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The St. Louis Cardinals are last in the NL Central with a 13-25 record in a surprisingly lackluster start for one of baseball's winningest franchises

David Moyes was relieved to come through a “difficult night” after West Ham recovered from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead into next week’s Europa Conference League second leg with AZ Alkmaar. Goals from Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio kept West Ham’s dreams of a first trophy in 43 years alive at a sold-out London Stadium. The Hammers were big favourites to beat the Dutch dark horses, but were put on the back foot when goalkeeper Alphonse Areola gifted AZ the lead before half-time. But another goalkeeping error from Australia international Mathew Ryan gave West Ham a penalty which Benrahma converted. Antonio then prodded home from a corner after a goalmouth scramble to give the Hammers a crucial lead going into next Thursday’s return leg in the Netherlands. “We’ve got a narrow lead but nothing more than that,” said Moyes. “The tie is very evenly balanced, there is very little in the game, if we were losing by a goal I wouldn’t be saying we were out of the tie. “I’m pleased we’ve got ourselves in front, which is a big thing. It was a difficult night. We’ve learned some lessons over the years but it’s difficult when you think you’re not getting the rub of the green. But we’re used to that at the minute. We have a big job to do next week David Moyes “I hugely believe we’ve got a big resilience here, through the club, through the team, and we’ve needed it. “We’re just off a big win against Manchester United and just won 2-1 in a semi-final first leg, so that’s OK. But we have a big job to do next week.” West Ham were given a painful lesson in last season’s Europa League semi-final, conceding in the first minute of the first leg and losing Aaron Cresswell to a red card in the second as they crashed out to Eintracht Frankfurt. They got an early warning when former Southampton midfielder Jordy Clasie fizzed a low shot just past the post. And history repeated itself when West Ham allowed AZ to take a shock lead five minutes before half-time, Areola letting Tijjani Reijnders’ shot in at his near post. However, the hosts were thrown a lifeline in the 67th minute when Ryan missed his punch at a corner and caught Jarrod Bowen square in the face. Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler pointed to the penalty spot and Benrahma stepped up to bury a perfect spot-kick just inside the post. The official had infuriated the home crowd all match but, unlike last year’s match in Frankfurt, West Ham kept their heads. “There was a little period it was beginning to get a little out of hand but we’ve learned a bit from it,” added Moyes. “It’s an emotional game, football, and the players were fighting for everything.” Eight minutes later West Ham went ahead, Antonio stabbing home the rebound after Nayef Aguerd’s header was cleared off the line to give them a slim advantage and, if they improve next week, every chance of moving a step closer to a first European trophy since 1965. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ronnie O’Sullivan shows how versatile his book is – Thursday’s sporting social Counties cast rivalry aside and honour the life of Matt Dunn’s daughter Overseas territories should have representation in Parliament, ministers told

Freddy Fermin followed a leadoff walk by Nick Pratto and a single by Matt Duffy with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning, giving the Kansas City Royals a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox

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A sports integrity monitor has launched a tool to help athletes, coaches and staff anonymously report suspicions about gambling activity to regulators and law enforcement

Perhaps the afternoon onslaught of slashing rain had washed West Ham clean of their remorse, a year on from their Europe League semi-final defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt. Perhaps this Europa Conference League semi-final with AZ Alkmaar is just a step down in competition. Either way, its first leg marked a liberating step forward for West Ham, who battled from behind to emerge 2-1 winners at home on Thursday. The 2006 FA Cup final, a soul-splintering affair for the Hammers, remains the closest the club has come to a trophy in over 40 years, and while that shattered spirit is arguably still to be restored, its fragments seemed to glint when West Ham reached the final four of the continent’s second competition 12 months ago. And again they gleamed on Thursday, in the soaked, steel silo of the London Stadium, where the reserves of fans’ faith were rewarded by a second-half rally. While West Ham's narrow, nervy win over Manchester United on Sunday was about West Ham maintaining their place in the Premier League, this game was about David Moyes' side mentally measuring themselves against last year's team, which was physically more formidable but proved emotionally fragile against Frankfurt. Sixty thousand home fans offered emotional support on this occasion, soundtracking the scenes before them as they had done in the knockout ties of last season, rattling the bolts of this silo with each roar, while the Alkmaar faithful bounced and buoyed their on-pitch avatars. Early on, however, exuberance was Alkmaar's best offering, and even that left them too exposed. West Ham were eager to exploit the space they saw – whether Lucas Paqueta was pirouetting into it or Michail Antonio was marauding through it. The home team failed to capitalise on early opportunities to establish a lead, however, with Jarrod Bowen misjudging the angle of a header and the timing of an incoming cross. Still, West Ham were the stronger and slicker side and nearly struck first when Said Benrahma forced Mathew Ryan into a desperate, fingertip save with a curving, first-time effort. The rising pressure around the Alkmaar goal was greeted by raucous reactions in the stands. The excitement turned to aggravation, though, as the home fans and players vented over what they perceived to be an unpunished push on Paqueta. His fall seemed theatrical, and against the odds, Alkmaar closed the first act of this semi-final with a goal. The visitors, apathetic to West Ham's appeals, picked out Tijjani Reijnders in an embarrassment of space, and his rifled shot bounced over the gloves of a despairing Alphonse Areola. West Ham had little time to spare in the second half, but Alkmaar felt they had plenty to waste. That was until they forfeited their advantage when Ryan clawed at Bowen's face to prevent a close-range header, giving away a penalty and receiving a booking. The noise, as Benrahma whipped his spot kick beyond Ryan, was brutal. So was West Ham's oppressive pursuit of a second goal to transform this tie, or at least reshape it into its intended outcome, with 20 minutes remaining. Within ten, the oppression had paid off. Nayef Aguerd's header was cleared off the goal line but only as far as the looming Antonio, who stabbed the ball home to puncture Alkmaar's hopes of leaving London with a lead. It was in the final throes of this game that West Ham demonstrated how vital those goals had been in unshackling the chains of their last European semi-final. Courtesy of interplay between Paqueta, Benrahma, Declan Rice and substitute Danny Ings, Moyes' side exhibited the kind of free-flowing football that has eluded them too often this term. Next week, West Ham travel to the Netherlands to cleanse themselves of the spirit of Frankfurt. They will be carried by a soul that is stirring with each of these European nights. Read More Erik ten Hag reveals David De Gea contract stance after costly mistake at West Ham Manchester United’s fragility allow Liverpool back into the battle for Europe West Ham vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier league result and reaction Declan Rice among West Ham players expected to be fit to face Manchester United Six clubs, only three survive: Who can escape the Premier League relegation fight Record-breaker Erling Haaland makes the extraordinary look predictable again

Goals from Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio kept West Ham’s dreams of a first trophy in 43 years alive after a 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final against AZ Alkmaar. The Hammers were big favourites to beat the Dutch dark horses, but were put on the back foot at a sold-out London Stadium when goalkeeper Alphonse Areola gifted AZ the lead before half-time. But another goalkeeping error from Australia international Mathew Ryan gave West Ham a penalty which Benrahma converted. Antonio then prodded home from a corner after a goalmouth scramble to give the Hammers a crucial lead going into next Thursday’s second leg in the Netherlands. There was a sense of optimism before kick-off with West Ham almost safe from relegation and captain Declan Rice confidently predicted ‘the good times are back on their way’ in his programme notes, even though it remains unlikely he will be here to enjoy them for much longer. Still, a European final in Prague on June 7, against Fiorentina or Basel, would be a fitting way for the England midfielder to sign off before a big-money summer move. But AZ, a progressive club based around the moneyball model also used by Brentford, are a slick, attacking young side who had beaten Lazio and Anderlecht to reach the last four. They were watched from the directors’ box by Billy Beane, the real-life inspiration for Brad Pitt’s character in the baseball movie Moneyball, who owns a stake in them. Ominously, AZ goalkeeper Ryan was unbeaten in his five previous matches against West Ham during his spell at Brighton, and he set about trying to maintain that record when he got down well to tip Benrahma’s curler behind. West Ham were given a painful lesson in last season’s Europa League semi-final, conceding in the first minute of the first leg and losing Aaron Cresswell to a red card in the second as they crashed out to Eintracht Frankfurt. They got an early warning when former Southampton midfielder Jordy Clasie fizzed a low shot just past the post. And history repeated itself when West Ham allowed AZ to take a shock lead five minutes before half-time, Areola letting Tijjani Reijnders’ shot in at his near post. It was not a gaffe on the scale of the one West Ham benefitted from in their win over Manchester United on Sunday, when David De Gea let Benrahma’s tame shot roll in, but it was still not a good look for the Hammers’ cup keeper. West Ham protested that there had been a foul on Lucas Paqueta in the build-up – Turkish referee Halil Umut Meler even put the whistle to his lips before opting to play on – but the goal stood. However, the hosts were thrown a lifeline in the 67th minute when Ryan missed his punch at a corner and caught Jarrod Bowen square in the face. Meler, who had infuriated the home crowd all match, pointed to the penalty spot and Benrahma stepped up to bury a perfect spot-kick just inside the post. Eight minutes later West Ham went ahead, Antonio stabbing home the rebound after Nayef Aguerd’s header was cleared off the line to give them a slim advantage and, if they improve next week, every chance of moving a step closer to a first European trophy since 1965. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Ronnie O’Sullivan shows how versatile his book is – Thursday’s sporting social Counties cast rivalry aside and honour the life of Matt Dunn’s daughter Overseas territories should have representation in Parliament, ministers told

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has been suspended 10 days and fined

The Cincinnati Reds erupted for four first inning runs against Kodai Senga, Spencer Steer added an insurance solo shot and four relievers made them stand up while cruising to a 5-0 win over the New York Mets, handing them a fifth straight series loss

The New York Jets have signed veteran nose tackle Al Woods to a one-year contract

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Two Americans who tasted success at a young age and then struggled to maintain their level produced upset victories at the Italian Open