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Guardians crush Tigers 7-3 to advance in Major League Baseball playoffs

Guardians crush Tigers 7-3 to advance in Major League Baseball playoffs
Lane Thomas of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates a grand slam during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game 5 of the Division Series at Progressive Field on Oct. 12, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP)
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Updated 13 October 2024

Guardians crush Tigers 7-3 to advance in Major League Baseball playoffs

Guardians crush Tigers 7-3 to advance in Major League Baseball playoffs
  • The AL champion will face the National League champion, the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers, in the World Series

WASHINGTON: Lane Thomas smashed a grand slam and the Cleveland Guardians beat Detroit 7-3 on Saturday to advance in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Cleveland captured the winner-take-all showdown to seal the American League division series 3-2 and reach a best-of-seven AL Championship Series (ALCS) matchup with the New York Yankees that starts on Monday in New York.

The AL champion will face the National League champion, the New York Mets or Los Angeles Dodgers, in the World Series.

Cleveland, into the ALCS for the first time since 2016, have not captured the MLB crown since 1948 and have not reached the World Series since 2016.

Thomas blasted his bases-loaded home run in the fifth inning and drove in another run in the seventh to power the Guardians.

“It’s incredible,” Thomas said. “You just love coming through for your teammates in that situation. Our bullpen has been grinding this whole series and to make all those innings worth it, it feels awesome.”

Cleveland used eight pitchers to frustrate Detroit batters, combining to strike out 16 while scattering seven hits and six walks as closer Emmanuel Clase retired the last six Tiger batters over the final two innings.

“Watching him all year has been incredible,” Thomas said of Clase. “It was cool to see him get those last outs.”

Detroit’s left-handed pitcher Tarik Skubal — the Game 2 winner who led the AL this year with 18 wins, 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 earned-run average — struck out six over six innings but surrendered the pivotal grand slam to Thomas.

“He threw me a good pitch to hit,” Thomas said of the grand slam offering. “He threw one pitch over the middle and I happened to put a good swing on it, simple as that.

“It was good to come through.”

The Tigers escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third inning when Thomas popped out to first base.

The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Detroit’s Trey Sweeney walked and scored on Kerry Carpenter’s single off the right-field wall.

The Guardians loaded the bases again in their half of the fifth on singles by Andres Gimenez, Steven Kwan and David Fry and then Skubal hit Jose Ramirez in the left forearm to force in the tying run.

It was the first run allowed by Skubal after 28 2/3 scoreless innings since Sept. 18.

Thomas then followed with his bases-clearing grand slam to give Cleveland a 5-1 advantage.

“I don’t know how many scoreless innings he threw,” Thomas said. “But it only takes one (pitch).”

Detroit answered in the sixth when Spencer Torkelson doubled, took third on a wild pitch by Tim Herrin and scored on a Jake Rogers single, but the Tigers left the bases loaded when Carpenter struck out.

The Tigers, who last won the World Series in 1984, pulled within 5-3 in the seventh when Riley Greene singled and scored on a double by Colt Keith.

Cleveland responded in the seventh when Kwan singled, took third on a Ramirez single and scored when Thomas singled for a 6-3 advantage.

The Guardians added another insurance run in the eighth when Gimenez doubled and scored on Brayan Rocchio’s single.

Clase entered for the Guardians in the eighth and the 26-year-old Dominican right-hander sent down the Tigers’ final batters in order for the victory.


Amorim aims dig at own players after Man United’s embarrassing exit in the League Cup

Amorim aims dig at own players after Man United’s embarrassing exit in the League Cup
Updated 28 August 2025

Amorim aims dig at own players after Man United’s embarrassing exit in the League Cup

Amorim aims dig at own players after Man United’s embarrassing exit in the League Cup
  • In a dig at his own players, Amorim praised Grimsby for being “the only team that was on the pitch.”

GRIMSBY, England: Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said his players “spoke for me really loud” after slumping to one of the most embarrassing losses in the club’s history on Wednesday.
United was beaten 12-11 in a penalty shootout by Grimsby Town, a team from the fourth tier of English soccer, in the second round of the League Cup. United had trailed 2-0 before scoring two late goals to snatch a 2-2 draw and force a shootout.
In a dig at his own players, Amorim praised Grimsby for being “the only team that was on the pitch.”
“The best players lose because a team can win against any group of players,” Amorim said, “and I think the (United) team and the players spoke really loud today, so that’s it. We lost, the best team won.”
Amorim accused his team of playing “without any intensity.”
“We were completely lost and it’s hard to explain and that’s why I think they spoke really loud,” he said.
Asked what he meant by that specific comment, Amorim said: “I think it was clear for everybody what happened today.”
Amorim guided United to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League last season — its lowest ever in the competition — and has yet to earn a win in three games this season, after a loss to Arsenal and a draw at Fulham in the league.
“We have a game on the weekend (against Burnley) and then we have two weeks (during the international break). And we will sort things out,” Amorim said when asked where the Grimsby result left him and his team.


Djokovic advances at US Open as Sabalenka, Alcaraz step up title bids

Djokovic advances at US Open as Sabalenka, Alcaraz step up title bids
Updated 28 August 2025

Djokovic advances at US Open as Sabalenka, Alcaraz step up title bids

Djokovic advances at US Open as Sabalenka, Alcaraz step up title bids
  • Djokovic said that while not at his best, he is hoping to play himself into form as the tournament progresses

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to reach the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka prepared to step up her title bid.
Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title, recovered from going a set down against American qualifier Zachary Svajda to complete a 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 win on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
The 38-year-old Serbian legend had not played since his semifinal exit at Wimbledon in July before arriving in New York, skipping most of the North American hardcourt swing.
Djokovic said that while not at his best, he is hoping to play himself into form as the tournament progresses.
“That’s what I’m hoping, the deeper I go into the tournament the better I feel about my game,” he said.
“Obviously a bit different for me the last couple of years body-wise. I get the wear and tear quicker than I used to do.”
Djokovic’s victory sees him into the third round at the US Open for a record-equalling 19th time, where he will face either Britain’s Cameron Norrie or Argentina’s Francisco Comesana.
Norrie is one of only two British men left in the draw after fifth-seeded compatriot Jack Draper withdrew due to injury earlier Wednesday.
Draper reached the semifinals in New York last year but missed warm-up events in Cincinnati and Toronto this year while nursing a bone bruise in his left arm.
“I tried my very best to be here and give myself every chance to play but the discomfort in my arm has become too much and I have to do what is right and look after myself,” Draper wrote on social media.
Draper’s second round opponent, Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, was given a walkover into the third round.
The withdrawal of Draper clears Jannik Sinner’s path toward defending his title. Sinner was due to face Draper in the quarter-finals.
In other men’s action on Wednesday, Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz looks to keep his campaign rolling with a night game against Italy’s Mattia Bellucci.
In the women’s draw meanwhile, world number one Sabalenka also faces a night game, taking on Russia’s Polina Kudermetova on Arthur Ashe.
In other games on Wednesday, Britain’s Emma Raducanu continued her solid start to the tournament after dispatching Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen in straight sets, winning 6-2, 6-1.
Tjen had become the first Indonesian player to reach the main draw of a Grand Slam in 21 years and followed that up with a first round upset of 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova.
But she was beaten comfortably by Raducanu, who is aiming to recapture the US Open title she won as an 18-year-old qualifier in 2021.
Raducanu will face either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or Tereza Valentova in the next round.
The unseeded Britain, who is back to full fitness after a series of injury problems in recent seasons, is relishing the prospect of facing a player of the caliber of 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina.
“She’s a top opponent. She’s won Wimbledon. She’s been at the top of the game for so long and very dominant and has big weapons, has a huge serve and big groundstrokes,” she said. “So I do want to see how my game suits and fits against the top.”
While Tjen headed for the exit, another player from Southeast Asia, the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, also saw her tournament come to an end.
Eala, the first player from the Philippines to win a Grand Slam singles match with her defeat of 14th seed Clara Tauson on Sunday, was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.


Big prize money on offer for local-bred juveniles at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend

Big prize money on offer for local-bred juveniles at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend
Updated 27 August 2025

Big prize money on offer for local-bred juveniles at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend

Big prize money on offer for local-bred juveniles at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend
  • The $133,00 JCSA Contributions for local-bred horses takes place in Taif on Friday
  • Sami Al-Harabi and the Red Stable also have big claims on Saturday’s concluding Alshfa Cup over 2000m with Boltaway (GB)

TAIF: A combined SR1,000,000 ($266,000) is on offer over two races for two-year-olds at King Khalid Racecourse this weekend as the Jockey Club of Ƶ Contributions for locally bred animals sold at auction in 2024 take centre stage.

The sixth and seventh 1,400-metre races on Friday each carry a purse of $133,000. The latter, for colts and geldings, features a field of 13 runners, with the idea being to give horses sold at the November JCSA Yearling sale the chance to earn prizemoney.

Among the 13 is the newcomer Alsultan Seven who goes to post under champion jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi for trainer Abdullah Al-Nahhabi, with Fahad Saad and the powerful Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz represented by the twice-raced Moa’arekhom.

An even bigger field of 16 has been declared for the filles’ event with Al-Fouraidi again in action aboard the Ahmed Al-Shaia-trained Basmat Almuhamadih, who was sixth on her debut earlier this month, while Alexis Moreno teams up with trainer Gaith Al-Ghaith and the once-raced Taghneik.

Arabian runners take charge in the final two events on Friday and plenty of high-class form is on offer in the concluding Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Cup Prep Arabian Horses Open.

Bint Ghaliat Al Khalediah is top-rated for Al-Fouraidi and trainer Mousa Al-Masoudi, who also saddles Tariq Al-Mansour’s mount Maysour Al Khalediah, after the pair were first and second on Aug, 16.

Also in the line-up for the in-form Thamer Al-Daihani and owner Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah is the French-bred Sir Amer, who was third to the Al-Khalediah pair last time out, but was also a respectable seventh in the G1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic on Saudi Cup night.

Valuable prize money is on offer on both days of action with the SR150,000 Fillies and Mare Cup Local Bred Horses Open taking place on Saturday and features Al-Fouraidi’s mount Bint Farhh.

Trained by Sami Al-Harabi for the Red Stable, the seven-year-old mare is clear on ratings and was the winner of the Mishrif bin Motlaq bin Shanaan Cup in Riyadh last January.

Al-Harabi and the Red Stable also have big claims on Saturday’s concluding Alshfa Cup over 2000m with Boltaway (GB) who was last seen winning in Riyadh for Jimmy Jerkins, and clashes with the Al-Fouraidi-ridden Tuwaiq Cup third Mr Trinket (IRE).


6 talking points ahead of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League kick-off

6 talking points ahead of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League kick-off
Updated 27 August 2025

6 talking points ahead of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League kick-off

6 talking points ahead of the 2025-26 Saudi Pro League kick-off
  • With Jorge Jesus at Al-Nassr, Al-Ittihad looking for two in a row and Al-Hilal aiming to bounce back, it promises to be an exciting season

LONDON: It’s that time of year again — the start of the new Saudi Pro League season. As 18 teams prepare amid fears, hopes and dreams, Arab News looks at six questions waiting to be answered in the 2025-26 campaign.

What will the Jorge Jesus effect be?

In a stunning move, just weeks after Jorge Jesus left Al-Hilal following a disappointing season — though this is always relative with the Blues — he turned up at Al-Nassr.

The Riyadh Derby is always a passionate affair but this adds extra spice.

The Portuguese veteran knows how to win the league and Al-Nassr needed someone who could bring its talents together.

Joao Felix and Kingsley Coman are players at their peak, or just about, and Inigo Martinez joins the middle of the defense from Barcelona. With such an experienced coach at the helm, this could be Al-Nassr’s year. The signs — the Super Cup performance, especially beating Al-Ittihad with ten men — suggest the Yellows have a new resilience.

Can Al-Ittihad go again?

Al-Ittihad were deserved champions but they know that winning the title is one thing, and defending it is another. The last five times the Tigers did this, they failed to stay at the top of the pile.

The Jeddah giants are still being linked with top stars and reports of their interest in Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes have refused to go away. 

If coach Laurent Blanc can keep his team together then they could go again — though, unlike last season, the extra demands in Asia may take their toll, especially on some of the older stars. Karim Benzema’s fitness could be key though Moussa Diaby was one of the league’s best players last season.

Can Al-Ahli step up after Asian Champions League success?

Finishing fifth may have been a disappointment but there was the small matter of becoming champions of Asia in May.

Now the challenge is the domestic front. On the face of it, Al-Ahli has what it takes here, too. Ivan Toney took a little time to settle before he started banging in the goals. Riyad Mahrez looks good. The addition of 25-year-old French midfielder Enzo Millot may not have made massive international headlines, but he could be just the sort of player the team needs. 

Can Al-Hilal bounce back?

The Blues usually do. They lost their way a little last season, though it should be remembered that they finished second and reached the last four of the Champions League.

This is a club that has winning and trophies in its DNA. New coach Simone Inzaghi has already impressed at the FIFA Club World Cup with that win over Manchester City, and the arrival of Darwin Nunez is interesting. The forward comes from Liverpool with something to prove and that could spell danger for SPL defenses, especially if Salem Al-Dawsari stays fit.

Can any other teams disrupt the big boys?

Al-Qadsiah impressed when they finished fourth in their first season after promotion, and the club was unlucky to miss out on Asia. The loss of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his 17 goals to Marseille may hurt but fans have the big-money signing of Mateo Retegui — Serie A’s top scorer last season — as a major consolation.

Then there is Neom SC, newly promoted and ambitious, with a solid-looking squad and former PSG coach Christophe Galtier in place. And then there is Al-Kholood, who finished ninth last time and, now owned by a US investment company, looking to climb the table.

Can Ronaldo make it three in a row?

The 40-year-old’s goal in the Saudi Super Cup broke records — it took him to a century for four separate clubs, something never achieved before.

Since his arrival in Riyadh he has not been able to stop scoring; even though he arrived in the middle of 2022-23, he finished the season as the league’s fifth-highest scorer.

No surprise, then, that he topped the standings in his first full season and repeated his feat the next year. To do so for a third campaign in a row would truly be something special. It would also take him that step closer to the 1,000-goal mark. 


Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan president mark historic milestone for South American motorsport

Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan president mark historic milestone for South American motorsport
Updated 27 August 2025

Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan president mark historic milestone for South American motorsport

Ben Sulayem and Paraguayan president mark historic milestone for South American motorsport
  • Delegates from more than 30 countries in the Americas assembled for flagship congress in Asuncion

DUBAI : The president of Paraguay, Santiago Pena, and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, opened the FIA American Congress 2025 in Asuncion, a milestone for South American motorsport.

The congress is a flagship event on the FIA calendar, bringing together delegates from 33 countries across the Americas. The FIA is the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide.

Ben Sulayem said: “The American Congress is the embodiment of what the FIA stands for, a globally connected federation, leading the way in motorsport and mobility. We are elevating and innovating across our sectors and bringing together a passionate community to share knowledge and ideas.

“Here in Paraguay, and across the Americas, mobility and motorsport are evolving rapidly. Major infrastructure projects are connecting regions and boosting trade, and this week marks a historic milestone for South American motorsport with the Rally del Paraguay joining the FIA WRC calendar for the very first time.   

“I want to extend my sincere thanks to the president of the Republic of Paraguay, Mr. Santiago Pena, for joining us on this special occasion, our hosts the Touring y Automovil Club Paraguayo, and the city of Asuncion for their warm hospitality.”

Pena said: “We are no longer the best hidden treasure of the continent, but a giant that is re-emerging with full force: people proud of their roots, its heroic history and convinced of its inevitable future of greatness.

“Over the next few days, you will be able to experience the legendary hospitality of Paraguay, a country full of caring people.”

Spanning three days and hosted by the Touring y Automovil Club Paraguayo, the congress is focused on key themes including road safety and education, innovation in mobility and automotive technology, and the continued growth of motorsport in the region.

The congress precedes the inaugural FIA WRC Rally del Paraguay, to be attended by Pena and Ben Sulayem, in Itapua from Aug. 28-31.