Kennedy Wesley scores 1st international goal and adds assist as USWNT beats Japan 3-0

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (AP) — Kennedy Wesley scored her first international goal and had an assist after entering as a substitution after halftime, Naomi Girma and Rose Lavelle each added a goal and the United States beat Japan 3-0 in a friendly Friday night.

Claudia Dickey had three saves for the United States.

Wesley, who replaced Tierna Davidson, played a header from the left post to Girma, who headed home the finish from point-blank range to make it 1-0 in the 47th minute.

“I felt we came out in the second half and there was no coming back, to be honest," United States coach Emma Hayes said.

Davidson took a hard fall in the 30th and was evaluated for a few minutes, but was able to finish the first half.

Lavelle gave the United States a 2-0 lead in the 56th minute. After Japan was dispossessed near midfield, Trinity Rodman played a through ball to Lavelle, who outraced the defense down the middle of the field and slipped a shot from the edge of the penalty box inside the left post.

“I felt tonight we were just clinical in the final third,” Hayes said.

Lavelle has played a role in 10 scores — five goals and five assists — in her last 10 games.

Wesley scored her on a volley off a corner kick played in by Jaedyn Shaw to make it 3-0 in the 64th minute.

“I really don't have any words,” Wesley said. “I mean, it was the perfect ball from Jaedyn and I was just in the right place at the right time.

“I'm just over the moon.”

The United States outshot Japan 9-1 in the first half, but the game was a scoreless tie at halftime.

Japan’s Miyabi Moriya replaced Hikaru Kitagawa, who was carried off by trainers with an injury in the 25th minute.

The game was played in temperatures hovering around freezing at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, home of the Colorado Rapids in MLS. Snowfall earlier in the day covered the field several hours before the game.

It was the final match of an unusual three-game series against Japan. The United States won the first last week in San Jose, California, 2-1.

Japan won the second 1-0 in Seattle on Tuesday night, snapping a 10-game U.S. winning streak. The United States hadn't lost since falling 2-1 to Portugal on Oct. 23 last year. The Americans hadn't been shut out in 42 games.

Hayes swapped her entire starting lineup in the second game as the team develops its player pool for World Cup qualifying later this year. It was the fourth time in Hayes' tenure that she started a completely different lineup in consecutive games.

Japan was coming off a championship run in the Women’s Asian Cup. The team outscored its opponents 29-1 and defeated hosts Australia 1-0 in the final.

Known for their technical prowess, the Japanese also defeated the United States in last year's SheBelieves Cup.

“They’re a world-class team,” Hayes said heading into Friday night's game. “I think when you win the first one, inevitably, the second one becomes that challenge. They are a top side, so we have to give them a lot of credit. So, game on for the third game.”

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

Japan defender Toko Koga (6) tries to block a shot by United States defender Gisele Thompson during the first half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States midfielder Rose Lavelle, center left, celebrates after a goal with teammate Trinity Rodman, center right, during the second half of an international friendly soccer match against Japan Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Japan defender Hikaru Kitagawa is taken off the pitch by trainers after sustaining an injury during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against the United States, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States defender Kennedy Wesley (25) celebrates a goal against Japan during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

United States defender Kennedy Wesley celebrates after a goal against Japan during the second half of an international friendly soccer match Friday, April 17, 2026, in Commerce City, Colo. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

MIAMI (AP) — Garrett Mitchell went 2 for 4 with three RBIs including a two-run double in the 10th inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Miami Marlins 7-5 on Friday night.

Miami's Calvin Faucher (1-2) entered a 4-all game in the 10th and walked Gary Sánchez with Brice Turang on second. Jake Bauers hit a single to load the bases.

Luis Rengifo reached first on a throwing error by second baseman Xavier Edwards, allowing Turang to score. Mitchell followed with his double.

The Marlins scored one run in the bottom of the 10th when Jakob Marsee came home on Trevor Megill's wild pitch. Megill settled in for his fourth save.

Coleman Crow, who made his debut on the mound for the Brewers, threw 77 pitches over 5 1/3 innings. He threw four strikeouts, gave up two earned runs and a walk.

The right-hander was 2-0 with a 4.07 ERA in two starts with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate in Nashville. He missed part of the 2023 season and all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Brewers scored three runs in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Mitchell hit an RBI single, Bauers scored on a forceout at first and Rengifo scored on a throwing error by catcher Agustín Ramírez.

Miami's Otto Lopez hit a triple to center field in the fourth and scored on a sacrifice fly by Owen Caissie. Lopez hit a two-run homer in the sixth to pull Miami within 4-3 and Ramírez doubled in the eighth to tie the game at four.

Abner Uribe (1-0) pitched the ninth.

Marlins third baseman Graham Pauley left the game in the seventh inning with right oblique discomfort after spinning out of the way of a pitch.

The Brewers and Marlins continue their 3-game series on Saturday, with Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 4.36 ERA) taking the mound for Milwaukee and Sandy Alcantara (2-1, 2.67) for Miami.

Milwaukee Brewers' Jake Bauers reacts after hitting a single during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)