TORONTO (AP) — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, José Caballero added a three-run blast and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-3 on Sunday for their sixth win in seven games.
The Yankees won for the seventh time when scoring the go-ahead run in the ninth inning or later.
Click to Gallery
New York Yankees' José Caballero, third from left, and manager Aaron Boone, left, exchange views with home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski, second from left, and second base umpire John Tumpane, front right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) receives a mound visit from catcher Ali Sánchez (39) after loading the bases during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' José Caballero, third from left, and manager Aaron Boone, left, exchange views with home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski, second from left, and second base umpire John Tumpane, front right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Max Schuemann reaches home to score in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk after an RBI single from Anthony Volpe during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Ali Sánchez hits a RBI double off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Patrick Corbin during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe hits an RBI single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Patrick Corbin during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Paul Goldschmidt hit an infield single off Braydon Fisher (2-2) to begin the ninth and advanced on Fisher’s throwing error. After Ryan McMahon ran for Goldschmidt, Rice drilled a 381-foot homer, his 19th.
Jasson Domínguez and Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked before Caballero connected off Tommy Nance for his sixth of the season.
The AL East-leading Yankees won 3-1 Saturday when Goldschmidt hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth.
Camilo Doval (3-0) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth for the win.
Toronto’s Davis Schneider hit a solo home run, his second, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue Jays.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider was ejected for arguing with home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski after a balk call against Jeff Hoffman put Chisholm at third base with one out in the eighth. After the argument, Hoffman struck out Max Schuemann and Anthony Volpe to leave Chisholm stranded.
Volpe and Ali Sánchez had back-to-back RBI hits in the second. The Blue Jays answered with two-out RBI hits by Kazuma Okamoto in the third and Nathan Lukes in the fourth.
Volpe’s two-out single restored New York’s lead in the top of the sixth, but Davis Schneider homered in the bottom half.
Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez was scratched because of a sore left wrist. Toronto was without Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (back) for the second straight game.
Yankees: RHP Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA) is scheduled to start Tuesday against White Sox RHP Davis Martin (9-2, 2.41).
Blue Jays: Toronto begins a three-game series at Boston on Tuesday. Neither team had announced a starter.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Yankees pitcher Will Warren (29) receives a mound visit from catcher Ali Sánchez (39) after loading the bases during the second inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' José Caballero, third from left, and manager Aaron Boone, left, exchange views with home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski, second from left, and second base umpire John Tumpane, front right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto, Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Max Schuemann reaches home to score in front of Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk after an RBI single from Anthony Volpe during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Ali Sánchez hits a RBI double off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Patrick Corbin during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Yankees' Anthony Volpe hits an RBI single off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Patrick Corbin during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Sunday June 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
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)
