The U.S. women's soccer team completed its run through the World Cup tournament in Lyon, France yesterday, the first team to win back to back championships since Germany pulled off the feat in 2003 and 2007.
After a scoreless first half the Americans' 2-0 win over the Netherlands was secured when U.S. co-captain Megan Rapinoe put home a penalty kick, awarded after a video review.
That lead was doubled on a fabulous rush up the middle by Rose Lavelle, who scored her third goal of the tournament when she split the Dutch defense and blasted a hard shot with her left foot into the low right corner of the goal, just inside the post.
The win completes as dominant a run over an eight year span as any team has enjoyed in the beautiful game. When the U.S. won the World Cup in 2015 Carli Lloyd was one of the star players who secured that win, and there she was again four years later getting on the field as a late substitution to show the continuity of excellence in both squads headed by coach Jill Ellis.
The win was also inspiring for the spotlight it shone on the pay and working condition inequities that persist in the men's and women's game, and the hope is that gap gets shut down before the next women's world cup is played four years from now.
The Boston Red Sox would like to forget the first half of the 2019 baseball season, but they are riding a four game winning streak heading into the all star break, even if three of those wins came against the rebuilding Detroit Tigers, including yesterday's 6-3 victory.
David Price gave up just one run over five innings. Christian Vazquez and Xander Bogaerts each drove in two, with Vazquez blasting his 14th home run of the year in the process, a career high.
Price also reached a career milestone, his victory the 150th of his career, and the Red Sox do reduce their games behind deficit for first place in the division to single digits, nine behind the first place NY Yankees heading into the break.
The Yankees suffered a 2-1 defeat against the Tampa Bay Rays yesterday. Charlie Morton won his tenth game for Tampa, striking out ten in just five and two thirds innings of work. He also lowered his ERA to a league best 2.32.
James Paxton struck out 11 in a fine outing, but was a hard luck loser when Tommy Pham drove in Travis D'Arnaud in the first and later came around to score on a fielder's choice. Brett Gardner homered for New York's only run.
The NY Mets limp into the all star break on the heels of an 8-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Aaron Nola didn't give up a hit until the sixth and former Met Jay Bruce homered twice to burn his former squad.
Trent Thornton pitched shut out ball into the 6th to lead the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles.
The Hudson Valley Renegades topped the Vermont Lake Monsters 4-1 at Centennial Field. Garrett Hoitt went 4 for 5 at the plate for Hudson Valley.
At Recreational Field in Montpelier, Evan Giordano singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 9th, leading the Vermont Mountaineers to a 6-5 win over the Mystic Schooners. Cam Climo homered and drove in three runs on the night for Vermont.
The Upper Valley Nighthawks swept a double header from the New Bedford Bay Sox, winning 7-4 in game one and taking the nightcap 4-3.
At Wimbledon, Serena Williams is into the 4th round after defeating 18th seeded Julia Georges. 15-year old sensation Coco Gauff continues her remarkable run and on the men's side, the big three of Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal all remain in the draw.
