WASHINGTON -- Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore was not happy with teammate Victor Robles' effort on a single to center field by Cardinals left fielder Jordan Walker in second inning of St. Louis' 9-3 victory over Washington on Tuesday at Nats Park.

Robles appeared to have a chance at catching a line drive off Walker's bat but let the ball drop in front of him for a base hit.

Dylan Carlson followed with a two-run homer over the center-field wall that staked the Cardinals to a 2-0 lead. MASN picked up the verbal exchange between Gore and Robles in the dugout after the inning concluded.

"They talked about it. We talked about it. It's good. It happens," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We are trying to compete. It happens. I just wanted to make sure that nothing was going to go crazy there in the dugout, so I just got in between them. It was good. Few words were said, and then it was done.

"Obviously, MacKenzie thought he should have caught the ball. I thought he should have caught the ball, but it was windy. I think he thought he was going to catch it easy, and the ball just died on him and he couldn't get there."

Gore allowed five runs on nine hits over six innings to take the loss and fall to 3-6. The Nationals have lost five in a row and 13 of their last 15 games.

"Look, Vic's a great outfielder," Gore said. "You all know better than I do, been watching him for a long time. We talked about it. We are good. It's over with. He had two hits tonight and made plays after that, so. Tough spot.

"Felt like we needed to talk, and we did and we moved on and we're good."

World Champions Nour El Sherbini and Ali Farag claimed opening day wins at the CIB PSA World Tour Finals as they came from behind to beat Nour El Tayeb and Paul Coll to ensure that they moved to the summit of Group B.

This season’s event is trialling two new rules, with Power Plays giving players the opportunity to win two points if they win the corresponding rally, while sudden death deciders are used at 10-10. El Sherbini fell foul of this in the opening game as El Tayeb took a one-game lead, but she soon saw the new rule go in her favour in the second, overturning a match ball opportunity for El Tayeb into a 1-1 scoreline.

El Tayeb was struggling with a leg injury and pushed El Sherbini hard, but the two-time World Tour Finals champion was able to close out the win by a 10-11, 11-10, 11-7 scoreline.

“I haven’t played Nour the whole season and it was tough playing the first match of a tournament against a top six player,” said El Sherbini.

“I’m very happy I won this one and with the way I dealt with it after the first game. It’s always tough playing her, but I never look at the last time, whether I won or lost. I just study their game and try to focus on my game plan.

“Today I wasn’t a fan [of the sudden death]. It was a bit distracting for me, the whole match I was thinking about the Power Plays and sudden death and I was one point away from losing the match. I’m still not used to it, but it might be exciting for the people watching. I’ll see this week how it’s going to go and then I will decide if it will be a good or bad thing.”

The first ever #SuddenDeath at the CIB PSA World Tour Finals…

And what a finish from @NourElTayeb ?#WorldTourFinals pic.twitter.com/rN0GpOy21t

— PSA World Tour (@PSAWorldTour) June 20, 2023

El Sherbini sits at the top of Group B with three points, while World No.1 Nouran Gohar tops Group A following her comfortable 11-6, 11-0 win against Belgium’s Nele Gilis in a rematch of the El Gouna International final. World No.3 Hania El Hammamy is second in Group A after her 2-0 win against World Tour Finals debutant Olivia Fiechter.

Gohar said: “It is always tricky to start first. You can’t give her anything loose or cheap in the middle. Obviously, with someone in that form, she can chop anyone on her day.

“The first few rallies were long, but I just wanted to show that I was tough, and I wasn’t going to give away anything cheap.”

In the men’s event, World No.1 Ali Farag tops Group B after he came back from a game down to beat New Zealand’s Coll.

Coll used the Power Play at 9-9 to win the opening game, but Farag assumed control from the second game onwards to complete a 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 victory.

“I didn’t start off well necessarily, but I got into the groove mid-game and then I was getting better as the game went on,” Farag said.

“But Paul played really well in the last three rallies and he played the Power Play really smartly. I wasn’t disheartened, I knew I had to do more of the same and attack a little bit more. Once I did that I think I had control of the second and the third.”

Defending champion Mostafa Asal tops Group A after taking the maximum four points on offer courtesy of a 2-0 win against Frenchman Victor Crouin, who was making his debut at the event. World No.1 Diego Elias sits second after he beat Egypt’s Mazen Hesham. Elias is also on four points, but sits below Asal due to Asal having a higher percentage of points won.

“We played in a good spirit in the beginning and my speech [on court with Crouin at the end] was about stopping this right now,” said Asal, who has been involved in a social media spat with Crouin in the past.

“It was maybe something immature from me, I was also speaking about him after matches and it wasn’t that good. We’re the same generation and we’re going to lead this sport in the future. All respect to Victor, it’s his first ever World Tour Finals this year and it’s something he should be proud of.”

Results – First Round: 2022-23 CIB PSA World Tour Finals Men’s Group A

[1] Diego Elias (PER) bt [6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) 2-0: 11-8, 11-5 (38m) [4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) bt [7] Victor Crouin (FRA) 2-0: 11-3, 11-9 (32m)

Results – First Round: 2022-23 CIB PSA World Tour Finals Men’s Group B

[2] Ali Farag (EGY) bt [5] Paul Coll (NZL) 2-1: 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 (46m)

Draw – Men’s Group A Second Round: To Be Played June 21st

[1] Diego Elias (PER) v [4] Mostafa Asal (EGY) [6] Mazen Hesham (EGY) v [7] Victor Crouin (FRA)

Draw – Men’s Group B Second Round: To Be Played June 21st

[3] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) v [8] Tarek Momen (EGY)

Results – First Round: 2022-23 CIB PSA World Tour Finals Women’s Group A

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) bt [5] Nele Gilis (BEL) 2-0: 11-6, 11-0 (22m) [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) bt [8] Olivia Fiechter (USA) 2-0: 11-6, 11-7 (27m)

Results – First Round: 2022-23 CIB PSA World Tour Finals Women’s Group B

[2] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [6] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) 2-1: 10-11, 11-10, 11-7 (43m)

Draw – Women’s Group A Second Round: To Be Played June 21st

[1] Nouran Gohar (EGY) v [3] Hania El Hammamy (EGY) [5] Nele Gilis (BEL) v [8] Olivia Fiechter (USA)

Draw – Women’s Group B Second Round: To Be Played June 21st

[4] Joelle King (NZL) v [7] Georgina Kennedy (ENG)

Megan Jones, the Cardiff-born Welsh speaker who plays rugby for England, will be flying the flag for both nations at the European Games.

She says her Welsh father will enjoy seeing her in British colours.

"My dad loves the fact we're Great Britain at the moment - he's a proud Welshman," Jones said.

"To be one of the 12 or 13 that get to wear this shirt is a huge honour."

The European Games, in Poland, present a chance for Britain's male and female sides to secure qualification for the 2024 Olympics, with the sevens competition to take place between 25-27 June.

A final Olympic qualifying tournament in June 2024 offers another potential path to Paris, but Britain's women would book their Olympic spot should they win gold at the European Games, while silver might also be enough.

Jones, who joined Leicester Tigers from Wasps earlier this month, will captain the team alongside Abbie Brown.

"I think I'm naturally a leader," Jones said. "Growing up my dad always said I'm bossy."

GB's men and women spent time preparing for the European Games at a training camp in Cardiff.

Jones grew up in the Welsh capital but moved to England - the land of her mother - as a teenager to play rugby at Hartpury.

It was that move which led to fly-half Jones representing England. She has 12 caps in the 15-a-side game and featured at the 2017 World Cup, where she started in the final against New Zealand.

"In any elite sport, I think it's vital that you get the best out of it for yourself," Jones said.

"Yes it's a team sport, yes obviously you're going to have similar goals and aspirations, but every individual will have their own aspirations as well.

"Mine was to be the best I could possibly be, playing at the highest standard I possibly could.

"At that time, England was the best choice for me and continues to be that choice for me.

"I'll continue to represent England within GB as well and hopefully in the future."

Perhaps Jones' story would have been different had she been a teenager now, with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) having committed itself to raising standards in the women's game.

The WRU issued full-time contracts to players for the first time in 2022, and Jones feels progress is being made.

"You've seen a massive turn now in women's sport, women's rugby in particular," she said.

"I know the WRU have put some money into it. Money talks at the end of the day - if you don't invest in something you're not going to get anything out of it.

"We've seen even with the Welsh girls, huge credit to them, they got professional for one year and they are delivering."

When Exeter walk out to face Gloucester in Saturday's Premier 15s final, they will not just be carrying the hopes of Devon, but also of North America.

"Right off the bat it's people that I can actually understand what they're saying," jokes United States captain and Exeter centre or flanker Kate Zackary.

"It's good to have familiar faces. Thinking back to that first year, to come over and just have a few familiar faces was just a bit more comforting.

"As the years have progressed we've all seen it as a really good opportunity for us to work on our craft and linking together.

"When we go away for US things and we're struggling to get opportunities together there, we're able to at least work on some smaller connections here together which hopefully you'll continue to see in some of our international play when we leave here."

Zackary and US team-mate Hope Rogers each scored a try in the win over Saracens last week - prop Rogers was alongside Canadians Emily Tuttosi and DaLeaka Menin in the front row while Rachel Johnson was also in the pack.

Zackary and Gabby Cantorna were in Exeter's midfield while prop Charli Jacoby was on the bench.

"A lot of people I've spoken to back home have watched every weekend, it's not just players, it's fans, it's USA fans who are starting to watch more," Zackary told BBC Sport.

"They're invested in seeing the US players being successful, they're even looking into Chiefs kits, Sale kits, wherever we've got players they're becoming big fans.

"I think they're seeing it as the place to come to see it as somewhere to play the best rugby in their careers."

So can Exeter's North American contingent help them make history and win a league and cup double, having lost out in the final 12 months go?

"Last year I think we put a lot into our semi-final and almost didn't have more to give," says Johnson, who won her first United States cap in 2018 and has been at Exeter for three years.

"This year I think we're a little bit more seasoned, a little bit more experienced, so I feel like this was a really great stepping stone for the final - instead of feeling like we exhausted ourselves to get there.

"I think the experience we brought in from last year was a little bit in our preparation, and a bit in our mental skills and mental prep, so the vibe at camp right now is really awesome," adds Johnson at opponents Gloucester's Kingsholm ground - temporarily renamed 'Queensholm' - where the final will be staged.

"We're not quite as nervous as we were last year, but definitely prepared and serious about the occasion."

So should Exeter be victorious on Saturday, expect celebrations on both sides of the Atlantic.

Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale was ejected late in Tuesday night's 85-73 victory over the visiting Atlanta Dream, a game that saw 10 technical fouls called -- the most ever in a WNBA regular-season contest, according to Elias Sports Bureau research.

"I definitely have never seen anything like it," Dallas coach Latricia Trammell said.

Five of the technicals were defensive 3-second calls, four of those by the Dream. One technical was for delay of game on the Wings and then there were four individual technicals, all against Dallas. The last came with 1:42 remaining in the game. One was on Trammel and one on Ogunbowale, who was subsequently ejected.

Ogunbowale left the College Park Center court in Arlington, Texas, gesturing for applause from Wings fans, who cheered loudly. She stopped to sign an autograph on her way off the court.

"I don't know how much I can even say," said Ogunbowale, who scored 21 points. "I just feel like all around, from top to bottom, coaches, refs, I don't know, everybody just needs to be able to control their emotions. Everybody's going to be emotional in the game."

Trammell said she didn't know what was said to earn the technicals.

"I've heard about 10 different things. But I'm not exactly sure," Trammell said. "We'll turn some clips in [to the league], that's usually how we do it. [Dallas president and CEO] Greg [Bibb] will get some clarity on certain parts of the game. We've just got to continue to keep our composure no matter what call is made and just continue to move forward."

Overall, it was a good night for Dallas (6-6), which saw the return of center Teaira McCowan, who had been competing overseas in EuroBasket and had not played in the WNBA since May 20. She started and finished with 9 points and 11 rebounds.

The Wings ended their three-game losing streak and Atlanta's three-game winning streak.

CHICAGO -- An overturned play at the plate that would produce the Chicago White Sox's winning run Tuesday night drew the ire of Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who labeled it "absolutely one of the worst calls I've ever seen."

The White Sox rallied with three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Rangers 7-6, with Zach Remillard singling in Elvis Andrus with the go-ahead run on a play that was overturned by video review.

Remillard has had a busy first week in the majors: In his debut Saturday at Seattle, the 29-year-old infielder knocked in the tying run in the ninth and the winner in the 11th. This time, the finish was more controversial.

Andrus tied the score with a single off Grant Anderson that plated two runs with two outs. Remillard followed with a line drive to left field, and Andrus was initially called out at the plate by umpire D.J. Reyburn on Travis Jankowski's throw.

Bochy was ejected after the call was overturned, because catcher Jonah Heim was ruled to have blocked the plate illegally. Bochy was booted for the 80th time in his career.

"For that call to be made, I'm dumbfounded," Bochy said. "It's absolutely one of the worst calls I've ever seen and it was done by replay. I just don't get it. I don't care how many times they'll try to explain it. You can't do that in that situation. It's a shame. It's embarrassing, really.

"There was never any contact with the catcher. It was a sweep tag. I don't get it. I really don't. Again, I'm shocked. Jonah did a great job there. The throw took him to the left a little bit, sweep tag. I'm lost on this one. That's a tough one to take."

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said he hadn't seen a replay.

"All I can say is we challenged both," Grifol said. "We challenged the play at the plate and blocking the plate.

"If New York felt that it was a violation, it probably was the initial [catcher] set up because that's the rule."

Heim was stunned.

"I asked the umpire what I could have done differently," the catcher said. "I set up on the corners. I even backed up. I don't know what else to do. It's upsetting.

"I don't know how you can block the plate from behind the plate."

Remillard, however, was delighted with what turned out to be his second game-deciding hit in four games.

"At the end of the day, they enforce the rules," he said. 'We play the game and it went our way and we can enjoy it."

Kendall Graveman pitched a scoreless ninth for his seventh save.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Forward Zemgus Girgensons is returning to the Buffalo Sabres for a 10th season after signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract on Tuesday.

Girgensons is the team's longest-serving active player and was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next month. The 29-year-old's decision to return to Buffalo signals he believes the team finally is on the right track.

Despite extending their NHL-record postseason drought to a 12th consecutive season, the Sabres had 42 wins, their most since 2010-11, the last time they made the playoffs. Buffalo finished 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, falling two points short of making the playoffs.

Girgensons, who is from Latvia, was selected by the Sabres in the first round of the 2012 draft, and he has established himself as a valuable checking-line forward.

He's coming off a season in which he scored 10 goals and 18 points in 80 games. Overall, Girgensons has 81 goals and 174 points in 625 career games, which rank 13th on the team list.

SPRINGFIELD N.J. — There was only one way Rose Zhang could become eligible for September's Solheim Cup in Spain. 

She needed an LPGA win before then, and in her first professional start three weeks ago at the Mizuho Americas Open, the 20-year-old emerged victorious, becoming the first woman to accomplish that feat since Beverly Hanson in 1951.

That caught the U.S. Solheim Cup captain's eye. 

"I've texted with Rose a little bit since her win, just needed her to try some clothes on and stuff like that," Stacy Lewis told GolfChannel.com at KPMG Women's PGA media day, June 12. "I was letting her get over last week before I started bugging her. Yeah, the (assistant) captains and I already started talking about (Zhang making the team)."

Earlier than expected. 

"Rose was more on my radar for 2024," said Lewis, who will also captain next year's Solheim Cup squad as the biennial event moves back to an even-year rotation, "because I knew she was going to be turning pro after two years (at Stanford)."

Zhang, who had one of the greatest amateur careers ever, didn't earn any Solheim Cup points for her maiden LPGA victory, as she wasn't a tour member yet. However, she now can, having accepted membership following her win. 

It helps that Zhang already has a relationship with Lewis. The two-time major champion captained Zhang at the 2021 Spirit International Amateur, in which Zhang helped lead the U.S. to victory while also capturing the individual championship.

That could be of benefit in the former No. 1 amateur in the world receiving a captain's pick, however, Lewis believes Zhang could automatically qualify for the team in the next three months. The top two players in the Rolex Rankings that don't make the U.S. squad off points will earn a spot on the team. Zhang is currently No. 61 in the world. 

"She's moving up the Rolex Rankings so fast that I think she could potentially end up sneaking into the Rolex spots and not even need a pick," Lewis said. 

And Zhang's rapid rise is not a shock to Lewis. 

"That's just how good she is," Lewis said, "anyone who's followed college golf knows that's not a surprise."

Heading into the thick of major championship season, this time of year can make or break a player's Solheim Cup hopes. 

"Now it's so important just because it's so close (to the Solheim Cup), it's about who's trending in the right direction," Lewis said, "but your majors is your best example for, 'How do they play under pressure?'"

Though the two-time NCAA individual champion burst onto the professional scene in Jersey City, overcoming nerves on Sunday to defeat major champion Jennifer Kupcho on the second playoff hole, there's still a lot of golf to be played between now and September — and nobody's made Lewis' 12-player roster yet. 

"There's a lot of points, there's a lot of things to play for these next three months," she said. "So, I just want [Zhang] to know we're paying attention, but she's got to go earn her spot just like everybody else."

Zhang, however, is ready for the task at hand. 

"I think this is just the start," she said after notching the victory at Liberty National. "This is just a stepping stone. It's crazy that this is my first win, first professional win already, but no doubt there is going to be a lot more things happening down the road."

Maybe, that includes helping Team USA to its first Solheim Cup win in six years. 

Nelly Korda is pain-free and "all good" after nursing a low back injury as she gears up for the second major of the year – this week's KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club.

"There's a lot of torque in the golf swing, so I feel like I'm not the only golfer that kind of struggles with the low back," the event's 2021 champion said in her pre-tournament press conference. "Also, when you're traveling four weeks in a row, different beds, flying out right after your round. Sometimes you just tweak it, and you just need to take rest."

Korda hasn't played since the Cognizant Founders Cup in mid-May, where she missed the cut after shooting a 2-over 146 through the first two rounds.

"When I got back from New Jersey, it didn't feel right there," she said. "When I got home, I just talked with my doctor, and he recommended that I just take a couple weeks off to just rest it before something else kind of flares up from it."

Korda was cleared to return to play two weeks ago and started practicing a few days after that, so she's had about a week and a half's worth of prep leading into this major.

The KPMG Women's PGA is the only major the 24-year-old has won to date. Earlier this year, at The Chevron Championship, she finished solo third. Taking a break has only stoked the world No. 2's desire to add to her major trophy case.

"When you're having to take a forced break in a sense, you appreciate the life a little bit more," Korda reflected. "I feel like I love the game of golf. I love competing. I have so much fun doing this and traveling. It just makes me appreciate it more. A little bit more hungry."

Korda enlisted a new swing instructor, Jason Baile, since her return, according to Golfweek's Beth Ann Nichols. Baile is the director of instruction at Jupiter Hills Club in Florida.

“A couple of my sister’s friends work with him,” Korda told Nichols. “I heard he’s really good, so testing him out.”

In their brief time together, the pair has worked on setup, moving closer to the ball and shoulder follow through.

The split with her previous instructor, Jamie Mulligan, came down to time management and the two remain friends, Nichols reported. 

Korda hasn't won on tour this season, but she has six top-6 finishes in eight starts.

While Korda (and onlookers) will certainly be keeping an eye on her back, this isn't new territory for the younger Korda sister, who has withdrawn from tournaments in the past with a similar concern. And then there's the older Korda sister, Jessica, who recently announced an indefinite break while she tries to get her own back healthy.