SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015 SPORTS Curry eyes second title Nobody wins in ‘Deflate-gate’ Fekir blow for France MANILA: Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry vowed to win a second straight LISBON: France international striker Nabil Fekir has been ruled out for six LOS ANGELES: Star quarterback Tom Brady says he’s excited to play in New National Basketball Association title during a visit to the Philippines yesterday. Curry’s months after rupturing a cruciate ligament in his right knee during Friday England’s season opener and expressed his gratitude towards the US judge who visit to Manila was a godsend for the tens of millions of Filipinos who play or follow night’s 1-0 friendly win over Portugal. The Lyon player was forced off the pitch the game. struck down the NFL’s four-game suspension against him. “I look forward to the competition on the playing field and I hope the attention of NFL fans can return to in Lisbon after just 13 minutes and tests later revealed the extent of the dam- “We feel like we’re still the team to beat,” the NBA’s most valuable player (MVP) age, the French team confirmed. Coach Didier Deschamps had feared the worst told reporters in the capital when asked about his team’s odds of defending their title where it belongs,” Brady said, breaking his silence on the “Deflate-gate” fiasco on Friday night. “I also want to thank Judge Berman and his staff for their efforts to after the tie which Euro 2016 hosts French won thanks to a freekick taken by during the 2015-2016 season that starts on October 27. Curry led the substitute Mathieu Valbuena five minutes from time. Golden State Warriors to the NBA title over the Cleveland Cavaliers resolve this matter over the past five weeks. I am very grateful. “While I am pleased to be eligible to play, I am sorry our league had to endure “It’s very sad for Nabil, these are things that happen, in train- in June, setting a record for three-pointers made in a single play- ing, in competition,” said Deschamps. Here it happened after off run. this. I don’t think it has been good for our sport-to a large degree, we have all lost.” Brady-one of the biggest names in the National Football League-posted the state- 13 minutes. Our thoughts are with him.” “It’s going to be a different challenge for us. We’ve never ment on his Facebook page. Fekir, 22, was starting for the first time in five matches for defended an NBA championship before so it will be a new The ruling by US Judge Richard Berman not only paves the way for Brady to take France, but picked up the injury on his own without contact experience for us,” the 27-year-old added. the field with the Patriots against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Thursday’s NFL opener, “All eyes are on our team and every other team is trying to with another player as he moved to try and receive the ball. but is also a public relations embarrassment for commissioner Roger Goodell, call- knock us off our throne, so we have to be even better than we He was replaced by Atletico Madrid forward Antoine ing into question his role as the league’s ultimate authority. The NFL has said it will were last year to get back to the top.” Griezmann. Midfielder Blaise Matuidi said the injury overshad- appeal the decision. Curry won the most valuable player award in May after he owed an evening where Les Bleus had gotten back to winning While Brady may have won his appeal, he has faced criticism for the way he con- helped his team win a franchise-record 67 regular season ways after three losses in four games. “Nabil’s injury was the ducted himself during the investigation which was sparked by accusations that the low point of the evening, we’re very disappointed,” said games, averaging 23.8 points, 7.7 assists, 2.04 steals Patriots used balls inflated below the league minimum during their American and 4.3 rebounds. The affable point guard also the Paris Saint-Germain player. “We’re los- Conference championship victory over the Indianapolis Colts last season. The ing a very talented player. I hope he’ll be made 286 three-pointers, an NBA record for Patriots went on to win the Super Bowl. —AFP a single season. —AFP back very, very quickly.” —AFP Yankees block Rays, Cubs advance NEW YORK: Rookie Luis Severino won his third straight Kelly won his seventh straight start. Mets starter Jacob deGrom allowed nine hits and Mateo (1-1), who faced two batters to start the sixth start and Alex Rodriguez hit his 681st career home run, Mookie Betts added an RBI double for Boston, which three runs in six innings. His ERA has climbed to 2.40 inning, took the loss. sending the New York Yankees over the Tampa Bay Rays entered the weekend 10-1-2 in its last 13 series against from 1.98 on Aug. 24, but he was in line for his 13th win 5-2 on Friday night for their sixth win in seven games. the Phillies. Odubel Herrera had a two-run homer and before an uncharacteristically shaky showing by the MARINERS 11, ATHLETICS 8 Brian McCann and Greg Bird also homered for the three hits for Philadelphia. bullpen in the seventh. Logan Morrison had three hits, including a two-run Yankees, who hold the top AL wild-card spot and are Kelly (9-6) gave up two runs on five hits in six innings. Rookie Michael Conforto, batting cleanup for the first double as part of Seattle’s six-run third inning. Kyle trying to catch East-leading Toronto. New York won with He’s the first Red Sox pitcher since Josh Beckett in 2007 time because injuries left the Mets short-handed, went Seager and Stefen Romero both homered while Brad just four hits - an infield tapper and three long balls. to win seven consecutive starts. Robbie Ross Jr. struck 0 for 6 with an RBI. David Wright went 0 for 5. Miller drove in three runs for the Mariners, who won Evan Longoria hit his third homer in two games for the out Ryan Howard for the final out of his first career save their third straight to clinch the season series between Rays, still on the edge of the wild-card race. The 40-year- after closer Jean Machi gave up three runs in the ninth. PIRATES 9, CARDINALS 3 the division rivals. old Rodriguez gave the Yankees the lead with a two-run Leading 3-2, Boston broke it open in the seventh, chas- JA Happ pitched seven scoreless innings and Starling Jose Ramirez (1-0), the second of eight Seattle pitch- drive in the second inning and the 21-year-old Severino ing Adam Morgan (5-5). Marte drove in three runs to lead Pittsburgh past St. ers, retired five batters for the win. The teams, which kept them ahead. Louis. Happ allowed only three singles and won for the entered with the worst records in the AL West, com- Severino (3-2) hit 97 mph with his fastball and threw NATIONALS 5 BRAVES 2 fourth time in six starts since being acquired from bined for 28 hits, including six doubles, one triple and shutout ball until Longoria’s homer in the sixth. The Michael Taylor had a pinch-hit three-run homer in Seattle at the July 31 trade deadline. He retired 15 three home runs. Danny Valencia had two hits, includ- righty has a 2.04 ERA after his first six big league starts. the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Washington. Bryce straight batters in one stretch, matched his season-high ing a grand slam for Oakland. Aaron Brooks (1-2) Jake Odorozzi (6-8) gave up five runs, three hits and two Harper, who hit his 32nd homer in the first inning, sin- with eight strikeouts and walked none. Happ (4-1) low- allowed six runs in 2 1-3 innings. — AP walks in 6 2/3 innings. gled off Matt Marksberry (0-3) leading off the 10th. ered his ERA with the Pirates to 1.57. Pittsburgh ended a Reliever Brandon Cunniff came on and Ryan four-game losing streak and cut St. Louis’ lead in the NL CUBS 14, DIAMONDBACKS 5 Zimmerman grounded a single up the middle, sending Central to 5 1/2 games. It was the Pirates’ fourth win in Anthony Rizzo hit a grand slam in Chicago’s eight- Harper to third. their last 17 games at Busch Stadium. MLB results/standings run fifth inning, and rookie Addison Russell homered Taylor, who missed the last two games with a sore Carlos Martinez (13-7), pitching for the first time in twice for the first time in his career to back Jon Lester. right knee, batted for Jonathan Papelbon and hit a 1-0 eight days, gave up four runs and seven hits and three Chicago Cubs 14, Arizona 5; NY Yankees 5, Tampa Bay 2; Javier Baez added a two-run shot - his first homer pitch over the wall in left-center for his 14th home run. walks in five innings. Washington 5, Atlanta 2 (10 innings); Baltimore 10, Toronto this season - and went 3 for 4 in his third game since his Washington tied the score on Matt den Dekker’s RBI 2; Cleveland 8, Detroit 1; Boston 7, Philadelphia 5; Miami 6, recall from the minors as the Cubs rolled to their third single with two outs in the ninth.