MLB-SCHEDULE
Back-to-back walkoffs in St. Louis…Six straight for the A’s
UNDATED (AP) β On Monday night, it was Matt Adams delivering a walkoff homer in the bottom of the ninth for St. Louis. Last night, Kolten Wong turned the trick. The Cards rookie connected off Ernesto Frieri with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give the red-hot Cards a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh.
Wong also gave the Cardinals the early lead with a two-run double in the second.
The Cardinals last had consecutive game-winning homers when Albert Pujols (POO’-hohlz) twice beat the Cubs on June 4 and 5, 2011.
In other baseball finals:
β AL West-leading Oakland won its sixth in a row by beating San Francisco 6-1 in a Battle of the Bays series. Sonny Gray improved to 9-3 by striking out eight in seven innings. The A’s now own a four and a-half game lead over the Angels in the AL West.
β The NL Central-leading Tigers rapped out a season-high 20 hits in routing the NL West-leading Dodgers 14-5. Justin Verlander allowed five runs in the first but settled down and improved to 8-7. Miguel Cabrera was one of five Detroit players with three hits.
β The Cleveland Indians roughed up New York Yankees rookie Masahiro Tanaka (mah-sah-HEE’-roh tah-NAH’-kah) in denying the Japanese sensation in a quest to become the majors’ first 13-game winner. The Indians beat the Yanks 5-3 as Michael Brantley homered and drove in three. Tanaka fell to 12-4. He allowed season worsts of five runs and 10 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
β The New York Mets topped Atlanta for the second straight night, 8-3. The Mets routed Braves ace Julio Teheran, rapping him for 11 hits and five runs in his three and a-third innings. Rookie Jacob deGrom struck out 11 in seven shutout innings and improved to 2-5. The loss drops the Braves into a tie for the NL East lead with Washington.
β Conor Gillaspie hit a tie-breaking, two-run homer in the sixth inning for his third hit of the game, and the Chicago White Sox beat the struggling Boston Red Sox 8-3.
β Cincinnati swept a day-night doubleheader from the Chicago Cubs, 4-2 and 6-5. Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the opener as Johnny Cueto (KWAY’-toh) continued his recent mastery of the Cubs. Cueto is 5-0 in his last seven starts against them with a 1.19 ERA. The Reds overcame a 5-0 deficit in the second game, sending Chicago to its fifth straight loss. The Cubs have been swept in all three of their doubleheaders this season.
β The Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 8-3 to get within one game of dropping the Rangers into a last-place tie in the AL Central. Chris Carter homered twice, and rookie George Springer added his 18th homer.
β Evan Longoria drove in two runs, Jeremy Hellickson went 4 1/3 innings in his season debut, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3.
β Philadelphia outscored Milwaukee 9-7. Domonic Brown homered and drove in three runs for the Phils. After surrendering five runs in the first inning, the Phillies rallied for five in the second off Brewers loser Wily Peralta, who fell to 9-6.
β Colorado nipped San Diego 2-1. Charlie Blackmon hit a two-run homer and Franklin Morales improved to 5-4 with the win.
β Marcell Ozuna cracked a two-run, two-out homer in the ninth inning to give Arizona a 2-1 win over Miami.
β Minnesota’s Phil Hughes pitched into the eighth inning, Sam Fuld hit his second home run of the season and the Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0.
β Toronto blanked the L.A. Angels 4-0. R.A. Dickey had his best start of the year, holding the Angels to four hits in seven shutout innings.
β Baltimore’s game at Washington was rained out. It will be made up on Aug. 4.
MLB-HOME RUN DERBY
Cespedes to defend crown at Midsummer Classic
NEW YORK (AP) β Jose Bautista and Troy Tulowitzki (too-loh-WIT’-skee) have announced three members of their respective teams for Monday night’s Home Run Derby at Target Field.
Joining Bautista on the American League team are Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EHN’-ehs SEHS’-peh-dehs), who was last year’s Derby winner, Baltimore’s Adam Jones and Brian Dozier of the host Twins.
Tulowitzki will have Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, who is leading the National League in homers, the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig (yah-SEEL’ pweeg) and Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier on his side.
The final competitor in each league will be announced on Thursday.
MLB-INJURIES
Votto, Beckett, Presley, Masterson, Nolasco land on DL
UNDATED (AP) β The Cincinnati Reds have placed first baseman Joey Votto (VAH’-toh) on the 15-day disabled list with a nagging thigh injury that is expected to limit him for the rest of the season. Catcher Brayan Pena was activated off the paternity list and will be a primary fill-in at first base while Votto is gone.
Votto earlier missed 23 games while on the DL with a strained muscle above his left knee. Tests found he has aggravated the injury.
In other news:
β The Los Angeles Dodgers have put pitcher Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list with a left hip impingement. The right-hander pitched five scoreless innings in a win at Colorado on Sunday, but was removed after just 82 pitches. Beckett began the season on the DL with a right thumb contusion, but has made each of his 17 starts since then, going 6-5 with a 2.26 ERA.
β Houston Astros outfielder Alex Presley has been put on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right oblique. Presley had a homer in Monday night’s win before having to leave in the middle of an at-bat.
β The Cleveland Indians have placed pitcher Justin Masterson on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his right knee. Masterson, the team’s opening day starter, is 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA. In his last five starts he has given up 19 runs, 27 hits and 17 walks in 18 innings. The right-hander allowed five runs and six hits in two-plus innings Monday against the New York Yankees, and was pulled without retiring a batter in the third.
β The Minnesota Twins have placed struggling right-hander Ricky Nolasco on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. Nolasco is 5-7 with a 5.90 ERA in 18 starts.
β St. Louis Cardinals left-hander Jaime (HY’-mee) Garcia will undergo thoracic outlet surgery Friday to relieve nerve issues in his pitching arm, shoulder and hand. He had already been shut down for the season.
WORLD CUP
Germany cruises into final…Dutch captain iffy for semifinal
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (AP) β Germany stunned host Brazil with five goals in the first 30 minutes and went on to a shocking 7-1 win to earn a spot in the title game. The result set World Cup records for most goals by one team and largest margin of victory in the semifinals. It was Brazil’s worst loss in World Cup play and their first home loss in a competitive match since 1975.
Miroslav Klose (KLOH’-seh) had one of the first half goals to set a World Cup record with his 16th career score. Toni Kroos and Andre Schuerrle each scored twice for Germany.
The Germans will take on the winner of today’s semifinal between the Netherlands and Argentina for the World Cup championship Sunday.
SAO PAULO (AP) β Dutch captain and all-time top scorer Robin van Persie is in doubt for today’s World Cup semifinal against Argentina after succumbing to a stomach problem. Van Persie trained separately on Tuesday with defender Daryl Janmaat and coach Louis van Gaal said both were suffering “stomach and intestinal problems.”
NBA-FREE AGENCY-LEBRON
LeBron pondering next move
LAS VEGAS (AP) β LeBron James held meetings for more than three hours in Las Vegas, but left without giving any indication of what team he’ll play for next season.
The four-time MVP told The Associated Press he had “no complaints” when asked how free agency was going. He declined to say whom he had met with or whether he had made a decision of where he’ll play next.
James is expected to meet with Miami Heat President Pat Riley before making a final decision on his NBA future, and a person close to the situation said that meeting had not happened as of Tuesday afternoon. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no one has publicly announced the date of the meeting.
Some of James’ representatives have met with several teams, including the Cleveland Cavaliers.
NBA-STERLING
Clippers owner testy in court
LOS ANGELES (AP) β Donald Sterling was testy during his 90-minute appearance on the witness stand as he challenges his wife’s proposed $2 billion sale of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Sterling denounced doctors who declared him to have Alzheimer’s disease as “hired guns,” pleading a faulty memory about some of his most controversial remarks and repeatedly drawing laughter from spectators during the non-jury trial.
Sterling is due back on the stand this afternoon. The 80-year-old billionaire contends that his estranged wife, Shelly, had no authority to singlehandedly arrange a team sale to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.
Sterling says he believes he can get billions more by selling Clippers TV rights to Fox and if he wins an antitrust suit against the NBA.
TOUR DE FRANCE
Another win for Kittel
LILLE, France (AP) β Marcel Kittel of Germany won the fourth stage of the Tour de France, giving him his third stage victory in this year’s event. Despite Kittel’s success, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali retained the yellow jersey, symbolic of being the overall leader.
BOWLING-CLOSED
NYC’s oldest alley closes after 76 years
NEW YORK (AP) β New York City’s oldest bowling alley has closed after 76 years. Bowlmor Lanes in Greenwich Village closed Monday after the owner lost his lease. A condo is planned in its place.
Notables who bowled there included Lily Tomlin, Sarah Jessica Parker and former President Richard M. Nixon.
