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Spain routs Switzerland 5-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Aitana Bonmati scored twice as Spain routed Switzerland 5-1 on Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time. Spain responded emphatically to its 4-0 loss against Japan in its group-stage finale in a blowout against the Swiss in Auckland.Alba Redondo, Laia Codina and Jennifer Hermoso also scored in the win at Eden Park. Codina showed plenty of relief to score from close range after conceding an own goal in the first half. Spain coach Jorge Vilda made some big calls after his team was routed by Japan. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas was left on the bench and goalkeeper Cata Coll was picked for her full international debut. They were among five changes to his starting lineup, which paid off as his team produced a dominant performance. Switzerland was one of only three teams that didn’t concede a goal in the group stages, but was 4-1 down by halftime against Spain, which wore blue jerseys instead of i...

Goalkeeper on debut, Putellas benched for Spain’s 5-1 win over Switzerland at Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — Star playmaker Alexia Putellas came off the bench and goalkeeper Cata Coll made her full international debut on Saturday as Spain beat Switzerland 5-1 to reach the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.Coll, who was the only uncapped player in Spain’s roster, was a surprising replacement for Misa Rodriguez after Spain conceded four goals in a group-stage loss to Japan. Spain coach Jorge Vilda made five changes to his starting lineup for the round of 16 match in response. That included a first start of the tournament for center back Laia Codina, who had an own goal early before scoring just before halftime to give Spain a 4-1 lead.Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas had a 10-month layoff with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee and is still recovering. Spain coaches have managed her gametime so far over the last month.She went on in the 77th minute against Switzerland when the result was already beyond doubt.___ AP World C...

Rockies play the Cardinals after Jones’ 4-hit game

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

Colorado Rockies (43-66, fifth in the NL West) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (48-63, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Saturday, 7:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ty Blach (1-0, 4.22 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, nine strikeouts); Cardinals: Steven Matz (2-7, 4.06 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 87 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -240, Rockies +197; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies play the St. Louis Cardinals after Nolan Jones had four hits on Friday in a 9-4 win over the Cardinals.St. Louis is 24-32 at home and 48-63 overall. The Cardinals have the sixth-best team on-base percentage in MLB play at .330.Colorado has gone 18-36 on the road and 43-66 overall. The Rockies have the ninth-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .404.The teams meet Saturday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Paul Goldschmidt has 21 doubles, 18 home runs and 57 RBI while hitting .276 for the Cardinals. Lars Nootbaar is 14-for-35 with two doub...

Braves look to extend win streak, play the Cubs

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

Atlanta Braves (70-37, first in the NL East) vs. Chicago Cubs (56-54, third in the NL Central)Chicago; Saturday, 2:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Bryce Elder (8-2, 3.18 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 89 strikeouts); Cubs: Javier Assad (1-2, 3.24 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 40 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -151, Cubs +128; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves aim to keep their three-game win streak going when they visit the Chicago Cubs.Chicago has gone 30-28 in home games and 56-54 overall. The Cubs have a 47-8 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.Atlanta has a 33-17 record in road games and a 70-37 record overall. The Braves have the second-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .340.Saturday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Nico Hoerner has 21 doubles, four triples and eight home runs while hitting .279 for the Cubs. Ian Happ is 9-for-35 with three doubles and four home runs over the last 10 ga...

Reds look to end 4-game losing streak, take on the Nationals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

Washington Nationals (47-63, fifth in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (59-53, second in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Saturday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Joan Adon (0-0); Reds: Andrew Abbott (6-2, 2.35 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 71 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -224, Nationals +185; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds look to end a four-game slide when they play the Washington Nationals.Cincinnati has a 28-27 record at home and a 59-53 record overall. The Reds have a 46-12 record in games when they scored five or more runs.Washington is 25-29 in road games and 47-63 overall. The Nationals have the 10th-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .318.Saturday’s game is the sixth meeting between these teams this season. The Reds have a 4-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: TJ Friedl has 17 doubles, three triples and eight home runs for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz is 11-for-44 with a double, a triple and four home runs over th...

Drone attack on tanker shows Kyiv’s intent to hit Russian energy shipments

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

KYIV — An overnight naval drone attack against a Russian tanker in the Black Sea signals a potential new front in the Ukraine war, with Kyiv delivering its strongest message to date that it is willing to target Moscow’s all-important shipments of oil and fuel. The battle for supremacy in the Black Sea is ramping up fast, with massive implications for global energy and food security. The attack on the tanker off Crimea came only a day after another Ukrainian marine drone — a flat, arrowhead-shaped vessel packed with explosives — targeted a Russian naval base near the port of Novorossiysk, badly damaging a warship.“The tanker was damaged in the Kerch Strait during an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Russia’s state-run TASS news agency reported on Saturday. “The crew is safe, the Maritime Rescue Center informed us. The engine room was damaged. Two tugboats arrived at the scene of an emergency with a tanker in the Kerch Strait, the question of the ...

Red Sox farm report: Song returns to organization, Rafaela turning heads in Worcester, Bastardo shines

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

Another Red Sox Rule 5 Draft gamble has paid off; Noah Song is a member of the organization once again.There was considerable outrage when the Red Sox chose to leave Song unprotected from last December’s Rule 5 Draft, which led to the Philadelphia Phillies scooping him up. But as has been the case for much of the last few years, Chaim Bloom took the long view; the 26-year-old Song hadn’t pitched since 2019 due to his commitment to the U.S. Navy but per the Rule 5 requirements, the reigning National League pennant-winners would have to carry Song on the 26-man roster for the entire season. If not, he could be up for grabs before long.That’s exactly what happened. Song reported to Phillies spring training and began pitching again, but suffered a back strain before the season began, and ended up sidelined for most of the season.Song’s rehab assignment didn’t go well. Over 11 innings between games in A-ball, Double-A, and Triple-A, he struck out 16 batters,...

Pakistani police arrest former Prime Minister Imran Khan after court conviction

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police on Saturday arrested former Prime Minister Khan at his home in the eastern city of Lahore after a court convicted him in an asset concealment case and handed him down a three-year prison sentence. It’s the second time the popular opposition leader has been detained this year. The prison sentence could see Khan barred from politics as the law says people with a criminal conviction cannot hold or run for public office. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, condemned the ruling and said it will challenge the decision in a superior court.While a superior court can suspend the conviction, it’s the country’s election body that ultimately disqualifies Khan from politics. The Islamabad court issued the arrest warrant after convicting Khan. Police moved quickly to take the popular politician from his home to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, senior police officer Ali Nasir Rizvi said. It was not immediately clear where Khan was being taken to. Since hi...

South Korea presses on with World Scout Jamboree as heat forces thousands to leave early

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea is plowing ahead with the World Scout Jamboree, rejecting a call by the world scouting body to cut the event short as a punishing heat wave caused thousands of British and U.S. scouts to begin leaving the coastal campsite Saturday.Hundreds of participants have been treated for heat-related ailments since the jamboree began Wednesday at the coastal site in Buan as South Korea grapples with one of its hottest summers in years.Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a news conference that South Korea is determined to continue the event as planned through Aug. 12. He promised additional safety measures including more medical staff, air-conditioned vehicles and structures that provide shade. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol promised an “unlimited supply” of air-conditioned buses and refrigerator trucks to provide chilled water.Around 700 additional workers will be deployed to help maintain bathrooms and showers, which some participants have descr...

Niger’s junta rulers ask for help from Russian group Wagner as it faces military intervention threat

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 14:10:52 GMT

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s new military junta has asked for help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner as the deadline nears for it to release the country’s ousted president or face possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc, according to an analyst.The request came during a visit by one of the coup leaders, Gen. Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali, where he made contact with someone from Wagner, Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told The Associated Press. He said three Malian sources and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting first reported by France 24.“They need (Wagner) because they will become their guarantee to hold onto power,” he said, adding that the group is considering the request.Niger’s junta faces a Sunday deadline set by the regional bloc known as ECOWAS to release and reinstate the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has described himself as a hostage.Defense chiefs from ECOWAS members...