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
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two