SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 SPORTS Dodgers top D-backs

SYDNEY: Clayton Kershaw flashed his for a replacement bus. ers kept the Diamondbacks scoreless leave to , nearly cleared Cy Young form, Scott Van Slyke Kershaw was impressive while with hitless work. Chris Perez, a five- the left-field fence in the second homered and the Los Angeles making his fourth consecutive open- time All-Star with Cleveland before inning. His double set up a grounder Dodgers opened the Major League ing-day start. He struck out seven, joining the Dodgers in the offseason, by that scored Adrian season with a 3-1 win over walked one and was pulled by man- got the last out in the seventh. Gonzalez with the Dodgers’ first run. the on ager Don Mattingly after throwing his Brian Wilson pitched the eighth In his next at-bat in the fourth, Van Saturday night at Sydney Cricket 102nd pitch. and closer Kenley Jansen got the Slyke connected off losing pitcher Ground. Quite a turnaround from spring save. Jansen walked a batter before Wade Miley for a drive over the right- A crowd of about 40,000 watched training, when the two-time NL Cy getting Gerardo Parra to ground out field fence - just inside the foul pole - as MLB played its first regular-season Young winner went 0-3 with a 9.20 to end the game. Dodgers manager with Gonzalez again on base to put game in Australia. Opening day was a ERA in four starts. “Sometimes you Don Mattingly liked what he saw of the Dodgers up 3-0. g’day for the NL West champion just need the adrenaline of a regular- his pitching ace and his supporting “He’s always been an RBI guy,” Mattingly said of Van Slyke. “He’s a good defender. He’s really a pretty sol- id player.” Miley, who came out for a in the fifth, got the open- ing day assignment because of a left elbow injury to Diamondbacks ace Patrick Corbin. Miley gave up three runs and three hits, striking out eight with two walks. Both teams finished with five hits. The Diamondbacks scored in the sixth after a double by Paul Goldschmidt, who had two hits. He KEY BISCAYNE: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves against Ivo Carlovic of moved to third on Kershaw’s wild pitch and scored on Mark Trumbo’s Croatia during their match on day 5 of the Sony Open at Crandon Park infield out. The Diamondbacks were Tennis Center. —AFP shut out 5-0 in an exhibition game Friday by Team Australia when they Federer, Djokovic dominate stranded 11 runners. A series of thunderstorms but little MIAMI: World number two Novak Djokovic any unforced errors. rain around the stadium about two led a parade of champions that included “There are no long rallies. It’s just like hours ahead of the start cut short the Roger Federer and Andy Murray into the more penalty shootout, like in soccer. “It’s Dodgers’ batting practice and tarp third round of the Sony Open on Friday. about quick reaction, not getting frustrated was rolled on to the field. That caused The best of men’s and women’s tennis and feeling that the returner is the one the start of the game to be delayed was on display at Crandon Park with the who has got less pressure.” and canceled the pregame cere- winners of over 30 grand slam singles titles Federer, who had been dismissed as a monies. all in centre court action. fading force following last year’s disap- Sydney Cricket Ground was refur- After Federer and Djokovic’s successes, pointing campaign, has hit back at his crit- bished two weeks ago to create the Venus Williams registered a straight sets ics on the court, clinching the 78th title of baseball diamond and an outfield win and Li Na advanced in a walkover, it his career in Dubai earlier this month, while SYDNEY: The ’ Clayton Kershaw (left) grimaces after fouling of a third strike with an 8-foot wall. It was 328 feet was left to defending champion Murray to reaching the finals in Brisbane and last bunt attempt as the Diamondbacks’ catcher Miguel Montero and umpire Tim Welke (right) down the foul lines and 400 feet to provide a bit of late night drama, taming week in Indian Wells, where he lost to watch the play during the opening game. —AP straightaway center. Australian Matthew Ebden 3-6 6-0 6-1 as Djokovic. There were plenty of Dodgers and the clock approached midnight. It was another dominating performance Dodgers. Kershaw, who signed a sev- season game, and I just kind of feel cast. Diamondbacks uniforms in the Murray, who split with coach Ivan Lendl by the re-energised Swiss maestro, particu- en-year, $215 million contract in relieved to get this one under my “Clayton was really good, kind of crowd, some worn by American visi- earlier in the week, got the contest off to an larly in the opening set where he commit- January, allowed one run and five hits belt,” he said. as always ... kind of doing his thing,” tors and others by Australians who unsteady start when Ebden broke him at ted a single unforced error. in 6 2-3 innings. Van Slyke hit a two- “It’s always good to get results, Mattingly said. “He’s a tough guy to had flown across the country to the first opportunity and then held serve to Federer broke to open the match on a run homer and also doubled. The first obviously,” he said. “This one counted.” take out of the game, he always watch the opener and Sunday’s sec- quickly jump in front 3-0 on his way to easi- Karlovic double fault and did not surren- pitch was delayed because of rain for In his previous opening-day starts, wants to stay in. ond game, when another capacity ly taking the opening set. dered a point on his serve until attempting 14 minutes. Kershaw was 2-0 with 19 strikeouts in And I thought our bullpen was crowd was expected. They feasted on After storming through the second set, to close out the set at 40-0. The long trip Down Under took 19 scoreless innings.”Kershaw did a really good tonight. Chris comes in baseball-style treats like nachos Murray was broken at the start of the third The 32-year-old Swiss continued his even longer for some Arizona players. good job keeping us in the middle of and gets a big out for us there and stuffed in batting helmets and which sent the Briton into a towel tossing near perfect play in the second set finish- A team bus had a flat tire, and the the diamond,” Diamondbacks manag- Wilson did a good job and Jansen in Cracker Jack, which is not usually sold rage as he berated himself. ing with a total of three unforced errors but Diamondbacks said “a handful” of er Kirk Gibson said. “He threw a good closing the door.” in Australia. If you could afford the The chastising had the desired result as could not break the big-serving Croatian, players decided to walk the last half- ballgame against us. We know they’re Van Slyke, playing because of an cost and the calories, a 2-foot-long the sixth seed immediately broke back to who blasted 13 aces past the 17-time mile to the stadium instead of waiting always going to be close.” Three reliev- injury to and paternity hot dog sold for $36. —AP get on level terms and raced through the grand slam winner. next five games to clinch a convincing vic- But Karlovic’s big serve was not able to tory. save him in the tie-break as Federer coolly “You do what you do to win a match,” clinch the match 7-4. Djokovic, riding the Scott in command at Florida said Murray. “It’s not always about how you momentum from his victory at Indian Wells play or how calm you are on the court, it’s into South Beach, jumped out to a 4-1 lead FLORIDA: Australian Adam Scott produced about winning the tennis match. That’s in the opening set before breaking another masterful driving display to surge to a what matters. Frenchman Chardy to secure a 1-0 lead. rare seven-shot lead after the second round at “I won the next six games after that so There was only one break in the second the $6.2 million Arnold Palmer Invitational in maybe it nothing to do with it, maybe it set and that went to Djokovic, who nosed Florida on Friday. The Masters champion, who helped. I just got on with it and won the in front 5-3 before serving out for victory. started the day with a three-shot cushion after match.” “It’s a straight sets win and when I was an opening 62, more than doubled his advan- After a year’s absence, fifth seeded supposed to play my best and come up tage with a four-under-par 68 on the Bay Hill Federer celebrated his return to the Miami with some good serves and good shots, course in Orlando. hardcourts with a clinical 6-4 7-6 (4) win that’s what I have done in both sets,” said No one has had a bigger halfway lead on the over towering Ivo Karlovic while world Djokovic. “That’s what matters the most to PGA Tour in nearly 24 years as Scott equalled the number two Djokovic launched his bid for me.” tournament’s 36-hole record by Andy Bean and a fourth Miami title in impressive fashion, In other action, fourth seeded Spaniard Tom Watson in 1981. dispatching Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4 David Ferrer and ninth seeded Frenchman “I hit the ball really nicely today, probably 6-3. A twice winner at Crandon Park, Richard Gasquet both had straight sets pas- struck it much better than yesterday but I didn’t Federer did not visit Miami last year, taking sages to the next round. make as many putts,” Scott told Golf Channel an extended layoff before starting his sea- Ferrer, who lost last year’s final to Andy after posting a 14-under 130 total. son. But he looked quite at home, needing Murray, returned to action after sitting out “It was a good solid round. I was never really just 74 minutes to slay the 6-foot, 11-inch the Masters series event in Indian Wells out of position (apart from the first hole) and I (2.11m) Croatian in a slugfest that featured with a left abductor strain and showed no managed my game pretty well. It’s all kind of just one break of serve. hint of rust as he cruised past Russian coming together, the work I’ve been doing.” “I was able to play a very clean match on Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-4 6-0. Italian Francesco Molinari (70) and Americans my service games throughout, make sure I Gasquet was given a tougher task JB Holmes (69) and Chesson Hadley (68) are in a had a lot of first serves in, make sure I but eventually dispatched 83rd ranked distant tie for second on seven-under. stayed aggressive from the baseline,” said Colombian Alejandro Gonzalez 7-6 (7) Scott, widely regarded as the best driver in Federer. “I think it worked really well, hardly 6-4. —Reuters the game, showed why he is so highly rated as ORLANDO: Adam Scott of Australia waves on the 17th green during the Arnold he split fairway after fairway, hitting only two Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. —AFP poor drives all day, at the first and ninth holes. He shrugged off a sore throat and chest con- only one player bettered on the demanding Barring a weekend collapse, Scott will go into Venus advances as gestion to compile six birdies and two bogeys, water-lined layout. the April 10-13 Masters as the world number including a dropped shot for the second succes- Scott said that not feeling well might even one. He currently is ranked second behind Tiger sive day at the par-four 18th. have helped, because it prompted him to play Woods, who is not defending his Bay Hill title Li handed walkover The finish was disappointing for Scott, who within himself. “Sometimes it’s not a bad thing,” due to back spasms. Neither Scott nor Woods notched up his first three-putt of the week when he continued. “I’m not bouncing around out will play again before Augusta, and due to the MIAMI: Before Serena Williams planted advanced to the third round without hit- he lipped-out a five-footer, the shortest putt he there. I’m trying to make decisions on the sim- vagaries of the ranking system, Woods will her flag at the Sony Open it was sister ting a single ball when Russia’s Alisa has missed in two days. plest shot I can possibly hit and not ask too remain on top for at least two more weeks. But if Venus who ruled over the Miami hard- Kleybanova withdrew because of a viral Nonetheless, he was hardly going to let that much of myself and it’s done well so far, so I’ll try Scott wins at Bay Hill, he will take over top spot courts and the older of the tennis siblings illness. small blemish take the gloss off a round that and keep that in mind tomorrow.” the week of the Masters. —Reuters signalled on Friday she was ready to After a first round bye, the Australian reclaim the throne with a 6-3 6-3 win over Open winner was supposed to lead off Anna Schmiedlova. what has been dubbed the ‘parade of World number one Serena’s resume champions’ on the Crandon Park centre WPSSC bid to curb soccer violence includes six Miami titles but before her court. reign began with a first victory in 2002 it Even without Li, however, the lineup was big sister Venus who was the Queen remained a mouth-watering one with 17- By Abdellatif Sharaa under the supervision of members of participating delega- USIP Lt Gen Sheikh Ahmad Al- of South beach having hoisted the trophy times grand slam winner Roger Federer, International Police Sports Union tions stressed the importance of Nawaf, describing him as a success- three times (2001, 1999, 1998). world number two Novak Djokovic, KUWAIT: The World Police Sport under the presidency of Lt Gen convening this conference in Kuwait ful leader because he was able to “I haven’t won Miami (in a while) but at Williams and defending champion Andy and Security Conference (WPSSC) Sheikh Ahmad Al-Nawaf Al-Sabah, at this time, as it will play a role in develop police sports and took it to least I’ve won (in Dubai). That’s how I look Murray all in action. will open today under the patron- with more than 50 countries partici- fighting violence, adding that the new horizons. He said Oman’s police at it,” smiled Williams, who won the in the Kleybanova, who is fighting her way age of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- pating. conference will propose important union and Gulf and Arab unions Middle East last month. “I figure another back up the rankings after battling Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in the The conference will discuss the recommendations. meet continually to discuss and win would be very sweet. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, handed her presence of Deputy Premier and security situation during champi- Head of the Omani delegation cooperate for the enhancement of “My whole plan is to be playing. That’s Chinese opponent a walkover due to a Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad onships and means of confronting Col Abdelmalek Al-Mazroui said he police sports. it.” Venus, at 33 the oldest player in the viral infection. Al-Khalid Al-Sabah. The conference violence and attacks by players, offi- was happy to participate, and laud- Meanwhile, the Egyptian delega- women’s draw, joined her sister in the Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska, the is organized by the Interior Ministry cials, managers or fans. Heads and ed the efforts of the president of tion headed by Maj Gen Emadeldien third round on Friday despite an uneven Sony champion in 2012, arrived in Miami Madbouli thanked Sheikh Ahmad performance that included five double riding the momentum from a runner-up Al-Nawaf for his role in leading faults and 35 unforced errors. finish last Sunday at Indian Wells but the police sports around the world. Playing her first event since claiming Pole’s participation had been left in doubt Meanwhile, media spokesman of her 45th career title earlier this year in by a knee injury, the delegation Ali Ghait said his del- Dubai, Williams displayed a few signs of Radwanska, however, displayed no egation will focus on fighting vio- rust but was never put under serious pres- signs of distress as she thumped Swiss lence in sports arenas because sure by the the 19-year-old Slovakian. Romina Oprandi 6-0 6-4 in just 74 min- Egypt is among the countries that “First match back, I felt good,” said utes. suffered most from it lately, adding Williams, the former world number one Seventh seed Jelena Jankovic became that “Kuwait had always accustomed who is seeded 29th in Miami. “I have been the biggest casualty in the women’s draw us with success in such events”. working hard since (Dubai) and I feel really when the Serb was taken out 6-3 2-6 7-6 Head of the Sudanese police confident in every situation I’m in on the (7-2) by American Varvara Lepchenko, delegation Maj Gen Hassan court. while 13th seeded Italian Roberta Vinci Zakariya said Sheikh Ahmad Al- “I have small goals. My goal from Doha was stopped 6-4 2-6 7-5 by Czech Barbora Nawaf’s leadership of USIP is ideal. and Dubai was to be seeded here and got Zahlavova Strycova. “We always say what politics can- that. “Then obviously my next goal is to be Slovakian 10th seed Dominika not fulfill, sports does, and today all in the top 20 and ultimately the top 15. Cibulkova, who lost the Australian Open countries around the world are “To make those steps you do have to play final to Li, sped past Austria’s Yvonne meeting in Kuwait in order to deal well and I want to win tournaments.” Meusburger 6-1 6-2 to reach the third with an issue that solutions must Elsewhere, world number two Li Na round. —Reuters be found for,” he added.