BASEBALL
Bob Welch dies at 57
Former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Bob Welch has died at the age of 57, the Oakland Athletics said on Tuesday. The Athletics said Welch died in Seal Beach, California, in the Los Angeles area, but a cause of death was not immediately known. Welch pitched for the Athletics from 1988 to 1994 after spending 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was a member of three American League pennant winners with Oakland from 1988 to 1990 and won a World Series title with the A’s in 1989. He won the Cy Young Award as the league’s outstanding pitcher after a 1990 season that included a record of 27-6. No pitcher has reached as many as 25 wins in a season since. In 17 major league seasons, starting in 1978, Welch compiled a record of 211-146 with a 3.47 ERA.
BASEBALL
Machado gets five-game ban
Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado was banned for five games and fined an undisclosed amount on Tuesday for actions that sparked a benchclearing brawl in a game against Oakland. Machado insisted it was unintentional, but he was ejected from the game on Sunday when his bat slipped from his hands and sailed down the third-base line close to Alberto Callaspo, after Machado had swung and missed on a pitch from Fernando Abad with two outs in the eighth inning. Abad’s previous pitch had been an inside brush-back that angered Machado. Players from both teams flooded onto the field and both Machado and Abad were tossed from the game. Abad was fined an undisclosed amount on Tuesday for intentionally throwing at Machado. Machado was listed in the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox, likely indicating he plans to appeal the suspension.
RUGBY UNION
Wales win warmup match
Uncapped scrumhalf Gareth Davies scored on his debut as Wales ran in five tries to beat South African provincial side the Eastern Province Kings 34-12 in a tour match on Tuesday. The Scarlets’ No. 9 notched the fifth and final try to add to earlier efforts from flanker Josh Turnbull, center Cory Allen, flyhalf James Hook and wing Alex Cuthbert. Hook also kicked three conversions and a penalty. The Kings, who are to return to Super Rugby in 2016 after a one-season stint last year, scored tries through wing Shakes Soyizwapi and prop Simon Kerrod. Flyhalf George Whitehead added a conversion. The match was the only warmup for Wales ahead of the first Test against South Africa in Durban on Saturday.
RUGBY UNION
Steyn withdraws from ’Boks
Springbok fullback Frans Steyn will not play in the forthcoming Tests against Wales after he withdrew from the squad to consider his career in international rugby, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said on Tuesday. “He has asked for some time to consider his international playing future and we must respect that,” SARU CEO Jurie Roux said in a statement. “Let me make it clear that he has not retired from international rugby, but he has requested a break from it.” The 27-year-old is expected to sign a contract in Japan after finishing play for South African side the Coastal Sharks later this year. “The environment in the Springbok squad is fantastic and I would like to state categorically that my relationship with Heyneke Meyer, the rest of the management and my teammates is very good,” Steyn said.
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