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Saints go down quietly, fall 15-3 to Indianapolis in series finale

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

The St. Paul Saints went down quietly on Sunday at CHS Field, closing out the homestand with a 15-3 loss to the Indianapolis Indians.Just how silent were the Saints’ bats? The home team struck out 14 times, which is not out of character for the Saints this season.They entered the game having struck out 392 times this season, which is the second-most in minor league baseball. They had a season-high 18 strikeouts in a loss at Rochester on April 28.“(Strikeouts) are kind of out of my control,” said Saints first-year hitting coach Nate Spears. “They are part of the game. When we think about them too much they tend to come in bunches. So, just try to relax the guys’ minds a little more and try to train a little harder in the cages — in and out of the zone — so we can start recognizing a little bit better.”Spears said the team trains on a daily basis on recognizing pitches in and out of the strike zone. But he doesn’t feel the high number of strikeouts is of particular concern.“I don’t th...

St. Louisan Jayson Tatum sets Game 7 record with 51 points, Celtics beat 76ers 112-88

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum gave Boston a long-overdue fast start and followed it up with a finish the NBA had never seen before.After struggling in back-to-back games, Tatum erupted for 51 points – the most in a Game 7 in history — and the Celtics beat the Philadelphia 76ers 112-88 on Sunday to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the second straight year.One game after missing 14 of his first 15 shots only to awaken in the fourth quarter in time to save their season, Tatum scored 25 in the back-and-forth first half and 17 more in Boston’s 33-10 third quarter that turned a three-point lead into a runaway.The Celtics, who lost to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals last year, will face the Miami Heat in the East finals for the second straight season. Game 1 is on Wednesday in Boston.“I was relieved just to get another chance. Our season could have been over after Game 6,” said Tatum, who broke the Game 7 record of 50 points Stephen Curry set two weeks ago. "It definit...

DU women’s lacrosse punches ticket to Elite Eight with win over Albany

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

It’s official: The University of Denver women’s lacrosse program is elite.The Pioneers punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight with a dramatic 8-6 win over Albany that featured three ties, two lead changes and a second consecutive hat trick from senior attacker Julia Gilbert.Hosting an NCAA regional for the first time in program history, the fifth-seeded Pioneers won back-to-back games over the weekend to move to 21-0 and a matchup at fourth-seeded North Carolina (16-4) on Thursday for a spot in the national semifinals. The match will be broadcast on ESPNU at 3 p.m. MDT.It marks the second time the DU women have reached the quarterfinals, and first time since 2019.As was the case in Friday’s 10-7 win over Southern Cal, the Pioneers closed things out Sunday with a dominant defensive performance, limiting Albany to one goal over the final 26 minutes of action.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | DU women’s lacrosse survives USC rally, adv...

Man injured in weekend East Oakland shooting

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

OAKLAND — A man was hospitalized after an injury shooting in an East Oakland neighborhood, authorities said.According to police, dispatchers received a report of the shooting at 10:48 a.m. Sunday in the Fruitvale neighborhood.When officers arrived in the 3900 block of International Boulevard, they found a pickup truck with a man in his thirties inside suffering from at least one gunshot wound. First responders took the man to a hospital, where his condition was not immediately known Sunday afternoon.Investigators believe the man had been driving a few blocks away in the neighborhood and managed to drive to the location where he crashed.Investigators said they do not yet have any motives or suspects in custody, and did not share any associated suspect or vehicle descriptions.For information leading to the arrest of a suspect, police are offering up to $5,000 in the shooting. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3426 or Crime Stoppers of Oakland at 510-777-8572.Con...

SF Giants waste Logan Webb’s strong start, lose 2-1 to Arizona

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

Considering there was a moment Sunday when Logan Webb wondered if he was going to get out of the first inning, things went pretty well for the Giants’ ace right-hander against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.Except, of course, for the bottom line. And that’s becoming a problem where Webb is concerned.The Giants continued to flail to no avail at the plate with Webb on the mound, and the result was 2-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Lourdes Gurriel’s run-scoring double in the ninth inning against Tyler Rogers.The blow by Gurriel rolled to the fence down the left field line, with the Giants’ positioned in such a way defensively that it gave left fielder Blake Sabol no chance to cut the run off at the plate. Christian Walker, who walked to lead off the inning, built up a head of steam and scored easily with the winning run.Miguel Castro (2-1) got the win in relief, with Rogers falling to 0-3 with the loss.The Giants fell to 17-23, winning the first game of a...

Gurriel’s RBI double in 9th sends Diamondbacks past Giants 2-1

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks faced a really good pitcher on Sunday, trailed for a decent chunk of the game and spent the majority of the afternoon struggling at the plate.They won anyway.Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove home Christian Walker with a looping double down the left-field line in the ninth inning, leading the Diamondbacks to a 2-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants.Arizona won three of four in the series and improved to 23-18 this season. For a team that’s endured three straight losing seasons, Sunday’s win was exactly what manager Torey Lovullo wanted to see as the D-backs try to become a factor in the NL West.“To get to where we’re going, we’ve got to beat guys like that and we’ve got to win games like that,” Lovullo said. “As you push it forward, you’re starting to play meaningful games late, you’re going to see good arms and good pitching.“I just want our guys to train for the opposing team’s best effort.”Th...

Early end to Barcelona’s title celebrations after Espanyol fans invade pitch

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona players celebrating the team’s Spanish league title success on Sunday had to leave in a hurry after Espanyol fans invaded the pitch and started running toward them.A large group of Espanyol supporters from the ultra section behind one of the goals jumped onto the field and headed for the players who were singing and celebrating in the center.Security guards quickly intervened to keep players and the club’s officials safe. Some of the guards confronted the fans but were pushed back toward the tunnel. Riot police had to stand in front of the tunnel’s entrance with shields to prevent the fans from going in. The supporters threw chairs and other objects before dispersing without any other incidents.Barcelona coach Xavi had tried to take his players into the locker room even before the fans’ actions.“It was a moment of celebration, euphoria, it was normal, but we were not in our home and at one point I felt that it was more respectful i...

Harper ejected as Freeland leads Rockies over Phillies 4-0 on 30th birthday

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected for charging Colorado’s dugout, and Kyle Freeland dominated for six innings on his 30th birthday in the Rockies’ 4-0 win Sunday.Harper appeared to respond to Colorado reliever Jake Bird, who clapped a hand against his glove and said something toward the Philadelphia dugout after the last out of the top of the seventh.“I get emotion,” Harper said. “I understand getting fired up for an inning and stuff like that, but once you make it about a team or make it about yourself and the other team, that’s when I’ve kind of got a problem with it.”Harper was initially restrained by Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, then Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan prevented the two-time NL MVP from entering a group of players and coaches gathered near the first-base line.“It could be,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said when asked whether Harper’s reaction was the result of mounting frustration. “But...

Stricker wins 2nd straight Regions Tradition championship, tying tournament scoring record

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A close contest for three days, the Regions Tradition ultimately ended up in just another six-stroke victory for Steve Stricker.It’s becoming a trend.Stricker tied the Regions Tradition record with a 23-under 265, including Sunday’s closing 65, and ran away with his second straight championship at the PGA Tour Champions major by six strokes over Ernie Els and Robert Karlsson. It’s his third win at the Tradition in the last five attempts — all by six shots— and gave the 56-year-old five major wins, sixth-most on the 50-and-over tour. He also has two runner-up finishes in that span on the par-72 Founders Course at Greystone.“It was a special week here again,” Stricker said. “I don’t know what it is about this place, but it brings out the best in me for some reason. I’ve played some really good golf here and today was no different. “I got off to a good start, birdieing the first three holes kind of settled my nerves a little bit. I played reall...

Walls tiebreaking grand slam lifts Rays over Yanks 8-7 for 4-game split

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:52:41 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Walls hit a tiebreaking grand slam in the fifth inning, Jose Siri caught Aaron Judge’s fly in front of the center-field wall for the final out and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees 8-7 on Sunday for a four-game series split.Walls fell a double shy of the cycle after going 3 for 15 in his first five games against New York. Major league-leading Tampa Bay is 4-3 against the Yankees, with six of the games decided by one run. The teams don’t meet again until July 31.“They were tough,” Walls said. “I feel like every time we got a lead, they would respond and either take it back or put some runs up and match whatever we did that inning before.”Down 3-0, the Yankees went ahead in the third on two-run homers by Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Rizzo off Zach Eflin (5-1).“Disappointing to not finish it off today, but I feel very pleased with where this group is at,” New York manager Aaron Boone said.Randy Arozarena hit a tying sacrifice fly with the bases loaded i...