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Phillies place RHP Nicasio (groin) on 10-day IL

Published in Baseball

Thursday, 04 July 2019 14:41

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed reliever Juan Nicasio has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain.

Manager Gabe Kapler says Nicasio's strain is "pretty mild." Kapler says Nicasio needed the break because the pitcher also has been feeling tightness in his quadriceps.

Nicasio, who was acquired from Seattle in the offseason, has a 5.24 ERA in 34 1/3 innings pitched.

His roster spot will be filled by left-hander Austin Davis, who was called up from Lehigh Valley.

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ChiSox 2B Sanchez leaves game with hand injury

Published in Baseball

Thursday, 04 July 2019 14:15

CHICAGO -- White Sox second baseman Yolmer Sanchez has left their game against the Detroit Tigers with a lacerated right hand.

It looked as if Sanchez was stepped on by Tigers first baseman Niko Goodrum when Sanchez went back to the bag after a leadoff single in the third.

Sanchez remained down for a minute before walking off the field with manager Rick Renteria and a trainer.

He was replaced by Daniel Palka, who remained in Thursday's game to play first base. Jose Rondon shifted from first to second base.

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Williams survives scare against 18-year-old qualifier - highlights & report

Published in Tennis

Thursday, 04 July 2019 10:45

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams recovered from being a set down to beat teenage qualifier Kaja Juvan and reach the third round.

Williams was surprised by the 18-year-old world number 133 from Slovenia, who twice broke serve to win the first set.

The 11th seed, 37, responded to take control in the second and eventually closed out the decider for a 2-6 6-2 6-4 victory in one hour 36 minutes.

"She played well and I started out a little slow," said the American.

"I like the pressure. I would rather be in this position than any other and I play best when I am down sometimes. I am a fighter."

Williams, who last won Wimbledon in 2016, will face German 18th seed Julia Gorges in the third round.

She is looking to equal Australian Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles but has struggled with a knee injury this year.

The American saw off Italy's Giulia Gatto-Monticone in straight sets in the opening round but was given a sterner test by a player who was not born when she claimed the first of her 23 major titles at the US Open in 1999.

Williams lost her opening service game of the match and slipped 0-3 behind, before sending a smashed overhead volley into the net on set point as Juvan clinched the opener in 27 minutes.

Williams recovered to dominate the second set as her opponent, who beat Czech Kristyna Pliskova to reach the second round of a Slam for the first time, appeared to tire.

After twice breaking in the final set, Williams looked to be in full control and served for the match at 5-2 - only for the resilient Juvan to respond with a break of her own.

But the Slovenian was unable to stop an ace on match point and Williams sealed her progression.

Williams will now begin her mixed doubles campaign alongside former British number one Andy Murray on Friday.

"I am excited to play with a British icon like Andy," she said.

"It's going to be incredibly amazing and I feel honoured to share the court with him. Maybe I can learn a thing or two."

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Nadal beats irate rival Kyrgios in thriller

Published in Tennis

Thursday, 04 July 2019 12:17

Rafael Nadal allowed the tennis to do the talking against an irate Nick Kyrgios, who twice served underarm, to progress to the Wimbledon third round.

Australian Kyrgios spent much of the match audibly questioning Nadal's speed of play as the world number two prevailed 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-3).

His constant arguing saw him handed an official warning by the chair umpire, who he later called a "disgrace".

Nadal will play Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the next round.

"He was a tough opponent," Nadal, 33, told BBC TV. "When he wants to compete, he's one of the toughest opponents you can face.

"It was an important victory for me, sometimes it's tough to see a couple of things on court. It's amazing how good he is able to play, so if he is able to forget all these things, he's potentially a Grand Slam winner."

Victory was two-time Wimbledon champion Nadal's 50th match win at the All England Club.

How did the entertainment unfold?

It started at a canter for 18-time Grand Slam champion Nadal, holding to love in the opening game before immediately breaking Kyrgios who had already failed to pull off a "hot dog" lob between his legs.

Barely 15 minutes had been played when Kyrgios, who had been spotted in a local pub after 23:00 BST on Wednesday, started to show signs of discontent, telling the chair umpire he had been ignored after requesting a challenge.

He then started to complain about Nadal's speed of play, indicating the Spaniard was not ready when he was preparing to serve.

"Why am I waiting to serve?" he asked, before soon asking the same question in the direction of his box.

And he then sealed his third game with an underarm serve, an action which had previously led to Nadal accusing him of lacking respect.

As Nadal took a comfort break at the end of the first set, Kyrgios making his feelings known with an almost constant shaking of the head.

"I'm serving next and he chooses to go now?" he asked the umpire.

He was the first to go a break up in the second set, firing a stunning forehand winner down the line on break point, before then saving two break points, the first with a deft drop shot, to go 3-0 ahead.

He pulled out another underarm serve, this time read by Nadal, but unlike the first, it was met by boos from the crowd as he extended his lead at 4-1.

Kyrgios - who frequently spat on the hallowed Centre Court turf - was then broken to love by Nadal, after which he engaged in a rant at the chair umpire which ended in him being handed an official warning.

"Feels good up there with all that power does it?" he said, before breaking Nadal once more and serving out the set.

That argument continued into the third set, with Kyrgios telling the chair umpire he had "no idea" as Nadal passed the time juggling the ball from foot to foot.

At 4-4, Kyrgios unleashed a forehand directly at his opponent's body, leaving a rattled Nadal glaring at his opponent and, when he sealed that game, Nadal let out all his pent-up fury.

He went on to take the set on a tie-break, leaping into the air and releasing a barrage of Spanish, no doubt some colourful wording among it.

The fourth set went with the serve with Kyrgios uncharacteristically quiet, before Nadal dominated the tie-break to seal his spot in the third round.

Perhaps surprisingly, the two were amicable at the net as another chapter in their joint story came to an end.

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PHOTOS: Sahlen’s Six Hours Of The Glen

Published in Racing

Thursday, 04 July 2019 12:00

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Mickelson (74) sunk by penalty shots at 3M

Published in Golf

Thursday, 04 July 2019 07:20

Phil Mickelson spent a bit too much time working on his knee-high drops during the opening round of the 3M Open.

Mickelson counted up seven penalty strokes in speaking with reporters after a 3-over 74 in the opening round, a score that left him near the bottom of the pack during the inaugural event in Minnesota.

"Oh, my goodness. You know, I had seven penalty strokes. You can't do that and compete," Mickelson said. "It's frustrating because I felt like I was playing well, making some good swings. I made some terrible ones."

Mickelson started on the back nine, and his issues reached a head at the par-5 18th hole. The southpaw pulled his tee shot into the water, then rinsed another when his approach shot also found the water short of the green. It led to a triple bogey 8, and he made just one birdie the rest of the day.

The disappointing score continues a recent trend for Mickelson, who missed the cut two weeks ago at the Travelers Championship. While he won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, the 49-year-old hasn't cracked the top 10 since while missing five of 11 cuts. He'll likely need to rebound in a big way to avoid another early exit in what's expected to be his final start before The Open at Royal Portrush.

"I've got to shoot something in the mid-60s just to be here for the weekend," Mickelson said. "I thought coming in I was swinging well, but today tells me I'm not quite there. Needs a little work obviously."

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Surging Matsuyama (64) grabs share of 3M lead

Published in Golf

Thursday, 04 July 2019 07:39

Recent trends show that a performance like this has been coming from Hideki Matsuyama.

Matsuyama went low last week at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, shooting 15 under for four rounds. While that was only good enough for a T-13 finish, it was still Matsuyama's fifth straight top-25 result.

It also extended his run of consecutive made cuts to 24, the best active streak on the PGA Tour. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that Matsuyama charged out to a 7-under 64 in the first round of the 3M Open, grabbing a share of the early lead alongside Adam Hadwin.

"It was a good round today. Played well. Hopefully I can keep it going tomorrow and the rest of the week," Matsuyama told reporters through a translator. "I was putting very well today and that was the key to the round."

Matsuyama got off to a strong start with four birdies over his first nine holes, then added four more in a six-hole stretch from Nos. 1-6. He dropped his only shot at No. 9, his final hole of the day, which was playing the most difficult in the opening round. Dating back to Pebble Beach, it's his seventh straight round of 70 or better.

Matsuyama has won five times on Tour, but doesn't have an official win since the 2017 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. With his game again rounding into form, the 27-year-old is keen to add to his trophy collection after dropping from a career-best No. 2 in the world rankings two years ago to No. 31 in the latest rankings.

"Of course we all want to win, and it's been frustrating. But I really haven't played well enough to really contend on Sunday," Matsuyama said. "Hopefully this week will be different."

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PSG sign Herrera from Man Utd on free transfer

Published in Soccer

Thursday, 04 July 2019 10:52

Paris Saint-Germain have signed Ander Herrera from Manchester United on a free transfer, the club announced Thursday.

- When does the transfer window close?

Herrera's five-year stay at United came to an end after he failed to agree a contract extension with the club.

He will wear the No. 21 with his new club.

"Paris Saint-Germain is the greatest club in France," Herrera said. "It keeps on improving and competes to win every possible title. I was looking forward to coming to Paris and to wearing those colours. I hope to continue to make history with the club!

"Joining this club is an amazing feeling. I also love the city. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. I promise three things: work, professionalism and passion. I also promise to improve my French because I think that the language is very important for the team's communication."

Sources told ESPN FC last week that PSG waited for the new financial year to begin before announcing the Spaniard's arrival.

Herrera will replace Adrien Rabiot in the PSG midfield with the France international set to depart on a free transfer.

Herrera's debut is likely to be the Trophee des Champions against Rennes -- who beat PSG in the French Cup -- on Aug. 3.

Herrera joined United from Athletic Bilbao in 2015 and won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.

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Morgan's tea cup celebration 'next level' - Rapinoe

Published in Soccer

Thursday, 04 July 2019 12:14

LYON, France -- Megan Rapinoe continued to insist this week that she'll be available to play in Sunday's Women's World Cup final against the Netherlands, but the United States star admitted she may have already lost the competition for the tournament's most iconic celebration.

Unable to play in Tuesday's 2-1 semifinal win against England because of a hamstring injury, Rapinoe watched from the bench as teammate and co-captain Alex Morgan scored the decisive goal and then mimicked drinking from a cup of tea.

"I think I might have been upstaged," Rapinoe told reporters on Wednesday. "That was next level. That was pretty sharp by Alex."

- Clock watch: Hope turns to heartbreak for England
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The range and tone of U.S. goal celebrations has become one of the stories of the tournament, from the Americans continuing to celebrate goals through the end of a 13-0 opening win against Thailand to Rapinoe's arms-outstretched poses after scoring back-to-back braces against Spain and France to Morgan's choice of material in the semifinal.

Some around the world have criticized the U.S. for arrogance -- a claim winger Christen Press flatly rejected -- with a contingent of fans and media in England the latest to take exception.

"Wah, wah, wah," Rapinoe said in mock crying when asked for a response to the criticism. "We're at the World Cup, what do you want us to do? This is the biggest stage, the biggest moment.

"I don't think anyone truly believes that we disrespect the game or disrespect our opponents. We have the utmost respect for England and every team that we've faced and every team that we will face forever and ever. That's part of the DNA of this squad.

"With that said, we work hard, we like to play hard and we like to have fun and enjoy ourselves."

Next up is the final against the reigning European champions. After her team beat Sweden to reach its first World Cup final, Dutch midfielder Danielle van de Donk was asked if she thought Morgan had a new celebration lined up for Sunday.

"I don't think she's going to score against us," Van de Donk said.

Nor, apparently, have the Dutch been preparing counter measures.

"I don't think of celebrations or anything because I don't really care who scores," Van de Donk continued. "As long as someone does."

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Robben retires: 'Heart says yes, my body says no'

Published in Soccer

Thursday, 04 July 2019 11:49

Arjen Robben has announced his retirement from professional football after playing a key role in Bayern Munich's golden decade.

"I will definitely retire. And it's good as it is," Robben, 35, said in a statement released to German media on Thursday. "It's the hardest decision I had to make in my career."

Robben, whose contract at Bayern Munich expired on June 30, added: "My heart says yes, my body says no."

Injury prone throughout major parts of his enormously successful career, Robben missed most of his Bundesliga farewell tour in 2019 as he once again battled several injuries.

"It is a decision in which heart and mind collide. The reality is that things don't work the way they did when you were 16," Robben said.

In his last match at the Allianz Arena, Robben was on target for Bayern as the German giants sealed a seventh consecutive Bundesliga title, before going on to win another domestic double the following week.

After stints with FC Groningen, PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea and Real Madrid, Robben joined Bayern Munich in 2009 and went on to become one of the club's greats in the decade to follow.

Featuring in 201 Bundesliga games, he scored 99 goals and set up a further 62.

The 2010 World Cup finalist appeared in a total of 110 Champions League matches for Eindhoven, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern.

He crowned his time at the club by scoring the late winner in the 2013 all-German Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, which Bayern won 2-1.

During his career, Robben won eight German Bundesliga titles, five German cups, two Premier League trophies, one FA Cup, one La Liga title, two Dutch cups and one Eredivisie title on top of the Champions League and Club World Cup in 2013.

He participated in three World Cups and three European championships.

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