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Ireland still playing with something to prove in the last game of its Women’s World Cup debut

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Following two narrow losses that ended its chances of advancing to the knockout stage on debut at the Women’s World Cup, Ireland remains motivated to play for more than just a result against Nigeria on Monday night. “We still have something to fight for,” midfielder Lily Agg said. “That’s our pride, that’s our passion and that’s who we are as Irish players. We’re going to leave it all out there on Monday and, hopefully, do Ireland proud.”Ireland is yet to pick up a competition point despite pushing two Top 10 teams to the limit. In front of almost 76,000 people in the tournament opener, a second-half penalty was the difference in Ireland’s 1-0 loss to co-host Australia. Ireland struck first in its next match against Canada, but two unanswered goals from the Olympic champions left the Irish empty-handed once again.“We can compete with the best, and I think we’ve proven that,” Agg said. “We’ve got so much talent, and it’s now just about mak...

Mets face the Nationals leading series 2-1

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Washington Nationals (44-61, fifth in the NL East) vs. New York Mets (49-55, fourth in the NL East)New York; Sunday, 1:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Trevor Williams (5-5, 4.47 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 77 strikeouts); Mets: Justin Verlander (5-5, 3.24 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 76 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -269, Nationals +219; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets take a 2-1 advantage into the next game of the series against the Washington Nationals.New York has a 49-55 record overall and a 25-23 record at home. The Mets have the 10th-ranked team slugging percentage in the NL at .401.Washington has a 24-28 record in road games and a 44-61 record overall. The Nationals have gone 31-11 in games when they scored five or more runs.The teams meet Sunday for the 11th time this season. The season series is tied 5-5.TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso has nine doubles, two triples and 30 home runs for the Mets. Jeff McNeil is 10-for-37 with two doubles over the last 10 g...

Braves host the Brewers, look to extend home win streak

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (57-48, first in the NL Central) vs. Atlanta Braves (66-36, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Colin Rea (5-4, 4.53 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 75 strikeouts); Braves: AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0)BOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves will try to keep a three-game home win streak going when they face the Milwaukee Brewers.Atlanta has a 34-19 record at home and a 66-36 record overall. The Braves have the highest team on-base percentage in the NL at .339.Milwaukee has a 28-24 record on the road and a 57-48 record overall. The Brewers have a 39-6 record in games when they out-hit their opponents.The teams meet Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Braves lead the season series 4-1.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has a .333 batting average to lead the Braves, and has 26 doubles, a triple and 24 home runs. Austin Riley is 16-for-41 with seven home runs and 17 RBI over the past 10 games.Carlos Santana has 25 doubles, 12 home runs and 53 RBI whil...

Pirates and Phillies meet in series rubber match

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (56-48, second in the NL East) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (46-58, fourth in the NL Central)Pittsburgh; Sunday, 1:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (0-3, 2.98 ERA, .97 WHIP, 38 strikeouts); Pirates: Rich Hill (7-10, 4.89 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 97 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -149, Pirates +127; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Pittsburgh has a 46-58 record overall and a 24-27 record at home. The Pirates have gone 32-13 in games when they record at least eight hits.Philadelphia is 56-48 overall and 28-28 on the road. The Phillies have gone 34-7 in games when they scored five or more runs.The teams meet Sunday for the third time this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Reynolds has 11 home runs, 32 walks and 47 RBI while hitting .255 for the Pirates. Ji-Man Choi is 8-for-28 with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the past 10 ...

Cardinals host the Cubs on 3-game home skid

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Chicago Cubs (53-51, third in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (46-60, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Sunday, 2:15 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.58 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 46 strikeouts); Cardinals: Steven Matz (1-7, 4.34 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 85 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cardinals -135, Cubs +115; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals take on the Chicago Cubs looking to end a three-game home losing streak.St. Louis is 46-60 overall and 22-29 in home games. Cardinals hitters are batting a collective .256, which ranks fifth in the NL.Chicago has gone 26-25 in road games and 53-51 overall. The Cubs have a 41-20 record in games when they record at least eight hits.Sunday’s game is the 13th time these teams match up this season. The Cubs are up 8-4 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Paul Goldschmidt has 21 doubles, 18 home runs and 55 RBI while hitting .281 for the Cardinals. Lars Nootbaar is 12-for-30 with a double and fo...

Dodgers and Reds meet to decide series winner

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (57-49, second in the NL Central) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (59-44, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Sunday, 4:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Graham Ashcraft (5-7, 5.64 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 74 strikeouts); Dodgers: Michael Grove (2-2, 6.19 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 53 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -180, Reds +153; over/under is 10 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: Both the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday.Los Angeles has a 31-19 record at home and a 59-44 record overall. The Dodgers are 42-20 in games when they record eight or more hits.Cincinnati is 57-49 overall and 29-23 on the road. The Reds have a 17-11 record in games when they did not allow a home run.The teams meet Sunday for the sixth time this season. The Reds lead the season series 3-2.TOP PERFORMERS: Max Muncy leads the Dodgers with 27 home runs while slugging .495. Freddie Freeman is 16-for-40 with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI over the...

Trump lambastes rival who said he’s running to ‘stay out of jail’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Donald Trump said it’s “wrong” to suggest he’s running for the presidency to stay out of prison — and signaled Saturday that he’s prepared to punch down at any of his rivals who suggest he’s doing so.During the Lincoln Dinner on Friday evening — a key Republican event in the lead up to the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses — Will Hurd and Asa Hutchinson took aim at the former president for his legal troubles, echoing the line that putting a candidate facing multiple criminal charges at the top of GOP ticket spelled electoral disaster.Hurd told the Trump-loving Iowa crowd that the former president was not running to improve America or represent people, but to stay out of prison. The remark, delivered toward the end of his address, drew loud boos from the crowd that continued as he walked off stage.In trademark Trump fashion, the former president responded Saturday with blistering personal attacks on his foes and pushing back hard on the idea that he is running to counter hi...

OBF: Titles, not just words, would enhance Jaylen Brown’s social platform

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

NBA athletes were once told to: “Shut up and dribble.”In the case of Jaylen Brown, we have another suggestion: “Keep talking, but please don’t dribble.”Brown signed the biggest contract in NBA history the other day. His super-max extension is worth $303,734,893 over five years.The potential pre-shelter tax liability: $146,623,524.22. Give or take a few greenbacks.Of that, about $12,087,684.42 will be absorbed courtesy of the state’s new millionaire tax.This just in, Gov. Maura Healey has adopted Lucky.With his impending pre-tax wealth, Brown eagerly wants to change Boston’s economic ecosystem, and shrink the wealth gap that exists in the city between Black and white households.Good for him. It’s his money – and Maura’s.The first question at his press conference on Wednesday was what we in the journalism business call a “softball.” Or in this case, a 3-1 hanging curveball from the late, great Corey Kluber.It was the sort of inquiry I would have proffered to Tom and Gisele during the ...

What we’ve learned through first three days of Patriots training camp

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

FOXBORO — The Patriots’ offense needs a lot of work after their efficiency and production cratered during the 2022 season.Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, they’ve narrowed their focus during the first three days of training camp.The Patriots have exclusively worked in the red zone during team drills. It was an area of major weakness for the offense last season, so it makes sense that it would be an emphasis early this summer. But those circumstances also haven’t given fans or reporters a fully accurate portrayal of how the offense or defense will look this season.Still, there’s been plenty to learn through the first three non-contact sessions from continued offensive struggles, rookies that are most likely to contribute and the most pressing needs.Related ArticlesNew England Patriots | Source: Patriots host ex-Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott on free-agent visit New England Patriots | Patriots extra points: Bill Belichick touts rookie ...

An overnight drone attack on Moscow injures 1 and temporarily closes an airport

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:27 GMT

Three Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow in the early hours on Sunday, Russian authorities said, injuring one person and prompting a temporary closure of traffic in and out of one of four airports around the Russian capital.It was the fourth such attempt at a strike on the capital region this month and the third this week, fueling concerns about Moscow’s vulnerability to attacks as Russia’s war in Ukraine drags into its 18th month.The Russian Defense Ministry referred to the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack by the Kyiv regime” and said three drones targeted the city. One was shot down in the surrounding Moscow region by air defense systems and two others were jammed. Those two crashed into the Moscow City business district. Photos from the site of the crash showed the facade of a skyscraper damaged on one floor. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the attack “insignificantly damaged” the outsides of two buildings in the Moscow City district. A security guard was in...