MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014 SPORTS

Isner in Atlanta final Love pulls out Arsenal sign ATLANTA: Top seed John Isner has continued his love affair with the Atlanta Open by keeper Ospina powering his way into the final for the fourth time in five years on Saturday. from USA team The American will meet Dudi Sela on the hardcourt in Atlanta late yesterday, after NEW YORK: Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves became the third LONDON: Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, who had a fine World Cup dominating on serve to beat compatriot Jack Sock 7-5 6-4 in an afternoon semi-final. NBA player in recent weeks to withdraw from consideration for Team USA in to help his country reach the quarter-finals for the first time, is joining The defending champion dropped only two points on first serve to wear down Sock, next month’s World Cup, USA Basketball said on Saturday. The power for- Arsenal on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee, the Premier who became increasingly frustrated as the match pro- ward, a member of the gold-medal winning 2012 US Olympic team, is League club said yesterday. gressed in searing heat, at one stage arguing with the rumored to be heading to a new NBA team, with the Cavaliers, Bulls and The 25-year-old, who has 49 caps, is moving from French Ligue 1 club umpire after a line call was reversed on replay. Warriors all striving to swing a trade with Minnesota. Nice, for whom he made 189 league appearances during his six years in “It was not easy conditions at all in the heat today,” The 6-10 Love, a three-time NBA All-Star who averaged 26.1 points, 12.5 France. “David Ospina is an excellent goalkeeper, with good experience Isner said. “I thought I played pretty well. Jack is a really rebounds and 4.4 assists last season, informed USA Basketball that because good player. I wanted to win that match.” and a proven record of performing with Nice and Colombia,” Arsenal The world number 12 clearly feels at home in the state of his current status he would be unavailable to play for the national team manager Arsene Wenger told the club’s website where he went to college at the University of Georgia. But this summer. (www.arsenal.com). “He will add strength to the first set almost slipped away when Sock had a break “Our job is to get the job done with our very, very deep roster, and we’re our squad and we are very pleased that he point at 5-5, only to the tape with a backhand down the anxious to get things started,” USA Basketball chief Jerry Colangelo said in a will be joining us.” line. Buoyed by the reprieve, Isner finally broke serve to statement. Training camp starts on Monday in Las Vegas. On Friday, Ospina is expected to make his first take the set in the next game, a 14-minute marathon as Washington Wizards guard John Wall was added to the pool of players com- appearance for Arsenal in the pre-season Wimbledon doubles champion Sock staved off two set peting for a berth on the US team after the withdrawal of Clippers power for- Emirates Cup tournament involving the points. The first nine games of the second set went with ward Blake Griffin. English side, AS Monaco, Valencia and Benfica serve before Sock frittered away a 30-0 lead in the 10th Griffin’s withdrawal followed a decision by guard Russell Westbrook to which takes place at the Emirates Stadium in step aside as he works to rebound from an injury-hit NBA season with the game. He saved two match points, before double-fault- north London next weekend. — Reuters ing on the third to hand Isner victory. Oklahoma City Thunder. —Reuters Reds edge past Nationals

CINCINNATI: Johnny Cueto struck out nine in tion and pitched 5 2-3 effective innings. Adams seven innings on Saturday, and Brayan Pena sin- hit a two- double in the first and a two-run gled through a drawn-in infield for the only run, triple in a four-run seventh that was capped by leading the to a 1-0 victory over Pierzynski’s RBI single. Randy Choate (2-2) got the the Washington Nationals that ended a seven- last out of the sixth. Trevor Rosenthal worked game losing streak. around two hits in a scoreless ninth, earning his Cincinnati ended its longest skid in five years 31st in 35 tries. by getting several good defensive plays and The 37-year-old Pierzynski signed with the another dominating performance by its All-Star Cardinals on Saturday, 10 days after he was starter. released by Boston. St. Louis had been looking for Cueto (11-6) gave up four hits and walked a steady presence behind the plate since All-Star three. Left-hander Aroldis Chapman pitched out catcher Yadier Molina tore a ligament in his right of a two-on, two-out threat in the eighth and fin- thumb July 9. Ryan Sweeney and pinch-hitter ished for his 22nd save in 24 chances. He extend- Nate Schierholtz homered for the Cubs. James Russell (0-2) took the loss.

BLUE JAYS 6, YANKEES 4 Dan Johnson drove in four runs with a go- ahead infield hit and a three-run homer, helping Toronto end its 17-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium. Brian McCann’s two-run homer put New York ahead in the fourth inning, but Johnson drove in the tiebreaking run in the seventh with a 70-foot bloop that fell in front of second baseman Brian Roberts. Johnson’s ninth-inning drive off Jeff Francis, which extended the lead to 6-2, was his first homer since hitting three for the at Cleveland on Oct. 3, 2012. Drew Hutchison (7-9) stopped a three-start skid to win for the first time since July 1. Chris Capuano failed to get a decision in his Yankees debut. Shawn Kelley (1-3) was the loser. Toronto, like New York chasing Baltimore in the AL East, had not won at Yankee Stadium since CINCINNATI: Chris Heisey No. 28 of the Cincinnati Reds steals third base in the fifth inning of the game against the WashingtonNationals Aug. 29, 2012. New York lost for just the second at Great American Ball Park. — AFP time in eight games since the All-Star break. BREWERS 5, METS 2 in two runs as the Braves moved within 1 1/2 Antonio Bastardo (4-4) took the loss. CHICAGO: Jake Arrieta No. 49 of the Chicago Wily Peralta earned his team-leading 12th win, games of NL East-leading Washington. Cubs pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals MARINERS 4, ORIOLES 3 Chris Young allowed two hits in seven shutout and Mark Reynolds homered in Milwaukee’s vic- Teheran (10-6) allowed three runs on nine hits DODGERS 5, GIANTS 0 during the first inning at in tory over New York. Jonathan Lucroy, Ryan Braun and no walks in six innings. He also drove in a run threw a two-hitter to win his Chicago. — AFP innings, and Seattle snapped a four-game losing streak by holding off Baltimore. Dustin Ackley and Khris Davis added run-scoring hits for the NL with a squeeze bunt. Despaigne (2-2) walked five ninth straight decision, leading the Los Angeles ed his streak of at least one in his last 43 doubled twice and scored two runs for the Central leaders. Peralta (12-6) labored through 5 and also was wild on a crucial throw to third base Dodgers over San Francisco. Adrian Gonzalez had appearances, the longest by a reliever in the Mariners. Robinson Cano had an RBI double. 2-3 innings, giving up six hits and two runs. for an error in Atlanta’s four-run fourth. The right- three hits and an RBI, and Juan Uribe had two hits majors since 1900. Gio Gonzalez (6-6) gave up After the Orioles took advantage of an error Four relievers held the Mets scoreless over the hander from Cuba lasted only 3 2-3 innings and and two RBIs to help the Dodgers move into first four hits and fanned eight in seven innings. by All-Star third baseman Kyle Seager to score final 3 1-3 innings. Francisco Rodriguez, who allowed five runs, two earned, on six hits. place in the NL West, a half-game ahead of the three times in the eighth, Fernando Rodney blew a save and took the loss Friday night, It was his first start since throwing 7 2-3 hitless Giants. Kershaw (12-2) walked one and struck out RAYS 3, RED SOX 0 closed it out for his 200th career save. recorded his 30th save in 34 chances. innings Sunday before allowing a run in a no- seven in his ninth career shutout and second this Ben Zobrist homered, Matt Joyce and Kevin Young (9-6), who did not pitch in the majors Curtis Granderson homered and doubled for decision against the Mets. Seth Smith had three season. It also was his fourth of Kiermaier each had an RBI single, and Tampa Bay last season, walked three and matched his season the Mets. Jonathon Niese (5-6) gave up five hits hits and Yasmani Grandal hit a two-run double for the year and 15th of his career. The left-hander beat skidding Boston for its ninth consecutive high with eight . He has won nine and three runs in five innings. the Padres.Craig Kimbrel struck out the side in the improved to 12-6 with a 1.40 ERA in 23 career victory. games for the first time since 2007 with San ninth for his 31st save. games against the Giants, including 7-2 with a The stretch is the second-longest in team his- Diego. ROCKIES 8, PIRATES 1 0.69 ERA at AT&T Park. Ryan Vogelsong (5-8) tory, three short of a 12-game winning streak in Bud Norris (8-7), who won five of his previous Nolan Arenado bounced back from a bench- ROYALS 7, INDIANS 5 retired the first 11 batters before Hunter Pence June 2004. John Lackey (11-7) came up short in six starts, went five innings for the Orioles. He ing with three hits, including a , and Billy Butler homered for the second consecu- lost Gonzalez’s double in the sun with two outs in his first attempt to earn his 150th win, giving up allowed four runs and six hits. Colorado routed Pittsburgh. Tyler Matzek (2-4) tive game and Kansas City overcame a five-run the fourth. Hanley Ramirez followed with an RBI three runs and eight hits over seven innings. pitched three-hit ball over seven scoreless deficit to beat Cleveland for its fifth straight win. single. The Giants have been shut out in four of Before the game, the Red Sox traded right- ATHLETICS 5, RANGERS 1 innings for his first win since his major league A day after his pinch-hit, two-run homer in the Vogelsong’s last five starts. hander Jake Peavy and cash to San Francisco for Sonny Gray won his sixth straight decision, debut June 11 against Atlanta. Drew Stubbs and eighth inning beat the Indians, Butler connected minor league Edwin Escobar and Heath helped when Oakland hit four home runs in a six- Corey Dickerson also homered for the Rockies, for a tiebreaking shot in the fifth off Nick ANGELS 4, TIGERS 0 Hembree. Boston, last in the AL East one season batter span to beat Texas. who have won three straight. Hagadone. Efren Navarro hit his first major league homer after winning the , has lost five The Athletics trailed 1-0 when John Jaso hit a Ike Davis denied Colorado its first shutout at Nori Aoki hit a two-run triple in the fourth. off Justin Verlander, and Matt Shoemaker com- straight. Grant Balfour (1-3) went 1 2-3 innings for two-run drive with two outs in the sixth inning. Coors Field this season with a one-out homer in Carlos Santana hit his third homer in two games bined with two relievers on a four-hitter as the the win, and Jake McGee pitched the ninth for his Yoenis Cespedes followed with his 17th home the ninth. It was a bounce-back performance for for Cleveland, which has lost six of seven. Jeremy beat Detroit. Shoemaker (8-3) 11th save. run. Josh Donaldson led off the seventh with Arenado, removed from Friday’s game when he Guthrie (6-9) won despite giving up five runs and threw just 78 pitches through seven innings, another home run and Josh Reddick connected didn’t hustle down the line on a grounder to the 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings. Greg Holland, the fourth allowing three hits and no walks while striking CARDINALS 6, CUBS 3 two batters later. Gray (12-3) allowed seven hits in the fourth inning. Kansas City reliever, got his 27th save in 29 out five against a lineup that came in leading the Matt Adams drove in four runs, AJ Pierzynski over 6 2-3 innings. He didn’t give up more than Arenado met with manager Walt Weiss before chances. Zach McAllister (3-6) couldn’t hold a 5-0 AL in batting average, hits, on-base percentage had three hits in his St. Louis debut and the one in any of his five July starts. Jaso Saturday’s game and said he agreed with the lead. and slugging percentage. Cardinals beat Chicago to stop a four-game skid. and Cespedes homered off Nick Tepesch (3-7), decision. Pirates starter Jeff Locke (2-2) allowed The only hits off the right-hander were Ian Shelby Miller returned to the Cardinals’ rota- who left with soreness in his left knee. six runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings. DIAMONDBACKS 10, PHILLIES 6 Kinsler’s first-inning double and singles by Martin Prado homered, doubled and drove in Eugenio Suarez and Austin Jackson. Kevin Jepsen MARLINS 7, ASTROS 3 five runs, including a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in pitched a perfect eighth, and Jason Grilli got the Giancarlo Stanton hit a three-run double, and the 10th inning to lift Arizona over Philadelphia. last three outs. Jepsen has allowed only one Crusaders feel the momentum Jordany Valdespin added a two-run homer to Pinch-hitter Nick Evans’ three-run homer earned run over his last 31 2-3 innings and 35 power Miami past Houston. capped the Diamondbacks’ four-run 10th. Evan appearances. shifting in their favor Stanton’s double in the second inning broke a Marshall (3-2) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn The AL Central leaders were shut out for the 2-all tie. Christian Yelich had two hits, including the win. fifth time this season, and their division lead over WELLINGTON: The Canterbury Crusaders to challenge the Crusaders’ standing as New an RBI single as part of the four-run outburst. Marlon Byrd and Cody Asche homered for the Kansas City was reduced to five games. Verlander were far from convincing for much of the Zealand’s best Super Rugby team. The Valdespin hit his first homer of the season in the Phillies, who blew a four-run lead and have lost (9-9) allowed three runs and six hits in seven Super Rugby season but on Saturday Chiefs, however, struggled with their title ninth off Chad Qualls. Tom Koehler (7-7) gave up eight of 11. Chase Utley had three hits and an RBI. innings with four strikeouts and a walk. — AP showed the calibre of performance that will defence and were dispatched by the ACT three runs and nine hits in five innings. Jason give their supporters hope they can add an Brumbies in the first week of the playoffs. Castro hit an early two-run homer and Jose eighth title next week against the New While the Crusaders at times failed to Altuve had three hits for Houston, which lost its South Wales Waratahs. convince this season, they have shown their fourth straight and fell a season-high 20 games MLB results/standings Todd Blackadder’s side negated a strong ability to take apart any opposition when at under .500. Jarred Cosart (9-7) allowed five runs Sharks pack that demolished the Otago their best. and seven hits with four walks in 5 2-3 innings. Highlanders last week and while there were “I think they were outstanding,” Sharks Toronto 6, NY Yankees 4; St. Louis 6, 3; Cincinnati 1, Washington 0; Seattle 4, occasions when the Crusaders’ defensive coach Jake White told reporters. “They defi- Baltimore 3; Arizona 10, Philadelphia 6 (10 Innings); Kansas City 7, Cleveland 5; Milwaukee WHITE SOX 7, TWINS 0 5, NY Mets 2; Chicago White Sox 7, Minnesota 0; Atlanta 5, San Diego 3; Miami 7, Houston 3; line was tested, the South Africans never nitely raised the bar for how you play tied a season high with 12 strike- looked like scoring a try. knockout rugby.” The performance builds Tampa Bay 3, Boston 0; Oakland 5, Texas 1; Colorado 8, Pittsburgh 1; LA Angels 4, Detroit 0; outs in eight dominant innings, Alexei Ramirez hit LA Dodgers 5, San Francisco 0. The 38-6 victory could not have come at on the momentum of a 40-20 thrashing of his 10th homer and Chicago defeated Minnesota a better time as they prepare to beat the the Brumbies at home followed by a 57-29 for its third straight win over the Twins. Sale (10-1) National League high-flying Waratahs at Sydney’s Olympic win over the Reds a week later. scattered five hits - all singles - and became the Eastern Division Eastern Division Stadium. “It was certainly encouraging,” said The Sharks, however, fell off the pace first White Sox starter to win 10 of his first 11 deci- W L PCT GB Washington 56 45 .554 - captain Kieran Read, who was at his ram- towards the end of the season. On home sions in a season since in 2005. It Baltimore 57 46 .553 - Atlanta 56 48 .538 1.5 paging best in the channels out wide. “The soil in Durban, they barely defeated a was also Sale’s 15th career game with 10 or more NY Yankees 54 49 .524 3 Miami 50 53 .485 7 way we did it was awesome and we are hit- Highlanders side who had been hammered strikeouts, moving him into a tie for second on Toronto 55 50 .524 3 NY Mets 49 55 .471 8.5 ting some pretty good form heading into in the previous two weeks by the Waratahs the franchise list with Juan Pizarro. Tampa Bay 51 53 .490 6.5 Philadelphia 45 59 .433 12.5 next week.” and Crusaders. Chicago had its way against Logan Darnell (0- Boston 47 57 .452 10.5 Central Division Long the competition’s benchmark, the On Saturday, their tactical kicking game 1) in his first major league start. A day after being Central Division Milwaukee 59 46 .562 - Crusaders have endured a relatively lean went awry and their scrum was under Detroit 57 44 .564 - recalled to fill in for injured Kyle Gibson, Darnell St. Louis 55 48 .534 3 period in recent years, not winning the title increasing pressure as the game wore on. Kansas City 53 50 .515 5 allowed seven runs and 11 hits while striking out Pittsburgh 54 49 .524 4 since former coach Robbie Deans left in Their forwards were fatigued from chasing Cleveland 51 53 .490 7.5 seven in five innings. The Twins are 2-7 since the Cincinnati 52 51 .505 6 2008. They lost the 2011 final to a piece of opponents across the park. The under par All-Star break. Chicago White Sox 51 54 .486 8 individual brilliance from Queensland Reds’ performance was noted by New Zealand Minnesota 46 57 .447 12 Chicago Cubs 42 60 .412 15.5 scrumhalf Will Genia and in the past two media. “They (the Crusaders) will know the BRAVES 5, PADRES 3 Western Division Western Division seasons were beaten by the Waikato Chiefs brilliant semi-final victory over the Sharks is Freddie Freeman had three hits and an RBI, Oakland 64 39 .621 - LA Dodgers 58 47 .552 - in semi-finals of test-match intensity. The a false read - the South Africans were an Julio Teheran earned his team-high 10th win and LA Angels 62 41 .602 2 San Francisco 57 47 .548 0.5 Chiefs went on to clinch the title both embarrassing mess in Christchurch,” New Atlanta took advantage of Odrisamer Despaigne’s Seattle 54 50 .519 10.5 San Diego 46 57 .447 11 times, prompting pundits to suggest the Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue control problems to beat San Diego. Tommy La Houston 42 62 .404 22.5 Arizona 45 59 .433 12.5 Hamilton-based side might build a dynasty wrote. — Reuters Stella also had three hits and Chris Johnson drove Texas 41 63 .394 23.5 Colorado 43 60 .417 14