Matt Clark hit a tying home run off US pitcher Brandon Dickson leading off the bottom of the ninth inning before Efren Navarro had a broken-bat single against Caleb Thielbar to drive in the winning run in the 10th as Mexico beat the US 3-2 at the Tokyo Dome yesterday to qualify for the Olympic baseball tournament for the first time.
Mexico joined hosts Japan, South Korea and Israel in the six-nation field for next year’s Tokyo Games and earned the bronze medal at the Premier 12 tournament, which served as an Olympic qualifying tournament.
The US are forced into the Americas Baseball Qualifier in Arizona in March, which determines one of the two remaining Olympic berths and gives two more teams entry into the six-nation Final Baseball Qualifier in Taipei in April, which Taiwan are in, with the winner getting the sixth and final Olympic berth.
Photo: AP
The US’ Jo Adell homered in the first against Arturo Reyes. Cody Ponce, the US’ starter, allowed three hits in five scoreless innings with six strikeouts and a walk.
Clark tied it in the sixth with a bases-loaded, two-out single off Daniel Tillo. Clark had missed part of the tournament with an Achilles tendon injury and limped at times.
Bobby Dalbec ended an 0-for-10 slide with an RBI single in the seventh off Jesus Rios for a 2-1 lead to the US.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Under tournament rules, extra innings start with runners on first and second.
Dalbec sacrificed leading off the 10th and Drew Walters was intentionally walked. Winner Carlos Bustamante struck out Alec Bohm, then retired Jake Cronenworth on a flyout.
Jon Jones sacrificed on a 1-2 pitch leading off the bottom half against Dickson.
Esteban Quiroz was intentionally walked and US manager Scott Brosius brought in the left-handed Thielbar to face the left-handed-hitting Navarro, who singled to center.
Mexico had beaten the US 8-2 in the group stage on Nov. 3 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The US got in position to play for a berth only because South Korea defeated Mexico 7-3 and Taiwan defeated Australia 5-1 in the super round.
Japan and South Korea played the Premier 12 final yesterday, with Japan winning 5-3 at the Tokyo Dome.
The game finished just before press time last night.
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