Left-hander Jon Lester, who survived cancer to pitch the clincher of Boston's World Series victory last year, shut down Kansas City 7-0 on Monday for the first no-hitter in the majors this season. Now he can add pitching a no-hitter to his already amazing list of accomplishments.
The 24-year-old Lester (3-2) allowed just two baserunners, walking Billy Butler in the second inning and Esteban German to open the ninth. He struck out nine, including Alberto Callaspo to end the game.
Twins 7, Rangers 6, 12 innings
PHOTO: AP
At Minneapolis, Howie Clark’s single over the head of Josh Hamilton in center field lifted Minnesota over Texas in a game that saw reliever Bobby Korecky become the first Twins pitcher to get a hit in an American League game.
Korecky (1-0) also picked up his first career victory by getting two outs in the top of the 11th with the bases loaded and then pitching a perfect 12th.
Carlos Gomez led off the 12th with an infield single off Franklyn German (1-3) and advanced to second on a groundout from Delmon Young. Mike Lamb was walked intentionally. Clark then sent one over the head of a leaping Hamilton, who was playing in with the speedy Gomez in scoring position.
CUBS 7, ASTROS 2
Geovany Soto didn’t get the automatic home run he deserved, but it didn’t make a difference as the Chicago Cubs beat the Houston Astros 7-2 on Monday.
Soto was credited with an inside-the-park homer in the fourth inning despite replays showing that it should have been an automatic home run.
The ball bounced just to the right of the yellow line on the wall in left-center field. Astros center fielder Michael Bourn scooped it up and threw it home, but Soto scored easily before the throw got there.
Nationals 4, Phillies 0
At Washington, Ryan Zimmerman saved a run or two with a quick stab to stop a double down the left-field line in the first inning, charged a two-hopper barehanded to throw out the swift Shane Victorino in the fifth, then made a tough catch look routine when pinch hitter Greg Dobbs hit a foul pop-up in the seventh.
With the help of his third baseman’s flawless defense, Tim Redding (6-3) threw 6 1-3 scoreless innings and Washington opened a seven-game homestand with a win over Philadelphia.
In other games, it was
• Rockies 4, Giants 3
• Cardinals 8, Padres 2
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
A baseball team from New Taipei City won the US Pony Palomino Division World Series yesterday in Laredo, Texas, defeating the US West representative team from Azusa, California, 2-1. Ku-Pao Home Economics and Commercial High School earned the right to represent Taiwan in the Pony Palomino (17 to 18 age group) World Series after winning this year's Wang Chen-chih Cup, a competition named after Taiwanese-Japanese baseball legend Wang Chen-chih (王貞治), also known as Sadaharu Oh. In the championship game against Azusa, Ku-Pao's starting pitcher Luo Yu-yan (羅于晏) was erratic early, giving up two hits in the bottom of the first inning, followed
NEXT ROUND: World No. 1s Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka opened their title defenses with straight-sets wins, while Iga Swiatek and Taylor Fritz also advanced Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka got their title defenses off to smooth starts as they powered into the third round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Saturday. The men’s and women’s top seeds, each ranked No. 1 in the world, were both competing for the first time since Wimbledon, where Sinner lifted the title and Sabalenka bowed out in the women’s semi-finals. Sinner crushed Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan 6-1, 6-1 in steamy afternoon weather, while Sabalenka beat 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 7-5, 6-1 under the lights of the night session. Sabalenka needed 54 minutes and a service break in the final game
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