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Minnesota United takes 1-0 series lead on Real Salt Lake

MLS: MLS Cup Playoffs-Round One-Minnesota United at Real Salt LakeOct 29, 2024; Sandy, Utah, USA; Minnesota United midfielder Joaquin Pereyra (26) and Real Salt Lake defender Justen Glad (15) battle for the ball in the second half in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at America First Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Dayne St. Clair made six saves during normal time and Minnesota United benefitted from two Real Salt Lake misses during a seven-kick penalty tiebreaker to secure Game 1 in their Western Conference playoff series following a 0-0 draw on Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah.

Salt Lake’s Justen Glad and Braian Ojeda both fired their attempts high, with Ojeda’s miss on RSL’s seventh attempt skimming off the top of the crossbar and sealing the Loons’ 1-0 lead in the series.

Sixth-seeded Minnesota will host Game 2 on Saturday night with the chance to advance to the Western Conference semifinals.

Zac MacMath made seven stops in normal time for RSL, which also played MNUFC to a 0-0 draw during their regular-season meeting in Utah earlier this month.

MacMath also denied Michael Boxall’s penalty — Minnesota’s third — to give RSL an advantage it immediately gave back when Glad fired high.

After an uneventful first half, the match sprung to life in the second, though it did not amount to either side taking the lead.

Robin Lod was the provider of the pass on the first two chances, with Kelvin Yeboah forcing MacMath into his first difficult stop in the 47th minute, and Carlos Harvey firing just wide from close range — but a tight angle — in the 49th.

On the other end, St. Clair denied Diego Luna and Cristian Arango in quick succession in the 52nd minute.

Nineteen minutes later, Yeboah got down the left side and spotted Tani Oluwaseyi on the other side of the box. But MacMath pounced off his line, spread his frame and managed to block Oluwaseyi’s effort with an outstretched arm.

Then in the 83rd, MacMath lunged to his left to deny Yeboah’s effort after a slaloming run, and he stood tall quickly enough to block Bongi Hlongwane’s rebound attempt.

In the 85th, St. Clair blocked Diogo Goncalves’ effort from close range with his outstretched right leg, and in second-half stoppage time he had sure hands to catch Arango’s header.

That helped Minnesota preserve its fifth clean sheet in its last six matches.

–Field Level Media

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Chiefs unveil renderings of new $3B stadium schedule to open in '31

The Kansas City Chiefs' new enclosed stadium is scheduled to open in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2031.The Kansas City Chiefs’ new enclosed stadium is scheduled to open in Kansas City, Kansas, in 2031.

Though the exact location of the Kansas City Chiefs’ new stadium in Kansas has not been finalized, the team on Wednesday revealed the first renderings of the $3 billion, fully enclosed dome set to open for the 2031 season.

Paying homage to Arrowhead Stadium, the team’s home since 1972, the dome will feature a symmetrical, curved exterior, including a scalloped upper deck in both end zones. It will also feature a ceiling of translucent ethylene tetrafluoroethylene panels and be surrounded by 20,000 parking spots.

The stadium will have 70,000 seats and fulfill the request of several season-ticket holders of amplifying crowd noise, club owner Clark Hunt said in a team statement. Arrowhead regained the Guinness world record in 2014 for loudest stadium at 142.2 decibels.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to build something that (improves) the gameday experience for every single fan,” Hunt said in the statement. “This new stadium will do just that. It’s spectacular. It honors the rich legacy of this franchise while setting a bold course for the future of Chiefs Kingdom.”

Hunt added that he and his family will commit $1 billion in additional development to the stadium and the mixed-use district, which includes the team’s new training facility. Kansas lawmakers voted unanimously in late December to allow for sales tax and revenue (STAR) bounds to be issued to cover up to $70% of the cost of the entire project.

“I’ve been thrilled with what I’ve seen,” Hunt said in late March. “It’s very, very exciting. Our fanbase is going to get an incredible stadium, something that’ll be iconic and serve the community well for a minimum of 30 years — and hopefully closer to 60.”

As for the location, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said the dome would be in Wyandotte County. The Chiefs have shown interest in having it built near the Kansas City Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, which is also near The Legends – a retail and entertainment district. That area also features Children’s Mercy Park, where the MLS club Sporting Kansas City calls home.

When the new dome opens, the Chiefs plan to bid to host their first Super Bowl, among other major sporting events, including the World Cup and College Football Playoff games.

“When the World Cup comes back (to America) in 25 or 30 years, the field will be designed so that we don’t have to do the work that we had to do to (expand the field’s width) on Arrowhead in order to host the World Cup,” Hunt said during the NFL draft. “We’ll plan on bidding on Final Fours, College Football Playoff games, bowl games and, of course, a Super Bowl. The construction of the stadium is going to coincide with the construction of several other new NFL buildings, so we are going to have some competition.

“I’ll make sure that the Chiefs and Kansas City put their best foot forward in that process.”

–Field Level Media

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Red Sox tie club mark with 15th straight win in DH opener vs. O's

Jul 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) hits a two run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin (5) hits a two run RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Ceddanne Rafaela homered, Jarren Duran drove in three runs and the Boston Red Sox tied a franchise record for consecutive victories with 15 by beating the visiting Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the first game of a split doubleheader Wednesday.

The Red Sox, who also won 15 straight during the 1946 season, haven’t lost since a 10-2 home setback against the Washington Nationals on July 1.

Boston starter Jake Bennett (6-3) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and struck out five. Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his 23rd save of 2026 and 390th overall, tying him for ninth on the all-time list with former Red Sox pitcher Dennis Eckersley.

Dean Kremer (1-3) gave up six runs on eight hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

Rafaela, Caleb Durbin and Willson Contreras each collected two hits for the Red Sox, who never trailed.

Baltimore received a solo home run from Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who had three hits and two RBIs.

Durbin’s two-run single and a two-run triple from Duran handed Boston a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

Baltimore made it 4-1 in the third, when Pete Alonso doubled and scored on Tyler O’Neill’s two-out double that Rafaela lost in the sun.

The Red Sox regained a four-run lead in the bottom of the third. Durbin scored on Duran’s sacrifice fly to make it a 5-1 contest.

Encarnacion-Strand’s home run came against Bennett in the fourth and cut Boston’s lead to 5-2. It was his second home run in as many games since being called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

Rafaela’s home run, his ninth of the season, extended Boston’s edge to 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth, but Encarnacion-Strand’s third hit of the game was an RBI single that drove in Coby Mayo and trimmed Boston’s advantage to 6-3 in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

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Guardians star 3B Jose Ramirez activated, batting second

Jun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn ImagesJun 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) celebrates after scoring during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

In a virtual tie atop the American League Central, the Cleveland Guardians received a major boost with the activation of star third baseman Jose Ramirez, who is in the starting lineup and batting second Wednesday against the visiting Minnesota Twins.

Ramirez, 33, a seven-time All-Star and six-time Silver Slugger, had been out since June 13 with a left hamate fracture. He underwent surgery three days later and was given a timetable of five to seven weeks. Wednesday marked five weeks and a day since the procedure.

In a corresponding move, outfielder Kahlil WIlson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus.

Without Ramirez, the Guardians went 15-15 but struggled offensively, ranking 28th in the majors in runs (121) and 26th in OPS (.690). In 72 games this season, the 14-year veteran is hitting .239 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, along with 18 doubles and 24 stolen bases.

In other injury news, Cleveland outfielder Angel Martinez began a rehab assignment on Friday after suffering a non-displaced left foot fracture the same day of Ramirez’s injury.

Martinez played seven innings in his third rehab game for Triple-A Akron on Tuesday and could be activated by this weekend, MLB.com reported. In 66 games this season for Cleveland, he has hit .239 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

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