AMERICAN LEAGUE
Oakland’s Brandon Hicks led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his first major league home run to lift the Athletics to a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers in the American League on Wednesday.
Hicks connected off Michael Kirkman (0-1) for Oakland’s major league-leading ninth walkoff win. He became the fourth player in franchise history to hit a game-ending homer with his first career shot and the second this year — Derek Norris did it on June 25 against San Francisco.
Ryan Cook (3-2) worked the ninth inning for the win for the A’s, who split the series with the AL West-leading Rangers.
YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 0, 6.5 inns
In New York, Hiroki Kuroda allowed just four hits in pitching New York past Toronto in a rain-shortened game.
Kuroda (9-7) allowed a single hit in each of four innings.
Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in a four-run first inning for the New York Yankees, who have won eight straight at home against the Blue Jays.
The game was called off after a 58-minute rain delay, before the Yankees could come to bat in the seventh. The game was delayed 51 minutes at the start.
Toronto starter Ricky Romero (8-6) suffered his career-worst fifth straight loss, giving up six runs in six innings.
TIGERS 7, ANGELS 2
In Detroit, Michigan, Doug Fister gave up just two hits over eight innings, steering Detroit past Los Angeles.
Fister (4-6) allowed one run and struck out a season-high 10 for his third straight win.
Prince Fielder capped a four-run Tigers second inning with a two-run single.
Angels starter C.J. Wilson (9-6) gave up a season-worst seven runs with five walks over six innings, extending his winless streak to three starts.
RED SOX 10, WHITE SOX 1
In Boston, Massachusetts, Cody Ross hit three-run homers in consecutive innings to power Boston past Chicago.
Red Sox starter Felix Doubront (10-4) pitched six solid innings, and joined Jon Lester (in 2008) as the only two Boston pitchers to have reached double-digit wins in a season at age 24 or younger since Roger Clemens in 1987.
Chicago’s Pedro Hernandez (0-1) took the loss in his major-league debut, giving up eight runs in four-plus innings.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Indians 10, Rays 6
‧ Orioles 2, Twins 1
‧ Royals 8, Mariners 7
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ATLANTA, Georgia
San Francisco’s Brandon Crawford and Gregor Blanco hit three-run homers in the 11th inning as the Giants recovered from blowing the lead in the 10th and beat the Atlanta Braves 9-4 on Wednesday.
Atlanta’s Anthony Varvaro (1-1) hit one batter to open the 11th, then walked another. Chad Durbin replaced Varvaro on the mound and got a strikeout. Crawford came up to bat and fouled a ball off his right knee, collapsing to the ground in pain. Crawford then pulled the next pitch from Durbin into the seats in right.
Chipper Jones’ second throwing error of the game allowed a runner. With two outs, Durbin issued an intentional walk before giving up Blanco’s homer to make it 9-3.
The Giants had been one out from the win in the 10th when Atlanta’s Brian McCann hit a tying two-run homer off Santiago Casilla (3-4). Casilla blew the save, but took the win.
NATIONALS 4, METS 3
In Washington, Jordan Zimmermann pitched six shutout innings as Washington edged New York, opening a 4.5-game lead atop the National League East division.
Zimmermann (7-6) won his fourth straight, walking none.
Adam LaRoche hit a two-run homer for the Nationals, who allowed two home runs in the ninth to put the result in jeopardy, before Tyler Clippard struck out the final batter.
New York’s Chris Young (2-4) took the loss.
DIAMONDBACKS 7, REDS 1
In Cincinnati, Ohio, Jason Kubel returned from a sore hamstring and homered in his first two at-bats as Arizona dropped Cincinnati back into a first-place tie in the National League Central.
Kubel was out of the lineup for four games because of the hamstring. He hit a two-run shot in the first inning and a solo homer in the fourth off Mat Latos (7-3), who lost for the first time since April 18. Latos also forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk.
Arizona’s Ian Kennedy (7-8) gave up one run in eight innings, striking out seven.
BREWERS 4, CARDINALS 3
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Brewers pounced on Adam Wainwright and a shaky St Louis infield early then held on through a nervous ninth inning for a win.
Francisco Rodriguez walked in a run before inducing a fly out with the bases loaded, nailing down his second save since taking over as the team’s closer on Tuesday.
Wainwright (7-10) got off to a rough start and did not get much help from his infielders, who committed three errors in the Brewers’ four-run first inning — including a pair by shortstop Rafael Furcal.
Deposed Milwaukee closer John Axford (3-6) took the win.
DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 3, 12 inns
In Los Angeles, California, Matt Kemp hit a two-run homer in the 12th inning to give Los Angeles victory over Philadelphia. Rookie Phillies pitcher Jake Diekman (2-0) walked a batter with one out and Kemp drove a pitch into the pavilion seats beyond right-center for his sixth career walkoff homer.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Pirates 9, Rockies 6
‧ Cubs 5, Marlins 1, 7 inns
‧ Padres 8, Astros 4
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
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely