AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Baltimore Orioles moved to the brink of claiming their first American League East title in 17 years, with a resilient pitching performance by Taiwan’s Chen Wei-yin helping to beat the Toronto Blue Jays.
His latest outing was far from perfect, but it was enough for Chen to notch his career-high 16th win in a single season as the Orioles beat the Blue Jays 5-2 at Camden Yards on Monday night.
Photo: AFP
Chen’s first career win against the Blue Jays in three attempts moved the Orioles to within one win of clinching the American League East Division title and a spot in the playoffs for the second time in three years after 14 consecutive losing seasons.
The 16-4 Chen allowed two runs — including one in the first inning — on nine hits over 5-2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.
Ryan Flaherty homered and Adam Jones had three hits and an RBI as the Orioles secured their eighth win in nine games.
Photo: AFP
Blue Jays rookie Marcus Stroman (10-6) gave up five runs and nine hits in six innings.
“I allowed quite a few hits out there, but I was trying to battle, I was trying to keep the ball down and get out of the inning without allowing too many runs,” Chen told the MLB Web site through an interpreter.
“Fortunately, I can do that with the help of my teammates,” he added. “They made a lot of great plays out there.”
Chen said he was not really thinking about his new career-high win total. His main focus, he said, was to perform up to his abilities and keep the other team’s run total as low as possible to give his team a chance to win.
The Greater Kaohsiung native struggled in the first inning against Toronto, which he said mirrored his two previous career starts against the Blue Jays.
He gave up only one run in the inning, but it could have been more had right fielder Nick Markakis not made a great catch to rob John Mayberry of a base hit.
“I was really impatient at the beginning of the game trying to get hitters out and ended up throwing a lot of pitches,” Chen said.
“After that, I was able to settle down and was more in control of things,” he added.
Chen became the first Orioles left-handed pitcher to win 16 games in a season since Jimmy Key in 1997 — the year Baltimore last won the AL East.
In his two other career outings against Toronto, he had given up nine runs on 17 hits in 10 innings, including three homers.
Chen’s previous career high for wins in a major league season was 12 in 2012, his first year with the Orioles.
In his four years pitching professionally in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons, his season-high win total was 13, in 2010.
Chen won only seven games last season, when he was on the disabled list for almost two months with an injury to his right oblique.
The 29-year-old left-hander is expected to get two more starts in the regular season this year.
Baltimore were in a position to clinch the division crown with a win over Toronto yesterday.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely