NEW YORK (AP) — Billy McKinney hit a three-run homer and made two key catches in center field as the New York Yankees got a much-needed win, beating the Kansas City Royals 5-4. Franchy Cordero homered for the second straight game and Gleyber Torres also went deep for the Yankees, who stopped a four-game slide and won for only the third time in 12 games since July 4. Torres extended his hitting streak to 11 games. The Yankees hit three homers for the fourth time since Aaron Judge tore a ligament in his right big toe crashing into the wall at Dodger Stadium on June 3. New York improved to 16-22 without the slugger, who took batting practice on the field before the victory.
CHICAGO (AP) — Cody Bellinger hit a two-run homer, and the Chicago Cubs stopped St. Louis’ six-game win streak with a 4-3 victory over the Cardinals. Bellinger capped Chicago’s four-run third inning with a 400-foot drive to right against Jack Flaherty. He finished with three hits in another strong performance at the plate. Bellinger, a possible trade target ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, is 10 for 20 in his last five games. All-Star left-hander Justin Steele struck out a season-high nine in 6 1/3 innings for Chicago, bouncing back from a lackluster performance against Boston.
MIAMI (AP) — Colorado Rockies starter Peter Lambert mostly lost the last three seasons due to Tommy John surgery. On Friday night, Lambert looked like the promising prospect he once was, pitching five shutout innings in the Rockies’ 6-1 victory over the Miami Marlins, who dropped their seventh straight since the All-Star break. Lambert (2-1) struck out three while giving up three hits and a walk, returning from a three-week stint in the minors aimed at converting him back into a starter after struggling as a reliever. The 26-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA from 6.28 to 5.49.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s future has been the talk of baseball all year long, and the forecast isn’t much clearer as the Los Angeles Angels reach the last 10 days before the MLB trade deadline. Ohtani is in the final year of his contract before unrestricted free agency, and the Angels must decide whether to trade their generational superstar for a probable motherlode or to risk the possibility of losing him for practically nothing in the winter. Ohtani said he has no assurances he won’t be traded, and he didn’t acknowledge any discussions about a contract extension.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs believe Arrowhead Stadium remains structurally sound and prefer to renovate their famous facility in the coming years. That preference, which was relayed by Chiefs president Mark Donovan, comes as the neighboring Royals appear set to build a new ballpark elsewhere. The teams have shared the Truman Sports Complex since the early 1970s, and their current lease that paid for massive renovations to both of their stadiums expires in January 2031. Also complicating the decision for the Chiefs is the fact that Arrowhead Stadium is due to host World Cup games in 2026.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Sophia Smith scored twice for the United States in the opening half and the two-time defending champions kicked off the Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 victory over tournament first-timers Vietnam on Saturday. Lindsey Horan added a goal for the favored Americans, who have won four World Cups overall and are vying for an unprecedented three-peat at the tournament co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Vietnam drew comparisons to the Americans’ opponent in the 2019 World Cup opener, Thailand, which the U.S. thumped 13-0. But Vietnam was surprisingly resilient and kept the game as close as possible.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Sophia Smith is among 14 players on the U.S. national team who are playing in their first Women’s World Cup. She made a splash with a pair of goals and an assist in the Americans’ 3-0 victory over Vietnam to open the tournament. Smith has had a quick rise on the international stage after missing out on the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics. She rebounded from the disappointment and was named last year's U.S. Soccer Player of the Year and the MVP of the National Women's Soccer League.
HOYLAKE, England (AP) — Brian Harman is in the hunt for his first major championship. He shot a 65 to match the lowest score in a British Open at Royal Liverpool. His 36-hole score of 132 matches the record of Tiger Woods in 2006 and Rory McIlroy in 2014. They both went on to win. Harman has a five-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood going into the weekend. The forecast is for rain on Saturday. Sepp Straka was six behind. Rory McIlroy shot a 70 and was nine shots behind. It's only the second time after any round in a major that Harman has had the lead.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers might be sticking around with the New York Jets a bit longer than many first thought. The 39-year-old quarterback has not committed to playing football beyond this season but he has strongly hinted several times his first season with the Jets won’t be his last. Rodgers reiterated that sentiment Friday during an appearance on the “DiPietro & Rothenberg” show on ESPN Radio in New York when he said it would be a disservice to play just one year for the Jets after how much they gave up to acquire him. Coach Robert Saleh said it would be shocking if Rodgers doesn't play multiple seasons.
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Josh Harris and his ownership group offer Washington a chance at a fresh start. Few football towns have ever needed one more. It was a cathartic scene at FedEx Field on Friday when Harris was introduced as the Commanders' new owner. Afterward he took the stage at a pep rally, and fans started chanting, “Thank you Josh!” NFL owners approved the sale of the Commanders on Thursday to a group led by Harris. The once-proud franchise was one of the most dysfunctional in sports under owner Dan Snyder. Snyder and his wife, Tanya, issued a statement congratulating Harris and thanking fans.
FRIDAY SCORES
INTERLEAGUE
N-Y Mets at Boston 2:10 p.m. (Suspended)
Final San Diego 5 Detroit 4
Final Cleveland 6 Philadelphia 5
Final L.A. Dodgers 11 Texas 5
Final L.A. Angels 8 Pittsburgh 5
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final Tampa Bay 3 Baltimore 0
Final N.Y. Yankees 5 Kansas City 4
Final Minnesota 9 Chicago White Sox 4
Final Houston 6 Oakland 4
Final Seattle 3 Toronto 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Chicago Cubs 4 St. Louis 3
Final Colorado 6 Miami 1
Final Washington 5 San Francisco 3
Final Cincinnati 9 Arizona 6
Final Atlanta 6 Milwaukee 4