MAJOR LEAGUES
Chris Archer allowed just two hits for his second shutout in three starts, outpitching Ivan Nova and leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 1-0 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday.
Kelly Johnson had an RBI single off Nova (4-4) in the sixth to help the American League East-leading Rays improve to 24-5 since June 23, when they were in last place.
In the National League, Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond and Denard Span all homered, powering the Washington Nationals to a 4-1 win over the New York Mets.
Dan Haren (5-11) pitched seven innings for his first win since May 9, allowing one run and three hits.
Desmond and Span hit back-to-back homers against Dillon Gee (7-8) in the second inning and Harper followed with a two-run drive in the third.
In the AL, Chris Carter hit a three-run home run, and Justin Maxwell and Matt Dominguez added solo shots as the Houston Astros downed the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6 to end a three-game slump.
Dallas Keuchel (5-5) pitched a season-high 7-1/3 innings to end a six-start winless skid. He allowed six runs and 10 hits, walked one and struck out six for his first victory since June 16.
Oakland’s Derek Norris had a pinch-hit two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lead the Athletics past the Los Angeles Angels 3-1 for their second straight win and fifth in the last seven.
In Seattle, Washington, Brian Dozier and Justin Morneau homered for Minnesota, and Samuel Deduno pitched seven scoreless innings as the Twins beat the Mariners 4-0.
Michael Bourn homered to lead off the first inning for the only run of the game as the Cleveland Indians blanked the Texas Rangers 1-0, while the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 1-0.
The Boston Red Sox trounced the Baltimore Orioles 7-3, and the Detroit Tigers humiliated the Philadelphia Phillies 10-0 in interleague play.
In Atlanta, Georgia, Andrelton Simmons hit a two-run double in the eighth inning as the Braves beat the St Louis Cardinals 2-0 in a matchup of NL division leaders.
Julio Teheran allowed two hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking one.
In other NL games, Michael McKenry had a career-best four hits and drove in two runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Florida Marlins 7-4, the San Diego Padres dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3, the Chicago Cubs shut out the San Francisco Giants 1-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers downed the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5.
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