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Rangers suddenly control tight AL West after finishing crucial sweep of Mariners

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Texas Rangers secured a crucial three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners in the tight AL West by hanging on through a rough patch from a bullpen that not long ago threatened to derail a promising season.Suddenly 2 1/2 games up in the division after a 9-8 victory in their home finale Sunday, the Rangers hit the road for the final seven games looking to wrap up the No. 2 seed in the American League playoffs and home-field advantage in a Division Series.“I packed like a normal seven-day trip,” Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi said. “We can always buy more clothes on the road. Yes, it’s a lot more clear. But we still have a lot of work that has to be done.”Marcus Semien homered twice, and Corey Seager had an early two-run shot among a season-high six homers for the Rangers as they withstood two Seattle rallies.Adolis García, Leody Taveras and rookie Evan Carter also went deep for the Rangers, who had their most homers in a game at Globe Life Field, which opened f...

LIV Golf Chicago Par Scores

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

SundayAt Rich Harvest FarmsSugar Grove, Ill.Purse: $25 millionYardage: 7,401; Par: 71Final RoundBryson DeChambeau, $4,000,000 68-69-63_200 -13Marc Leishman, $1,875,000 67-68-66_201 -12Anirban Lahiri, $1,875,000 66-66-69_201 -12Sebastian Munoz, $1,000,000 66-63-73_202 -11Peter Uihlein, $660,000 68-69-66_203 -10Henrik Stenson, $660,000 69-67-67_203 -10Talor Gooch, $660,000 68-67-68_203 -10Abraham Ancer, $660,000 68-66-69_203 -10Richard Bland, $437,500 71-66-67_204  -9Dustin Johnson, $437,500 68-66-70_204  -9Brendan Steele, $370,000 69-68-68_205  -8Carlos Ortiz, $370,000 67-68-70_205  -8Thomas Pieters, $370,000 67-67-71_205  -8Sergio Garcia, $302,500 66-73-67_206  -7Sam Horsfield, $302,500 69-69-68_206  -7Eugenio Chacarra, $302,500 68-69-69_206  -7Scott Vincent, $302,500 67-69-70_206  -7Charles Howell III, $245,000 67-73-67_207  -6Joaquin Niemann, $245,000 67-72-68_207  -6Charl Schwartzel, $245,000 ...

Breakers Dominika Banevič and Victor Montalvo qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

LEUVEN, Belgium (AP) — Lithuanian teenager Dominika Banevič and American Victor Montalvo both qualified for next year’s Paris Olympics after winning the World Breaking Championship on Sunday.The 16-year-old Banevič, known as B-Girl Nicka, was the youngest in the women’s category at the event in Leuven, Belgium. She concluded her battle by lifting herself up on her right arm and twisting her body almost completely around. She drew finger-clicking appreciation from her beaten opponent, 40-year-old Ayumi Fukushima of Japan, known as B-Girl Ayumi.The 29-year-old Montalvo, ranked No. 5 in the world and competing under the name of B-Boy Victor, broke into a huge grin after completing his battle. He was lifted up triumphantly by his opponent, Philip Kim of Canada, known as B-Boy Phil Wizard.Breakdancing originated 50 years ago in the United States and the hip-hop dance form makes its official debut at the Paris Games. Rankings are tabulated by the World DanceSport Federation, the Int...

A’ja Wilson scores 34, leads Aces past Wings 97-83 in opener of the semifinal series

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A’ja Wilson scored 34 points, including 14 in the third quarter as the Las Vegas Aces beat the Dallas Wings 97-83 on Sunday in the opening game of the WNBA semifinal playoff series.Wilson, who earlier in the week earned the league’s defensive player of the year award, also had eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Kelsey Plum added 25 points for the top-seeded Aces, Jackie Young scored 19 and Chelsea Gray 13. Young also pulled down 10 rebounds.Satou Sabally led the No. 4 seed Wings with 16 points while Arike Ogunbowale added 12.The Aces dominated the first half, leading 45-36 on a Plum 3-pointer with 2:39 left. The Wings cut the lead to 49-45 at the half on a Sabally 3-pointer with 23 seconds to go. After a Kalani Brown steal, Ogunbowale missed a 3 at the buzzer that would have cut the lead to one at the half.Wilson had 18 points and five rebounds in the first half while Plum added 12 points, all coming in the second quarter. Howard had nine points in the hal...

Rodriguez and Detroit relievers combine to blank Oakland 2-0 in A’s last home game

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Eduardo Rodriguez threw seven scoreless innings to end Detroit’s two-game losing streak, and the Tigers beat the last-placed Athletics 2-0 in Oakland’s last home game on Sunday.Spencer Torkelson had two hits and drove in the only runs in the game with a two-run single in the third, helping Detroit finish 6-4 on its final road trip of the season.The A’s (48-108) lost for the ninth time in 11 games and tied the Oakland-era record for most losses in a season, initially set in 1979. The A’s also tied the franchise mark of 55 home losses.The game drew a crowd of 13,102 that repeatedly filled the air with chants of “Sell the team.” Despite owner John Fisher’s acknowledgment of his intentions to move the franchise, Oakland’s overall attendance of 832,352 at the Coliseum this season was nearly 45,000 more than it was last season (787,902) when the team finished 60-102.Rodriguez (12-9) left his previous outing last Monday due to back spasms. He was mostly s...

Bryson DeChambeau wins LIV Golf-Chicago, 2nd victory of season on Saudi-funded tour

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

SUGAR GROVE, Ill. (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau shot 6-under 28 on the back nine, closed with one last birdie on his penultimate hole and won LIV Golf-Chicago on Sunday by one shot over Marc Leishman and Anirban Lahiri.DeChambeau finished with an 8-under 63 at Rich Harvest Farms and a 54-hole total of 13-under 200. He began on the fourth hole under LIV’s shotgun start format, made his only bogey on the par-4 ninth and then reeled off four birdies in five holes.It was the second win of the season on the Saudi-funded tour for DeChambeau, whose Crushers — including Lahiri — won the team competition by three shots. That means DeChambeau takes home $5.25 million — $4 million for the individual trophy.DeChambeau closed with a 12-under 58 to win at The Greenbrier in early August.Leishman shot 66. Lahiri, who started on the first hole in the final pairing with second-round leader Sebastian Munoz, bogeyed the par-4 18th to fall out of a tie with DeChambeau.Munoz, who led by three after 36 h...

Jones says he’s still Australia’s long-term saviour amid Rugby World Cup woes

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

LYON, France (AP) — Following Australia’s worst Rugby World Cup defeat that pushed it to the verge of its earliest Rugby World Cup exit, coach Eddie Jones insisted he’s still the man to turn the Wallabies around.The Wallabies had to stop unbeaten Wales on Sunday in Lyon to keep alive their perfect record of making the quarters at every tournament. But they were thrashed 40-6.Wales’ biggest win over Australia propelled it to the quarterfinals with a game to spare in Pool C, while Australia’s fate was no longer in its hands.It could beat Portugal next weekend to even its pool record at 2-2, but could be overtaken by Fiji if the latter beats Georgia and Portugal.Jones was a forlorn figure after his Wallabies were sunk by three tries and the boot of Gareth Anscombe.Rugby Australia ruthlessly sacked Dave Rennie in January due to a 38% win record, and immediately brought aboard Jones, 20 years after he led the Wallabies to the 2003 Rugby World Cup final. RA gave Jo...

Juan Soto’s soaring homer and 4 RBIs help the Padres rout the Cardinals 12-2

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Juan Soto hit a 461-foot homer and had four RBIs for the San Diego Padres, who were pushed closer to elimination from the playoff picture even as they beat the St. Louis Cardinals 12-2 in their home finale Sunday.Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. made a spectacular leaping catch to rob pinch-hitter Michael Siani of a home run in the sixth. Tatis did a little dance and acknowledged the crowd’s ovation. Tatis began his career as a shortstop but took over in right after he returned April 20 from an 80-game PED suspension. He missed all of last year with injuries and the suspension.Jose Azocar also homered for the Padres, who had nine extra-base hits in winning for the ninth time in 10 games. Their best stretch of the season is likely coming too late to avoid an embarrassing pratfall. The Padres came into this season with World Series aspirations after reaching the NL Championship Series last fall but have been a major disappointment. They’ve been under .500 ...

Miami commissioners vote to leave Diaz de la Portilla’s district seat open in wake of arrest on corruption charges

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

Miami City commissioners voted unanimously to leave the District 1 seat open after Alex Diaz de la Portilla was arrested on corruption charges earlier this month.Commissioners discussed the matter during a meeting held Saturday.“lt is the citizens’ right to elect their representative,” said City Commission Chairwoman Christine King.“At most, they’re going to serve for five days. It doesn’t make sense at all,” said City Commission Vice Chair Joe Carollo.Before the vote, there was public comment.“Not to appointment someone. Simple fact is, I do not trust you,” said a woman.“I come here to ask you appoint a replacement, because it’s important that we ensure the continued functioning of this body in government,” said a man.A day after Diaz de la Portilla was arrested on money laundering and bribery charges, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended him from his commission duties.Diaz de la Portilla said the charges are po...

Megan Rapinoe gets triumphant send-off as United States beats South Africa 2-0

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:14 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Megan Rapinoe got a triumphant send-off, and the United States beat South Africa 2-0 on Sunday.Trinity Rodman and Emily Sonnett scored, and the U.S. sent its captain toward retirement with one final victory as a member of the national team.The 38-year-old Rapinoe was presented a framed jersey representing her 203 games with the United States prior to the win, and she raised her arms as the crowd roared.Rodman gave the U.S. more to celebrate when she drilled the ball into the net off a cross from Alex Morgan in the 18th minute. Rapinoe was the first to hug her.Sonnett made it 2-0 with a header in the 49th minute and then jumped into Rapinoe’s arms. Rapinoe came close to scoring, but missed just high on a free kick. She exited the international stage for one final time to a standing ovation in the 54th minute, kissing and hugging her teammates and blowing a kiss to the crowd and bowing.Rapinoe announced in July that she was retiring after an illustrious career tha...