SPORTS SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016 Indian Premier League set to ease T20 heartache NEW DELHI: The glitzy Indian Premier Bangladesh on the last ball before prevail- by controversies since its inception in 2008, have shaped or resurrected their careers League (IPL) starts today, helping to ease ing over Australia to scrape into the final with corruption and match-fixing cases and in turn have become household the heartache of millions of fans following four. “It was a below par performance by often taking centre-stage. names in India. India’s failure to win the World Twenty20 Dhoni and company. I hope IPL helps us A spot-fixing scandal in 2013 led to two on home soil this month. India’s short- overcome the pain of the semis loss,” teams-Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Gayle, Kohli and AB form extravaganza, famous for its fireworks Kolkata Knight Riders supporter Nehal Royals-being suspended last year for two Board of Control for Cricket in India and dancing cheerleaders as well as Ahmed told AFP. seasons. They have been replaced by Pune (BCCI) Secretary Anurag Thakur believes unwanted corruption scandals, gets under The ninth-edition of the franchise- and Rajkot-based Gujarat Lions, who will the success of the IPL in attracting global way with the Mumbai Indians taking on based competition, which has revolu- be making their IPL debut in this edition, stars, sell-out crowds and massive televi- the Rising Pune Supergiants. Fans hope tionised world cricket, will see eight teams which runs until 29 May, when the final is sion revenues has proved critics wrong. IPL the cash-rich league, featuring blockbuster clash in 60 matches at 10 different venues in Mumbai. chairman Rajeev Shukla has insisted the stars including Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, across India. “We Indian fans have a short The IPL, which has spawned a host of reputation of the tournament remains will soothe the pain of India’s shock semi- memory. A good two months of IPL and similar leagues around the world, was the intact despite the controversies. final defeat to eventual World T20 champi- we will forget all about World T20,” said fan brainchild of cricket administrator Lalit “The response we have got during (the) ons West Indies. Modit Dhasmana, another ardent admirer Modi, who is refusing to return from Britain bidding process shows how IPL is still pop- India went into the tournament as of IPL razzamatazz. to India to face corruption charges. ular and credibility is not lost,” he said, favourites but seriously under-performed, The IPL is the most popular domestic Despite the controversies, the IPL has referring to the league’s auction earlier this losing to New Zealand and only beating league in the world but has been plagued attracted a host of foreign players who year. — AFP Pence grand slam powers Giants past Dodgers 12-6 SAN FRANCISCO: Hunter Pence hit a grand slam high with five RBIs, and Cincinnati made a winner in the eighth inning, Joe Panik drove in three runs of top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson in his to key San Francisco’s comeback, and the Giants major league debut by beating Philadelphia to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 12-6 in their home complete a season-opening sweep. Eugenio opener Thursday. The Dodgers’ 31-inning shutout Suarez hit his first career grand slam and Bruce streak ended in the fifth, one inning shy of the connected for a three-run shot as the Reds scored record to begin a season set by the 1963 St. Louis eight times in the fourth inning, ruining the big Cardinals. Chris Heston (1-0) worked the sixth in league debut of reliever Daniel Stumpf. Bruce relief of Jake Peavy for the victory as San Francisco capped the 13-batter outburst with an RBI single. erased a 4-0 deficit. Bruce Bochy bested his former Stephenson (1-0), a first-round draft pick in 2011, outfielder and now-Dodgers manager Dave allowed six hits and four runs - three earned - in Roberts in their first matchup. In the fifth, Los five innings. He was optioned back to Triple-A Angeles finally gave up its first runs of 2016 when Louisville after the game. Cedric Hunter, Ryan the Giants got to Alex Wood (0-1). Joc Pederson hit Howard and Carlos Ruiz homered for the Phillies. a two-run homer for the Dodgers. The Reds are 3-0 for the second consecutive sea- son. The loss was Philadelphia’s eighth straight in YANKEES 8, ASTROS 5 Cincinnati. The Phillies are 0-3 for the first time Mark Teixeira sliced a tiebreaking, three-run since 2007. They have dropped seven in a row homer in the seventh inning and Starlin Castro overall to the Reds. Charlie Morton (0-1) allowed connected again, sending New York past Houston. six runs over 3 2/3 innings in his Phillies debut. The Yankees took two of three in the season-open- ing series against the team that beat them in the WHITE SOX 6, ATHLETICS 1 SAN FRANCISCO: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants hits a grand slam home run AL wild-card game last October. Castro kept up his Mat Latos gave up one hit over six shutout in front of Austin Barnes #28 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and umpire John Tumpane #74 torrid start with a solo home run and a single off innings for his first win since last July, Jose Abreu during the eighth inning at AT&T Park on Thursday in San Francisco, California. — AFP the wall, making him 7 for 12. The former Cubs hit a two-run homer and Chicago beat Oakland to infielder has eight RBIs, the most by any player in give manager Robin Ventura his 300th career win. and Baltimore rallied to beat Minnesota for a Orioles rookie Dylan Bundy worked the eighth his first three games for the Yankees since the stat Latos (1-0) was stellar in his White Sox debut. He three-game sweep. Manny Machado and rookie and Darren O’Day got his first save. became official in 1920, STATS said. Brian McCann retired 13 of the first 14 batters and didn’t allow a Joey Rickard homered for the Orioles, who trailed also homered for the Yankees, and Jacoby Ellsbury baserunner until Chris Coghlan’s one-out single in 2-0 in the sixth before coming back against Phil CUBS 14, DIAMONDBACKS 6 doubled twice. Alex Rodriguez made it 5-all with the fifth - one pitch after left fielder J.B. Shuck Hughes (0-1). Jimenez (1-0) gave up a first-inning Anthony Rizzo matched his career high with six his first hit of the season, an RBI single in the fifth. dropped Coghlan’s foul ball. Abreu homered off homer to Joe Mauer and an unearned run in the RBIs and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Tyler White hit his first homer in the majors, drove Kendall Graveman (0-1) and added a sacrifice fly second before bouncing back to hold the Twins Diamondbacks, but lost Kyle Schwarber with a in four runs and got three hits for the Astros. He’s 6 during Chicago’s four-run ninth. at bay. The right-hander allowed eight hits, struck sprained ankle in an outfield collision. Schwarber for 9 since making his big league debut this week. out nine and walked none. Jimenez retired 12 of was hurt in the second inning when he collided White and Preston Tucker lined consecutive home ORIOLES 4, TWINS 2 the final 14 batters he faced, striking out seven. with Dexter Fowler, a play that resulted in an runs off Nathan Eovaldi in the second. Chasen Ubaldo Jimenez pitched seven sharp innings inside-the-park home run for Arizona’s Jean Shreve (1-0) was the winner and Andrew Miller Segura. Segura also started the game with a earned his first save. Will Harris (0-1) took the loss. MLB results/standings homer. He is the eighth player in major league his- Cincinnati 10, Philadelphia 6; Chicago White Sox 6, Oakland 1; NY Yankees 8, Houston 5; Miami 6, tory to lead off with a home run and hit an inside- MARLINS 6, NATIONALS 4 the-park homer in the same game. John Lackey (1- Miami reliever David Phelps entered after a rain Washington 4; San Francisco 12, LA Dodgers 6; Baltimore 4, Minnesota 2; Chicago Cubs 14, Arizona 6; LA Angels 4, Texas 3. 0) gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings in delay and shut out Washington for four innings his Cubs debut, but got the win thanks to a five- American League National League while delivering his first career RBI at the plate, and run Chicago fourth inning. The Diamondbacks the Marlins spoiled the Nationals’ sloppy home Eastern Division Eastern Division W L PCT GB were up 3-0, 4-2 and 6-4, but starter Rubby De La opener in front of a dwindling crowd. While Phelps Washington 2 1 .667 - Baltimore 3 0 1.000 - NY Mets 1 1 .500 0.5 Rosa (0-1) couldn’t hold the leads. (1-0) replaced Adam Conley following a 1-hour, 25- NY Yankees 2 1 .667 1 Miami 1 2 .333 1 minute break because of a thunderstorm in the Tampa Bay 2 2 .500 1.5 ANGELS 4, RANGERS 3 second with the score 3-all, Nationals starter Toronto 2 2 .500 1.5 Atlanta 0 2 0 1.5 Philadelphia 0 3 0 2 Albert Pujols hit a bases-loaded single with two Tanner Roark (0-1) surprisingly remained in the Boston 1 1 .500 1.5 outs in the ninth inning to give the Los Angeles Central Division Central Division game.