AMERICAN LEAGUE
Manny Machado’s three-run homer capped a five-run ninth inning and gave the Baltimore Orioles an 8-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.
The Red Sox had gone ahead 5-3 in the sixth on consecutive homers by Daniel Nava and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but closer Joel Hanrahan could not hold the lead on a night when their nearly 10-year home sellout streak ended after two seasons in which they missed the playoffs.
Chris Davis led off the ninth with his fifth homer. Hanrahan (0-1) retired the next two batters, then allowed a single by Ryan Flaherty. He then walked Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth to load the bases and threw a wild pitch that brought pinch runner Alexi Casilla home with the tying run.
On the next pitch, Machado hit the ball over the Green Monster for his first homer.
Darren O’Day (1-0) got the win and Jim Johnson pitched the ninth for his third save.
Boston’s sellout streak began on May 15, 2003, lasted 820 games, including the post-season, and was the longest in major pro sports history. It broke the record of 814 set by the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers from 1977 to 1995.
BLUE JAYS 8, TIGERS 6
In Detroit, Michigan, J.P. Arencibia hit a three-run double in the seventh inning as Toronto rallied from a five-run deficit to beat Detroit.
Detroit led 6-1 in the sixth, but starter Rick Porcello allowed hits to the first three batters. They all eventually scored, and Toronto added four more runs the following inning. Brayan Villarreal (0-1) came on with one on and one out in the seventh and proceeded to walk three straight hitters, forcing in a run. Arendcibia followed with a drive to the gap in left-center off Octavio Dotel.
Aaron Loup (1-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the Blue Jays. Casey Janssen, the last of five Toronto relievers, pitched a perfect ninth for his second save.
RAYS 2, RANGERS 0
In Arlington, Texas, Matt Moore and four Rays relievers combined on a five-hitter as Tampa Bay beat Texas in the coldest day game ever at Rangers Ballpark.
It was only 4oC when the game started after a rain delay of 1 hour, 29 minutes. That was 22oC colder than Tuesday night.
Evan Longoria had a sacrifice fly for the Rays, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Their other run came on a grounder after Derek Holland (0-1) walked the bases loaded, his only three walks in his eight innings.
Moore (2-0) limited Texas to a single and struck out five in five-plus innings, but walked six.
In other AL action, it was:
‧ Royals 3, Twins 0
‧ Athletics 11, Angels 5
‧ Astros 8, Mariners 3
‧ Yankees-Indians postponed
NATIONAL LEAGUE
AP, ST LOUIS
Jake Westbrook pitched a five-hitter as the St Louis Cardinals backed him with four home runs on Wednesday in routing the Cincinnati Reds 10-0.
Jon Jay, Carlos Beltran and Matt Adams homered in a span of seven at-bats off Homer Bailey as the Cardinals took two of three from the NL Central champions.
Matt Carpenter added a two-run homer on a four-hit day. Adams homered for the second straight game, and added an RBI double and a walk.
The Cardinals have dominated the Reds at home the past decade, losing just three of 28 series with two splits.
Westbrook (1-1) threw his fourth career shutout, walking four and striking out three.
It was his first shutout since Aug. 9, 2006, against the Angels with Cleveland, and his 15th career complete game. He even contributed an RBI single for St Louis’ final run.
Bailey (1-1) had gone 23 straight shutout innings — including his no-hitter against Pittsburgh last season — before the Cardinals broke open a scoreless game with four runs with two outs in the fifth.
BRAVES 8, MARLINS 0
In Miami, Evan Gattis hit a three-run homer as Atlanta completed their second consecutive three-game sweep when they beat the reeling Miami Marlins. Mike Minor (2-0) pitched 5-2/3 innings for the Braves, whose 8-1 record leads the majors.
In other NL action, it was:
‧ Giants 10, Rockies 0
‧ Diamondbacks 10, Pirates 2
‧ Phillies 7, Mets 3
‧ Dodgers 4, Padres 3
‧ Brewers-Cubs postponed
In interleague play, it was:
‧ Nationals 5, White Sox 2
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
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