NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a go-ahead single in the third inning and the New York Mets beat Toronto 2-1 on Sunday for their first series sweep of the Blue Jays in 24 years.
New York extended its winning streak to four by taking three in a row from the Blue Jays. The Mets had last swept Toronto from July 15-17, 2001, at Shea Stadium.
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New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty waits to turn a double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty, left, turns a double play over Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Toronto Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman reacts after hitting a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Juan Soto leans away from an inside pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets pitcher Max Kranick throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Friday, April 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Mets' Pete Alonso looks after an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, celebrates his RBI single with first base coach Antoan Richardson during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Bowden Francis (1-1) walked rookie Hayden Senger and Juan Soto in the third, Alonso singled and Brandon Nimmo followed with a sacrifice fly. Alonso has 11 RBIs this season.
David Peterson, Max Kranick (1-0), Reed Garrett, A.J. Minter and Edwin Díaz combined on a four-hitter against the Blue Jays, who went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position and scored three runs in the series. A day after getting his first win this season, Díaz earned his second save.
Feeling nauseous on the mound, Peterson grimaced after walking Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with a full-count curveball in the fifth.
After a visit from an athletic trainer, Peterson loaded the bases with a walk to Anthony Santander, then forced in a run when he hit Andrés Giménez with a pitch. Kranick relieved and retired Alejandro Kirk on a foul pop.
Kranick (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings and has retired 21 of 22 batters this season. He got his first big league win since Sept. 26, 2021, for Pittsburgh at Philadelphia.
Francis gave up two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Mets catcher Luis Torrens missed his second straight start because of a bruised right forearm.
Díaz hit Alan Roden with a pitch starting the ninth and Bo Bichette with two outs, then got Guerrero to bounce into a forceout on a slider, his first pitch.
Brett Baty struck out against Toronto reliever Chad Green in the sixth, dropping to 1 for 17 with the bases loaded in his big league career and 2 for 21 overall this season.
Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (0-1, 6.75 ERA) pitches Monday night at Boston.
Mets RHP Kodai Senga (0-1, 3.60) starts the opener of a three-game series against Miami. RHP Sandy Alcantara was supposed to start for the Marlins on Sunday at Atlanta, but the game was rained out and the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner is likely to go on the paternity list Monday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty waits to turn a double play during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty, left, turns a double play over Toronto Blue Jays' Ernie Clement during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Toronto Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman reacts after hitting a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Juan Soto leans away from an inside pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Juan Soto reacts after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets pitcher Max Kranick throws during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Friday, April 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
New York Mets' Pete Alonso looks after an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Mets' Pete Alonso, left, celebrates his RBI single with first base coach Antoan Richardson during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner against West Ham on Sunday to move Liverpool to within six points of the Premier League title.
A 2-1 victory at Anfield means Arne Slot's team needs to win just two more games to be certain of a record-equaling 20th English league title and draw level with Manchester United's total.
“A big relief,” was how the Liverpool manager described Van Dijk's 89th-minute header. “We saved a big set-piece for a very important moment.”
Liverpool had looked like dropping points when Andrew Robinson scored an own-goal in the 86th to level the game at 1-1 after Luis Diaz's first-half opener. But captain Van Dijk rose to head home and ensure the league leader took advantage after second-placed Arsenal slipped up on Saturday by drawing 1-1 with Brentford.
Chelsea came back from 2-0 down against relegation-fighting Ipswich to draw 2-2 and Wolves’ hopes of avoiding the drop were further boosted by a 4-2 win against Tottenham.
Wolves moved above West Ham on goal difference and up to 16th in the standings. Both teams need five more points to be certain of safety.
Liverpool could be crowned champion as early as next Sunday if Arsenal loses to Ipswich earlier that day.
The Merseyside club is 13 points clear at the top of the standings with six rounds to go.
Victory completed a week of celebrations for Liverpool supporters after top scorer Mohamed Salah ended uncertainty over his future by signing a new two-year contract.
He marked that new deal in style by maintaining his outstanding form this season to cross for Diaz's opener in the 18th minute.
It was his 45th goal or assist in the league this season, which set a new record for a 38-game Premier League campaign, according to statistician Opta.
He left the field late on to a standing ovation from the home fans.
West Ham twice came close to equalizing before Roberton's own-goal. Mohammed Kudus hit the bar in the first half and Jarrod Bowen was denied by Alisson when through on goal after the break.
Andre Onana was left out of Manchester United’s squad for the game against Newcastle following his latest high-profile errors for the club.
The Cameroon international was partially at fault for both goals in United’s 2-2 draw with Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday and was not even on the bench for the game at St James' Park.
“Sometimes, you have to push the player to play again, sometimes you have to let him disconnect a little bit,” United head coach Ruben Amorim said. “You have to manage everything, sometimes people just look at the physical aspect but the mental aspect is really, really important.”
It was United's 4,000th game in the English top flight.
Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa are the only other teams to reach that landmark.
Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season were dealt an unexpected blow by Ipswich.
Trailing 2-0 at halftime at Stamford Bridge, an own-goal from Axel Tuanzebe just after the break got Enzo Maresca's team back into the game.
Jadon Sancho leveled in the 79th, but it was still two points dropped for fifth-placed Chelsea, which could have moved above Manchester City in fourth.
Wolves need just five more points to be certain of safety after a 4-2 win against Spurs.
Rayan Ait-Nouri and an own-goal by Djed Spence gave Wolves a 2-0 lead at halftime. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha scored after the break, with Mathys Tel and Richarlison on target for Spurs.
James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha celebrates scoring their side's fourth goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton and Tottenham Hotspur at Molineux Stadium in Wolverhampton, England, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Jacob King/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Jadon Sancho, left, celebrates with Enzo Fernandez, centre, and Cole Palmer after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Ipswich Town's Ben Johnson, center, scores their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Chelsea's Jadon Sancho celebrates scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge in London, Sunday April 13, 2025. (Nigel French/PA via AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot follows the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Luis Diaz, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Luis Diaz in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Luis Diaz, right, in action against West Ham's Jean-Clair Todibo during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield in Liverpool, Sunday, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
