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Ryan Noda’s new approach pays off Oakland A’s earn first series win of season

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Oakland Athletics won consecutive games for the first time this season as Ryan Noda had a triple and double, reaching base four times in a 5-4 win over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night.Noda was 5 for 7 with three doubles, a triple, four runs, and four RBIs in the first two games of the series between teams tied for the worst record in the major leagues at 8-26.“He’s swinging the bat,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’s learned early in the season that when you’re as patient as he’s been coming through the minor leagues, these big-league guys will attack you. He’s been a little more aggressive in the zone and that’s created some results.”Noda is just trying to keep an even keel.“My job is to get on base any way I can,” he said. “The last two days I’ve been doing a pretty good job of it. I’m just sticking to my approach and grinding it out. I’ve been getting good pitches and not missing them.”Ken Waldichuk (1-2) allowed four runs, six hits, and six ...

Disastrous second quarter sinks Warriors as Lakers cruise to Game 3 win

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

LOS ANGELES — The Warriors started to create separation early in the second quarter, pulling ahead by 11 points Saturday night.And then it all fell apart.It started with a Stephen Curry turnover at the 7:35 mark in the second quarter and ended with him sitting on the bench early in the fourth, shaking his head as he looked at the floor with a towel hanging over his head.The Warriors would eventually fall 127-97 to the Los Angeles Lakers, dropping 2-1 in the Western Conference semifinals.The Warriors overcame an early double figure lead to take a seven-point advantage into the second quarter. But Golden State lost its composure and rhythm, resulting in an epic second-quarter collapse.The Lakers thumped the Warriors with a 30-8 run over the last 7:53 of the second quarter to take an 11-point lead at the half.The Warriors didn’t do themselves any favors during the home team rally. Draymond Green and JaMychal Green were each assessed technical fouls, Moses Moody was called f...

Espinoza shines as Earthquakes beat reigning MLS champs before huge crowd at Levi’s Stadium

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

SANTA CLARA – Cristian Espinoza continued his MVP form as the San Jose Earthquakes beat reigning MLS champion LAFC 2-1 Saturday at Levi’s Stadium.Espinoza, the MLS player of the month in April, scored both goals for the Quakes (5-3-3) against LAFC (5-1-3), who had been the last unbeaten team in the league.After opening the scoring in the eighth minute, Espinoza scored the winner on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute and has eight goals, tied for the most in MLS with LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Seattle’s Jordan Morris. Bouanga scored in the 30th minute for LAFC.An announced crowd of 45,112 came to the third-ever MLS game at Levi’s, and first since 2015, in what was billed as the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration on the West Coast.The match was a celebration of Mexican heritage, with pre-match festivities featuring luchadores, mariachi bands, dancing groups and an appearance by Jared Borgetti, who has the second-most goals in the history of the Mexican national team.Singer-songwriter El F...

Acosta sparks Cincinnati to 2-1 victory over DC United

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — Luciano Acosta had a goal and an assist to power FC Cincinnati to a 2-1 victory over D.C. United on Saturday night.Acosta picked up his second goal of the season when he scored unassisted in the 59th minute to give Cincinnati (7-1-3) a 1-0 lead.Cincinnati added an insurance goal in the 73rd minute when Álvaro Barreal took a pass from Acosta and found the net for the first time this season.DC United (4-5-2) avoided being shut out on an unassisted goal by Taxiarchis Fountas in the 90th minute.Cincinnati keeps pace with the New England Revolution atop the Eastern Conference standings with its club-record sixth straight victory at home. Cincinnati is 9-1-2 in its last 12 home contests after going 8-30-16 in its previous 54.DC United has lost its last two meetings with Cincinnati after posting a 4-0-3 record in the first seven match-ups. Cincinnati beat DC United 5-2 in October. DC United yielded just four total goals to Cincinnati the first seven times they playe...

Lakers rout Warriors 127-97; Heat roll in Butler’s return

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds, a slow-starting LeBron James finished with 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series with a 127-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 on Saturday night.D’Angelo Russell hit five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who remained unbeaten at home in the postseason with a strong defensive effort against the reigning NBA champions.James didn’t take a shot in the first quarter for the first time in his NBA-record 275 playoff appearances, but he warmed up in time to lead several runs in the second and third quarters while Los Angeles pulled away.Stephen Curry scored 23 points and Andrew Wiggins had 16 in a collective stinker for the Warriors, who committed 19 turnovers and never mounted a response to the Lakers on either end in the second half. Golden State went 13 for 44 on 3-pointers — making just 10...

Diamondbacks survive wild 9th, walk off Nationals 8-7

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

PHOENIX (AP) — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had four hits, including a tying homer in the ninth, and pinch-hitter Pavin Smith walked with the bases loaded to force in the winning run as the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Washington Nationals 8-7 on Saturday night.Gurriel hit his third homer of the season on the first pitch from Kyle Finnegan (1-2). The play was challenged by Washington because left fielder Stone Garrett leaped to catch the ball and hit a fan in the process, but the call stood.Christian Walker singled and Corbin Carroll walked, and Dominic Fletcher sacrificed. After Geraldo Perdomo was intentionally walked, Smith took a 3-1 pitch out of the zone to end the game.Miguel Castro (1-0) got one out for the victory.Washington trailed 6-2 before it scored five runs in the ninth, including four with two out. Lane Thomas’ two-run homer off Andrew Chafin gave the Nationals a 7-6 lead. Keibert Ruiz, who drove in three runs for Washington, also homered in the inning against Scott McG...

Taylor’s 2-run HR lifts May, Dodgers to 2-1 win over Padres

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Chris Taylor hit a two-run home run and Dustin May kept San Diego in check for six scoreless innings as the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Padres 2-1 Saturday night for their seventh win in eight games.The Dodgers rebounded from a 5-2 loss Friday night in the teams’ first meeting since the Padres eliminated the Dodgers in four games in the NL Division Series. Padres lefty Blake Snell (1-5) had retired the first 11 batters before walking Will Smith and then allowing Taylor’s homer to the balcony on the second level of the brick warehouse in the left field corner. It was Taylor’s sixth and the Dodgers’ 55th, trailing Atlanta by one for the NL lead. That was Snell’s only major mistake. He allowed only two more baserunners, both on walks, while striking out six, in six innings.May (4-1) held the Padres to just three singles — two by Fernando Tatis Jr. — while striking out six and walking one. Evan Phillips pitched the nint...

LeBron’s Lakers rout Warriors 127-97, take 2-1 series lead

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Anthony Davis had 25 points and 13 rebounds, a slow-starting LeBron James finished with 21 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-1 lead in their second-round playoff series with a 127-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 3 on Saturday night.D’Angelo Russell hit five 3-pointers while scoring 21 points for the seventh-seeded Lakers, who remained unbeaten at home in the postseason with a strong defensive effort against the reigning NBA champions.James didn’t take a shot in the first quarter for the first time in his NBA-record 275 playoff appearances, but he warmed up in time to lead several runs in the second and third quarters while Los Angeles pulled away.Stephen Curry scored 23 points and Andrew Wiggins had 16 in a collective stinker for the Warriors, who committed 19 turnovers and never mounted a response to the Lakers on either end in the second half. Golden State went 13 for 44 on 3-pointers — ma...

Espinoza, Earthquakes hand LAFC first loss with 2-1 victory

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Cristian Espinoza scored two goals, the second coming on a late penalty kick, and the San Jose Earthquakes handed defending-champion Los Angeles FC its first loss of the season with a 2-1 victory on Saturday night.A red-hot Espinoza scored eight minutes into the match to give San Jose (5-3-3) a 1-0 lead. Espinoza took passes from Jamiro Monteiro and Jeremy Ebobisse and scored his seventh goal of the season. Espinoza has contributed to at least one goal in six straight matches (7 goals, 1 assist). Only Chris Wondolowski had longer streaks for the Earthquakes.Dénis Bouanga pulled LAFC (5-1-3) even in the 30th minute when he scored unassisted for his league-high-tying eighth goal of the season — joining the Seattle Sounders’ Jordan Morris and Espinoza in the race for the Golden Boot. Espinoza’s eighth goal came on a penalty kick in the 83rd minute.The Earthquakes beat LAFC for a fifth straight time at home after losing the first two meetings by a com...

Mays watches Cobb, Giants beat Brewers on 92nd birthday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:41:03 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Willie Mays was on hand as his 92nd birthday was celebrated, and Alex Cobb led the San Francisco Giants to a 4-1 victory on Saturday that stretched the Milwaukee Brewers’ losing streak to six.Thairo Estrada homered and rookie infielder Brett Wisely also connected for his first big league home run. Joey Bart added an RBI double.“Thairo’s an animal,” Cobb said. “When I got here last year I didn’t really know too many guys and everybody would just rave about him. He’s definitely the heart and soul of the lineup right now.”Milwaukee is on its longest losing streak since an eight-game skid from last June 3-11.Mays, who played for the Giants from 1951-72, briefly attended the game.Oracle Park public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon led a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the Hall of Famer in what has become an annual tradition.Mays left before the game ended.Cobb (2-1) allowed five hits in seven innings, struck out five and walked two, lowering his ERA to 2.01 in hi...