SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2016 SPORTS

Lyon reject $44.9m West Rugby: hold off Cycling - Aussie Dennis wins Ham offer for Lacazette strong-finishing Force Tour of California time trial

LYON: Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas confirmed yesterday that the French PERTH: The Blues battened down to defeat the strong- SAN FRANCISCO: Australia’s Rohan Dennis won Friday’s sixth stage time tri- club had rejected a 40-million-euro (£30.9m, $44.9m) offer from West Ham finishing Western Force 17-13 in a battle of the al in the Tour of California while France’s Julian Alaphilippe finished eighth to United for striker Alexandre Lacazette. French international Lacazette, 24, has strugglers in Perth yesterday. ’s Blues led 17-3 at half- retain his grip on the overall lead. BMC rider Dennis captured the 12.6-mile long been linked with a move to the Premier League having scored 48 goals time and fended off the Force despite not scoring a point in the (20.3km) time trial around the town of Folsom in 24mins 16secs, defeating over the last two Ligue 1 seasons. “For a sale to be made, all three parties must second half for their sixth win of the season. Auckland dominat- American Andrew Talansky of Cannondale by 17 seconds with US standout agree. We have refused several offers, the most important from West Ham for 40 ed the opening half with tries from Jerome Kaino and Tevita Li, Taylor Phinney, Dennis’ BMC teammate, third, another three seconds adrift. million euros and we refused it,” Aulas told French daily but had to defend for long periods as the home side hit back in Etixx-Quick Step rider Alaphilippe, meanwhile, kept the overall lead with two Le Progres. “It is an answer that says I want to keep the second term. Force skipper Matt Hodgson ploughed over stages remaining by finishing only 45 seconds behind Dennis, giving the him, but I’m not sure because ultimately it is he who from close range in the 54th minute and former Queensland Frenchman a total time of 24:26:46. The Aussie’s stage triumph jumped him will decide. “I do not want on August 28, ahead of the Reds centre Ben Tapuai kicked the home side to within four into second place overall, only 16 seconds off the pace Champions League, to find ourselves in the same situa- points with a penalty goal with 16 minutes. Force were in the after starting the day 61 seconds adrift. American tion as Monaco (who sold Anthony Martial to Blues’ quarter for the final stages before they lost possession in a Brent Bookwalter of BMC was third overall, 38 sec- Manchester United last summer). “Ideally, he will stay. If he driving maul allowing the Kiwis to kill off the game. Auckland onds back after a fifth-place stage finish in which he has an offer that he can’t refuse then it will come through saw out the game with 14 men after replacement forward Nic pulled back only two seconds from Alaphilippe. The me, and that’s it.” Aulas also said that he is hoping to Mayhew was yellow-carded for collapsing a Force maul close to Frenchman had owned a 22-second lead on American extend the contract of Lyon head coach Bruno Genesio, the Blues’ try-line. The win did little to help Auckland’s lowly Peter Stetina after five stages. Lotto-Jumbo rider George and bring in former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier as standing in the New Zealand conference despite the inconsistent Bennett of New Zealand, 37 seconds adrift after the fifth general manager.—AFP Blues bouncing back after being thumped 43-5 by the Golden stage, fell to ninth overall at 1:45 back.—AFP Lions in South Africa last week.—AFP Cubs overpower Giants; Arrieta shines Orioles power past Angels 9-4 on 4 homers

SAN FRANCISCO: Jake Arrieta continued his impressive pitching and Kris Bryant provided the power as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Friday night. The Cubs won in Arrieta’s 22nd consecutive start going back to last season, with their ace going 16-0 over that stretch. They won on the road for the 24th time in 29 games as they snapped San Francisco’s eight-game winning streak. Cubs outfielder Jason Heyward left the game in the bottom of the first inning after crashing into the wall on a diving catch. Heyward is under evaluation for an injury to his right torso abdominal region, the Cubs said. Arrieta, who leads the majors with a 1.29 ERA, allowed four hits, struck out eight and walked one in seven innings. Jake Peavy (1-5) allowed five runs, seven hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.

PADRES 7, DODGERS 6 Melvin Upton Jr hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the San Diego Padres past the Los Angeles Dodgers. After Wil Myers hit a bloop single to shallow center to lead off the ninth against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, Upton went the oppo- site way beyond the right-center field fence for the comeback victory. Kevin Quackenbush (2-2) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win for the Padres, who had lost four straight. Jansen (1-1) had converted all 14 of his save chances before Friday. Justin Turner hit a two- run homer in the eighth inning that had given the Dodgers a 6-5 lead.

NATIONALS 4, MARLINS 1 Tanner Roark finally beat the team that kept beating him, pitching 6 2/3 innings to help the Washington Nationals past Miami. Roark (3-3) came into the game 0-3 in three starts versus the Marlins this season with an ERA of 8.40. Against the rest of the majors he’s 2-0 in five starts with an ERA of 0.79. Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Taylor homered to help the Nationals score all their runs in the second inning. Marcell Ozuna hit his eighth home run for Miami, but Roark had no trouble with slumping slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who finished 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, dropping his average to .214. Justin Nicolino (2-2) went 5 1/3 innings and has lost all three career starts against Washington. He was hit hard.

INDIANS 4, RED SOX 2 Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer, Corey Kluber slowed down the majors’ top-scoring team for seven innings and Cleveland won its fifth straight game. Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr. extended his hitting streak to 25 games with a MINNEAPOLIS: Robbie Grossman #36 of the Minnesota Twins hits an RBI double as Russell Martin #55 of the Toronto Blue Jays catches during the second inning of the game on May 20, solo home run. The Red Sox homered for a 2016. —AFP club-record 20th straight game, breaking their mark of 19 set in July 1996. Kluber (3-5) Cingrani came on and hit Robinson Cano with the inning as he tried to score from second save. With the Mets trailing 2-1, Asdrubal the St. Louis Cardinals. Michael Bourn and allowed a run in each of the first two innings, his first pitch to tie it. Lee’s pinch-hit single base on Charlie Blackmon’s single to left. Mark Cabrera singled to start the sixth and Conforto Chris Owings added two RBIs apiece for the but gave up just one hit over the next five. He with two outs knocked in the go-ahead runs. Melancon worked around two singles in a homered off Wily Peralta (2-5). Diamondbacks, who are 13 7 on the road and allowed five hits, struck out six and walked Nelson Cruz and Lee homered in the ninth off scoreless ninth for his 14th save in 15 opportu- 7-17 at home. They pulled away with seven two. Cody Allen struck out three in the ninth Jumbo Diaz, the 35th and 36th homers nities. Eddie Butler (2-2) allowed two runs - RANGERS 2, ASTROS 1 runs over the last two innings and have won for his 10th save. allowed by Reds relievers this season. Hisashi one earned - in the loss. Colby Lewis pitched seven scoreless nine of 10 road series openers dating to last Iwakuma (2-4) gave up three runs in six innings and Prince Fielder provided the September. Carlos Martinez (4-4) allowed ROYALS 4, WHITE SOX 1 innings, including Zack Cozart’s solo homer. METS 3, BREWERS 2 offense with a two-run double to lead Texas to four runs in five innings and has lost his last Omar Infante, Paulo Orlando and Lorenzo Steven Matz pitched seven sharp innings to a victory. Lewis (3-0) allowed four hits and four starts after winning the first four. Cain all doubled in a three-run sixth inning off PIRATES 2, ROCKIES 1 win his sixth consecutive start, Michael struck out six in his first scoreless outing this Reliever Jonathan Broxton was charged with Jose Quintana to lead Kansas City to a victory. Starling Marte and John Jaso had two hits Conforto hit a two-run homer and New York season to pick up his first win since April 29. five runs in one-third of an inning in the Orlando added an RBI single an inning later each and made fine defensive plays to help beat Milwaukee. After skipping a turn in the Sam Dyson gave up an RBI single to Colby eighth and infielder Ruben Tejada made his and Dillon Gee (1-1) allowed a run over five Rasmus with two outs in the ninth before strik- major league pitching debut in the ninth, sur- innings for his first victory since 2014. The ing out Evan Gattis for his third save. Houston rendering consecutive homers to Herrmann Royals won for the fifth time in seven games MLB Results/Standings starter Lance McCullers (0-1) yielded five hits and Brandon Drury. and moved within 3 1/2 games of the AL and two runs with seven strikeouts in six Central-leading White Sox. Quintana (5-3) who Atlanta 7, Philadelphia 1; Pittsburgh 2, Colorado 1; Tampa Bay 7, Detroit 5; Cleveland 4, Boston 2; NY Mets 3, innings in his second start of the season since YANKEES 8, ATHLETICS 3 entered with an AL-best 1.54 ERA, gave up one Milwaukee 2; Seattle 8, Cincinnati 3; Washington 4, Miami 1; Kansas City 4, Chicago White Sox 1; Texas 2, coming off the disabled list. CC Sabathia came off the disabled list to hit while facing the minimum 15 batters Houston 1; Toronto 9, Minnesota 3; Arizona 11, St. Louis 7; NY Yankees 8, Oakland 3; Baltimore 9, LA Angels 4; pitch six innings and become the eighth play- through five. He retired 11 straight until Chicago Cubs 8, San Francisco 1; San Diego 7, LA Dodgers 6. RAYS 7, TIGERS 5 er in the modern era to win 100 games or Infante had the first of four straight one-out American League National League Steven Souza and Steve Pearce homered to more with two teams, and the New York hits. Wade Davis got his 10th save in 11 tries. Eastern Division Eastern Division help Tampa Bay beat Detroit. Miguel Cabrera Yankees beat the Oakland Athletics. Carlos W L PCT GB Washington 26 16 .619 - homered twice for the Tigers. Matt Andriese (3- Beltran doubled three times and drove in BLUE JAYS 9, TWINS 3 Baltimore 25 15 .625 - Philadelphia 24 18 .571 2 0) picked up the win despite allowing four runs three runs, Jacoby Ellsbury added two RBIs Jose Bautista hit a three-run home run to Boston 25 17 .595 1 NY Mets 23 18 .561 2.5 in 5 1/3 innings. Four relievers followed, with while Ronald Torreyes had a two-run triple Tampa Bay 20 19 .513 4.5 Miami 21 20 .512 4.5 Alex Colome pitching the ninth for his 11th save during a five-run fourth inning to help the break open the game in the sixth inning and Toronto 21 23 .477 6 Toronto slugged its way to a victory. Josh Atlanta 11 30 .268 14.5 in 11 chances. Anibal Sanchez (3-5) allowed five Yankees to their second straight win in this NY Yankees 19 22 .463 6.5 Central Division Donaldson, Michael Saunders and Darwin Central Division runs in five-plus innings for the Tigers. series after getting swept by the A’s in April. Chicago Cubs 29 11 .725 - Barney also went deep for Toronto. Aaron Chicago White Sox 25 17 .595 - Sabathia (3-2), who had a groin injury earlier Pittsburgh 23 18 .561 6.5 Sanchez (4-1) gave up two runs on eight hits Cleveland 22 17 .564 1.5 BRAVES 7, PHILLIES 1 this month, allowed one run, three hits, St. Louis 22 20 .524 8 with seven strikeouts in seven innings to give Kansas City 21 20 .512 3.5 Freddie Freeman homered twice and drove walked one and had a season-high eight Detroit 19 22 .463 5.5 Milwaukee 18 24 .429 12 in four runs and Nick Markakis also hit a home strikeouts for his first victory there since the Blue Jays their second straight win after a Cincinnati 15 27 .357 15 five-game losing streak. Robbie Grossman Minnesota 10 31 .244 14.5 run to lead Atlanta to a victory. It was a rare 2012. Sonny Gray (3-5) gave up five runs in 3 Western Division Western Division went 3 for 4 with a homer, a double and three San Francisco 25 19 .568 - power surge for the Braves, who entered last 1/3 innings. Seattle 24 17 .585 - in the majors by a wide margin with just 15 RBIs in his first game for the Twins, who have Texas 23 19 .548 1.5 LA Dodgers 21 22 .488 3.5 lost five straight games and are an MLB-worst LA Angels 19 23 .452 5.5 Colorado 20 21 .488 3.5 homers. Philadelphia’s 31 homers entering ORIOLES 9, ANGELS 4 10-31 this season. Tyler Duffey (1-3) gave up Oakland 19 24 .442 6 Arizona 20 24 .455 5 Friday were second from the bottom in the big Chris Davis hit a tiebreaking, two-run six runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. Houston 17 26 .395 8 San Diego 18 25 .419 6.5 leagues. The Braves hit three homers in a homer in the seventh inning - one of four in game for the first time this season, and have the game by the Orioles - and Baltimore MARINERS 8, REDS 3 nine in their last five games. Matt Wisler (2-3) defeated the Los Angeles Angels in the series Dae-Ho Lee’s bases-loaded single complet- allowed one run on five hits with seven strike- opener after blowing a three-run lead. Mark ed Seattle’s late rally against the major Gerrit Cole navigate through seven shaky rotation last weekend because of a sore elbow, outs in 6 2/3 innings to help the Braves to just Trumbo also hit a two-run blast, and Joey leagues’ worst bullpen, and he later added a innings. Cole (5-3) scattered 10 hits and a walk Matz (6-1) picked up right where he left off in their fourth win in 15 games. Aaron Nola (3-3) Rickard and Manny Machado added back-to- solo homer. Seattle opened a weekend dedi- while not recording a strikeout as he won his his previous outing May 9 at Dodger Stadium. gave up five runs - two earned - and seven hits back solo shots for the AL East leaders who cated to Ken Griffey Jr by getting four runs in second straight start. David Freese snapped a The rookie left-hander held the Brewers to in seven innings. improved to 8-7 away from home. They had the seventh inning against a bullpen that has 1-1 tie with a two-out single in the sixth inning three hits. The only real hiccup for Matz came played just two road games since April 28 blown 10 of its 14 save chances. Blake Wood to give the Pirates their fifth win in six games when Chris Carter connected for his 13th DIAMONDBACKS 11, CARDINALS 7 before opening a nine-game West Coast trip in (3-1) relieved in the seventh and loaded the and eighth straight victory over the Rockies. home run of the season, a two-run shot in the Patrick Corbin (2-3) struck out seven and Anaheim. Mychal Givens (3-0) allowed two hits bases on two singles and a walk. Wood Marte preserved the 2-1 lead in the seventh by first inning. After that, Matz retired 15 straight. Chris Herrmann homered with three RBIs for and no runs in 1 1/3 relief innings. Jose Alvarez walked Seth Smith to force in a run, and Tony throwing out Dustin Garneau at home to end Jeurys Familia closed flawlessly for his 14th the Arizona Diamondbacks in a victory over (1-2) took the loss.—AP