NATIONAL LEAGUE
Ramiro Pena hit a two-run homer off Craig Stammen with two outs in the 10th inning as the Atlanta Braves came back to beat the Washington Nationals 6-4 on Friday, stretching their winning streak to seven games.
Pena, who reached on a bunt as a pinch hitter in the eighth, helped Atlanta win a game it trailed 4-0 after two innings and 4-2 entering the ninth.
Bryce Harper hit a two-run, opposite-field shot in the first for his fifth homer, and Denard Span and Jayson Werth tacked on RBI singles in the second for the Nationals.
Eric O’Flaherty (2-0) pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the win, and Craig Kimbrel retired the heart of Washington’s order for his fifth save in five chances.
With one out in the 10th, Stammen (2-1) walked Dan Uggla. After a flyout, Pena hit his first homer of the season.
The Braves, a major league-leading 9-1, handed Washington their first loss in seven home games.
CUBS 4, GIANTS 3
In Chicago, Starlin Castro’s ninth-inning double off the center-field wall gave Chicago a wild win over San Francisco.
The Cubs led 2-0 heading into the top of the ninth, but closer Kyuji Fujikawa (1-0) allowed a one-out RBI single to Pablo Sandoval and hit Buster Posey with a pitch, before Brandon Belt’s two-run double with two outs put the Giants ahead.
Pinch-hitter Dioner Navarro tied the game with a leadoff homer in the bottom half against closer Sergio Romo (0-1). David DeJesus singled with two outs and scored the winning run on Castro’s double.
It was Romo’s first blown save in seven chances this season.
Giants ace Matt Cain made his first start since giving up nine earned runs in 3-2/3 innings during a 14-3 loss to St Louis on Sunday last week. This time, Cain allowed only solo homers to DeJesus and Castro in seven solid innings.
In other NL play, it was:
‧ Pirates 6, Reds 5
‧ Cardinals 2, Brewers 0
‧ Rockies 7, Padres 5
‧ Phillies 3, Marlins 1
‧ Diamondbacks 3, Dodgers 0
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AP, New York
The Yankees turned a triple play at home for the first time in 45 years and Adam Jones dropped Vernon Wells’ fly ball, while blowing a bubble for a tiebreaking three-run error as New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Friday for their fourth straight win.
C.C. Sabathia (2-1) allowed two runs — one earned — and eight hits with nine strikeouts and no walks. Mariano Rivera finished for his second save as New York (5-4) moved over .500 for the first time this year.
Jones — a Gold Glove center fielder — ranged back for Wells’ fly ball and closed his glove too early. Then in the eighth, Manny Machado hit a sharp low liner that second baseman Robinson Cano picked up on a hop, starting New York’s first triple play in the Bronx since June 3, 1968, against Minnesota.
Miguel Gonzalez (1-1) was the loser.
ATHLETICS 4, TIGERS 3, 12 INNINGS
In Oakland, California, Josh Donaldson homered with one out in the 12th inning to lift Oakland past Detroit for their ninth straight victory.
Donaldson’s opposite-field drive to right off Brayan Villarreal (0-2) was his first career game-ending hit.
Prince Fielder homered and had four hits for the Tigers, who beat Oakland in the Major League playoffs last season on their way to the World Series.
Ramon Santiago hit a two-out triple in the top of the 12th, before Chris Resop (1-0) retired Austin Jackson on a fly to center.
The A’s improved to an American League-best 9-2, just the third time in Oakland history the club has opened at least 9-2. Only the Atlanta Braves at 9-1 have a better record than Oakland.
Fielder hit a three-run shot and Max Scherzer struck out 11, but the Tigers did not get enough from the bottom of their batting order.
In other AL play, it was:
‧ Indians 1, White Sox 0
‧ Blue Jays 8, Royals 4
‧ Mariners 3, Rangers 1
‧ Astros 5, Angels 0
INTERLEAGUE PLAY
AP, Minneapolis, Minnesota
In Minneapolis, Minnesota, John Buck kept up his powerful start with a grand slam, his fourth home run in the last four games, as New York beat Minnesota with snowflakes falling at Target Field.
Buck became only the fourth Major League player in at least 92 years to reach 19 RBIs in the first 10 games of a season, according to STATS research dating to 1921.
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
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
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
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just