SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015 SPORTS

Chelsea sign Falcao on loan Build-up to T-20 World Cup Pakistan’s Hayat gets AFC nod LONDON: Premier League champions Chelsea signed Colombia striker MIRPUR: South Africa begin their build-up to next year’s KARACHI: Pakistan’s football chief yesterday received a boost in his fight to ward off Radamel Falcao on a season-long loan from Monaco on Friday with an option Twenty20 World Cup when they take on Bangladesh in the the challenge of a rival body when the Asian football body recognised his re-elec- to make the deal permanent. first match of a two-game series today. tion. Last month a rival group, allegedly linked to the government of Prime Minister The 29-year-old had an indifferent spell on loan at Manchester United last The fixture is the first of 12 Twenty20s the Proteas will Nawaz Sharif, sacked the incumbent Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president term, scoring four goals in 29 games. “I am very happy to be joining Chelsea contest this season, culminating with the World Twenty20 Faisal Saleh Hayat, claiming to have a majority support and demanded new elec- and can’t wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league tournament in India in March. South Africa will also take on tions on June 30. Under FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) title and being successful in Europe,” Falcao told the club website New Zealand, India, England and Australia in an attempt to rules, government influence is an infringement and could lead to a ban at the inter- (www.chelseafc.com). Falcao, who failed to score for Colombia at this year’s claim what has been for them an elusive ICC competition national level. The Lahore High Court intervened and ordered the election be post- Copa America where they reached the quarter-finals, previously played for win. poned, but Hayat went ahead with the polls nonetheless and was reelected. The River Plate, Porto and Atletico Madrid. He became one of Europe’s most feared Sunday’s clash in Mirpur will be the first time they have Asian Football Confederation (AFC) acknowledged Hayat’s election and offer him strikers, having started his career as a teenager in Colombia before played since their one-day international World Cup semi- there support, a blow to the federation’s rival faction. joining Argentine giants River in 2001. Eight years later, having final heartache against India in the semi-finals in New “Please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes on your re- established himself as one of South America’s deadliest strik- Zealand in March, the last of the test-playing nations to get election as president of the PFF. Your re-election is a testimony of the ers, Falcao joined Porto where he made his Champions back to the wicket. “It’s the start of the season for us,” captain faith and the confidence the football family had in your ability,” Salman League debut against Chelsea. Faf du Plessis told reporters yesterday. “A lot of the guys Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, president AFC said in a message to Hayat. He soon began scoring regularly, netting 72 goals for Porto haven’t played a lot of cricket, except for the guys that “As AFC president and your representative in FIFA, I assure you of the in two seasons from 2009 and won successive Europa League played in the Indian Premier League, so everyone is coming full AFC support for your efforts to uncover the true potential of this titles in 2011 and the following year after joining Atletico. in fresh, that’s what you need in Twenty20 cricket. “It’s nice beautiful game in your country,” said Khalifa. Hayat said AFC’s sup- Falcao hit 70 goals in two seasons for the Spaniards from a captaincy point of view that the Twenty20’s have a bit port was a boost. “The AFC support is a great encouragement and and got a stunning hat-trick against Chelsea in the of importance this season, last year the focus was on one- will help us to lift our efforts for the betterment of Pakistan foot- 2012 European Super Cup.—Reuters day cricket.”—Reuters ball which has been our aim,” said Hayat.—AFP Tigers maul Blue Jays, Mets win

DETROIT: Anibal Sanchez’s no-hit bid was to a victory over St. Louis. broken up when former Detroit teammate San Diego won the first two games of the lined a single to left with one four-game series after losing three straight. St. out in the eighth inning, and the Tigers held Louis lost a season-high fourth straight home on to beat the 8-6 Friday on game but the Cardinals are still a major a night when Miguel Cabrera limped off with a league-best 29-11 at home. calf injury. Gyorko hit a 3-2 pitch from closer Trevor Given an 8-0 lead, Sanchez (7-7) wound up Rosenthal (1-1) to bring in Yangervis Solarte, allowing four runs, three hits and three walks who hit a one-out triple. Joaquin Benoit (5-3) in 7 1-3 innings, and left after 117 pitches. picked up the win in relief. He was bidding to become the sixth Craig Kimbrel recorded his 21st in 22 to throw no-hitters in the AL and NL, accord- opportunities. He got Jason Heyward to ing to STATS, a feat accomplished by Cy Young, ground into a game-ending double play. Jim Bunning, Nolan Ryan, Hideo Nomo and Randy Johnson. Sanchez pitched a no-hitter ROYALS 3, TWINS 2 for the Florida Marlins against Arizona on Sept. Lorenzo Cain had three hits and scored the 6, 2006. winning run in the 10th inning as Kansas City Cabrera, a two-time AL MVP, was on first beat Minnesota to snap a four-game losing base with no outs in the fourth inning and a 3- streak. Cain led off the bottom of the 10th 2 count to Victor Martinez, and took off with with a double, went to third on a wild pitch by the pitch. Aaron Thompson (1-3) and scored on Jarrod Martinez fouled the ball off, but Cabrera Dyson’s fielder’s choice grounder to first base- pulled up sharply, grabbing his left leg. He was man Joe Mauer. attended to by trainers and limped off the The Twins challenged the call, but after a field. Detroit said Cabrera will have an MRI. 99-second review the ruling on the field stood. Wade Davis (4-1) worked a spotless 10th and METS 2, DODGERS 1 lowered his ERA to 0.26.The Royals tied it 2-2 Kevin Plawecki drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth when Kendrys Morales’ two-out with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and Mets single drove home Cain, who had singled and rookie Noah Snydergaard dueled reigning NL stole second. Morales leads the Royals with 51 MVP Clayton Kershaw on even terms. RBIs. Lucas Duda blooped a double just inside the left field line leading off the ninth against ASTROS 12, RED SOX 8 closer Kenley Jansen (2-1). Wilmer Flores fol- First baseman Mike Napoli allowed Preston lowed with a single off Jansen’s glove as the Tucker’s hard grounder to bounce past him for right-hander tried to backhand the ball. Duda an error, and Carlos Correa followed with a then scored on Plawecki’s fly out to center tiebreaking single in a four-run 10th inning field. Hansel Robles (2-2) pitched two scoreless that lifted Houston over Boston for its fifth innings for the victory and Jeurys Familia straight win. DETROIT: Tigers’ Victor Martinez hits the ground while avoiding an inside pitch from Toronto Blue Jays’ Drew Hutchison during the fourth pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save in 24 Jose Altuve had three hits and two RBIs for inning of a game. —AP chances. the AL West-leading Astros, who won after Snydergaard remained winless in five starts wasting three leads in four innings. Noe MARINERS 9, ATHLETICS 5 Despite getting little offensive support, continued to struggle against Danks, going 0 on the road despite allowing one run and just Ramirez (0-1), making his major league debut, Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith, Brad Miller and Hammel (5-4) nearly matched Koehler’s effec- for 3 on Friday, now making him 1 for 33 over- two hits over six innings with six hit Altuve with a pitch leading off the 10th, Logan Morrison all hit two-run homers and tiveness. Hammel retired 14 straight hitters in all against Danks. and two walks. Kershaw allowed a run and five and Altuve took third on Napoli’s error. Seattle beat Oakland for its third win in four the middle innings before Bour’s winning hits over seven innings, striking out seven and Correa singled for a 9-8 lead, Jon Singleton games. J.A. Happ (4-5) snapped a personnel homer. BRAVES 2, PHILLIES 1 walking one. added a two-run single and Domingo Santana four-game slide with six strong innings, giving Juan Uribe hit a tie-breaking homer in the stole home on the back end of a double steal. up three runs and eight hits. He struck out five BREWERS 12, REDS 1 seventh inning, Julio Teheran delivered anoth- NATIONALS 2, GIANTS 1 Roberto Hernandez (3-5) pitched a perfect and walked none. Carlos Gomez hit his first career grand slam er strong home start and Atlanta beat Clint Robinson, a 30-year-old non-roster inning, and Luke Gregerson got the final three Mark Canha had two hits and three RBIs, and tied his career high with five RBIs, leading Philadelphia. invitee by Washington in spring training who outs. Billy Burns had two hits and drove in a run and Milwaukee over Cincinnati and extending its Uribe pulled Adam Morgan’s first pitch in had just 13 major league at-bats before this Brett Lawrie and Josh Reddick also had two winning streak to six. the seventh over the 380-foot sign in left field. season, hit a two-run homer in the seventh YANKEES 7, RAYS 5 hits each for the A’s, who had won three of Gerardo Parra and Aramis Ramirez added It was one of the few mistakes for Morgan, a inning to give the Nationals a victory over San Brain McCann hit a three-run homer in the their previous four games. Marcus Semien also solo shots for the Brewers, on their longest rookie left-hander who also gave up a second- Francisco. 12th inning, rallying New York for a second drove in a run. Jesse Chavez (4-8) gave up four winning streak since taking nine in a row in inning homer to Jonny Gomes. Teheran (6-4) Robinson, playing first base in place of the time in a victory over Tampa Bay. Mark Teixeira runs and nine hits in his 6 1/3 innings. He did April 2014. Gomez, Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan allowed one unearned run and seven hits in injured Ryan Zimmerman, is 20 for 69 (.290) hit a tying three-run homer in the eighth not walk anyone and struck out four. Braun had three hits each as Milwaukee seven innings. He improved to 5-0 in eight with four homers and 12 RBIs in his last 21 against Kevin Jepsen, then had an RBI single in matched its season high for runs and victory starts at Turner Field. He is 1-4 in nine road games. His homer off right-hander Jake Peavy the 12th off Steve Geltz (1-4) just as fireworks INDIANS 5, PIRATES 2 margin. Mike Fiers (4-7) allowed three hits in starts. Morgan (1-1) gave up two runs and five (0-3) made a winner of left-hander Gio began shooting off behind the scoreboard in Michael Bourn drove in three runs, Brandon seven scoreless innings to win for the first time hits in seven innings. The Phillies have lost five Gonzalez (6-4) who allowed a run and five hits right field. Brett Gardner led off the 12th with Moss homered and Trevor Bauer pitched effec- in four starts since June 12. He didn’t allow a straight and eight of nine. The Braves, coming in seven innings. a walk from Steve Geltz (1-4). One out later, tively into the seventh inning as Cleveland runner past first base until Marlon Byrd off a series win over the Washington Nationals, Buster Posey had homered on Gonzalez’s Alex Rodriguez and Teixeira hit consecutive beat Pittsburgh on a rainy night. reached second on Fiers’ throwing error in the have won three straight. first pitch of the seventh inning to give San singles, and McCann homered into the right- Bourn’s two-run single in the eighth inning seventh. Francisco a 1-0 lead in the teams’ first meeting field stands for New York’s first walk-off win extended the Indians’ lead to 5-2 after Milwaukee, which totaled 28 runs while DIAMONDBACKS 4, ROCKIES 3 since the Giants beat the Nationals in five since Derek Jeter’s final home game in Cleveland loaded the bases on a walk to David sweeping a four-game series at Philadelphia, Cliff Pennington’s sacrifice fly to deep left games in the 2014 NLDS. September. Murphy and singles by Yan Gomes and sent the Reds to their largest margin of defeat field drove in the winning run in the bottom of Tampa Bay lost its sixth in a row, and sec- Giovanny Urshela. this season. Rookie Michael Lorenzen (3-3) the 10th inning for Arizona. Welington Castillo PADRES 2, CARDINALS 1 ond straight in extra innings. Chasen Shreve Moss opened the scoring with a two-run threw 90 pitches while giving up three runs led off the 10th against Yohan Flande (0-1) Jedd Gyorko homered in the seventh (6-1) walked two and gave up two hits and a homer in the second and Bourn had an RBI and five hits in four innings. with a double off the fence in right field. inning to tie the game and then had a run- run in the 12th but got a key inning-ending double in the fourth inning to put Cleveland Castillo moved to third on Chris Owings’ single scoring single in the ninth to lead San Diego double play. ahead 3-0. WHITE SOX 1, ORIOLES 0 and scored easily on Pennington’s fly ball. The Indians won their fifth straight and John Danks pitched seven scoreless innings Pennington had the game-tying hit in the snapped the Pirates’ three-game win streak. and Jose Abreu hit a home run, leading sixth inning and earned the third walkoff win Bauer (7-5) allowed two runs and three hits in Chicago past Baltimore. The White Sox have for Arizona this season. Andrew Chafin (5-0) 6 1/3 innings. Cody Allen pitched a perfect won seven of their last 11 games after losing a got the win in relief after pitching a scoreless ninth to complete the three-hitter and get his season-high eight straight. Danks (4-8) was 10th. 16th save. Charlie Morton (6-2) gave up three impressive after getting skipped in the rota- The Rockies lost a chance to take the lead runs and four hits in six innings. tion. The left-hander allowed five hits with five in the top of the 10th after getting the first strikeouts and two walks. He was 0-4 in his two batters on base. Pinch-hitter Michael ANGELS 8, RANGERS 2 previous four starts with a 6.85 ERA. McKenry lined out to shortstop Nick Ahmed, Kole Calhoun drove in four runs with a pair Jake Petricka pitched a perfect eighth and who doubled off Wilin Rosario at second. Then of early doubles, and Los Angeles won in its David Robertson struck out the side in the Chafin struck out Drew Stubbs to end the first game against Texas since trading Josh ninth for his 17th save in 21 chances.Baltimore inning. The Rockies managed only two hits Hamilton back to the Rangers. has lost four of its last five games. Adam Jones after the first inning. —AP Hamilton, who insisted beforehand he had no extra emotions facing the Angels, went 1 for 3 with a double and two strikeouts. MLB results/standings Garrett Richards (9-5) won his sixth consec- utive start against the Rangers. The right-han- Miami 2, Chicago Cubs 1; Washington 2, San Francisco 1; NY Yankees 7, Tampa Bay 5 (12 innings); Cleveland 5, der struck out six and allowed one run over 7 Pittsburgh 2; Detroit 8, Toronto 6; Houston 12, Boston 8 (10 innings); Milwaukee 12, Cincinnati 1; Atlanta 2, 2/3 innings. Philadelphia 1; LA Angels 8, Texas 2; Chicago White Sox 1, Baltimore 0; Kansas City 3, Minnesota 2 (10 innings); Rangers rookie right-hander Chi Chi San Diego 2, St. Louis 1; Seattle 9, Oakland 5; Arizona 4, Colorado 3 (10 innings); NY Mets 2, LA Dodgers 1. Gonzalez (2-4) gave up six runs in 1 2/3 American League National League innings. The Angels matched a season high Eastern Division Eastern Division with 15 hits and won for the fifth time in six W L PCT GB Washington 44 36 .550 - games, a stretch when they have overtaken NY Yankees 43 37 .538 - NY Mets 41 40 .506 3.5 Texas for second place in the AL West. Baltimore 42 38 .525 1 Atlanta 39 41 .488 5 Tampa Bay 42 40 .512 2 Miami 35 46 .432 9.5 Toronto 42 40 .512 2 MARLINS 2, CUBS 1 Philadelphia 27 55 .329 18 Boston 37 45 .451 7 Justin Bour and Christian Yelich homered Central Division Central Division and Miami got six impressive innings from St. Louis 51 28 .646 - Tom Koehler in a win over Chicago. Bour’s solo Kansas City 45 32 .584 - Minnesota 42 38 .525 4.5 Pittsburgh 45 34 .570 6 home run in the sixth inning off Cubs starter Detroit 40 39 .506 6 Chicago Cubs 42 36 .538 8.5 Jason Hammel snapped a 1-1 tie. That spelled Cleveland 38 41 .481 8 Cincinnati 36 42 .462 14.5 the difference for Koehler (7-4), who allowed Chicago White Sox 35 42 .455 10 Milwaukee 34 48 .415 18.5 five hits and an earned run in his six innings Western Division Western Division while striking out four and walking one for the Houston 48 34 .585 - LA Dodgers 45 36 .556 - Marlins, who have won four straight games. LA Angels 42 38 .525 5 San Francisco 42 39 .519 3 The Marlins bullpen recorded three score- Texas 41 40 .506 6.5 Arizona 39 41 .488 5.5 less innings to protect the one run lead. AJ Seattle 37 43 .463 10 San Diego 39 43 .476 6.5 NEW YORK: starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws during the first Oakland 37 46 .446 11.5 inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets .—AP Ramos pitched the ninth to earn his 13th save Colorado 34 46 .425 10.5 in 16 opportunities.