THURSDAY, MAY 5, 2016 SPORTS

Ex-Scotland scrum-half Sri Lanka’s line-up faces retires at end of Cusiter hangs up boots ‘huge mental challenge’ ‘terrible’ Verona LONDON: Former Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter announced his retirement from COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s rookie batting line-up faces a “huge mental MILAN: Veteran Italian striker Luca Toni will hang up his boots after a final professional rugby yesterday with immediate effect. Cusiter, 33, joined English game with Verona against Juventus on Sunday, after announcing his retirement challenge” in adapting to English conditions as they bid to pull off a Premiership side Sale after previous stints with Glasgow, Border Reivers and from football yesterday. The 2006 World Cup winner has scored a total of 156 Serie repeat of their historic series win over their hosts, coach Graham Ford Perpignan, with whom he won the French Top 14 championship in 2009. A goals for eight different clubs throughout a storied career that said yesterday. Sri Lanka are returning to England for the first time He won 70 caps for Scotland between 2004 and 2014 and toured also saw him star for Bayern Munich and become the since 2014 when they posted their first away series victory over Alistair New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2005. “This is the ’s top scorer in the 2007-2008 season. Last season right time to hang up my boots and move on to the next chal- Cook’s side in Test cricket and then won an ODI series and a one-off Toni, at 38 years old, became the oldest player to win Serie A’s lenge,” said Cusiter in a statement released by Sale. “Playing for T20 international. But their line-up has been severely weakened in the top scorer () award-an accolade he shared Scotland 70 times was more than I could have dreamed of grow- interim by the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela with striker when both finished on ing up learning how to play rugby at Robert Gordon’s College Jayawardene, arguably the two greatest batsmen that Sri Lanka have 22 goals. Verona were relegated from Serie A last week having in Aberdeen. “The memories of playing for Scotland ever produced. Speaking ahead of their departure to London, Ford was spent most of the season at the foot of the table and Toni and touring New Zealand with the British and Irish “quietly confident” his squad would acclimatize to the conditions admitted the north-eastern club’s troubles this Lions will be with me forever, and I am grateful for awaiting them at the start of the English summer but acknowledged it season had prompted his decision. “After so all the incredible experiences I have been afforded would be a steep learning curve. “As far as our batting goes, having lost through rugby.” Cusiter’s next venture will be the many years of playing football, 22 in the pro- a couple of senior players (Sangakkara and Jayawardene), obviously fessional ranks, I think the time has arrived establishment of an alcohol retail business sell- young players have come in,” said Ford, who is overseeing his first Test ing Scotch whisky in Los Angeles.— AFP for me to say goodbye,” Toni told a press series since returning for a second spell as coach. — AFP conference. —AFP White Sox cool off Boston Red Sox Moore struggles, Rays fall to Dodgers 10-5

CHICAGO: Jose Quintana pitched eight crisp innings opportunities after Hector Neris struck out the side in DODGERS 10, RAYS 5 BREWERS 5, ANGELS 4 for his third straight win, and the AL-leading Chicago the eighth inning. Nola (2-2) allowed two hits and struck Trayce Thompson, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig Chris Carter hit two long home runs and drove in White Sox cooled off the Boston Red Sox with a 4-1 vic- out seven in an 111-pitch stint. He has a string of 20 con- homered as Los Angeles pulled out of an offensive funk three, Junior Guerra won his first career major league tory on Tuesday night. Jose Abreu had two hits and secutive scoreless innings dating to April 22. Nola, who with a victory over Tampa Bay. Howie Kendrick had four start, and Milwaukee rallied from an early four-run deficit three RBIs as Chicago ran its record to 19-8 with its retired the last 10 batters, has given up one run or fewer hits, including a two-run double that broke a fifth-inning to beat Los Angeles. With the Brewers trailing 4-0, third straight win. It has won nine of 11 overall to keep in four of six starts this season. Howard, a St Louis native, tie, to help left-hander Scott Kazmir (2-2) get his 100th Carter’s two-run homer in the third caromed off the up with the major league-leading Cubs, revving up the drilled a first-pitch offering from Michael Wacha (2-2) win. The RBIs were the first of the season for Kendrick, black batter’s backdrop in center. His solo shot in a anticipation for an intriguing summer in the Windy over the wall in right in the sixth inning. He has 22 coming in his 59th at-bat. Only Tampa Bay’s Logan three-run fifth to deep left-center off starter Nick City. Hanley Ramirez’s one-out homer in the fifth halted homers in 66 games against St. Louis and has 12 homers Morrison has more at-bats (64) this season without driv- Tropeano (1-1) put Milwaukee up for good. Guerra (1-0), Quintana’s scoreless streak at 20 1/3 innings, but the in 36 games at Busch Stadium. ing in a run. Thompson hit a two-run homer in the sec- who was called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs this left-hander bounced back by retiring Travis Shaw and ond inning and added a two-run single off Matt Moore Chris Young on a pair of grounders. Quintana (4-1) ASTROS 6, TWINS 4 (1-3) to finish a four-run fifth. Pederson hit a solo shot allowed four hits, struck out five and walked none Jason Castro and George Springer hit homers and with two outs in the second, and Puig added a three-run while lowering his ERA to 1.40. David Robertson fin- Houston held on for a victory. Castro hit his first homer homer off Ryan Webb in the ninth. ished for his ninth save in 10 chances. of the year to lead off the three-run third inning, and Springer hit a shot that bounced off the railroad tracks in GIANTS 3, REDS 1 CUBS 7, PIRATES 1 left field and out of the stadium to the three-run Jeff Samardzija went eight innings to win his third Jake Arrieta dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates yet fourth. Castro’s home run was knocked down by a fan straight start - a career first - and San Francisco rallied again, scattering two hits in seven shutout innings as and never made it over the wall into the Crawford Boxes, for two runs in the eighth inning against Cincinnati’s Chicago defeated Pittsburgh. Seven months after shut- but it was called a homer, and after a lengthy review, it historically bad bullpen. Cincinnati’s bullpen gave up ting the Pirates down in the NL wild card playoff, Arrieta was confirmed. Jose Altuve and Springer walked after at least one run for the 21st consecutive game, sur- allowed only singles to Sean Rodriguez in the second Castro’s blast before Carlos Correa knocked an RBI dou- passing the 2013 Colorado Rockies for the major and Francisco Cervelli in the seventh. Arrieta (6-0) struck ble and Alex Meyer (0-1) uncorked a wild pitch to score league record, according to information provided by out five and walked two while lowering his ERA to 0.84. Springer and give the Astros a 3-2 lead. the Reds from the Elias Sports Bureau. With the game He became the second six-game winner in the major tied 1-1, Kelby Tomlinson drove in the go-ahead run leagues after Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. Kris ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 1 with an infield single off Caleb Cotham (0-1). Gregor Bryant had three hits for the Cubs, who have won seven Mark Trumbo hit two home runs, Chris Tillman scat- Blanco followed with another run-scoring single, put- of eight and moved five games ahead of Pittsburgh in tered five hits over seven innings and Baltimore extend- ting the Giants in position for their fifth straight win at the NL Central. Jon Niese (3-1) gave up six runs and nine ed New York’s losing streak to six games. Trumbo hit a Great American Ball Park. Samardzija (4-1) had been 0- hits over five innings while losing for the first time since solo shot in the second inning and his eighth of the sea- 5 in his last nine starts against the Reds, but limited the Pirates acquired him from the New York Mets in an son with a runner on in the fifth. Both homers were off them to three hits - including Adam Duvall’s homer - offseason trade. Luis Severino (0-4), who yielded only two long balls in to end the slump. his previous four starts. Tillman (3-1) allowed one run, ROYALS 7, NATIONALS 6 matched his career high with nine strikeouts and walked MARLINS 7, DIAMONDBACKS 4 Lorenzo Cain capped a three-run ninth inning with a four. The right-hander also fanned nine in his last start, Ichiro Suzuki’s two-run pinch-hit single put Miami two-out single to left, bringing home Mike Moustakas against Tampa Bay. Brad Brach worked the eighth and ahead in the sixth inning to rally past Arizona. Miami and giving Kansas City a victory. Tanner Roark lasted into Darren O’Day finished for his second save. Didi Gregorius trailed 4-1 before scoring four runs in the sixth, when the eighth inning for Washington, but he was relieved by drove in the lone run for the last-place Yankees, whose three Arizona pitchers combined to give up three walks Felipe Rivero with runners on the corners and one out. six-game skid matches their longest of last season. New and a hit batsman. Suzuki’s one-out single put Miami up Eric Hosmer grounded into a fielder’s choice to make it York fell to 8-16, including 3-9 on the road. 5-4 and improved his career average with the bases 6-4. Rivero got through the rest of the inning and turned loaded to .383. Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run homer for the lead over to Jonathan Papelbon (1-1), who served up BLUE JAYS 3, RANGERS 1, 10 INNINGS Miami, his third in as many games. Christian Yelich drove back-to-back singles to start the ninth. After Omar Justin Smoak’s first two home runs of the season, a in two runs with a fielder’s choice and his second homer. Infante struck out, Moustakas came on to pinch hit and tying drive in the ninth inning and two-run shot in the Arizona’s Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer off guided a single through the left side to knot the game 6- 10th, led Toronto over Texas. Rougned Odor homered on Justin Nicolino (2-0), who won despite allowing four all. Alcides Escobar kept the line moving with a single to Marco Estrada’s second pitch of the game, the first lead- runs in six innings. A.J. Ramos pitched a perfect ninth for center, and Cain ripped a liner into the gap in left-center. off home run of Odor’s big league career. The lead stood his eighth save. until Smoak connected on Shawn Tolleson’s third pitch BRAVES 3, METS 0 of the ninth inning, a drive over the scoreboard in left Matt Wisler wiped out New York with eight innings of center-field. Edwin Encarnacion singled against Phil one-hit ball and Mallex Smith hit a rare Atlanta homer Klein (0-1) leading off the 10th, Troy Tulowitzki struck out MLB results/standings off a scuffling Matt Harvey. Asdrubal Cabrera’s clean sin- and Smoak homered to left. Toronto won despite going gle to center field with one out in the fifth was the lone 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position. Joe Biagini (1-1) hit for the defending NL champions. Wisler (1-2) walked pitched two innings of two-hit relief for the win, com- Cleveland 7, Detroit 3; Chicago Cubs 7, Pittsburgh 1; two, struck out four and beat the Mets for the third time pleting a six-hitter. Baltimore 4, NY Yankees 1; Toronto 3, Texas 1 (10 Innings); in his two-year career. AJ Pierzynski added an RBI double Miami 7, Arizona 4; Atlanta 3, NY Mets 0; LA Dodgers 10, and the Braves, with the worst record in the majors at 7- INDIANS 7, TIGERS 3 Tampa Bay 5; San Francisco 3, Cincinnati 1; Chicago White Sox 4, Boston 1; Milwaukee 5, LA Angels 4; Houston 6, HOUSTON: Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve 19, won for the third time in five games following an Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer, scored three (27) and shortstop Carlos Correa celebrate the Astros’ 6-4 eight-game skid. Harvey (2-4) didn’t feel well Monday times and fell a triple short of the cycle, leading Minnesota 4; Philadelphia 1, St. Louis 0; Kansas City 7, Washington 6; Seattle 8, Oakland 2. victory over the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game on and was given fluids to help him recover Tuesday after- Cleveland to a victory. Lindor singled in the first inning Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Houston. — AP noon, Mets manager Terry Collins said. when Cleveland scored three times, doubled and scored American League in the third and homered in the fifth as the Indians end- week, allowed seven hits and four runs in six innings. The Eastern Division PHILLIES 1, CARDINALS 0 ed Detroit’s five-game winning streak. Josh Tomlin (4-0) Angels nearly spoiled Guerra’s night after loading the W L PCT GB Aaron Nola threw seven innings and Ryan Howard remained unbeaten in four starts, allowing two runs in bases in the seventh with two walks and a single and Baltimore 15 10 .600 - nobody out. Reliever Michael Blazek escaped the jam homered to lead Philadelphia to a victory. Philadelphia six innings. Justin Verlander (2-3) gave up seven runs in Boston 15 11 .577 0.5 has won seven of eight while St Louis has lost five of six. five innings. The Indians beat the Tigers for the fourth Toronto 13 15 .464 3.5 after Cliff Pennington popped out and Yunel Escobar Jeanmar Gomez recorded his ninth save in as many straight time this season. Tampa Bay 11 14 .440 4 bounced into a double play. NY Yankees 8 16 .333 6.5 Central Division MARINERS 8, ATHLETICS 2 Chicago White Sox 19 8 .704 - Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager and Leonys Martin hit Detroit 14 11 .560 4 home runs and Hisashi Iwakuma pitched seven solid Kansas City 14 12 .538 4.5 innings for Seattle. Iwakuma (1-3) took a shutout into Cleveland 11 12 .478 6 the sixth inning and allowed four hits to end a career- Minnesota 8 19 .296 11 worst, four-game losing streak dating to last September. Western Division He walked two and struck out three. Norichika Aoki and Seattle 15 11 .577 - Adam Lind drove in runs for the Mariners, who have won Texas 15 12 .556 0.5 10 of 13 games. Aoki has hit safely in all 14 games he’s Oakland 13 15 .464 3 had an at-bat against the A’s. Khris Davis homered and LA Angels 12 15 .444 3.5 Jed Lowrie had two hits and drove in a run for the A’s, Houston 9 18 .333 6.5 who have lost five of seven and have dropped six con- secutive series to the Mariners. Sonny Gray (3-3) allowed National League a career high-matching seven runs and 11 hits in his sev- Eastern Division en-plus innings. Washington 18 8 .692 - NY Mets 16 9 .640 1.5 PADRES 6, ROCKIES 3 Philadelphia 16 11 .593 2.5 Matt Kemp and Brett Wallace hit back-to-back home Miami 13 12 .520 4.5 runs and Andrew Cashner recovered from a shaky first Atlanta 7 19 .269 11 inning to lead San Diego. Kemp’s homer in the fourth Central Division was the first hit of the game against Rockies starter Chicago Cubs 19 6 .760 - Eddie Butler, who retired the first 11 batters. Wallace Pittsburgh 15 12 .556 5 followed with an opposite-field shot into the first deck St. Louis 13 14 .481 7 in left. Cashner (2-2) gave up a home run to the first Milwaukee 11 15 .423 8.5 Cincinnati 10 17 .370 10 batter he faced, Charlie Blackmon, and fell behind 2-0 Western Division in the first inning. Colorado added a run in the second San Francisco 15 13 .536 - when Trevor Story singled home DJ LeMahieu. Having LA Dodgers 14 13 .519 0.5 exited his last outing after 2 2/3 innings, Cashner lasted Colorado 12 14 .462 2 six innings while allowing three runs and six hits. He KANSAS CITY: Kansas City Royals Salvador Perez (13) douses Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas at the end of a baseball Arizona 12 16 .429 3 walked three and struck out six. Butler (0-1) allowed game against the Washington Nationals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Moustakas San Diego 11 16 .407 3.5 five runs over 5 2/3 innings while striking out three and tied the game and Cain drove the game-winning run in the ninth inning to beat the Nationals 7-6. — AP walking one. — AP