TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 SPORTS Mirza No.1 in doubles Australia bemoans flop Lee hoping for mercy NEW DELHI: India Prime Minister Narendra Modi led an outpouring of MELBOURNE: The Australian conference’s struggles in KUALA LUMPUR: Former badminton number one Lee Chong Wei returned home to praise yesterday for Sania Mirza after she became the country’s first ten- Super Rugby has alarm bells ringing Down Under, where Malaysia yesterday and said he faced a three-week wait for the verdict from his doping nis player to be ranked No. 1 in women’s doubles. media pundits have condemned the nation’s lack of playing hearing. “An excellent accomplishment @MirzaSania! Congrats on being World depth in a World Cup year. The twice Olympic silver medallist faced a three-person Badminton World Federation Number 1 in doubles,” Modi wrote on his Twitter page after Mirza won the Four of Australia’s teams, including the reigning champi- (BWF) panel in Amsterdam on Saturday after testing positive for the banned anti-inflamma- Family Circle doubles title in Charleston on Sunday partnering Swiss great on New South Wales Waratahs, are mired in the bottom six tory drug dexamethasone during the world championships in August. Martina Hingis. of the 15-team southern hemisphere competition halfway “I have cooled down a bit since the hearing. I had waited six months for it and now all The 28-year-old Mirza, who decided to focus on doubles in through the season. we have to do is wait another three weeks for the result,” Lee told reporters at the airport on 2012 after a recurring wrist injury, won a third consecu- The fifth, Canberra-based ACT Brumbies, are second but Monday. battling to hold ground against New Zealand and South tive doubles title partnering Hingis and her 25th overall “Obviously, I am hoping for a good result. I am quite happy with our African rivals amid a mounting injury toll. on the WTA Tour. “It’s a dream come true,” Mirza told lawyer as he gave a clear and detailed presentation. “I cannot say more The conference’s solid performance last season, when than that, we will just have to wait for the panel to decide.” India’s NDTV news channel. “For me, my family, and my the Waratahs broke through for their maiden title and the Lee could face a two-year ban if found guilty, which is likely to lead country too. It was a bit nervy toward the end of the Brumbies reached the semi-finals, was hailed as a sign of the to the 32-year-old’s retirement. Malaysian media speculated their second set and we were on match point twice. But increasing depth of Australian rugby. Those achievements favorite sporting son, who has been provisionally suspended by the that’s tennis, you have to win every point to cross the have been quickly forgotten, with the Melbourne Rebels, BWF since November, could be handed a shorter, backdated penalty or finish line, nobody gives it to you.” Cricket great Sachin Queensland Reds and Western Force conjuring a total of five even cleared. Tendulkar said Mirza was an inspiration for upcoming wins between them from the opening nine rounds. “The Lee had originally hoped for an immediate verdict. The world number tennis players. “Congratulations to @MirzaSania on Australian teams are fielding too many players who are well 17 said the three-week delay meant he would likely miss the Sudirman being crowned World No. 1 in Doubles. Terrific short of the required standard, which has led to a drop in Cup and the April 30 ranking cut off for the Aug. 10-16 world achievement and will inspire more to pursue the match quality and crowd interest,” prominent rugby writer championships in Jakarta.—Reuters sport,” Tendulkar tweeted.—AP Greg Growden said in a column for ESPN.—Reuters Tigers maul Indians, Pirates win CLEVELAND: Miguel Cabrera homered jam in the 10th by striking out Todd twice and drove in four runs as the Frazier. St. Louis took two of three in the Detroit Tigers improved to 6-0 for the first series and has won 13 consecutive three- time in 30 years with an 8-5 win over the game series against Cincinnati. Cleveland Indians on Sunday. Cuban right-hander Raisel Iglesias for Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the the Reds and allowed three runs and five first off T.J. House (0-1), and J.D. Martinez hits in five innings with two walks and added a solo shot in the ninth as the four strikeouts. Signed last July to a $27 Tigers finished off a three-game sweep. million, seven-year contract, he became Cabrera went 4 for 4 with his first two the first Reds player since Mike Leake in homers this season, a double and single. 2010 to reach the majors without playing With Cabrera needing a triple for the a minor league game. cycle, Indians manager Terry Francona intentionally walked him in the eighth BLUE JAYS 10, ORIOLES 7 even though there was a runner on first. Jose Bautista hit the last of Toronto’s Kyle Lobstein (1-0) allowed three runs three home runs, a two-run drive in the and eight hits in five innings, and Joakim eighth off Darren O’Day. Dalton Pompey Soria worked the ninth for his second and Kevin Pillar also connected for the save. Blue Jays, who doubled their home-run total for the season. Toronto scored 23 PIRATES 10, BREWERS 2 runs in the three-game series, twice Andrew McCutchen homered and reaching double figures. drove in four runs in his return to Aaron Loup (1-1) pitched 1 2-3 perfect Pittsburgh’s lineup, and Neil Walker hit a innings after starter Drew Hutchison gave three-run shot. up a career-high tying seven runs and McCutchen took himself out of Friday seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. Miguel Castro night’s game because of soreness in his worked the ninth for his second save. left knee and didn’t play Saturday. Casey Orioles starter Chris Tillman (1-1) allowed Sadler (1-0) earned his first major league seven runs - three earned - and six hits in win, going five innings in his first career 2 2-3 innings. start. Kyle Lohse (0-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. NATIONALS 4, PHILLIES 3 Wilson Ramos drove in the decisive run RAYS 8, MARLINS 5 in the 10th with his second RBI of the day. Nathan Karns (1-1) allowed two runs - Bryce Harper homered and Clint one earned - and two hits in seven Robinson had three hits for the Nationals, innings for his second career victory. The who salvaged a win in the three-game Marlins, who came into the season with series. Yunel Escobar led off the 10th with high hopes, went 1-5 on their opening a double off Jake Diekman (0-1) and homestand. Center fielder Marcell Ozuna scored on Justin De Fratus’ wild pitch for was scratched from the lineup as punish- a 3-2 lead. ment for being late to batting practice. Aaron Barrett (1-0) pitched a scoreless Miami reserve third baseman Don Kelly ninth, and Drew Storen got his second and backup catcher Jeff Mathis suffered save after allowing Odubel Herrera’s run- similar injuries that forced them from the scoring infield single. game. Each broke the ring finger on his CLEVELAND: Indians’ Jason Kipnis reaches first safely on a ground ball as the throw ticks off the glove of Detroit Tigers firstaseman b right hand. David DeJesus hadt a three- METS 4, BRAVES 3 Miguel Cabrera (24) in the ninth inning of a baseball game. —AP run homer off Henderson Alvarez (0-2) Bartolo Colon helped himself with his that helped the Rays build a 7-2 lead. first RBI in a decade, and Daniel Murphy Colon (2-0) allowed three runs and six lead into the ninth before Oakland rallied allowed four runs and four hits in four hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the hits in seven innings. Juan Jaime (0-1) to tie it against closer Fernando Rodney innings. Tyson Ross (1-0) gave up three CARDINALS 7, REDS 5 eighth, dropping the Braves to 5-1. walked Curtis Granderson and Anthony (1-0). Seattle won despite getting outhit runs and five hits in six innings, and Craig Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer off Backed by Michael Cuddyer’s two-run Recker opening the eighth. Jeurys Familia 14-7. Yoervis Medina got three outs his Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his second Kevin Gregg (0-1) in the 11th inning. homer in the first inning, Colon led 3-2 got two outs for his first save. first save in nearly two years. save. Carlos Villanueva (1-0) pitched two before Jonny Gomes’ seventh-inning innings, working out of a bases-loaded homer just inside the left-field pole. WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 2 CUBS 6, ROCKIES 5 DODGERS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 4 Chris Sale (1-0) struck out eight over Former Rockies player Dexter Fowler Alex Guerrero had his first big league six innings in his return from a broken hit a two-run homer on a hanging slider homer, went 3 for 5 and four RBIs to back bone in his right foot, allowing one run from LaTroy Hawkins (1-1) on an 0-2 pitch Zack Greinke (1-0), who allowed five hits and five hits. Adam LaRoche homered for with two outs in the ninth inning. in seven scoreless innings.