INTERLEAGUE GAMES
B.J. Upton and Reid Brignac each drew bases-loaded walks in a four-run 11th inning against Jorge Sosa as the Tampa Bay Rays endured all manner of of bizarre late-inning occurrences to defeat the Florida Marlins 9-8 on Saturday.
Carl Crawford had four hits and scored three runs for the Rays, who — perhaps fittingly on horn night — blew a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning.
James Shields (6-6), making the first relief appearance of his 133-game career, threw a scoreless 10th for Tampa Bay and was one of nine pitchers the Rays used in the 4 hour, 36 minute contest.
Andy Sonnanstine got three outs for his first career save.
Sosa (1-2) walked four and was charged with four runs in two-thirds of an inning. Six Florida relievers combined to issue 11 walks.
RED SOX 5, DODGERS 4
In Boston, Dustin Pedroia singled home the winning run with two outs in the ninth inning as Boston overcame Manny Ramirez’s homer to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Boston improved to 7-1 on a nine-game home stand and will go for a three-game sweep.
Ramirez homered in his second game back at Fenway Park against his former team, a sixth-inning solo shot off knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. The enigmatic slugger also had his first stolen base since 2008.
Victor Martinez had a two-run homer and Kevin Youkilis a solo shot for the Red Sox, who committed four errors.
YANKEES 5, METS 3
In New York, Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson each hit a two-run homer, while Phil Hughes became the American League’s second 10-game winner as the New York Yankees ended the Mets’ eight-game winning streak.
Hughes (10-1) gave up two early home runs to Jose Reyes, but the Yankees quickly came back against Mike Pelfrey (9-2) to snap a three-game skid.
Hughes went seven innings and tied Tampa Bay’s David Price for the American League lead in wins. Joba Chamberlain pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Mariano Rivera worked a perfect ninth.
Saturday’s other results:
• White Sox 1, Nationals 0
• Diamondbacks 6, Tigers 5
• Twins 13, Phillies 10, 11 innings
• Pirates 6, Indians 4
• Angels 12, Cubs 0
• Blue Jays 3, Giants 0
• Braves 5, Royals 4
• Rangers 5, Astros 1
• Cardinals 4, Athletics 3
• Mariners 5, Reds 1
• Orioles 5, Padres 4
Result from the National League on Saturday:
• Rockies 8, Brewers 7
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