TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016 SPORTS Nadal sues former French minister who accused him of doping

MADRID: Rafael Nadal filed suit yesterday the tennis star. The Spanish Olympic against a former French minister who Committee and members of the Spanish accused him of doping, saying he needs to government also loudly criticized the for- defend his integrity and image as an ath- mer French minister. lete. The Spanish tennis star said his Nadal’s coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, lawyers lodged the defamation suit in Paris called Bachelot “an imbecile,” according to against Roselyne Bachelot because of her Spanish media. “offensive remarks” on French television last A 14-time Grand Slam champion and month. Bachelot, France’s former minister the gold medalist at the 2008 Olympics in for health and sport, said on TV show Le Beijing, Nadal is one of Spain’s biggest Grand 8 that the Spaniard’s seven-month sports idols. The president of Spain’s injury hiatus in 2012 was “probably due to a Olympic committee said he would like to positive doping test.” see Nadal as the country’s flag bearer at the “Through this case, I intend not only to Rio de Janeiro Games, in part to make a defend my integrity and my image as an statement after the recent accusations athlete but also the values I have defended made by Bachelot. all my career,” Nadal said in a statement. “I Alejandro Blanco said Nadal “is a refer- also wish to avoid any public figure from ence” and deserves the honor “after how he making insulting or false allegations has been treated” by the former French against an athlete using the media, without minister. Nadal had been selected as any evidence or foundation and to go Spain’s flag bearer for the 2012 London unpunished.” Olympics but missed the games because of He said that if he wins the case, any an injury. Nadal expressed his “complete compensation awarded by the judge will trust in the French justice system” which be “paid back in full to an NGO or founda- will handle the lawsuit and said that he will tion in France.” not make any further statements about the Bachelot’s remarks upset Nadal and out- case. Bachelot’s allegations came in the raged Spaniards, including many fellow wake of Maria Sharapova’s failed doping athletes who quickly came out to defend test. — AP

WASHINGTON: Danny Espinosa #8 of the Washington Nationals steals second base in the 15th inning ahead of the throw to Eduardo Escobar #5 of the at Nationals Park on Sunday in Washington, DC. Washington won the game 6-5 in 16 innings. — AFP Nationals beat Twins 6-5 in ‘crazy’ 16 inning game

WASHINGTON: Chris Heisey homered in the CARDINALS 8, PADRES 5 Athletics. Recalled from the minors to make a 16th to give the Washington Nationals a wild Jedd Gyorko homered, tripled and singled, spot start as Toronto gave its rotation an 6-5 win Sunday over the Minnesota Twins. At and rookie Aledmys Diaz had a homer among extra day of rest, Drew Hutchison (1-0) 5 hours, 56 minutes, it was the longest regu- his three hits as St. Louis rallied. Tyorko, trad- allowed two runs and four hits in 5 2-3 lar-season game in Nationals’ history and one ed from San Diego to the Cardinals in innings. Roberto Osuna closed for his sixth Rafael Nadal of the craziest, too. Bryce Harper was sup- December, had two chances to complete the save. Eric Surkamp (0-2) allowed six runs in 4 posed to have a day off but stepped up to cycle but flied out and grounded out. Padres 2-3 innings. lead off the ninth with Washington trailing 4- reliever Kevin Quackenbush allowed consec- 3 and connected for the first pinch-hit homer utive homers to Gyorko and Diaz in the sixth ROYALS 8, ORIOLES 1 South Africa: Four top sports of his career. The Nationals were down 5-4 in to tie it. Brandon Maurer (0-1) gave up three Yordano Ventura settled down after a the 15th when Danny Espinosa drew a two- runs in the eighth. Kevin Siegrest (3-0) shaky first inning while Eric Hosmer and Alex banned from hosting tourneys out walk and stole second. With no one else pitched the seventh for the win. Trevor Gordon homered and Kansas City beat left to hit, pitcher Oliver Perez (1-0) batted for Rosenthal pitched the ninth for his fifth save. Baltimore. Ventura (2-0) allowed his lone run CAPE TOWN: The South African Rugby trying to hold the Rugby World Cup the first time since 2010 and bunted down and two of his three hits in the first inning. He Union could be prevented from bidding again since 2011 but failed in three suc- the third base line. Catcher John Ryan BREWERS 8, PHILLIES 5 wound up going seven. Mike Wright (1-2) for the 2023 World Cup by its own gov- cessive bids. Under the decision Murphy picked up the ball but threw it wildly Scooter Gennett and Alex Presley home- allowed five runs in 6 1/3 innings. ernment after the sports minister yester- announced by Mbalula yesterday, SARU past first, allowing Espinosa to score. Heisey red in a six-run sixth inning, backing an day banned the country’s five top sports wouldn’t be allowed to bid for 2023. then homered off Michael Tonkin (1-1) to encouraging outing by struggling starter Wily MARINERS 9, ANGELS 4 federations from bidding for or hosting Both the rugby and cricket federa- complete a three-game sweep. Peralta as Milwaukee beat Philadelphia. The Wade Miley overcame a shaky first inning major international tournaments for at tions said their officials would go into Brewers also hit four doubles in the sixth, that included a home by slumping Albert least a year over their failures to create closed-door meetings with sports min- RED SOX 7, ASTROS 5, 12 INNINGS when they chased Phillies starter Jerad Pujols to post his first victory in a Seattle uni- opportunities for black players. istry officials after the announcement. Jackie Bradley Jr. lined a tie-breaking RBI Eickhoff (1-3). Peralta (1-3) allowed three form. Kyle Seager, Leonys Martin and Seth Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula made Athletics South Africa said it would need single in the 12th inning after Houston’s earned runs and seven hits in six innings. The Smith hit home runs for the Mariners. Pujols the announcement after receiving a to study the “pronouncement” made by hit a tying two-run homer off Brewers’ starter entered the ended a career-worst 0-for-26 streak with his report on “transformation” in South Mbalula before commenting. Rugby is closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth as Boston game with an 8.35 ERA. Closer Jeremy Jeffress 563rd career homer, tying Reggie Jackson for Africa’s five biggest sports: Rugby, crick- the only one of the sports seeking to beat the Astros. Bradley singled with the threw a scoreless ninth for his sixth save. 13th place all-time. Miley (1-2) allowed four et, soccer, athletics and netball. host a major event in the near future. bases loaded off Ken Giles (0-2). It was the runs and six hits in 7 1-3 innings. Matt The athletics and netball federations Mbalula’s decision should not affect the first run the Red Sox had scored since Bradley RAYS 8, YANKEES 1 Shoemaker (1-3) gave up with seven runs in also were banned from bidding. Soccer 2022 Commonwealth Games, which has belted the second of back-to-back RBI dou- Steven Souza Jr. homered twice on his three-plus innings for Los Angeles. was the only one to meet its target “I already been awarded to Durban. The bles with Ryan Hanigan in the third. Hanigan 27th birthday as Tampa Bay went deep five have therefore resolved to revoke the Commonwealth bid was led by the preceded Bradley’s 12th-inning hit with a 13- times in all, finally giving Drew Smyly some WHITE SOX 4, RANGERS 1 privilege of Athletics South Africa (ASA), South African Olympic committee. pitch walk. Mookie Betts grounded into a run support. New York star Alex Rodriguez hit Mat Latos pitched six solid innings for his Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South The South African government has force at home and then Giles uncorked a wild an RBI double and later exited with stiffness fourth consecutive win as Chicago swept Africa (NSA) and South African rugby been pushing for years for the country’s pitch that allowed Hanigan to score. Heath on his left side. An MRI on his oblique were Texas. Latos (4-0), who signed a $3 million, (SARU) to host and bid for major and main sports - especially rugby and crick- Hembree (1-0) pitched three scoreless negative. Souza and Corey Dickerson each hit one-year deal with Chicago in February, was mega international tournaments,” et - to create more opportunities for innings and struck out Evan Gattis and a two-run homer in a five-run first inning charged with one run and seven hits. The Mbalula said in a statement. The ban black players. More than two decades Marwin Gonzalez with two on to end it. against Michael Pineda (1-2). Steve Pearce right-hander has allowed two earned runs in comes into effect immediately, Mbalula after the end of apartheid, those two Rasmus hit a 98 mph 0-1 fastball from and Logan Forsythe added solo shots. Smyly 24 1/3 innings while matching his win total said. He said he will review his decision sports are still generally dominated by Kimbrel out to right-center field to tie it 5-5. (1-2) went seven innings in his third consecu- from all of last year. David Robertson struck when he has received the results of the whites despite the fact that blacks make tive strong start. out the side in the ninth for his seventh save. federations’ transformation efforts for up over 80 percent of South Africa’s CUBS 9, REDS 0 Derek Holland (2-1) allowed three runs over 6 2016-17. That could be at the end of next population. Anthony Rizzo homered and drove in four INDIANS 6, TIGERS 3 1/3 innings. year, or maybe only in early 2018. All five federations agreed on various runs while Jason Hammel pitched six sharp Francisco Lindor got three hits as His move complicates South Africa’s transformation targets with the govern- innings as Chicago routed Cincinnati. The Cleveland overcame an early injury to start- PIRATES 12, DIAMONDBACKS intention to bid for the 2023 Rugby ment in 2015. Those agreements Cubs improved to 14-5 for the first time in 47 ing pitcher Carlos Carrasco. The Indians com- 10, 13 INNINGS World Cup. The South African Rugby involved getting black players involved years. Tommy La Stella homered and doubled pleted a three-game sweep. Detroit has lost Arizona pitcher Shelby Miller played left Union has already announced its inten- at school, age-group and club level, right twice and Jason Heyward had four hits and four in a row. Carrasco and Tigers starter field and chased after a go-ahead double by tion to bid. World Rugby will release ten- up to provincial and national level.This three RBIs. Hammel (3-0) allowed three hits. Shane Greene (1-2) both left the game with Pittsburgh’s Sean Rodriguez in the 13th der documents to interested countries in story has been corrected to show that Alfredo Simon (0-2) gave up nine hits and injuries. Carrasco hurt his right hamstring on inning before striking out to end the game. May, and countries must formally con- the five sporting federations signed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings. an awkward play while covering first base Miller went into the outfield after shortstop firm their intention to bid in June. transformation agreements with the and Greene broke open a blister on his pitch- Nick Ahmed was ejected in the 12th. Miller South Africa, host in 1995, has been government in 2015, not 2014. —AP METS 3, BRAVES 2 ing hand. Trevor Bauer (1-0) got the win and became the first Diamondbacks pitcher to Jacob deGrom made a successful return to Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his sixth play a position - the previous major league the mound after tending to his ill infant son save. pitcher to play the outfield since Colorado’s and an injury, pitching New York to a three- Jason Gurka last Sept. 15, STATS said. Paul game sweep. Atlanta has lost five in a row. BLUE JAYS 6, ATHLETICS 3 Goldschmidt homered twice, including a Back in the rotation after healing from a sore Jose Bautista hit a two-run homer and tying, two-run shot in the Arizona ninth. right thigh muscle and seeing his son recover Ezequiel Carrera added a solo shot as Toronto Neftali Feliz (1-0) wound with the win. from a health concern, deGrom (2-0) gave up beat Oakland. Chris Coghlan, Khris Davis and Rodriguez lined his double off the wall in left one run and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. Jeurys Josh Reddick each hit solo home runs for the against Evan Marshall (0-1). —AP Familia held on for his fifth save. Aaron Blair (0-1) allowed three earned runs in 5 1/3 MLB results/standings innings in his major league debut.

Tampa Bay 8, NY Yankees 1; Toronto 6, Oakland 3; Cleveland 6, Detroit 3; Chicago Cubs 9, Cincinnati 0; Washington DODGERS 12, ROCKIES 10 6, Minnesota 5 (16 innings); NY Mets 3, Atlanta 2; Milwaukee 8, Philadelphia 5; 4, Texas 1; Kansas Chase Utley drove in the go-ahead run City 6, Baltimore 1; Seattle 9, LA Angels 4; Miami 5, San Francisco 4; LA Dodgers 12, Colorado 10; St. Louis 8, San with a double during Los Angeles’ five-run Diego 5. ninth to rally at Colorado. Trailing 10-7, the American League National League Dodgers lit up Rockies closer Jake McGee (0- Eastern Division Eastern Division 1). (2-1) earned the win by get- W L PCT GB Washington 14 4 .778 - ting two outs in the eighth. Kenley Jansen Baltimore 11 6 .647 - NY Mets 10 7 .588 3.5 struck out Trevor Story to pick up his ninth Toronto 10 10 .500 2.5 Philadelphia 9 10 .474 5.5 save. Boston 9 9 .500 2.5 Miami 6 11 .353 7.5 Tampa Bay 8 10 .444 3.5 Atlanta 4 14 .222 10 NY Yankees 7 10 .412 4 Central Division MARLINS 5, GIANTS 4 Central Division J.T. Realmuto matched his career high with Chicago White Sox 13 6 .684 - Chicago Cubs 14 5 .737 - four hits, including a tiebreaking in Kansas City 12 6 .667 0.5 St. Louis 10 8 .556 3.5 the eighth inning as Miami avoided a three- Cleveland 9 7 .563 2.5 Pittsburgh 10 9 .526 4 Cincinnati 9 10 .474 5 game sweep. Giancarlo Stanton also home- Detroit 8 9 .471 4 LONDON: In this file photo taken Friday, Oct. 30, 2015 the South African rugby team Minnesota 5 14 .263 8 Milwaukee 8 11 .421 6 poses for photographers during the medal ceremony after winning the bronze red and reached base four times for the Western Division Western Division medal Rugby World Cup match against Argentina in London. Four of South Africa’s Marlins. Realmuto homered off San Francisco Oakland 10 9 .526 - LA Dodgers 12 7 .632 - leading sports federations were yesterday banned by the sports minister from bid- reliever Josh Osich (0-1). Kyle Barraclough (1- Texas 10 9 .526 - Arizona 10 10 .500 2.5 ding for or hosting major international events for at least a year over their failures to 0) got the win and A.J. Ramos worked the Seattle 9 9 .500 0.5 Colorado 9 9 .500 2.5 create enough opportunities for black players more than two decades after the end ninth for his third save. LA Angels 8 11 .421 2 San Francisco 9 11 .450 3.5 of apartheid.—AP Houston 6 13 .316 4 San Diego 7 12 .368 5