By DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

WASHINGTON — Anthony Rendon doubled in the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, Brian Dozier and Victor Robles homered, and the Washington Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 Sunday to ride a wave of momentum into the All-Star break.

Washington has won 10 of 12 to climb past Philadelphia into second place in the NL East. Since sinking to 19-31 on May 23, the Nationals have gone 28-11 and lost only one of 13 series.

Starting pitching has been a big reason for the turnaround. In extending a trend, left-hander Patrick Corbin struck out 11 and scattered five hits over seven scoreless innings.

Over the last seven games, Nationals starters have a 1.35 ERA with 65 strikeouts. It was the ninth time in the last 12 games that Washington starters allowed one run or fewer.

Corbin left with a 2-0 lead, courtesy of solo homers by Dozier and Robles, but the Royals pulled even in the eighth. After Fernando Rodney gave up a two-out RBI single to Adalberto Mondesi, Alex Gordon greeted Sean Doolittle (6-2) with a run-scoring double.

Washington emphatically answered in the bottom half against lefty Jake Diekman (0-6). Rendon’s RBI double to the gap in left-center was followed by an error and a two-run double by pinch-hitter Howie Kendrick.

Much earlier, the game developed into a pitching duel between Corbin and Jakob Junis, who ended up allowing two runs and five hits over seven innings.

Corbin struck out the first four batters he faced, fended off doubles in second and third innings and was backed by a fine fielding play in the fourth.

After Gordon and Hunter Dozier opened with singles, Cheslor Cuthbert blooped a single to center.

Robles made a quick pickup and fired to home, where Yan Gomes put the tag on Gordon.

BOUNCED IN RUBBER GAMES
The Royals fell to 1-8 in series deciding games, the lone exception a win over Detroit on June 13 to decide a three-game set. That remains KC’s lone victory in a rubber game since May 30, 2018. In addition, the Royals are 8-21 in series finales this year.

TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer has a sore back and will not pitch Tuesday in the All-Star Game, which enables him to get an eight-day break before his next start. “Our season matters so much more than the All-Star Game,” Scherzer said. … INF Ryan Zimmerman wasn’t in the starting lineup for a second straight day. “Everything’s good. This is kind of part of the deal moving forward,” said Zimmerman, who missed 53 games from April to late June with a foot injury. “It’s just going to be managing everything for the rest of the year, but I’ll take it. I’m just excited to be back and to be able to help.” … RHP Kyle Barraclough (sore forearm) was sent to Class A Potomac on a rehab assignment Sunday.

UP NEXT
Royals: Last-place Kansas City emerges from the All-Star break with a home game Friday night against the Detroit Tigers, the second-worst team in the AL Central.

Nationals: Washington comes out of the break with a Friday night visit to Philadelphia, home of Bryce Harper and the Phillies, who are also in hot pursuit of first-place Atlanta in the NL East.

LYON, France (AP) — The United States women’s soccer team was as good as American players promised — maybe even better.

Especially Megan Rapinoe, the pink-haired captain who emerged with the Golden Ball as top player, the Golden Boot as top scorer and a world-wide stature as a champion for gender equity.

The U.S. won its record fourth Women’s World Cup title and second in a row, beating the Netherlands 2-0 Sunday night when Rapinoe converted a tiebreaking penalty kick in the second half and Rose Lavelle added a goal.

Rapinoe scored in the 61st minute after a video review determined Stefanie van der Gragt had fouled Alex Morgan with a kick to the shoulder in the penalty area.

Two days past her 34th birthday, Rapinoe slotted the ball past goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal for her sixth goal of the tournament. The oldest player to score in a Women’s World Cup final, she struck a familiar victorious pose with arms outstretched.

“It’s surreal. I don’t know how to feel like now. It’s ridiculous,” Rapinoe said. “We’re crazy and that’s what makes us so special. We just have no quit in us. We’re so tight, and we’ll do anything to win.”

Lavelle, at 24 the team’s up-and-coming star, added her third goal of the tournament on an 18-yard left-footed shot in the 69th after a solo run from the center circle.

“She’s superstar, not even in the making, she’s straight up superstar at this point,” Rapinoe said.

Fans, many dressed in red, white and blue, chanted “Equal Pay!” at

, a reminder players sued the U.S. Soccer Federation in March claiming gender discrimination.

Rapinoe drew the ire of U.S. President Donald Trump during the tournament by saying she and teammates would refuse to visit the White House, part of the team’s wider push for gender equity. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio needed just a few seconds after the final whistle to invite the team to a ticker-tape parade up the Canyon on Heroes in Manhattan on Wednesday.

The Americans never trailed in the tournament and set records with 26 goals and a 12-game World Cup winning streak dating to 2015. U.S. coach Jill Ellis became the first coach to lead a team to two Women’s World Cup titles, and the U.S. joined Germany in 2003 and 2007 as the only repeat champions.

“It’s just chemistry. They put their hearts and soul into this journey,” Ellis said. “They made history.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino handed over the trophy, a stark contrast to four years ago in Canada, when then-president Sepp Blatter was a no-show as U.S. prosecutors investigated corruption in soccer’s governing body. While the U.S. added fourth star to its jersey, Germany is the only nation that has even two.

With confidence and brashness that some called even arrogant — triggering a backlash that the angry response was sexist — this American team established a standard of excellence that exceeded the U.S. champions of 1991, 1999 and 2015, becoming a goal for all others to match. Former American players joined the current generation on the field for the postgame celebration.

Alyssa Naeher, the 31-year-old who succeeded Hope Solo in goal, faced repeated questions entering the tournament but allowed just three goals in the tournament and finished with her fourth shutout.

The U.S. had scored within the first 12 minutes of its previous six matches in the tournament but the European champions sat back to keep their defensive shape and kept the score 0-0 through the first half.

Video review, adopted by FIFA for the men’s World Cup last year, showed its impact when Stephanie Frappart, the first woman to referee a men’s Ligue 1 match, went to the screen at the side of the field and then signaled toward the spot.

Rapinoe, who missed Tuesday’s semifinal win over England with a hamstring injury, became the first woman to score on a penalty kick during a Women’s World Cup final, her 50th goal in 158 international appearances. She matched Morgan and England’s Ellen White for most goals in the tournament and won the Golden Ball based on fewer minutes.

Rapinoe was given a standing ovation by the crowd when she subbed out in the 79th minute. The crowd of 57,900 at Stade de Lyon for Le Grand Finale included French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Americans opened the tournament with a record 13-0 rout of lowly Thailand, triggering debate over whether the celebrations after each goal were excessive. Carli Lloyd responded the next match by following a goal with a polite golf clap. The Morgan stirred it up again when she scored against England with a tea sip, pinkie outstretched.

LYON, France (AP) — The United States is about to conclude its summer in France with an opportunity to further cement its place as the best team on the international stage.

The U.S. faces the Netherlands on Sunday for the Women’s World Cup championship. A victory would give the Americans a second straight title and their fourth overall, more than any other nation

“I’m like a kid in the candy story right now,” U.S. star Megan Rapinoe said. “This is the absolute best stage. I already feel more anxious and more nervous than in any of the other games.”

The United States has won a record 11 straight World Cup matches dating back to 2015 in Canada, surpassing Norway’s record from 1995-99. The team has also been undefeated in a record 16 World Cup matches, surpassing Germany’s run between 2003 and 2007.

“We’ve celebrated the amazing moments. We’ve dug in, looked each other in the eye in the hard moments and gone through things as a team,” Rapinoe said. “And we get to this final moment and it’s one more game and it’s really just about experiencing that game in its fullest for the last time.”

The Americans face a Dutch team on the rise. After reaching the knockout round in only its first World Cup four years ago in Canada, the team won the European Championship for the Netherlands’ first major trophy. Dating back to the Euros, the Dutch have won 12 straight games in major tournaments.

They have star power in Lieke Martens, who was the FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year in 2017. She scored twice in the team’s 2-1 upset victory over Japan to open the knockout stage but she injured a toe in the celebration and it’s bothered her ever since.

In the Netherlands’ 1-0 extra-time victory over Sweden on Wednesday in the semifinals, Martens said it was painful. The United States defeated England on Tuesday night in its semi, giving the Americans an extra day to recuperate.

“As a player, you always want to play the biggest game of your career and this one of the biggest ones I hopefully am going to play,” Martens said.

Jackie Groenen, who became the first overseas signing for Manchester United after the recently formed women’s team was promoted to England’s Super League in May, scored the lone goal for the Dutch against the Swedes.

“It is amazing to be able to play the final. I am so proud. It is amazing to be playing in a team that gives you self-confidence. We give that to each other,” Groenen said. “We never knew this would be possible. It is one more match and we could be world champions. It will be difficult but it will be incredible to win.”

The top-ranked Americans pose a considerable challenge for the eighth-ranked Dutch.

The United States had a particularly challenging run to its third straight World Cup final, with a quarterfinal meeting against No. 4 France before the semi against No. 3 England. The Americans won both games 2-1.

They’d been strong from the start, announcing their arrival in France with a 13-0 trouncing of Thailand in the opener. Along the way the Americans also vanquished nemesis Sweden, the team that knocked them out of the 2016 Olympics in the quarterfinals.

“I think we’ve come from a tough road in terms of the teams we’ve played to get to this point, so for sure they’re battle tested. But what I love about this group is that they’re locked in and they’re still hungry,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said.

Alex Morgan leads the team, and the Golden Boot race, with six goals. Rapinoe has five, including four in the knockout round, but she did not play against England because of a minor hamstring issue. She said she expects to be ready for Sunday’s match. Ellis said no one has been ruled out.

“I feel so good about this group,” Ellis said. “They have a closeness that you’re optimistic to have as a coach but it doesn’t always come to fruition. This is a very, very close group, and I think that’s been a big part of what’s empowered them to this point. And obviously I think we’ve got talented players as well, you can’t do without that.”

The teams share a commonality in that both have female coaches, with Ellis guiding the United States and Sarina Wiegman in charge of the Netherlands. It’s the first time since 2003 that two women have matched wits as coaches in the World Cup final.

The most recent meeting between the two teams was in September 2016. The United States won 3-1 in Atlanta.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Austin Slater hit a pinch-hit grand slam, San Francisco overcame an early injury to Madison Bumgarner and the surging Giants held on to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-4. Pablo Sandoval homered and drove in three runs as the Giants won for the sixth time in eight games. Kevin Pillar added two hits. Paul Goldschmidt hit his 16th home run for St. Louis.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Max Scherzer sustained a dominant stretch with seven strong innings, Kurt Suzuki homered and the Washington Nationals beat the Kansas City Royals 6-0. The NL pitcher of the month for June, Scherzer allowed four hits and struck out 11 with one walk in his final start before heading to Tuesday’s All-Star Game. He struck out the side in the seventh.

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (AP) — Yohan Croizet scored in the 14th minute and Sporting Kansas City held on to beat the Chicago Fire 1-0. Felipe Gutiérrez launched the counterattack with a through ball from behind the center circle, splitting a pair of defenders with the pass and giving Croizet the opening to run behind and slot it past the onrushing goalkeeper.

National Headlines

UNDATED (AP) _ Kawhi (kah-WY’) Leonard has told the Raptors that he will be signing with the Clippers, and Danny Green announced subsequently that he will be leaving Toronto for a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the Heat completed a four-team trade to acquire forward Jimmy Butler from Philadelphia on a four-year, $142 million contract. Miami also gets Meyers Leonard from Portland and cash from the Clippers.

UNDATED (AP) _ The Portland Trail Blazers have signed All-Star point guard Damian Lillard to a four-year extension that would be worth $196 million if he exercises the final year of the deal in 2024-25. Nikola Vucevic has inked his four-year, $100 million contract with the Orlando Magic, who also inked Terrence Ross to a four-year, $54 million package. The Milwaukee Bucks have sent Malcolm Brogdon to the Indiana Pacers as part of a sign-and-trade that netted the former rookie of the year a four-year, $85 million deal.

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) _ Serena Williams hit serves at up to 120 mph, never faced break point and earned a 6-3, 6-4 victory over No. 18 Julia Goerges to advance to the fourth round at Wimbledon. Other winners on the women’s side Saturday include top seed Ash Barty and No. 6 Petra Kvitova (kuh-VIH’-toh-vah). Men’s second seed Roger Federer and No. 3 Rafael Nadal were straight sets-winners to join unseeded Americans Sam Querrey and Tennys Sandgren in the fourth round.

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) _ There’s a three-way tie for the lead through three rounds of the PGA’s 3M Open in Minnesota. Matthew Wolff fired a 9-under 62 to pull even with Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau at 15 under in the inaugural event at TPC Twin Cities. The 20-year-old Wolff won the NCAA individual title on Memorial Day and is playing in his third event since turning pro. Morikawa shot a 64, while DeChambeau had a 70 after opening the round with a two-stroke edge.

DAYTONA, Fla. (AP) _ Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway was postponed because of persistent poor weather and has been rescheduled for Sunday afternoon. The field was set by points once qualifying was washed out. Joey Logano is scheduled to start on the front row alongside Kyle Busch.

Saturday Scores

CHICAGO (AP) — Remember the U.S. men’s soccer team?

It’s also playing for a trophy on Sunday, taking on Mexico at Soldier Field in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Gone from the national sports consciousness since its October 2017 loss at Trinidad and Tobago ended a streak of seven straight World Cup appearances, the men’s program is trying to regroup under new coach Gregg Berhalter.

The American women play the Netherlands in France at 11 a.m. EDT, chasing their fourth world championship, and they are livid they have to share the spotlight with the Copa America final between host Brazil and Peru at 4 p.m. and the U.S. men seeking their seventh Gold Cup title at 9:15 p.m.

“I look at it differently. I think that this is an opportunity to be Soccer Day in America,” Berhalter said. “When you think about the opportunity for the women to win the World Cup in the morning and then you get to I think party for half the afternoon, then you get to take a little nap, and then you get up, you go to the game and you enjoy the final of Gold Cup.”

The men have outscored opponents 15-1 in five matches, while the women have a 24-3 advantage in six.

“Our whole focus is on us,” forward Jordan Morris said. “We’re wishing them all the best, of course, and we want them to win the championship, as well, but we don’t think about that too much, just really what we can do to come out and win our game.”

He would have preferred not to play on the same day.

“Ideally I guess that would be great that they get their own focus being in a World Cup final and we’ll get our own and Copa America gets their own,” Morris said.

The U.S. is 6-4 in Gold Cup finals, beating Mexico in 2007 and losing in 1993, ’98, ‘09 and ’11. The Americans won their only consecutive regional titles in 2005 under Bruce Arena and 2007 under Bob Bradley.

Morris, whose 88th-minute goal lifted the U.S. over Jamaica in the 2017 final, is among six holdovers from that roster, joined by defenders Matt Miazga and Omar Gonzalez, midfielders Michael Bradley and Paul Arriola, and forward Jozy Altidore.

Led by 20-year-midfielder Christian Pulisic, the U.S. is mostly a young team with a sprinkling of veterans and is testing 24-year-old goalkeeper Zack Steffen in a tournament for the first time. Pulisic, who reports to Chelsea next week, has enhanced his status as by far the top American player.

“When I think about this month for him, it’s been a lot of personal development,” Berhalter said, “in terms of just him blossoming with his personality within the group, his importance to the team on the field. The skills haven’t changed, right, from a month, but in terms of his role, what he’s comfortable with, how he’s embracing his role within the team and his role on and off the field, it’s been really nice to see.”

The Gold Cup has been Berhalter’s first extended time with his full player pool and the only lengthy one before World Cup qualifying starts next year.

“I’m obviously super-excited for the challenge,” Pulisic said.

Neither team is at full strength. The U.S. is missing right-side starters DeAndre Yedlin and Tyler Adams, plus central defender John Brooks, all because of injuries.

El Tri, in its first tournament under new coach Tata Martino, is going for its eighth Gold Cup title. It had a more onerous path to the final that included a penalty-kicks victory over Costa Rica and an extra-time win over Haiti.

Mexico’s roster has just five players who started the round-of-16 loss to Brazil at last year’s World Cup: goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, defenders Edson Álvarez and Carlos Salcedo, and midfielders Andrés Guardado and Jesús Gallardo. Among the missing are all three forwards who started against the Selecao: Javier Hernández, Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano.

“We do miss these players,” Martino said through a translator. “We play with the soccer players that respond to the call.”

U.S. players hope American fans are celebrating even before the kickoff, savoring a victory by the women over the Dutch.

“Let’s hope we both win the finals and make it a historical day in the history of American soccer,” winger Tyler Boyd said.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — José Martinez, Paul Goldschmidt and Dexter Fowler homered, Tommy Edman tripled in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Francisco Giants 9-4. Kolton Wong had three hits and two RBIs to help the Cardinals win their third straight and keep pace with Milwaukee in the crowded NL Central. Alex Dickerson homered for San Francisco, which had its four-game winning streak stopped.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi hit a go-ahead single in the 11th inning, and the Kansas City Royals edged the Washington Nationals 7-4 to snap a four-game losing streak. The Nationals, who had won four in a row and eight of their last nine, left 19 men on base — including the bases loaded in the sixth, seventh and 10th innings.

National Headlines

WIMBLEDON, England _ Serena Williams beat Julia Goerges at Wimbledon for the second year in a row. The seven-time champion defeated the 18th-seeded German 6-3, 6-4 on No. 1 Court. She’s expected to play again later with partner Andy Murray in mixed doubles. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are scheduled matches on Centre Court as third-round play concludes before Sunday’s traditional day off.

WIMBLEDON, England _ Alison Riske of the United States earned a debut appearance in Wimbledon’s fourth round with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 13 seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. The 55th-ranked Riske has won each of her matches in three sets this week. Riske will face No. 1 Ash Barty or Harriet Dart on Monday with a quarterfinal berth at stake.

UNDATED (AP) _ Nationals ace Max Scherzer, the NL pitcher of the month for June, and Astros right-hander Gerrit Cole, who took the American League prize, make their final starts today before heading to the All-Star Game. Scherzer was 6-0 with a 1.00 ERA in six June outings and is scheduled to come off the paternity list to face Kansas City. Cole takes the ball against Mike Trout and the Angels.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odúbel Herrera has accepted a suspension for the remainder of this season and the postseason for violating Major League Baseball’s domestic abuse policy. The unpaid suspension is retroactive to June 24th and covers 85 regular season games, along with any playoff series in which the Phils may participate. Herrera was charged with assault after his girlfriend said she had been attacked in their Atlantic City hotel room, but the case was dismissed Wednesday when the woman declined to press charges.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, Oakland’s Liam Hendriks and Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers have been added to rosters for next week’s All-Star Game. Bieber and Hendriks will replace injured Rays right-hander Charlie Morton and Rangers left-hander Mike Minor on the AL roster. Muncy will replace Washington’s Anthony Rendon, who chose to skip the game to rest nagging injuries.

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (AP) _ Former New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi is recovering in a Massachusetts hospital following a second stroke. His family says in a statement the 46-year-old suffered the stroke Thursday and immediately recognized the warning signs of arm weakness, face drooping and speech difficulties. Bruschi was admitted to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro, where his family said Friday he was “recovering well.”

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Joey Logano received the pole position for tonight’s NASCAR Cup Series race after qualifying was canceled at Daytona International Speedway. Logano leads the Cup series in owner points, so the Team Penske driver was awarded the top starting spot. Kyle Busch of Joe Gibbs Racing will start alongside Logano on the front row, just ahead of Penske tandem Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick.

BLAINE, Minn. (AP) _ Bryson DeChambeau sizzled at TPC Twin Cities to take a two-shot lead into the third round of the PGA’s 3M Open. DeChambeau carded nine birdies in a career-low 62 that leaves him 14 under through 36 holes. He sank four putts from 20-plus feet, including the No. 7 and No. 8 holes during a commanding surge on his second nine. Adam Hadwin arrived in the clubhouse in second place at 12-under.

Friday Scores