TUESDAY, MAY 6, 2014 SPORTS Reds lose prop Slipper McDermott signs new deal McEnroe may coach Murray SYDNEY: The struggling Queensland Reds suffered another blow yesterday SYDNEY: Australia bowling coach Craig McDermott, who has been LONDON: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray would consider hiring seven- when Wallabies prop James Slipper was banned for three weeks for a dan- credited with turning his country’s pace attack into one of the most times grand slam winner John McEnroe as his coach, saying the controversial gerous tackle during last weekend’s Super Rugby loss to the Auckland Blues. potent in the world, has signed a new two-year deal, Cricket American would have plenty to offer his game. Slipper received a yellow card for a lifting tackle on Blues back-rower Australia said yesterday. The 49-year-old former paceman returned World number eight Murray, playing this week at the Madrid Masters, has Peter Saili during their 44-14 loss in Auckland, which extended the 2011 as Australia’s bowling coach ahead of last year’s home Ashes series been without a coach since he split from Ivan Lendl in March after a successful champions’ losing streak to four matches. against England, his second stint after working with the fast bowlers two-year spell during which he won two grand slam titles and gold at the 2012 The 24-year-old, who has played 49 times for Australia, will miss two for a year starting May 2011. Olympics. “Every player would consider someone with his credentials,” the 26- games - home matches against Canterbury Crusaders next Sunday and Australia demolished England 5-0 at home and then won a series year-old Scot told the BBC on Sunday. “I like listening to him commentate and Melbourne Rebels the following week - and could have in South Africa to climb back to the top of the test rankings with the he has a lot to offer as well. It’s interesting but if anything comes from it, who been more harshly punished. pace battery widely proclaimed as the best in the world. knows? “When you are very competitive as a player, you are “Given the player’s excellent disciplinary record, his “Craig has built a really strong rapport with the bowling group,” likely to be the same as a coach and that’s also a benefit. good character and in recognition of his early plea of Cricket Australia’s team performance manager Pat Howard said in a “He was a great player and he’s always kept an interest in guilty I reduced the six week suspension to three weeks,” statement. “Combine that with the international experience and the game, which is important. He has a great knowledge the judicial officer said in a SANZAR statement. technical expertise, it has proved to be a successful combination in of the sport.” American McEnroe, 55, indicated this week “Accordingly, the player is suspended from all forms of recent times and we’re keen to see that continue.” he would be willing to help Murray, despite having a num- rugby up to and including Saturday, 24 May 2014.” Since his return, McDermott has worked only with the test pace- ber of media commitments and a lack of professional Otago Highlanders hooker Brayden Mitchell was men but in a new role will now also help out the limited-overs coaching experience. Murray, however, is in no rush to make also banned for three weeks for a tip tackle in his bowlers as Australia prepares to co-host the 50-overs World Cup an appointment. “It depends how I do in the next couple of team’s Super Rugby loss to the Stormers in Cape with New Zealand next year. weeks,” he said. “If I do well, I’m not going to have that much time. “Craig will also do a bit more work with the limited overs players, Town at the weekend.—Reuters If I don’t do so well, I’ll have a little bit more time to think about along with Ali de Winter, as we head towards the World Cup early it and chat to people. “I need to have the right person in next year,” Howard added.—Reuters place.—Reuters Giants pound Atlanta ATLANTA: Brandon Crawford homered twice as the San Francisco Giants beat Atlanta 4-1 Sunday to complete a three-game sweep that extended the Braves’ losing streak to six - their longest since dropping eight straight in May 2012. Madison Bumgarner (3-3) allowed one unearned run and three hits in six innings, strik- ing out nine as the Giants won their fifth in a row. Santiago Casilla pitched the ninth for his first save. Alex Wood (2-5) lost his fourth straight start, giving up two runs and seven hits in five innings. San Francisco has homered in 11 straight games for the first time since Sept. 23, 2010, to April 3, 2011, according to STATS. MARLINS 5, DODGERS 4 Jeff Baker hit a winning double off the wall against Jamey Wright (2-2) with two outs in the ninth. Right fielder Yasiel Puig retreated and made a leaping try for an acrobatic catch but slammed against the fence, and the ball deflect- CLEVELAND: Chicago White Sox’s Jose Abreu tosses his glove with the ball to starting ed off it and hit him in the face. Puig collapsed to pitcher Scott Carroll to get Cleveland Indians’ Lonnie Chisenhall out at first base in his stomach and was slow to rise; he passed a the sixth inning. —AP concussion test and Los Angeles said he is day to day. Giancarlo Stanton homered twice and drove White Sox trounce Indians in three runs for Miami, giving him the NL leads with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs. AJ Ramos (2-0) CLEVELAND: Dayan Viciedo hit a three-run April 6 at Tampa Bay. tried to protect a one-run lead in the ninth for homer in the ninth inning off John Axford, He allowed three runs, seven hits and no his first career save, but Chone Figgins walked lifting the Chicago White Sox over the walks in 6 1-3 innings with nine strikeouts. and scored on Andre Ethier’s double. Cleveland Indians 4-3 Sunday and stopping JP Arencibia hit his first homer and Michael a four-game losing streak. Choice added a three-run drive for Texas. METS 5, ROCKIES 1 Corey Kluber struck out a career-high 13 Tyler Skaggs (2-1) gave up runs, eight hits Dillon Gee (3-1) allowed six hits in six innings, in eight innings, including a team-record and three walks in 2 2-3 innings, the short- extending his scoreless streak to a career-best 16 seven straight. He allowed one run, three est of his 19 big league starts. innings as New York avoided a four-game sweep. hits and two walks, leaving with a 3-1 lead. He is 13-6 with a 2.66 ERA since last May 30. Axford (0-2) walked Gordon Beckham TIGERS 9, ROYALS 4 After wasting a 6-0 lead in Saturday’s 11-10 leading off the ninth and struck out Jose Justin Verlander (4-1) took a no-hit bid loss, the Mets jumped to a 4-0 lead after four Abreu, who hit his major league- leading into the sixth inning and won his fourth innings. David Wright, Chris Young, Daniel 12th home run in the first. Adam Dunn straight decision, helping Detroit complete Murphy and Lucas Duda had RBI doubles - walked, and Viciedo homered on a 96 mph a three-game sweep and extend its win- Wright has a .384 average, 10 homers and 40 fastball. Daniel Webb (2-0) pitched the ning streak to a season-high five games. RBIs in 138 at-bats at Coors Field. eighth, and Matt Lindstrom finished for his Billy Butler singled to right on a 1-2 pitch Jhoulys Chacin (0-1) was rather rusty his first ATLANTA: San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford (35) and Angel Pagan celebrate their 4-1 fourth save. with two outs in the sixth, leaving him with start this season, lasting five innings and giving win over the Atlanta Braves after the ninth inning of a baseball game. —AP a .432 average in 74 at-bats against the up four runs. Chacin spent the first month on the RAYS 5, YANKEES 1 Detroit ace, disabled list with a strained right shoulder. coach Rick Sofield were ejected by plate umpire turned umpire’s call, then scored on Yonder Wil Myers had a three-run, inside-the- Nick Castellanos and Alex Avila home- Greg Gibson at the end of the fourth for arguing Alonso’s slow grounder in the ninth off Oliver park homer on a drive off the top of the red for the Tigers, who had 16 hits, and Torii PHILLIES 1, NATIONALS 0 a called third strike on Jordy Mercer. Edinson Perez (0-1) as San Diego stopped a four-game center-field fence and drove in four runs. Hunter had three hits and three RBIs. Jason Roberto Hernandez (2-1) allowed four hits in Volquez (1-3) gave up six runs and seven hits in losing streak. Maybin started the winning rally Erik Bedard (1-1) earned his first win as a Vargas (2-1) gave up seven runs and 11 hits 7 1-3 innings. Jimmy Rollins hit a one-out triple five innings. with a chopper to second and was initially called starter since last June, allowing one run in five innings. in the first and scored on Chase Utley’s single off out before the call was overturned on a video and six hits in six innings to help the Rays Gio Gonzalez (3-2), who gave up four hits and PADRES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3 review.