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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 SPORTS

Nishikori hopes to fill Li void Battle for Korea title Monica lifts Guangzhou title HONG KONG: The retirement of China’s Li Na may have robbed Asian ten- SEOUL: Second seed Karolina Pliskova and American Varvara Lepchenko GUANGZHOU: Romanian Monica Niculescu overcame heat and fatigue to nis of its brightest star, but U.S. Open finalist Kei Nishikori has put up his will battle it out for the Korea Open title after both players rallied to hard- beat second seed Alize Cornet in the final of the Guangzhou International hand to fill the breach. With Li’s departure, the 24-year-old Japanese is now fought victories in the semi-finals yesterday. Women’s Open for her second WTA career title yesterday. The world num- Asia’s top player, having reached a career high ranking of eight after his Pliskova, ranked 32 in the world, came back from a set down to beat ber 60 rallied from 4-2 down in the first set to win 10 games in a row and fairytale at Flushing Meadows. Russian wildcard Maria Kirilenko 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-3. Czech Pliskova will be hop- beat her 22nd ranked French opponent 6-4 6-0. “I was shocked. It is sad that I can’t see her play anymore,” Nishikori told ing it will be fourth time lucky after having lost three singles finals in 2014, “I was so happy to finish in the end because it was very hot and very reporters in Hong Kong, where he helped launch the ATP tour’s Asian swing the latest against Germany’s Sabine Lisicki at the WTA Hong Kong Open humid, and I was very, very tired,” Niculescu said after her win. of tournaments. “I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so last Sunday. “I feel really happy. I know that I probably might not look very “But to finish so strong was amazing for me. I have many emotions right many amazing things for Asian tennis. now, but most of it is joy and confidence. It’s my second WTA title and that’s happy, but I almost lost the match, so I’m very happy to be in the final “She won grand slams that we have never done before. I just an amazing feeling.” Cornet, 24, struggled with her serve and again in two weeks. Hopefully I can win this one,” Pliskova said. Pliskova hope she can still be involved in tennis and I hope I can be the committed 12 faults against an opponent who had none. struggled with her serve during the first two sets, especially in the opening next one to lead Asian tennis.” Having become the first man The 26-year-old Niculescu had a great week at the $500,000 set when she landed just 38 percent of first serves. It improved as the from an Asian country to reach a grand slam final, Nishikori event where she did not drop a set and lost just 17 games in the match progressed and she hit eight out of her 10 aces in the final set. would appear a worthy successor to the 32-year-old Chinese, five matches. “I think it’s very tough to play against me because I “I was not doing well and I was not serving good but I tried to my who became the continent’s first grand slam title winner with her put many balls back and run a lot and fight for every ball - I serve until the end,” she added. Lepchenko, seeded fifth, appeared jaded breakthrough at the 2011 French Open. Li’s late-blooming career- think in this heat and humidity it’s definitely not easy to after her win over top seed and defending champion Agnieszka she won at Roland Garros when 29 and at Melbourne Park play against me,” Niculescu added. “I had a good feeling Radwanska in Friday’s quarter-final but recovered to defeat compatriot this year as a 31-year-old-should also give Nishikori some about this tournament when I entered it.”—Reuters confidence that his best tennis is ahead of him.—Reuters Christina McHale 3-6 6-1 7-6(5) in another close encounter. —Reuters Dodgers tame Cubs, Tigers maul Royals

CHICAGO: Left-hander Clayton Kershaw became the first 20-game winner of the season in the major leagues and helped Los Angeles clinch a spot in the playoffs as the Dodgers beat the . Kershaw (20-3) picked up his sixth straight win and reached 20 victories for the sec- ond time since 2011. Since June 2, he’s 16-1 with two no-decisions, including a no-hitter on June 18 against Colorado. Los Angeles (88-66) secured a postseason berth for the fifth time in nine seasons. Kershaw gave up three runs in the first before he settled down and held Chicago to seven hits while striking out nine and walking three through five . Kershaw’s Dodgers team- QMMF achieve top mates made sure he was never seriously threat- ened, supplying a 6-0 lead in the top of the first position, first team inning. TIGERS 10, ROYALS 1 Justin Verlander pitched into the eighth to go to Lemans inning and second baseman Ian Kinsler stroked three hits, including a , and drove in DOHA: QMMF team for endurance pions of the game. Al Attiyah stated that three runs as the Detroit Tigers routed the achieved a new Qatari victory, since the “such achievement is absolutely consid- Kansas City Royals. team has clinched first position at the quali- ered a real indicator of the team’s ability to The Tigers continued their mastery of the fiers for the final round of the world achieve the best international results “no Royals, winning 12 of 17 games this season. They endurance championship at Lemans, pros- doubt that QMMF has now a good experi- also opened a 1-1/2 game over the Royals as tock class and the 7th position at the facto- ence which would lead the team to they aim for their fourth straight American ries class. achieve more victories in the name of League Central title. Verlander (14-12) limited The organizing committee mentioned Qatar, which is our targeted goal. the Royals to one run and seven hits in 7 1/3 the start timing 3pm France time, 4 pm Al Attiyah also stated that the will of the innings, striking out four and walking none. He Doha timing yesterday up to today team represented by Rashid Alsliety man- improved to 4-1 in his past six starts. (unday) 4 pm to be the finish of the final aged to make the Qatari presence among round of the world endurance champi- the international teams, which is able PIRATES 4, BREWERS 2 onship 2014. About the nature of this enough to reserve a seat at the world Pittsburgh Russell Martin hit a three- achievement, the head of QMMF endurance championship for this season, run home run in the eighth inning to help the expressed his full pleasure, saying that the we hope to have a successful start tomor- Pirates overcome seven shutout innings by team has achieved this advanced position row, to raise the Qatari flag in one of the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo among hard competition with the cham- most reputable championships. and beat the Brewers. A night after blowing a in the Brewers’ 13-inning loss to St. Louis, Milwaukee right-hander Jonathan Broxton entered in the eighth inning and gave up the home run that gave the Pirates their first lead of the game. The Pirates notched their first five-game win streak of the season (83-70) and extended their lead to 3 1/2 games over Milwaukee (79-75) for the National League’s second wild-card spot.

CARDINALS 2, REDS 1 Veteran right-hander John Lackey worked 7 2/3 quality innings and scattered six hits as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the . Lackey (14-9) gave up one run with no walks and five as he improved to 3-2 with the Cardinals. He hadn’t started since Sept. 10, CHICAGO: Kyuji Fujikawa No. 11 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the 7th inning against the Los when he was ejected in Cincinnati in the bottom Angeles Dodgers at Wrigley Field. —AFP of the third inning. St. Louis (86-68) improved to 6-1 during its nine-game homestand and stayed NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 2 ed a four-game winning streak for the Orioles 2 1/2 games ahead of Pittsburgh for first place in Doug Fister won his career-high 15th game, (92-61), who have clinched the American League the National League Central, reducing its magic leading the playoff-bound Washington Nationals East title. number to seven. to a win over the Miami Marlins. Fister (15-6), who won 14 games last season for his previous ROCKIES 15, DIAMONDBACKS 3 PADRES 5, GIANTS 0 high, allowed five hits, two walks and two runs in Michael Cuddyer drove in a career-high seven Odrisamer Despaigne gave up only two hits 6 2/3 innings. His walk ratio is the lowest among runs with a grand slam and a three-run double in seven strong innings and the San Diego active with more than 500 career as the Colorado Rockies walloped the Arizona Padres shut out San Francisco as the Giants’ innings. He has yet to allow a steal this season. Diamondbacks. Cuddyer became the first hopes of winning the National League West Rockies player to drive in seven runs in a game diminished. San Francisco fell 3 1/2 games METS 5, BRAVES 0 since Jason Giambi had seven RBIs on May 19, behind the Dodgers, though the Giants still lead Lucas Duda hit his 28th homer 2011, at Philadelphia. the wild-card race. of the season and right-hander Zack Wheeler struck out seven over six innings as the New York WHITE SOX 4, RAYS 3 MARINERS 10, ASTROS 5 Mets defeated the skidding Atlanta Braves. The Chicago White Sox beat Tampa Bay, elimi- Dustin Ackley had his second career multi- The Braves, seven games out of a playoff spot nating the Rays from playoff contention. The homer game as the Seattle Mariners belted four with nine to play, fell to 76-77 with their 12th White Sox (70-83) overcame a three-run deficit home runs in their victory over the Houston loss in 16 games during September. with a four-run fifth inning and let starter Jose Astros. Quintana take over from there. Ackley slugged solo home runs in the third RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 3 and eighth innings, walked and scored three David Ortiz hit his second homer of the TWINS 5, INDIANS 4 times as Seattle (83-70) kept pace in the game, a two-run shot in the top of the 10th Trevor Plouffe’s bases loaded single with one American League wild-card chase. inning, to give the Boston Red Sox victory over out in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the the Baltimore Orioles. The victory ended a three- Minnesota Twins to a win over the Cleveland A’S 3, PHILLIES 1 game losing skid for Boston (67-87). It also end- Indians. —Reuters Left-hander Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings and the beat the , snapping a three-game los- MLB results/standings ing streak and regaining the top spot in the LA Dodgers 14, Chicago Cubs 5; Boston 5, Baltimore 3 (10 innings); NY Yankees 5, Toronto 3; Pittsburgh 4, Milwaukee 2; American League wild-card race. Washington 3, Miami 2; Chicago White Sox 4, Tampa Bay 3; NY Mets 5, Atlanta 0; Detroit 10, Kansas City 1; Minnesota 5, The A’s (84-69) moved a half-game ahead of Cleveland 4 (10 innings); Seattle 10, Houston 5; Colorado 15, Arizona 3; St. Louis 2, Cincinnati 1; Oakland 3, Philadelphia the Kansas City Royals and remained one game 1; Texas 12, LA Angels 3; San Diego 5, San Francisco 0. ahead of the Seattle Mariners. American League National League Eastern Division Eastern Division YANKEES 5, BLUE JAYS 3 W L PCT GB Washington 89 64 .582 - Hiroki Kuroda pitched into the seventh inning Baltimore 92 61 .601 - Atlanta 76 77 .497 13 and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in three runs before NY Yankees 79 74 .516 13 Miami 74 79 .484 15 leaving with a strained right hamstring as the Toronto 77 76 .503 15 NY Mets 74 80 .481 15.5 New York Yankees beat Mark Buehrle for the Tampa Bay 74 80 .481 18.5 Philadelphia 70 84 .455 19.5 Boston 67 87 .435 25.5 Central Division 12th straight time en route to victory over the Central Division St. Louis 86 68 .558 - Toronto Blue Jays. Detroit 85 68 .556 - Pittsburgh 83 70 .542 2.5 Kuroda (11-9) allowed three runs (two Kansas City 83 69 .546 1.5 Milwaukee 79 75 .513 7 earned) and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He Cleveland 79 74 .516 6 struck out seven without a walk and threw 65 of Chicago White Sox 70 83 .458 15 Cincinnati 71 83 .461 15 100 pitches for strikes. Minnesota 66 87 .431 19 Chicago Cubs 68 86 .442 18 Western Division Buehrle (12-10) allowed five runs and eight Western Division LA Dodgers 88 66 .571 - hits over six innings, falling to 1-14 in 21 career LA Angels 95 59 .617 - Oakland 84 69 .549 10.5 San Francisco 84 69 .549 3.5 starts against the Yankees. His losing streak is the Seattle 83 70 .542 11.5 San Diego 72 81 .471 15.5 longest of any active against a particular Houston 67 87 .435 28 Colorado 63 91 .409 25 team. Texas 61 92 .399 33.5 Arizona 62 92 .403 26