S P O R T S MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2015 Kipchoge wins Berlin marathon despite footwear woes BERLIN: Eliud Kipchoge failed in his bid to set a 2:57. Having finished second in Berlin in 2013 third straight world record at the Berlin marathon behind Kipsang, the 30-year-old Kipchoge has now yesterday after winning in an official time of two added Berlin to his marathon victories in Hamburg, hours, four minutes. Kenya’s Kipchoge had targeted Rotterdam, Chicago and London. compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57 Kipchoge has turned himself into a long-dis- set in Germany’s capital last year, which in turn had tance expert having won the 5,000m title at the bettered Wilson Kipsang’s previous record of 2:03:23 2003 world athletics championships in Paris, then from 2013. earned an Olympic bronze over the distance in It was not to be for Kipchoge, this year’s London 2004. The lead group of elite runners in Berlin marathon winner, who was hampered by a shoe passed through the halfway point at 61:53 minutes- problem early on, but still went on to run the down on the world-record pace of 61:30 they had world’s fastest marathon time this year and a per- hoped for. Kipchoge took charge at the 32 kilome- sonal best. tre stage, leaving training partner Emmanuel Mutai, “At some point, the insole came out of my shoe, who finished second here in 2014, and Lilesa trail- but I had no time to sort it out and it made things ing 30 metres behind him. hard as it gave me some pain,” explained Kipchoge. The winner passed under Berlin’s iconic “It wasn’t pleasant on impact with the ground dur- Brandenburg Gate in Kimetto’s winning time from ing the race. “I am happy to have run my personal last year, several hundred metres short of the finish best, but I had wanted to run the world record. line. After a Kenya one-two in the men’s race, com- “I will come back to try again next year.” Kenya’s patriot Gladys Cherono took the women’s title in Eliud Kiptanui was second at one minute, 21 sec- BERLIN: (L to R) Second placed Kenya’s Eliud Kiptanui, winner Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge and third placed 2:12.25 ahead of Ethiopia’s Aberu Kebede at 1:23 onds back and Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa took third at Ethiopia’s Feyisa Lilesa poses on the podium of the 42nd Berlin Marathon yesterday. — AFP back, and Meseret Hailu, at 5:08. — AFP Mets clinch first playoff spot by beating Reds 10-2 CINCINNATI: The New York Mets clinched the NL East title for their first postseason berth since 2006, beating Cincinnati 10-2 Saturday behind Lucas Duda’s first career grand slam and another domi- nant start by Matt Harvey. Harvey (13-7) was most appropriate to pitch the clincher, the Mets’ sixth division crown. He was the NL’s starter for the 2013 All-Star game at Citi Field, but needed Tommy John surgery and missed all of last season. Duda sparked a warmup celebration with his first swing. His first career grand slam in the first inning off left-hander John Lamb (1-4) got thousands of blue-clad NY fans chanting: “Let’s go Mets!” Jeurys Familia fanned Jay Bruce to end it, sending the Mets streaming into a huddle in front of the mound.

GIANTS 14, ATHLETICS 10 Rookie Jarrett Parker became the first Giants player with at least three homers and seven RBIs in a game since Willie Mays in 1961, overshadowing EUGENE: Quarterback Travis Wilson #7 of the Utah Utes runs the ball in for a touchdown the shaky starts in the feel-good matchup of Tim as safety Tyree Robinson #3 of the Oregon Ducks gives chase in the third quarter against Hudson and Barry Zito. Parker hit a tiebreaking CINCINNATI: The New York Mets celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching the NL East title fol- the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium on Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. — AFP grand slam in the eighth for his third home run. lowing their 10-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds in a baseball game, Saturday, in Cincinnati. — AP Mays, the Hall of Famer, had four homers and eight after getting a big early cushion, and St. Louis Dee Gordon went 1 for 4 for the Marlins to main- RBIs on April 30, 1961, at Milwaukee. Parker’s grand maintained its three-game lead in the NL Central. tain a batting average of .332, which trails NL Wilson throws for 4 TDs in slam came against Ryan Dull (0-1) after a solo shot Cardinals infielder Matt Carpenter was removed leader Bryce Harper’s .339 clip after the Nationals off Zito in the second and a two-run drive in the after five innings with left hip tightness for precau- star went 3 for 5 earlier in the day. Julio Teheran 62-20 Utah win over Oregon seventh. Hardly at their old best of yesteryear when tionary reasons, but hopes to play Sunday. Earlier (10-8) yielded six hits and two runs over six innings. they dominated for Oakland, Hudson and Zito EUGENE: Travis Wilson returned from a shoul- Adams did too. The senior, transferred to in the day, 14-game winner Carlos Martinez was shared their brief moment to say goodbye to the der sprain and threw for 227 yards and four Oregon from Eastern Washington for his final shut down for the rest of the season with a strained PADRES 3, DIAMONDBACKS 0 Bay Area baseball fans in what began as a nostalgic touchdowns in No. 18 Utah’s 62-20 victory season of eligibility, broke his finger in the right shoulder. The Cardinals shaved their magic Robbie Erlin pitched two-hit ball for seven moment and ended with Parker’s power surge. over No. 13 Oregon on Saturday night in the season opener against his former team. He number to five for clinching the division after sec- innings, leading San Diego past Arizona. Erlin (1-1) Josh Osich (2-0) pitched two innings for the win Pac-12 opener for both teams. completed just two of seven pass attempts ond-place Pittsburgh beat the Cubs 4-0 earlier in didn’t allow a hit until Ender Inciarte tripled down and Santiago Casilla recorded two outs for his 36th Wilson completed 18 of 30 passes, hitting before he was replaced by Lockie, Marcus the day. Matt Holliday had a pair of RBI doubles, the left field line in the sixth. Jeremy Hellickson (9- save. nine receivers, and ran for 100 yards and Mariota’s backup last season. and Kolten Wong’s two-run single capped a four- 11) made his third start since returning from the another score for Utah (4-0). The lanky senior Lockie sparked the offense, completing his run first against rookie Tyler Wagner (0-1). Garcia disabled list and allowed one run on four hits over ANGELS 3, MARINERS 2 sprained his left shoulder two weeks ago first three passes of the game and earning a (10-5) allowed a run on seven hits, retiring 10 in a six innings. David Freese led off the ninth inning with a against Utah State and sat out the Utes’ victo- “Lock-ie! Lock-ie!” chant from the Autzen row at one point. The lefty struck out eight with no homer to center, and the Los Angeles Angels kept ry last weekend over Fresno State. Stadium crowd. His first drive finished with a walks and reached double figures in victories for PIRATES 4, CUBS 0 pace in the AL wild-card race with their fourth It was Oregon’s worst loss at home since 6-yard touchdown pass to Bralon Addison. the first time since 2011. Francisco Liriano pitched four-hit ball into the straight victory. Freese connected off Danny falling 54-0 to Washington in 1977. Utah’s 62 But the enthusiasm from the crowd was eighth inning, and Pittsburgh beat the playoff- Farquhar (1-5), keeping the Angels a half-game points were the most scored against a Pac-12 short-lived and Utah answered with Wilson’s NATIONALS 2, PHILLIES 1, 12 INNINGS bound Chicago Cubs 4-0 for their eighth straight behind Houston for the second wild-card spot. opponent since joining the league in 2011, 9-yard scoring pass to true freshman Caleb A season that started with so many soaring victory. Liriano (12-7) struck out nine and walked Mike Trout made a jaw-dropping catch high above and also the most the Ducks have ever Repp to make it 27-13 going into the half. expectations for the Washington Nationals crashed three over 7 2-3 innings. Jordy Mercer had a three- the center field wall in the fourth inning, robbing allowed in Eugene. Vernon Adams Jr. started Wilson opened the third quarter with a 2- with a dreary thud when they were mathematically run homer off Jason Hammel (9-7), and the Pirates Seattle’s Jesus Montero of a three-run homer. at quarterback for Oregon (2-2) despite a bro- yard scoring run, and the Utes padded the eliminated from playoff contention despite win- continued to roll. They lead Chicago by 51/2 games Angels closer Huston Street had to be helped off ken index finger that kept him out of the lead with running back Devontae Booker’s ning on Bryce Harper’s RBI double. The Nationals’ for the top wild card with a chance to complete a the field in obvious pain after finishing his follow- Ducks’ victory last weekend over Georgia 25-yeard scoring pass to Britain. Oregon suf- victory came less than an hour after the New York weekend sweep on Sunday. The Pirates then open through on a pitch in the ninth inning. Fernando State, but he didn’t last long and was fered a blow early in the third quarter when Mets also won and clinched the NL East title. a three-game series Monday against St. Louis, the Salas (4-2) got the win. replaced by backup Jeff Lockie in the second Marshall appeared to injure his right ankle on Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 for Washington, team they trail in NL Central. quarter. But it was Oregon’s besieged defense a kickoff return. The senior receiver, who NL MVP front-runner Harper had three hits and TWINS 6, TIGERS 2 that had no solution for Wilson and the ranks 10th on Oregon’s career list with 27 drew his franchise-record-tying 123rd walk - and, ASTROS 9, RANGERS 7 Eduardo Escobar homered and drove in three rolling Utes, who amassed 530 yards of total touchdown receptions, had to be carted to like whatever else went right in 2015 for a team Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve hit two homers runs as the Minnesota Twins kept pace in the AL offense. Andy Phillips put Utah ahead with the locker room. many considered a World Series favorite, none of it apiece as the Astros connected a season-high six wild-card race by beating Detroit. The Twins blew a early field goals from 28 and 44 yards, and Wilson hit Repp with a 16-yeard scoring mattered. times in a win over the Rangers, cutting Texas’ lead late lead Friday and, with Houston winning, Utah’s defense thwarted Oregon’s first three pass and the Utes went up 48-13, sending in the AL West to 3 1/2 games. The victory breaks an remained 1 1/2 games short of the second wild- series of the game. fans streaming for the exits. Boobie Hobbs ROCKIES 8, DODGERS 6 eight-game losing streak to the Rangers and ends a card spot. Tigers general manager Al Avila But Byron Marshall’s 77-yard kickoff return added a touchdown on a scored on a 69-yard Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the bot- three-game skid overall for Houston. Chris Carter announced before the game that Brad Ausmus will and a facemask penalty put Oregon on the punt return when Utah faked out the Ducks tom of the ninth inning, preventing Los Angeles and Colby Rasmus also homered for the Astros, who return as the team’s manager in 2016. Rookie Tyler Utes 11 at the end of the first quarter, and by drawing them to a different player. from moving closer to clinching the NL West title. are second in the majors with 216 longballs this Duffey (5-1) allowed two runs on eight hits and one Adams capped the short drive with a 13-yard Hobbs’ touchdown came on a re-do after The Dodgers’ magic number remained at two for season. The six homers Texas gave up were a season walk in six innings. Alfredo Simon (13-11) allowed touchdown pass to Royce Freeman. The 2- the first one hit the camera wire strung over closing out San Francisco in the division race. high. Collin McHugh (18-7) settled down after a four runs on eight hits and a walk in eight innings. point conversion failed. the field. Backup Kendal Thompson ran six Nolan Arenado hit a grand slam for his 40th home tough first inning to allow eight hits and four runs The Utes pulled back in front on Wilson’s yards for the final Utah touchdown. The game run and Justin Morneau had four hits for the in 6 2-3 innings for his fifth straight win. Chi Chi YANKEES 2, WHITE SOX 1 26-yard touchdown pass to wide-open Britain also featured an appearance on offense at Rockies. Andre Ethier homered for the Dodgers. DJ Gonzalez (4-6) allowed one hit and three runs - one Chase Headley and Alex Rodriguez hit consecu- Covey in the end zone, then pushed the lead receiver for Utah cornerback Cory Butler-Byrd. LeMahieu, who had three hits, led off the ninth earned - in 1 2-3 innings for the loss. tive run-scoring doubles off John Danks in the sixth to 20-16 with Wilson’s 7-yard pass to Kenneth The versatile junior was last week’s Pac-12 with a single against Yimi Garcia (3-4). Gonzalez, inning, Adam Warren combined with his bullpen Scott. Oregon’s defense struggled. The unit special teams player of the week for his 98- who also had three hits, worked the count to 3-1 BLUE JAYS 10, RAYS 8 on a three-hitter and the New York Yankees beat went into the game ranked 105th among FBS yard kickoff return for a touchdown against before hitting a 94 mph fastball over the wall in Jose Bautista hit two home runs, David Price the Chicago White Sox. New York stayed four programs for overall defense, allowing an Fresno State. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham center for his 39th home run.Justin Miller (3-2) won for the ninth time in 11 starts with Toronto games behind AL East-leading Toronto with eight average of 456.3 yards. The Ducks’ scoring said there was a possibility that he would see pitched the top of the ninth for the win. and the playoff-bound Blue Jays beat the Rays. Just games remaining and maintained a four-game defense was at 104th in the country. time on offense this season. — AP a few hours after learning the Blue Jays ended their lead over Houston for the top AL wild card. Warren MARLINS 6, BRAVES 2 22-year postseason drought thanks to their main (7-7) won for the first time since July 25. Justin Justin Bour hit a two-run homer, Justin Nicolino competitors’ overlapping schedules, Bautista hit a Wilson, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller each pitched seven solid innings and Miami beat Atlanta three-run homer and Russell Martin added a two- Li Na thrills fans at pitched a perfect inning, with Miller getting his for the sixth straight time, its longest winning run drive in a five-run first inning against Chris 36th save in 38 chances. John Danks (7-14) took streak against the Braves since winning five in a Archer (12-13). Price (18-5) allowed five runs - four the loss. row in 1997. earned - in five innings. Despite the difficult outing, Wuhan stadium opening Nicolino (4-4) allowed just two hits and a run. Price maintained his AL ERA lead at 2.45. — AP WUHAN: China’s two-time Grand Slam win- the iconic “bird’s nest” stadium in Beijing, the INDIANS 9, ROYALS 5 ner Li Na opened a new 15,000-seat stadium centrepiece of the 2008 Olympics. Czech Carlos Santana drove in three runs, Yan Gomes at the Wuhan Open in central China yesterday Kvitova, the world number four, won the inau- homered and Cleveland beat Kansas City to move MLB results/standings to huge cheers from her hometown fans. The gural Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) above .500 for the first time since April 9. The new stadium has been built on the back of Li’s Wuhan Open last year, and is joined for the Indians remain three games back in the AL wild- career success - she was the first Asian to win 2015 edition by 18 of the world’s top 20. card race. The Royals, who wrapped up the AL Pittsburgh 4, Chicago Cubs 0; Houston 9, Texas 7; Toronto 10, Tampa Bay 8; San Francisco 14, a Grand Slam singles-that saw the popularity “I am very happy to be here again and the Central title with a victory Thursday, fell to 9-15 in Oakland 10; Washington 2, Philadelphia 1 (12 innings); Boston 8, Baltimore 0; NY Yankees 2, of tennis surge in China. stadium looks wonderful and I will try my best Chicago White Sox 1; NY Mets 10, Cincinnati 2; Minnesota 6, Detroit 2; Miami 6, Atlanta 2; Huge applause echoed through the stadi- to fight for the title,” Kvitova said. She added September. Indians relievers Zach McAllister (4-4), Jeff Manship, Kyle Crockett and Bryan Shaw held Cleveland 9, Kansas City 5; St. Louis 5, Milwaukee 1; Colorado 8, LA Dodgers 6; San Diego 3, um as Li, now retired, stepped onto the court that Li, who was a close friend when they Arizona 0; LA Angels 3, Seattle 2. were both on the circuit, has promised to let the Royals hitless over the final 5 1-3 innings. Kris her meet her new daughter Alisa, who was Medlen (5-2) was pulled after 3 2-3 innings, yield- American League National League born in June. Mention of the baby’s name ing six runs on nine hits, including six for extra Eastern Division Eastern Division prompted more excited applause from the bases, a walk and a wild pitch. WL PCT GB NY Mets 88 67 .568 - crowd. Li, who has rarely appeared in public Toronto 89 65 .578 - Washington 79 75 .513 8.5 since retiring and giving birth, said: “One year RED SOX 8, ORIOLES 0 NY Yankees 85 69 .552 4 Miami 68 87 .439 20 ago, I came here for the farewell ceremony, First-time starter Craig Breslow and six relievers Baltimore 76 78 .494 13 Atlanta 62 93 .400 26 now one year later, I’m standing on this court combined on a five-hitter and Boston further dent- Tampa Bay 75 80 .484 14.5 Philadelphia 58 97 .374 30 as mother.” ed Baltimore’s slim playoff hopes. A day after Boston 74 80 .481 15 During her career, Li famously opted out Boston journeyman Rich Hill blanked Baltimore on Central Division Central Division St. Louis 98 57 .632 - of China’s state sports system and has previ- a two-hitter, the Red Sox emptied their bullpen. The Kansas City 89 65 .578 - Pittsburgh 95 60 .613 3 ously been accused of a lack of patriotism Orioles fell 4 1/2 games behind Houston for the AL’s Minnesota 79 75 .513 10 during a sometimes rocky relationship with Chicago Cubs 89 65 .578 8.5 Li Na second wild-card spot. Third baseman Manny Cleveland 77 76 .503 11.5 domestic press. But in her home city of Machado made a pair of two-run errors, both com- Milwaukee 65 90 .419 33 wearing a red dress and was joined by the Wuhan she is a local hero and has been influ- Chicago WSox 73 82 .471 16.5 ing on grounders by Xander Bogaerts. Making his Detroit 72 82 .468 17 Cincinnati 63 91 .409 34.5 tournament’s defending champion Petra ential in the WTA tour’s growth in Asia. first career start after 522 relief appearances over 10 Western Division Kvitova to open the new stadium officially. Li now has plans to open her own tennis Western Division years, Breslow allowed two hits in four innings. LA Dodgers 87 67 .565 - Similar in capacity to Wimbledon’s centre academy. “Now it’s under preparation, so Texas 84 70 .545 - court, the new stadium is dwarfed only by the please be patient,” she told the crowd. The Heath Hembree (2-0) worked one inning for the Houston 81 74 .523 3.5 San Francisco 80 74 .519 7 US Open’s Arthur Ashe stadium which has a WTA first opened an office in Beijing in 2008, win. Wei-Yin Chen (10-8) took the loss. LA Angels 80 74 .519 4 Arizona 74 81 .477 13.5 capacity of 23,000. It has a retractable roof when there were only two events in mainland Seattle 74 81 .477 10.5 San Diego 73 82 .471 14.5 and a metal and glass structure reminiscent of China. —AFP CARDINALS 5, BREWERS 1 Oakland 65 90 .419 19.5 Colorado 65 90 .419 22.5 Jaime Garcia worked eight dominant innings