MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AP) — Kevin Stöger’s first goal of the season helped Borussia Mönchengladbach beat St. Pauli 2-0 and boost hopes of avoiding Bundesliga relegation on Friday.
Stöger was making his 200th Bundesliga appearance and struck a superb 25-meter free kick over the St. Pauli wall approaching halftime.
Franck Honorat added the second in the second half when he side-footed home a low left-foot drive.
It was a comfortable win for the 12th-placed Gladbach and lifted it four points clear of a packed relegation zone.
Only five points separate Hamburg in 10th place and St. Pauli, which is third from bottom in the last of the relegation places.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
From left: Mönchengladbach's Hugo Bolin, Joe Scally, goal scorer Kevin Stöger, Yannik Engelhardt and Kevin Diks celebrate after scoring the opening goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC St. Pauli, in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Friday, March 13, 2026. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)
Mönchengladbach's Wael Mohya, left, and St. Pauli's Lars Ritzka in action during the Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC St. Pauli in Mönchengladbach, Germany, Friday March 13, 2026. (Marius Becker/dpa via AP)
SEATTLE (AP) — All Vinnie Pasquantino needed was a few days of rest, a morning walk around Seattle and a warm, sunny day at T-Mobile Park to get back on track for the Kansas City Royals.
Pasquantino had two hits — including a solo homer — two RBIs and two runs in his return to Kansas City’s lineup against the Seattle Mariners after sitting out the previous two games because of lower back tightness. He batted third and played first base in the Royals' 7-6 win.
“I told them yesterday, I want in,” Pasquantino said. “And I’ll let them know if anything changes.”
His single to right field drove in Kansas City’s opening run in the first inning. He then belted his fourth home run of the season in the sixth off Bryan Woo on a 2-0 count, a Statcast-projected 404-foot blast into the second deck in right. It gave the Royals a 5-3 lead before Jac Caglianone followed with a solo home run to right.
Pasquantino said it has been an issue he has dealt with for a while after he was removed in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s game. He also appeared in the ninth inning and hit a game-ending flyout in Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Athletics.
“We hope that he’s not going to have to deal with it the whole season,” manager Matt Quatraro said before Friday’s game. “But he’ll probably feel it for a handful of days before it resolves.”
But it felt good in Friday’s win.
“We’ll see how it feels in about an hour when all the adrenaline comes down,” Pasquantino said.
Pasquantino, 28, is off to a slow start this season for Kansas City, batting .176 with three doubles, 16 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 30 games.
Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino hits an RBI single to score Maikel Garcia against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
