Quick Hitters
LYON, France — The Netherlands will play the United States for the Women’s World Cup title after Jackie Groenen sealed a 1-0 victory over Sweden in extra time on Wednesday night.
A slick passing sequence ended in the 99th minute with Groenen driving a shot from outside the penalty area past goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl. It was Groenen’s first goal of the tournament and it set up a meeting between the European champions and the reigning world champions back in the Stade de Lyon on Sunday.
And it means that for the first time since 2003, the final will include two female coaches. With Jill Ellis coaching the U.S. and Sarina Wiegman in charge of the Netherlands, the run of three finals featuring a male coach comes to an end.
Progress for the Dutch women has been rapid. They only debuted at the World Cup in 2015 — reaching the round of 16 — but followed it up by winning the European Championship on home soil in 2017.
After a draining semifinal, the Dutch have one less day than the Americans to prepare for the title game and they will have to be more potent up front to overcome the athletic U.S.
The second semifinal was no match for the drama, tension and high energy of the previous night when the U.S. beat England 2-1.
The game featured few scoring chances and was only lit up by the goalkeeping in regulation time — particularly in the second half.
A shot from Nilla Fischer was creeping into the net in the 56th minute until Netherlands goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal tipped it onto the post.
It was the crossbar that denied the Dutch in the 64th minute when a header from Vivianne Miedema was pushed onto the frame by Lindahl’s fingertips.
But the goalkeepers wouldn’t be relied on for a penalty shootout.
Groenen, who in May became the first overseas signing for new English Women’s Super League team Manchester United, produced a moment of brilliance in the first half of extra time for her first goal of the tournament.
Record-setting Kentucky QB Jared Lorenzen, 38, dies
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Jared Lorenzen, a husky left-handed quarterback who set multiple Kentucky passing and offensive records before backing up Eli Manning on the New York Giants’ Super Bowl-winning 2007 team, has died. He was 38.
A release from the school said Lorenzen’s family announced his death on Wednesday, but did not specify a cause or where he died.
LOS ANGELES — AllStar Cody Bellinger hit a tiebreaking homer in the 10th inning, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers a major league-tying fifth consecutive walk-off victory at home, 5-4 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
Bellinger hit a solo shot in the second and his 29 homers are the most in franchise history before the All-Star break. He broke a tie with Gil Hodges and Duke Snider, who had 28.
After Chris Taylor struck out to open the 10th, Bellinger crushed a high-arching pitch from Yoan Lòpez (1-2) into right field, triggering a raucous celebration and chants of “MVP! MVP!”
Joe Kelly (3-3) got the win after retiring the side in the 10th.
The Dodgers had a chance to win it in the ninth when Arizona closer Greg Holland stumbled for the second straight night.
Enriquè Hernàndez opened the inning with a double to deep right. Holland issued four of Arizona’s five walks with two outs in the ninth Tuesday.
Matt Beaty’s RBI single tied the game 4-all. He took second on Holland’s wild pitch.
With the sellout crowd of 53,327 on its feet rhythmically clapping and chanting “Let’s go Dodgers!” pinchhitter Justin Turner struck out looking against Holland, who was replaced by Yoshihisa Hirano.
Pinch-hitter Russell Martin and Joc Pederson drew consecutive walks to load the bases. Alex Verdugo grounded into a weak double play to second to send it to the 10th.
The D-backs took a 4-3 lead in the ninth on Carson Kelly’s homer off closer Kenley Jansen. They tied the game 3-all on Ketel Marte’s RBI single with two outs in the seventh.
A night after Arizona blew an early 3-0 lead, it was the Dodgers’ turn.
They led 3-0 in the second on Bellinger’s homer and a pair of RBI singles by starter Walker Buehler and Pederson with two outs.
The D-backs closed to 3-2 on Christian Walker’s tworun shot in the fourth.
Tied 3-all, the Dodgers had runners on base with two outs in the seventh. Pinch-hitter Edwin Rios drew a walk from reliever Matt Andriese and Pederson singled to left. Rios took third and Pederson went to second on a wild pitch by reliever Andrew Chafin before Alex Verdugo struck out swinging.
Coming off his worst outing of the season, Buehler allowed three runs and nine hits in seven innings. The All-Star right-hander struck out nine and walked none.
Buehler gave up seven runs and 13 hits in 5 2/3 innings at Colorado last week. In seven of his previous eight outings, he’d allowed two earned runs or fewer.
Arizona’s Merrill Kelly allowed three runs and six hits in six innings. The right-hander struck out two and walked none in his first career appearance against the Dodgers.
TRAINER’S ROOM
D-backs: LF David Peralta left the game in the bottom of the third with right