ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, MARCH 28, 2021 SPORTS 15

No. 3-seeded Zverev stunned Osaka shakes off mishit to Ovechkin scores twice, win her 22nd match in row MIAMI, March 27, (AP): Naomi No. 1-seeded Daniil Medvedev Osaka might never hit a worse shot. needed less than an hour to beat Not that it mattered. 37-year-old Yen-hsun Lu 6-2, 6-2. The world’s No. 2-ranked woman Three other seeded men lost - No. 8 Capitals shut out Devils shanked a serve that sailed over her David Goffin, No. 9 Grigor opponent’s head, but shook off the Dimitrov and No. 30 Reilly Opelka. mishit to win her 22nd match in a Goffin, a semifinalist in 2016, row, beating Ajla Tomljanović 7-6 was upset by James Duckworth 6-3, (3), 6-4 in the second round at the 6-1. Dimitrov was swept by . Cameron Norrie 7-5, 7-5. No. 30 Serving into the sun in the final game, Osaka clunked her shot off Reilly Opelka lost to Alexei Popyrin the lip of her racket, blooping the 6-4, 6-2. ball past an astonished Tomljanović. In other women’s play, No. 10 “That was actually kind of funny Kiki Bertens was upset by Liudmila when I got past my frustration,” Samsonova, 6-2, 6-1, and No. 13 Osaka said. “The sun was like on top of a cloud, and it gave off this really weird glare effect. It was kind of my fault for being stubborn and not trying to catch my toss and wait Jennifer Brady lost to Sara Sorribes it out.” Tormo 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. No. 4 Sofia Other serves were much better - Kenin rallied past Andrea Petkovic Osaka hit 13 aces. She hasn’t lost in 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-3. more than a year, and her winning Winning in straight sets were streak includes her fourth Grand No. 6 Karolina Pliskova, No. 8 Slam title at the Bianca Andreescu, No. 12 Garbiñe last month. Muguruza and No. 16 Elise She needs only one more victory Mertens. Muguruza, who won the for her best showing in five appear- Dubai Championships earlier this ances in Miami, where she has his- month, improved her 2021 record to torically made early exits. 19-4 by beating wild card Xinyu “I don’t think there’s too much Wang 6-4, 6-1. you can read into them,” Osaka “I was actually quite nervous, said. “I think there’s always a rea- son I haven’t done well here, and because this is a tournament that I hopefully I’m able to do well this love,” Muguruza said. “After play- time.” ing well in the Middle East swing, I In men’s play, No. 3-seeded just wanted to keep the same energy double-faulted and the same quality of tennis.” three times on break point and lost Pliskova dropped her first service to No. 83-ranked Emil Ruusuvuori, game but settled down to sweep 1-6, 6-3, 6-1. Zverev was coming Zheng Saisai 6-2, 6-1. Mertens was off a run to the title last week in a point from trailing 4-0 but rallied Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov (92) skates with the puck past New Jersey Devils left wing Miles Wood (44) during the third period of an Acapulco. past Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-1. NHL hockey game on March 26, in Washington. (AP)

Stastny helps Jets hold off Flames 3-2

WASHINGTON, March 27, (AP): Alex Ovechkin Boyd looks sharp in camp scored twice, Ilya Sam- sonov made 24 saves and the Washington Capitals Red Sox scratch Rodriguez rode their best players to a 4-0 victory and two-game for opener with ‘dead arm’ sweep of the New Jersey BOSTON, March 27, (AP): Boston Red seven. Eduardo Escobar and Josh Rojas Devils. Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez will have each homered. The Reds released for- Ovechkin has scored 10 times in to wait a little longer before returning to mer NL batting champion Dee Strange- his past 10 games and has a team- a big league mound. Gordon. best 17 goals this season. He’s The Red Sox scratched Rodriguez as Indians 5, Rockies 4 their opening day starter because of a eight shy of Marcel Dionne for fi fth Cleveland starter Logan Allen gave on the NHL’s career goal list after “dead arm.” Nathan Eovaldi will instead face the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway up three hits in five scoreless innings. scoring his 722nd and 723rd. Park on April 1. José Ramírez homered in the first and Naomi Osaka of returns to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia during the Nicklas Backstrom scored his 13th Manager Alex Cora said Rodriguez Owen Miller added a three-run shot in Miami Open tennis tournament, on March 26, in Miami Gardens, Florida. goal of the season, while Evgeny the eighth. Calgary Flames’ Juuso Valimaki missed a bullpen session on Wednesday, (AP) Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson each had two days after lasting just two innings in Colorado starter Antonio Senzatela (righ), is checked by Winnipeg Jets’ allowed two hits over the first five two assists. Conor Sheary had a goal Trevor Lewis during the fi rst period a spring training start. He played catch and an assist, and Samsonov improved of an NHL hockey game on March Thursday and felt fine, and Cora said innings. Colton Welker had two hits to to 7-1-1 with his fi rst shutout since Jan 26, in Calgary, Alberta. (AP) Rodriguez would have a bullpen session raise his batting average to .366. 13, 2020. With Ovechkin rolling, the on Saturday. Giants 5, Cubs 5 (9 innings) Capitals have won nine of their past 10 win moved the Coyotes within two Rodriguez went 19-6 for Boston. He Kyle Hendricks, set to start on open- games and are back atop the East Di- points of St. Louis for fourth place in had been set to start the 2020 season ing day for Chicago, took a line drive the West Division. opener before it was delayed by the off his quad, came out briefly and then coronavirus outbreak. The 27-year-old ICE HOCKEY Tomas Hertl and Patrick Marleau returned to retire the 10 in a row. scored for San Jose. Marleau’s goal contracted COVID-19 and related heart Hendricks worked 4-1/3 innings, allow- was the 564th of his career, tying him problems that kept him from pitching at ing three runs on five hits, striking out with Mats Sundin and Joe Nieuwendyk all last season. four. Joc Pederson homered and Jason vision. They’re tied at 48 points with for 23rd in league history. Martin Jones Tigers 5, Pirates 2 Heyward tripled. former coach Barry Trotz’s New York stopped 23 shots, Matthew Boyd allowed two runs in Austin Slater hit a three-run homer, Islanders but hold the tiebreaker hav- Jets 3, Flames 2 5-1/3 innings for Detroit, striking out Brandon Crawford doubled twice and ing played one fewer game. six and giving up five hits and a walk. Joey Bart hit a tying double in the Washington looked more like itself In Calgary, Alberta, Paul Stastny After struggling in 2020, the right-hand- eighth. Nick Tropeano opened the game - a poised, veteran team - in the sec- had a goal and an assist as the Win- er has looked sharp in camp, posting a for the Giants and worked two innings, ond game against New Jersey in two nipeg Jets held on to beat the Calgary 2.45 ERA over five starts. Robbie allowing two runs on three hits. nights following four days off. While Flames in the fi rst of three straight Grossman homered for the Tigers, and White Sox 7, Brewers 5 they came back to win Thursday, the games between the teams. 2020 second-round draft pick Dillon Capitals never trailed in this one, their Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor Dingler had two hits. Chicago starter Carlos Rodón struck Emil Ruusuvuori, of , returns a shot from Alexander Zverev, of Ger- sixth in a row without center Lars Eller also had a goal and an assist for Win- Colin Moran homered for Pittsburgh. out six over 4-2/3 innings, allowing two many, during the Miami Open tennis tournament on March 26, in Miami because of a lower-body injury. nipeg. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 25 Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman each runs on five hits. Liam Hendricks struck Gardens, Florida. (AP) Much like early in the season when shots to win in his league-leading 27th had a double. out all three batters he faced in the sixth. José Abreu hit a two-run single and they were without Ovechkin, Kuznet- start of the season. Rays 7, Red Sox 3 sov, Samsonov and Dmitry Orlov si- Milan Lucic and Matthew Tkachuk scored on a home run by Yoán Moncada. multaneously and earlier this month scored in a fourth straight loss for the Yandy Díaz hit the first of four hom- Zack Collins hit his third home run. NHL Results/Standings ers for Tampa Bay and had two hits. Freddy Peralta struck out eight over when Wilson was suspended for seven Flames. Jacob Markstrom fi nished 5-1/3 innings for Milwaukee, permitting games, the Capitals keep showing they with 26 saves. The Flames have totaled Mike Zunino, Willy Adames and Tristan Gray also homered, and Josh five runs and six hits. Devin Williams can play at a high level without key four goals in their last four games. Cal- Fleming pitched one-run ball over 3-2/3 struck out two in the seventh. Josh WASHINGTON, March 27, (AP): Results and standings from the NHL games on Friday. contributors. T.J. Oshie shifted to cent- gary is 4-5-0 since Darryl Sutter took innings of relief, striking out five. Hader retired the side with a strikeout in Washington 4 New Jersey 0 Arizona 5 San Jose 2 er to take Eller’s usual spot, and Daniel over as head coach March 8. Top Boston prospect Jeter Downs hit Anaheim 4 St Louis 1 Winnipeg 3 Calgary 2 Sprong looked comfortable on the fi rst Winnipeg leads the season series his second homer of the spring, raising East Division West Division line with Ovechkin and Kuznetsov. 4-1-1. his average to .357. Nick Yorke, last Backstrom has been a constant as BASEBALL GP W L OT Pts GF GA GP W L OT Pts GF GA Ducks 4, Blues 1 year’s first-round draft pick, hit a dou- Washington’s best player and leads the ble for his first extra-base hit in big Washington 33 22 7 4 48 114 95 Vegas 31 22 8 1 45 101 72 team with 35 points. Kuznetsov took a In St. Louis, Sam Steel and Max NY Islanders 34 22 8 4 48 102 76 Colorado 32 21 8 3 45 111 72 league camp. the eighth. Keston Hiura hit his third while to get used to new coach Peter Jones each scored a goal and the Ana- home run in four days. The Brewers Pittsburgh 34 21 11 2 44 109 90 Minnesota 32 21 10 1 43 94 78 heim Ducks beat the St. Louis Blues. Reds 7, Diamondbacks 3 Boston 29 16 8 5 37 80 70 St Louis 34 16 13 5 37 98 110 Laviolette and get his game back after released veteran pitchers Jordan NY Rangers 32 15 13 4 34 102 85 Arizona 34 15 14 5 35 88 103 missing almost a month recovering Anaheim goalie John Gibson Cincinnati star Joey Votto played for Zimmermann and Brad Boxberger, but Philadelphia 32 15 13 4 34 100 119 Los Angeles 32 13 13 6 32 91 90 from COVID-19 and now has 11 points stopped 33 shots in his fi rst game back the first time since testing positive on want to resign both to minor league New Jersey 32 12 16 4 28 78 101 San Jose 32 13 15 4 30 91 111 after missing fi ve with a lower-body in- Buffalo 32 6 22 4 16 66 115 in his past nine games. March 10. He went 0 for 2 and struck deals. Anaheim 35 10 19 6 26 78 116 jury. Derek Grant and Richard Rakell out twice, and also walked and scored Central Division The Devils lost two in a row to Marlins 9, Astros 0 North Division Washington after winning four of their added empty-net goals in the fi nal 63 run. It’s still uncertain whether the first GP W L OT Pts GF GA seconds to help the Ducks win for the baseman will be ready to play on open- Trevor Rogers, Miami’s top left- GP W L OT Pts GF GA previous fi ve games. Tampa Bay 33 24 7 2 50 120 78 second time in nine games. ing day next Thursday. handed prospect, outdueled Houston’s Carolina 32 22 7 3 47 108 81 Toronto 33 21 10 2 44 110 85 Coyotes 5, Sharks 2 Ryan O’Reilly scored for St Louis, Jesse Winkler led off the game with a opening day starter Zack Greinke, Florida 33 20 9 4 44 107 94 Winnipeg 34 21 11 2 44 112 94 home run and Alex Blandino hit two allowing two hits and a walk in 5- 2/3 Chicago 34 16 13 5 37 101 108 Edmonton 34 21 13 0 42 116 97 In Glendale, Arizona, Christian which has lost three consecutive games Columbus 34 13 13 8 34 89 110 Montreal 31 14 8 9 37 100 87 Dvorak scored twice to lift the Arizona overall and six in a row at home. RBI doubles. Wade Miley worked four shutout innings with 10 strikeouts. Nashville 34 16 17 1 33 86 104 Vancouver 37 16 18 3 35 100 120 Coyotes over the San Jose Sharks. The Blues had won six straight and innings in the start, giving up a run on Starling Marte had an RBI triple in the Dallas 30 11 11 8 30 85 80 Calgary 35 15 17 3 33 91 105 Nick Schmaltz, Dryden Hunt and eight of their previous nine against the four hits. third, and rookie Jazz Chisholm’s RBI Detroit 34 10 20 4 24 72 113 Ottawa 36 12 20 4 28 94 135 Arizona starter Madison Bumgarner single ignited a six-run seventh. The Note: Two points for a win one point for overtime loss. The top four teams in each division will Phil Kessel also scored for Arizona, Ducks – including the fi rst four meet- qualify for playoffs under this season’s temporary realignment. and Adin Hill stopped 20 shots. The ings this season. gave up six runs on four hits and three Marlins had 11 players get one hit. walks in 5-1/3 innings, striking out Greinke struggled in his fourth start, surrendering three runs, five hits and three walks in 4-1/3 innings. Greinke was pulled with a runner on third and Ex-Tokyo Olympics chief again criticized for sexist comment two outs in the third inning, returning to the mound to start the fourth. The TOKYO, March 27, (AP): Former Japanese was “astonishing.” too much.” Astros had just two hits. prime minister Yoshiro Mori, who resigned His remark was trending on Japanese online Despite being one of the most developed Braves 7, Twins 6 last month as president of the Tokyo Olym- news and social media, with some expressing economies in the world, Japan has consistent- Kenta Maeda made his final start pic organizing committee over comments outrage Saturday. ly lagged in promoting women to positions of before taking the mound on opening day criticized as sexist, has made another remark “He is incurable,” Isoko power, including board rooms, parliament and for Minnesota, firing four shutout that’s getting slammed as disrespectful to Mochizuki, reporter for To- the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee. innings with three hits and four strike- women. kyo Shimbun, lamented on Mori was replaced by Seiko Hashimoto, a outs. Starter J.A. Happ followed Maeda Twitter. “He has made yet woman, Olympian and speedskating bronze and struggled, giving up six runs – five another remark discrimina- medalist. Women were also added to the earned – on 10 hits and a walk in 3-2/3 innings. Kyle Garlick, Willians OLYMPICS tory toward women.” organizing committee board, with less than Astudillo and Miguel Sano each hit a Others said Mori had not four months to go before the Opening Cer- solo home run. Garlick’s homer was his repented and one said sar- emony. fifth. Mori, speaking late Friday at a party for castically he deserved a gold The Games were postponed from last year Alex Jackson had a two-run single a politician at a Tokyo hotel, referred to the medal for sexism. because of the coronavirus pandemic. Public Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mat- for Atlanta. Pablo Sandoval went 3 for politician’s aide as “way too old to be called a Mori Mori stepped down in Feb- opinion surveys show the Japanese public is thew Boyd delivers during the 3 and is batting .429 in his first spring fourth inning of a spring training ex- with the Braves. Ender Inciarte had an woman.” ruary after a fury of criticism opposed to holding the Olympics, but the gov- hibition baseball game against the RBI double and Ehire Adrianza fol- He called her “obachan,” which means “old over his widely reported remarks at a Japan ernment remains determined to go ahead. The Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, Fla lowed with a two-run single in a four- mama” in Japanese, and told the audience she Olympic Committee meeting that women “talk Olympics torch relay began Thursday. on March 26. (AP) run seventh against Happ.