NEW YORK (AP) — A.J. Ewing finished a triple shy of the cycle and the New York Mets beat the Atlanta Braves 8-1 on Sunday to hand the top team in the majors its second consecutive series loss.
Ewing had an unusual RBI double during a four-run first inning against Bryce Elder to help the last-place Mets (32-39) take two of three games from Atlanta (46-25). The rookie outfielder also singled in the third and homered in the fifth. He grounded out in the seventh and struck out in the eighth.
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New York Mets' Juan Soto looks after his two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets outfielders Mj Melendez, left, Carson Benge, center, and A.J. Ewing celebrate after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing, right, celebrates his home run with Marcus Semien during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing hits a two-run double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Jared Young preceded Ewing in the first with a run-scoring single and came around to score when Mike Yastrzemski’s throw from left field following Ewing’s double caromed off the pole holding up the netting behind the third base line.
Brett Baty added an RBI single two batters later.
Ewing and Marcus Semien homered on consecutive pitches to open the fifth, and Juan Soto delivered a two-run single in the eighth.
Freddy Peralta (5-5) allowed one run and four hits in five innings for the win. The Braves loaded the bases with none out in the first against Peralta, who limited the damage to Dominic Smith's sacrifice fly.
Elder (5-4) set season highs by permitting six runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings.
The Braves dropped only two of their first 20 series this season before being swept by the Chicago White Sox in a rain-shortened, two-game set prior to arriving in New York.
Fans in Knicks garb dotted the Citi Field crowd of 40,106, which roared when highlights of New York’s championship-clinching 94-90 win Saturday night over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals aired throughout the game.
Braves: Return home Tuesday, when RHP Grant Holmes (4-2, 4.05 ERA) starts against RHP Adrian Houser (2-6, 5.54) and the San Francisco Giants.
Mets: RHP Tobias Myers (0-1, 4.05 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start the opener of a six-game trip Monday against RHP Chase Burns (7-1, 2.14) and the Cincinnati Reds.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets' Juan Soto looks after his two-run single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets outfielders Mj Melendez, left, Carson Benge, center, and A.J. Ewing celebrate after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing, right, celebrates his home run with Marcus Semien during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' A.J. Ewing hits a two-run double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Iran captain Mehdi Taremi says his team is having a challenging World Cup experience amid the multifold disruptions created by their nation's war with the U.S., the tournament's co-host.
The Iranians arrived in the Los Angeles area on Sunday from their training base in Tijuana, Mexico, just over the U.S. border — about 140 miles (225 kilometers) from the stadium where they will open group-stage play against New Zealand on Monday night. Iran's training camp was relocated from the U.S. after the war began, and the Iranian team has endured numerous distractions since then, including visa problems.
“I have felt the tension from the first moment we arrived at this World Cup,” Taremi said through an interpreter. “At any tournament when there is tension, we won’t have the same beautiful experience we always talk about with peace and joy. ... I know it wasn’t just us. I know several countries had visa problems and changes with training camps. Before we arrived, the feeling, the sensation people always have, how they look forward to the World Cup, I think this time maybe they haven’t had the same feeling.”
The U.S. attacked Iran on Feb. 28, and the initial missile strikes killed its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The war has slowed and resumed several times since then, with President Donald Trump even announcing a peace deal earlier Sunday — one that wasn't addressed at the press conference.
“This kind of tension, it undermines that joy and it undermines the message of FIFA and our people, which is that football brings about peace,” said Taremi, the 33-year-old Olympiacos striker who is playing in his third World Cup. “I feel like this World Cup could have provided a better atmosphere than it has, but I hope in the future it will be better for all fans, whatever team they are supporting in the World Cup.”
Iran initially planned to train in Tucson, Arizona, before the war’s outbreak, but quickly moved to Baja California. FIFA then rejected Iran’s desire to play its group-stage World Cup matches outside the U.S., claiming logistics and contracts wouldn’t allow it.
Iran has been beset with logistical problems since then, including the denial of visas for certain members of its delegation. A team spokesperson said Sunday that two members of its media relations group were denied U.S. visas for the opening match. Iran and its traveling fans also have faced multiple issues with match tickets.
“Without any doubt, this will impact negatively the spirit of football,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said. “Football is supposed to bring nations and cultures together. Whether we win, whether we lose, that’s a personal feeling we have, but football as a game is about bringing about joy. These conditions, they have impacted our technical focus, but I have really tried to make sure that my players focus on strategy and techniques.”
The Iranian team is limited to brief trips into the U.S. for its matches, flying in the day before the game and reportedly flying out immediately afterward. Iran plays in Inglewood, California, again next Sunday against Belgium, before completing the group stage in Seattle against Egypt on June 26.
Without giving details, Taremi said Iran's travel from Tijuana to SoFi Stadium took roughly five hours, including the very short flight.
“Of course that impacts us,” Ghalenoei said. “I would like to thank the good people of Mexico, but we Iranians, we are accustomed to make opportunities out of hardship, and we don’t think about anything other than bringing joy to people.”
The Los Angeles area likely was picked to host two of Iran's matches in part because it has the world's largest Iranian population outside Iran. The so-called Tehrangeles area of the city is filled with the families of untold thousands who fled the country after the Islamic Revolution in the late 1970s.
Taremi and Ghalenoei are aware that many U.S.-based Iranians will be cheering against them, given their feelings about the current government, but they aren't bothered.
“We play for every Iranian, be it in the diaspora or in Iran,” Taremi said. “People have different opinions, but we are here to unite people and we will try to bring joy to all Iranians wherever they live. We do not get involved in politics. We are here to play football.”
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Iran's head coach Amir Ghalenoei attends a training session, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Tuesday, June 2, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran's Mehdi Taremi works out during a training session, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Iran head coach Amir Ghalehnoy speaks during a press conference ahead of his FIFA World Cup match against New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Iran head coach Amir Ghalehnoy, right, and player Mehdi Taremi listens to a question during a press conference ahead of their FIFA World Cup match against New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
Iran's Mehdi Taremi speaks during a press conference ahead of his FIFA World Cup match against New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
