Alex Rodriguez homered for the fifth-straight game, connecting for the seventh time during that span and sending the New York Yankees past the Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Wang Chien-ming (王建民) earned his 18th win to remain tied for the lead in Major League Baseball, and Jorge Posada hit a tiebreaking, two-run double that helped New York extend its lead in the race for the American League wild-card playoff berth to four games over Detroit.
Indians 6, Angels 2
At Anaheim, California, Ryan Garko hit a three-run homer, Asdrubal Cabrera had two RBIs and Cleveland beat Los Angeles to split a four-game series between AL division leaders.
Cleveland's 13th victory in 16 tries increased its AL Central lead to six games over Detroit. The first-place Angels, who played without ailing right fielder Vladimir Guerrero again, have an eight-game cushion over Seattle in the AL West.
Aaron Laffey (3-1) pitched five innings for the Indians, allowing two runs -- one earned -- and six hits in his sixth major league start. Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez and Joe Borowski combined for four scoreless innings of three-hit relief.
Red Sox 3, Orioles 2
In Baltimore, Josh Beckett allowed two runs in seven innings to earn his 18th victory, and the Red Sox completed another successful season at Camden Yards.
Coco Crisp singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning, Mike Lowell drove in two runs and Dustin Pedroia had three hits for the Red Sox, who won six of nine in Baltimore this year.
In other games, it was: Mariners 14, Tigers 7; Twins 5, White Sox 2; Devil Rays 3, Blue Jays 2; Rangers 12, Athletics 9.
The Brewers became only the third team in US Major League Baseball history to open a game with three straight home runs when Rickie Weeks, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun connected Sunday off Phil Dumatrait in Milwaukee's 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Weeks and Braun each hit another homer and J.J. Hardy added two doubles -- all in the first four innings -- to keep Milwaukee in first place in Major League Baseball's National League Central Division.
Johnny Estrada also homered to give Milwaukee six in a game for the first time since April 29 last year, in a 16-2 win over the Cubs at Chicago.
Pirates 10, Cubs 5
In Pittsburgh, Freddy Sanchez's bases-loaded triple highlighted Pittsburgh's six-run second inning and rookie Nyjer Morgan make an exceptional catch and drove in two runs as the Pirates knocked the Cubs from first place in the Central Division.
Adam LaRoche and Jack Wilson had doubles to add to Sanchez's three-run triple in the sixth.
Rookies Morgan and Steve Pearce also had run-scoring singles.
Diamondbacks 6, Cardinals 5
In Phoenix, Jose Valverde retired pinch-hitter Yadier Molina with the bases loaded for the final out, and the Diamondbacks held off the Cardinals for their fifth-straight victory.
In other games, it was: Mets 4, Astros 1; Phillies 8, Marlins 5; Rockies 4, Padres 2; Giants 4, Dodgers 2; Nationals 7, Braves 4.
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
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
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
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care