LOS ANGELES (AP) — Catcher Eliézer Alfonzo made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday with his sister and stepmother still missing after Venezuela's catastrophic earthquakes.
The 26-year-old Alfonzo batted ninth and caught Emmet Sheehan in the Dodgers' home game against the San Diego Padres.
Alfonzo’s 16-year-old sister, Eliana, and his stepmother, Patricia, have been missing since multiple earthquakes hit his homeland on June 24. Several Latin American media outlets reported Sunday that their bodies had been found in the wreckage of the hotel in La Guaira where they were staying, but the Dodgers announced no confirmation of the reports.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he hadn't yet spoken to Alfonzo about two hours before the first pitch at Dodger Stadium.
“Don't really know what to say about it, outside of my heart goes out to him and his family,” Roberts said. “So he is in there. I think he's going to play today, but obviously it's — a heavy heart is not even justifying. I don't want to really go too far, because I'll get emotional. So I don't know. Yeah, I know it's tough. Very tough.”
After appearing in 581 minor league games over the past nine seasons, the Dodgers recalled Alfonzo on Saturday for his first major league opportunity.
Alfonzo spent nearly a decade in the Detroit Tigers’ system, progressing as far as their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo last year. He signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers last November, and he was batting .313 with 17 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
Veteran Dodgers starter Will Smith has been sidelined for nearly a month with a neck injury. Dalton Rushing took over behind the plate with veteran Chuckie Robinson as his backup, but the Dodgers decided to give a chance to Alfonzo this weekend.
Alfonzo's father, Eliézer Alfonzo Sr., spent parts of six seasons in the majors as a catcher for four teams from 2006-11. He also spent a year in the Dodgers' minor league system.
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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Eliezer Alfonzo looks toward the sky as he takes the field prior to a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Jude Bellingham scored two goals 98 seconds apart, Harry Kane converted a penalty when England was down to 10 men, and the Three Lions handed Mexico its first World Cup loss at Estadio Azteca, a wild 3-2 victory on Sunday night to reach the quarterfinals.
England moves on to face Norway on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a spot in the semifinals.
Bellingham stunned the crowd of more than 80,000 at a venue where Mexico was unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches, including three this year, when he scored on a header in the 36th minute and again in the 38th on a pass from Kane.
Julián Quiñones scored for El Tri in the 42nd minute, and the game appeared to turn in Mexico’s favor when England’s Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th for a dangerous foul on Jesús Gallardo.
But England was awarded a penalty for a challenge by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel, and Kane converted for his sixth goal of this tournament and 14th of his World Cup career, matching Gerd Müller of West Germany for fifth on the scoring list. Kane has six goals in this tournament, one behind Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race.
Kane then committed a foul that made him the first player since at least 1966 to score and concede a penalty in a World Cup game. Raúl Jiménez converted the kick with a stutter-step approach to move El Tri within 3-2.
Mexico attacked relentlessly over the final 21 minutes, plus 11 minutes of stoppage time, but goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and England's defenders held steady.
Mexico has not reached the quarterfinals since hosting in 1986. Since then, it has lost in the round of 16 eight times, failed to advance past the group stage in 2022 and was disqualified from the 1990 tournament.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saves a shot from Mexico's Raul Jimenez during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Mexico's Raul Jimenez, left, and England's Marc Guehi challenge for the ball during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)
Mexico's Cesar Montes, left, and England's Jude Bellingham (10) battle for the ball in front of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (1) during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan )
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates with teammate Harry Kane (9) after scoring his team's first goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
England's Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
