AMERICAN LEAGUE
Orlando Cabrera hit a two-run homer and assisted in the majors’ first triple play of the season to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 7-1 on Sunday.
Cabrera connected in the sixth inning off John Danks (0-1), putting Cleveland ahead 2-1.
The Indians got their first triple play in three years in the fourth.
First baseman Carlos Santana made a diving catch on Alexei Ramirez’s bunt, then threw the ball to Orlando Cabrera, who had moved from second base to first to get the out on A.J. Pierzynski.
Cabrera then threw to shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera at second base for the putout on Carlos Quentin.
Indians starter Justin Masterson (1-0) allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings.
RANGERS 5, RED SOX 1
In Arlington, Texas, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz became the first set of teammates to homer in each of the first three games in a season as Texas swept their season-opening series with Boston.
David Murphy and Mike Napoli also homered as Texas’ first three hits — and four of five — were solo shots.
The reigning American League champion Rangers hit 11 home runs and outscored the Red Sox 26-11 in the series.
Texas is 3-0 for the second time in three years. Boston fell to 0-3 for the first time since 1996.
Boston’s Clay Buchholz (0-1) allowed only five hits over 6 1-3 innings, but four of them were homers.
TWINS 4, BLUE JAYS 3
In Toronto, Danny Valencia and Denard Span each homered to help Minnesota avoid a three-game sweep.
Jose Bautista hit his second homer of the season, but it wasn’t enough for the Blue Jays, who left the bases loaded in the ninth when Adam Lind grounded out against closer Joe Nathan.
Nick Blackburn (1-0) pitched 5 2-3 innings for the win and Nathan got his first save since 2009.
ORIOLES 5, RAYS 1
In St Petersburg, Florida, Zach Britton pitched six strong innings in his major league debut and J.J. Hardy hit a two-run double to lead Baltimore to the three-game sweep.
Britton (1-0) allowed one run and three hits, struck out six and walked three.
Mark Reynolds hit a tie-breaking RBI double in Baltimore’s three-run seventh, then added another RBI double in the ninth.
Tampa Bay’s Wade Davis (0-1) gave up four runs and eight hits over 6 1-3 innings.
In other games, it was:
‧ Tigers 10, Yankees 7
‧ Athletics 7, Mariners 1
‧ Royals 12, Angels 9, 13 inns
NATIONAL LEAGUE
REUTERS, LOS ANGELES
The Los Angeles Dodgers scored four runs in the seventh inning to beat the San Francisco Giants 7-5 on Sunday and give them a 3-1 opening series victory over their arch-rivals.
Marcus Thames slugged a RBI triple in the seventh to break a 3-3 tie as the Dodgers scored four runs in the inning.
San Francisco, who had tied it by the top of the seventh after Pat Burrell hit a home run to follow Pablo Sandoval’s in the second, fought back with a run in the eighth.
The World Series champions also had the tying run at the plate in the ninth after Aaron Rowand’s lead-off home run, before Dodgers’ closer Jonathan Broxton got the final out.
Giants’ starting pitcher Barry Zito, who was involved in a car crash last week, threw six -innings and allowed three runs in a no-decision.
Reliever Dan Runzler was credited with the loss after he allowed four runs in one-third of an inning.
The Dodgers took an early 3-0 led in the first, with outfielder Matt Kemp hitting a two-run home run as he continued his powerful start to the season.
He finished the four-game series hitting five-for-12.
“I feel great right now. Our confidence level is up, we had a good series and did what it takes to win ball games,” Kemp told reporters. “We’re having a lot of fun. Our main focus is to work hard and we’re pulling for each other and doing what it takes.”
In other games, it was:
‧ Cincinnati 12, Milwaukee 3
‧ NY Mets 9, Florida 2
‧ Atlanta 11, Washington 2
‧ Philadelphia 7, Houston 3
‧ St Louis 2, San Diego 0
‧ Pittsburgh 5, Chicago Cubs 4
‧ Colorado v Arizona (postponed)
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
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was