BASEBALL
Strikeout milestone for C.C.
New York Yankees hurler C.C. Sabathia on Tuesday reached another MLB milestone, becoming the 17th pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts. Sabathia, 38, reached the landmark with a second-inning strikeout of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ John Ryan Murphy in Phoenix, Arizona. He joined Randy Johnson (4,875) and Steve Carlton (4,136) as the only left-handed pitchers to reach the 3,000 mark, and the first pitcher since John Smoltz in 2008 to reach it. Sabathia came into the contest three strikeouts away from 3,000. He struck out David Peralta looking at a sinker to start the second inning, then struck out Christian Walker swinging at a fastball. After surrendering a home run to Wilmer Flores, Sabathia induced Murphy to swing and miss at a changeup to end the inning. “It’s one of those awesome numbers,” teammate Aaron Boone said before the game. “I saw Rod Carew get 3,000 [hits], Reggie [Jackson] get 500 [home runs]. Those are magical numbers in our sport.” The Diamondbacks went on to win 3-1.
BASEBALL
YouTube to stream games
YouTube is to exclusively livestream 13 MLB games in the second part of this season, the firm said on Tuesday. Fans can subscribe to the MLB channel for free access to the games, including pre and post-game content. They are to be available in most countries, including the US, except places where existing broadcasters have deals with the MLB that exclude YouTube access. “With Major League Baseball’s expanding international fanbase, we are confident YouTube’s global audience will bring fans around the world together in one place to watch the games and teams they love,” YouTube head of sports and news partnerships Timothy Katz said.
DOPING
Moscow samples obtained
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Tuesday said that it had retrieved 2,262 samples from Moscow’s former drug-testing laboratory that are to be further analyzed. “These samples will be used to strengthen cases against those who may have cheated and may exonerate athletes who have not committed an anti-doping rule violation,” investigations director Gunter Younger said. The removal of the samples comes after WADA investigators retrieved a trove of analytical data from the lab in January. An update on the investigation would be presented to WADA’s Executive Committee and Foundation Board meeting on May 15 and 16. WADA wants to complete the review by June 30 as part of a reinstatement deal.
E-SPORTS
Fnatic plans expansion
Fnatic, a London-based team owner, has raised US$19 million in new funding and restructured its leadership as it plans a major expansion, the company said yesterday. It plans to further expand in Asia and North America, and grow from 150 to 1,000 people in the next five years, founder Sam Mathews said. It is to use the investments to strengthen its teams with new nutrition and psychology programs, and physical training coaches for players — lessons Mathews said he took from the British cycling team. Fnatic, one of the oldest and largest teams in global e-sports, has won major titles in several games, including League of Legends and Counter-Strike, and fields teams in 10 different games.
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