NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
Neil Walker hit a two-run homer and Brian Burres limited Atlanta to one run over six innings in his first start in more than three months as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the slumping Braves 3-1 on Monday.
Despite losing its fourth in five games, Atlanta was assured of remaining in first place in the National League East for at least another day when Philadelphia split their day-night doubleheader with Florida.
Atlanta had won five of its previous six against the Pirates, who lead the majors with 91 losses. However, the Braves did almost nothing against Burres (3-3), who limited them to David Ross’ sacrifice fly during his first start since losing to Atlanta 6-3 on May 29.
Joel Hanrahan pitched the ninth for his fourth save.
PADRES 4, DODGERS 2
In San Diego, California, Nick Hundley homered and drove in two runs and Tim Stauffer filled in for ailing ace Mat Latos as the NL West-leading San Diego Padres snapped their 10-game losing streak with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Padres kept their one-game division lead over the San Francisco Giants, who won at Arizona.
The losing streak was San Diego’s longest since a franchise-record 13-game slide in May 1994. The free-fall trimmed five-and-a-half games from the Padres’ lead and dropped them from having the best record in the NL to the third-best.
With Stauffer going only four innings in an emergency start, Adams (3-1) got the win by allowing just a walk in one-and-two-thirds innings while striking out three. Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth for his 38th save in 41 chances.
Latos was scratched due to stomach flu.
In other NL action, it was:
• Marlins 7, Phillies 1, 1st game
• Phillies 7, Marlins 4, 2nd game
• Rockies 10, Reds 5
• Giants 2, D-backs 0, 11 inns
• Cardinals 8, Brewers 6
• Cubs 5, Astros 4
• Nationals 13, Mets 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, DETROIT, MICHIGAN
A.J. Pierzynski hit a go-ahead single in the 10th inning and finished with three RBIs as the Chicago White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Monday for their seventh straight win.
Chris Sale (1-1) earned his first major league victory, finishing with two-and-two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Jose Valverde (2-4) took the loss.
Manny Ramirez led off the Chicago 10th with a single and went to second when left fielder Ryan Raburn stumbled and made an error.
Pinch-runner Alejandro De Aza took third on a single by pinch-hitter Alex Rios, and Pierzynski looped an RBI single.
The White Sox stayed three-and-a-half games behind American League Central-leading Minnesota.
TWINS 5, ROYALS 4
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jason Kubel hit a go-ahead homer and Jim Thome launched his 585th career home run moments later, powering Minnesota past Kansas City.
The fifth-inning shots by Kubel and Thome kept the Twins three-and-a-half games ahead of Chicago in the AL Central.
Thome’s blast hit off the top of the American flagpole beyond the right-field bleachers at Target Field. He is one homer shy of Frank Robinson for eighth all-time.
ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 3
In New York, Brian Matusz won his fourth straight start and Brian Roberts hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning off struggling A.J. Burnett to lead Baltimore over New York.
Alex Rodriguez homered and drove in two runs to reach 100 RBIs for the 13th straight season and record 14th time overall. He surpassed Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx, who each reached 100 RBIs 13 times.
Baltimore had been 0-6 at Yankee Stadium, but the AL-worst Orioles came to New York for the first time under Buck Showalter and won their third in a row, improving to 20-13 under their new manager.
In other AL action, it was:
• Red Sox 12, Rays 5
• Blue Jays 7, Rangers 2
• Athletics 6, Mariners 2
• Indians 3, Angels 2
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and