WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 SPORTS

Leinster flanker retires English FA launches major Barca aim to field Turan DUBLIN: Leinster flanker Kevin McLaughlin, who won eight caps for Ireland, has quit at survey into grassroots game BARCELONA: Barcelona have asked the Spanish federation and soccer’s ruling body FIFA the age of 31 on the advice of doctors after having been concussed a number of times. to allow them to play Turkish midfielder Arda Turan due to Rafinha’s long-term knee injury. During an injury-hit career he twice won the European Cup with his native province. He LONDON: The FA’s long-awaited survey into grassroots football, backed by Turan was recruited in the close season from Atletico Madrid, as was Aleix Vidal of made his international debut against Italy in the 2010 Six Nations before winning his England striker Harry Kane among others, was launched yesterday, seeking Sevilla, with the understanding the pair would not be available until January due to the views from the estimated 400,000 who are involved at that level of foot- eighth and final cap against New Zealand three years later. After being concussed in transfer ban handed to Barca because they illegally signed under-age players. ball. The survey is part of Greg Dyke’s Chairman’s Commission that is exam- their opening PRO12 game against Edinburgh this month, Leinster said McLaughlin was Rules stipulate that in emergency cases such as injury, players can be replaced outside ining the grassroots in England and has declared an ambition to build the normal transfer windows. “The club has contacted the Spanish federation and FIFA to told it would be in his long-term interests to stop playing. football hubs in 30 cities. “It is upsetting and frustrating to have to retire when I feel I have ask whether they can replace Rafinha,” a Barca spokesman told Reuters. Dyke also wants a 50 percent increase in the number of full-size 3G arti- “Looking into the regulations it seems as though it is possible to regis- so much left to give but it is the right decision and I am glad our ficial pitches to more than 1,000. The long-term aim is to develop more medical staff were so pro-active in encouraging me to see a ter him as the two transfer windows are now passed.” Although Barca qualified coaches and ultimately produce more players skilled enough to have started well, they meet Celta Vigo on Wednesday having won neurologist,” McLaughlin said in a statement. play for England’s top clubs and the national side. He was named Leinster captain in the absence of World Cup their four previous La Liga matches, they have struggled with injuries. The number of domestic footballers appearing for the leading clubs That led to youth players Sandro Ramirez and Munir El Haddadi players, including fellow backrows Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip has dwindled alarmingly in recent years, with overseas players featuring and Jordi Murphy, and his retirement will be a blow to the starting in the win over Levante on Sunday. Coach Luis Enrique throughout the four professional divisions. Kane, 22, who developed remains relaxed about the situation. province’s early-season prospects. through Tottenham Hotspur’s youth programme before breaking into the “I don’t see this as critical,” he told a news conference. “It is per- Concussion-related injuries in rugby have first team and making his England debut last season, said: “It can only fectly normal after the ban and also Pedro went (to Chelsea). “It become an increasing concern and claimed the make the players coming through better and that’s what we all want. is typical of the types of situations that happen at Barca careers of leading players like England’s “We want to have a strong national side and strong club sides for many which is a special club. The ban has passed, those that play Shontayne Hape and McLaughlin’s fellow years to come so this can only help that,” he told the FA’s website are motivated, those who do not perhaps less so but there is Ireland internationals Declan Fitzpatrick, (www.thefa.com). “It’s an investment for the future. The benefits of it won’t still a competitive atmosphere.” Luis Enrique added that Bernard Jackman, John Fogarty and be immediate but in the next 10 or 20 years we will hopefully see the Turan and Vidal had settled in well. “They are training well Dave Quinlan. — Reuters results.” — Reuters and are motivated. —Reuters

LOS ANGELES: Pittsburgh Pirates’ Josh Harrison’s helmet falls off as he runs to first for a single during the ninth inning of aaseball b game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. — AP Blue Jays dump Yankees, Pirates win

TORONTO: David Price pitched seven shutout cruised through the first four innings before an 15th straight defeat. New York stretched its lead East’s basement and ahead of the Rays. save in 49 chances to match the franchise innings, Jose Bautista had two hits and the error in the fifth preceded Tom Murphy’s three- to 6 1/2 games over the second-place Nationals David Ortiz collected his 99th RBI on a night record. Toronto Blue Jays used a three-run first inning to run homer that made it 5-3. with 12 to play and lowered its magic number for he was honored at Fenway Park for hitting his beat the New York Yankees 4-2 on Monday night. clinching the division to seven. 500th career homer. It was his first home game WHITE SOX 3, TIGERS 2 Toronto stretched its lead in the AL East divi- ASTROS 6, ANGELS 3 Niese (9-10) tossed three-hit ball for six since he joined the 500-home run club, hitting it Erik Johnson followed a one-hitter by Jeff sion to 3 1-2 games in the opener of a three- Evan Gattis and Carlos Correa hit two-run innings, keeping the ball down during an against the Rays on Sept. 12. Brandon Guyer Smardzija with six solid innings, leading the game showdown between the division’s top homers, and the Astros beat the Angels in a encouraging outing and getting 13 of his 18 outs homered on the game’s second pitch to spark a White Sox to a victory over the Tigers for a dou- teams. Facing the Yankees for the fourth time matchup of American League wild-card playoff on the ground. three-run first for the Rays, who lost for the sev- bleheader sweep. since joining the Blue Jays in a July 30 trade, contenders. Dallas Keuchel (18-8) pitched 7 2-3 Miller lost his seventh straight start. He threw enth time in 10 games. Samardzija allowed only a leadoff single to Price (17-5) improved to 3-0 with a 1.71 ERA solid innings to remain undefeated at home this a season-high 113 pitches in six innings, allowing Jean Machi (1-0) got one out for the win. Victor Martinez in the fifth inning as the White against New York with Toronto. Roberto Osuna season. More importantly, the All-Star left-han- two runs and seven hits - including Conforto’s Robbie Ross Jr. pitched the ninth for his fifth Sox won the opener 2-0. Gordon Beckham overcame Greg Bird’s two-out solo homer in the der helped Houston keep momentum by win- homer. The right-hander is winless in his last 23 save. Bogaerts homered off Brandon Gomes (2- homered, Jose Abreu had an RBI double and ninth to earn his 17th save. Toronto jumped on ning its third straight. The Astros (80-71) lead the outings, the longest drought for a starter in 6). Jackie Bradley Jr. was hit by a pitch and Avisail Garcia a sacrifice fly in the night cap of the Adam Warren (6-7) with a three-run first. Minnesota Twins by three games and the Angels Atlanta history, since coming within one out of a Mookie Betts and Pedroia singled before split-doubleheader. All the runs came off by 3 1-2 for the AL’s second wild-card spot. The no-hitter in a 6-0 win May 17 at Miami. Bogaerts hit his homer over the Green Monster. Detroit’s Randy Wolf (0-4). Johnson (3-0) allowed PIRATES 9, ROCKIES 3 victory put the Astros within a game of first- a long ball to Alex Avila and a sacrifice fly to Ian Starling Marte homered among his four hits place Texas in the AL West. DIAMONDBACKS 8, DODGERS 4 CARDINALS 2, REDS 1 kinsler. Making his fourth start this season after and came within a triple of the cycle, and Right-hander Jered Weaver (7-12) lasted 5 2-3 Paul Goldschmidt homered after Yasmany Rookie Stephen Piscotty doubled in the spending most of it at Triple-A Charlotte, Pittsburgh beat the Rockies. Aramis Ramirez innings for the Angels, giving up five runs and Tomas and Aaron Hill gave the Diamondbacks go-ahead run in a two-run eighth inning and Johnson matched a career best with nine strike- went deep and Jody Mercer had four hits for the nine hits, including the two homers. the lead with longballs off Brett Anderson as the Cardinals turned it on late for a victory outs. He allowed five hits and two walks. Pirates, who reduced their magic number for Arizona beat Los Angeles. over the Reds. Rookie Tommy Pham tripled off In the opener, no other batter reached base clinching a postseason berth to two. A win METS 4, BRAVES 0 The Dodgers’ loss in the opener of this four- J.J. Hoover (8-2) to open the eighth and against Samardzija (10-13), who struck out six in Tuesday and a San Francisco loss would clinch at Jonathon Niese won for the first time in a game series kept their magic number for clinch- Jhonny Peralta’s one-out single tied it ahead his second shutout this season. Adam Eaton sin- least a wild card for the third straight season. month, Michael Conforto homered and the Mets ing a third straight NL West title at seven, with of Piscotty’s drive off the wall in left-center. gled in Carlos Sanchez in the third, and Sanchez Mercer hit doubles in the second and fourth moved closer to an NL East title with their victory second-place San Francisco idle. Johnathon Broxton (3-5) allowed one hit the homered in the sixth against Kyle Ryan (2-4), innings to drive in Francisco Cervelli, who had over the Braves. Daniel Murphy lined a two-run Jhoulys Chacin (1-1) allowed two runs, six hits eighth and Trevor Rosenthal earned his 47th who allowed six hits in seven innings. — AP three hits, as the Pirates built a 5-0 lead on Jon double, Yoenis Cespedes had three hits and the and four walks over 5 1-3 innings in his fourth Gray (0-2). Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett (9-5) Mets handed hard-luck Shelby Miller (5-16) his start for the Diamondbacks, one day after they were mathematically eliminated from postsea- son contention. The seven-year veteran right- MLB results/standings hander posted his first win in the majors since June 12, 2014, with Colorado. The Diamondbacks’ bullpen came up big in the sixth Chicago White Sox 2, Detroit 0; Toronto 4, NY Yankees 2; Chicago White Sox 3, Detroit 2; Boston 8, Tampa after Chacin walked two batters and was pulled Bay 7; NY Mets 4, Atlanta 0; Chicago Cubs 9, Milwaukee 5; Houston 6, LA Angels 3; St. Louis 2, Cincinnati with one out. Andrew Chafin struck out pinch- 1; Pittsburgh 9, Colorado 3; Arizona 8, LA Dodgers 4. hitter Scott Van Slyke and David Hernandez American League National League fanned pinch-hitter Scott Schebler. Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB NY Mets 85 65 .567 - CUBS 9, BREWERS 5 Toronto 86 64 .573 - Washington 78 71 .523 6.5 Anthony Rizzo had three hits and scored NY Yankees 82 67 .550 3.5 Miami 64 86 .427 21 three runs, Jorge Soler hit a pinch-hit, 3-run shot Baltimore 73 76 .490 12.5 Atlanta 60 91 .397 25.5 and the Cubs beat the Brewers. The Cubs inched Boston 72 77 .483 13.5 Philadelphia 56 94 .373 29 closer to a NL playoff berth as their magic num- Tampa Bay 72 78 .480 14 Central Division ber to clinch fell to four. Rizzo reached in all five Central Division St. Louis 94 56 .627 - of his at-bats after walking twice to go along Kansas City 87 62 .584 - Pittsburgh 90 60 .600 4 with his three hits. Milwaukee’s Adam Lind tied Minnesota 76 73 .510 11 Chicago Cubs 88 62 .587 6 the game at 4 with a two-run homer in the fifth Cleveland 74 74 .500 12.5 inning off Cubs starter Jason Hammel (9-6), who Cincinnati 63 86 .423 30.5 Chicago White Sox 72 78 .480 15.5 allowed three earned runs over his five innings. Milwaukee 63 87 .420 31 Detroit 69 81 .460 18.5 Wily Peralta (5-10) allowed four walks and eight Western Division Western Division hits. He gave up six runs over 4 2-3 innings. Texas 80 69 .537 - LA Dodgers 85 64 .570 - Houston 80 71 .530 1 San Francisco 78 71 .523 7 RED SOX 8, RAYS 7 LA Angels 76 74 .507 4.5 Arizona 72 78 .480 13.5 Xander Bogaerts hit a grand slam in the Seattle 73 77 .487 7.5 San Diego 70 80 .467 15.5 eighth inning to lift Boston to a victory over TORONTO: Blue Jays’ Russell Martin connects with the ball to score teammate Josh Donaldson Oakland 64 86 .427 16.5 Colorado 63 87 .420 22.5 Tampa Bay, moving the Red Sox out of the AL on a pop fly in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees. —AP