SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2014 SPORTS

SA appoint Mashaba Tavecchio in racism row WWE champ nabs burglar to coach Bafana Bafana PHOENIX: A hapless burglar in Arizona learned a hard lesson when he broke into the ROME: Carlo Tavecchio, the favorite to become the next Italian Football Phoenix home of former World Wrestling Entertainment heavyweight champion Daniel Federation (FIGC) president, has been caught up in a racism storm after Bryan, police said on Friday. Bryan, 33, was returning home with his wife late on CAPE TOWN: Ephraim Mashaba was re-appointed as coach of ’s national referring to African players as “banana eaters”. team yesterday, the fourth time he has taken the helm of Bafana Bafana. Mashaba, Thursday when he saw two suspects running out of a rear door, authorities said. The ex- The influx of foreign players has been a hot topic since the national professional grappler gave chase and was able to catch 22-year-old Cesar Sosa. more commonly known as ‘Shakes’, has had two previous caretaker spells with the sen- team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage and 71-year-old ior team and was the permanent coach between Aug. 2002 and Nov. 2003. Sergeant Tommy Thompson, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department, said a Tavecchio suggested Italy should replicate England’s stringent require- struggle ensued and that Bryan, whose real name is Bryan Danielson, was able to detain His most recent role was in charge of the national Under-20 side and is ments for non-EU players. “In England, they identify the players coming in currently on a west African tour with the team. The cash-strapped the suspect until police officers could take him into custody. The second and, if they are professional, they are allowed to play,” Tavecchio said at the South African Football Association (SAFA) opted for a local coach suspect managed to get away, Thompson said. summer assembly of Italy’s amateur leagues (LND). “Here instead we get having also received interest in the post from , who The former champ said he was angry when he realized that some- ‘Opti Pob‡’, who previously ate bananas and then suddenly becomes a first led Iran at the World Cup in Brazil, and Stephen Keshi of Nigeria. one had broken into the home they had moved into only 10 days ear- team player with Lazio. The Dutch duo of Frank Rijkaard and Dick Advocaat were lier, and that he was worried for their two-year-old French bulldog, also in the running. The 63-year-old Mashaba had a tempestu- “That’s how it is here. In England, you need to demonstrate what you Josie. He said he chased Sosa about 400 feet before grabbing him and ous relationship with his SAFA bosses during his first spell in have on your CV and your pedigree.” Questioned by reporters about the shouting some “bad words.” And he said he used a rear naked choke charge of the side and was sacked after refusing to recall over- comments afterwards, Tavecchio claimed that he could not remember hold to subdue him, rather than his trademark “Yes!” lock. “He was very, seas based players and Hans Vonk when what he had said in his own speech. “I can’t remember if I said the word very tired and it literally took zero effort to take him down,” Bryan told a they asked to be excused from a training camp ahead of ‘banana’ but I was referring to the CV and professionalism required by news conference at police headquarters, seated next to his wife the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations. English football for players who come from Africa or other countries.” he with the dog in her lap. He was also axed from the bench in the middle of that explained. “If anyone has interpreted my speech as offensive, I offer my “He put up very little resistance.” He said he felt “borderline spell for a high-profile friendly against England in 2003 apologies.” Tavecchio, the head of the LND, is expected to beat former AC ashamed” for taking matters into his own hands, when he also refused to call on the country’s top players Milan and Italy midfielder Demetrio Albertini to the top job in the Aug. 11 and was glad that nothing bad happened. Sosa was booked in Europe.—Reuters vote. The pair are both currently vice-presidents of the FIGC.—Reuters into jail on suspicion of one count of burglary. —Reuters

MLB results/standings

Chicago Cubs 7, St. Louis 6; Ny Yankees 6, Toronto 4; Philadelphia 9, Arizona 5; Washington 4, Cincinnati 1; Tampa Bay 6, Boston 4; San Diego 5, Atlanta 2; Texas 4, Oakland 1; Kansas City 6, Cleveland 4; NY Mets 3, Milwaukee 2; Chicago White Sox 9, Minnesota 5; Miami 2, Houston 0; Colorado 8, Pittsburgh 1; LA Angels 2, Detroit 1; Baltimore 2, Seattle 1 (10 Innings); LA Dodgers 8, San Francisco 1.

American League Eastern Division W L PCT GB Baltimore 57 45 .559 - NY Yankees 54 48 .529 3 Toronto 54 50 .519 4 Tampa Bay 50 53 .485 7.5 Boston 47 56 .456 10.5

Central Division Detroit 57 43 .570 - Kansas City 52 50 .510 6 Cleveland 51 52 .495 7.5 Chicago White Sox 50 54 .481 9 Minnesota 46 56 .451 12

Western Division Oakland 63 39 .618 - LA Angels 61 41 .598 2 Seattle 53 50 .515 10.5 Houston 42 61 .408 21.5 Texas 41 62 .398 22.5

National League Eastern Division Washington 56 44 .560 - Atlanta 55 48 .534 2.5 Miami 49 53 .480 8 NY Mets 49 54 .476 8.5 ST PETERSBURG: Brandon Guyer No. 5 of the Tampa Bay Rays slides safely past David Ross No. 3 of the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. — AFP Philadelphia 45 58 .437 12.5

Central Division Milwaukee 58 46 .558 - Rays down Red Sox Pittsburgh 54 48 .529 3 St. Louis 54 48 .529 3 ST. PETERSBURG: David Price won his sixth start in a row YANKEES 6, BLUE JAYS 4 John Axford, sending a drive over the Royals’ bullpen in left Cincinnati 51 51 .500 6 and Evan Longoria hit a three-run double as the Tampa Bay Ichiro Suzuki homered for the first time since last August field. He was hitting just .200 in his previous 20 games with Chicago Cubs 42 59 .416 14.5 Rays earned their eighth straight victory, beating the Boston as New York beat Toronto for the 17th straight time at two RBIs. Kelvin Herrera (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth and Red Sox 6-4 in Major League Baseball on Friday. Yankee Stadium. Jose Bautista hit two homers, doubled and Aaron Crow worked around a leadoff double in the ninth to Western Division The Red Sox lost their fourth consecutive game. Price (11- drove in four runs for Toronto. Suzuki hit a go-ahead, three- earn his second save in four chances. San Francisco 57 46 .553 - 7) struck out 10 over eight innings. He matched the team run shot in the third inning off Mark Buehrle (10-7), who LA Dodgers 57 47 .548 0.5 record shared by Matt Moore and Scott Kazmir for victories dropped to 1-12 against the Yankees, including 10 straight MARLINS 2, ASTROS 0 San Diego 46 56 .451 10.5 in consecutive starts. Ben Zobrist got his fourth hit, an RBI losses over the past decade. New York won for the seventh Brad Hand pitched three-hit ball into the eighth inning Arizona 44 59 .427 13 double that made it 3-all in the Rays’ seventh. Later in the time in eight games since the All-Star break. Hiroki Kuroda and Jeff Mathis hit a two-run double for Miami. Hand (2-2) Colorado 42 60 .412 14.5 inning, Longoria delivered his go-ahead hit off Junichi (7-6) got the victory and David Robertson pitched the ninth struck out four and walked two in a career-high 7 1/3 Tazawa (1-2). Jake McGee gave up a run in the ninth and got for his 26th save in 28 chances. innings to earn his second straight win. Donovan Solano and his 10th save. Giancarlo Stanton each had two hits for the Marlins, who WHITE SOX 9, TWINS 5 won their fifth in sixth games. Bryan Morris got two outs in ORIOLES 2, MARINERS 1 Jose Abreu hit his MLB-leading 30th homer and drove in the eighth, and Steve Cishek pitched a perfect ninth for his Chris Davis hit a leadoff homer in the 10th inning and three runs, leading the Chicago White Sox past Minnesota. 25th save. Nelson Cruz also went deep as Baltimore overcame a record- Abreu had two hits and scored twice. The Cuban rookie now CUBS 7, CARDINALS 6 Lynx see tying start by Seattle ace Felix Hernandez. Hernandez struck has 77 RBIs on the season. Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers Luis Valbuena hit a decisive two-run homer in the sev- out 10 in seven innings and left with the score tied 1 all. It also homered for the White Sox, while Dayan Viciedo tied a enth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied to hand St. Louis its was his 13th consecutive start with at least seven innings career high with four of Chicago’s 17 hits. John Danks (9-6) fourth straight loss. and no more than two runs allowed, matching Tom Seaver’s gave up four runs over seven innings. The Cardinals tied it at 5-all on solo homers by Matt off Stars MLB mark set for the New York Mets in 1971. Chief Bender Carpenter and Matt Holliday in the fifth. Kevin Siegrist (1-2) held the previous American League record of 12 in a row RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 1 hit Anthony Rizzo with a full-count pitch to lead off the sev- established in 1907. Jerome Williams pitched six solid innings while becoming enth. One batter later, Valbuena sent hit a first-pitch homer MINNEAPOLIS: Seimone Augustus scored 17 Left-fielder Steve Pearce threw out a runner at the plate the team-record 31st pitcher used this season by Texas. into the bleachers in center field. Justin Grimm (3-2) pitched points in her return from a knee injury as the for Baltimore, which remained three games in front of the Neftali Feliz worked a scoreless ninth while giving up a hit a scoreless inning for the win. Minnesota Lynx beat the San Antonio Stars 88- second-place Yankees in the AL East. Darren O’Day (3-1) and a walk for his first regular-season save since 2011. worked the ninth and Zach Britton earned his 19th save. Williams (2-4) allowed one run while striking out four PADRES 3, BRAVES 2 78 in the WNBA on Friday for their sixth straight without a walk. The 32-year-old right-hander was released Rookie Jesse Hahn allowed only three hits in six innings victory. DODGERS 8, GIANTS 1 by Houston earlier this month. Texas led for good on J.P. to remain unbeaten on the road for San Diego. After missing eight games and the All-Star Yasiel Puig tied a club record with three triples and added Arencibia’s RBI single after Jim Adduci doubled in the sec- Hahn (6-2) allowed one run as he improved to 4-0 in four Game because of bursitis in her left knee, a double and two RBIs as Los Angeles moved within a half- ond off Jason Hammel (0-3). road starts. The Padres had 12 singles on 13 hits to beat Alex Augustus fueled a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter game of NL West-leading San Francisco. Wood (7-8). Tommy Medica drove in a run and had a career- that put the game out of reach. The Dodgers matched a team record with five triples, ROYALS 6, INDIANS 4 high four hits. Joaquin Benoit earned his second save. Lindsey Whalen added 14 points to help including three during a five-run fifth inning that chased Tim Pinch-hitter Billy Butler’s two-run homer with two outs in Lincecum (9-7). It was the most triples in a game for the club the eighth inning sent Kansas City past Cleveland for its METS 3, BREWERS 2 Minnesota beat San Antonio for the 10th straight since 1921 and Puig had the most by a Dodgers player since fourth straight win. Carlos Santana homered twice for the Lucas Duda hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning as time at home. Maya Moore had 12 points three Brooklyn’s Jimmy Sheckard had three in 1901. Zack Greinke Indians, who have lost five of six. Butler connected against the New York Mets rallied to end Milwaukee’s four-game nights after scoring a career-high 48 against (12-6) tossed seven innings of shutout ball, striking out 10. winning streak. Atlanta. The Mets trailed 2-0 entering the ninth inning, but Daniel Danielle Robinson led the Stars with 15 ANGELS 2, TIGERS 1 Murphy led off with a double off closer Francisco Rodriguez points. Minnesota led by 10 points in the third Efren Navarro and Kole Calhoun drove in runs in the sixth (4-4), who blew his fourth save of the season. David Wright quarter before San Antonio used a 13-6 run to inning as Los Angeles overcame Drew Smyly’s early domi- followed with an RBI single. Duda hit the first pitch he saw nance for a victory over Detroit. from Rodriguez into the Mets’ bullpen in right field. It was his cut the Lynx’s lead to 52-51 with 5:15 to play in Tyler Skaggs yielded five hits in 5 2-3 resourceful innings career-high 17th home run of the season and his third in the the period. for the Angels, who have won 14 of 19. Los Angeles last four games. Carlos Torres (5-4) pitched the eighth inning improved the second-best record in MLB to 61-41 and to get the win. SKY 79, DREAM 75 pulled within two games of AL West-leading Oakland. Epiphanny Prince scored 21 points as Chicago Miguel Cabrera homered and Smyly (6-9) had a career- PHILLIES 9, DIAMONDBACKS 5 held off Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta. high 11 strikeouts while pitching into the sixth for the Tigers, Domonic Brown homered, doubled and drove in three Jessica Breland added 15 points, Allie Quigley who have lost seven of eight in Anaheim. runs to lead Philadelphia. Grady Sizemore had three hits, Navarro had two hits after replacing Josh Hamilton (left including the 1,000th of his career, with a double and an RBI had 13, and Sylvia Fowles finished with 12 points knee) in the fourth as the Angels earned their MLB-leading for the Phillies. Kyle Kendrick (5-10) posted his first win in and 12 rebounds for the Sky. 36th home victory by beating the league’s best road team. eight career starts against the Diamondbacks. Alfredo Marte Sancho Lyttle and Tiffany Hayes each had 15 hit his first career homer, a grand slam, and Aaron Hill had points for the Dream, who have lost three NATIONALS 4, REDS 1 three hits for Arizona. straight for the first time this season. Tanner Roark allowed only three singles over seven innings and Denard Span got four hits as Washington kept ROCKIES 8, PIRATES 1 MYSTICS 82, SHOCK 77 Cincinnati winless since the MLB All-Star break. Brett Anderson pitched effectively into the seventh The Reds have dropped seven straight games for their inning for his first win in more than a year as Colorado beat Ivory Latta scored 17 points as Washington longest losing streak in five years. The Nationals have won Pittsburgh. Carlos Gonzalez homered and Josh Rutledge had beat Tulsa despite making only one field goal in seven of nine. Roark (10-6) became Washington’s first 10- two hits and drove in four runs for Colorado, which has won the fourth quarter. Monique Currie scored 16 game winner and improved to 3-0 in his last three starts. consecutive games for just the second time in the last six points — all on free throws — for Washington. Rafael Soriano got his 24th save. weeks. Anderson (1-3) had not won since beating Houston The Mystics have won three in a row and five of Alfredo Simon (12-5) has lost both starts since his first All- SEATTLE: Robinson Cano No. 22 of the Seattle Mariners on April 7, 2013, in his last start for Oakland. He spent four six. Skylar Diggins led Tulsa with 19 points. — AP Star selection. He gave up three runs on nine hits and two triples in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles months on the disabled list and moved to the A’s bullpen walks in only 4 1-3 innings. at Safeco Field. — AFP when he returned. — AP