Carli Lloyd turns diplomat and takes a US message to kids in Greece

One of America's greatest soccer players is spending the week in Greece working with kids and reminding everyone that the most important moments in sports don't always end with a group of Champagne-soaked winners holding up a trophy.

Retired Olympian and World Cup star Carli Lloyd is joining onetime U.S. men's great Cobi Jones on the pitch and in communities in Greece as part of a program tailored by the U.S. Embassy in Athens, “Changing the Game: Sports for Inclusion.” One of its missions is to remind kids, and maybe their parents, too, about the core reason we play sports — to learn to lead, include others and be a good teammate.

“What makes it special is that when these kids have a ball at their feet, all the rest of the worries and issues kind of go away,” Lloyd said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I hope that us kind of going around the world and speaking about my journey and what it took, the ups and downs, hopefully that can help, and help others.”

There is some geopolitical messaging involved in this trip, as well.

The Lloyd and Jones journey is part of an effort begun in 2006 by the U.S. State Department, which sends elite American athletes and coaches overseas to participate in its Sports Envoy program. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Lee Satterfield told the AP the U.S. “is elevating sport to the diplomatic platform to engage people all over the world” and support America's broader foreign policy goals.

“We're able to look at sports as a way to connect to key audiences and reach people locally in communities who we might not otherwise be in contact with through regular, traditional diplomacy,” Satterfield said.

The U.S. views Greece as an important partner in an important place — closer than most European allies to Russia, North Korea and some other parts of Asia where democracy is either nonexistent or imperiled. Refugees from Ukraine, Northern Africa and other parts of Europe come to Greece; some of Lloyd's visits this week will be with children from the northern part of Africa.

It could take an entire plane flight from the U.S. to Athens to get through the 41-year-old Lloyd's resume. In short, she is a two-time FIFA player of the year who has played in more games in the World Cup and Olympics (47) than any other American on the U.S. women's national team.

She also has been overlooked — both when she was a kid without a soccer net in her backyard and had to prove she could play with the best, and then later as a seasoned veteran when, for instance, at age 27 she found herself in her garage “crying my eyes out, feeling like I was a failure," as she wrote on her website.

Turns out, she was just getting started. About five years after that, she scored three goals in the first 17 minutes to lead the U.S. to a win over Japan in the final of the 2015 World Cup. She played in two more Olympics and one more World Cup after that. Since hanging up the cleats, she has worked as an analyst on Fox's soccer coverage.

This week, it's a different role.

Lloyd will be talking to children — some from Greece, others refugees, still others who have physical and intellectual disabilities — on a number of topics, including gender equity, mental health, nutrition and how we all can learn from wins and from losses, both on and off the field. Embedded in all the conversations will be Lloyd's own experience with overcoming obstacles.

“It makes you reflect on where you live and where you come from and the opportunities you’ve had," Lloyd said of her travels across the globe over a career that spanned the better part of 25 years. “It puts things into perspective that there's always going to be room for improvement everywhere. There’s no perfect country or perfect place or perfect person. And so you're always going to strive to become a bit better.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Former US soccer player Carli Lloyd, left, controls the ball as a young migrant tries to stop him during a soccer game at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including the former US soccer players Carli Lloyd and Cobi Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd, left, former US soccer player Cobi Jones, second left, US Ambassador to Greece George James Tsunis, center background, pose with young migrants and members of NGOs at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including Lloyd and Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd speaks to young migrants at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including the former US soccer players Carli Lloyd and Cobi Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd, left, watches Nur a migrant from Somalia as he kicks the ball at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including the former US soccer players Carli Lloyd and Cobi Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd speaks to young migrants at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including the former US soccer players Carli Lloyd and Cobi Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

The two-time FIFA Player of the Year Carli Lloyd watches the training of young migrants at Olympiacos Training Center in Athens, Monday, April 22, 2024. Elite American athletes and coaches, including the former US soccer players Carli Lloyd and Cobi Jones, take part in the 2024 spring roster of U.S. Soccer Sports Envoys organized by the U.S. Department of State. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Dean Kremer pitched six shutout innings, Anthony Santander hit his third career grand slam and the Baltimore Orioles completed a three-game series sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with an 11-1 victory Sunday.

Jordan Westburg hit a two-run homer and Ryan McKenna added a solo shot for the Orioles, who have won four straight games and six of their last seven.

Kremer (3-2) retired the first 13 batters he faced until Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled with one out in the fifth. The Reds managed only one hit and a walk in Kremer's six innings. He struck out six.

“I just wanted to follow suit, like our other starters,” Kremer said. “Pitch to our strengths and really attack these guys. Our pitching staff when we put it together is really good.”

Orioles starting pitchers were dominant in the three-game series. Cole Irvin pitched six shutout innings on Friday and John Means blanked the Reds through seven Saturday.

“We pitched really well this series,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “Guys see what the guy does the night before and you want to match it. Right down the line, we've been doing that so far.”

Meanwhile, the Reds' offense continues to sputter. They have scored just two runs in their last 36 innings played in Great American Ball Park. The Reds are batting a major-league worst .209 as a team.

“It's the nature of the game,” Reds outfielder Jake Fraley said. "Their guys are throwing really well. We’re going up there and trying to give it everything we’ve got. Tip your cap to those guys. They are at the top of the AL East for a reason.”

The Orioles handed Kremer an early lead with a two-out rally in the first. After Nick Lodolo (3-1) retired the first two batters, Ryan Mountcastle doubled and scored on Santander's single. Westburg followed with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season, to make it 3-0.

Adley Rutschman doubled to drive in the Orioles' fourth run in the fifth. McKenna's solo homer off Brett Suter made it 5-0 in the seventh.

“It’s a major league team who’s dangerous, so you definitely want to add on,” Hyde said. “It gives the starting pitcher confidence to get a little breathing room and go after guys.”

Santander's grand slam came in the ninth off Emilio Pagan. It was his first grand slam since Aug. 1, 2023, at Toronto.

“That's the best left-handed swing he's taken in a long time, and not just because of the result,” Hyde said. “Just how free and easy it was. Put the bat through the baseball. Really happy for him. He's been really grinding.”

It's the third series sweep this season for the Orioles, who last swept the Reds in Baltimore in 2014. It was their first series sweep in Cincinnati.

“It was a tough series," Reds manager David Bell said. "A tough little stretch for our team. It is going to turn around. We have good players. They do the right thing over and over. They do things the right way and that’s how you know it will turn around.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Orioles: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) began a throwing program Sunday.

Reds: 3B Jeimer Candelario (bruised left shin) was scratched from the lineup after fouling a ball off his leg. ... OF TJ Friedl (right wrist fracture) made his fourth rehab appearance Sunday at Triple-A Louisville. It's possible he could return for the Arizona series, which begins Tuesday.

UP NEXT

Orioles: RHP Corbin Burnes (3-1, 2.61) starts Tuesday's series opener at Washington.

Reds: Begin a three-game series against Arizona on Tuesday. Cincinnati had yet to announce a starter for the opener.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg, right, celebrates hitting a two-run homer in the dugout in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo follows through in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo catches a ball between batters in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg, right, celebrates hitting a two-run homer with Ramón Urías (29) in the dugout in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles' Jordan Westburg (11) celebrates hitting a two-run homer with teammate Anthony Santander (25) as he crosses the plate in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati Reds catcher Luke Maile is at right. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles' Ryan Mountcastle celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single hit by teammate Anthony Santander in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)