CHICAGO (AP) – Nathan Church and Masyn Winn hit three-run homers and the St. Louis Cardinals had 17 hits overall to cool off the Chicago Cubs 17-1 on Friday.

CINCINNATI (AP) – The Baltimore Orioles placed closer Ryan Helsley on the 15-day injured list Friday with right elbow discomfort.

ATLANTA (AP) – The Atlanta Braves signed former NL MVP outfielder Andrew McCutchen to a minor league contract on Friday in their ongoing search for a veteran who can provide offensive help.

World Cup fans came from overseas for the cheering. But they’re also doing a lot of chewing, delighting their hosts with rave reviews of North American cuisine.

It’s become one of the enduring scenes of the U.S. team during this World Cup: jubilant U.S. players joining tens of thousands of fans in singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” at the end of their matches.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) – Lionel Messi has scored again, making Friday’s contest against Cape Verde the record-extending eighth consecutive World Cup match in which Argentina’s captain has delivered at least one goal.

The World Cup Round of 16 has arrived.

NEW YORK (AP) – More than half of the WNBA ‘s 180 players didn’t submit their ballots for All-Star starters ahead of this month’s game in Chicago, a person familiar with the balloting told The Associated Press on Friday.