AMERICAN LEAGUE
Detroit’s Justin Verlander matched a career high with 14 strikeouts, leading the Tigers to a 7-2 win over the New York Yankees in the American League on Monday.
Verlander (12-7) threw 132 pitches, his most in a regular-season game, and sent the Tigers to their fifth straight win.
He got home-run support from Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera.
Yankees starter Ivan Nova (10-6) was roughed up for 11 hits — matching a career high — in 5-1/3 innings.
WHITE SOX 4, ROYALS 2
In Chicago, Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham homered late to lift Chicago over Kansas City.
Konerko tied it leading off the seventh, while Beckham gave the White Sox a 3-2 lead with a solo shot in the eighth off Luis Mendoza (5-8).
Chicago starter Chris Sale (13-3) looked sharp on nine days’ rest, allowing two runs in eight innings, while striking out seven without a walk.
ANGELS 4, ATHLETICS 0
In Oakland, California, Jered Weaver pitched a shutout for his major league-leading 15th victory as Los Angeles beat Oakland to overtake the final spot in the crowded AL wild-card standings.
Weaver (15-1) struck out nine, walked none and faced the minimum through 4-1/3 innings. The Angels ace has won a career-best 10 straight starts, matching Chuck Finley’s franchise record set in 1997.
A’s starter Jarrod Parker (7-6) allowed four runs in 6-2/3 innings.
RED SOX 9, RANGERS 2
In Boston, Dustin Pedroia had three of Boston’s eight doubles as the Red Sox beat Texas.
Boston increased their major league-leading doubles total to 248.
Red Sox starter AaronCook (3-5) regained control of his sinker after going 0-4 in his previous five starts. Of his 21 outs, 15 came on groundballs.
Texas’ Yu Darvish (11-8) also has struggled. In his first start against the Red Sox, he threw 123 pitches and allowed 11 hits, both career highs.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Orioles 3, Mariners 1
‧ Twins 14, Indians 3
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST LOUIS, Missouri
St Louis’ Jake Westbrook pitched six solid innings as the Cardinals extended their strong recent home record by beating the San Francisco Giants 8-2 in the National League on Monday.
Westbrook (11-8) won his fourth decision in a row, mirroring his team’s form. The Cardinals have won four in a row overall and seven straight at home.
Carlos Beltran hit his 26th home run of the season for St Louis.
Giants starter Matt Cain (10-5) tied a season worst by giving up five earned runs in 5-2/3 innings.
PIRATES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 0
In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Erik Bedard pitched seven scoreless innings to steer Pittsburgh past Arizona, opening a season-long sequence of 11 home games in winning style.
Bedard (6-12) did not walk a batter and faced just one over the minimum, striking out five. He retired 17 in a row until his final batter singled. He leads the majors in losses, but lowered his home ERA to 2.38.
Andrew McCutchen had two hits and scored two runs for the Pirates. Diamondbacks rookie Wade Miley (12-7) did not allow an earned run over six innings, but took the loss.
BREWERS 6, REDS 3
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Yovani Gallardo pitched seven strong innings to guide Milwaukee to victory over Cincinnati.
Gallardo (10-8) gave up one run to equal his longest outing of the season and reach a double-digit win total for the fourth straight year.
Martin Maldonado homered and drove in three runs for the Brewers.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo (7-7) gave up five walks and five runs in 5-1/3 innings.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Braves 6, Phillies 1
‧ Nationals 5, Astros 4, 11 inns
‧ Rockies 2, Dodgers 0
‧ Padres 2, Cubs 0
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