TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2015 SPORTS

Springboks wait on Pollard Wickham joins Palace Drucker sprints to victory DURBAN: South Africa are sweating on the fitness of flyhalf Handre Pollard LONDON: England Under-21 international striker Connor LONDON: Luxembourg’s Jean-Pierre Drucker sprinted to victory in the 200km ahead of their final Rugby Championship test against Argentina at King’s Park Wickham has joined Crystal Palace from Sunderland, the RideLondon-Surrey Classic on Sunday, the BMC rider edging out Dutchman Mike on Saturday. The 21-year-old, who was impressive in defeats to Australia and London club announced yesterday. Palace’s official website Teunissen and Briton Ben Swift. New Zealand in this year’s competition, took a blow to the head against the (www.cpfc.co.uk) said his contract was for five years. With the peloton, which included seven UCI WorldTour teams, shredded in the latter in Johannesburg nine days ago. He was cleared to carry on playing in Wickham, 22, had his best period at Sunderland at the end of Surrey hills on a warm day, only four men were left in contention on The Mall and the game, but two days later was diagnosed with delayed concussion and will the 2013-14 season, when a flurry of five goals in three Drucker timed his surge to perfection to claim the biggest win of his career. be assessed again later in the week. “Handre passed the head injury assess- games lifted them from the bottom of the Premier League to The thousands of fans who lined the route around some of London’s landmarks ment during the game and immediately after, but then two days later there 17th place and eventual safety. had hoped to see Briton contesting a bunch sprint, but the searing were signs of what we called delayed concussion,” team doctor Craig Roberts pace took its toll and the Etixx-Quick-Step rider did not feature. , the Those were his only goals from 15 appearances and last told reporters in Durban. “So we will only know later in the week, after further 2012 Tour de France champion, also failed to make an impact. “I’m a fast guy so I was tests are carried out, whether he will be available for selection.” Should he be season he managed a modest five in 36 games. His total for pretty confident and when I looked to Swift in the closing stages he ruled out or rested, one of Pat Lambie or Morne Steyn will make a the club was 15 in 91 matches in all competitions. “I looked at looked a bit nervous,” Drucker told the BBC. “I tried to keep his wheel return to the starting lineup. Better news for the Springboks was the team before I arrived here and the signings that have and focus on him. “I’m a sprinter who loves it when the race is pretty that the experienced trio of centre Jean de Villiers, scrumhalf Fourie been brought in, and the potential to score goals and the hard and my team tried to make it a hard race. “To get my first pro- de Preez and flank Willem Alberts all made it through a training chances that could be created was a massive influence,” fessional win in front of Buckingham Palace is so special. The crowd session unscathed on Monday as they aim to make a return to Wickham told the club website. Manager Alan Pardew has here is so crazy about cycling.” Cavendish, who took his Tour de the side having not yet featured in 2015. “Jean is a player been keen to strengthen Palace’s attacking options in an France stage win tally to 26 last month, rolled home in 44th who took a back seat a bit so that he could get some attempt to build on last season’s 10th position, after they had place, having briefly attacked out in front with game time, and the news is good on that front as he been in danger of relegation when he joined in January. with an hour of racing to go. An eight-man group then got looked good in training and should be available for Palace have also signed Patrick Bamford, the promising clear and the main bunch gave up the chase, leaving Drucker selection for this week’s game,” Roberts said. —Reuters young Chelsea forward, on loan.—Reuters to triumph in the sunshine.—Reuters Rangers edge Giants, Mets win

ARLINGTON: Josh Hamilton hit a two-run three hits and four RBIs, helping the AL East- homer and Martin Perez allowed only two hits to leading Yankees close out a 6-4 road trip - match- earn his first win in his comeback from elbow ing a season high. Ellsbury drove in three runs, surgery as the Texas Rangers edged the San and Didi Gregorius had two hits and two RBIs. Francisco Giants 2-1 on Sunday. Perez (1-2) threw New York also got a lift from Ivan Nova (4-3), 8 1/3 innings, leaving after allowing a one-out, who pitched six innings of five-hit ball in his third ninth-inning double to Angel Pagan. Sam Dyson consecutive victory. Nova’s previous start on earned his first career save, getting a game-end- Monday at Texas was cut short by arm fatigue, a ing double play after allowing a bases-loaded, condition he contributed to his comeback from RBI single to Buster Posey. In Perez’s previous Tommy John surgery in April 2014. Nova allowed start last Monday, he failed to get through the just one run on Melky Cabrera’s RBI single in the second inning against the New York Yankees and sixth. Samardzija (8-6) was tagged for nine runs, allowed eight earned runs in a 21-5 loss. matching a season high, and eight hits in 4 2/3 Hamilton homered into the right-field corner innings. off Mike Leake (9-6), who made his first start with San Francisco. Before that, Texas had put eight CUBS 4, BREWERS 3 runners on without scoring. Closer Hector Rondon nearly squandered a three-run lead, and rookie Kris Bryant got hurt in METS 5, NATIONALS 2 the Cubs’ win that completed a four-game Curtis Granderson, Daniel Murphy and streak- sweep. Starter Clayton Richard (2-0) and the ing Lucas Duda homered in a span of five pitch- Cubs’ bullpen held off the Brewers until the es, a sudden power strike that charged up Citi ninth, when Rondon allowed the first two run- Field and helped the Mets complete a three- ners to reach base with his team leading 4-1. game sweep. Ryan Braun scored on a groundout with one Noah Syndergaard (6-5) struck out nine over out, and Hernan Perez drove in another run with eight innings, and New York pulled within per- a two-out single. Rondon then got pinch-hitter centage points of first-place Washington in the Logan Schafer to line out sharply to center for his NL East. Tyler Clippard got the last three outs for 16th save. his first save with the Mets. New York finished a Bryant left in the fifth after sliding headfirst wildly eventful 6-4 homestand that featured one into second and appearing to get tagged on the trade that fell through, the additions of four new helmet by shortstop Jean Segura. Bryant’s neck players - including slugger Yoenis Cespedes - or upper back also appeared to bump into and a 162-game drug suspension for reliever Segura’s leg. Bryant, who reached on an RBI sin- Jenrry Mejia. gle off Kyle Lohse (5-13), was running after a Anthony Rendon hit his first homer of the throw to the plate was cut off. Bryant was lifted season, and Yunel Escobar also went deep for for a pinch runner after a safe call was upheld on Washington. Jordan Zimmermann (8-7) gave up a replay review. the five runs, six hits, two walks and struck out seven in six innings. ATHLETICS 2, INDIANS 1 Mark Canha hit a two-out double in the 10th ARLINGTON: Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor (12) stretches to catch a throw to second base against San Francisco Giants’ CARDINALS 3, ROCKIES 2 inning to drive in Sam Fuld and lift Oakland past Brandon Belt (9) during the fifth inning. —AP Brandon Moss had his first big hit with St. Cleveland. before Ethier deposited the rookie right-hander’s Chris Johnson, Jonny Gomes and Ryan Hechavarria then ended it as Miami avoided get- Louis, a game-ending single in the ninth inning, Fuld singled off Cody Allen (1-3) before Canha 1-1 pitch into the Angels’ bullpen in right field for Lavarnway all had an RBI for the Braves, who ting swept. Marlins starter Jose Fernandez struck and Randal Grichuk had a two-run homer to lead hammered a 3-1 pitch off the wall in left-center. his 12th homer and the Dodgers’ NL-leading won for just the second time in their last 15 road out 10 in six shutout innings, allowing four hits. the Cardinals. Fuld raced around third base and slid into home, 131st home run. games to avoid a four-game series sweep. Ryan Moss’ one-out hit to left off reliever Scott easily beating the relay throw from shortstop Pedro Baez (4-2) got the victory with 1 1/3 Howard had two hits, one a double, for the PIRATES 3, REDS 0 Oberg (2-2) drove in Jason Heyward, who dou- Francisco Lindor. Canha entered the game as a innings of relief. Three days he was acquired Phillies, who lost for just the third time in 15 Charlie Morton pitched five-hit ball for seven bled with one out. Closer Trevor Rosenthal (2-2) pinch-hitter in the fifth inning. It was the first from the Miami Marlins in a three-team, 13-play- games since the All-Star break. Teheran (7-6) innings and Neil Walker hit a review-aided home pitched a perfect inning to hlep the Cardinals game-ending hit of his career.Francisco er trade involving the Atlanta Braves, Mat Latos earned his first road win since his season debut run as Pittsburgh won a game in which benches win for the ninth time in 12 games and improve Rodriguez (2-1) pitched one inning for the win, yielded a run and four hits over six innings in his on April 6 at Miami. Adam Morgan (2-3) surren- cleared after All-Stars Andrew McCutchen and to a major league-best 40-16 mark at home. striking out Lindor with the go-ahead run on Dodgers debut and departed with a 2-1 lead. dered four runs and seven hits in five innings in Brandon Phillips were hit by pitches. No punches Colorado has lost four of five. St. Louis third base in the top of the 10th. Fuld finished his seventh career start. were thrown between two teams with a history jumped to a 2-0 lead on Grichuk’s home run off with two hits while Billy Burns drove in Oakland’s MARINERS 4, TWINS 1 of altercations dating back a couple of years, but Colorado starter Yohan Flande in the fifth. It was other run. Lonnie Chisenhall singled and scored Logan Morrison’s RBI double in the 11th BLUE JAYS 5, ROYALS 2 the altercation rekindled twice before order was Grichuk’s 12th homer of the season and fifth for Cleveland, which has lost two straight. inning put Seattle ahead and Austin Jackson Chris Colabello hit a two-run home run, R.A. restored. Pirates first baseman Sean Rodriguez since the All-Star break. Colorado tied it in the added a two-run double to help the Mariners Dickey threw seven shutout innings as Toronto and Cincinnati’s Joey Votto were ejected. sixth on Ben Paulsen’s RBI double and a wild DODGERS 5, ANGELS 4 outlast Minnesota. Rookie Ketel Marte had three beat Kansas City in a testy matchup while taking Pirates Closer Mark Melancon and manager pitch by reliever Steve Cishek. Andre Ethier hit his second dramatic home hits and a walk in his third major league game three of four from the AL’s top team. Clint Hurdle were automatically ejected after run in three innings, a two-run shot in the 10th, for Seattle, which split the four-game series and Both benches and bullpens emptied after Melancon hit Tucker Barnhart with one out in YANKEES 12, WHITE SOX 3 and Howie Kendrick also homered to lead the won for the second time in seven games. Toronto reliever Aaron Sanchez was ejected for the ninth. Newly acquired Joakim Soria got the Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira homered Dodgers to a three-game Freeway Series sweep Reliever Kevin Jepsen (2-6) lost his Minnesota throwing at Kansas City’s Alcides Escobar in the final two outs for his first National League save. against Jeff Samardzija as the New York Yankees of the sputtering Angels. Drew Rucinski (0-2) debut after being picked up before Friday’s trad- eighth. It was the climax of a game-long spat Morton (7-4) improved to 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA in pounded the White Sox. Stephen Drew added walked Adrian Gonzalez with one out in the 10th ing deadline. Jepsen walked two batters and that began when Royals starter Edinson Volquez his last six in Cincinnati. Reds rookie Keyvius struck out Nelson Cruz with two runners on. hit Josh Donaldson on the left arm in the first. Sampson (0-1) allowed three runs and three hits Fernando Rodney (4-4) pitched around a walk in Pitching on three days’ rest, Dickey (6-10) with one walk and six strikeouts in five innings. the 10th, and Tom Wilhelmsen allowed a leadoff allowed just two hits, both singles, and walked double in the 11th before recording his second two in winning his third straight start. Roberto TIGERS 6, ORIOLES 1 save in as many chances. Osuna got the last four outs for his seventh save. Daniel Norris took a three-hitter into the Volquez (10-6) allowed two runs and four hits in eighth inning in his Detroit debut and J.D. ASTROS 4, DIAMONDBACKS 1 six innings. Martinez hit a three-run homer as the Tigers Collin McHugh threw seven solid innings, and earned a split of the four-game series. Carlos Gomez delivered a two-run, go-ahead sin- MARLINS 5, PADRES 2 Norris (2-1) was obtained by the Tigers on gle to lead Houston. Evan Gattis added a solo Adeiny Hechavarria hit a three-run home run Thursday in the deal that sent former Cy Young home run in the fifth to give the Astros the off Brandon Maurer with one out in the ninth Award winner David Price to Toronto. Making his three-run lead. McHugh (13-5) won his fourth inning to lift Miami past San Diego. It was the seventh career start, the 22-year-old Norris pro- straight start, giving up one run and eight hits first career walkoff homer for Hechavarria, the vided a glimpse of his potential against a con- with six strikeouts. The right-hander, who is tied Marlins’ No. 8 hitter. It came after San Diego’s tender that won seven of its previous eight for the AL lead in wins with teammate Dallas Alexi Amarista - the Padres’ No. 8 hitter - tied the games. Norris allowed one run, four hits and a Keuchel, has allowed two runs or less in three of game in the top of the ninth with a two-run walk in 7 1/3 innings - the longest outing of his his last four starts. Pat Neshek threw a perfect homer off Marlins closer A.J. Ramos (1-3). career. The left-hander hadn’t started in the eighth, and Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for Maurer (7-4) faced four batters, and three majors since April 30, and was 3-10 with a 4.27 his 22nd save. Jose Altuve and Jason Castro both scored. Martin Prado led off with a walk, Cole ERA for Triple-A Buffalo this season. Baltimore’s had two hits for the Astros, who are an AL-best Gillespie reached on a fielder’s choice that forced Ubaldo Jimenez (8-7) gave up six runs and six 38-18 at home. Prado, Jeff Mathis walked on a full count and hits in 4 2/3 innings.—AP

RAYS 4, RED SOX 3 Asdrubal Cabrera had a game-tying RBI dou- ble and scored on James Loney’s single in the MLB results/standings eighth inning, helping Tampa Bay avoid a three- game sweep. Toronto 5, Kansas City 2; Pittsburgh 3, Cincinnati 0; Miami 5, San Diego 2; Tampa Bay 4, Boston 3; Detroit 6, Brandon Guyer opened the game with a Baltimore 1; Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 2; Chicago Cubs 4, Milwaukee 3; Seattle 4, Minnesota 1 (11 innings); NY Yankees 12, Chicago White Sox 3; Houston 4, Arizona 1; St. Louis 3, Colorado 2; Texas 2, San Francisco 1; Oakland homer for the Rays, who had lost 13 of their last 2, Cleveland 1 (10 Innings); LA Dodgers 5, LA Angels 3 (10 innings); NY Mets 5, Washington 2. 16 road games. David Ortiz had an RBI for Boston, passing Hall of Famer Andre Dawson for American League National League 37th place with his 1,592nd RBI. The Red Sox Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB Washington 54 49 .524 - were looking for their first sweep of a series of NY Yankees 59 45 .567 - three or more games since early June. Steve NY Mets 55 50 .524 - Baltimore 53 51 .510 6 Atlanta 47 58 .448 8 Geltz (2-4) got the victory, retiring the only batter Toronto 54 52 .509 6 Miami 43 62 .410 12 he faced. Brad Boxberger, the fourth reliever, Tampa Bay 52 54 .491 8 Philadelphia 41 65 .387 14.5 struck out the final three batters for his 26th Boston 47 59 .443 13 save. Trailing 3-2, Evan Longoria opened the Central Division Central Division eighth with a double off the Green Monster Kansas City 62 42 .596 - St. Louis 67 38 .638 - Pittsburgh 61 43 .587 5.5 against Junichi Tazawa (2-4). One out later, Minnesota 54 50 .519 8 Chicago Cubs 57 47 .548 9.5 Cabrera hit his ground-rule double over the Detroit 51 54 .486 11.5 Chicago White Sox 50 53 .485 11.5 Cincinnati 47 56 .456 19 head of right fielder Rusney Castillo. Loney fol- Cleveland 48 56 .462 14 Milwaukee 44 62 .415 23.5 lowed with a bloop hit to center. Western Division Western Division Houston 60 46 .566 - LA Dodgers 60 45 .571 - BRAVES 6, PHILLIES 2 LA Angels 55 49 .529 4 San Francisco 57 47 .548 2.5 Texas 51 53 .490 8 Jace Peterson had three hits, including a San Diego 51 54 .486 9 Seattle 48 58 .453 12 three-run home run, and Julio Teheran pitched Arizona 50 53 .485 9 NEW YORK: Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard delivers during the second inning of a Oakland 47 59 .443 13 seven strong innings as Atlanta snapped a sea- Colorado 44 59 .427 15 baseball game against the Washington Nationals. —AP son-worst six-game losing streak.