MAJOR LEAGUES
Ian Kinsler hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning as the Detroit Tigers reopened a 1.5 game American League Central lead by beating the Cleveland Indians 6-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep.
Kinsler’s homer off Bryan Shaw (5-5), his first since Aug. 30, followed Rajai Davis’ infield single and put the Tigers ahead 4-3.
Phil Coke (5-2) pitched a scoreless seventh for Detroit, who won for the sixth time in seven games and have their largest division lead since before play on Aug. 10.
In Baltimore, Steve Pearce doubled in a ninth-inning run and scored the game-winner off a double by Kelly Johnson as the Orioles beat the New York Yankees 3-2 to inch closer to the AL East title.
Any number of Orioles wins and Toronto losses totaling three will give Baltimore their first division title since 1997.
The winning rally came after Brian McCann hit a tiebreaking homer off Darren O’Day (5-1) in the top of the ninth.
Philadelphia closer Jonathan Papelbon made a lewd gesture to fans and was ejected after giving up four runs in the ninth inning during the Phillies’ 5-4 loss to the Miami Marlins.
Papelbon grabbed his crotch as he walked to the dugout and was ejected by crew chief Joe West. He jogged out of the dugout and got into a face-to-face argument with West, who grasped the pitcher’s jersey to hold him off, and Papelbon then argued with first-base umpire Marty Foster. Papelbon threw a cup of liquid on the field before leaving the dugout.
The Los Angeles Dodgers downed the San Francisco Giants 4-2 after Clayton Kershaw (19-3) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings and struck out nine, taking over the big league lead in wins and lowering his majors-best ERA to 1.7.
In other games on Sunday it was:
‧ Cardinals 4, Rockies 1
‧ Brewers 9, Reds 1
‧ Pirates 7, Cubs 3
‧ Red Sox 8, Royals 4
‧ Astros 6, Angels 1
‧ Athletics 4, Mariners 0
‧ Nationals 3, Mets 0
‧ Rays 6, Blue Jays 5
‧ Twins 6, White Sox 4
‧ Rangers 10, Braves 3
‧ Diamondbacks 8, Padres 6
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