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SPORTS •
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Darvish masters Astros HOUSTON (AP) — Yu Darvish was nearly perfect against the Astros once again, taking a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and striking out a career-high 15 to lead the Texas Rangers over Houston 2-1 Monday for their eighth straight win. Darvish dominated the Astros until Carlos Corporan lined a home run into the right-field seats with one out in the eighth for Houston’s only hit. Outfielder Alex Rios chased Corporan’s drive to the wall, but had to watch as it sailed about five rows into the stands. Darvish simply looked around, then wiped his brow with his arm before preparing to throw his next pitch. Until the homer, Houston’s lone runner came when rookie Jonathan Villar drew a two-out walk on a full count in the sixth. Texas catcher A.J. Pierzynski was ejected for arguing with plate umpire Ron Kulpa over a AP breaking pitch he called low Texas Rangers’ Yu Darvish delivers a pitch against the for ball four. Houston Astros in the first inning of a baseball game In early April, Darvish (12-5) was one out away from Monday in Houston. a perfect game at Minute Astros. With two outs in Darvish struck out 14 in Maid Park before Marwin the first, Ian Kinsler and Gonzalez singled between his four prior games this years, Adrian Beltre doubled and including his earlier gem at legs. Pierzynski hit an RBI single Houston. This time, the two-time off Brett Oberholtzer (2-1). Joe Nathan pitched a All-Star ace from Japan was Oberholtzer yielded equally sharp. Darvish retired perfect ninth for his 35th seven hits and two runs save. the last two batters in eighth with six strikeouts in 6 2-3 The AL West-leading and exited, having increased innings for his first loss in Rangers took a quick his major league-leading three major league starts. lead over the last-place strikeout total to 207.
The Houston hitters had no such luck with Darvish. Darvish was strong from the start relying mostly on a four-seam fastball, sliders and a cutter against the Astros’ inexperienced lineup. He struck out the side in the first inning before getting two fly outs and a ground out in the second. The 26-year-old righty fanned two each in the third and fourth innings, struck out the side in the fifth and the first batter of the sixth inning. His strikeout of Chris Carter to start the fifth was his 200th of the season, giving him a team record for fewest games (23) needed to reach the mark. In the sixth, Darvish started walking off the mound after his close pitch to Villar. Pierzynski also began heading to the dugout, but Kulpa said it missed. Pierzynski didn’t like the call, started yelling in Kulpa’s face and was quickly tossed. Geovany Soto took at catcher and Darvish walked Villar on a full count. Darvish, a two-time MVP in Japan, flirted with perfection last Sept. 3, too, retiring the first 17 batters at Kansas City. Notes: Darvish set rookie franchise records for wins (16) and strikeouts (221) last season. He finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting behind winner Mike Trout and Oakland outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
Mingo makes major 1st impression BEREA, Ohio (AP) — There seemed to be four guys wearing No. 51 for the Browns in their exhibition opener. Rookie linebacker Barkevious Mingo was everywhere. The first-round draft pick made a huge first impression in his NFL debut, making big plays on defense and special teams in Cleveland’s 27-19 preseason win over the St. Louis Rams. Mingo, taken sixth overall out of LSU in April’s draft, had several pressures on Rams quarterbacks, recorded a sack that was nullified by a penalty, delivered a key block on Travis Benjamin’s 91-yard punt return for a touchdown and made a tackle on a kickoff. At one point, his brown jersey was even spotted in the Dawg Pound. That was just a fan, but he’ll soon be joined by others. “It was fun, man,” Mingo said. “It was everything I thought it would be. I enjoyed being out there with my teammates and just really enjoyed getting back to playing football.” Mingo maximized every second he was on the field. On Cleveland’s first kickoff, he sprinted down and tackled Rams running back Isaiah Pead at the 14-yard line. But it was on defense that the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Mingo — everyone calls him Keke (key-key) — had his finest moments. Although he’s currently working with the secondteam defense, Mingo showcased his exceptional pass-rushing skills and speed off the edge that forced Rams quarterbacks into mistakes.
AP
Cleveland Browns linebacker Barkevious Mingo (51) rushes past fullback Owen Marecic during training camp at the NFL football team’s facility in Berea, Ohio, Monday.
Linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was impressed by Mingo’s performance. The moment didn’t seem too big for him. “He has a knack for getting after the quarterback,” Jackson said. “He showed a tremendous amount of conditioning. For your first game, it usually jumps up on you. Everyone remembers that first preseason game. You take a couple deep breaths and you’re like, ‘OK, this is the real deal.’ But I watched him every play. He’s got a knack for getting after that quarterback. “He has a motor, and you can’t teach that.” Mingo’s motor revs non-stop. He’s always on the go, and even when he’s not moving there’s a sense he’s about to accelerate. Mingo wasn’t credited with a tackle, but it seemed every time Rams backup quarterback Austin Davis
was back to pass, Mingo was in the neighborhood. He appeared to record his first sack when he beat Rams backup tackle and former LSU teammate Joe Barksdale on a spin move, reached out and threw down Davis with one hand. However, the sack was wiped out by a tripping penalty. Mingo waved his arms toward Cleveland’s sideline, hoping the penalty would be declined. Still, it was a moment to savor. “It was kind of flukish,” Mingo said. “I just barely got a hand on him and he fell.” It hasn’t taken long for Mingo to win over his teammates. He’s still a rookie, and subjected to the same treatment as other first-year players. He got a haircut like all the other “rooks” last week. But Cleveland’s veterans have taken note of Mingo’s humility and work ethic. “He’s a freak, man,”
cornerback Joe Haden said. “He just covers so much ground. And the thing that I like about Mingo, he’s not flashy, he doesn’t talk. He just goes out there, handles his business.” In practice, Mingo has made some of the Browns offensive lineman look silly with his exceptional speed. During one-on-one drills, he’s often the star, blowing past tackles and guards with a spinning move. But Mingo also knows he needs to diversify his repertoire to get to the quarterback. “You can’t go in there with (just a) fastball,” Mingo said. “You’ve kind of got to play off the guy that’s blocking you and use his energy to help make the play.” On Monday, Mingo spent a few minutes on the side going over some hand-fighting techniques with Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, who was offering a few tips to Cleveland’s young linebacker. Browns safety T.J. Ward said Mingo stands apart for more than being physically gifted. “Mingo works hard, that’s the first thing.” Ward said. “He has that desire just to be good, and that’s the first thing I like about him — he’s hard-working and just his natural ability, he’s one of the most athletic guys I’ve come across. He’s going to help this team. “He was a high draft pick, so some of the things that he’s doing are what you would expect from someone taken that high, but it’s his intangibles that make him a little bit different rookie.”
Girls Night Out
LUAU
Hawaiian Style Tapa (Small plate offerings)
Downtown Auburn • Thurs., August 15 4 PM-8 PM Visit the Olive Twist and many other downtown restaurants & experience a unique dinner treat while you shop! Entrees are $1.00-$1.50
Don’t miss this fun Girls Night Out event!
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013
Local Sports Brief • Prep Girls Golf Hornets defeat Chargers SYRACUSE — Angola defeated West Noble 198-229 in a Northeast Corner Conference match Monday at South Shore Golf Club. Morgan Dornte and Alison Brimmer shared medalist honors for the Hornets with 46s. “I can see a lot of sparks and only great happenings for our team,” AHS coach Joan Sanborn said. Haley Teel and Paige Shearer each shot 54 for the Chargers. On Friday at Cedar Lake in Howe, Angola shot 193 in defeating incomplete teams from Prairie Heights and Fort Wayne North Side. The host Panthers had two golfers in their first match of the season with Kelsey Younce and Shantel Asher hitting the links. Younce led her team with a 50. Dornte medaled with a 43 to lead the Hornets. Monday’s results
Angola 198, West Noble 229 AHS: Morgan Dornte 46, Alison Brimmer 46, Mackenna Kelly 52, Lauren Stanley 54, Kandi Bach 55, Emily Stoy 60, Rachael Shively 54. WN: Haley Teel 54, Paige Shearer 54, Racheal Stohlman 57, Molly Marsh 64, Kelsi Davidson 78.
Friday’s results
Angola 193, Prairie Heights inc., F.W. North Side inc. AHS: Morgan Dornte 43, Kandi Bach 49, Lauren Stanley 49, Alison Brimmer 52, Rachael Shively 55. PH: Kelsey Younce 50, Shantel Asher 68. FWNS: Amanda Kiefer 63, Sandra Butler 72, Naomi Hatfield 73.
Yankees nip L.A. Angels, 2-1 NEW YORK (AP) — Minus Mariano Rivera in the ninth inning, the New York Yankees used a pair of relievers to close out the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 Monday night and preserve the win for Hiroki Kuroda. Kuroda (11-7) tossed three-hit ball for eight shutout innings. Rivera was given the night off after blowing three straight save chances, including one Sunday. Fans chanted “We want Mo!” after Boone Logan relieved to begin the ninth and allowed a leadoff single to J.B. Shuck that hit first base. Rivera was not even seen in the Yankees bullpen in the ninth. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said after the game that he wanted to give Rivera a night off after the career saves leader pitched three times in the past five days. The Angels got close after Logan struck out Kole Calhoun. Robertson walked Mike Trout, and Josh Hamilton followed with a flare just beyond the reach of third baseman Alex Rodriguez for an RBI double. Erick Aybar was intentionally walked to load the bases. Robertson then struck out Mark Trumbo and ex-Yankee Chris Nelson on a high, full-count pitch to
end it for his first save this seson. Curtis Granderson homered in the seventh inning and Brett Gardner had an RBI single in the third. The Yankees’ most dependable starter, Kuroda has not allowed a run in five of his last seven outings to lower his ERA to 2.33. An Angels lineup missing injured Albert Pujols reached base only four times against the Japanese right-hander. Kuroda struck out seven and walked one. Granderson connected off Garrett Richards for his third homer of the season in his 59th at-bat of an injuryplagued season. Richards (3-4) was impressive in his first start at Yankee Stadium since his big league debut in 2011. He allowed seven hits in eight innings and made several nice plays on comebackers. Rodriguez started at third base for the second straight day for the first time since returning from hip surgery last week. The fickle New York fans gave him a mixed reception when he came to the plate it in the first, and cheered when he singled. But the boos grew as he hit into two 6-4-3 double plays, one in the fourth and another in the sixth, the latter with runners on first and second and one out.
Big 9th inning lifts A’s past Jays TORONTO (AP) — Alberto Callaspo is quickly turning into quite the deadline acquisition for the Oakland Athletics. Callaspo hit a tiebreaking two-run double in Oakland’s four-run ninth inning, leading the Athletics to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday. Callaspo, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Angels on July 30, also had a tiebreaking double in the eighth inning of Sunday’s 6-4 win at Toronto. The clutch hit in the series finale came against closer Casey Janssen (4-1) with one out and the bases loaded. “It gets you closer to your team,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of Callaspo’s pair of big swings. “It’s very difficult to come into a club late in the year and feel comfortable. The more you do that in those type of situations, the more comfortable you feel, the more part of it you feel, and rightly so.” Callaspo is batting .292 with four RBIs in 10 games with Oakland. Teammate Josh Donaldson said he’s happy to have Callaspo on
his side. “It shows that the trade paid off,” Donaldson said. “He’s a solid player, he’s scrappy. Against us it seemed like he would get that big RBI to either put them back in the game or give them the lead. So far, he’s been doing the same thing over here.” Monday’s decisive hit came after Callaspo made an error in the eighth that allowed the Blue Jays to score the tying run. “He definitely made up for it,” Melvin said. The Athletics had lost six of seven before arriving in Toronto, but took three of four from the last-place Blue Jays. Oakland began the day one game back of AL West-leading Texas. “I feel like it definitely got us back on the right track,” Athletics starter Dan Straily said. Oakland outfielder Josh Reddick, who hit five home runs in the first two games of the series, failed to go deep for the second straight game. Reddick walked in the second, flied out in his next two at-bats and was intentionally walked in the ninth.