THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2017 SPORTS Puerto Rico in scarce supply of hair dye amid baseball fever SAN JUAN: Pharmacies and beauty in the capital of San Juan. “We have run university students to professionals “Anything for my island!” he said as unite the team, and then the people of stores across Puerto Rico are running out of the product in most of our have embraced a trend that has he lifted his arm to cheer the team. Puerto Rico, they started dying their out of hair dye as a growing number of stores.” sparked the rallying cry of “Team Rodriguez then sent a picture of his hair, too,” pitcher Edwin Diaz said. “I saw men go blond in support of the island’s Copper blond, platinum blond, gold- Rubio!” or “Team Blond” in Spanish. dyed hair to his mechanic, who that there were some students that baseball players who bleached their en blond - all shades of blond (even Among them is civil engineer responded with a selfie taken under- were suspended from school. I think hair as a bonding ritual ahead of the burnt orange) are turning heads in a US Christian Rodriguez, who dyed his neath a car of him smiling with a they shouldn’t be doing that because it World Baseball Classic. territory where the majority of men beard Saturday after visiting four differ- bleached beard. just means that we have united our What began as a joke among team have thick, dark hair and are now get- ent pharmacies to find the product he Puerto Rico’s undefeated run to the nation. We didn’t think it was going to members playing in California has ting teased about looking like Ken dolls. needed. At first, he didn’t dye his hair as championship has boosted the spirit of be this huge, but we were able to spread across the island in a trend that Those who are bald have opted to dye well because he thought it would be an island mired in a decade-long reces- accomplish that.” spiked Tuesday just hours after Puerto their beards or goatees in a nod to too much at church on Sunday. But he sion that faces a rocky recovery amid Puerto Ricans are not the only ones Rico beat the Netherlands in 11 innings Puerto Rico coach Carlos Delgado. noticed six male churchgoers had dyed looming austerity measures for its gov- going blond. A large number of to reach the championship game unde- “We have been able to unite our their hair blond and decided to take the ernment. Even young students have Dominicans who lost bets to their feated in the tournament, which is held country with our blond hair,” said star plunge Tuesday, calling a hair stylist been sporting blond do’s, prompting Puerto Rican friends after their team every four years. Puerto Rico will play Carlos Correa, who hit a two-run homer friend to help him go platinum. public schools to suspend them until was defeated are declaring their soli- Wednesday night in the final against and scored the winning run against the Rodriguez complained of an intense the island’s education secretary darity to their fellow Caribbean natives the United States, which defeated Netherlands. “That’s what we want as burning sensation during the two-hour stepped in and said in a letter made by seeking hair dye as well, Rios said. Japan. “Ever since they began winning, players to unite our country, our peo- process and sent pictures to his wife, public Tuesday that they should be “A whole bunch of them have come this has not stopped,” said Myrna Rios, a ple, and give them the best.” who responded with the emoticon of a allowed to dye their hair during the through,” she said with a laugh. “This manager at a Sally Beauty Supply store Men ranging from news anchors to monkey with its eyes covered. tournament. “We wanted to do this to has united the island.” —AP NY Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius out for six weeks NEW YORK: New York Yankees shortstop Herrera had two hits and drove in two runs Didi Gregorius is expected to miss the first and Freddy Galvis homered. Minnesota month of the regular season after straining starter Kyle Gibson gave up one in five his right shoulder while away at the World innings. Baseball Classic. Yankees general manager Brian PIRATES 5, RAYS 4 Cashman said Tuesday that Gregorius is John Jaso and Jacob Stallings homered likely to be sidelined six weeks. Opening for Pittsburgh. Chad Kuhl gave up three day for the Yankees is April 2 at Tampa Bay. runs in five innings. Alex Cobb allowed Gregorius was hurt when he turned a dou- three runs and struck out five over 5 1/3 ble play for the Netherlands on Saturday in innings for Tampa Bay. Steven Souza Jr. and an exhibition game against Arizona in Patrick Leonard homered. preparation for the WBC semifinals. “It’s someone we’re going to miss,” man- BLUE JAYS 5, ORIOLES 2 ager Joe Girardi said before Tuesday’s game Aaron Sanchez walked four while giving against Boston in Tampa, Florida. “Guys are up one run over 3 1/3 innings for Toronto. going to have to step up.” The 27-year-old Ubaldo Jimenez gave up four runs on five Gregorius hit .276 with 20 home runs and hits and three walks in four innings. He has 70 RBIs last season. allowed 10 earned runs in 10 innings over The Yankees have backup shortstops his last three starts for Baltimore. Chris Ronald Torreyes and Ruben Tejada in camp, Davis hit his first homer of the spring. along with utilityman Tyler Wade and top prospect Gleyber Torres. Cashman said ANGELS 9, REDS 1 Torres won’t be in the mix at the start, and Angels starter J.C. Ramirez allowed one the prized youngster was reassigned to run on four hits and struck out six over five Double-A Trenton in minor league camp innings. Cincinnati starter Cody Reed threw LOS ANGELES: Norichika Aoki #7 of team Japan turns away from an inside pitch in the eighth inning against team United States during Game 2 Tuesday night. 5 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five of the Championship Round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday in Los Angeles, California. — AFP Second baseman Starlin Castro will like- with one hit and two walks. ly get some time at shortstop over the final BASEBALL week and a half of spring training. GIANTS 5, PADRES 3 Madison Bumgarner pitched two score- BARRY’S BONDING less innings and struck out three for San Barry Bonds is returning to the San Francisco. Nick Hundley hit two homers Francisco Giants as a special adviser. The and drove in four runs. Hunter Pence went US hands Japan first home run champion was scheduled to help 0 for 2 and is hitting .118 this spring. San coach at spring training beginning Diego’s Trevor Cahill struck out seven over Wednesday in Scottsdale, Arizona. He will five innings, allowing one run on one hit. work with the minor league teams, too. loss to reach WBC final Bonds spent last season as Miami’s hit- DIAMONDBACKS 4, ROYALS 2 ting coach before being fired. He will Peter O’Brien hit his spring training- work with Giants chief executive Larry leading seventh homer and Jorge Soler LOS ANGELES: Adam Jones delivered the game- “It rained. It was the same for both teams.” who plays professionally for the New York Mets- Baer. “San Francisco has always been my also connected for Kansas City. Robbie Ray winning RBI in the eighth inning as the US top- “The team that makes mistakes will lose.” The US will toe the rubber for Puerto Rico. “I am looking home and the Giants will always be my gave up two runs on four hits over five pled Japan 2-1 Tuesday to reach their first World will go with pitching ace Marcus Stroman in forward to tomorrow,” said McCutchen. “It is a family,” Bonds said. innings while striking out six for Arizona. Baseball Classic final, where they will face unde- Wednesday’s final, while Seth Lugo-a 27-year-old first so I am just happy to be part of it.” — AFP Around the Grapefruit and Cactus Gregor Blanco and Nick Ahmed each feated Puerto Rico. Leagues: tripled and Chris Herrmann homered. The Americans made the final by knocking off a Japanese team accustomed to success, as CRICKET RED SOX 4, YANKEES 2 DODGERS 5, BREWERS 4 they had a perfect 6-0 record and were looking Chris Sale struck out 10 Yankees in six Matt Garza gave up six hits, struck out to win their third title in just four tournaments. innings, giving Boston’s new ace 20 strike- five and gave up one run in 3 2/3 innings. “It means a heck of a lot,” said outfielder Call for calm as India outs with just Manny Pina hit a three-run homer for Andrew McCutchen. “We got a group of guys on one walk in 16 innings this spring. He Milwaukee. Hyun-Jin Ryu threw four score- this team who have dedicated this time to be allowed four hits, including Matt Holliday’s less innings, giving up one hit and striking able to try and win. Sacrifices had to be made tour ‘toxicity’ grows fourth homer, a two-run shot that came in out two. He also hit an RBI single. Ryu, who and there are no egos when that door opens.” Sale’s last inning.