IBAF U16
Taiwan beat Australia 13-2
Taiwan ended their first round in Group A at the IBAF U16 World Championship with an even 2-2 record, as they beat Australia 13-2 in seven innings at Panamerican Stadium in Lagos de Moreno, Mexico, on Tuesday. Australia finished the first round at 1-3. Taiwan decided the outcome in the second inning, when they put six runs on the board, highlighted by a two-run double by Ho Chun-hsien and a two-run single by Wang Tse-chun. They added two runs apiece in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to end the game early, while Chang Wei-chien scored four times. Australia only got on the board in the bottom half of the second inning, thanks to a two-run homer by Karl Hoschke. The long ball was the first at Panamerican Stadium in the tournament. On the mound, Yang Chia-wei struck out nine batters in a complete game, allowing just eight hits, two runs and a walk in seven innings. Zac Shepherd got charged six hits, seven runs and no walks in three innings to take the loss. All runs during the big rally in the second were scored with two outs after an error.
MAJOR LEAGUES
Jays, D’Backs make trade
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired second baseman Kelly Johnson from the Arizona Diamondbacks for infielders Aaron Hill and John McDonald, the two MLB teams said on Tuesday. The Jays hope they have found their second baseman of the future in Johnson. Johnson, a first-round draft pick of Atlanta in 2000, had a .209 batting average with 18 home runs, 49 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 114 games for Arizona this season. Arizona are hoping a change of scenery will provide a boost for Hill, who slammed 36 homers in 2009 and 26 last season, but this year is batting .225 with just six homers and 45 RBI. McDonald, 36, a fan favorite in Toronto, gives the Diamondbacks a quality utility player who is batting .250 this season with two home runs and 20 RBI.
LLWS
Japan shut out Canada
Japan have moved one step closer to defending their title at the Little League World Series (LLWS). Hamamatsu City starter Shoto Totsuka combined with relievers Hiroyasu Sugiura and Takuya Okamoto to five-hit Langley, British Columbia, in a 4-0 win on Tuesday. A team from Tokyo won the LLWS last year. Earlier, Cumberland, Rhode Island, had a 8-7 win over the Netherlands in a consolation game after Colin Cannata scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth.
YANKEES
A-Rod to talk about poker
Alex Rodriguez will meet with MLB officials this week in Baltimore to discuss allegations the New York Yankees’ All-Star third baseman took part in illegal poker games. “I’ll be talking to you guys on Friday afternoon,” Rodriguez told reporters yesterday. “I can’t wait.” MLB commissioner Bud Selig acknowledged the investigation of the allegations against Rodriguez this month. “We take this matter very seriously,” Selig’s office said in the e-mail. Rodriguez, a three-time AL Most Valuable Player, in 2005 said he frequented illegal gambling venues. He said at the time it was a mistake and that he “would never be back.” Rodriguez, 36, played in at least two high-stakes games, according to a report on celebrity Web site RadarOnline.com, citing poker professional Dan Bilzerian and another unidentified eyewitness. Rodriguez also helped organize and participated in a 2009 poker game in Miami, RadarOnline.com said.
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
The former interpreter for baseball star Shohei Ohtani on Thursday was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for bank and tax fraud after he stole nearly US$17 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers player’s bank account. Ippei Mizuhara, who was supposed to bridge the gap between the Japanese athlete and his English-speaking teammates and fans, was sentenced in federal court in Santa Ana to four years and nine months after pleading guilty last year. He was ordered to pay US$18 million in restitution, with nearly US$17 million going to Ohtani and the remainder to the US Internal Revenue Service. He was
SPEEDSKATER: Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s run at the Asian Winter Games without a medal since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990 Speedskater Chen Ying-chu yesterday made history as the first athlete representing Taiwan to secure a medal at the Asian Winter Games. Competing at the HIC Speedskating Oval in Harbin, China, Chen clocked 10.510 seconds in the women’s 100m event, finishing third behind South Koreans Lee Na-hyum and Kim Min-sun, who posted times of 10.501 and 10.505 seconds respectively. Her bronze medal ended Taiwan’s drought at the Asian Winter Games since the nation first participated in the second iteration in 1990. This year’s Games mark Chen’s debut at the event. Previously excelling in roller speedskating, she won six medals at world championships before transitioning
The 40-year-old LeBron James on Thursday became the oldest player to score 40 points in an NBA game, putting up a season-high 42 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-112 victory over the Golden State Warriors. James passed the record held by Michael Jordan, his idol and the only other NBA player to score 40 after his 40th birthday. “I’m old, that’s my take,” James said when asked about his latest achievement. “I need a glass of wine and some sleep, that’s what I think.” Jordan did it for the Washington Wizards just three days after turning 40 in February 2003. James is 38