Rice, Caballero homer to overcome Alonso's drive, Yankees beat Orioles 7-2 for 11th win in 13 games

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Rice and José Caballero homered, Will Warren won his third straight start and the Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles 7-2 on Friday night for their 11th victory in 13 games, overcoming a home run by Pete Alonso in his return to New York.

Caballero, making the most of his chance to play while shortstop Anthony Volpe recovers from shoulder surgery, broke a 1-1 tie when he hit a solo shot in the second off Cade Povich (1-1).

Rice hit a three-run drive later in the inning, giving him 11 homers and 26 RBIs.

Warren (4-0) allowed two runs — one earned — and three hits in 6 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and one walk, lowering his ERA to 2.39. The Yankees improve to an AL-best 21-11 and 5-0 in home series openers.

Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval and Jake Bird finished a three-hitter.

Cody Bellinger put the Yankees ahead with an RBI double in the first but Alonso tied the score when he led off the second with his fifth homer, driving a sinker into the second deck in right field. Alonso left the New York Mets during the offseason for a $155 million, five-year contract with the Orioles.

Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge robbed former Fresno State teammate Taylor Ward of an extra-base hit with a leaping catch at the wall in the first.

Dylan Beavers hit a run-scoring grounder in the seventh after center fielder Trent Grisham allowed Samuel Basallo's single to bounce by him for an error.

Amed Rosario restored a four-run lead with an RBI single in the bottom half as Judge scored his 900th run, and Judge added a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (1-3, 4.20 ERA) was set to start Saturday opposite LHP Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.21)

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New York Yankees' Ben Rice celebrates with Aaron Judge, left, after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso hits a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees Friday, May 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Will Warren pitches dfirst inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Baltimore Orioles' pitcher Cade Povich reacts after New York Yankees' Ben Rice hit a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' Ben Rice follows through on a three-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Friday, May 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

SYDNEY (AP) — Defending champion Australia remained on course for a fourth consecutive Rugby League World Cup title with a 44-12 win over Samoa in wet conditions Sunday to set up a final against New Zealand.

Fullback Reece Walsh scored three tries, celebrating the first with a backflip, as Australia posted eight tries against two in a dominant semifinal performance.

Australia opened the tournament with a 24-22 comeback win over New Zealand, and the teams will meet again for the title next weekend in Brisbane. New Zealand reached the championship decider with a 34-10 win over Tonga on Saturday in Newcastle, north of Sydney.

The second of the semifinals was a replay of the final in 2022, when Samoa stunned the competition to reach the decider.

On Sunday, though, a series of errors from Samoa gave Australia too much momentum and a sin-bin for prop Spencer Leniu gave the Kangaroos an overlap late in the first half.

Samoa scored first via a Stephen Crichton penalty goal but Australia took charge soon after, with Tom Dearden scoring from a scrum move.

Jacob Preston, Tom Trbojevic, Walsh and Bradman Best all scored first-half tries to give Australia a 26-2 halftime lead.

A Walsh error led to a try for Crichton, which momentarily lifted Samoa early in the second half, but the Australia fullback retaliated with a try soon after and then added a third and contributed to the last try for the Kangaroos as well.

New Zealand won the title in 2008, the only break in an otherwise Australian domination of the world championship since 1975.

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Samoa's Jarome Luai, front, and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow react after Australia scores a try during the Rugby League World Cup semifinal match between Australia and Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.(Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Bradman Best, left, is tackled during the Rugby League World Cup semifinal match between Australia and Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Reece Walsh, left, celebrates after scoring a try during the Rugby League World Cup semifinal match between Australia and Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP Image via AP)

Australia's Reece Walsh celebrates scoring a try during the Rugby League World Cup semifinal match between Australia and Samoa at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (Mark Evans/AAP Image via AP)