■BASEBALL
ALCS Game 6 postponed
Game 6 of the American League Championship Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels was postponed because of rain on Saturday. The game was rescheduled for yesterday at Yankee Stadium. Game 7, if necessary, was rescheduled for tomorrow in New York. New York lead the series 3-2 and needs one victory to clinch their 40th league pennant and reach the World Series for the first time since 2003. Rain has been falling off and on in New York since late on Friday. A steady drizzle, with occasional spurts of heavy downpour, kept the tarp on the field all afternoon. The game was called by Major League Baseball nearly two hours before the scheduled start.
■BASEBALL
Kikuchi to pass on MLB
Japanese high school pitcher Yusei Kikuchi has decided not to play in the US major leagues for now, opting instead for Japan’s professional leagues. The 18-year-old left-hander, who throws a fastball that has been clocked as high as 155kph, said yesterday he wasn’t yet ready for the majors. “I don’t think I have what it takes to complete at the world level yet,” Kikuchi said at a press conference.
■BASEBALL
Stadium shows faults
The New York Yankees might look rock solid, but the concrete at their new stadium is drawing extra scrutiny amid a probe of construction companies. Concrete ramps at the US$1.5 billion ballpark have been troubled by cracks this summer. The New York Times reported that the team was trying to determine whether there was something wrong with the cement, or the ramps’ installation or design. A team spokeswoman says the cracks are a cosmetic issue and the ramps are safe.
■ATHLETICS
Gay groin surgery successful
World 100m silver medalist Tyson Gay has successfully undergone surgery on a painful groin problem that hampered him during much of the athletics season, his manager said on Saturday. Mark Wetmore told reporters surgery had taken place on both sides of Gay’s groin in Philadelphia on Friday. “The doctor [William Meyers] was really, really happy with the surgery and Tyson should start walking today,” Wetmore said. He said the American sprinter should be fully recovered in time for next year’s outdoor season.
■HOCKEY
Ruutu suspended for hit
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Tuomo Ruutu was suspended for three games on Saturday by the National Hockey League for a boarding infraction on Friday that injured Colorado’s Darcy Tucker. The 26-year-old Finn was given a major penalty and game misconduct with 5:26 remaining in the second period for slamming Tucker into the boards during a 5-4 Avalanche home victory over Carolina. Ruutu forfeit US$59,000 in salary and missed a game on Saturday at Minnesota as well as games on Wednesday against St Louis and next Saturday at Philadelphia. Ruutu will be eligible to return on Sunday when the Hurricanes face San Jose. Tucker’s face smashed into the glass and he fell unconscious and bleeding onto the ice, where Colorado team trainers and doctors treated him, applying a neck brace and strapping Tucker to a backboard before carrying him off. Tucker, second on the Avalanche with four goals this season, suffered a concussion, but was alert and taken to a hospital. He was released on Saturday night but will remain out of action indefinitely.
US national team star Folarin Balogun was among the scorers as AS Monaco on Friday won 3-1 at Paris Saint-Germain, dealing a blow to the side from the French capital before they face Chelsea in a crunch UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie. Maghnes Akliouche gave Monaco a first-half lead at the Parc des Princes, and Aleksandr Golovin doubled their advantage early in the second half of the French Ligue 1 clash. Bradley Barcola pulled one back for the reigning European champions, but Balogun struck shortly after with a fifth goal in his last five games as Monaco claimed a precious
Teenage star Lamine Yamal’s superbly-taken goal on Saturday earned Barcelona a 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao in Spanish La Liga. The champions restored their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, who had on Friday temporarily closed the gap by beating Celta Vigo. Atletico Madrid tightened their grip on third with an entertaining 3-2 win over Real Sociedad. Yamal, 18, curled into the top corner after 68 minutes to split the sides at Athletic’s San Mames stadium. “We’re already seeing what Lamine can do — he puts it right in the top corner, and there’s nothing the keeper can do,” Barca
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
Taiwan yesterday defeated the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks’ farm team 5-1 in their final warm-up game ahead of their World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool C opener. Taiwan’s bullpen used an unconventional rotation, with a different pitcher throwing each inning for the first seven innings. Together, they combined for eight strikeouts while allowing only four hits. The lone run surrendered came in the bottom of the eighth inning after a pitcher from Japan’s independent league took the mound. The pitching strategy was designed to preserve the arms of the Taiwanese ahead of their game against Australia at the Tokyo Dome tomorrow morning. Taiwanese-American Stuart Fairchild
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