SEATTLE (AP) — Kyle Bradish struck out a career-high 12 while pitching one-run ball into the eighth inning as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday homered to help the Orioles stop a three-game skid. Bradish (4-7) allowed five hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings, throwing 65 of his 100 pitches for strikes.
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Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish, center, greets teammates, including third baseman Blaze Alexander (23) as he is relieved against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson follows through on a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Yennier Cano got the final out in the eighth and Ryan Helsley gave up home runs to Dominic Canzone and Cole Young on his first two pitches in the ninth before closing it out in his first appearance since April 28.
Blaze Alexander had a one-out single off George Kirby (5-7) in the third and Henderson hit his 15th homer one out later for a 2-0 lead.
Julio Rodríguez doubled in the fourth to become the third-fastest player in major league history to reach 125 homers, doubles and stolen bases.
The 25-year-old center fielder needed 665 games to accomplish the feat. The only players to do it faster were Ronald Acuña Jr. (591 games) and Alfonso Soriano (643 games).
Canzone followed with an RBI single that cut it to 2-1.
Rodríguez was removed after speaking with an athletic trainer in the dugout following a strikeout to end the sixth. After the game, Mariners manager Dan Wilson told reporters Rodríguez felt a spasm in his hamstring.
Pete Alonso had an infield hit and Leodys Taveras followed with a two-out triple to give Baltimore a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Orioles right fielder Tyler O'Neill took away a solo home run from Cal Raleigh in the bottom half.
Holliday drew a leadoff walk from Alex Hoppe in the seventh, advanced to third on a single by Alexander and scored on double-play grounder by Taylor Ward to make it 4-1.
Holliday homered for the fourth time this season in the ninth, a solo shot off Michael Rucker.
Alexander went 3 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base.
Canzone hit his 11th home run to start the ninth against Helsley, and Young followed with his sixth. It was the first two homers allowed this season by the right-hander, who came off the injured list Tuesday after being sidelined by right elbow inflammation.
Orioles RHP Shane Baz (4-6, 4.06 ERA) starts the rubber game of the series Thursday opposite Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (5-5, 4.28).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher George Kirby throws against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish, center, greets teammates, including third baseman Blaze Alexander (23) as he is relieved against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson follows through on a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish throws against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
While many of the World Cup’s competing nations are wracked by social divisions, some of their teams offer strikingly positive examples of how players from different backgrounds and religious faiths can cooperate closely in pursuit of a common goal.
The phenomenon is particularly notable among Western European teams, which for most of soccer’s history were overwhelmingly white and Christian. As those societies have increasingly diversified, so have the national team rosters — featuring Christian and Muslim players who are open about their faith.
England’s national squad, for the first time, includes a Muslim player. France’s roster has multiple players from Protestant, Catholic and Muslim backgrounds. Spain’s emerging superstar, 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, is a practicing Muslim. So is Sweden’s Yasin Ayari, who prostrated himself on the field to thank God after the first of his two goals in a victory Sunday over Tunisia — his father’s homeland.
All four of those nations — like several others in Europe — have experienced political polarization related to the arrival of large numbers of Muslim immigrants. Does the diversity of the World Cup teams send a potentially helpful message?
“Absolutely,” said Eboo Patel, who — as president of Interfaith America — advocates for religious pluralism and cooperation. “It is symbolic yet also substantive.”
He evoked the images of Christian players crossing themselves, and Muslim players cupping their hands in prayer. Their message, Patel said, is, “My identity really matters to me and it makes me a better soccer player.”
“They score, they each say their respective prayers, and then they’re hugging each other,” he added. “You’re cooperating to build a community and a team. … It’s not a contrived television ad or a condescending afterschool special. It’s the way you build an excellent soccer team.”
These are some of the World Cup players whose openness about their faith has drawn attention:
By far the best known of Egypt’s players, Salah is a Sunni Muslim who practices his faith openly, on and off the field. After scoring goals, he often prostrates himself to give thanks to God. His positive impact has been tangible: After he joined Liverpool in the Premier League, researchers reported that anti-Muslim tweets by fans dropped by half.
Playing in his fifth World Cup, Modrić, 40, is set to surpass 200 international appearances during the tournament. A Catholic, Modrić has often worn shin guards depicting Jesus and the Virgin Mary. A few days before he and his teammates traveled to the United States, they gathered to celebrate Mass at a chapel in the Croatian town of Icici.
Although the Football Association has not kept records of players' religions, the BBC — among other news outlets — has identified Spence as the first Muslim to play for the senior England team. A fullback with Tottenham, Spence played six times for England’s under-21 squad. “It’s good to make history and hopefully inspire young kids around the world that they can make it as well,” Spence told the BBC. “They can do what I am doing.”
Yamal, a Muslim whose father is Moroccan, attracted headlines worldwide when he waved the Palestinian flag during Barcelona’s celebrations after it won the Spanish league in May. Barcelona coach Hansi Flick questioned the decision at the time; Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, later criticized Yamal by saying he was inciting “hate.”
The son of a Christian minister in London, Guéhi, 25, is playing his first season with Manchester City and was selected to be one of England’s defenders for the World Cup. While captain at his previous club Crystal Palace, Guéhi defied the Football Association’s rules by writing religious messages on his uniform during a Premier League campaign celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion. Guéhi avoided punishment, though the FA prohibits players from displaying religious messages.
Religious minorities have long faced persecution in Iraq. Yet this year’s World Cup team includes Kurds, Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and several Christians — notable since Iraq’s Christian population is estimated to have fallen from 1.5 million in 2003 to about 150,000 now. One of those Christians, midfielder Aimar Sher, has eagerly shared his faith, posting photos on social media of him wearing an “I Belong to Jesus” T-shirt.
U.S. forward Pulisic has spoken openly about his Christian faith and often wears a cross necklace given by his mother. He has led team Bible studies; his Instagram posts have included photos of the Bible, showing passages he has underlined. Several of Pulisic’s teammates also are open about their Christian faith, including Weston McKennie and goalkeeper Matt Freese. McKennie’s Instagram bio contains just four words: “All glory to God.”
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
FILE - FC Barcelona player Lamine Yamal holds a Palestinian flag as he celebrates with his team atop a bus after winning the Spanish La Liga title in Barcelona, Spain, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo, File)
FILE - Qatar's Issa Laye prays after the World Cup Group B soccer match between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara, Calif., June 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
FILE - Croatia's Luka Modric lines up before the international friendly soccer match between Croatia and Slovenia in Varazdin, Croatia, June 7, 2026, (AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
FILE - Egypt's Mohamed Salah gestures as he speaks to his teammates during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Belgium and Egypt in Seattle, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File)
FILE - Sweden's Yasin Ayari (18) celebrates after scoring their opening goal during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Sweden and Tunisia in Guadalupe, near Monterrey, Mexico, Sunday, June 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa, File)
