García and Crews key 5-run 5th inning as Nationals beat Royals 7-3

WASHINGTON (AP) — Luis García Jr. hit a go-ahead single, Dylan Crews added a three-run homer and the Washington Nationals scored five times in the fifth inning to beat the Kansas City Royals 7-3 on Monday night.

Washington (38-35) has won seven of 10 and moved three games over .500 for the first time since 2019, when the Nationals won the World Series.

García's two-run single in the fifth gave the Nationals a 4-3 lead. Three batters later, Crews launched a drive to left field for his fourth homer this season.

Curtis Mead got Washington on the board in the third with a two-out single that bounced off the glove of Royals second baseman Nick Loftin and into center field for a 2-0 lead.

Brad Lord (5-0) threw three innings in relief and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out two. Nationals starter Andrew Alvarez gave up one run in four innings, striking out five.

Starling Marte scored for Kansas City in the fourth on Carter Jensen's infield single, and Maikel Garcia added a two-run single in the fifth that gave the Royals a 3-2 lead.

Kansas City starter Mitch Spence (0-1) was charged with six runs and seven hits in four-plus innings.

Royals RHP Michael Wacha (4-5, 3.58 ERA) starts Tuesday against Nationals LHP Foster Griffin (7-2, 3.46).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews (3) is greeted by Daylen Lile, front right, after hitting a three-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Mason Black which also scored Luis García Jr. during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) CORRECTION: Corrects to three-run home run not two-run home run

Kansas City Royals pitcher Mitch Spence (54) is removed by manager Matt Quatraro, third from right, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals' James Wood (29) slides into home plate and scores on single hit by Curtis Mead off Kansas City Royals pitcher Mitch Spence during the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals players greet each other after defeating the Kansas City Royals in a baseball game, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews (3) is greeted by Daylen Lile, front right, after hitting a two-run home run off Kansas City Royals pitcher Mason Black which also scored Luis García Jr. during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

Washington Nationals' Luis García Jr., left, hits a single off Kansas City Royals pitcher Mitch Spence which scored Keibert Ruiz and Nasim Nuñez during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, June 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Iran opened its politically charged World Cup by playing to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night, overcoming two deficits and getting the tying goal from Mohammad Mohebbi in the 64th minute.

Ramin Rezaeian scored an early goal and assisted on Mohebbi's goal for the Iranians, whose World Cup cycle has been in upheaval since the U.S. and Israel began a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Iran ultimately decided to compete even after FIFA rejected its request to move its three group-stage matches out of the U.S.

Iran moved its training base during the tournament from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, and the team is flying into the U.S. on the day before each game before returning quickly to Mexico. Captain Mehdi Taremi acknowledged that this World Cup has been a difficult experience containing little of the joy that soccer represents to him and his teammates.

Team Melli began the tournament before a strong pro-Iranian crowd at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, which has the world’s largest population of Iranians outside Iran. While several hundred Iranian Americans protested the government outside, many fans from the diaspora jeered and turned their backs on the field during the national anthem — but almost all appeared to support the Iranian players once the match kicked off.

Elijah Just scored early in each half for New Zealand, but Iran responded twice to keep the All Whites winless in their World Cup history. New Zealand still matched its entire goal total from each of its two previous World Cup runs while posting an impressive result against a team ranked 65 places higher by FIFA.

After the raucous pregame atmosphere, New Zealand stunned the crowd in the seventh minute when captain Chris Wood intercepted a goal kick and eventually forced the ball to Just, who volleyed home a beautiful goal in traffic.

Iran found its footing and equalized in the 32nd minute when Rezaeian chipped a goal with the outside of his boot.

Just connected again in the 54th minute with more help from Wood, who held up play and found Just for a shot through traffic.

But Iran equalized again in the 64th minute when Rezaeian put a perfect long pass on the head of Mohebbi. Both teams had scoring chances afterward, but couldn't connect.

Players from both teams embraced and shook hands after the final whistle, with at least one jersey swap occurring. While Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei sat by himself in the dugout, his players gathered together and walked around the field applauding their thousands of flag-waving, roaring fans.

Iran is ranked 20th in its seventh World Cup appearance, including four straight. Team Melli has never advanced from the group stage.

New Zealand qualified for its first World Cup since 2010 despite being the lowest-rated team in the field, entering at 85th in the world. The All Whites seized the first automatic qualifying berth for the 13-member Oceania Football Confederation after the World Cup expanded to 48 teams.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

An attendees holds an Iranian flag with an "X" on it before the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Iran's Arya Yousefi (17) and New Zealand's Joe Bell (6) battle for the ball during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Iran's Milad Mohammadi (5) jumps over New Zealand's Callum McCowatt (20) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Iran's Ramin Rezaeian (23) celebrates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Iran's Ramin Rezaeian (23) celebrates with his teammates after scoring a goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Iran and New Zealand in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)