WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23 , 2017 SPORTS

England legend Boycott apologises for ‘unacceptable’ remark

LONDON: Controversial England bat- been cut with the rest of the world However, Boycott-who has overcome whole life and have the utmost respect England cricketer to be knighted was ting legend Geoff Boycott made a grov- because of the apartheid regime, said throat cancer in 2002 to become a pop- for its players.” The BBC would not com- Ian Botham-no stranger to controversy elling apology yesterday for remarking knighthoods had been bestowed on ular and outspoken pundit on BBC ment on whether he would continue to himself-in 2007. he needed to “black up his face” to get a West Indian cricketers like “confetti”. Radio’s globally renowned Test Match play a part in the ongoing West Indies Boycott has always contended the knighthood at an event last week. “Mine’s been turned down twice. I’d Special-took to Twitter on Tuesday to three match Test series although they reason he has not been knighted is The 76-year-old astonished his audi- better black me face,” Boycott is report- unreservedly apologise. did issue a statement welcoming his because of his conviction in France-first- ence with his comment during a ques- ed to have said according to a guest at “Speaking at an informal gathering I apology. ly in 1996 and confirmed on appeal in tion and answer session in one of the the event cited by The Daily Mirror. was asked a question and I realise my “He has rightly apologised unre- 1998 — for assaulting former girlfriend intervals at last week’s first Test with the The guest at the event-which cost answer was unacceptable,” he tweeted. servedly for these clearly unacceptable Margaret Moore. West Indies. £300 ($385, 327 euros) to attend-said “I meant no offence but what I said was comments,” a BBC spokesperson said. A durable but unspectacular opening Boycott, who played a pivotal role in the remark though intended as a joke clearly wrong and I apologise unre- West Indies greats like Viv Richards, batsman, Boycott played 108 Tests, scor- organising the 1982 England rebel tour was “crass” and went down like a “lead servedly. Garfield Sobers and Curtly Ambrose ing 8114 runs with 22 centuries at an of South Africa when sporting links had balloon”. “I have loved West Indian my have been knighted whilst the last average of 47.72. — AFP

ANAHEIM: Robinson Chirinos #61 of the Texas Rangers is forced out at second by Andrelton Simmons #2 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the third inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on Monday in Anaheim, California. — AFP

BASEBALL Indians edge Sox in heavyweight battle

CLEVELAND: Brandon Guyer scored when Dodgers haven’t lost consecutive games since over four years between major league victo- got four outs to earn his seventh save, despite first-place Chicago in the NL Central. Brandon first baseman Brock Holt threw away Roberto July 20 and 21. The Pirates have lost seven of ries, Albers has two wins in less than a week. giving up an RBI single to Mike Trout in the Crawford hit an RBI double to back Stratton (2- Perez’s bunt in the ninth inning, lifting the their past nine. Mike Foltynewicz (10-9) has lost four of his last ninth. Tyler Skaggs (1-4) was charged with five 2) in his fourth major league start after he won over the Boston Red Sox 5-4 five starts for Atlanta. runs, four earned, in 5 1/3 innings. The Angels at Washington his last time out. The Giants in Major League on Monday night in DIAMONDBACKS 3, METS 2, 10 INNINGS had won nine of 11. earned their first home shutout of the year, a matchup of first-place teams. After Guyer’s A.J. Pollock hit a two-run homer in the 10th ORIOLES 7, ATHLETICS 3 becoming the last team in the majors to do so. leadoff double against Brandon Workman (0- inning as Arizona snapped a three-game skid. Adam Jones hit a pair of home runs and GIANTS 2, BREWERS 0 Milwaukee starter Zach Davies (14-7) allowed 1), Holt fielded the bunted ball and tried to J.D. Martinez had an RBI single and left fielder Jonathan Schoop added a three-run shot to Giants rookie Chris Stratton pitched six two runs in six innings. He took his first road throw out Guyer at third. Guyer slid into the David Peralta threw out the potential go- help Baltimore beat Oakland. Wade Miley (7- innings to run his scoreless streak to 12 2/3 defeat of the season after a 7-0 start, dropping bag as the throw skipped past third baseman ahead run at the plate for the Diamondbacks, 10) held the A’s to two runs, five hits and four innings over his past two outings, and San to 14-4 away from home in his career. Sam Rafael Devers, then got to his feet and raced who began the day with a 2 1/2-game lead walks over six-plus innings to pick up his first Francisco stymied Milwaukee. It was a night of Dyson finished for his 11th save in 12 chances across home plate. Teammates ran onto the over Milwaukee for the second NL wild card. win at Camden Yards since June 17. Miley is 2- missed chances as the Brewers, who had won with the Giants, who beat the Brewers for the field and doused Perez with water and white Pinch-hitter Gregor Blanco walked to start the 0 with a 1.38 ERA against Oakland this season. six of seven, dropped 2 1/2 games back of 16th time in 20 games. — AP powder. Perez also had a three-run homer in 10th. One out later, Pollock sent a fastball from Jones tied a career high with four hits and is the second inning. Cody Allen (1-6) allowed Eric Goeddel (0-1) over the center field fence one shy of reaching 25 for the sev- Christian Vazquez’s leadoff single in the ninth, to put the Diamondbacks back in front after enth consecutive season. Zach Britton got the CRICKET but retired the next three hitters. The inning they squandered a 1-0 lead in the seventh. final out with two runners on for his 11th save ended when shortstop Francisco Lindor ran Fernando Rodney gave up a leadoff homer to this season and his 60th in a row. Baltimore down Mookie Betts’ popup in center field with Michael Conforto before getting three outs for beat Chris Smith (0-3) for the second time in Joshi to help Bangladesh his back to home plate. Cleveland relief ace his 28th save in 33 tries. Jimmie Sherfy (1-0) 12 days. left in the seventh inning after pitched a perfect ninth for his first major aggravating the patellar tendinitis in his right league win. WHITE SOX 7, TWINS 6, 1ST GAME spinners for Aussies Tests knee. Miller recently returned after over two TWINS 10, WHITE SOX 2, 2ND GAME weeks on the disabled list with the knee injury. MARINERS 6, BRAVES 5 Jorge Polanco hit his second three-run DHAKA: Bangladesh’s cricket board against Bangladesh this weekend. Agar Andrew Albers worked into the sixth inning homer of the day as Minnesota scored six announced yesterday that former Indian impressed Australian selectors with his form DODGERS 6, PIRATES 5, 12 INNINGS for his second straight win since coming up times in the second inning and routed bowler Sunil Joshi has been appointed the this season, and has received a strong Yasiel Puig homered in the 12th inning, from the minors, leading Seattle over Atlanta. Chicago to split a doubleheader. Brian Dozier squad’s spin consultant after Australian endorsement from coach Darren Lehmann helping Los Angeles top Pittsburgh. Puig Albers (2-0) also had the first hit an RBI of his added a three-run drive off Carson Fulmer dur- Stuart MacGill turned down the coaching ahead of the Test in Dhaka starting Sunday. drove a 1-0 pitch from rookie Dovydas career - in his first big league at-bat. The 31- ing the rally. Byron Buxton and Jason Castro gig. Joshi, a left-arm spinner, will join the “Obviously it depends on what the Neverauskas (1-1) over the wall in center for year-old left-hander beat his former organiza- each added a solo shot for the Twins, who squad as a bowling coach ahead of their first looks like but I’m ready to go if I get the nod,” his 22nd of the season. The Pirates put runners tion, having spent most of the season at the have won five of six. They are a half-game Test against Australia starting this Sunday in Agar told reporters in Dhaka. on first and second with two out in the bot- Braves’ Triple-A club. He went 12-3 but never ahead of the Angels for the second AL wild Dhaka, Bangladesh Cricket Board “I’ve been preparing really well and I’ve tom half, but Ross Stripling retired Max Moroff got a call to the big leagues. Instead, Albers card. Dillon Gee (1-0) retired the first 12 White spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP. done everything I can now. I feel like every- on a liner to right for his second save. Curtis was dealt to the Mariners for cash on Aug. 11. Sox batters before rookie Nicky Delmonico The board had hoped to reel in MacGill thing is in really good order.” Granderson hit a grand slam off Gerrit Cole in He was called up by Seattle to make a start homered leading off the fifth. Gee allowed for insight into Australia’s bowling attack, Agar made a sensational debut to Test Los Angeles’ five-run seventh, and Luis Avilan four days later, working six strong innings in a only two hits and walked none through six ahead of their first tour of Bangladesh in cricket in 2013, scored 98 runs in his maiden (2-1) pitched one inning for the win. The 3-1 win over Baltimore. Now, after going just innings. Tyler Duffey followed with three more than a decade. But officials said innings batting at number 11 against innings to earn his first save. Polanco, who has MacGill, a former right-arm leg spin bowler England in Nottingham. five homers, hit a three-run shot off Derek who took 208 in 44 Tests for But since then the 23-year-old has made MLB Results/Standings Holland in the eighth inning of the opener to Australia, declined the offer for personal rea- only one further Test appearance, and has cut Minnesota’s deficit to 7-6. In homering for sons. The spin bowling job had been vacant been hungry for a return to the long format since Ruwan Kalpage, a former Sri Lankan of the game. It was not until his impressive San Francisco 2, Milwaukee 0; Texas 5, LA Angels 3; Minnesota 10, Chicago White Sox 2; Seattle 6, Atlanta 5; the first time in back-to-back games, Polanco player, left last year. Joshi will stay for two form in the Sheffield Shield this season- Arizona 3, NY Mets 2 (10 innings); Cleveland 5, Boston 4; LA Dodgers 6, Pittsburgh 5 (12 innings); Baltimore 7, did it in consecutive at-bats. Fulmer gave up Oakland 3; Chicago White Sox 7, Minnesota 6. six runs over 1 1/3 innings in his season debut. months and also join Bangladesh for their claiming 16 wickets and 115 runs in four tour of South Africa, Yunus added. innings for Western Australia-that he caught American League National League In the first game, Yolmer Sanchez homered and drove in four runs, Jose Abreu hit his 25th He was approached in February during the eye of selectors once again. Eastern Division Eastern Division Bangladesh’s tour of India, their first there He was picked for Australia’s two-Test W L PCT GB Washington 74 48 .607 - of the season and the White Sox held on. Carlos Rodon (2-4) pitched effectively into sev- since gaining Test status in 2000. tour of Bangladesh ahead of left-arm spin- Boston 71 53 .573 - Miami 60 62 .492 14 Joshi won man of the match in ner Steve O’Keefe, whose 12-wicket haul NY Yankees 66 57 .537 4.5 enth inning for the fifth straight outing to earn Atlanta 55 68 .447 19.5 Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match against against India earlier this year helped Baltimore 61 64 .488 10.5 NY Mets 54 69 .439 20.5 his first win since July 3. Juan Minaya worked a Tampa Bay 61 65 .484 11 perfect ninth for his third save. Avisail Garcia India in 2000, when he scored 92 runs and Australia claim the first Test of that series. Philadelphia 45 77 .369 29 took eight wickets in the best batting and But Agar was not letting the pressure of Toronto 59 65 .476 12 Central Division had three hits and two RBIs for AL-worst Central Division bowling figures in his 15-Test career. his selection, or years in the wilderness, get Chicago Cubs 66 57 .537 - Chicago. Abreu became the first White Sox Cleveland 69 54 .561 - Milwaukee 65 61 .516 2.5 Joshi, who also played 69 one-day inter- the better of him. Minnesota 64 60 .516 5.5 player to hit 25 or more home runs in each of St. Louis 63 61 .508 3.5 his first four seasons. Tim Melville (0-1) lasted nationals, has an impressive first-class record “For me now I’ve got to not put too much Kansas City 62 61 .504 7 having taken 615 wickets from 160 games. pressure on myself and try and enjoy the Detroit 54 69 .439 15 Pittsburgh 60 65 .480 7 just 3 1/3 innings and allowed five runs in his Cincinnati 53 72 .424 14 Twins debut. Bangladesh have not played a Test game,” he said. Australia will play two Tests Chicago White Sox 48 75 .390 21 against Australia since Ricky Ponting’s team against Bangladesh, the first starting Sunday Western Division Western Division Houston 76 48 .613 - LA Dodgers 88 35 .715 - RANGERS 5, ANGELS 3 visited the country in 2006. and the second on September 4. “It’s just LA Angels 64 61 .512 12.5 Colorado 68 56 .548 20.5 Adrian Beltre hit a three-run homer and Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Ashton four years of experience, four years of extra Seattle 64 62 .508 13 Arizona 68 57 .544 21 Cole Hamels pitched seven effective innings as Agar said yesterday he was ready to return bowling, a lot of balls bowled in that time Texas 62 62 .500 14 San Diego 55 69 .444 33.5 Texas cooled off Los Angeles. Hamels (9-1) to after a four-year hiatus if and naturally you just get better,” he said of Oakland 54 71 .432 22.5 San Francisco 51 76 .402 39 allowed two runs on three hits. Alex Claudio selected for the opening match of the tour his break from Test cricket. —AFP