AMERICAN LEAGUE
Carlos Pena belted a second-inning grand slam home run for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 15-5 rout of the New York Yankees on Monday.
The Rays led 9-0 after two innings as Yankees starter Wang Chien-ming (王建民) (0-2) gave up six hits before being relieved with none out in the second and Tampa Bay already 5-0 ahead.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Pena drove the third pitch from Jonathan Albaledejo over the right-field fence for his grand slam. The Rays’ first baseman also had a two-run double off Wang in a four-run first inning as he went 3-for-6 and drove in six runs.
“They killed us from the get-go,” the Yankees’ Derek Jeter told reporters.
Collectively the Rays pounded five New York pitchers for 17 hits.
Yankees first baseman Nick Swisher even took a turn on the mound, pitching a scoreless eighth inning. He gave up just one hit while striking out one and walking one in becoming the first position player to pitch for the Yankees since 1997.
“We know we didn’t play very well today,” said Swisher, who homered in the fourth. “You’ve got to find something to laugh about in that moment. I just happened to be the guy everyone was laughing at.”
Pena and shortstop Jason Bartlett both had three hits for Tampa Bay, which raised its 2008 American League championship banner before the game.
Scott Kazmir (2-0) earned the win, allowing six hits and three runs over six-and-two-third innings. He struck out six and walked none.
“I had fun just watching the game,” Kazmir said. “It seemed like every inning there was something that really stood out.”
BLUE JAYS 8, TWINS 6
In Minneapolis, Travis Snider hit two home runs, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the eighth inning, as the Toronto Blue Jays rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins.
Toronto has now beaten Minnesota 10 straight times.
The win kept the Blue Jays top of the AL East division in the early part of the season, ahead of traditional powers New York and Boston.
ORIOLES 10, RANGERS 9
In Arlington, Texas, Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5 at bat to help Baltimore edge Texas.
Huff had three of Baltimore’s seven RBI singles, enough to stay ahead of the Rangers from the fourth inning onward.
Texas has lost four consecutive games after its first 3-0 start since 1996.
Also on Wednesday it was:
• White Sox 10, Tigers 6
• Athletics 8, Red Sox 2
• Royals 4, Indians 2
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, NEW YORK
The San Diego Padres spoiled the New York Mets’ first game in their glittering new ballpark with a 6-5 win in the National League on Monday.
San Diego’s Jody Gerut christened Citi Field with a leadoff homer, putting the Padres on the way to a four-run lead against a mistake-ridden New York. The Mets drew level at 4-4.
It was the fifth straight win for San Diego, who are defying predictions of a bad season.
CARDINALS 2, DIAMONDBACKS 1
In Phoenix, Brian Barden broke a tie with his first career home run, giving St Louis victory over Arizona.
Albert Pujols also homered for the Cardinals.
With the game tied 1-1 in the eighth, Barden lined a pitch over the fence in right field. It was the first homer in 51 big league at-bats for Barden, who briefly played for the Diamondbacks in 2007.
CUBS 4, ROCKIES 0
In Chicago, the hosts won their home opener, holding Colorado to just one hit.
Starter Ted Lilly held Colorado hitless until the seventh inning.
Also on Wednesday it was:
• Dodgers 11, Giants 1
• Reds 7, Brewers 6
• Pirates 7, Astros 0
• Phillies 9, Nationals 8
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
A soccer jersey carrying a national map including disputed Western Sahara has become a hot commodity in Morocco after a diplomatic dispute with Algeria. Retailers said RS Berkane jerseys have been flying off the shelves after a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup match against Algerian club USM Alger was canceled last month over the jerseys. “We are overwhelmed by the influx of messages and requests,” said Brahim Rabii, representative of the official RS Berkane jersey distributor. Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, partly over the issue of Western Sahara. The former Spanish colony is largely controlled by Morocco, but claimed
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