runs in his last two starts over 5 1/3 innings.

Manny Machado had two home runs, Luis Campusano doubled and homered and Jackson Merrill had two hits for the Padres, who had won 13 of 15. Padres starter Michael King gave up three hits and two runs in six innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced.

Dodgers 6, Cubs 0

Shohei Ohtani hit his first home run in 13 games and Justin Wrobleski continued his strong start to the season with six scoreless innings as Los Angeles finished off a series victory over visiting Chicago.

Miguel Rojas hit a two-run double in the first inning and Dalton Rushing had an RBI single in the sixth. Wrobleski (4-0) gave up four hits with six strikeouts, lowering his ERA to 1.50 in 30 innings over five appearances and four consecutive starts.

Shota Imanaga (2-2) gave up a season-high five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Imanaga allowed more runs than his last four starts combined (three).

Royals 11, Angels 9 (10 innings)

Lane Thomas hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the 10th inning, after Jac Caglianone clubbed a tying two-run shot in the ninth, and host Kansas City rallied past Los Angeles to complete a three-game series sweep.

In a contest whose start was moved up roughly three hours due to predicted severe weather, Kansas City trailed 6-0 after two innings and 8-5 entering the bottom of the ninth. Bobby Witt Jr. and Isaac Collins also homered for the Royals, who are 4-1 since an eight-game skid.

Losers in seven of eight, the Angels wasted no time getting to Royals starter Seth Lugo. Zach Neto opened the game with the first of his three hits, then Mike Trout sent a drive off and over the top of the left-field wall for a 2-0 lead. It was the first homer allowed this season by Lugo, who yielded seven runs and a career-high 14 hits over 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.

Giants 6, Marlins 3

Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second consecutive day, Landen Roupp ran his personal winning streak to four games and San Francisco closed out a winning homestand with a victory over Miami.

Jung Hoo Lee had four hits, including a triple, and scored twice for the Giants. Roupp (5-1) served up a three-run homer to Graham Pauley, his first of the season, in the second inning.

The Marlins managed just two hits, both coming in the three-run second. Liam Hicks followed Xavier Edwards’ walk with a single, after which both jogged home on Pauley’s home run. Max Meyer was pulled after five innings, having limited the Giants to just one run, which was unearned.

–Field Level Media

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Dortmund secures Champions League qualification with a 4-0 victory over Freiburg <div id="content-body-70910796" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Borussia Dortmund sealed Champions League qualification on Sunday with an easy 4-0 win over a distracted Freiburg side in the Bundesliga.</p><p>Maximilian Beier, Serhou Guirassy and Ramy Bensebaini effectively decided the result in the first half hour, before substitute Fabio Silva completed the scoring late.</p><p>Dortmund ‘keeper Gregor Kobel denied Cyriaque Irié a consolation goal.</p><p>With three rounds remaining, Dortmund is assured of finishing among the top four to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition.</p><p>Freiburg coach Julian Schuster had made a host of changes to the team that suffered a bitter defeat against Stuttgart in the German Cup semifinals on Thursday.</p><p>Freiburg next faces Sporting Braga away for the first leg of their Europa League semifinal match.</p><p>Dortmund coach Niko Kovac gave Samuele Inacio his first start and the 18-year-old Italian forward made the most of it, earning ovations when he went off in the 74th minute.</p><p>United States Under-17 forward Mathis Albert went on for the final minutes to make his Dortmund debut. The 16-year-old from Greenville, South Carolina, joined Dortmund’s academy in 2025 from LA Galaxy’s academy. and was part of the U.S. team at last year’s Under-17 World Cup.</p><p>Another youngster, the 18-year-old midfielder Rouven Tarnutzer, had already gone on late for his Freiburg debut.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Stuttgart stutters</h4><p>Stuttgart’s hopes of Champions League qualification were tempered in a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.</p><p>Ermedin Demirovic canceled Jens Stage’s early goal for the visitors and just kept Stuttgart in fourth place on goal difference from Hoffenheim before they face each other for a high-stakes clash next weekend.</p><p>Stuttgart and Hoffenheim were on 57 points, two ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, which still harbors its own hopes of Champions League qualification.</p><p>Bremen’s point from the draw in Stuttgart moved it six points above St. Pauli in the relegation zone.</p><p>Bayern Munich already sealed the title last weekend and will face Stuttgart in the German Cup final on May 23.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 27, 2026</p></div> #Dortmund #secures #Champions #League #qualification #victory #Freiburg

The United States is moving on to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Folarin Balogun’s goal in the 45th minute proved to be enough, as the United States knocked off Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Wednesday night.

So, what is up next for the United States at the World Cup?

A match against Belgium, one of the top ten teams in the world prior to the start of the tournament. Belgium booked a spot in the Round of 16 with a dramatic, comeback win against Senegal, and now await the United States in the Round of 16.

Here’s what you need to know about Belgium ahead of Monday’s matchup.

Belgium’s run to the Round of 16

Belgium accomplished something we have not seen since, well, the United States during the 2010 World Cup.

Winning the group despite not winning either of their first two matches.

After a pair of punchless performances in group play – a 1-1 draw with Egypt followed by a 0-0 draw with Iran, with the lone goal an own goal from Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany – Belgium clinched the top spot in Group G with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand, booking a match in the Round of 32 against Senegal.

In that match against New Zealand a pair of goals from Leandro Trossard, the first in the 28th minute and the second in the 50th minute, were enough for Belgium to move on. But Rudi Garcia’s side added three more for good measure, as Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Kevin De Bruyne all scored. De Bruyne’s strike, coming outside the box, was in particular a stunning moment.

Then came the match against Senegal in the Round of 32, which almost mirrored Belgium’s run to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The first 85 minutes or so were all Senegal, as the African side built a 2-0 lead and looked to be moving on to the Round of 16 themselves.

Everything then changed in the closing minutes of ordinary time.

First it was Lukaku, who came on as a substitute and pulled one back for Belgium in the 86th minute:

Then just minutes later Youri Tielemans somehow got to this ball into the box, and his header pulled Belgium level:

The match advanced to extra time, and in the second 15 minutes, it was again Tielemans calling for the ball in the box, only this time he was chopped down to the turf.

After a video review, a penalty was awarded. Tielemans stepped to the spot, buried his shot, and all but sent Belgium through to the Round of 16:

Moments later that was official, as the final whistle blew.

The Napoli midfielder earned his 123rd cap for Belgium against Senegal, and his moment of brilliance against New Zealand illustrates what the former Manchester City player is capable of:

That goal, coming days ahead of his 35th birthday, was his 38th international goal for Belgium. He was also a critical piece for Belgium during the team’s run to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, as he finished the tournament with a goal and a pair of assists.

The imposing striker, used as more of a super sub at this point in his career, can still impact a match. Coming off the bench against Egypt in Belgium’s opening match of group play, his side equalized mere seconds after he came onto the pitch, with his presence in front impacting the flow of play.

And it was his goal against Senegal late in the match that pulled Belgium back into the contest:

Lukaku appeared in just five matches for Napoli this past year, scoring once, but seems to be nearing full fitness at this point in the World Cup. And that comes at a dangerous time for the United States defenders.

The midfielder was a key part of Arsenal’s run to the Premier League title, as he scored six goals and added six assists during the EPL season. His brace against New Zealand was a big reason Belgium won the group, and this goal highlights his skill and quality:

Not only do you see the lovely touch and turn, but the reaction skills to play the ball to his foot off the deflection and finish are top notch.

The Real Madrid keeper remains one of the best to ever do it.

While Thibaut Courtois may retire from the international stage following this World Cup, he remains a hulking presence in goal, his 6’7 frame sending shivers down the spine of many a striker. Courtois won the Golden Glove at the 2018 World Cup, recording 27 saves while keeping three clean sheets over seven matches, and conceding just six times.

While he has battled injuries in recent years, including missing the entire 2023-24 season with a torn ACL, he has conceded just twice ahead of the Round of 16.

He also set a new national record in the match against New Zealand, as it was his 18th World Cup tie for Belgium.

The Manchester City forward has yet to score at the 2026 World Cup, with a pair of assists to his credit, and was subbed off the pitch in the second half against Senegal. Doku also missed the match against Iraq due to a respiratory infection, and did briefly return home to be with his wife Shireen as the couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Praise.

While he has yet to open his account in the 2026 World Cup, he remains a threat that the USMNT will have to monitor when he is on the pitch.

#United #States #play #World #Cup">Who does the United States play in the World Cup Round of 16?  The United States is moving on to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Folarin Balogun’s goal in the 45th minute proved to be enough, as the United States knocked off Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Wednesday night.So, what is up next for the United States at the World Cup?A match against Belgium, one of the top ten teams in the world prior to the start of the tournament. Belgium booked a spot in the Round of 16 with a dramatic, comeback win against Senegal, and now await the United States in the Round of 16.Here’s what you need to know about Belgium ahead of Monday’s matchup.Belgium’s run to the Round of 16Belgium accomplished something we have not seen since, well, the United States during the 2010 World Cup.Winning the group despite not winning either of their first two matches.After a pair of punchless performances in group play – a 1-1 draw with Egypt followed by a 0-0 draw with Iran, with the lone goal an own goal from Egyptian defender Mohamed Hany – Belgium clinched the top spot in Group G with a 5-1 victory over New Zealand, booking a match in the Round of 32 against Senegal.In that match against New Zealand a pair of goals from Leandro Trossard, the first in the 28th minute and the second in the 50th minute, were enough for Belgium to move on. But Rudi Garcia’s side added three more for good measure, as Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Saelemaekers, and Kevin De Bruyne all scored. De Bruyne’s strike, coming outside the box, was in particular a stunning moment.Then came the match against Senegal in the Round of 32, which almost mirrored Belgium’s run to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The first 85 minutes or so were all Senegal, as the African side built a 2-0 lead and looked to be moving on to the Round of 16 themselves.Everything then changed in the closing minutes of ordinary time.First it was Lukaku, who came on as a substitute and pulled one back for Belgium in the 86th minute:Then just minutes later Youri Tielemans somehow got to this ball into the box, and his header pulled Belgium level:The match advanced to extra time, and in the second 15 minutes, it was again Tielemans calling for the ball in the box, only this time he was chopped down to the turf.After a video review, a penalty was awarded. Tielemans stepped to the spot, buried his shot, and all but sent Belgium through to the Round of 16:Moments later that was official, as the final whistle blew.The Napoli midfielder earned his 123rd cap for Belgium against Senegal, and his moment of brilliance against New Zealand illustrates what the former Manchester City player is capable of:That goal, coming days ahead of his 35th birthday, was his 38th international goal for Belgium. He was also a critical piece for Belgium during the team’s run to a third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, as he finished the tournament with a goal and a pair of assists.The imposing striker, used as more of a super sub at this point in his career, can still impact a match. Coming off the bench against Egypt in Belgium’s opening match of group play, his side equalized mere seconds after he came onto the pitch, with his presence in front impacting the flow of play.And it was his goal against Senegal late in the match that pulled Belgium back into the contest:Lukaku appeared in just five matches for Napoli this past year, scoring once, but seems to be nearing full fitness at this point in the World Cup. And that comes at a dangerous time for the United States defenders.The midfielder was a key part of Arsenal’s run to the Premier League title, as he scored six goals and added six assists during the EPL season. His brace against New Zealand was a big reason Belgium won the group, and this goal highlights his skill and quality:Not only do you see the lovely touch and turn, but the reaction skills to play the ball to his foot off the deflection and finish are top notch.The Real Madrid keeper remains one of the best to ever do it.While Thibaut Courtois may retire from the international stage following this World Cup, he remains a hulking presence in goal, his 6’7 frame sending shivers down the spine of many a striker. Courtois won the Golden Glove at the 2018 World Cup, recording 27 saves while keeping three clean sheets over seven matches, and conceding just six times.While he has battled injuries in recent years, including missing the entire 2023-24 season with a torn ACL, he has conceded just twice ahead of the Round of 16.He also set a new national record in the match against New Zealand, as it was his 18th World Cup tie for Belgium.The Manchester City forward has yet to score at the 2026 World Cup, with a pair of assists to his credit, and was subbed off the pitch in the second half against Senegal. Doku also missed the match against Iraq due to a respiratory infection, and did briefly return home to be with his wife Shireen as the couple celebrated the birth of their first child, Praise.While he has yet to open his account in the 2026 World Cup, he remains a threat that the USMNT will have to monitor when he is on the pitch.  #United #States #play #World #Cup

For 90 minutes in Philadelphia, Haitians were home again.

Outside Lincoln Financial Field, vendors sold griot and patties from food trucks while Creole floated through the humid afternoon air. Families arrived wrapped in blue and red flags. Children who had never lived in Haiti knew every word of ‘La Dessalinienne’, the national anthem.

The team eventually lost to Brazil, but the result almost felt beside the point.

For a country that has endured political violence, earthquakes and humanitarian crises, simply returning to the World Cup had become a celebration of survival. Many of those in the stands had travelled not from Port-au-Prince but from Brooklyn, Miami, Boston and Montreal. They carried two homes with them: one they had left behind and one they had built in the United States of America.

The expanded 48-team World Cup has not just introduced new footballing nations, but also reunited immigrant communities scattered across North America. Every match has become a family reunion of sorts, with flags stored away for years reappearing.

Dallas, home to one of the largest and most active West African populations in the United States, welcomed the Ivory Coast team with the Abidjan Farot Welcome Party on the eve of its round-of-32 clash. “My son has never been to Abidjan or anywhere in Ivory Coast. So, I brought him here so that he could feel to be part of the nation. We are incredibly proud of our team who has connected us in this World Cup,” said N’Guessan, who had travelled from Atlanta with his four-year-old son and was frantically waving a ‘Welcome to Dallas’ sign as the likes of Amad Diallo and Yan Diamonde happily posed for selfies and signed autographs.

Tanya Marie surprised her mother, Chilemb Munung, with World Cup tickets to watch the Democratic Republic of Congo play Portugal at Houston Stadium. “To go to that and represent my country to be seen. It was just… I can’t even express to myself what I was feeling there, but it was like oh my God,” Chilemb said after the match.

For 90 minutes, football dissolved the distance between where these communities came from and where they live now.

But some supporters never reached the stadiums.

Many fans were denied visas, while teams and officials from countries such as Iran and Iraq faced entry complications. Iran spent much of the tournament preparing across the border in Tijuana before hopping over on matchdays because of complications in entering and staying in the United States. Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was sent home from Miami Airport even before the World Cup began, while Iraq player Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move ahead with ending Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria, opening the door to the loss of legal protection for thousands of people. The programme, introduced by Congress in 1990, has allowed people from countries facing war, political instability or natural disasters to remain in the United States.

For many Haitian supporters, the timing could hardly have been worse.

Days after their country had stood shoulder to shoulder with Brazil, families who had lived in the United States for many years were confronted with fresh uncertainty.

“The injustice of the justice system impacts over 375,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians who have been living in the United States for the past 3, 5, 10, 15 years. They are the people who came here in search of safety and protection due to extreme conditions that have plagued Haiti for a very long time since after the earthquake that happened in 2010, killing over 250,000 people and leaving the country in complete chaos,” said Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.

While the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 30 order blocking President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for children born to people in the United States illegally or temporarily offered reassurance to U.S.-born children, it did nothing to ease the uncertainty facing Haitian parents confronting the possible loss of Temporary Protected Status.

This World Cup has given the diaspora a rare public stage to celebrate where it comes from. Now, many within those same communities are being forced to defend their place in the country where they have built new lives.

Published on Jul 02, 2026

#FIFA #World #Cup #Flags #families #fragile #belonging">FIFA World Cup 2026: Flags, families and fragile belonging  For 90 minutes in Philadelphia, Haitians were home again.Outside Lincoln Financial Field, vendors sold griot and patties from food trucks while Creole floated through the humid afternoon air. Families arrived wrapped in blue and red flags. Children who had never lived in Haiti knew every word of ‘La Dessalinienne’, the national anthem.The team eventually lost to Brazil, but the result almost felt beside the point.For a country that has endured political violence, earthquakes and humanitarian crises, simply returning to the World Cup had become a celebration of survival. Many of those in the stands had travelled not from Port-au-Prince but from Brooklyn, Miami, Boston and Montreal. They carried two homes with them: one they had left behind and one they had built in the United States of America.The expanded 48-team World Cup has not just introduced new footballing nations, but also reunited immigrant communities scattered across North America. Every match has become a family reunion of sorts, with flags stored away for years reappearing.Dallas, home to one of the largest and most active West African populations in the United States, welcomed the Ivory Coast team with the Abidjan Farot Welcome Party on the eve of its round-of-32 clash. “My son has never been to Abidjan or anywhere in Ivory Coast. So, I brought him here so that he could feel to be part of the nation. We are incredibly proud of our team who has connected us in this World Cup,” said N’Guessan, who had travelled from Atlanta with his four-year-old son and was frantically waving a ‘Welcome to Dallas’ sign as the likes of Amad Diallo and Yan Diamonde happily posed for selfies and signed autographs.Tanya Marie surprised her mother, Chilemb Munung, with World Cup tickets to watch the Democratic Republic of Congo play Portugal at Houston Stadium. “To go to that and represent my country to be seen. It was just… I can’t even express to myself what I was feeling there, but it was like oh my God,” Chilemb said after the match.For 90 minutes, football dissolved the distance between where these communities came from and where they live now.But some supporters never reached the stadiums.Many fans were denied visas, while teams and officials from countries such as Iran and Iraq faced entry complications. Iran spent much of the tournament preparing across the border in Tijuana before hopping over on matchdays because of complications in entering and staying in the United States. Omar Artan, a referee from Somalia, was sent home from Miami Airport even before the World Cup began, while Iraq player Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to move ahead with ending Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and Syria, opening the door to the loss of legal protection for thousands of people. The programme, introduced by Congress in 1990, has allowed people from countries facing war, political instability or natural disasters to remain in the United States.For many Haitian supporters, the timing could hardly have been worse.Days after their country had stood shoulder to shoulder with Brazil, families who had lived in the United States for many years were confronted with fresh uncertainty.“The injustice of the justice system impacts over 375,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians who have been living in the United States for the past 3, 5, 10, 15 years. They are the people who came here in search of safety and protection due to extreme conditions that have plagued Haiti for a very long time since after the earthquake that happened in 2010, killing over 250,000 people and leaving the country in complete chaos,” said Guerline Jozef, executive director of the Haitian Bridge Alliance.While the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 30 order blocking President Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship for children born to people in the United States illegally or temporarily offered reassurance to U.S.-born children, it did nothing to ease the uncertainty facing Haitian parents confronting the possible loss of Temporary Protected Status.This World Cup has given the diaspora a rare public stage to celebrate where it comes from. Now, many within those same communities are being forced to defend their place in the country where they have built new lives.Published on Jul 02, 2026  #FIFA #World #Cup #Flags #families #fragile #belonging

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