BASEBALL
Lyle Lin joins Blue Crabs
Taiwanese catcher Lyle Lin has signed with the independent league team the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, he wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. The 28-year-old on Monday last week was released by the Athletics’ Double-A affiliate Midland Rockhounds. Lin traveled to the US on Monday to report to the team and batted second in an away game in North Carolina on Tuesday. The Waldorf, Maryland-based Blue Crabs play in the Atlantic League, which is generally considered to be between Double-A and Triple-A in terms of competitive level. Lin gained major recognition in his home country after helping Taiwan win the World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 title last year.
Photo: CNA
BASKETBALL
Sex toy thrown during game
A sex toy landed near Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham after it was thrown from the stands in Los Angeles, during the second quarter of the Fever’s WNBA game against the Sparks on Tuesday night. Cunningham has been vocal on social media about fans throwing the toys on the court after several incidents in the past week. The Fever forward jumped back in surprise and then Kelsey Plum kicked it into the stands. “I think it’s ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “It’s also dangerous and players’ safety is No. 1. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it’s really stupid.” Cunningham walked over to the Sparks bench and was laughing about it. Cunningham had expressed concern on social media about the incidents, saying that “you’re going to hurt one of us.”
SOCCER
Police to ‘tag’ rowdy fans
A police force in northwest England on Wednesday said it would use a “DNA tagging spray” to try to curb disorderly behavior from fans this season. Cheshire police said they would equip officers with the spray at all fourth-tier matches in the region, including for Crewe Alexandra’s game against Accrington Stanley tomorrow. The spray marks equipment, clothing and skin with an invisible uniquely coded synthetic DNA solution that can be used for forensic evidence. It “clings to skin and clothing for months,” police said. The spray shows up under ultraviolet light. “We know that the vast majority of football fans are law abiding, but unfortunately on occasions there are some who are intent on causing disorder, which is why a strong policing operation is essential,” said chief constable Mark Roberts, who is the lead for soccer policing in the UK.
SOCCER
Player wins 55kg of potatoes
French soccer player Maxime Soulas’ prize for his man-of-the-match award in the Danish first division did not go down like a sack of potatoes — more like a wheelbarrow’s worth. After performing when the chips were down by opening the scoring for Sonderjyske in their 3-2 win against Nordsjaelland on Sunday, Soulas received 55kg of the tasty tubers, the 26-year-old defender said. “I gave the potatoes to my club’s cafeteria, and they donated some to a soup kitchen,” he said. It marks the first time the man of the match can eat his award for his post-match supper. “The sponsor of the match decides on the reward. He found it funny and now the story’s gone round the world,” club communications director Jacob Ravn said.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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