SAN DIEGO (AP) — Max Kepler homered to lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to an 8-0 win over the San Diego Padres on Monday night, his first home run since returning from an 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Kepler hit a 94 mph four-seam fastball from Padres starter Walker Buehler 417-feet into the right field bleachers to give the Diamondbacks a 6-0 lead in the third inning. Kepler also had an RBI single in the first inning for a four-RBI night.
“I think it was just what we needed — one swing of the bat,” Kepler said of his homer. “I’m ready to go, to swing, to hack.”
Kepler was suspended in January for a positive test for Epitrenbolone, a metabolite of Trenbolone that’s contained in some products used in body-building stores and has been used in products to promote cattle growth.
He was activated by the Diamondbacks on June 25.
“The Kepler three-run home run was clearly the big blow in this game. When it left the bat it was very clear to everybody that it would be a homer,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “It was nice to see him get off the ground and hit his first homer (with Arizona).”
Lovullo credits Kepler’s early batting practice as being a key in his hot night.
“He took an unbelievable early BP today so we feel like this is coming,” Lovullo said of Kepler’s progress. “It is about getting his legs under him, getting him strong and repeating swings.”
It was Kepler’s 180th career home run but he said even though it was his first after the suspension, it wasn’t any more special than any of his previous home runs. The homer was his first at Petco Park in San Diego.
“San Diego is kind of strange, especially at night, the ball doesn’t really fly,” Kepler said. “But I knew it (was a homer) off the bat.”
Kepler was asked about how it felt rounding the bases and meeting his teammates in the dugout after the homer.
“I was just a little excited that I hit a home run today. Everything was kind of blurry,” he said. “I’ll try and slow everything down next time.”
He said he is feeling good at the plate and wants to continue to be aggressive.
“Given my situation, coming in halfway through the season, I am patient with myself,” Kepler said. “I am grateful once I get to step onto the field. I am grateful I get to play this game.”
Arizona Diamondbacks' Max Kepler, right, is congratulated by Gabriel Moreno, center, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., left, after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
Arizona Diamondbacks' Max Kepler runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the San Diego Padres in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, July 6, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)
SEATTLE (AP) — United States forward Christian Pulisic could only watch from the bench as Belgium extinguished his team's World Cup bid, ending a tournament in which the American star was hobbled by injuries and largely ineffective.
The most accomplished U.S. striker, Pulisic was held scoreless in his second World Cup. He has 33 goals in 90 international appearances but has scored just once in eight World Cup games — against Iran in the group stage in 2022.
For the second time in this World Cup, Pulisic left a match in the second half with an injury, leaving Monday's 4-1 loss to Belgium after twisting his right ankle when he extended for a shot attempt and hit the boot of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans in the 52nd minute.
After spending a few moments lying on the pitch, Pulisic began favoring the foot and was replaced in the 59th by Sebastian Berhalter with the U.S. trailing 3-1.
Having to come out of the game was “difficult for me to deal with,” he said.
“I felt really good this summer with the guys and I thought my level was high,” Pulisic said. “It’s disappointing I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to get over this next step of beating a really good team.”
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the game he hoped Pulisic's injury was nothing serious and that Pulisic would be able to reintegrate with his club, AC Milan. Players typically get 21 days off after the end of the World Cup before having to report to their clubs.
Pulisic was slowed by a calf injury during the group stage. After a sparkling first half in the first U.S. game, a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, he sat for the rest of the match due to stiffness from a calf injury incurred in training.
He sat out the Americans' win over Australia before entering as a substitute in the group-stage loss to Turkey. Pulisic returned to the starting lineup for the Americans' 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32.
He said Monday he will “try and stay positive,” adding: “I did a lot of good things and the team did as well.”
“He's going to bounce back,” American defender Alex Freeman said. “He's a great player and a person that's always going to fight.”
AP Sports Writer Andrew Destin contributed to this report.
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) is looked after by Giovanni Reyna (7) and Belgium's Timothy Castagne (21) after being injured during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Referee Adham Makhadmeh, of Jordan, checks on United States' Christian Pulisic (10) after a challenge during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)
United States' Christian Pulisic, second from right, watches from the bench during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the United States and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
United States' Christian Pulisic reacts after a challenge during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match against Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
