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SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2017 SPORTS

Toulouse misses play-offs Frittelli passes Larrazabal Nibali given platform after Castres mauling to take lead in China Open to defend Giro title BEIJING: Dylan Frittelli continued his impressive recent form yesterday PARIS: Castres’ Argentinan fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta orchestrated a PARIS: Bahrain-Merida have given their captain Vincenzo Nibali every six-try, 52-7 thrashing of Toulouse yesterday that deprived the 19-time after carding a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to take a three-shot lead into the final day of the China Open. Challenge Tour graduate Frittelli, chance of defending his Giro d’Italia title by naming a squad for the French championship winners a place in the play-offs for the first time centenary edition starting next Friday entirely crafted around the since 1976. Urdapilleta scored his team’s fourth try and also contributed who finished a season best tied for fifth at Shenzhen last week, fol- lowed up his clubhouse record-equaling 63 at Topwin Golf and Sicilian climber. The team was announced yesterday and features two 22 points with his unerring boot in helping consign Toulouse to a ninth strong climbing mates for Nibali in compatriot Franco Pellizotti and defeat in 10 matches that leaves them rooted in 12th position in the Country Club on Friday with a eight birdies to finish 19-under. Overnight leader Pablo Larrazabal stretched the lead to four shots early Spain’s Javier Moreno. Race organizers for the climber-friendly three- table, above only relegated clubs Grenoble and Bayonne. The week tour-with six mountaintop finishes-have even result saw Castres move provisionally up to fourth on 63 in the day but two bogeys on the front nine saw him slip behind the South African Frittelli, who is in search of his first European Tour title. “I programmed stage five to finish at Nibali’s home- points, with their final regulation season match at Brive like to think I would keep the same game plan tomorrow and maybe town of Messina. The 32-year-old is one of six Italians next weekend decisive for their progress to the season- adjust on the back nine depending on the situation,” Frittelli said. in the Bahrain team and is the nation’s top cyclist, ending play-offs. Alex Tulou, for Castres, and ex-All Black “Pablo played great out there today as well. He’s not going to lie down, having clinched the Giro in 2013 and 2016, the Tour of Luke McAlister, for Toulouse, each crossed for first-half tries. he is one of the toughest guys to get into a dog fight with on the Spain in 2010 and the Tour de France in 2014. Bahrain- But with Urdapilleta chipping away at the scoreboard, the European Tour. So I’m definitely going to be wary of him tomorrow.” Merida Giro line-up: Bahrain: Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), floodgates soon opened in the second-half, Julien The 33-year-old Spaniard recovered with three consecutive birdies Valerio Agnoli (ITA), Manuele Boaro (ITA), Enrico Caminati (2), Brice Mach and Julien Dumora all cross- from the 10th to post 70 on day three, the nearest challenger on the Gasparotto (ITA), Javier Moreno (ESP), Franco ing the whitewash in a totally dominant, bonus- leaderboard. He was followed by 2014 winner Alexander Levy of Pellizotti (ITA), Luca Pibernik (SLO), Kanstantsin point performance by the home side. —AFP France at 12-under-par for the tournament. —Reuters Siutsou (BLR), Giovanni Visconti (ITA) — AFP

NEW YORK: #17 of the New York Yankees is congratulated by teammates after hitting the game winning 3-run home run against the during the tenth inning at Yankee Stadium.—AFP Holliday homer caps huge Yankees comeback

NEW YORK: Matt Holliday hit a three-run pushed a run across in the eighth against two for his fourth save in six chances. Atlanta CARDINALS 7, REDS 5 RBIs, Josh Harrison had three hits and knocked homer in the 10th inning and the New York relievers, but Kenley Jansen struck out the side trailed 8-4 after six innings but scored six runs Dexter Fowler and Jedd Gyorko homered in two, and Andrew McCutchen also drove in a Yankees completed a stunning rally from an in the ninth for his sixth save. Jerad Eickhoff (0- in the final three innings against Milwaukee’s and Yadier Molina short-circuited a rally with a pair of runs for the Pirates, who snapped a six- eight-run deficit, outslugging the Baltimore 2) gave up nine hits and five runs. It was the bullpen. The Brewers’ Matt Barnes, who had bases-loaded pickoff to lead St Louis to its game losing streak to the Marlins. Pittsburgh Orioles 14-11 on Friday night. In a game of first time Eickhoff had given up more than not allowed a run in 12 1/3 innings this sea- ninth win in 11 games. The Cardinals moved set season-highs in runs and hits by the fourth home run derby, Starlin Castro tied it with a three runs in his last 13 starts. son, gave up three runs in the seventh to spark above the .500 mark for the first time since inning finishing with 18 hits and all eight start- two-run drive that capped a three-run burst in the Atlanta comeback. The Braves scored winning its season opener against the Chicago ing position players recording at least one the ninth off Brad Brach. Then in the 10th, RED SOX 5, CUBS 4 another run in the eighth to tie the score. Cubs. The Reds have lost eight of nine. Lance while Jose Osuna had four and Gift Ngoepe Holliday hit the eighth home run of the Andrew Benintendi hit a solo homer off Lynn (3-1) allowed six hits and one run over six also had three. Pirates starter Jameson Taillon evening - five by the Yankees - with one out off Jake Arrieta during a five-run first inning as RAYS 7, BLUE JAYS 4 innings to record his third straight win for St (2-0) allowed one run and five hits in five Jayson Aquino (1-1). Down 9-1 in the sixth, the Boston held on to beat Chicago. Every Red Sox Logan Morrison hit a two-run homer, Evan Louis. He struck out five and walked two. innings lowering his ERA to 2.08. Adam Conley Yankees pulled off their biggest comeback starter had at least one hit, and Hanley Longoria and Corey Dickerson added solo Fowler hit a two-run homer off Tim Adleman (1-2) allowed nine runs in 1 2/3 innings for since overcoming a 9-0 gap to beat Boston 15- Ramirez, Mitch Moreland, Jackie Bradley Jr and shots and Tampa Bay connected three times in (0-1) in the third inning to break a 1-1 tie. Miami, which has lost three straight. 9 in 2012. On the first true spring-like day in Christian Vazquez also drove in a run each. the eighth inning to beat struggling Toronto. Gyorko pushed the lead to a 4-1 with a solo New York, the ball was flying. Featured were all Left-hander Drew Pomeranz (2-1) got the win Derek Norris added a solo homer in the ninth. blast in the sixth. TWINS 6, ROYALS 4 kinds of monster shots - cleanup men Jacoby with six innings of two-run ball, surrendering He had two hits and two RBIs. Kevin Pillar Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer hit consecutive Ellsbury and Mark Trumbo connected for solo homers to Kris Bryant and Albert Almora homered and reached base five times for the ANGELS 6, RANGERS 3 two-run doubles in the eighth inning as grand slams, and Yankees fan favorite Aaron Jr. in the early innings before settling in. He Blue Jays, who lost their third straight. Albert Pujols hit a tiebreaking three-run Minnesota handed Kansas City its eighth Judge homered twice. Manny Machado allowed six hits and two walks while striking Toronto’s 6-17 start is the worst in franchise home run in the eighth inning as Los Angeles straight loss. Sano also had a two-run homer in launched a 470-foot homer, the longest in the out seven. Boston has won its last nine inter- history. Pillar’s leadoff drive off Austin Pruitt (3- beat Texas. Mike Trout also homered for the the fourth. He has eight hits in his last 11 at-bats. majors this year, and Welington Castillo also league games at Fenway Park. Arrieta (3-1) 0) in the seventh gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead. Angels, who led 1-0 after Yunel Escobar went Sano’s double high off the top of the left-center homered for Baltimore. Aroldis Chapman (1-0) logged his shortest start since Aug. 28, 2014, Dickerson homered off Marcus Stromani in the deep on the first pitch of the game. Pujols’ third fence with the bases loaded scored Eddie pitched the 10th as the Yankees won their lasting only 4 1/3 innings and giving up 10 hits eighth and Longoria’s shot against Jason Grilli homer of the season came on his first pitch Rosario and Byron Buxton. Two pitches later, third straight and tied Baltimore at 14-7 for the and three walks with five . (1-3) tied the score, giving Toronto its big- from Jeremy Jeffress (0-2), who had already Mauer doubled off Joakim Soria (1-1) down the AL East lead. league high eighth blown save. allowed a single to Kole Calhoun and walked right-field line to score Max Kepler and Sano. BRAVES 10, BREWERS 8 Trout. Deolis Guerra (1-1) picked up the win Kepler had reached on a fielding error on Royals DODGERS 5, PHILLIES 3 Freddie Freeman’s two-run home run MARINERS 3, INDIANS 1 after a striking out two in a scoreless seventh rookie right fielder Jorge Bonifacio. Craig Japan’s Kenta Maeda found his form during snapped a tie in the ninth and Atlanta rallied Ariel Miranda allowed two hits and pitched inning. Jose Alvarez worked a perfect ninth, Breslow (1-0) retired the only batter he faced to seven solid innings to lead Los Angeles past from a four-run deficit in the final three into the sixth inning while Robinson Cano and getting his first save in his 157th career game. pick up the win. Brandon Kintzler earned his Philadelphia. Maeda (2-2) entered with an 8.05 innings. Freeman hit his eighth homer off Ben Gamel homered as Seattle defeated sixth save in as many chances. ERA and had failed to reach the sixth inning in Brewers closer Neftali Feliz (0-3), who was Cleveland. Miranda (2-2) didn’t give up a hit METS 7, NATIONALS 5 any of his four previous starts. The second year summoned to pitch the ninth in a tie game. until Jose Ramirez’s one-out homer in the Josh Edgin relieved Mets closer Jeurys ROCKIES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 1 right-hander struck out a season-high eight Adonis Garcia led off the inning with a double fourth. The left-hander, making his first career Familia with the bases loaded in the ninth Trevor Story homered and rookie Kyle and limited Philadelphia to five hits, a walk and Freeman hit a 1-1 pitch over the wall in appearance against the Indians, struck out inning and got Bryce Harper to hit into a Freeland pitched six effective innings, helping and two runs as Los Angeles snapped the center field. Jose Ramirez (1-1) pitched a per- seven in 5 1/3 innings Cano hit a two-run game-ending double play, stopping New Colorado move past Arizona into first place in Phillies’ six-game winning streak. The Phillies fect eighth and Jim Johnson worked the ninth homer in the fourth and Gamel added a solo York’s six-game losing streak. The Mets had the NL West. The Rockies (15-9) moved a half- shot in the sixth, a towering drive to right. lost 10 of 11 and put star slugger Yoenis game ahead of the Diamondbacks (15-10) Three pitchers combined to strike out 14 Cespedes on the disabled list before the game atop the division in the opener of the three- MLB results/standings against the defending AL champions. Edwin with a strained hamstring. Travis d’Arnaud game series. Colorado also ended a three- Diaz recorded the final four outs, three on then homered twice and had five RBIs for the game losing streak. Freeland (3-1) gave up a strikeouts, for his fourth save. He struck out Mets. D’Arnaud hit a two-run homer in the sec- run and six hits with two walks. He struck out San Francisco 4, San Diego 3; La Dodgers 5, Philadelphia 3; Colorado 3, Arizona 1; St. Louis 7, Cincinnati 5; Minnesota 6, Kansas City 4; Atlanta 10, Milwaukee 8; Houston 9, Oakland 4; LA Angels 6, Texas 3; Boston 5, Edwin Encarnacion with a runner on to end ond and a three-run drive in the fourth off two and lowered his to Chicago Cubs 4; Chicago White Sox 7, Detroit 3; Pittsburgh 12, Miami 2; Seattle 3, Cleveland 1; Tampa Bay 7, the eighth and pitched a perfect ninth. Carlos Max Scherzer (3-2), who lasted six innings. 2.93. Chris Rusin, Adam Ottavino and Greg Toronto 4; NY Yankees 14, Baltimore 11 (10 innings); NY Mets 7, Washington 5. Carrasco (2-2) gave up both home runs and Jacob deGrom (1-1) struck out 12 in his third Holland combined for three scoreless innings, struck out seven in eight innings. consecutive double-digit game and with Holland earning his 10th save. Arizona American League National League Eastern Division Eastern Division the 13th of his career. left-hander Robbie Ray (2-1) struck out nine in W L PCT GB Washington 16 7 .696 - ASTROS 9, ATHLETICS 4 6 2/3 innings, but allowed three runs and five Baltimore 14 7 .667 - Philadelphia 11 10 .524 4 Charlie Morton struck out a career-high 12 WHITE SOX 7, TIGERS 3 hits with three walks. NY Yankees 14 7 .667 - Miami 10 11 .476 5 and George Springer singled home the tying Geovany Soto broke open a tie game with a Boston 12 10 .545 2.5 Atlanta 9 12 .429 6 run in his return from a leg injury as Houston two-run single in the eighth inning, helping GIANTS 4, PADRES 3 Tampa Bay 12 12 .500 3.5 NY Mets 9 13 .409 6.5 handed Oakland its fifth straight loss. Khris Chicago beat Detroit. Anthony Swarzak (2-0) Rookie Christian Arroyo homered and Toronto 6 17 .261 9 Central Division Davis hit a three-run homer in the first and a pitched two scoreless innings for the White Brandon Belt had three hits including a dou- Central Division Chicago Cubs 12 10 .545 - solo shot in the third, putting Oakland ahead Sox, who won their fifth straight. Tigers reliev- ble as San Francisco beat San Diego. Arroyo, Chicago White Sox 12 9 .571 - St. Louis 12 11 .522 0.5 4-3 with his ninth home run this season. er Alex Wilson (0-1) allowed two hits and two playing in his fifth game since being called Cleveland 12 10 .545 0.5 Milwaukee 12 12 .500 1 Detroit 11 11 .500 1.5 Pittsburgh 10 12 .455 2 Springer, back from a strained left hamstring unearned runs in the eighth. Detroit third up on Monday, homered for the second time Minnesota 11 11 .500 1.5 Cincinnati 10 13 .435 2.5 that forced him to miss four games, singled to baseman Nick Castellanos committed two in three games leading off the bottom of the Kansas City 7 15 .318 5.5 Western Division tie the score in the fourth. Houston took a 6-4 errors in the inning, and three in the game, eighth inning off Ryan Butcher (1-1). Joe Western Division Colorado 15 9 .625 - lead in the fifth on Evan Gattis’ RBI single and leading to Soto’s go-ahead hit. Panik made a diving over-the-shoulder catch Houston 15 8 .652 - Arizona 15 10 .600 0.5 Alex Bregman’s sacrifice fly. Carlos Beltran had on Yangervis Solarte’s popup in short center LA Angels 13 12 .520 3 LA Dodgers 12 12 .500 3 reached on a throwing error by second base- PIRATES 12, MARLINS 2 field for the first out in the top of the ninth as Seattle 11 13 .458 4.5 man Jed Lowrie, one of a season-high three Francisco Cervelli drove in three runs and Mark Melancon pitched a scoreless inning for Oakland 10 13 .435 5 San Francisco 9 15 .375 6 San Diego 9 16 .360 6.5 errors by the A’s that led to three unearned Pittsburgh scored eight times in the second his fifth save. Derek Law (3-0) worked a score- Texas 10 13 .435 5 runs against Jharel Cotton (2-3). inning. Jordy Mercer homered and had two less eighth. — AP