WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015 SPORTS

Muto opts for Mainz Force to sign reserve driver Pedrosa returns to action TOKYO: Japan striker Yoshinori Muto will sign for German club Mainz after LONDON: Force India expect to sign a reserve driver now that FRANCE: Honda MotoGP rider Dani Pedrosa will be back in action at the French opting against joining champions Chelsea because of con- Formula One has kicked off its European season, according to Grand Prix this weekend after missing three of the season’s first four races due to cerns over a lack of playing opportunities, Kyodo News reported yesterday. deputy principal Bob Fernley. arm surgery. The 22-year-old was also wary about qualifying for a work permit to “We are looking. And sometime in the European bit now “My recovery has gone well, I think I was right to be patient and take it slowly, and play in England, Kyodo quoted an unnamed official at we will sign someone,” the Briton told Reuters before a two- to respect the time frames that I needed,” the Spaniard said in a blog for team spon- Muto’s current club FC Tokyo as saying. day test at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya that started on sor Repsol on Tuesday. Muto scored 13 goals for Tokyo last season and only Tuesday. Mercedes-powered Force India, who failed to score “Now, finally, I can tell you that I will be in Le Mans this week- graduated from Keio University in March after com- points in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix and have had cash-flow end.” Pedrosa, 29, had been replaced by Japanese stand-in pleting an economics degree. Mainz are currently problems, will have French teenager Esteban Ocon in their car Hiroshi Aoyama in the US, Argentine and Spanish rounds as 12th in the and have enjoyed success with on Wednesday. They had planned to test Pascal Wehrlein, who team mate to double world champion Marc Marquez. Japanese strikers. is their top scorer this is also the Mercedes F1 reserve, yesterday but he was unwell term. Chelsea, who announced their ‘largest ever com- and Britain’s Nick Yelloly, who has been doing simulator work The rider, who had surgery on April 3, had been pre- mercial deal’ with Japanese tyre firm, Yokohama with the team, took his place instead. Ocon, the 18-year-old dicted a recovery time of four to six weeks and said he was Rubber Company earlier this year had bid European F3 champion, is competing in GP3 with Mercedes keen to get back. He has suffered from a problem common around 700 million yen ($5.84 million) for support and was also recently appointed test and reserve among motorcycle racers when pressure builds up in the Muto in March, Kyodo said. Muto, who has driver for the Mercedes AMG team in the German Touring Car forearm and causes intense pain, making riding a bike dif- notched eight goals in 11 league games (DTM) series. ficult when the muscle becomes too big for the ‘sack’ that this term, is with the national team on a Fernley said the team would have been able to find a it sits in. two-day training camp. He was expected reserve easily enough if they had needed an emergency Pedrosa has not won a MotoGP race since the Czech to reveal his transfer plans tomorrow, replacement for Mexican Sergio Perez or Germany’s Nico Grand Prix last August and was sixth in the sea- Kyodo said.—Reuters Hulkenberg but the role was more than just that.—Reuters son-opener in Qatar. —Reuters Orioles triumph over Blue Jays

BALTIMORE: Manny Machado and Chris Area, where he won three championships Davis hit first-inning homers, and Ubaldo with the San Francisco Giants. Jimenez had a season-high nine strikeouts Sandoval just cleared the fence in right on over seven sharp innings as the Orioles cele- an 0-2 pitch from Angel Castro (0-1) for his brated their return to Baltimore with a 5-2 fourth homer of the year and second in two victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday days, helping the Red Sox win consecutive night. games for the first time since April 20-21. Adam Jones also homered for the Orioles, Matt Barnes (1-0) pitched two innings for the who had lost five of six to fall into last place in win. Oakland lost its sixth straight and fell to the AL East. Because of rioting and violence a major league-worst 0-6 in extra innings this in the city, the Orioles last played in front of season. The A’s are 1-11 in one-run games. their home fans on April 26. Enjoying the They have their longest skid since dropping comfort of familiar surroundings and fueled nine in a row in 2012. by a spirited crowd of 20,468, Baltimore took Sandoval received his latest World Series a quick 3-0 lead and cruised to the finish ring from Giants manager Bruce Bochy on behind Jimenez (3-2). Sunday night at the Red Sox team hotel. In their previous game at Camden Yards, the Orioles won on April 29 behind closed PIRATES 4, PHILLIES 3 doors, a decision made for fan safety. Gerrit Cole pitched seven effective innings Although the atmosphere in the city remains and Starling Marte hit a three-run homer as tense, the fans appeared delighted to turn Pittsburgh beat Philadelphia. Cole (5-1) their attention toward baseball. allowed two runs and six hits, shaking off his Wearing “Baltimore” on their home white first loss in 10 starts with another good out- jerseys instead of the customary “Orioles,” the ing. The right-hander had won four straight home team provided many a feel-good before Wednesday’s 3-0 home loss to moment. Zach Britton got three outs for his Cincinnati. seventh save. Marco Estrada (1-2) took the Making his first start at hitter-friendly loss. Citizens Bank Park, Cole improved 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA in his last seven road outings. The YANKEES 11, RAYS 5 Pirates have won four of five overall, and sev- CC Sabathia won for the first time in more en of eight against the Phillies dating to last than a year as Alex Rodriguez hit one of five season. New York homers against Tampa Bay. Odubel Herrera hit his first major league Sabathia (1-5) allowed four runs in seven homer in the ninth off Mark Melancon, who innings to stop a nine-start winless streak held on for his eighth save. Philadelphia (11- since a victory over Boston on April 24, 2014. 22) has dropped 10 of 13. Jerome Williams (2- The lefty missed most of last season with a 3) lasted five innings, giving up three runs knee injury. and four hits. Rodriguez put the Yankees up 1-0 on his eighth homer this season and 662nd overall, BREWERS 10, WHITE SOX 7 a long drive to left field in the first. Elian Herrera and pinch-hitter Khris Davis A-Rod was hit on the arm by Erasmo homered in the eighth inning to help Ramirez’s pitch in the ninth and scored when Milwaukee hold off Chicago. Herrera, filling in Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer. Chase at third base for injured Aramis Ramirez, Headley, Carlos Beltran and Brett Gardner homered for the second straight night. His also homered for the Yankees, who have won two-run shot off reliever Zach Duke (1-2) BALTIMORE: Toronto Blue Jays’ Ezequiel Carrera (left) doubles in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph in the fifth inning of a all four games this season at Tropicana Field broke a 7-all tie. baseball game. —AP and are 6-1 overall against the Rays. Logan The Brewers squandered a 6-0 lead. Adam place on the career list. Forsythe homered and drove in three runs for Eaton’s two-out RBI single off Jonathan the Rays.Headley and Gardner each had a Broxton (1-0) tied the score at 7 in the eighth CUBS 4, METS 3 MLB results/standings three-run shot off Alex Colome (2-1). inning. Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo homered Francisco Rodriguez earned his seventh on consecutive pitches in the first inning, Baltimore 5, Toronto 2; Pittsburgh 4, Philadelphia 3; Atlanta 2, Cincinnati 1; NY Yankees 11, Tampa Bay 5; DODGERS 5, MARLINS 3 save. Carlos Gomez homered and tripled for leading Jon Lester and Chicago over New Milwaukee 10, Chicago White Sox 7; Chicago Cubs 4, NY Mets 3; Texas 8, Kansas City 2; Washington 11, Arizona 1; Scott Van Slyke hit a three-run homer in Milwaukee in his first game this season as the York. Boston 5, Oakland 4 (11 Innings); La Dodgers 5, Miami 3. the bottom of the ninth inning to give Los cleanup hitter. White Sox starter Jeff Lester (3-2) allowed three runs in six Angeles a victory over Miami. Two innings Samardzija was tagged for eight hits and sev- American League National League innings, and three relievers from Chicago’s Eastern Division Eastern Division after throwing out a runner at home plate to en runs - five earned - in six innings. struggling bullpen closed it out. Hector W L PCT GB NY Mets 20 12 .625 - complete a double play, Van Slyke connected Rondon finished for his seventh save. NY Yankees 21 12 .636 - Washington 18 15 .545 2.5 off struggling closer Steve Cishek. RANGERS 8, ROYALS 2 The Cubs opened the bleachers in left and Tampa Bay 17 16 .515 4 Atlanta 15 17 .469 5 Christian Yelich gave the Marlins a 3-2 lead Adrian Beltre hit his 399th home run and Toronto 16 17 .485 5 center for the first time this season at Wrigley Miami 15 18 .455 5.5 in the top of the ninth with a two-run homer newcomer Thomas Field hit his first as the Boston 15 17 .469 5.5 Field, and Bryant provided a stirring welcome Philadelphia 11 22 .333 9.5 off rookie Yimi Garcia before Cishek (1-3) Texas Rangers beat weary Kansas City. Prince Baltimore 14 16 .467 5.5 Central Division with a two-run shot for the prized rookie’s Central Division allowed a one-out walk to Yasmani Grandal Fielder also homered for the Rangers to back St. Louis 22 9 .710 - first homer at the cozy neighborhood ball- Kansas City 20 12 .625 - and a single by Andre Ethier. Colby Lewis (3-2), who beat the Royals for the Chicago Cubs 16 15 .516 6 park. Detroit 19 13 .594 1 Van Slyke handed Cishek his fourth blown first time since 2003 by limiting them to one Pittsburgh 16 16 .500 6.5 Rizzo followed with a drive to right against Minnesota 18 14 .563 2 save in seven opportunities. JP Howell (2-1) run and three hits over seven innings. Cincinnati 15 17 .469 7.5 Jacob deGrom (3-4), who was charged with Chicago White Sox 12 17 .414 6.5 got the win after retiring former Dodger Dee The defending AL champions didn’t arrive Cleveland 11 19 .367 8 Milwaukee 12 21 .364 11 four runs in five innings. The outfield seating Gordon with the bases loaded. in Texas until about 5:45 a.m. Monday after Western Division Western Division had been closed to the public while work LA Dodgers 21 10 .677 - Zack Greinke went seven innings for the their 10-inning, rain-delayed victory at Houston 20 12 .625 - continued on renovations for the aging facili- San Diego 17 16 .515 5 Dodgers, lowering his ERA to 1.52. He has not Detroit that ended after midnight. LA Angels 15 17 .469 5 ty. Lucas Duda and Wilmer Flores hit consecu- Seattle 14 17 .452 5.5 San Francisco 16 16 .500 5.5 lost in 15 starts since Aug. 9, 2014, against Danny Duffy (2-2), who traveled ahead of tive homers for New York. Texas 14 18 .438 6 Arizona 14 17 .452 7 Milwaukee. Marcell Ozuna also homered for his teammates, matched his career high with Oakland 12 22 .353 9 Colorado 11 17 .393 8.5 Miami. six walks while pitching only 3 2-3 innings. He BRAVES 2, REDS 1 gave up six runs and five hits. Pinch-hitter Phil Gosselin singled off RED SOX 5, ATHLETICS 4 Beltre homered for the second time in Aroldis Chapman to open the ninth, stole a Pablo Sandoval homered leading off the two days. His two-run shot tied him with base and scored on the closer’s wild pitch, ral- 11th inning for Boston in his return to the Bay Al Kaline and Andres Galarraga for 52nd lying Atlanta past Cincinnati. Canadiens confident The Braves snapped a three-game losing streak and sent Cincinnati’s best reliever to his second loss in two days. Chapman (1-2) they can force Game 7 also gave up a ninth-inning run during a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on Sunday - the first run TAMPA: Hold the motivational ploys and will play without right wing Ryan Callahan, all the statistics that support the Tampa who underwent an emergency appendec- he had allowed all season. Bay Lightning feeling good about its tomy late Monday. His return to the ice was Luis Avilan (1-0) retired all three batters in chances of closing out the Montreal undermined, the team said. the eighth. Jim Johnson got his second save. Canadiens in the second round of the NHL “For sure, they’ve got more pressure. Andrelton Simmons ended Mike Leake’s playoffs. We’ve been there,” Montreal coach Michel scoreless streak at 19 innings when he led off The resilient Canadiens have won two Therrien said, noting his team built a 3-0 the fourth with a homer. straight to trim a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 in the lead over Ottawa in the first round, then best-of-7 series. And the suddenly reeling dropped Games 4 and 5 before finishing NATIONALS 11, DIAMONDBACKS 1 Lightning said it was time to match the off the Senators in six games. Denard Span and Ryan Zimmerman opposition’s desperation and finish the job. “You get a three-game lead, and you’ve homered in the first inning as Washington Game 6 is late on Tuesday at Amalie Arena, got pressure to close. The more it goes, the rolled to its fifth victory in a row with a rout of where Tampa Bay compiled the league’s more they feel that pressure,” Therrien Arizona. best home record during the regular sea- added. “The fourth one is the toughest one The Nationals scored 10 runs in the first son. Game 7, if necessary, would be played because you’re meeting a team that is real- two innings, nine off starter Josh Collmenter in Montreal tomorrow. ly desperate.” The Canadiens are trying to (3-4). Yunel Escobar had his second career “We just have to have the belief that if become the fifth team in NHL history to five-hit game, both in the past week. we play the way we know we can that overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a postseason Max Scherzer (3-3) shut out the we’re going to win,” Lightning captain series. “We feel good about playing these Diamondbacks before giving up a home run Steven Stamkos said after practice on type of games,” Therrien said. “You look at to Jordan Pacheco in the sixth. The former Monday. our record the last two years when we’ve Arizona first-round draft pick allowed five hits “Just don’t play scared,” Stamkos added. had our backs against the wall. It’s almost in seven innings. He struck out six and even “Don’t be afraid to lose.” The Canadiens like it’s where we perform the best. had two of the Nationals’ 15 hits. have won five of their past six games when (Tuesday) for us won’t be any different.” Washington has scored a combined two facing elimination, and reject the notion The Lightning have shown an ability to runs in Scherzer’s three losses, and 25 in his that there’s more pressure on them to even overcome adversity, too. They trailed three wins. Wilson Ramos hit a three-run dou- the series than Tampa Bay to end it and Detroit 3-2 in the opening round, won ble in a six-run second. After his torrid week, avoid having to get back on a plane and Game 6 on the road, and returned home to PHILADELPHIA: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws against the Nationals slugger Bruce Harper was relatively play Game 7 on the road. The Lightning beat the Red Wings in Game 7. —AP Philadelphia Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game. —AP quiet, going 1 for 4 with an RBI single. —AP