American League
Miguel Tejada homered and had three hits Monday as the Oakland Athletics tied Seattle for the American League West lead by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6.
PHOTO: AP
"If would have said to me a week ago that we would be tied, I would have said you were crazy," Oakland's Chavez said.
The Athletics share first place for the first time since May 15. They have won three straight games and at 76-55 are a season-high 21 games over .500.
"Now we're hitting the way we're supposed to be hitting," Tejada said.
Terrence Long went 4-for-5 for the A's, also are tied with Boston in the AL wild-card race. Ted Lilly (7-9) won for the first time in five starts since July 25, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. Keith Foulke got five outs for his 34th save.
Cory Lidle (11-1), activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up seven runs and nine hits in four-plus innings against his former team. Lidle (11-11) hadn't pitched since Aug. 7 because of a strained left groin.
Yankees 5, Orioles 2
In New York, Alfonso Soriano hit his team-record 10th leadoff homer, had four hits and drove in three runs as New York defeated Baltimore.
New York has won nine of its past 11 games, maintaining a five-game lead over Boston in the AL East. Andy Pettitte (16-7) allowed one run and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings, improving to 18-4 against Baltimore.
Larry Bigbie homered, singled twice and drove in both of Baltimore's runs. But the Orioles made three errors that led to three unearned runs and had a pair of passed balls.
Red Sox 8, Mariners 1
In Boston, Pedro Martinez, back from a throat infection that forced him to miss his last game, allowed one run and six hits in six innings as Boston beat Seattle to complete a four-game sweep and extend its winning streak to five.
David Ortiz had a home run and four RBIs to back Martinez's 12th consecutive victory over Seattle.
Gil Meche (13-10) allowed seven runs on nine hits in 4 1-3 innings for his third consecutive loss. Seattle has lost a season-high six straight games.
National League
Livan Hernandez scattered eight hits in his league-leading seventh complete game Monday, while Vladimir Guerrero drove in four runs to lead the Montreal Expos over the Philadelphia Phillies 12-1.
Hernandez (14-7) struck out nine and walked one in his 30th career complete game, improving to 4-0 in five August starts.
Randy Wolf (12-9) gave up nine runs and six hits in 1 2-3 innings, the shortest of 137 career starts.
Brewers 10, Reds 6
In Cincinnati, Geoff Jenkins hit a two-run homer and Bill Hall homered and drove in three runs as Milwaukee downed Cincinnati.
Milwaukee stretched a winning streak to seven for the first time since July 25 to Aug. 1, 1997, when the Brewers were still in the American League.
Hall had a career-high four hits, and Wes Helms and Mark Smith also homered.
Matt Kinney (9-9) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked none.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at