July 10, 2026 4:30 am
U.S. star Christian Pulisic fractured his right leg during the Americans’ World Cup loss to Belgium and will be sidelined for several weeks. Pulisic has a bone bruise and a microfracture of his tibia and fibula, according to the U.S. Soccer Federation. The diagnosis was made after an X-ray and MRI on Tuesday. He is expected to be able to resume training before AC Milan’s opener at Torino on Aug. 23. Pulisic hit a leg of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans while attempting a shot in the 52nd minute of Monday’s 4-1 round-of-16 loss at Seattle.
July 9, 2026 5:24 pm
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Yastrzemski hit a game-sealing grand slam in the ninth inning, Matt Olson hit a first-inning home run while tying the franchise record for consecutive games played and the Atlanta Braves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-5. The Braves were leading 6-5 when Yastrzemski connected off Dennis Santana for his third career slam. Olson’s homer was a solo shot and his 25th season, opening the scoring. The first baseman played in his 740th straight game, going back to the start of the 2022 season, and tied the mark set by Dale Murphy from 1982-86.
July 8, 2026 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Joey Bart hit a two-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 win over his former team after Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jared Jones pitched six perfect innings before being lifted. Bart, traded to the Braves from the Pirates on June 18, followed a double by Mike Yastrzemski with a 422-foot drive to left-centerfield off a slider from Dennis Santana (2-4). Drake Baldwin added an RBI single to center in the ninth. Jones struck out eight on 77 pitches, including 53 strikes, before being replaced by Mason Montgomery to start the seventh. Montgomery lost the bid at 6 1/3 innings when Ozzie Albies singled to left
July 9, 2026 4:27 am
DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers. Verlander made the announcement on Wednesday, shortly after he was added as a Legend Pick to the American League All-Star roster. The 43-year-old Verlander is the oldest player in Major League Baseball. He signed a $13 million, one-year contract. He has pitched only once this season and that was back in March. Verlander went on the injured list with hip inflammation and a pulled hamstring.
July 9, 2026 4:26 am
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The World Cup has narrowed to eight teams, with six from Europe. Unless Morocco surprises everyone, the champion will be from Europe or South America as usual. Historically, 12 champions have come from Europe and 10 from South America. North America is hosting this year and had high hopes with the U.S., Mexico, and Canada but all were eliminated before the quarterfinals. Africa’s hopes now rest on Morocco. Despite some close matches, African teams also made early exits. The tournament continues to show dominance by traditional soccer powerhouses.
July 8, 2026 4:24 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn blasted three home runs and set a franchise record with 10 RBIs as the Pirates drilled Atlanta 12-4. The first baseman hit his third career grand slam in the first inning and added three-run shots in the third and the sixth as Pittsburgh ran its winning streak to three. O’Hearn’s historic performance helped Pirates ace Paul Skenes pick up his first win in nearly two months. The reigning National League Cy Young winner allowed two runs in six innings to notch his first victory since May 12. The NL East-leading Braves have dropped three straight.
July 8, 2026 4:27 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Pitchers Paul Skenes, Jacob Misiorowski and Max Meyer have been ruled out of next week’s All-Star Game. They were replaced Tuesday by Riley O’Brien of St. Louis, Philadelphia’s Jesus Luzardo and Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft. Also, Boston first baseman Willson Contreras was selected as a replacement for Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is opting to rest his ailing back during the break. Skenes, Misiorowski and Meyer are scheduled to start their teams’ final games before the break on Sunday. All three replacement pitchers are All-Stars for the first time. Contreras is now a four-time All-Star.
July 8, 2026 4:25 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is back on the injured list. The club says the 20-year-old is expected to miss at least two months due to an injury to the knuckle of the ring finger on his left hand. Griffin sustained the injury while making a diving grab in a victory over Washington on Sunday. Griffin has been a standout for the Pirates this season, hitting .276 with five homers and 20 stolen bases in 59 games. Jared Triolo will fill in at shortstop. Pittsburgh called up infielder Jack Brannigan from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Griffin’s spot on the roster.
July 8, 2026 4:28 am
ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi did it yet again at this year’s World Cup. The Argentina great scored once while inspiring his team to an improbable 3-2 victory over Egypt despite trailing by two goals with only 11 minutes to play. The defending champions will next face either Switzerland or Colombia in quarterfinals on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri. Messi, who was in tears after the final whistle, scored his eighth goal of this year’s tournament in the 83rd minute to level the score at 2-2. It was his record-extending 21st at the World Cup. Enzo Fernandez scored the winning goal in stoppage time.
July 7, 2026 4:43 pm
The Pirates will be without rookie Konnor Griffin for the next several weeks. The shortstop has reportedly torn a tendon in his left ring finger that is sending him back on the injured list, this time, for eight to ten weeks. Griffin recently returned after spraining his right arm last month. According to reports, his finger is likely to be splinted for six of those weeks.
