KANSAS CITY--Julio Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs, leading the Seattle Mariners' come-from-behind win over the host Kansas City Royals 6-4 on Thursday afternoon. In the eighth inning, Rodriguez blasted reliever Carlos Hernandez's (1-8) first pitch 438 feet beyond the left-field bullpen for a three-run home run, his 20th, giving the Mariners a 5-4 lead. Rodriguez opened the scoring with a two-out RBI hit in the second inning, and also broke a 1-all tie with a sixth-inning double. His five hits set a career high and his five RBIs matched another career best. Rodriguez went 12-for-21 with 11 RBIs during the four games in Kansas City. Cal Raleigh's pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth capped the scoring as the Mariners took three of four games to win the series. Seattle has won 11 of 14. Kansas City's Nelson Velazquez tied the game with a two-out solo shot in the fourth, his high drive to center field barely clearing Rodriguez's leaping grasp. It was the fourth home run for Velazquez in his last six games, and it broke a string of 16 scoreless frames by Mariners starter George Kirby. Kirby allowed four runs on eight hits in six innings, striking out two. Isaiah Campbell (3-0) allowed one hit in an inning of relief, while Matt Brash earned his fourth save -- and second in two days -- with a perfect ninth. Kansas City took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth as five consecutive hitters reached safely. Michael Massey's RBI single tied the game 2-2 before MJ Melendez delivered an RBI double and Freddy Fermin added a sacrifice fly. Over four innings, Royals starter Angel Zerpa allowed a run on five hits, two walks and two hit batters, striking out six. The Mariners had multiple baserunners in five of the first six innings, but they left eight on base while batting 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position before Rodriguez's RBI double in the sixth. Maikel Garcia's hitting streak ended at 18 games, a club record for rookies, as the Royals have lost nine of 12.
ATHENS- - Manchester City held their nerve to beat Sevilla 5-4 on penalties and win the UEFA Super Cup for the first time in their history after an enthralling game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Sloane Stephens (USA)hits a forehand on her way to the next round of play. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports.)
CINCINNATI--Venus Williams upset 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, as her unseeded American compatriot Sloane Stephens overcame a sluggish start to beat Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5 6-2.
Sweden's Kosovare Asllani in action with Spain's Olga Carmona during their Women’s World Cup Semi Final at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand.
AUCKLAND-- Olga Carmona struck late to lift Spain to a thrilling 2-1 semi-final win over Sweden on Tuesday and send the Iberians into a first Women's World Cup decideras the tournament signed off in New Zealand with a flurry of goals. Wearing the captain's armband, Carmona's 90th-minute strike from the edge of the area pinged off the crossbar and into the net two minutes after Rebecka Blomqvist had levelled the match for Sweden in front of a baying crowd of 43,217 at Eden Park.
Teenager Salma Paralluelo, Spain's quarter-final hero against the Netherlands, produced magic off the bench again, putting her side in front in the 81st minute and breathing life into what had been a slow-burning, cagey affair. Less than a year after a player revolt against coach Jorge Vilda tore the squad apart, 'La Roja' will have the chance to lift the trophy in Sydney on Sunday when they face co-hosts Australia or England in the decider. "We're extremely happy. If you go to the dressing room now, it’s incredible how they’re celebrating," Vilda told reporters. "We have the final in front of us, we’re going to Sydney tomorrow and we want to win." Peter Gerhardsson's Sweden bow out after another defeat at the penultimate hurdle, having made the semi-finals in France four years ago and at last year's European Championship. "It felt like a punch in the stomach when they managed to take the lead again straight away. There are no words," Sweden defender Magdalena Eriksson told Swedish radio. Fifteen Spain players had threatened to quit last year if Vilda was not moved on, but on Tuesday his decision to replace playmaker Alexia Putellas with Paralluelo before the hour mark proved decisive as the team beat Sweden for the first time at their 12th attempt. Joy To Despair In a match-up of Iberian attacking flair and Swedish defensive resilience, Spain were the livelier side early on but had nothing to show for it. Full back Carmona blazed just wide with a low, long-range effort in the 14th minute and midfield dynamo Aitana Bonmati thrashed a wild shot past the same right post from the edge of the area.
However, Sweden finished the half ascendant with a typical salvo of set-piece pressure. A few minutes from the break, Spain were dealt a fright as Nathalie Bjorn chested the ball down and crossed to an unmarked Fridolina Rolfo in the area. But the Sweden winger's volley was well covered by keeper Cata Coll. Sweden kept up the heat after the break but Paralluelo, named player of the match, wrested back the momentum for the Spaniards. She came close to breaking the deadlock in the 70th minute when she kept the ball alive with a cut-back pass to Alba Redondo in close. Slumped on the turf, Redondo swung a leg out but could only put her shot into the side netting. Eleven minutes later Paralluelo pounced again on a poor clearance, thumping home into the right corner to send Spanish fans into delirium. "It was a magic moment once again," said the 19-year-old, who scored in the 111th minute to dump the Netherlands out of the tournament.
"To be able to repeat this is really incredible." It looked all over for Sweden as regulation time dwindled but Lina Hurtig headed down to an unmarked Blomqvist, who volleyed home from close range. The Swedes' joy quickly turned to despair when Carmona took the ball from a corner, took a few paces forward and unleashed a fierce strike that keeper Zecira Musovic tipped onto the underside of the bar. The ball bounced down over the line, giving Spain a chance to create more history at their breakout World Cup. Sweden boss Gerhardsson was left to rue the cruel, late twist. "I think everyone just feels sadness and huge disappointment," he said. "We felt this enormous joy and elation that maybe we can bring this to extra time. Then it turned again." Host nation New Zealand bid a fond farewell to the tournament, having generated a total attendance of more than 700,000 people in 29 matches across four cities.
BRISBANE-- Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the last four of the Women's World Cup for the first time after their quarter-final finished deadlocked at 0-0 following extra time on Saturday.
