AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA
Dan Johnson stunned Boston again, hitting a leadoff homer in the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 3-2 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Johnson sent a 2-2 pitch from Scott Atchison (2-2) into the right-field stands for his second clutch home run against the Red Sox in three years. Johnson is best known for a game-tying shot off closer Jonathan Papelbon on Sept. 9, 2008, that keyed an important comeback win en route to Tampa Bay’s only American League pennant.
Randy Choate (4-3) retired David Ortiz with a runner on first and two outs in the 10th.
YANKEES 12, WHITE SOX 9
In Chicago, C.C. Sabathia became the majors’ first 18-game winner and Marcus Thames hit two of New York’s four homers in a win over Chicago.
Eduardo Nunez hit his first career homer and drove in four runs for New York. Nick Swisher connected for a two-run drive and Robinson Cano had three hits.
Sabathia (18-5) struck out nine in seven innings, but allowed five runs and nine hits.
The Yankees got off to a fast start against John Danks (12-9), belting two-run homers in each of the first three innings to build a 6-1 lead.
In other AL action, it was:
• Blue Jays 5, Tiigers 0
• Athletics 5, Rangers 0
• Indians 4, Royals 3, 10 innings
• Twins 1, Mariners 0
• Orioles 5, Angels 0
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
Shane Victorino had two of Philadelphia’s three hits, including a go-ahead triple off Jon Garland in the seventh inning, as the Philadelphia Phillies won their second straight game against the National League West-leading San Diego Padres, 3-1 on Saturday.
The Phillies, 13-2 against NL West teams, protected their wild-card lead, which was a half-game over San Francisco at the start of Saturday. San Diego, which has lost three straight games for only the second time this season, led the Giants by six.
Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 23 chances. On Friday night, Lidge balked in the tying run with two outs in the ninth, but the Phillies won 3-2 in 12 innings.
Jayson Werth scored on both of Victorino’s hits. Victorino, the center fielder, also threw out Nick Hundley at the plate to end the fifth.
Joe Blanton (6-6) held the Padres to one run and six hits in six innings. Blanton and three relievers retired the final 11 San Diego batters.
NATIONALS 14, CARDINALS 5
In Washington, Adam Dunn broke out of a prolonged slump with a homer and five RBIs to lead Washington to a victory over St Louis.
Dunn was in an 8-for-66 skid over 20 games when he doubled home two runs for a 4-3 Nationals lead in a four-run third inning. With the score tied at 5 in the fifth, Dunn hit a three-run shot, his 32nd of the season and first since Aug. 11.
Livan Hernandez (9-9) allowed five runs in six-and-a-third innings to win for the first time in five starts.
In other AL action, it was:
• Rockies 5, Dodgers 3
• Cubs 3, Reds 2
• Braves 12, Marlins 3
• Astros 4, Mets 1
• Brewers 8, Pirates 7
• Diamondbacks 11, Giants 3
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
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