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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014 SPORTS Farrell eager to see Otani on MLB trip to Japan OSAKA: Boston Red Sox manager old right-hander went 11-4 with 179 Before turning pro in 2013, Otani Hideki Okajima,” said Farrell, who also start Game 3 and Chris Capuano of the John Farrell is looking forward to see- strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA this season announced in 2012 that he would pur- came here in 2008 when the Red Sox New York Yankees will start Game 4. ing Japanese pitching sensation for the Nippon Ham Fighters. Otani sue a career in Major League Baseball opened the season against the Among the MLB players on the ros- Shohei Otani during Major League also plays the outfield for the Fighters but he was drafted by the Fighters and Oakland A’s at Tokyo Dome. ter who were announced previously Baseball’s all-star postseason tour of and posted a respectable .274 batting eventually convinced to stay in Japan. “The more we have Japanese play- are Houston’s Jose Altuve and Japan. average with 10 home runs and 31 RBIs Listed at 193 centimeters (6-foot-4) ers come to the States, we learn more Colorado’s Justin Morneau - the two Farrell and 29 major league players in 87 games. He is expected to pitch and 86 kilograms (190 pounds), Otani and more about (their culture) with league batting champions - and the arrived in Osaka on Sunday night Game 5 in front of his home crowd at has a fastball that has been clocked as each and every exposure we have to Los Angeles Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig. ahead of their five-game series against Sapporo Dome. high as 160 kph (99 mph). the players that come to us,” he added. Los Angeles Angels first baseman Japan starting Wednesday. The MLB all- “We know the players on this roster Farrell has had plenty of exposure to Farrell said Matt Shoemaker of the Albert Pujols, Washington outfielder stars will also play two exhibition are all going to be talented,” Farrell said Japanese pitchers over the years as Los Angeles Angels will start Game 1 in Bryce Harper and Baltimore outfielder games during their tour. at a media conference Monday. pitching coach and manager of the Red Osaka while Hisashi Iwakuma of the Adam Jones withdrew because of per- Farrell, who is managing the MLB “Personally, I’m looking forward to see- Sox. “I’ve come to know the (Japanese) Seattle Mariners will pitch the first sonal and family commitments, the squad, singled out Otani as the player ing Otani pitch. A young guy who has culture through players on our roster, game in Tokyo Dome on Friday. Jeremy Major League Baseball Players he is most interested in. The 20-year- got a tremendous arm, very good stuff.” whether it is Daisuke (Matsuzaka) or Guthrie of the Kansas City Royals will Association said. — AP Nishikori overcomes fright at Tour Finals LONDON: Japan’s Kei Nishikori admitted going to the final and to win it, but that’s he had to overcome a case of severe stage- what I’m trying to aim for,” he said. “I was lit- fright before marking his ATP Tour Finals tle bit surprised at how I played, very confi- with an impressive 6-4, 6-4 victory over dent. Now I’m very much looking forward Andy Murray. to the next match.” Nishikori is the first Asian singles player to qualify for the prestigious season-ending On the rise tournament and he had the honour of Although he had lost his previous three playing in the opening match against for- meetings with Murray, Nishikori had no mer Wimbledon champion Murray on reason to fear the Scot after enjoying the Sunday. best season of his career. It was a proud moment for Nishikori but He reached his first Grand Slam final at his emotions got the better of him when he the US Open in September and became the walked on court in front of a capacity first Asian man to finish in the world’s top 17,500-crowd at London’s O2 Arena. 10 since 1973 thanks to a personal best 52 After a tense start as he came to terms match wins this season. with his new surroundings, Nishikori even- Although he lost the final in New York to tually rose to the occasion and delivered a Marin Cilic, Nishikori has continued to dominant display to defeat home favourite shine, winning tournaments in Kuala Murray. Lumper and Tokyo to climb to fifth in the “The stadium is huge and I tried not to world. look up too much because there were so He puts his success down to finally per- many people on the top tier. I just tried to suading himself that he has no reason to stay focused,” Nishikori said. feel inferior to the top stars. “Maybe when I walked into the stadium “Yeah, I was struggling with that actual- I was nervous, but at the same time I was ly, because when I was junior, I wasn’t really excited to play with this crowd. “I was thinking too much, so I was able to play thinking, I’m very honoured to be here for good tennis with anyone. But after turning the first time as a top-eight player. pro, I was feeling a lot of respect to every- “I was a little bit tight in the beginning, body, especially top players,” Nishikori said. so I was really happy that I played good “The first time I played Roger I couldn’t tennis in this situation. I tried to stay calm do anything because I respected him too when he was playing a little better. I got much. I wasn’t going for the win, I was just tight again honestly but I managed to play playing against my idol. That was one of pretty solid at the end.” the problems I had. With matches against Roger Federer and “But after a couple years, I got mentally Milos Raonic still to come, Nishikori has strong. You have to believe in yourself to more work to do to reach the semi-finals beat these top players. “I was looking up to but he sees no reason why he can’t extend people like (Chinese former Grand Slam his stay in London beyond the group stage. winner) Li Na. I felt a lot of motivation from “I hope so. There is still a long way to them.” — AFP ANAHEIM: Shawn Matthias #27 of the Vancouver Canucks falls to the ice in front of Frederik Andersen #31, Clayton Stoner #3 and Hampus Lindholm #47 of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period at Honda Center on Sunday in Anaheim, California. —AFP Canucks beat Ducks 2-1 in shootout ANAHEIM: Nick Bonino assisted on the tying games. Burrows tied it at 11:49 of the second the victory. Carl Hagelin scored the lone goal UNITED KINGDOM: Japan’s Kei Nishikori returns to Britain’s Andy Murray during the goal by Alexandre Burrows in the second on a deflection after Hamhuis one-timed a for the Rangers (6-6-2), who have lost four of singles group B match on the first day of the ATP World Tour Finals tennis tourna- period and got the only goal in the shootout carom off the boards at the left point. five. Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped ment in London on Sunday. — AFP in his return to Anaheim, helping the 30 shots and took the loss. Vancouver Canucks beat the Ducks 2-1 on Lightning 4, Red Wings 3 (SO) Sunday night. It was the first meeting Right winger Ryan Callahan scored in the Maple Leafs 5, Senators 3 Judiciary denies British-Iranian between the teams since the June 27 trade shootout to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a Toronto goalie James Reimer made 38 volleyball woman jailed that brought Ryan Kesler to the Ducks and 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings at Joe saves to top Ottawa at Canadian Tire Centre. sent Bonino and defenseman Luca Sbisa to Louis Arena. Center Steven Stamkos scored Toronto winger David Clarkson scored the TEHRAN: A top Iranian judiciary official charge often used by the judiciary. Vancouver. Kesler spent his first 11 NHL sea- twice and center Tyler Johnson got the goals lone goal of the third period after center yesterday denied that a British-Iranian But deputy judiciary head sons with the Canucks, helping them get to for Tampa Bay in regulation. Callahan also Peter Holland had a goal and an assist, and woman, arrested in June after trying to Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejeie dismissed the Stanley Cup finals in 2011 with 41 goals had two assists and goalie Ben Bishop wingers James van Riemsdyk and Josh Leivo attend a men’s volleyball match, had been this claim, saying that no sentence had and winning the Frank Selke Trophy that sea- stopped 17 shots in regulation and overtime. and center Mike Santorelli scored goals. sentenced to jail, media reported. been pronounced because the trial was still son as the NHL’s best defensive forward. Right winger Johan Franzen and left winger Ottawa goalie Robin Lehner stopped just 25 The lawyer for Ghoncheh Ghavami said ongoing. “We have not finished examining It was the Ducks’ second loss in three Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist each shots while center Kyle Turris and wingers earlier this month that the 25-year-old law the case. The court must still give a ruling nights at home against a club they won all and center Darren Helm scored for Detroit.