Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen turned in a gem against the Boston Red Sox on June 10. (Photo by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)Parker S. Freedman via Getty ImagesTampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen mowed down the Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu during a 7-5 win on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field. And then the righty did it again, and again.Rasmussen struck out each of Boston's top-three batters three times. In the first and fourth innings, the 2025 All-Star got all three of them swinging.In a surgical performance that paralyzed an already stagnant Red Sox offense, Rasmussen piled up 13 Ks, shattering his previous career high of 10 that he set in a victory over the New York Yankees on Sept. 9, 2022.Rasmussen allowed only two hits in seven innings of work. He didn't give up a run. The bulk of the Red Sox's scoring came in the top of the eighth, the first frame Rasmussen wasn't on the bump.Caleb Durbin launched a solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Cole Sulser. Soon after, with Steven Matz on the hill, Rafaela suddenly found success, taking an 83-mph changeup to left for a three-run homer that made it a 5-4 game.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentTampa Bay needed one more bullpen arm to get out of the inning and another to secure a win and, by extension, a series sweep over an AL East rival.Fortunately for Rasmussen, his masterpiece wasnt spoiled. Providing immediate relief in the bottom of the eighth, Cedric Mullins blasted a two-run dinger to right. That big fly gave Tampa Bay a three-run cushion heading into the ninth.Although Durbin went yard again amid the Red Soxs final stand, their comeback bid proved insufficient.

Giants coach John Harbaugh is especially pleased with the progress that wide receiver Malik Nabers has made of late and is "hopeful" he'll be back soon.

The rapper performed at halftime during the game at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks on Monday night.

With the World Cup about to begin, heavily armed police and National Guard officers are patrolling the streets of Guadalajara as authorities try to reassure visitors and residents that security wont be an issue in a city that was rocked by cartel violence earlier this year.Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state, will host four World Cup matches including South Korea against Czech Republic on the opening day Thursday. Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada.Local officials say visitors have nothing to worry about despite the outbreak in violence in February following the Mexican militarys killing of the countrys most powerful cartel boss. The operation and waves of violence killed 70 people as cartel gunmen set fire to cars to block streets and fought with Mexican forces.Its important to remember that normalcy returned to the state in less than 48 hours after what happened in February, Alfonso Briseo, the security coordinator in Jalisco told The Associated Press in the run-up to the World Cup. I invite all tourists, all citizens of other countries, especially those who will be playing here in Guadalajara... They will be welcome. The Mexican government and the state of Jalisco guarantee their safety.Briseo stressed that Jalisco has not faced any security issues recently and that a resurgence of trouble was not expected. He said local authorities were prepared to react quickly if anything happened again.Nearly 15,000 security personnel have been deployed in the region, including National Guard officers with assault rifles and vehicle-mounted machine guns near the stadium where the games will be played.We are feeling very safe. We are not concerned about the same issues that we had a few months ago, said Rodolfo Valencia, a 22-year-old resident of Guadalajara. You can see a lot more police on the streets and there is a sense that there wont be any problems around here. Having the World Cup here has helped because the authorities had to take action and make sure that everything goes well.Jalisco state is the central hub of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, whose leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, or El Mencho, was killed in a capture attempt by the military in February.Security in Guadalajara will be a special concern for the June 26 match between Spain and Uruguay, when Spain's King Felipe VI is expected to attend.Mexico has stepped up security countrywideMore than 100,000 soldiers, marines, National Guard and police officers were expected to be deployed across the three Mexican host cities Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey as well as in major tourist destinations during the World Cup.Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday the the opening ceremony is guaranteed and the World Cup will be enjoyed.Anti-drone teams, surveillance-camera networks, special crowd management units and military and police patrols will operate during the duration of the tournament at Mexican stadiums, fan fests, airports, national-team camps and other strategic facilities in coordination with FIFA.Cartel violence may be less of an issue than street protests by groups trying to capitalize on the World Cup spotlight to cause unrest, traffic disruptions and bringing central parts of the city to a standstill. Demonstrators recently knocked down figures of World Cup soccer players, broke into a government building and even played a soccer match on a blockaded street.Teachers, families of Mexicos 130,000 missing people, animal rights groups and a range of other social movements in Mexico were trying to put pressure on authorities and make demands.The U.S. Embassy on Tuesday reiterated its travel advisory for Americans to reconsider going to Jalisco. It also advised visitors to exercise extreme caution in Mexico City and Nuevo Len, where Monterrey is located.Briseo dismissed concerns about security in the region.We are prepared for any contingency, he said in Guadalajara. We are going to be the best venue, the most Mexican, the most hospitable, and the safest.___Associated Press writer Mara Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended World Cup ticket prices, saying Wednesday if we are doing something wrong, everyone in North America is doing something wrong.FIFA priced tickets starting at $140 for the 48-nation, 104-game tournament that starts Thursday and priced regular seats up to $8,680 for the July 19 final in New Jersey. It raised prices for the final to $10,990 and then $32,970. After criticism, FIFA offered a small amount of $60 tickets to national federations for their regular supporters. He said Wednesday 130,000 tickets were offered at that price, out of 6 to 7 million total.Infantino said the average ticket price was under $500 for the tournament and was comparable to other U.S. sports during their playoffs, a claim that while true for resale prices does not appear to be accurate for list prices. He said he was unconcerned about investigations by attorneys general in California, New Jersey, New York and Texas.We are very relaxed about it because before starting to sell 6.5 million or 7 million tickets we check what we do with the best lawyers, he said. We welcome every investigation.The NBA Finals have had wildly varied get-in prices, ranging from a minimum of about $500 for the first two games in San Antonio to about $10,000 for Game 3 in New York. Game 4 in New York was much less, dropping to about $4,000 on WednesdayThe Stanley Cup Final this year between teams in Las Vegas and Raleigh, North Carolina, has included a get-in price of at least $600 for each of the first four games of the best-of-seven series.Infantino says FIFA is powerless to get US entry for denied Somali refereeInfantino said it was unfortunate that Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the U.S. and said people should chill.He said FIFA cannot dictate to governments who to let into their countries, though it is working behind the scenes.We always try to make the situation as positive as possible and to find solutions," he said. "Sometimes we manage, other times not.We dont live on the moon, we live on planet Earth, he said.He thinks FIFA deserves credit for ensuring Iran's participationInfantino praised FIFA for working through details that allow Iran to play in the tournament at a time the U.S. is at war with Iran. The Iranian team moved its training camp from the U.S. to Mexico and will fly to the U.S. before matches.I dont know who else would have been able to ensure in these circumstances ... Iran could come and play, Infantino said.Infantino claimed the tournament will be the biggest event probably in the history of mankind.This press conference went smoother than Infantino's opening comments in QatarFour years ago, Infantino scolded critics during a news conference ahead of the opener in Qatar. He lectured Europeans for criticizing Qatars human rights record during a bizarre availability in which he claimed to feel gay, like a woman and a migrant worker, among other bizarre claims.Now 50, Infantino has been FIFAs president since 2010 and intends to seek another term next year that runs through 2031.Infantino kept an empty seat at the news conference for Christophe Gleizes, a French freelance reporter given a seven-year prison sentence in Algeria last year over an interview with a soccer official accused of ties to a banned separatist movement.___AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed.__AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Security forces numbering more than 10,000 have been mobilised ahead of Thursday's World Cup curtain-raiser amid mounting fears that widespread demonstrations could derail the tournament's opening day.Mexico face South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to launch the first 48-team World Cup in history, with an elaborate ceremony planned beforehand.However, protest groups have issued stark warnings that the fixture may not go ahead. Demonstrators have adopted the slogan "if there's no solution, the ball won't roll" as they prepare to descend on the venue.At least six separate groups intend to converge on the stadium, including teachers, transport workers, farmers and relatives of missing persons, threatening to bring the Mexican capital to a standstill.The disruption threats extend beyond street protests to a bitter dispute over executive box ownership at the 87,000-capacity venue.More than 15,000 seats are caught up in a row stemming from FIFA's longstanding policy of assuming complete control of stadiums during tournaments.When the Azteca underwent full reconstruction in 1966, suites were sold with unrestricted rights lasting 99 years, entitlements that covered both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups held at the ground.Box holders claim FIFA's current restrictions prevent them from selling tickets and providing food and drink to guests during the tournament.The Mexican Association of Box and Grandstand Seat Holders has threatened boycotts and protests, with backing from the CNTE teachers' union, unless meaningful negotiations take place before kick-off.Demonstrators plan to begin marching and cycling along major routes through the capital from Thursday morning, with the intention of reaching the stadium by 1pm local time, coinciding with the ceremony's scheduled start.The CNTE teachers' union intends to obstruct access to the FIFA Fan Fest whilst staging marches near key transport hubs.A contingent exceeding 100,000 educators from the union will simultaneously maintain a presence in the city centre.Families of those who have disappeared plan to form human chains in the vicinity of the ground and observe a minute's silence for their loved ones.The protesters are demanding the abolition of USICAMM, a government administrative body, alongside the reversal of legislation that has negatively impacted pension arrangements for state workers.Roberto Ruano, representing the box holders' association, has appealed directly to stadium owner Emilio Azcarraga for talks, stating: "I want to take this opportunity to make a gentlemanly appeal to Emilio Azcarraga, to tell him that I am ready to sit down and talk with him."He warned that the CNTE, transport workers and other groups stand ready to support their cause if dialogue remains blocked.Union leader Marcelino Rodarte, Secretary General of Section 58 of the CNTE, declared: "On June 11, the ball won't roll if there is no response for the organised teachers."Authorities have responded by establishing alternative routes to guarantee both teams reach the venue safely, whilst making clear that any mass blockade or sabotage of the opening event will not be tolerated.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The Microsoft co-founder spent hours talking to lawmakers behind closed doors, where he also said Epstein used his marital infidelities to pressure him.

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