ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There were only two umpires on the field in the top of the first inning when the San Diego Padres and Texas Rangers began their game Friday night.
Because of travel issues, Emil Jimenez and John Bacon were the lone umps ready to go by first pitch. Gabe Morales and Mike Muchlinski arrived and joined them on the field in the middle of the first, about the same time Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta was being ejected from the game.
With Jimenez behind home plate calling balls and strikes, Bacon was in the field alone in the top of the first, and he ejected Ureta for arguing a check-swing after San Diego had scored five runs off Jacob deGrom. The Rangers scored six in the bottom of the first and went on to a wild 9-7 win.
DeGrom and the Rangers thought they had gotten out of the top of the first down only 1-0. Rangers catcher Elias Díaz pointed toward first base to appeal when Xander Bogaerts checked his swing on a 2-2 count, but Bacon was behind the mound at the time and signaled no swing. So instead of strike three, it was a full count and Bogaerts walked on the next pitch to load the bases ahead of Ty France's grand slam.
“Um, that was close,” deGrom said.
“I will say that the two umpires at the beginning of the game wasn’t ideal,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I’m not sure what happened there and I’ve got to find out because that’s not easy for them. ... That was a big moment in the game, so I do wonder what happened there.”
Jimenez, Morales and Muchlinski had worked with Doug Eddings at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, when the Chicago White Sox beat New York.
With only half the normal umpire crew available at the start of the game, both teams were given an additional replay challenge for the series opener. Managers usually begin each game with one challenge, and retain that if a challenged call is overturned. But none of the challenges were used.
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Umpires John Bacon, left, and Emil Jimenez, right, talk to Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue, center, and Texas Rangers first base coach Travis Jankowski during a pregame meeting prior to a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
SEATTLE (AP) — Christian Pulisic’s injury absence didn’t hurt the United States one bit.
The Americans advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup without their injured star forward, beating Australia 2-0 on Friday for their second straight victory in the expanded 48-team tournament. The U.S. then won Group D when Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 early Saturday morning.
“C.P. is a fantastic player — the quality and the leadership that he gives us,” said Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals in the 4-1 victory over Paraguay on June 12. “We didn’t have him today, but I think you saw we’re still capable to go out there and get a result and put up a performance.”
As the Group D winner, the U.S. will play a round-of-32 match on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, against a third-place group finisher.
Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan and has 33 goals in 87 international appearances, missed Friday’s match because of a calf injury.
Playing without a talent like Pulisic could have derailed previous American World Cup teams. But much has changed since the last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, when it advanced by being one of the best third-place teams. The Americans lost to eventual champion Brazil in the round of 16.
The U.S. has won consecutive games at a World Cup for the first time since 1930. The Americans have scored six goals, one off their record for a World Cup, and received contributions throughout their roster.
Alex Freeman, the youngest player on the team at 21 and the son of former NFL wide receiver and Super Bowl champion Antonio Freeman, made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute off a set piece. Freeman headed in a deflected shot by Sergiño Dest for his first career World Cup goal. The goal was confirmed after a video review.
“(He) is doing a fantastic job,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said of Freeman. “The evolution is massive. He’s so humble. He wants to learn. He always listens. He’s a player that you really enjoy being with him. Not only coaching, but being with him.”
The U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute after a run down the left sideline by Balogun.
He directed a centering pass toward striker Ricardo Pepi, who started in place of Pulisic. The ball never reached Pepi, deflecting off Australia defender Cameron Burgess and into the Socceroos’ net for an own-goal.
“I want to be dangerous, I want to create opportunities,” Balogun said. “It might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it's like a goal as well. It was a special start to the game to give us the momentum.”
The Americans did not score after halftime, but the way they so thoroughly dominated Australia in the opening 45 minutes left an impression on Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
“It did not surprise us because their quality is clear,” Popovic said. “Their power is clear. Their athleticism is clear. They are not surprising in what they did.”
Expectations will only increase for the U.S. as momentum builds around the team. The Americans' start to the tournament has not changed Pochettino's perception of his squad and its potential.
“I think it’s much better when you show good performances and win the games,” Pochettino said. “I think that makes it easier, everything. But, at the same time, it’s (important) to keep believing.”
The U.S. learned it can get out of the group stage without Pulisic. And it has the roster to make a deep run.
“We know how vital Christian is to the team and how much he can contribute in the game,” Freeman said. “For us it was, we have Ricardo Pepi, who came in and had an amazing game. I think that just shows how (good) our roster is.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
United States' Alex Freeman (16), second left, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach fails to stop a goal by United States' Alex Freeman, center, during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
United States' Alex Freeman (16) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
United States' Weston McKennie (8) waves to the fans after the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Australia's Paul Okon-Engstler fights for the ball with United States' Weston McKennie, right, during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) acknowledges fans during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)
United States' Alex Freeman (16) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
United States' Alex Freeman celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
United States' Ricardo Pepi (9) and Australia's Harry Souttar (19) fight for the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
United States goalkeeper Matt Freese (24) reacts during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
United States' Folarin Balogun (20) and Antonee Robinson (5) celebrate after scoring during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
United States fans hold signs on the stand during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Australia's Aiden O'Neill (13) appeals for offside after United States' Alex Freeman (16) scored a goal past Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach (18) during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)
