The Kansas City Royals used a whopping nine pitchers on Wednesday in their 1-0 shutout win over the Atlanta Braves in a 10-inning game.
This is only the second time in MLB history in which nine pitchers were used in a shutout win, with the Cleveland Guardians achieving the feat back in 2016 in another 10-inning game. The Royals tied the record on Wednesday. They are the first team to have a shutout game in which all the pitchers logged at least one inning each, Royals broadcaster Joel Goldberg reported.
Using nine pitchers was part of the strategic plan the Royals had to use on short notice after the team lost starting pitcher Kris Bubic for the rest of the season with a left rotator cuff strain. Royals manager Matt Quatraro planned to utilize the bullpen during Wednesday's game, and it worked out in their favor.
Angel Zerpa, normally a relief pitcher, started in the first inning and saw one batter in the second—the Braves had one hit on him. Jonathan Bowlen was next, pitching through the third and striking out three batters and walking one. John Schreiber came in for the fourth, striking out another three batters. Taylor Clarke entered for the fifth, striking out one, then Hunter Harvey came in for the sixth and had two hits on him. Steven Cruz was next, striking out one batter in the seventh. Lucas Erceg gave up one hit in the eighth. Carlos Estevez pitched the ninth. Then, finally, Sam Long threw two strikeouts and gave up one hit in the 10th inning.
Thankfully for the Royals pitching staff, Salvador Perez hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th to end the game.
The Royals bullpen is going to need to rest on Thursday before their three-game series against the Blue Jays starting on Friday.
Eddie Howe says there is “no chance” Newcastle will accept a draw as he plots a first Premier League derby victory over Sunderland in ten attempts.
Newcastle prepare for Tyne-Wear derby
The sides meet in the top flight for the first time since March 2016 on Sunday, when the Magpies will make the short trip to the Stadium of Light looking to end a wait for a win in the fixture which dates back to August 2011.
Head coach Howe and many of his players had a taste of what to expect in January last year when they went to Wearside and emerged with a 3-0 FA Cup third round success over the then Sky Bet Championship Black Cats, and he is conscious of the need for balance in their approach.
He said: “If you don’t get the arousal levels right, if you hype the players up too much, then you can go out and not perform because you’re over-thinking things, you’re not playing the game, you’re playing the atmosphere.
“You need cool heads, but you also need to have the fire in there. If the fire’s not there in this type of game, then you’re not going to perform either. It’s a balancing act of trying to get the players in the right frame of mind.”
Newcastle will arrive on Wearside on the back of a four-game unbeaten run in all competitions to face a Sunderland side who have confounded those who predicted they would go the way of many promoted sides and struggle to keep their heads above water.
Despite last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, Regis Le Bris’ men sit in ninth place in the table on 23 points – one more than their neighbours – after 15 games, and it would take a major collapse for them to slip into trouble.
However, asked if he would take a point, Howe, whose side drew 2-2 at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, replied swiftly:
He continued: “We prepare every game to win. This will be no different.
“We’ve got to get the preparation right in a very short period of time. That’s been a challenge we’ve had all season, and I think we’re doing okay at this moment in time.
“We know we can improve, there’s areas to get better in and we’ve got minimal training time to get those tweaks adjusted. But by kick-off, I can assure everybody that we’ll be ready.”
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Sunday’s game will be the first clash between Howe and Le Bris – Michael Beale was in charge at Sunderland for the FA Cup tie – but the Newcastle boss has been impressed by what the Frenchman has achieved since taking the helm in July last year.
He said: “I don’t know him and it’s my first time going up against him, but I think they’ve done well this season. I’ve been impressed by how they’ve played.”
If you've watched baseball before, chances are you've seen some pretty great double plays turned. The video below of a high school pitcher going all-out to get an unassisted double play might be the coolest ones you'll ever see.
Joaquin Durazo, who plays for a high school travel team in California called Bandits National, is the star of this story. First he chased down a foul pop up and made a sweet diving catch near the on-deck circle.
He then quickly got up and ran to home where he tagged out a runner who somehow thought he might be able to sneak in for a run.
Durazo taught him otherwise. Check this out:
The diving catch. The mindfulness to then think about the runner. The dive to tag him out. The kid really did it all on that play.
Nottingham Forest have now made contact to sign Everton’s James Garner, amid a new update on the midfielder’s future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Forest are looking to bolster their options in the engine room, amid widespread interest in Elliot Anderson, with Chelsea recently joining the race for the Englishman, who has managed to impress once again this season, despite his side sitting 19th in the Premier League table.
Anderson has also emerged as a regular starter for England, most recently putting in a solid showing as the Three Lions cruised past Serbia 2-0, completing 77 passes, while also winning seven duels, the joint-highest number of any player.
The Tricky Trees played a blinder by signing the 23-year-old from Newcastle United back in 2024, and they have now made an approach for another English midfielder…
Nottingham Forest make contact to sign James Garner
According to a report from Football Insider, Nottingham Forest have made contact over a deal for Everton midfielder Garner, who is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning his future at the Hill Dickinson Stadium is in doubt.
Forest have registered their interest in signing the 24-year-old, but there could be competition for his signature from Aston Villa, who have also made a move, while former club Newcastle United remain in the race.
The Merseysiders retain the option to extend the Englishman’s contract by an additional year, so they do not need to panic just yet, but they will be eager to tie him down soon, given that interest from elsewhere is now growing.
Sean Dyche knows the central midfielder well from their time working together on Merseyside, with the former Everton manager saying: “Jimmy Garner was terrific, he’s learning and improving. He’s just a good kid. He’s got that nice little edge about him that he’s a bit of a nark now and again, I like it.
“I think you need that as a footballer. The demands he places upon himself is very pleasing as he works very hard in training and I think he’s getting the rewards with his improvement.”
The Birkenhead-born midfielder has also performed well from a defensive point of view over the past year, even outperforming Anderson on some key metrics.
Average per 90 (past year)
James Garner
Elliot Anderson
Interceptions
1.35
1.02
Blocks
1.39
1.37
Clearances
2.24
2.01
Garner has been a key player for Everton this season, starting every match in the Premier League, which suggests he would be able to hit the ground running at Forest, so Dyche’s side should undoubtedly try and get a deal done this January.
Elliot Anderson makes decision on joining Man Utd Elliot Anderson makes Man Utd decision as INEOS ready £60m bid
Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson could be set for a major move in January.
حسم البرتغالي روبن أموريم، المدير الفني لفريق مانشستر يونايتد الإنجليزي، موقفه من عودة ماركوس راشفورد، الذي يلعب الآن في صفوف برشلونة الإسباني.
وغادر راشفورد مانشستر يونايتد في انتقالات الصيف بشهر يوليو الماضي، وانضم إلى برشلونة على سبيل الإعارة لنهاية الموسم الحالي، مع وجود خيار شراء في عقده.
وبدأ راشفورد العودة تدريجيًا إلى مستواه، في ظل حصوله على فرص للمشاركة مع برشلونة تحت قيادة المدرب الألماني هانز فليك.
راشفورد، إلى جانب إريك جارسيا، يعد اللاعب الوحيد الذي شارك في جميع المباريات، وثاني أكثر اللاعبين مشاركة من حيث عدد الدقائق، حيث خاض 16 مباراة مع برشلونة، سجل فيها ستة أهداف، وقدّم 9 تمريرات حاسمة.
ووفقًا لصحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية، نقلاً عن “مانشستر إيفيننج نيوز”، وقع اجتماع بين مالكي مانشستر يونايتد والمدرب روبن أموريم.
اقرأ أيضًا | برشلونة ينافس ثنائي الدوري الإنجليزي على صفقة إيونج
وفي الاجتماع، أوضحت الإدارة أنهم يعتمدون على راشفورد للموسم المقبل، لكن أموريم أوضح أنه لا يريد اللاعب الإنجليزي في فريقه تحت أي ظرف من الظروف.
وكان راشفورد قد غادر مانشستر يونايتد وانضم معارًا إلى أستون فيلا قبل انضمامه إلى برشلونة، بسبب خلافات مع أموريم.
ومن المرجح إذا أستمر راشفورد على نفس المستوى مع برشلونة وتطور أكثر، سيسعى النادي لتفعيل خيار الشراء، وقد يسعى ديكو المدير الرياضي لتخفيض قيمته التي تتراوح من 30 إلى 35 مليون يورو.
Gus Atkinson joins Jofra Archer, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton as alternative seam-bowling options in England’s 16-man squad
Matt Roller06-Jul-20254:11
Stokes: We weren’t able to deliver our skills when needed
England will consider making changes to their bowling attack after a gruelling workload in their 336-run defeat to India, and have added Gus Atkinson to the squad for Thursday’s third Test at Lord’s after time out following a hamstring injury.England’s three frontline seamers – Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes – have all bowled between 77 and 82 overs in the first two Tests of the series. Atkinson joins Jofra Archer, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton as the alternative seam-bowling options in the 16-man squad for Lord’s, and the tight turnaround between Tests could prompt changes.”It’s no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games, and we’ll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days,” Ben Stokes said. “With it being a quick turnaround, there probably will be a decision we have to make given how everyone does pull up after this game.”Related
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Archer has not played a Test match since February 2021, but bowled regularly during intervals at Edgbaston this week, and Brendon McCullum hinted he will make his comeback next week. “We’ll let this one settle, and when we get to [Lord’s] we’ll have a good think about it,” McCullum told the BBC’s .Asked about Archer’s availability, McCullum said, “He’s fit and ready to go. Obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now, so you’d anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up, and Jofra is one we’ll look at.”Stokes added, “Everyone’s in consideration for the game at Lord’s.”England’s margin of defeat – 336 runs – was their third-heaviest since Stokes took over as captain on a full-time basis, but he insisted that it will not affect them moving forwards. “We’ve obviously had some unbelievable wins and some bad defeats,” he said. “I feel I’m quite good – and the team is – at staying level throughout those ups and downs.”That is so important in a series where we knew coming in that it wasn’t going to be easy… We have to wipe this one under the carpet as quickly as we can, because Lord’s day one will be coming around pretty quickly. We will have one or two days to get the bodies right and recover, and all of a sudden, we will be out there flipping the coin.”He also played down the significance of England’s inability to take 20 wickets at Edgbaston. “You do have to appreciate how well India played with the bat,” Stokes said. “[They were] obviously pretty favourable conditions if someone got in; two of our lads showed that this week… You are allowed to let your opposition play well, and they definitely did that.”England squad for Lord’s Test against IndiaBen Stokes (capt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
England beat Wales 3-0 and Latvia 4-0 during the international break, but they did so without using a single current Manchester United player in the squad.
Long gone are the times when the Red Devils had some of the country’s best players, like Wayne Rooney or Sir Bobby Charlton, as they currently find themselves in a difficult period.
Rooney is, of course, a club legend for United, because of the statistics in the graphic above, and is an England legend, having been the top scorer in the country’s history with 53 goals, before Harry Kane obliterated his record, currently sitting on 76 goals.
There was technically a Man United attacker on the pitch in both of England’s games during the break, though, as Marcus Rashford came off the bench against Wales and Latvia.
The left-winger, who is currently on loan at Barcelona, has been a favourite under Thomas Tuchel and is competing with Anthony Gordon for a starting berth at the World Cup next year.
There may still be many fans wondering where it all went wrong for Rashford at Old Trafford, because he is still good enough to be playing for Barcelona and England.
Why Marcus Rashford is not playing for Man United
Beyond the obvious reason that he is currently out on loan, Rashford is not playing for Manchester United because there was a breakdown in his relationship with Ruben Amorim.
At the time of his move to Barcelona in the summer, the BBC’s Simon Stone wrote that there was ‘no possibility of Ruben Amorim’s arm being placed round his shoulders’ to bring him back into the fold at Old Trafford.
That came a few months after a very telling quote from the Portuguese boss. Shortly after Rashford left United to sign for Aston Villa on loan in January, Amorim said: “What I say is I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it.”
In December, prior to his first loan move away from the club, Sky Sports wrote that Amorim had been ‘unimpressed with Rashford’s application at the training ground and his general demeanour’.
Putting all of these pieces of information together, it appears as though Rashford and Amorim reached a point of no return, and it was not because of the forward’s quality.
Appearances
10
xG
1.81
Goals
3
Key passes
18
Big chances created
3
Assists
4
Completed dribbles
12
As you can see in the table above, the England international has delivered seven goal contributions in ten matches for Barcelona since his move to the Spanish giants in the summer.
Rashford, who scored a stunning goal against Newcastle United in the Champions League, has the quality to be a terrific performer off the left through or through the middle, as further evidenced by his 138-goal haul for United, per Transfermarkt.
However, his approach to training and matches, at times, clearly was not good enough for what Amorim wants from his players, hence why he has been sent on loan twice in 2025.
The Red Devils may now be wary that they have recruited another player in his position who has the potential to follow in his footsteps, in both a positive and negative sense.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
INEOS splashed out a fee of £62.5m to sign attacking midfielder Matheus Cunha from fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers for Manchester United this summer.
Why Matheus Cunha may be the next Marcus Rashford
There is no doubt that the Brazil international is an incredibly talented attacker who has the potential to deliver some magical moments in front of the Old Trafford crowd.
Wolverhampton Wanderers'MatheusCunhacelebrates
Cunha scored 31 goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, per Sofascore, in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns combined for Wolves, which shows that he has proven himself as both a scorer and a creator in English football.
The Brazilian star, who journalist Samuel Luckhurst claimed has a “maverick swagger” about him, scored 15 goals and created 13 ‘big chances’ for Wolves in the Premier League last season, per Sofascore.
However, like Rashford, Cunha’s temperament has been called into question at times. For example, in January when he seemingly failed to acknowledge supporters after a 3-1 loss to Chelsea.
Manager Vitor Pereira commented on the situation, saying: “I don’t like this body language. I want someone, as a captain, trying to help the team – running, suffering and fighting all together. But this is something I can understand. Next time, I won’t understand.”
Pundit Clinton Morrison also claimed that “lack of professionalism” led to him missing six matches through suspension last season, one for an incident involving an Ipswich member of staff and another for one with Bournemouth left-back Milos Kerkez.
There has been nothing to suggest that his attitude, professionalism, or application has been an issue for him at Manchester United so far, but his form on the pitch has been a concern.
Appearances
6
Starts
4
xG
1.31
Goals
0
Key passes per game
0.7
Big chances created
0
Assists
0
As you can see in the table above, Cunha has failed to deliver in the Premier League for the Red Devils so far this season, with no goals, no ‘big chances’ created, and no assists in six appearances.
His record for Wolves suggests that goals and assists will eventually flow for the Brazil international, but the concern may be that he could follow in Rashford’s footsteps if his performances do not improve.
The England international eventually moved on from Old Trafford, albeit on loan, after a return of just 11 goals in his last 48 Premier League matches for the club, per Transfermarkt, as his performances on the pitch did not make up for his application issues.
INEOS and Amorim will hope that the question marks over Cunha’s professionalism and application from his time at Wolves do not follow over to his time in Manchester if his performances in front of goal do not improve in the coming weeks.
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Cunha can look to Rashford, potentially, as an example of what not to do and, hopefully, knuckle down and improve his form without any of the baggage that the English forward brought with him under Amorim.
Harry Kane has warned domestic and international rivals that there is "more to come" from him after reaching 400 goals at club level. The prolific Bayern Munich and England striker hit that notable milestone when netting in a Klassiker clash with Borussia Dortmund. He has shared his pride at achieving a quadruple century, with there no sign of the 32-year-old slowing down any time soon.
Goal breakdown: How Kane reached 400 efforts at club level
Kane has been in red-hot form for club and country this season, finding the target on 21 occasions through 12 appearances. He has passed 100 efforts in total for Bayern, as he ticks over at close to one a game there, and has taken his record-shattering tally of strikes for the Three Lions to 76.
A standing among the greatest No.9s to have ever played the game is being cemented, with the potential there for Kane to continue rewriting the history books. His haul of 400 club goals has been recorded through 607 appearances. He has plundered 280 for Tottenham, 104 for Bayern, nine for Millwall, five for Leyton Orient and two for Leicester.
Kane posted on social media are hitting another landmark in his remarkable career: "So proud to have reached 400 club goals! Too many people and team-mates to thank who have helped me get to that number but couldn’t have done it without everyone along the way. More to come!!"
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Purple patch: Kane explains his red-hot form
Kane has changed his game slightly with age and experience, as he is happy to drop deep in order to see more of the ball. His passing ability can be put to good use in a No.10 post, but his priority will always be to register as many goals as possible.
Kane told Sky Sport Deutschland after helping Bayern to a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Dortmund: "Of course, I'm still there to score goals and help the team. But I also dropped a little deeper with the ball, defended my own penalty area without the ball, and picked up second balls to find my team-mates behind the opposing line with long balls. There were a lot of good things there, and I feel good physically."
He added when asked to explain his stunning form at the start of the 2025-26 campaign: "I'm confident about my game overall. I always look forward to a match – knowing how we want to play and how we work together. There's a special bond within the team. Everyone always gives their all. And that's a valuable asset."
No slowing down: Kane covers every blade of grass
Bayern boss Vincent Kompany said of seeing Kane put in another energetic display against BVB that saw him cover every blade of grass: "It was another complete performance by him. Of course with his goal, he is and stays Harry Kane. But also in the build-up, in defending, tackling. A very complete performance. The other guys also did very well and spent a lot of energy, but Harry is in a very good phase at the moment. We're all enjoying it."
Club colleague Konrad Laimer went on to say of getting to watch Kane in action on a daily basis, with his ability to deliver when it matters most marking him out as one of the best: "He's everything. That's exactly how you can sum it up. He's everywhere on the pitch. He's not above tackling in front of his own goal and blocking a shot, or turning around somewhere, or scoring a goal."
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World Cup & Champions League: Next targets for Kane
Kane has helped to fire England to the 2026 World Cup, with that competition set to be entered as captain of the Three Lions. He will hope to reach said event in peak condition and with the goals continuing to flow.
His next outing will be a Champions League one, with Bayern preparing to play host to Club Brugge on Tuesday. Having opened his trophy account with the Bundesliga title in 2024-25, Kane is determined to get his hands on the most prestigious of European honours.
Popular on-demand delivery service DoorDash has agreed on a strategic multi-year partnership with the Mexican Football Federation as it looks to expand its presence in soccer in the United States. The company will have an expansive presence at Mexican national team matches, with in-stadium ads, fan experiences and exclusive hospitality tickets.
Getty ImagesPartnership launch
The partnership launched Tuesday, promoted in a video featuring world-famous boxer Canelo Álvarez and Mexican legend Miguel Layún. DoorDash will have a strong presence at Mexico's friendly with Colombia on Oct. 11, including a one-of-a-kind BagMobile activation at the pregame fan fest, Futbol Fiesta, at AT&T Stadium outside of Dallas.
AdvertisementDoorDash'Make every match unforgettable'
DoorDash has long had an influence in soccer in the United States, and is a current partner of MLS and LAFC. The company will now be the official on-demand delivery partner of both the Mexican men’s and women’s national teams in the U.S.
DoorDash will be front and center at both MexTour and MexTour W with high-visibility LEDs and in-stadium displays. The brand will also launch a customized fan promotion activated following Mexican men’s national team victories, starting in 2026.
Now in its 22nd edition, MexTour has featured marquee matches against top opponents at world-class venues, with several U.S. stadiums scheduled to host the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup matches. Supporters have responded with an average attendance of nearly 50,000 per match in the last decade, and MexTour and MexTour W matches will offer soccer fans the chance to enjoy live events, exclusive content, and engaging experiences.
“We are thrilled to welcome DoorDash as a new partner of the Mexican national teams,” said Jen Cramer, Soccer United Marketing executive vice president of partnership marketing. “Their passion for creating unexpected moments of magic align perfectly with the energy of the brand and its fans. Together we will deliver experiences that will bring the soccer community together and make every match unforgettable.”
Getty ImagesMexTour builds World Cup excitement
El Tri routinely play friendlies in America during international breaks, and have packaged those into the MexTour – an umbrella brand that encapsulates men's and women's soccer in high profile matches.
The agreement comes as the Mexican soccer teams look to further expand their presence in the United States. The Men's national team enjoyed a strong summer, winning the Gold Cup with a victory over the USMNT. Mexico, along with the U.S. and Canada, is co-host of next year's World Cup, with the tournament's opening game to be held at the revamped Estadio Azteca.
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Getty Images'Richness of Mexican culture'
The agreement strengthens the ties among fans watching from home. Mexican supporters have long been among the most passionate in world soccer, on display by an estimated viewership of 65 million across two friendlies last April.
"MexTour and MexTour W are cultural touchpoints for millions of fans, and we’re proud to partner with the Mexican national teams in the U.S. as we continue to strengthen DoorDash’s presence amongst the most passionate fans the sport has to offer,” said Ariel Gambardella, head of brand partnerships. “This partnership allows us to celebrate the richness of Mexican culture, connect with communities through the universal language of soccer, and create memorable experiences that go beyond the pitch.”
حقق ريال مدريد فوزاً بشق الأنفس امام خيتافي على ملعب كوليسيوم ألفونسو بيريز بهدف نظيف، في إطار منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.
ونشرت صحيفة “أوليه” الأرجنتينية ان فرانكو ماستانتونو والذي عاد لريال مدريد بعد غيابه عن جولة منتخب الأرجنتين لإصابة عضلية، قد دخل في جدال مع أحد زملائه حول تنفيذ ركلة حرة.
وقد أتيحت فرصة لفريق ريال مدريد بتنفيذ ركلة حرة في الدقيقة الأخيرة من الشوط الأول على بعد خمس أمتار تقريباً من خط المرمى، ورغم تضاءل فرصة التسجيل من هذه المنطقة، إلا أن ديفيد ألابا المدافع النمساوي المخضرم اندفع بقوة نحو المرمى مسيطرًا على الكرة.
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ولم يهتم فرانكو ماستانتونو الموهوب الأرجنتيني لذلك، حيث اقترب من النمساوي ليطلب الكرة ودخل في جدال حاد مع المدافع المخضرم صاحب الـ33 عاماً، وقد تراشق الثنائي بالألفاظ قبل أن ينجح ألابا في السيطرة على الكرة الثابتة.
وقد اضطر إيدير ميليتاو إلى التدخل بين الطرفين وأبعد ماستانتونو خارج الملعب، وقد خرج غاضباً حيث كان يوجه الشتائم ويتبادل الكلمات مع المدافع البرازيلي.
وسدد ألابا بعد ذلك تسديدة قوية بقدمه اليسرى تصدى لها حارس مرمى خيتافي ديفيد سوريا، وتم استبدال النمساوي في الشوط الثاني ليدخل بدلاً منه راؤول أسينسيو.