Established 1961 25 Sports Thursday, June 7, 2018 , Nationals prove too much in 4-2 win over Rays

Ramirez key hits help outlast Milwaukee

ATLANTA: Max Scherzer became the first in for the lead in wins. the major leagues to win 10 games as he struck out 13 Kluber struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter in his in eight innings, and homered as the 112-pitch performance. Chisenhall had a bases-loaded, defeated the visiting Tampa Bay two-run single in the second inning, and Ramirez hit a Rays 4-2 Tuesday night. Scherzer improved to 10-1 and solo home run in the third. Neil Ramirez retired the has won nine straight decisions. His only loss came on Yankees in order in the eighth. Indians Cody April 4 at Atlanta. Scherzer gave up two runs on five Allen allowed a leadoff solo home run by Travis Shaw hits without a walk. The right-hander also entered the to start the ninth but still earned his 10th . record books with the second so-called immaculate inning of his career-needing only nine pitches in an RED SOX 6, TIGERS 0 inning to strike out all three . He became J.D. Martinez became the majors’ first 20-homer hit- the fifth pitcher to register multiple immaculate innings. ter this season as his two-run blast against his old team accomplished the feat three times, and helped host Boston beat Detroit. others to do it twice were , Martinez, a staple in the Tigers’ lineup from 2014 to and . 2017, broke a tie for the major league lead in homers with the ’ and the ANGELS 1, ROYALS 0 Cleveland Indians’ Jose Ramirez. celebrated his 27th birthday by added a solo homer, his ninth of the year for Boston. throwing a one-hit shutout for the Los Angeles in a vic- Steven Wright (2-0) allowed two hits over seven score- tory over Kansas City in Anaheim, Calif. The left-han- less innings with three walks and six in his der tossed his first career shutout. The only hit Heaney first start this year for Boston. Nicholas Castellanos (2- allowed was a one-out single by Hunter Dozier in the for-4) had both of the Tigers’ hits against Wright. fifth inning. The Royals got their only other baserunners when Jon Jay was hit by a pitch leading off the first BRAVES 14, PADRES 1 inning and when Jorge Soler walked with two outs in Sean Newcomb posted his seventh straight win as the seventh. The Angels got the lone run in the fifth Atlanta rolled to a victory at . Freddie inning. With Michael Hermosillo on first base and Chris Freeman, who had a 16-game hitting streak snapped a Young on third, Hermosillo broke for second, drawing a night earlier, went 4-for-4 with a homer, two doubles throw. Hermosillo got in a and a walk. He scored three WASHINGTON: #22 of the Washington Nationals slides by #40 of the Tampa Bay rundown, and Young took off runs and drove in two. Dansby Rays to score in the second inning on a #2 fielders choice during a baseball game against the for home and scored. Swanson and Nick Markakis at on Tuesday in Washington. — AFP Dodgers starter also homered as part of an 18- DIAMONDBACKS 3, hit attack. The Braves batted GIANTS 2 Stripling gave around twice while scoring WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 3 (GAME 2) PHILLIES 6, CUBS 1 spoiled the five runs in both the fifth and Jose Abreu cracked a two-run home run to jumpstart Nick Williams homered and had three RBIs, and comeback of Madison up four hits seventh innings. Newcomb (7- a four-run first inning, and Lucas Giolito pitched six Zach Eflin pitched 7 2/3 strong innings to lead Bumgarner with 6 1/3 strong 1) allowed no runs on three hits effective innings as Chicago earned a split of the dou- Philadelphia to a victory at Chicago. Williams had a innings, delivering Arizona a and three walks with four bleheader. Abreu gave Minnesota rookie Zack Littell two-run homer in the second inning for the Phillies, victory at San Francisco. strikeouts over six innings. (0-1) a rough initiation into the majors with a 413-foot who snapped a three-game slide. Making his first start of the Three of the Padres’ baserun- blast over the wall in left-center that brought home added two RBIs as Philadelphia won for just the third season and hoping to extend ners against Newcomb were Yolmer Sanchez. Kevan Smith, playing his first big time in its past nine contests. Eflin (2-2) allowed one the Giants’ winning streak to six, Bumgarner (0-1) limit- eliminated on double-play grounders. league game of the year, made it 3-0 with an RBI single run and eight hits before exiting. He struck out two ed the Diamondbacks to two runs in six innings. He was to right. Adam Engel followed by ripping a double to and walked one while helping end Chicago’s four- pitching in the majors for the first time since breaking a ORIOLES 2, METS 1 left that chased Smith home, giving Giolito (4-6) all the game winning streak. bone in his left hand when hit by a line drive in spring Alex Cobb earned the win in his best start since support he needed. training. Corbin (6-2) allowed just one run and four hits. joining Baltimore, thanks to first-inning RBIs from RANGERS 7, A’S 4 He walked two and struck out seven, helping Arizona Manny Machado and Danny Valencia at New York. The YANKEES 7, BLUE JAYS 2 Adrian Beltre and Joey Gallo belted eighth-inning win for the sixth time in eight games. Brad Boxberger Orioles, who have the worst record in baseball at 18-41, Miguel Andujar hit his first career , Aaron home runs to snap a tie and complete Texas’ come- allowed a run in the ninth but nailed down his 14th save. snapped a seven-game losing streak. The Mets have Hicks added a three-run shot, and CC Sabathia pitched back against visiting Oakland. Beltre led off the lost five straight and 30 of 46 since an 11-1 start. Cobb seven strong innings as New York won at Toronto. eighth by homering off Lou Trivino (3-1). After DODGERS 5, PIRATES 0 (2-7), who signed with the Orioles on March 21 and Sabathia (3-1) allowed two runs, three hits and one Jurickson Profar walked, Gallo drilled a 386-foot shot , and hit entered Tuesday with a 6.80 ERA in his first nine starts, walk while striking out six for his first win since April to right. That was the fifth homer of the game for the homers, and five Los Angeles held host didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning. He ended up sur- 29, a span of five winless starts. The Yankees are 4-1 on Rangers. Chris Martin (1-1) picked up the win with a Pittsburgh to seven hits, all singles. Dodgers starter rendering the one run on two hits and one walk while their nine-game road trip. clean eighth inning. Keone Kela struck out the side in Ross Stripling (4-1) gave up four hits, struck out seven striking out seven over six innings. Teoscar Hernandez and homered for the the ninth to garner his 14th save of the year. and walked none in five innings. Relievers Scott Blue Jays, who were playing their first game at home Alexander, Josh Fields, Pedro Baez and TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 2 (GAME 1) after a 3-6 road trip. MARINERS 7, ASTROS 1 each pitched an inning to complete the shutout. Los Eduardo Escobar’s three-run homer in the eighth James Paxton delivered another strong perform- Angeles (30-30) won its fourth in a row and reached inning capped a four-run rally with two outs that lifted ROCKIES 9, REDS 6 ance, and Seattle bashed three home runs to win at .500 by winning 14 of 18 games since May 17. The Minnesota to a win over Chicago in the opener of a Carlos Gonzalez hit a three-run home run in his four- . Paxton (5-1) notched his fourth consecutive Pirates (30-30) have lost three straight and fell to .500 doubleheader at Minneapolis. The 413-foot shot to cen- RBI night, and Colorado earned a win at Cincinnati. victorious decision despite allowing nine hits over 7 for the first time this season. They are 4-13 since they ter field scored Eddie Rosario and Gregorio Petit, mak- Rockies starter Kyle Freeland (6-5) pitched 6 2/3 2/3 innings. He limited the Astros to just one run while were a season-best nine games over .500 on May 17. ing a winner of reliever Tyler Duffey (1-1), who worked innings of three-run ball, helping Colorado snap a four- two scoreless innings. pitched the game losing streak. The Reds have lost three in a row. walking one and striking out six. Before Paxton took INDIANS 3, BREWERS 2 ninth to garner his 13th save. Shut down for seven Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (0-1) allowed the mound in the bottom of the first inning, the allowed a run and scattered seven hits innings by starter Reynaldo Lopez, who ceded only one four runs on six hits in five innings during his first start Mariners gifted him a four-run lead. Astros left-han- in seven innings, and Lonnie Chisenhall and Jose hit and walked four while fanning four, Minnesota got of the season. After missing all of last year with an arm der (3-8) saw his first-inning ERA rise Ramirez had key hits to help Cleveland outlast visiting its offense going after reliever Nate Jones (2-2) got the injury, he began this year on the 60-day disable list to 9.00. He wound up allowing seven runs in 6 2/3 Milwaukee. Kluber (9-2) tied the New York Yankees’ first two hitters out in the eighth. with a left oblique strain. innings. — Reuters

Cricket Australia chief Sutherland Ponting to join Australia to stand down coaching staff in England

MELBOURNE: Long-serving Cricket LONDON: Australia great Ricky ing back-to-back triumphs as Australia boss James Sutherland said yesterday Ponting will join the backroom captain in 2003 and 2007. More he would step down as chief executive next staff of head coach Justin Langer recently, the 43-year-old year but denied the ball-tampering scandal had during the team’s tour of Tasmanian has coached the Delhi played a part in the decision. The 52-year-old, England. Former Australia cap- Daredevils in this year’s edition of who took up the role in 2001, resigns amid cul- tain Ponting, one of the outstand- the Indian Premier League tural reviews into the cricket board and the ing batsmen of his generation, Twenty20 tournament. national team in the wake of the Cape Town was already due to be in Britain Langer was delighted to be scandal which shocked the sports-mad nation to commentate on the five-match able to tap into Ponting’s expert- and caused the loss of a key sponsor. one-day international series ise, saying: “Ricky is one of the Sutherland’s stewardship had also come against 2019 World Cup hosts greats of the game, and since he under the microscope as Australia look to England that starts on June 13 was already in England doing rebuild under a new captain and coach, but the MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland (L) listens to Cricket Australia chairman and a subsequent Twenty20 some commentary we saw it as a former Victoria state cricketer said he had been David Peever (R) at a press conference in Melbourne yesterday, where Sutherland announced international. great opportunity to have him join thinking about moving on for a while. “It cer- he will stand down in the wake of a ball-tampering scandal that rattled the game. —AFP But yesterday’s announcement our team for this important series. tainly was a big issue at the time,” Sutherland by Cricket Australia will see “We have played a lot of said of the scandal at a news conference. Ponting joining forces with cricket together and coached “It hasn’t had a bearing on my decision, I league in 2011. Sutherland and chairman Peever said the Langer, an old team-mate, again alongside each other previously, guess. “(CA chairman) David (Peever) and I CA’s swelling coffers have made the coun- change was more a matter of timing, however, after the pair coached Australia’s and he will also know many of the have actually been talking about this for two try’s elite among the world’s best-paid crick- with a new six-year broadcast deal worth A$1.2 Twenty20 team against Sri Lanka players already through his work years ... It just feels like a good time for me to eters, but relations with the players have been billion ($935 million) agreed in April and work on home soil in 2017. Ponting also with the team over the past two hand over the reins in an orderly fashion to my often been strained through his tenure. They hit on the ICC’s Future Tours Programme all but assisted former Australia head summers and his BBL (Big Bash successor.” Speaking at Melbourne’s Junction a low point during last year’s acrimonious pay put to bed. coach Darren Lehmann, who quit League) commitments,” he Oval, where he made his first class debut for dispute in which CA sought to end a 20-year With former captain Steve Smith, David following the ball-tampering added. Victoria in 1991, Sutherland said he would revenue-share model with the players but was Warner and Cameron Bancroft suspended for scandal in South Africa in March, “Ricky’s knowledge of the remain in place during a 12-month handover as soundly defeated. their parts in the Cape Town scandal, for the Twenty20 tri-series game is second-to-none, and we CA looks for his successor. The announcement Sutherland, who delegated negotiations to a Sutherland said he hoped his successor would against England and New know that his experiences, tacti- comes soon after the resignation of coach deputy in Kevin Roberts, was roundly criticised focus on growing participation in a game that Zealand earlier this year. cal expertise and leadership will Darren Lehmann and CA integrity chief Iain for being absent from the talks until the wran- suffered huge reputational damage. As a batsman Ponting aver- be invaluable for this group, as Roy, who oversaw the board’s investigation into gling threatened to scupper a tour to India. He “It’s my underlying belief, the most impor- aged over 42 in 375 ODIs, with we start to build a team capable the ball-tampering affair. has also been faulted for having a tin ear to tant thing we do as sports administrators ... is an excellent strike rate above 80. of winning a World Cup in these public expectations of the men’s cricket team, inspire the next generation to love cricket. Boys His 41 hundreds in the format conditions in a year’s time.” COMMERCIAL POWERHOUSE appearing reluctant to rein in a side with a rep- and girls. It’s all about that,” he said. “And included a brilliant 140 not out in Ponting will join up with the A former pace bowler, Sutherland has utation for boorish on-field conduct. whilst that doesn’t necessarily get the publicity a 2003 World Cup final win over squad on June 10 and fit in his helped turn the game into a commercial power- A number of pundits put the Cape Town that it deserves, the facts of the matter are that India in Johannesburg. work with World Cup-holders house in Australia’s crowded sports market, scandal at his door, saying the governing kids today, the primary school kids today, boys Ponting had first won the Australia around his broadcasting striking lucrative broadcast deals and ushering body’s failure to set standards had ultimately and girls, are not getting bats and balls in their World Cup in 1999 before enjoy- duties. — AFP in the now successful Twenty20 ‘Big Bash’ emboldened players to violate the rules. hands.” — Reuters