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Improving Minnesota United aim to snag win at Crew

MLS: US Open-Minnesota United at San Jose EarthquakesApr 28, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Minnesota United FC goalkeeper Drake Callender (12) kicks the ball back into play during the second half against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Despite a pair of losses, Minnesota United coach Cameron Knowles is optimistic about grabbing a historic win at the Columbus Crew on Saturday.

Minnesota United seek their first win in Columbus since joining the league in 2017, but due to quirks in the schedule they have played there only twice — losses in 2018 and 2020 — and have not played in the Crew’s current stadium since it opened in 2021.

The Loons (5-3-2, 17 points) had a four-match MLS winning streak snapped in a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on April 25, followed by a 4-2 defeat in the U.S. Open Cup at San Jose on Tuesday despite leading the Earthquakes 2-1 in the second half.

It so happens San Jose and LAFC are ranked first and fourth, respectively, in the overall league standings and Knowles sees positives despite the setbacks.

“The guys can take a lot a pride in knowing we can compete against any team in this league anywhere,” he said. “We should take so much confidence in our ability to go into some really difficult environments and to play difficult teams and know that we can compete against all of them.”

While the Crew (3-4-3, 12 points) don’t match the quality of San Jose or LAFC in terms of points, they have finally found their footing under first-year coach Henrik Rydstrom with two consecutive wins in MLS play and a 5-1-1 record in their past seven matches in all competitions.

They are getting results despite losing leading scorer Wessam Abou Ali (five goals) to a season-ending knee injury April 12.

Rydstrom is looking for midfielder Hugo Picard to be among those contributing. Picard had two goals apiece in Open Cup wins against lower-tier clubs Richmond and Knoxville this season but has yet to score in 18 career MLS matches.

“What I really like is that he challenges his opponent,” Rydstrom said. “He missed some situations in the beginning (against Knoxville), but he just keeps going. For him, now it’s to take that step into the MLS because he’s so good, he can do it no matter the opponent.”

The match will be a homecoming for Minnesota’s Wil Trapp. The Columbus native played for the Crew from 2013 to 2019 and was the captain his final three seasons.

–Field Level Media

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Cardinals continue hot stretch with shutout of Cubs

Jul 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) delivers the ball during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesJul 4, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle Leahy (62) delivers the ball during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

JJ Wetherholt hit a home run and reached base four times as the visiting St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on Saturday.

The rookie homered in the first, walked in the third, doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh as the Cardinals picked up their fifth win in six games. St. Louis goes for the sweep Sunday.

Cardinals starter Kyle Leahy (7-4) gave up three hits in five shutout innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six in 77 pitches.

Riley O’Brien picked up his 22nd save with a scoreless ninth.

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (5-7) gave up four hits and two runs in four 2/3 innings. The southpaw walked three and had eight strikeouts over 86 pitches.

The game was delayed an hour at the start because of rain. In the fifth inning, fog rolled into Wrigley Field and by the sixth inning players were complaining they could not see the ball.

The game was delayed 15 minutes while the fog lifted.

Wetherholt wasted little time putting the Cardinals out in front as he drove the first pitch of the game over the left-field fence.

St. Louis scored again in the third when Nathan Church and Wetherholt walked to lead off the inning. Ivan Herrera gave the Cardinals a two-run lead by singling in Church.

The Cubs had chances to score in the third and fifth innings, but struggling Alex Bregman failed to deliver in both innings.

Michael Conforto singled to lead off the third and went to second when Pete Crow-Armstrong walked with two outs. Bregman, however, grounded into a fielder’s choice at third to end the threat.

Conforto also led off the fifth with a single and went to second when Crow-Armstrong was hit by a pitch with two outs. Bregman popped out to first base to keep the Cubs scoreless.

The Cubs were 0-for-15 with men on base. After scoring 35 runs in a three-game sweep of the Padres, the Cubs have scored just once in two games against St. Louis.

The Cardinals added an insurance run in the eighth when Jordan Walker led off with a double and Alec Burleson singled him in.

–Field Level Media

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Sonny Gray, Red Sox hand Angels fifth straight loss

Jun 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn ImagesJun 23, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Sonny Gray allowed a run and four hits in six innings and Willson Contreras and Romy Gonzalez hit home runs as the Boston Red Sox routed the Los Angeles Angels 8-1 on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.

Wilyer Abreu added two RBIs and scored two runs for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the series.

Josh Lowe homered for the Angels, who lost their fifth in a row.

Gray (10-1, 2.61 ERA) walked two and struck out seven. Neither he nor Contreras (19 HR, 56 RBI, .285 batting average, .914 OPS) were among the All-Star Game participants announced earlier in the day.

Los Angeles starter Sam Aldegheri (3-4) gave up three runs and one hit in four innings with four walks and two strikeouts.

Contreras’ three-run homer in the first inning gave Boston a 3-0 lead.

He belted Aldegheri’s 2-1 changeup an estimated 421 feet into the left field stands. Anthony Seigler and Abreu, who had both walked, scored ahead of Contreras.

Lowe’s solo homer in the second put the Angels on the board and made it 3-1. He drove Gray’s first-pitch cutter high over the center field fence an estimated 437 feet. It was Lowe’s seventh homer of the season.

Los Angeles had runners on first and second with one out later in the inning, but Gray struck out Donovan Walton and Tyler Heineman.

Boston put the game out of reach with four runs in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. Abreu hit a two-run double and Gonzalez lofted a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left for his first home run.

All four runs came off of reliever Samy Natera Jr.

Ceddanne Rafaela doubled in a run in the eighth for the final margin.

Relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman and starter Ranger Suarez were selected for the All-Star Game for Boston and Los Angeles outfielder Mike Trout, who is on the injured list with a hamstring injury, was picked as a starter for the game in Philadelphia on July 14.

–Field Level Media

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Sandy Alcantara, Otto Lopez lead Marlins past struggling A's

Jul 4, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn ImagesJul 4, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) throws a pitch against the Athletics during the first inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Otto Lopez celebrated being named to his first career All-Star Game by going 3-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs to help the Miami Marlins record a 7-2 victory over the Athletics on Saturday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Kyle Stowers added a two-run shot and Joe Mack had a solo blast for the Marlins, who have scored 19 runs while winning the first two games of the series. Liam Hicks had three hits and scored twice, while Stowers and Mack each had two hits for Miami.

Sandy Alcantara (10-4) allowed one run and six hits over eight innings to record his seventh consecutive victory. He struck out eight and walked one.

Carlos Cortes, Henry Bolte and Joshua Kuroda-Grauer each had two hits for the Athletics, who lost for the 10th time in the past 13 games.

Aaron Civale (5-6) of the Athletics gave up four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked two while losing his fifth straight start and remaining winless over his past six turns.

Mack led off the third inning with a homer to right off Civale to get the Marlins on the board.

One out later, Hicks singled to left. Lopez came up with two outs and lined a two-run shot that narrowly cleared the left-field wall.

Javier Sanoja doubled to lead off the Miami fifth. Two outs later, Lopez stroked an RBI double to left to make it 4-0.

Hicks singled with one out in the seventh off Kade Morris. Stowers followed with a two-run shot over the wall in left to make it a six-run game. Stowers has three homers in the first two games of the series.

The Athletics struck in the seventh as Bolte and Kuroda-Grauer hit back-to-back singles. Jeff McNeil’s sacrifice fly scored Bolte to end Alcantara’s shutout bid.

Stowers, Lopez and Xavier Edwards all singled to start the ninth to make it 7-1.

Carlos Cortes doubled off Tyler Zuber to start the bottom of the ninth. He scored when Bolte reached on an infield single and the ensuing throw by Lopez was wide of first.

–Field Level Media

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