Messi has a goal and assist as Inter Miami plays the Union to a 2-2 draw

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Lionel Messi had a goal and assist as Inter Miami and the Philadelphia Union played to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.

Messi’s cross was headed by Luis Suarez into the path of forward Daniel Pinter for the first Inter Miami goal in the 21st minute.

Messi cut inside to his preferred left foot from 12 yards out in the 26th and curled a shot into the corner of the net for his first goal since returning to action following the death of his father.

Messi has 13 goals and nine assists in 17 MLS games this season. He has six goals and four assists in six matches in all competitions against the Union.

Indiana Vassilev scored on a volley in the first half to give the Union the lead, then 18-year-old defender Neil Pierre headed home his third goal in five games this season in the 58th minute to tie the score. Cavan Sullivan, the Union’s 16-year-old midfielder, was credited with his seventh assist of the season on Vassilev’s goal.

Union forward Milan Iloski appeared to put the Union ahead in the 62nd minute, but the goal was reviewed and waved off with Pierre offside in the buildup.

The game ended with a pair of red cards in stoppage time to Yannick Bright and Sullivan for a scuffle off the ball.

Inter Miami (11-3-6) entered the game in second place in the Eastern Conference after losing to first-place Nashville on Saturday, 4-1. Messi played 90 minutes in that loss, in which he missed a penalty, hit the post twice and assisted on Telasco Segovia’s goal. He had a game-high 11 shot attempts.

Miami had lost three straight games in all competitions entering Wednesday, having lost to a pair of Mexican clubs in the Leagues Cup. The Nashville loss ended a seven-game unbeaten run in MLS (6-0-1) dating to May 9.

Messi appeared as a sub in the Aug. 12 loss to Leon, playing 45 minutes. He missed the Aug. 8 match against Monterrey to travel home for the funeral of his father, Jorge, who died on Aug. 7.

The Union (5-10-5) are unbeaten in five games (4-0-1) since Ryan Richter was named interim coach.

Rodrigo De Paul, who like Messi was part of Argentina’s runner-up team at the World Cup, was suspended Wednesday night for yellow-card accumulation.

Inter Miami beat the Union, 6-4, on May 24, the last game before the World Cup break for both teams. Messi didn’t have a goal, but Suarez scored a hat trick in helping Miami rally from first-half deficits for 2-0 and 3-1.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Inter Miami's Leo Messi (10) and teammates run onto the field ahead of an MLS soccer match against the Philadelphia Union, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Inter Miami's Leo Messi, right, passes past Philadelphia Union's Milan Iloski, left, and Indiana Vassilev, center, during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Inter Miami's Leo Messi, center right, celebrates after scoring against the Philadelphia Union during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Inter Miami's Leo Messi, right, controls the ball under pressure from Philadelphia Union's Kai Wagner during the first half of an MLS soccer match, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Pete Alonso's drive down the left-field line in the seventh inning was ruled foul, and the New York Yankees took advantage of that reprieve, scoring twice in the top of the eighth to beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Wednesday night.

Alonso, who had already homered in the third, nearly went deep again with the score tied at 3. His fly to left was initially called foul. One replay seemed to show the ball on the fair side of the pole, but it wasn't clear what angle it was shot from.

After a review, the call stood and Alonso ended up striking out.

The following inning, Cam Sanders (1-1) loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batters. Yennier Cano came on with two outs, and George Lombard Jr. hit a slow roller for an infield single to put New York ahead. Then a wild pitch made it 5-3.

Brent Headrick (7-2) won in relief. David Bednar worked the ninth for his 29th save in 32 chances.

Ben Rice homered for New York, and Alonso and Dylan Beavers went deep for the Orioles. Baltimore has lost three straight since pulling briefly ahead in the race for the American League's final wild card.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on a double steal. Gunnar Henderson swiped second base while Jackson Holliday dashed from third to home.

Ryan McMahon's RBI single in the second tied it, and Lombard followed with a sacrifice fly.

Rice's 34th home run went an estimated 447 feet in the third to make it 3-1. The ball landed just under the big scoreboard in right-center field at Camden Yards.

But Alonso extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a drive to the same part of the ballpark, just a little shorter than Rice's. He has 29 homers in his first year in Baltimore.

Beavers tied it in the sixth off Fernando Cruz with an opposite-field drive to left — just to the right of where the wall out there deepens.

The Yankees try for a sweep Thursday night with Gerrit Cole (6-6) on the mound against Baltimore's Kyle Bradish (7-11).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson (2) advances toward second base past New York Yankees first baseman Luis García Jr. (26) after hitting a double during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Yankees starting pitcher Will Warren delivers during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

New York Yankees' Ben Rice hits a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Orioles' Pete Alonso (25) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)