Jensen finishes a single shy of the cycle to help Royals win 7-3 and avoid sweep against Marlins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Carter Jensen finished a single shy of hitting for the cycle with a home run, triple and a double while driving in three runs and scoring three times as the Kansas City Royals defeated the Miami Marlins 7-3 on Thursday night to avoid a three-game sweep.

The game was played in front of just 10,803 with a game-time temperature of 97 degrees.

Jensen has three home runs in the last two games for the Royals, who are tied with the Colorado Rockies and the Athletics with 10 series in which they've been swept this season.

Michael Wacha (9-8) allowed three runs in six innings, walked two and struck out seven.

Sandy Alcantara (13-9) allowed four runs and six hits through six innings for the Marlins, who were attempting to earn their third sweep against an American League team this season.

Heriberto Hernández took Wacha's first pitch out to left-center for his first career leadoff home run. The Marlins added another run in the second when Jakob Marsee led off with a double and scored on Joe Mack's single.

The Royals answered with a pair of runs in the third. Jensen's RBI triple drove in Kyle Isbel and he scored on a two-out double by Jac Caglianone.

The Marlins came right back in the fourth when Wacha gave up a leadoff extra-base hit for the fourth straight inning, a 426-foot home run to Agustín Ramirez.

Jensen and Isbel combined again in the fifth. Isbel laced a one-out single and Jensen followed with a 440-foot blast to right field for a 4-3 lead against Alcantara.

The Royals added three runs in the eighth.

Marlins: Return home Friday to host the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have not announced a starter to face Miami RHP Justin Junk (6-8, 4.11 ERA).

Royals: Host the Toronto Blue Jays, who have not announced a starter. The Royals will start LHP Daniel Lynch (4-4, 3.06).

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone runs to second after hitting an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Miami Marlins' Heriberto Hernandez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Miami Marlins' Heriberto Hernandez celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Kansas City Royals' Carter Jensen celebrates as he crosses the plate after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

NEW YORK (AP) — Alex Eala and her fans are headed to the weekend at the U.S. Open, along with two-time champion Naomi Osaka and 2023 winner Coco Gauff.

So is Madison Keys — just barely — but not No. 3 Felix Auger-Aliassime, who became the highest-seeded player knocked out of the tournament thus far. No. 6 Alex de Minaur losing in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp made it four of the top-10 seeded men's players to get eliminated before the third round.

Osaka recovered after a mid-match lapse to advance to the third round with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over Katerina Siniakova on Thursday, before Eala beat Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-1, 6-4.

Doubles play also began, though Serena and Venus Williams won’t play their first-round match until Friday night against Hao-Ching Chan and Maya Joint, who beat Serena in singles play at Wimbledon this summer.

Eala, the No. 17 seed from the Philippines, gave her passionate backers reason to cheer immediately by winning the first nine points against her Ukrainian opponent, who had won their only previous meeting.

“I think everybody represents something in their own way; I’m Filipino and I proudly represent that,” Eala said. “And a lot of the crowd here today is Filipino and I’m sure they share in that sentiment.”

Osaka wore silver and white under her long white jacket with a white visor as she arrived for her match in Arthur Ashe Stadium, three days after she was dressed in black with her hair done in cornrows under a headband in a tribute to former NBA superstar Allen Iverson for her opener at night.

The No. 13 seed won the first set in 30 minutes and then opened a 4-2 lead in the second. But her level of play took a substantial dip, with 20 unforced errors in the set after only four in the first.

Osaka quickly regained control, breaking for a 2-0 lead in the third before finishing a 19-shot rally with a volley for a winner en route to taking the next game, appearing more relieved than excited by her nice touch.

“The match was definitely really tough and I don’t know, I just felt like I had to fight,” Osaka said. “I definitely had a couple opportunities in the second set and I think I was a little bit too hard on myself. So I took the bathroom break, regrouped a little, came back and just tried to have no regrets.”

Auger-Aliassime said he was feeling dizzy and seeing spots and couldn't recover, falling to Karen Khachanov 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

“Karen is a great player. Look, I cannot beat him or anybody in this draw feeling the way I felt today,” the Canadian said. “If I cannot move, we’re not talking about tennis here.”

The highest seed to fall so far had been No. 4 Novak Djokovic, who lost in the first round at the U.S. Open for the first time in the 24-time Grand Slam champion's career.

Keys, the 2017 runner-up, also was on the verge of an early exit before erasing five match points and edging Anna Bondar 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (10-5).

“That was something, huh? No stress, though, we all knew I had it right?” Keys joked to the fans afterward.

Other winners included 2022 champion Iga Swiatek and 2025 runner-up Amanda Anisimova. Taylor Fritz, the 2024 men's runner-up, eased to 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 victory over Mattia Bellucci, while fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli defeated Tristan Schoolkate 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

Gauff, who won her first major title at Flushing Meadows three years ago, moved on by beating Paula Badosa 6-4, 7-6 (5) under the lights on Ashe in just under two hours. Badosa was playing for a third consecutive day, forced to finish her first-round match Wednesday after play was suspended Tuesday because of rain that hampered the tournament for multiple days.

“Paula's a tough player,” Gauff said. “I don't think there was too much I did wrong. I feel like she really stepped it up.”

No. 1 Alexander Zverev faces Quentin Halys in the nightcap, hoping for an easier time after needing five sets to edge Lorenzo Sonego on Tuesday, barely avoiding becoming the first No. 1 seed to lose in the first round of a men's major since 2003.

Also in action Thursday night was Gael Monfils, who is planning to retire after this year but won Tuesday on his 40th birthday to prolong his Grand Slam career and advance to face No. 14 Learner Tien.

See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, returns the ball to Karen Khachanov, of Russia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Coco Gauff, of the United States, celebrates during the second set of her match against Paula Badosa, of Spain, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Alexandra Eala, of the Philippines, gestures after she won her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova, of Ukraine, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Felix Auger-Aliassime, of Canada, falls as he tries to return the ball to Rinky Hijikata, of Australia, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Madison Keys, of the United States, celebrates after she defeated Anna Bondar, of Hungary, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, hands off her arrival outfit ahead of a match against Katerina Siniakova, of the Czech Republic, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, returns the ball to Nadia Podoroska, of Argentina, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, arrives ahead of a match against Katerina Siniakova, of the Czech Republic, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, arrives ahead of a match against Katerina Siniakova, of the Czech Republic, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Naomi Osaka, of Japan, reacts during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships against Katerina Siniakova, of the Czech Republic, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)