Gleyber Torres hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as the New York Yankees pushed their winning streak to 10 games with a 3-2 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

Giancarlo Stanton opened the ninth with a single to center off Yimi Garcia (0-2), and pinch runner Tim Locastro stole second. After Garcia retired former Blue Jays player Josh Donaldson and fanned Aaron Hicks, Torres gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead by lining a first-pitch curveball to center field to easily score Locastro.

Torres supplied New York`s other two runs as well, swatting a two-run homer in the fourth inning. The Yankees are off to a 17-6 start, their best since opening 2003 with 19 wins in 23 games. 
Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman had RBI hits in the bottom of the fourth for Toronto, which dropped to 9-3 in one-run games this season. George Springer and Bichette had two hits apiece, but Toronto was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

White Sox 3, Angels 0 
Dylan Cease allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Los Angeles. Cease (3-1) did not walk a batter and matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts, including fanning Mike Trout three times. Cease retired 21 of the 23 batters he faced. 
The White Sox had seven hits, including three from Luis Robert. Tim Anderson, Robert and Jose Abreu scored Chicago`s runs.

Cardinals 1, Royals 0 
Steven Matz and three St. Louis relievers combined to shut out visiting Kansas City. Matz (3-1) cruised through six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Kodi Whitley, Nick Wittgren and Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless inning each for the Cardinals, with Gallegos earning his fifth save. Paul Goldschmidt hit a first-inning homer to account for the game`s only run. 
Zack Greinke (0-2) allowed one run on three hits in six innings for the Royals, who lost for the fourth game in a row and the ninth time in their last 11 games.

Twins 2, Orioles 1 
Chris Paddack pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball as Minnesota defeat host Baltimore in the opener of a four-game series. Carlos Correa drove in the tiebreaking run with a sixth-inning single as Minnesota won for the 10th time in its last 11 games. Paddack (1-2) gave up four hits and a walk while striking out three. Jhoan Duran earned his first major league save with a perfect ninth. Bryan Baker (1-1) took the loss in relief of Tyler Wells, who allowed one run on four hits without a walk in five innings.

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Braves 5, Mets 2 
Travis d`Arnaud continued to torment his former team, collecting three hits and three RBIs as Atlanta won at New York. Austin Riley homered for the Braves. Max Fried (3-2) pitched six innings of two-run ball, and Kenley Jansen tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save. Chris Bassitt (3-2) took the loss after giving up three runs in seven innings.

The Mets played without manager Buck Showalter, who was suspended one game just before first pitch after Major League Baseball ruled New York`s Yoan Lopez threw purposely at the Philadelphia Phillies` Kyle Schwarber on Sunday night.

Astros 3, Mariners 0

Jake Odorizzi carried a shutout into the seventh inning, three relievers finished it off and Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena slugged home runs as host Houston defeated Seattle. Odorizzi logged 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing since joining the Astros prior to last season. He gave up four hits and one walk while striking out three. Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris and Rafael Montero (second save) completed the shutout. 
Mariners starter Marco Gonzales (1-3) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Ty France had two of Seattle`s five hits.

Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 4

David Peralta went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs to lead Arizona`s win over host Miami. 
Ex-Marlins pitcher Zac Gallen (1-0) earned the win in his first appearance against his former team. Gallen, who entered the game with a 0.60 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings before running into trouble. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits, no walks, two runs and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Pablo Lopez (3-1), who led the majors with an ERA of 0.39, took the loss. He struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings, but he allowed six hits, two walks and four runs. Ian Kennedy pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the year. Jazz Chisholm Jr., the player Miami acquired when it traded Gallen in 2019 drove in two runs for the Marlins, as did Jesus Aguilar.

Rays 6, Athletics 1 
Yandy Diaz blasted a 407-foot home run and scored two runs, Manuel Margot had three hits and Drew Rasmussen allowed just one run on one hit over five innings to lead visiting Tampa Bay over Oakland. 
Wander Franco and Diaz each had two hits and an RBI, while Margot went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored for the Rays, who ended a two-game slide. The Athletics managed just two hits -- singles by Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder -- en route to their fourth straight loss and fifth in six games.

Gleyber Torres hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as the New York Yankees pushed their winning streak to 10 games with a 3-2 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.

Gleyber Torres hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the top of the ninth inning as the New York Yankees pushed their winning streak to 10 games with a 3-2 victory over the host Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Giancarlo Stanton opened the ninth with a single to center off Yimi Garcia (0-2), and pinch runner Tim Locastro stole second. After Garcia retired former Blue Jays player Josh Donaldson and fanned Aaron Hicks, Torres gave the Yankees a 3-2 lead by lining a first-pitch curveball to center field to easily score Locastro. Torres supplied New York`s other two runs as well, swatting a two-run homer in the fourth inning. The Yankees are off to a 17-6 start, their best since opening 2003 with 19 wins in 23 games. Bo Bichette and Matt Chapman had RBI hits in the bottom of the fourth for Toronto, which dropped to 9-3 in one-run games this season. George Springer and Bichette had two hits apiece, but Toronto was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. White Sox 3, Angels 0 Dylan Cease allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings to lead Chicago to a victory over visiting Los Angeles. Cease (3-1) did not walk a batter and matched a career-high with 11 strikeouts, including fanning Mike Trout three times. Cease retired 21 of the 23 batters he faced. The White Sox had seven hits, including three from Luis Robert. Tim Anderson, Robert and Jose Abreu scored Chicago`s runs. Cardinals 1, Royals 0 Steven Matz and three St. Louis relievers combined to shut out visiting Kansas City. Matz (3-1) cruised through six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Kodi Whitley, Nick Wittgren and Giovanny Gallegos pitched a scoreless inning each for the Cardinals, with Gallegos earning his fifth save. Paul Goldschmidt hit a first-inning homer to account for the game`s only run. Zack Greinke (0-2) allowed one run on three hits in six innings for the Royals, who lost for the fourth game in a row and the ninth time in their last 11 games. Twins 2, Orioles 1 Chris Paddack pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball as Minnesota defeat host Baltimore in the opener of a four-game series. Carlos Correa drove in the tiebreaking run with a sixth-inning single as Minnesota won for the 10th time in its last 11 games. Paddack (1-2) gave up four hits and a walk while striking out three. Jhoan Duran earned his first major league save with a perfect ninth. Bryan Baker (1-1) took the loss in relief of Tyler Wells, who allowed one run on four hits without a walk in five innings. ALSO READ | Tasmania JackJumpers land in Australia's NBL final by ousting defending champions Melbourne United Braves 5, Mets 2 Travis d`Arnaud continued to torment his former team, collecting three hits and three RBIs as Atlanta won at New York. Austin Riley homered for the Braves. Max Fried (3-2) pitched six innings of two-run ball, and Kenley Jansen tossed a scoreless ninth inning for his seventh save. Chris Bassitt (3-2) took the loss after giving up three runs in seven innings. The Mets played without manager Buck Showalter, who was suspended one game just before first pitch after Major League Baseball ruled New York`s Yoan Lopez threw purposely at the Philadelphia Phillies` Kyle Schwarber on Sunday night. Astros 3, Mariners 0 Jake Odorizzi carried a shutout into the seventh inning, three relievers finished it off and Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena slugged home runs as host Houston defeated Seattle. Odorizzi logged 6 2/3 innings, his longest outing since joining the Astros prior to last season. He gave up four hits and one walk while striking out three. Ryne Stanek, Hector Neris and Rafael Montero (second save) completed the shutout. Mariners starter Marco Gonzales (1-3) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Ty France had two of Seattle`s five hits. Diamondbacks 5, Marlins 4 David Peralta went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs to lead Arizona`s win over host Miami. Ex-Marlins pitcher Zac Gallen (1-0) earned the win in his first appearance against his former team. Gallen, who entered the game with a 0.60 ERA, pitched six scoreless innings before running into trouble. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed five hits, no walks, two runs and five strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Pablo Lopez (3-1), who led the majors with an ERA of 0.39, took the loss. He struck out seven in 4 2/3 innings, but he allowed six hits, two walks and four runs. Ian Kennedy pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save of the year. Jazz Chisholm Jr., the player Miami acquired when it traded Gallen in 2019 drove in two runs for the Marlins, as did Jesus Aguilar. Rays 6, Athletics 1 Yandy Diaz blasted a 407-foot home run and scored two runs, Manuel Margot had three hits and Drew Rasmussen allowed just one run on one hit over five innings to lead visiting Tampa Bay over Oakland. Wander Franco and Diaz each had two hits and an RBI, while Margot went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored for the Rays, who ended a two-game slide. The Athletics managed just two hits -- singles by Jed Lowrie and Chad Pinder -- en route to their fourth straight loss and fifth in six games.

MLB roundup: Gleyber Torres-starrer New York Yankees earn 10th straight win

Japanese baseball manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo is a popular figure in his country for his antics on and off the field. The former baseball star, who also enjoyed a stint in Major League Baseball, has been appointed as the head coach of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Despite having no prior experience as a coach, Shinjo was handed over the huge role ahead of the ongoing season. While his team has failed to get off to a great start having lost their first five games of the season in a row, Shinjo has been a hit among the fans thanks to his off-field antics.

On Tuesday, Shinjo left the crowd at the Sapporo Dome stunned as he made a grand entry at the stadium for his side's clash against Saitama Seibu Lions. It was the first home game of the season for the Nippon Ham Fighters' and Shinjo entered the arena flying on a hover-bike.

Shinjo was dressed in a red jacket and properly geared as he was seen taking off on a futuristic black vehicle at the stadium. The hover-craft took off a flew around the stadium for a minute before Shinjo landed on the ground and took off his helmet in style. He then dropped off his jacket and walked towards his team as fans watched in awe.

Watch video:

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Japan's Tsuyoshi "Big Boss" Shinjo just entered the game on a hover craft for his managerial debut with the Nippon-Ham Fighters <a href="https://t.co/3xCWFb2dZR">pic.twitter.com/3xCWFb2dZR</a>
— Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) <a href="https://twitter.com/FarmToFame_/status/1508786449566642189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/expecting-600-runs-from-virat-kohli-in-ipl-2022-rcb-legend-makes-bold-prediction-for-former-skipper-466934">Expecting 600-plus runs from Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper</a>

While Shinjo's entry was nothing less than spectacular, his team's performance was far from impressive as they lost 4-0 against the Saitama Seibu Lions. The Nippon Ham Fighters are one of the most successful teams in the history of the Japanese baseball league and have won the&nbsp;Japan Series in 2006 and 2016.

Shinjo had represented the Fighters as a player from 2004 to 2006 before returning to the club as a coach this year. The larger-than-life baseball coach is famously known as the 'Bigg Boss' among the fans for his&nbsp;theatrical antics.

(With inputs from AFP)

Japanese baseball manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo is a popular figure in his country for his antics on and off the field. The former baseball star, who also enjoyed a stint in Major League Baseball, has been appointed as the head coach of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League.

Japanese baseball manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo is a popular figure in his country for his antics on and off the field. The former baseball star, who also enjoyed a stint in Major League Baseball, has been appointed as the head coach of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters team in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball League. Despite having no prior experience as a coach, Shinjo was handed over the huge role ahead of the ongoing season. While his team has failed to get off to a great start having lost their first five games of the season in a row, Shinjo has been a hit among the fans thanks to his off-field antics. On Tuesday, Shinjo left the crowd at the Sapporo Dome stunned as he made a grand entry at the stadium for his side's clash against Saitama Seibu Lions. It was the first home game of the season for the Nippon Ham Fighters' and Shinjo entered the arena flying on a hover-bike. Shinjo was dressed in a red jacket and properly geared as he was seen taking off on a futuristic black vehicle at the stadium. The hover-craft took off a flew around the stadium for a minute before Shinjo landed on the ground and took off his helmet in style. He then dropped off his jacket and walked towards his team as fans watched in awe. Watch video: Japan's Tsuyoshi "Big Boss" Shinjo just entered the game on a hover craft for his managerial debut with the Nippon-Ham Fighters pic.twitter.com/3xCWFb2dZR — Farm To Fame (@FarmToFame_) March 29, 2022 × Also Read: Expecting 600-plus runs from Kohli in IPL 2022: RCB legend makes bold prediction for former skipper While Shinjo's entry was nothing less than spectacular, his team's performance was far from impressive as they lost 4-0 against the Saitama Seibu Lions. The Nippon Ham Fighters are one of the most successful teams in the history of the Japanese baseball league and have won the Japan Series in 2006 and 2016. Shinjo had represented the Fighters as a player from 2004 to 2006 before returning to the club as a coach this year. The larger-than-life baseball coach is famously known as the 'Bigg Boss' among the fans for his theatrical antics. (With inputs from AFP)

WATCH: Japanese baseball manager enters stadium in hover bike, leaves fans in awe

There aren't many in the world of sports who have switched from one game to another. However, there are still some big names who have done the unthinkable by playing two sports professionally. Michael Jordan (Basketball to baseball), Sonny Bill Williams (Rugby to boxing), Andrew Flintoff (from cricket to boxing) and many others make the cut. However, can you think of one such name in Indian sports?

Well, Dinesh Patel is one such gutsy sportsman to have switched from being a javelin thrower to turning into a baseball player. The 32-year-old is a rarity in Indian sports in every sense. Being a javelin thrower, he delved into uncharted territory and took up baseball, a sport of which not many Indians can boost of or enjoy the bragging rights.

Taking up the sport to improve his financial situation, Dinesh has come a long way and remains the torch-bearer of baseball in India.&nbsp;He competed in the Indian reality show "Million Dollar Arm" in 2008, having never picked up a baseball before, and emerged on top of over 37,000 competitors in the above-mentioned reality show; designed to find new baseball talents. In addition, Dinesh reached 90 mph during a tryout, intriguing the Pittsburgh Pirates, who acquired the services of Rinku Singh and him. They are, thus, the first players from India to sign deals in Organized Baseball.

Note: Rinku Singh is the&nbsp;first Indian to play baseball and now is a professional wrestler.

In an exclusive interaction with www.wionnews.com's Aditya Sahay, Dinesh recalled his topsy-turvy journey, dived into the scope of baseball in the country and spoke about Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's influence on him. Excerpts:&nbsp;

You are a rarity in all sense. A baseball player from India, having competed in Indian reality show "Million Dollar Arm" after never having picked up a baseball before, how has the journey unfolded? Define your love for the sport.&nbsp;

Actually, I was a javelin thrower when I got to know about the contest, i.e. Million Dollar Arm. We participated only for the money, to be honest, and then Rinku (Singh) and I took part in it and, thus, I came into baseball. We were in the United States for three years where we played and learned about the game.&nbsp;

I know it is tough to switch from one sport to another but I went with my instincts. Back then, I had played nationals in javelin. Had I represented in the Olympics, it might have helped me financially but that didn't happen. So I decided to switch from javelin to baseball. The contest, thus, came as a blessing in disguise.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wont-go-to-beijing-winter-olympics-2022-but-no-protest-says-austrian-leader-436875">Won't go to Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, but no protest, says Austrian leader</a>

When I participated in the Million Dollar Arm, we just wanted to give our best to improve our financial health and also because we had no other way to go. Leaving javelin,&nbsp;it became a do-or-die scenario (pauses).

Rinku&nbsp;and you are first players from India to sign deals in Organised Baseball.&nbsp;What do you opine about the future of this game in India?&nbsp;

Baseball isn't a talked-about game in the country. Even we didn't know about it before taking it up as a professional. However, I've seen changes taking place in many parts (in India). People have started playing baseball in Bengaluru, Delhi and even in Madhya Pradesh. Nonetheless, any new game takes time to spread like wildfire across the country. This popularity can be achieved through MLB. I can feel that it will sow the seeds for baseball's popularity. Much like how IPL has done wonders and helped cricket flourish even further since 2008.&nbsp;

Note:&nbsp;Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization. In addition, it is the oldest major professional sports league in the world.&nbsp;

What does Dinesh Patel want to achieve after his end of career in baseball? Any set target or will you be content in widening the reach of the sport among the countrymen?&nbsp;

In Asia, MLB has an office in China. Similarly, MLB has also opened (an office) in India. It will help the game grow and spread out in various parts. This is just a start but surely a promising one. In our nation, baseball is obviously far from being developed. Whatever MLB is doing, the good players will be identified and they can hone their skills by going to the US and train extensively. Or, if the game widens in India itself, they can work on their game here and even help it spread further. I'll be glad if we reach this level.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/master-blaster-to-return-sourav-ganguly-hints-at-sachin-tendulkar-taking-up-new-role-in-indian-cricket-437603">Master Blaster to return? Sourav Ganguly hints at Sachin Tendulkar taking up new role in Indian cricket</a>

India is a country filled with several stars in the field of sports. From Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Sania Mirza, Kapil Dev, Leander Paes, Virat Kohli, Sunil Chhetri, PV Sindhu and many others, do you follow anyone in particular? Who among these has helped you and your game in any way?

I follow Sachin Tendulkar. Not even was he a legendary cricketer, but he's a very good person off the field as well. One thing I've tried to imbibe from the Master Blaster is his calmness and always being focused towards the job in hand. I believe I'm very similar in that aspect.&nbsp;

Sports is a way of life. However, it is very tough. It imparts various life-lessons to individuals, gives them a sense of security on succeeding and can also be very harsh during failures. A word for the rising talents in the country?&nbsp;

I would want to say that youngsters should play only the sport they love. Play it with all your heart. Set a high target for yourself. Above all, you need to be a good person and only then you will succeed as a player. Because ultimately your personality reflects on your game. It is not necessary to think about what happens to you, in terms of failures, but the aim should be to not lose hope and learn from their failures or mistakes. There's no end to learning. Never! (smiles)

There aren't many in the world of sports who have switched from one game to another. However, there are still some big names who have done the unthinkable by playing two sports professionally.

There aren't many in the world of sports who have switched from one game to another. However, there are still some big names who have done the unthinkable by playing two sports professionally. Michael Jordan (Basketball to baseball), Sonny Bill Williams (Rugby to boxing), Andrew Flintoff (from cricket to boxing) and many others make the cut. However, can you think of one such name in Indian sports? Well, Dinesh Patel is one such gutsy sportsman to have switched from being a javelin thrower to turning into a baseball player. The 32-year-old is a rarity in Indian sports in every sense. Being a javelin thrower, he delved into uncharted territory and took up baseball, a sport of which not many Indians can boost of or enjoy the bragging rights. Taking up the sport to improve his financial situation, Dinesh has come a long way and remains the torch-bearer of baseball in India. He competed in the Indian reality show "Million Dollar Arm" in 2008, having never picked up a baseball before, and emerged on top of over 37,000 competitors in the above-mentioned reality show; designed to find new baseball talents. In addition, Dinesh reached 90 mph during a tryout, intriguing the Pittsburgh Pirates, who acquired the services of Rinku Singh and him. They are, thus, the first players from India to sign deals in Organized Baseball. Note: Rinku Singh is the first Indian to play baseball and now is a professional wrestler. In an exclusive interaction with www.wionnews.com's Aditya Sahay, Dinesh recalled his topsy-turvy journey, dived into the scope of baseball in the country and spoke about Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's influence on him. Excerpts: You are a rarity in all sense. A baseball player from India, having competed in Indian reality show "Million Dollar Arm" after never having picked up a baseball before, how has the journey unfolded? Define your love for the sport. Actually, I was a javelin thrower when I got to know about the contest, i.e. Million Dollar Arm. We participated only for the money, to be honest, and then Rinku (Singh) and I took part in it and, thus, I came into baseball. We were in the United States for three years where we played and learned about the game. I know it is tough to switch from one sport to another but I went with my instincts. Back then, I had played nationals in javelin. Had I represented in the Olympics, it might have helped me financially but that didn't happen. So I decided to switch from javelin to baseball. The contest, thus, came as a blessing in disguise. ALSO READ | Won't go to Beijing Winter Olympics 2022, but no protest, says Austrian leader When I participated in the Million Dollar Arm, we just wanted to give our best to improve our financial health and also because we had no other way to go. Leaving javelin, it became a do-or-die scenario (pauses). Rinku and you are first players from India to sign deals in Organised Baseball. What do you opine about the future of this game in India? Baseball isn't a talked-about game in the country. Even we didn't know about it before taking it up as a professional. However, I've seen changes taking place in many parts (in India). People have started playing baseball in Bengaluru, Delhi and even in Madhya Pradesh. Nonetheless, any new game takes time to spread like wildfire across the country. This popularity can be achieved through MLB. I can feel that it will sow the seeds for baseball's popularity. Much like how IPL has done wonders and helped cricket flourish even further since 2008. Note: Major League Baseball is a professional baseball organization. In addition, it is the oldest major professional sports league in the world. What does Dinesh Patel want to achieve after his end of career in baseball? Any set target or will you be content in widening the reach of the sport among the countrymen? In Asia, MLB has an office in China. Similarly, MLB has also opened (an office) in India. It will help the game grow and spread out in various parts. This is just a start but surely a promising one. In our nation, baseball is obviously far from being developed. Whatever MLB is doing, the good players will be identified and they can hone their skills by going to the US and train extensively. Or, if the game widens in India itself, they can work on their game here and even help it spread further. I'll be glad if we reach this level. ALSO READ | Master Blaster to return? Sourav Ganguly hints at Sachin Tendulkar taking up new role in Indian cricket India is a country filled with several stars in the field of sports. From Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Sania Mirza, Kapil Dev, Leander Paes, Virat Kohli, Sunil Chhetri, PV Sindhu and many others, do you follow anyone in particular? Who among these has helped you and your game in any way? I follow Sachin Tendulkar. Not even was he a legendary cricketer, but he's a very good person off the field as well. One thing I've tried to imbibe from the Master Blaster is his calmness and always being focused towards the job in hand. I believe I'm very similar in that aspect. Sports is a way of life. However, it is very tough. It imparts various life-lessons to individuals, gives them a sense of security on succeeding and can also be very harsh during failures. A word for the rising talents in the country? I would want to say that youngsters should play only the sport they love. Play it with all your heart. Set a high target for yourself. Above all, you need to be a good person and only then you will succeed as a player. Because ultimately your personality reflects on your game. It is not necessary to think about what happens to you, in terms of failures, but the aim should be to not lose hope and learn from their failures or mistakes. There's no end to learning. Never! (smiles)

EXCLUSIVE | Meet Dinesh Patel: A rare breed of Indian sportsman and a top gun in baseball

Japan won their first Olympic gold medal in&nbsp;baseball&nbsp;by beating the United States 2-0 on Saturday, furnishing a long-awaited crown for their country’s most broadcast and beloved sport and denying their foes a second title.

"The colour of the medal was so wonderful," Japan coach Atsunori Inaba said of the moment he draped it round his neck. "It was so heavy and I felt the win."

He also felt a weight off his shoulders.

Local organisers returned&nbsp;baseball&nbsp;to the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008, when the Japanese team came fourth, to show the world that their team, amid a growing cross-pollination of players between the U.S. and Japan, are the best.

Japan's Muneteka Murakami split a pitching duel in favour of the hosts by homering off an outside change-up from U.S. starter and Japanese league pro Nick Martinez in the third inning.

"He hit my best pitch," Martinez said. "Really nothing much you can do about it."

A throwing error by U.S. center fielder Jack Lopez on an eighth-inning single enabled Tetsuto Yamada to score the other run.

Five Japanese pitchers, led by starter Masato Morishita, held the U.S. to six hits as Martinez paced the U.S. dugout hoping in vain for a break-through blast.

JAPANESE-STYLE&nbsp;BASEBALL

Inaba said the game showed Japanese-style&nbsp;baseball, driven by pitching, speed and boring hits, triumphs compared to the flashier approach of the Americans.

Attendance was limited to a couple of hundred sporting officials because of COVID-19 restrictions. But the Japanese players hopped a dozen times in a swarm on the mound to commemorate an undefeated run in the six-team tournament.

Shortstop Hayato Sakamoto also experienced happiness and relief in the celebration.

"We had high expectations from everyone," he said. "But playing for the gold under the pressure has become an important asset of my&nbsp;baseball&nbsp;life."

As Japan's softball team had done to their coach last week after winning gold in a similar 2-0 win over the U.S., the&nbsp;baseball&nbsp;team rested Inaba flat on their hands and pushed him towards a sky that fortunately never delivered the forecast rain. [mL8N2P31H3]

The&nbsp;baseball&nbsp;triumph came against a U.S. roster restricted by North America's Major League&nbsp;Baseball&nbsp;(MLB) from drafting top-flight players. While those rules also limited Japan's picks, their roster drew entirely from the cream of Nippon Professional&nbsp;Baseball&nbsp;(NPB).

For many in Japan, the gold medal - adding to a past silver and two bronze - shows NPB deserves equal global attention like MLB and avoided the disappointment of finishing second again.

The teams had not met for gold before because Cuba, who failed to qualify this year, had taken a final slot in each of&nbsp;baseball's five earlier Olympic appearances.

TENSE INNINGS

Five innings of tension followed Murakami's homer, with both sides struggling to bring in runners. The few observers clapped when Japan escaped jams, roared on the second run and focused their phones on the field before the last out.

"Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to an opposing team," said U.S. pitcher and long-time Major Leaguer Edwin Jackson Jr. "We knew it was going to be a dogfight, we knew it was going to be a tough game, and they came out and they ended up on top."

For the U.S., the silver medal for second baseman and former speed skater Eddy Alvarez makes him the sixth person to win a medal at the Winter and Summer Olympics.

Earlier on Saturday, the Dominican Republic beat South Korea 10-6 for the bronze, the country's first medal in a team sport.

Julio Rodriguez, the&nbsp;baseball-loving nation's top hitter, said the medal meant the world and demonstrated that the small island can compete.

Missing out on the podium marked an upset for South Korea, who had two returnees from their gold medal finish in 2008.

Japan won their first Olympic gold medal in baseball by beating the United States 2-0 on Saturday, furnishing a long-awaited crown for their country’s most broadcast and beloved sport and denying their foes a second title.

Japan won their first Olympic gold medal in baseball by beating the United States 2-0 on Saturday, furnishing a long-awaited crown for their country’s most broadcast and beloved sport and denying their foes a second title. "The colour of the medal was so wonderful," Japan coach Atsunori Inaba said of the moment he draped it round his neck. "It was so heavy and I felt the win." He also felt a weight off his shoulders. Local organisers returned baseball to the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008, when the Japanese team came fourth, to show the world that their team, amid a growing cross-pollination of players between the U.S. and Japan, are the best. Japan's Muneteka Murakami split a pitching duel in favour of the hosts by homering off an outside change-up from U.S. starter and Japanese league pro Nick Martinez in the third inning. "He hit my best pitch," Martinez said. "Really nothing much you can do about it." A throwing error by U.S. center fielder Jack Lopez on an eighth-inning single enabled Tetsuto Yamada to score the other run. Five Japanese pitchers, led by starter Masato Morishita, held the U.S. to six hits as Martinez paced the U.S. dugout hoping in vain for a break-through blast. JAPANESE-STYLE BASEBALL Inaba said the game showed Japanese-style baseball, driven by pitching, speed and boring hits, triumphs compared to the flashier approach of the Americans. Attendance was limited to a couple of hundred sporting officials because of COVID-19 restrictions. But the Japanese players hopped a dozen times in a swarm on the mound to commemorate an undefeated run in the six-team tournament. Shortstop Hayato Sakamoto also experienced happiness and relief in the celebration. "We had high expectations from everyone," he said. "But playing for the gold under the pressure has become an important asset of my baseball life." As Japan's softball team had done to their coach last week after winning gold in a similar 2-0 win over the U.S., the baseball team rested Inaba flat on their hands and pushed him towards a sky that fortunately never delivered the forecast rain. [mL8N2P31H3] The baseball triumph came against a U.S. roster restricted by North America's Major League Baseball (MLB) from drafting top-flight players. While those rules also limited Japan's picks, their roster drew entirely from the cream of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). For many in Japan, the gold medal - adding to a past silver and two bronze - shows NPB deserves equal global attention like MLB and avoided the disappointment of finishing second again. The teams had not met for gold before because Cuba, who failed to qualify this year, had taken a final slot in each of baseball's five earlier Olympic appearances. TENSE INNINGS Five innings of tension followed Murakami's homer, with both sides struggling to bring in runners. The few observers clapped when Japan escaped jams, roared on the second run and focused their phones on the field before the last out. "Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to an opposing team," said U.S. pitcher and long-time Major Leaguer Edwin Jackson Jr. "We knew it was going to be a dogfight, we knew it was going to be a tough game, and they came out and they ended up on top." For the U.S., the silver medal for second baseman and former speed skater Eddy Alvarez makes him the sixth person to win a medal at the Winter and Summer Olympics. Earlier on Saturday, the Dominican Republic beat South Korea 10-6 for the bronze, the country's first medal in a team sport. Julio Rodriguez, the baseball-loving nation's top hitter, said the medal meant the world and demonstrated that the small island can compete. Missing out on the podium marked an upset for South Korea, who had two returnees from their gold medal finish in 2008.

Tokyo Olympics: Japan rejoice over 'wonderful' gold medal in Baseball, pressure off their backs

Taiwan has pulled out of the final baseball qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics after failing to secure a training facility and because of concerns over the health of the players in Mexico.

Ranked fourth in the world, Taiwan was originally scheduled to host the tournament before a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country forced the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) to move it to Puebla, Mexico.

Mexico is still reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases a day and health ministry data released on Wednesday said that 228,146 people had died since the start of the pandemic.

The surge in COVID-19 cases in Taiwan was also behind the refusal of the Yunlin County local government to let the squad prepare at training fields under their jurisdiction, the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association said in a statement.

"We apologise to all team staff who originally expressed their willingness to participate and we thank them for their dedication," the statement released late on Wednesday added.

Taiwan, which competes as Chinese Taipei at the Olympics, has won only 22 medals at previous Summer Games, including a baseball silver in Barcelona in 1992.

Baseball is returning to the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008, when Taiwan finished fifth in the group stage to just miss out on the medal rounds.

Six nations will compete for gold in Tokyo with hosts Japan, Israel, Mexico and South Korea already qualified.

The Americas qualifying tournament, which offers one ticket to Tokyo, is ongoing in the United States with the final berth up for grabs in Puebla from June 22-26.

China pulled out of the final Olympic qualification tournament last month, leaving a five-team event now reduced to four with Taiwan's withdrawal.

Australia and Netherlands are the two teams confirmed for the tournament with the second and third-placed teams from the Americas qualifiers set to join them.

"At this stage Team Australia is still planning to attend," Baseball Australia Chief Executive Glenn Williams told Reuters by e-mail on Thursday.

"The complexity of the location change so close to the event is providing challenges but we are working on trying to meet those challenges."

Taiwan has pulled out of the final baseball qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics after failing to secure a training facility and because of concerns over the health of the players in Mexico.

Taiwan has pulled out of the final baseball qualifying tournament for the Tokyo Olympics after failing to secure a training facility and because of concerns over the health of the players in Mexico. Ranked fourth in the world, Taiwan was originally scheduled to host the tournament before a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country forced the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) to move it to Puebla, Mexico. Mexico is still reporting thousands of new COVID-19 cases a day and health ministry data released on Wednesday said that 228,146 people had died since the start of the pandemic. The surge in COVID-19 cases in Taiwan was also behind the refusal of the Yunlin County local government to let the squad prepare at training fields under their jurisdiction, the Chinese Taipei Baseball Association said in a statement. "We apologise to all team staff who originally expressed their willingness to participate and we thank them for their dedication," the statement released late on Wednesday added. Taiwan, which competes as Chinese Taipei at the Olympics, has won only 22 medals at previous Summer Games, including a baseball silver in Barcelona in 1992. Baseball is returning to the Games for the first time since Beijing 2008, when Taiwan finished fifth in the group stage to just miss out on the medal rounds. Six nations will compete for gold in Tokyo with hosts Japan, Israel, Mexico and South Korea already qualified. The Americas qualifying tournament, which offers one ticket to Tokyo, is ongoing in the United States with the final berth up for grabs in Puebla from June 22-26. China pulled out of the final Olympic qualification tournament last month, leaving a five-team event now reduced to four with Taiwan's withdrawal. Australia and Netherlands are the two teams confirmed for the tournament with the second and third-placed teams from the Americas qualifiers set to join them. "At this stage Team Australia is still planning to attend," Baseball Australia Chief Executive Glenn Williams told Reuters by e-mail on Thursday. "The complexity of the location change so close to the event is providing challenges but we are working on trying to meet those challenges."

Olympics: Taiwan pulls out of baseball qualifying tournament over COVID-19 fears

Major League Baseball moved its 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta on Friday after concerns that a new Georgia state law would negatively impact the ability of Black citizens to vote.

"The best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year's All-Star Game and MLB Draft," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

Critics of a voting rights law signed by Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp last week say the legisation creates severe restrictions upon voters, with tougher identification requirements for absentee voters and restricted use of ballot dropboxes.

US President Joe Biden told ESPN on Wednesday he supported moving the game out of Atlanta over the voting rights law.

Manfred said MLB is "finalizing" plans for a new host city for the contest between American League and National League stars that was set for July 13.

Manfred said the league "engaged in thoughtful conversations" with clubs, former and current players and the players' union to consider their views before making the decision.

"Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box," Manfred said.

"Fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support."

The new law has brought protests and threats to boycott such Georgia-based firms as Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines, which both came out against the new law.

"Businesses and organizations have great power in their voices and ability to push for change, and I respect the decision of the players to speak out against this unjust law," US Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia said in a statement.

"It is not the people of Georgia or the workers of Georgia who crafted this law, it is politicians seeking to retain power at the expense of Georgians' voices. And today's decision by MLB is the unfortunate consequence of these politicians' actions."

Among other moves, the law would make it a crime to hand water to people waiting in long lines to vote, saying it could offer an unfair opportunity to influence voters.

<h4>Braves dismayed</h4>

Georgia played a pivotal role in the recent US elections, with Democrats eventually winning two key Senate seats to ensure control of Congress.

Georgia governor Kemp meanwhile hit out at the MLB's decision Friday, accusing the league of "caving to fear, political opportunism, and liberal lies."

"Georgians -- and all Americans -- should fully understand what the MLB's knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included," Kemp tweeted.

The Atlanta Braves, the MLB club that was to have hosted the contest, meanwhile expressed dismay at the decision.

"The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by the decision of Major League Baseball to move its 2021 All-Star Game," the club said. "This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city.

"The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion."

But the move was applauded by other figures in the sports world.

NBA superstar LeBron James, who has a stake in the ownership group that controls the Boston Red Sox, wrote on Twitter: "Proud to call myself a part of the @mlb family today. @Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter."

Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who is also a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, praised Manfred's decision to pull the game.

"Way to be a leader and take a strong stance!" Johnson wrote on Twitter.

Georgia senator Warnock meanwhile said the urgency of passing federal voter protection laws "grows every day" but he hopes "businesses, athletes, and entertainers can protest this law not by leaving Georgia but by coming here and fighting voter suppression head on, and hand-in-hand with the community."

Major League Baseball moved its 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta on Friday after concerns that a new Georgia state law would negatively impact the ability of Black citizens to vote.

Major League Baseball moved its 2021 All-Star Game out of Atlanta on Friday after concerns that a new Georgia state law would negatively impact the ability of Black citizens to vote. "The best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year's All-Star Game and MLB Draft," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. Critics of a voting rights law signed by Georgia's Republican Governor Brian Kemp last week say the legisation creates severe restrictions upon voters, with tougher identification requirements for absentee voters and restricted use of ballot dropboxes. US President Joe Biden told ESPN on Wednesday he supported moving the game out of Atlanta over the voting rights law. Manfred said MLB is "finalizing" plans for a new host city for the contest between American League and National League stars that was set for July 13. Manfred said the league "engaged in thoughtful conversations" with clubs, former and current players and the players' union to consider their views before making the decision. "Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box," Manfred said. "Fair access to voting continues to have our game's unwavering support." The new law has brought protests and threats to boycott such Georgia-based firms as Coca-Cola and Delta Air Lines, which both came out against the new law. "Businesses and organizations have great power in their voices and ability to push for change, and I respect the decision of the players to speak out against this unjust law," US Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock of Georgia said in a statement. "It is not the people of Georgia or the workers of Georgia who crafted this law, it is politicians seeking to retain power at the expense of Georgians' voices. And today's decision by MLB is the unfortunate consequence of these politicians' actions." Among other moves, the law would make it a crime to hand water to people waiting in long lines to vote, saying it could offer an unfair opportunity to influence voters. Braves dismayed Georgia played a pivotal role in the recent US elections, with Democrats eventually winning two key Senate seats to ensure control of Congress. Georgia governor Kemp meanwhile hit out at the MLB's decision Friday, accusing the league of "caving to fear, political opportunism, and liberal lies." "Georgians -- and all Americans -- should fully understand what the MLB's knee-jerk decision means: cancel culture and woke political activists are coming for every aspect of your life, sports included," Kemp tweeted. The Atlanta Braves, the MLB club that was to have hosted the contest, meanwhile expressed dismay at the decision. "The Atlanta Braves are deeply disappointed by the decision of Major League Baseball to move its 2021 All-Star Game," the club said. "This was neither our decision, nor our recommendation and we are saddened that fans will not be able to see this event in our city. "The Braves organization will continue to stress the importance of equal voting opportunities and we had hoped our city could use this event as a platform to enhance the discussion." But the move was applauded by other figures in the sports world. NBA superstar LeBron James, who has a stake in the ownership group that controls the Boston Red Sox, wrote on Twitter: "Proud to call myself a part of the @mlb family today. @Morethanavote #BlackLivesMatter." Los Angeles Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, who is also a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, praised Manfred's decision to pull the game. "Way to be a leader and take a strong stance!" Johnson wrote on Twitter. Georgia senator Warnock meanwhile said the urgency of passing federal voter protection laws "grows every day" but he hopes "businesses, athletes, and entertainers can protest this law not by leaving Georgia but by coming here and fighting voter suppression head on, and hand-in-hand with the community."

Baseball's all-star game moved from Atlanta over voting laws

Japanese baseball star Masahiro Tanaka said Saturday he hopes to win a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and celebrate with Japan fans, as the pitcher returns home after a seven-year stint with the New York Yankees.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the 32-year-old -- now set to play for the Rakuten Eagles -- was asked about the possibility of him playing in the postponed Summer Games.

"If I ever have a chance to participate, there is no reason for me to reject," he said.

"I had a bitter feeling when I played in the Beijing Olympics... This time I want to win a gold medal" as part of the host country's team, he added.

"I'm very excited at the fact I will be able to pitch in front of fans in Japan."

The timing of this year's games is particularly meaningful, he said, as it comes 10 years after a 2011 tsunami that left thousands dead in Japan.

Star pitcher Tanaka played for the Eagles from 2007 until 2013, when the team won their first-ever "Japan Series" title to the joy of fans in its home city of Sendai, which was devastated by the disaster.

He began a seven-year $155 million contract with the Yankees the following year.

Rakuten's chairman Hiroshi Mikitani said he hoped Tanaka's pitching would "invigorate" Japan this year.

The Tokyo Olympics -- initially set to take place last year but postponed due to the coronavirus -- are set to begin on July 23.

Despite growing concern over the event's feasibility, organisers and the International Olympic Committee insist it can go ahead safely.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga vowed Friday that the Olympics would be held this summer "as a symbol of global unity" to "bring hope and courage to the world".

Japanese baseball star Masahiro Tanaka said Saturday he hopes to win a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and celebrate with Japan fans, as the pitcher returns home after a seven-year stint with the New York Yankees.

Japanese baseball star Masahiro Tanaka said Saturday he hopes to win a gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and celebrate with Japan fans, as the pitcher returns home after a seven-year stint with the New York Yankees. Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo, the 32-year-old -- now set to play for the Rakuten Eagles -- was asked about the possibility of him playing in the postponed Summer Games. "If I ever have a chance to participate, there is no reason for me to reject," he said. "I had a bitter feeling when I played in the Beijing Olympics... This time I want to win a gold medal" as part of the host country's team, he added. "I'm very excited at the fact I will be able to pitch in front of fans in Japan." The timing of this year's games is particularly meaningful, he said, as it comes 10 years after a 2011 tsunami that left thousands dead in Japan. Star pitcher Tanaka played for the Eagles from 2007 until 2013, when the team won their first-ever "Japan Series" title to the joy of fans in its home city of Sendai, which was devastated by the disaster. He began a seven-year $155 million contract with the Yankees the following year. Rakuten's chairman Hiroshi Mikitani said he hoped Tanaka's pitching would "invigorate" Japan this year. The Tokyo Olympics -- initially set to take place last year but postponed due to the coronavirus -- are set to begin on July 23. Despite growing concern over the event's feasibility, organisers and the International Olympic Committee insist it can go ahead safely. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga vowed Friday that the Olympics would be held this summer "as a symbol of global unity" to "bring hope and courage to the world".

Star pitcher Tanaka wants Olympic gold with Japan fans

As far as championship droughts go, this was not the longest in baseball history or even the most agonizing.

But in terms of recent effort, including nearly $2 billion spent on player salaries in the past eight years, and the frustration of being tantalizingly close to that celebratory sip of Champagne without actually tasting it, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 21st century championship dry spell had become the most prominent — and baffling — in baseball.

They won seven straight divisional titles without winning the World Series. They made it to the Fall Classic in 2017, only to lose at home to a team that would later be exposed as cheaters. And the very next year they lost at home again, to a team led by Mookie Betts, now roaming the outfield for Los Angeles.

But on their eighth consecutive trip to the postseason, the Dodgers finally became champions, again. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as Betts hit a double and a home run and scored twice to help the storied franchise end 32 years of disappointment.

It was the seventh title for the Dodgers, their sixth since moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, and the first for Dave Roberts as a manager. The steady Roberts became only the third skipper to win a World Series with the Dodgers, joining Hall of Famers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda, who was at the helm of the franchise’s 1988 championship team.

When Game 6 ended and all the pressure that had built up on this core group of players was finally released, they exploded out of the dugout and onto the field to celebrate, knowing that they would no longer be labeled choking underachievers.

“To know what it feels like to lose,” said Corey Seager, who was named the Series’ most valuable player, “and be able to rebuild and come back and rebuild and stay focused, it’s special.”

The victory should help make up for the perceived injustice of 2017, when the Dodgers lost Game 7 to the Houston Astros, a team that illicitly stole signs that year and admitted to the scheme after an investigation by Major League Baseball in 2019. The title also should soothe the pain inflicted the following year when the Red Sox, with Betts in their outfield, also won at Dodger Stadium, that time in Game 5.

And it surely quelled the anguish felt in 2019 when, after winning 106 games with a $205 million payroll, the Dodgers were bounced out of the playoffs — once again at home — in the first round by the eventual champions, the Washington Nationals.

This time was different: a postseason of unusual circumstances, the team sequestered for weeks in a playoff bubble in Texas, the players separated from their extended families and friends because of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the contagion even overshadowed the celebrations after Game 6 as it emerged that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had been removed from the game before the top of the eighth because he had received a positive test result for the coronavirus.

But through all their postseason games, the Dodgers made Globe Life Field their own. They played 16 postseason games there and hit more home runs (29) in the new stadium than did the regular residents, the Texas Rangers, who hit just 27 in their 30 games there this season.

The championship reflected the Dodgers’ dedication and commitment, but it also helped that they had Betts, whom they acquired from the Red Sox in a trade in February.

“I was traded for this reason,” Betts said. “I’m proud of myself and proud of the guys for accomplishing it.”

The superstar right fielder added a special dynamism and confidence to a lineup that was already stacked with stars like Seager, Cody Bellinger and Turner, the third baseman that the New York Mets gave up on before he went on to become one of the most dangerous hitters in the Dodgers’ postseason history.

And it took Roberts to bring everything together. The Dodgers’ manager since 2016, Roberts helped his players block out the simmering pressure that built to a rolling boil over nearly a decade of frustration for a passionate fan base that never seemed to give up, packing Dodger Stadium regularly despite year upon year of letdowns.

In his fifth season at the helm, Roberts directed the team to the best regular-season record in the major leagues for the second time in his tenure and helped guide it back from a three-games-to-one deficit against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series this month. But it all would have meant nothing if the team had failed in the World Series for a third time in four years.

After the Dodgers finished off the Braves, Roberts stood at a podium and, with the crack of emotion in his voice, declared: “This year is our year. This is our year.” He reiterated the same sentiment Tuesday, this time with the World Series trophy up there with him.

“I’ve never been around a group that is closer, tougher, and that I love more,” he said, and then credited many of the current Dodger players who had suffered through the hard losses, like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Turner.

It was Roberts’ approach, combined with a lineup of indisputable talent earning the second-highest payroll in baseball (behind that of the New York Yankees), that proved too much for the Rays, a plucky, overachieving squad with a pre-pandemic opening day payroll of only $72 million, the fourth lowest in baseball.

The Series went back and forth through five games, but in the sixth, the Dodgers proved their superiority and their resilience, rallying after falling behind in the first inning.

They scraped together two runs in the sixth inning to take the lead after Rays manager Kevin Cash made a pitching change that will be debated for years.

Blake Snell, Tampa Bay’s starter, was dominating the Dodgers and led, 1-0, after five innings. He recorded the first out in the sixth, but after he gave up a single to the No. 9 batter, Austin Barnes, on his 73rd pitch, Cash bounced out of the dugout and removed Snell in favor of Nick Anderson.

Snell’s body language suggested he could not believe he was coming out, but Cash had made up his mind. He said he was concerned about the Dodgers catching up to Snell in their third at-bats against him, even though Snell had struck out Betts, Seager and Turner twice each.

Asked if he regretted the move, Cash said, “Yeah I guess I regret it because it didn’t work out. But the thought process was right.”

The results were not. When Betts saw Snell leave, he looked at Roberts in the dugout and gave him a little smile.

“We were all just kind of excited that Snell was out of the game,” Roberts said.

Betts hit a double off Anderson, who then threw a wild pitch, allowing Barnes to score as Betts went to third. He then scored on a fielder’s choice.

Betts’ homer came off Pete Fairbanks in the eighth inning, and as he pumped his fist while rounding the bases, decades of Dodger frustration seemed to melt away.

Their ability to bounce back over the years was encapsulated within this postseason, including the NLCS and the World Series. The Dodgers had lost in shocking fashion in Game 4 on Saturday, when the Rays scored two runs on a pair of fielding mistakes with two outs in the ninth inning.

But Los Angeles came back to win Game 5 the next day behind Kershaw, their star pitcher who has faced criticism in recent years for failing to reproduce his regular-season success when the calendar turned to October, and Kershaw won both of his Series starts to become a champion for the first time.

“I’m so happy for my wife, the sense of relief that we finally did it,” Kershaw said, “and for my whole family, and the people that are happy for me. It’s overwhelming just to see the support.”

It was also the first title for Andrew Friedman, the former general manager of the Rays and the president and architect of the Dodgers for the past six years.

Freidman’s job was to spend lavishly, to win at almost any cost, and the Dodgers were consistently in a position to do exactly that. It took a little longer than expected, but Roberts sensed their time had come.

“I had a crazy feeling that came to fruition,” he said. “I just knew that we weren’t going to be denied this year.”

As far as championship droughts go, this was not the longest in baseball history or even the most agonizing. But in terms of recent effort, including nearly $2 billion spent on player salaries in the past eight years, and the frustration of being tantalizingly close to that celebratory sip of Champagne without actually tasting it, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 21st century championship dry spell had become the most prominent — and baffling — in baseball.

As far as championship droughts go, this was not the longest in baseball history or even the most agonizing. But in terms of recent effort, including nearly $2 billion spent on player salaries in the past eight years, and the frustration of being tantalizingly close to that celebratory sip of Champagne without actually tasting it, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 21st century championship dry spell had become the most prominent — and baffling — in baseball. They won seven straight divisional titles without winning the World Series. They made it to the Fall Classic in 2017, only to lose at home to a team that would later be exposed as cheaters. And the very next year they lost at home again, to a team led by Mookie Betts, now roaming the outfield for Los Angeles. But on their eighth consecutive trip to the postseason, the Dodgers finally became champions, again. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays, 3-1, in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, as Betts hit a double and a home run and scored twice to help the storied franchise end 32 years of disappointment. It was the seventh title for the Dodgers, their sixth since moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, New York, in 1957, and the first for Dave Roberts as a manager. The steady Roberts became only the third skipper to win a World Series with the Dodgers, joining Hall of Famers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda, who was at the helm of the franchise’s 1988 championship team. When Game 6 ended and all the pressure that had built up on this core group of players was finally released, they exploded out of the dugout and onto the field to celebrate, knowing that they would no longer be labeled choking underachievers. “To know what it feels like to lose,” said Corey Seager, who was named the Series’ most valuable player, “and be able to rebuild and come back and rebuild and stay focused, it’s special.” The victory should help make up for the perceived injustice of 2017, when the Dodgers lost Game 7 to the Houston Astros, a team that illicitly stole signs that year and admitted to the scheme after an investigation by Major League Baseball in 2019. The title also should soothe the pain inflicted the following year when the Red Sox, with Betts in their outfield, also won at Dodger Stadium, that time in Game 5. And it surely quelled the anguish felt in 2019 when, after winning 106 games with a $205 million payroll, the Dodgers were bounced out of the playoffs — once again at home — in the first round by the eventual champions, the Washington Nationals. This time was different: a postseason of unusual circumstances, the team sequestered for weeks in a playoff bubble in Texas, the players separated from their extended families and friends because of the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of the contagion even overshadowed the celebrations after Game 6 as it emerged that Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner had been removed from the game before the top of the eighth because he had received a positive test result for the coronavirus. But through all their postseason games, the Dodgers made Globe Life Field their own. They played 16 postseason games there and hit more home runs (29) in the new stadium than did the regular residents, the Texas Rangers, who hit just 27 in their 30 games there this season. The championship reflected the Dodgers’ dedication and commitment, but it also helped that they had Betts, whom they acquired from the Red Sox in a trade in February. “I was traded for this reason,” Betts said. “I’m proud of myself and proud of the guys for accomplishing it.” The superstar right fielder added a special dynamism and confidence to a lineup that was already stacked with stars like Seager, Cody Bellinger and Turner, the third baseman that the New York Mets gave up on before he went on to become one of the most dangerous hitters in the Dodgers’ postseason history. And it took Roberts to bring everything together. The Dodgers’ manager since 2016, Roberts helped his players block out the simmering pressure that built to a rolling boil over nearly a decade of frustration for a passionate fan base that never seemed to give up, packing Dodger Stadium regularly despite year upon year of letdowns. In his fifth season at the helm, Roberts directed the team to the best regular-season record in the major leagues for the second time in his tenure and helped guide it back from a three-games-to-one deficit against the Atlanta Braves in the National League Championship Series this month. But it all would have meant nothing if the team had failed in the World Series for a third time in four years. After the Dodgers finished off the Braves, Roberts stood at a podium and, with the crack of emotion in his voice, declared: “This year is our year. This is our year.” He reiterated the same sentiment Tuesday, this time with the World Series trophy up there with him. “I’ve never been around a group that is closer, tougher, and that I love more,” he said, and then credited many of the current Dodger players who had suffered through the hard losses, like Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Turner. It was Roberts’ approach, combined with a lineup of indisputable talent earning the second-highest payroll in baseball (behind that of the New York Yankees), that proved too much for the Rays, a plucky, overachieving squad with a pre-pandemic opening day payroll of only $72 million, the fourth lowest in baseball. The Series went back and forth through five games, but in the sixth, the Dodgers proved their superiority and their resilience, rallying after falling behind in the first inning. They scraped together two runs in the sixth inning to take the lead after Rays manager Kevin Cash made a pitching change that will be debated for years. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay’s starter, was dominating the Dodgers and led, 1-0, after five innings. He recorded the first out in the sixth, but after he gave up a single to the No. 9 batter, Austin Barnes, on his 73rd pitch, Cash bounced out of the dugout and removed Snell in favor of Nick Anderson. Snell’s body language suggested he could not believe he was coming out, but Cash had made up his mind. He said he was concerned about the Dodgers catching up to Snell in their third at-bats against him, even though Snell had struck out Betts, Seager and Turner twice each. Asked if he regretted the move, Cash said, “Yeah I guess I regret it because it didn’t work out. But the thought process was right.” The results were not. When Betts saw Snell leave, he looked at Roberts in the dugout and gave him a little smile. “We were all just kind of excited that Snell was out of the game,” Roberts said. Betts hit a double off Anderson, who then threw a wild pitch, allowing Barnes to score as Betts went to third. He then scored on a fielder’s choice. Betts’ homer came off Pete Fairbanks in the eighth inning, and as he pumped his fist while rounding the bases, decades of Dodger frustration seemed to melt away. Their ability to bounce back over the years was encapsulated within this postseason, including the NLCS and the World Series. The Dodgers had lost in shocking fashion in Game 4 on Saturday, when the Rays scored two runs on a pair of fielding mistakes with two outs in the ninth inning. But Los Angeles came back to win Game 5 the next day behind Kershaw, their star pitcher who has faced criticism in recent years for failing to reproduce his regular-season success when the calendar turned to October, and Kershaw won both of his Series starts to become a champion for the first time. “I’m so happy for my wife, the sense of relief that we finally did it,” Kershaw said, “and for my whole family, and the people that are happy for me. It’s overwhelming just to see the support.” It was also the first title for Andrew Friedman, the former general manager of the Rays and the president and architect of the Dodgers for the past six years. Freidman’s job was to spend lavishly, to win at almost any cost, and the Dodgers were consistently in a position to do exactly that. It took a little longer than expected, but Roberts sensed their time had come. “I had a crazy feeling that came to fruition,” he said. “I just knew that we weren’t going to be denied this year.”

Dodgers win the world series after years of frustration

Baseball is one of several sports seeking a slice of the huge Indian market and its similarity with cricket, often called a religion in the country of 1.4 billion, could give it a head start, Major League Baseball (MLB) officials hope.

MLB spent a decade and half studying the market before opening a sixth international office in New Delhi last year and was encouraged by the throwing, hitting and catching techniques that link America’s pastime and India’s obsession.

“Cricket is such a big sport here. So catching, throwing and swing of the bat come very naturally,” Ryo Takahashi, who heads MLB’s business and commercial operations in India, told Reuters.

“The sheer size of this country, the population — to be able to hook India to baseball, that definitely boosts the sport worldwide.”

Takahashi, perhaps wisely, said the plan was not to try to supplant cricket in India.

“We’re not trying to bring baseball as an alternative, or as a replacement, by any means,” he said.

“Anything new, whether it’s music or restaurants, it’s exciting. So new sport is something that might resonate.

“Within that, if there’s some sort of familiarity, it’s easier for people to relate. I think it’s a good mix, it’s a perfect mix.”

The National Basketball Association (NBA), which opened an office in India in 2011, staged two pre-season games in Mumbai in October last year.

MLB, which has previously played games in Mexico, Japan and Australia, made a foray into Europe last year when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox took their rivalry to London.

Takahashi said it would be premature to do something similar in India, where MLB has attracted more than 30,000 school students in 320 workshops since opening its office.

“We eventually want to get there. I don’t think the demand is here yet, so it wouldn’t make sense to suddenly do that,” he said.

<h3>“MILLION DOLLAR ARM”</h3>

The league also plans to revive ‘Million Dollar Arm’, a contest that began as a reality television show and inspired a 2014 Hollywood movie.

Takahashi said the contest, which drew thousands of aspiring pitchers competing to earn a tryout with a Major League team, would now be an annual affair.

“When it happened, there was a buzz. We plan to do it again ... and make sure we were able to capitalise on that.”

The Indian men’s team played in the Asian Championship in 1987 and 1989 but the country’s Olympic Association only recognised the national amateur baseball federation in 2002.

The long-term goal remained to facilitate Indian representation at the elite level, Takahashi said.

“I think there’s a lot of ways for us to measure success. It could be a situation like Yao Ming for the NBA (in China). It could be TV rating numbers, it could be the national team of India competing in the World Baseball Classic...

“We have the resources, we have the experience and we definitely have the will ... Tough to put a date to it but I think definitely all of it is achievable,” added Takahashi.

The COVID-19 outbreak has slowed down that effort but head of baseball development David Palese said they used the time to extend the coaching network through series of webinars.

“Ideally we want to be on the field ... but in the last three-four months, we’ve made that virtual connection with over 1,000 participants,” he said.

Baseball is one of several sports seeking a slice of the huge Indian market and its similarity with cricket, often called a religion in the country of 1.4 billion, could give it a head start, Major League Baseball (MLB) officials hope.

Baseball is one of several sports seeking a slice of the huge Indian market and its similarity with cricket, often called a religion in the country of 1.4 billion, could give it a head start, Major League Baseball (MLB) officials hope. MLB spent a decade and half studying the market before opening a sixth international office in New Delhi last year and was encouraged by the throwing, hitting and catching techniques that link America’s pastime and India’s obsession. “Cricket is such a big sport here. So catching, throwing and swing of the bat come very naturally,” Ryo Takahashi, who heads MLB’s business and commercial operations in India, told Reuters. “The sheer size of this country, the population — to be able to hook India to baseball, that definitely boosts the sport worldwide.” Takahashi, perhaps wisely, said the plan was not to try to supplant cricket in India. “We’re not trying to bring baseball as an alternative, or as a replacement, by any means,” he said. “Anything new, whether it’s music or restaurants, it’s exciting. So new sport is something that might resonate. “Within that, if there’s some sort of familiarity, it’s easier for people to relate. I think it’s a good mix, it’s a perfect mix.” The National Basketball Association (NBA), which opened an office in India in 2011, staged two pre-season games in Mumbai in October last year. MLB, which has previously played games in Mexico, Japan and Australia, made a foray into Europe last year when the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox took their rivalry to London. Takahashi said it would be premature to do something similar in India, where MLB has attracted more than 30,000 school students in 320 workshops since opening its office. “We eventually want to get there. I don’t think the demand is here yet, so it wouldn’t make sense to suddenly do that,” he said. “MILLION DOLLAR ARM” The league also plans to revive ‘Million Dollar Arm’, a contest that began as a reality television show and inspired a 2014 Hollywood movie. Takahashi said the contest, which drew thousands of aspiring pitchers competing to earn a tryout with a Major League team, would now be an annual affair. “When it happened, there was a buzz. We plan to do it again ... and make sure we were able to capitalise on that.” The Indian men’s team played in the Asian Championship in 1987 and 1989 but the country’s Olympic Association only recognised the national amateur baseball federation in 2002. The long-term goal remained to facilitate Indian representation at the elite level, Takahashi said. “I think there’s a lot of ways for us to measure success. It could be a situation like Yao Ming for the NBA (in China). It could be TV rating numbers, it could be the national team of India competing in the World Baseball Classic... “We have the resources, we have the experience and we definitely have the will ... Tough to put a date to it but I think definitely all of it is achievable,” added Takahashi. The COVID-19 outbreak has slowed down that effort but head of baseball development David Palese said they used the time to extend the coaching network through series of webinars. “Ideally we want to be on the field ... but in the last three-four months, we’ve made that virtual connection with over 1,000 participants,” he said.

Baseball: MLB looking for Indians to trade willow for ash

New York Yankees pitching ace Masahiro Tanaka was hit by a line drive during a simulated game Saturday at Yankee Stadium. the team has confirmed that the Japanese pitcher was struck in the head.

New York Yankees pitching ace Masahiro Tanaka was hit by a line drive during a simulated game Saturday at Yankee Stadium. the team has confirmed that the Japanese pitcher was struck in the head. Tanaka was felled by a hard shot up the middle off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton and the incident was captured and posted on Twitter by Yankees Videos. Masahiro Tanaka was hit in the head with a line drive from the bat of Giancarlo Stanton during a simulated game.pic.twitter.com/biProHbgeK — Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) July 4, 2020 × After being hit, the 31-year-old was on the ground while being attended to by trainers. Tanak did need some assistance while getting off the ground but was mostly walking on his own. Tanaka was later taken to a local New York hospital for further evaluation. The Yankees said Tanaka was "alert, responsive and walking under his own power." In six seasons with the Yankees, Tanaka is 75-43 with a 3.75 ERA, 947 strikeouts and 200 walks. The Yankees have already lost one starting pitcher to injury, with Luis Severino having undergone Tommy John surgery a couple of months ago. (Inputs from AFP)

Watch: Yankees pitching ace Masahiro Tanaka hit by line drive during simulated game

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set to start in July, commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, after players signed off on health protocols and agreed to report to training.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bubba-wallace-was-not-the-target-of-a-hate-crime-as-per-fbi-investigation-nascar-308100" hreflang="en">'Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime as per FBI investigation': NASCAR</a>

The announcement that the season will begin July 23 or 24 comes after weeks of wrangling between owners and players over a framework for a season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic.

"Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon," Manfred said in a statement.

"We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with baseball again soon."

Manfred's comments came after the Major League Baseball Players Association said its members would report to training camps on July 1.

"All remaining issues have been resolved and players are reporting to training camps," the union said.

MLB&nbsp;and the MLBPA had been at loggerheads over how to salvage a season that should have begun on March 26.

The league proposed a succession of deals that would have seen the players receive only a percentage of their salaries, prorated by number of games played.

Players pushed back against the league proposals, noting that they had already agreed to a pay cut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary.

The MLBPA had wanted a longer regular season, but when the union rejected the most recent&nbsp;MLB&nbsp;proposal owners voted on Monday to impose a 60-game schedule -- which would still be contingent on reaching agreement with players on health and safety protocols.

MLB&nbsp;said in a statement posted on&nbsp;MLB.com that the players had accepted the protocols.

When the season gets underway teams will play in their home ballparks without fans, baseball opting against the kind of "bubble" environment that will see the NBA return to action with all teams playing at a single location at a sports complex at Disney World in Florida.

To decrease travel, each team will play the majority of its games against its four division rivals, and remaining games against the clubs in the corresponding geographical division in the other league.

Under format, players will receive the full prorated share of their salaries.

Multiple media outlets reported that as usual 10 teams will qualify for the playoffs.

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set to start in July, commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, after players signed off on health protocols and agreed to report to training.

The 2020 Major League Baseball season is set to start in July, commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday, after players signed off on health protocols and agreed to report to training. Also read: 'Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime as per FBI investigation': NASCAR The announcement that the season will begin July 23 or 24 comes after weeks of wrangling between owners and players over a framework for a season shortened by the coronavirus pandemic. "Major League Baseball is thrilled to announce that the 2020 season is on the horizon," Manfred said in a statement. "We have provided the Players Association with a schedule to play 60 games and are excited to provide our great fans with baseball again soon." Manfred's comments came after the Major League Baseball Players Association said its members would report to training camps on July 1. "All remaining issues have been resolved and players are reporting to training camps," the union said. MLB and the MLBPA had been at loggerheads over how to salvage a season that should have begun on March 26. The league proposed a succession of deals that would have seen the players receive only a percentage of their salaries, prorated by number of games played. Players pushed back against the league proposals, noting that they had already agreed to a pay cut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary. The MLBPA had wanted a longer regular season, but when the union rejected the most recent MLB proposal owners voted on Monday to impose a 60-game schedule -- which would still be contingent on reaching agreement with players on health and safety protocols. MLB said in a statement posted on MLB.com that the players had accepted the protocols. When the season gets underway teams will play in their home ballparks without fans, baseball opting against the kind of "bubble" environment that will see the NBA return to action with all teams playing at a single location at a sports complex at Disney World in Florida. To decrease travel, each team will play the majority of its games against its four division rivals, and remaining games against the clubs in the corresponding geographical division in the other league. Under format, players will receive the full prorated share of their salaries. Multiple media outlets reported that as usual 10 teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Major League Baseball season to start in July: Commissioner

Major League Baseball edged closer to a shortened season on Monday as bitter wrangling between team owners and players neared its endgame.

MLB team owners on Monday voted unanimously to go ahead with the 2020 season under the terms of a deal reached with the MLB Players Association in March.

The owners' vote came after the MLBPA's executive board voted earlier in the day against a proposed 60-game regular season with expanded playoffs.

The rejection means MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred can now order teams to play a drastically shortened season -- something the team owners have approved.

However, before formally inking the shortened season, the MLB has requested that the MLBPA confirm by 5pm Tuesday (2100 GMT) that players will be ready to return to training camp by July 1.

The players must also agree on the terms of the season operating manual, which includes health and safety protocols related to COVID-19.&nbsp;

The MLB and the MLBPA have been at loggerheads over how to salvage the baseball season, which should have started on March 26 but was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The league proposed a succession of deals that would have seen the players receive only a percentage of their salaries, prorated by number of games played.

Players pushed back against the league proposals, noting that they had already agreed to a pay cut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary.

The MLBPA had requested a longer regular season with no pay cuts, a proposal that has been firmly opposed by MLB owners, who will take a massive financial hit from a season that will be played out without spectators.&nbsp;

Major League Baseball edged closer to a shortened season on Monday as bitter wrangling between team owners and players neared its endgame. MLB team owners on Monday voted unanimously to go ahead with the 2020 season under the terms of a deal reached with the MLB Players Association in March.

Major League Baseball edged closer to a shortened season on Monday as bitter wrangling between team owners and players neared its endgame. MLB team owners on Monday voted unanimously to go ahead with the 2020 season under the terms of a deal reached with the MLB Players Association in March. The owners' vote came after the MLBPA's executive board voted earlier in the day against a proposed 60-game regular season with expanded playoffs. The rejection means MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred can now order teams to play a drastically shortened season -- something the team owners have approved. However, before formally inking the shortened season, the MLB has requested that the MLBPA confirm by 5pm Tuesday (2100 GMT) that players will be ready to return to training camp by July 1. The players must also agree on the terms of the season operating manual, which includes health and safety protocols related to COVID-19. The MLB and the MLBPA have been at loggerheads over how to salvage the baseball season, which should have started on March 26 but was put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league proposed a succession of deals that would have seen the players receive only a percentage of their salaries, prorated by number of games played. Players pushed back against the league proposals, noting that they had already agreed to a pay cut in March and should not be required to accept a further reduction in salary. The MLBPA had requested a longer regular season with no pay cuts, a proposal that has been firmly opposed by MLB owners, who will take a massive financial hit from a season that will be played out without spectators.

Baseball edges closer to season as row nears endgame

Sporting events across South Korea return to normalcy after COVID chaos!

Today in History: First successful gasoline-driven automobile, German zeppelins bomb Paris and more!

The Washington Nationals completed one of the most shocking championship runs in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/baseball-nationals-beat-astros-to-force-world-series-game-seven-showdown-258744">Major League Baseball</a> history Wednesday by defeating Houston 6-2 to capture the US capital's first World Series title since 1924.

Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon blasted home runs and the Nationals rallied from two runs down after six innnings in the winner-take-all showdown to claim the best-of-seven final 4-3.

Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke mystified the Nationals for 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit while Yuli Gurriel hit a solo homer and scored on a Carlos Correa single to give Houston a 2-0 lead.

Houston native Rendon, however, smashed a solo homer over the left-field wall off a Greinke changeup in the seventh, sending him to the showers after walking Juan Soto.

Kendrick followed by smacking a fastball from Astros reliever Will Harris off the right-field foul pole for a two-run homer that put the Nats ahead to stay.

Washington added an insurance run in the eighth when Adam Eaton walked, stole second and scored on a Soto single.

In the ninth,&nbsp;Eaton singled with the bases loaded to drive in two more runs and all-but seal Houston's fate.

Patrick Corbin threw three shutout innings and allowed only two hits in relief of Max Scherzer and Daniel Hudson ran down the Astros in order in the ninth to complete the victory.

&nbsp;

The Washington Nationals completed one of the most shocking championship runs in Major League Baseball history Wednesday by defeating Houston 6-2 to capture the US capital's first World Series title since 1924.

The Washington Nationals completed one of the most shocking championship runs in Major League Baseball history Wednesday by defeating Houston 6-2 to capture the US capital's first World Series title since 1924. Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon blasted home runs and the Nationals rallied from two runs down after six innnings in the winner-take-all showdown to claim the best-of-seven final 4-3. Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke mystified the Nationals for 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one hit while Yuli Gurriel hit a solo homer and scored on a Carlos Correa single to give Houston a 2-0 lead. Houston native Rendon, however, smashed a solo homer over the left-field wall off a Greinke changeup in the seventh, sending him to the showers after walking Juan Soto. Kendrick followed by smacking a fastball from Astros reliever Will Harris off the right-field foul pole for a two-run homer that put the Nats ahead to stay. Washington added an insurance run in the eighth when Adam Eaton walked, stole second and scored on a Soto single. In the ninth, Eaton singled with the bases loaded to drive in two more runs and all-but seal Houston's fate. Patrick Corbin threw three shutout innings and allowed only two hits in relief of Max Scherzer and Daniel Hudson ran down the Astros in order in the ninth to complete the victory.

Baseball: Washington Nationals defeat Houston to win World Series

Stephen Strasburg baffled Houston's batters and Anthony Rendon drove in five runs to power the Washington Nationals over the Astros 7-2 Tuesday, forcing a one-game winner-take-all showdown for the 115th World Series championship.

Washington pulled level at 3-3 in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final, setting up a seventh game Wednesday to decide the title.

Strasburg allowed two runs on five hits over 8 1/3 masterful innings while walking two and striking out seven Houston batters, improving to 5-0 in the playoffs after an 18-6 season.

"Big pitchers do what he did," said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. "I told him, 'You were tremendous. You picked us up and because of you, we're going to game seven'," added Martinez, who was ejected late on after a disputed call.

Washington's Juan Soto and Adam Eaton blasted solo home runs in the fifth inning and Houston native Rendon hit a two-run homer in the seventh and a two-run double in the ninth.

"Rendon stepped up big," Martinez said.

That was enough run production for the Nationals thanks to Strasburg mystifying the Houston hitters who had produced 19 runs over the prior three games.

"I saw an incredible pitcher," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He was really good. We didn't put a lot of stress on him."

Strasburg had been tipping his pitches to Houston hitters in the first inning when Alex Bregman homered off him, but Martinez solved the problem.

"I said, 'You're tipping you're pitching. We need to fix it,'" Martinez said. "After that, he was lights out."

Strasburg began to wiggle his glove to throw the Astros off.

"Started shaking my glove so they didn't know what I was throwing. Obviously, they look for certain things," Strasburg said. "It's something that has burned me in the past and they burned me there in the first.

"It's just a part of the game. You've got to do your best to stay consistent in your delivery on each pitch."

Martinez became the first World Series manager ejected since Atlanta's Bobby Cox in 1996, needing to be restrained from angrily confronting umpires after a controversial call in the seventh inning.

"I'm not going to criticize the umpires about anything," Martinez said. "I don't really want to make this about me and take away from what the boys did. It was a judgement call. I don't want to make it about one play."

The Nationals, who improved to 4-0 in playoff elimination games this month, will start three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in game seven after neck spasms kept him out of game five. Fellow right-hander Zack Greinke will start for Houston.

"We have a great opportunity to play a game seven in the World Series in our ballpark," Hinch said.

But a World Series in which Houston was one of the heaviest favorites in years has turned into a historical epic, the first World Series with road teams winning the first six games.

"It's weird," Martinez said. "You can't explain it."

The Astros will try for their second title in three seasons while the Nationals seek the first crown in their franchise's 50-year history.

It would also be the first World Series title for Washington since 1924.

Houston's Justin Verlander, who won a season-best 21 games, surrendered three runs on five hits to suffer the loss and remain winless in seven career World Series starts, the most of any pitcher without a win. His 0-6 record is the all-time worst World Series mark.

Washington clung to a 3-2 lead in the seventh when controversy struck.

Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was called out for interference on first baseman Yuli Gurriel and the decision was upheld after a 4 1/2-minute video review. It would cost Washington a run when Rendon smashed a homer to left field.

After the inning, Martinez angrily moved toward the umpires, bench coach Chip Hale restraining him. But Martinez yelled until home plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejected him, leaving Hale to take the team to the finish.

Rendon's two-run homer put Washington ahead 5-2 and his two-run double in the ninth added more insurance runs.

Stephen Strasburg baffled Houston's batters and Anthony Rendon drove in five runs to power the Washington Nationals over the Astros 7-2 Tuesday, forcing a one-game winner-take-all showdown for the 115th World Series championship.

Stephen Strasburg baffled Houston's batters and Anthony Rendon drove in five runs to power the Washington Nationals over the Astros 7-2 Tuesday, forcing a one-game winner-take-all showdown for the 115th World Series championship. Washington pulled level at 3-3 in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final, setting up a seventh game Wednesday to decide the title. Strasburg allowed two runs on five hits over 8 1/3 masterful innings while walking two and striking out seven Houston batters, improving to 5-0 in the playoffs after an 18-6 season. "Big pitchers do what he did," said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. "I told him, 'You were tremendous. You picked us up and because of you, we're going to game seven'," added Martinez, who was ejected late on after a disputed call. Washington's Juan Soto and Adam Eaton blasted solo home runs in the fifth inning and Houston native Rendon hit a two-run homer in the seventh and a two-run double in the ninth. "Rendon stepped up big," Martinez said. That was enough run production for the Nationals thanks to Strasburg mystifying the Houston hitters who had produced 19 runs over the prior three games. "I saw an incredible pitcher," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "He was really good. We didn't put a lot of stress on him." Strasburg had been tipping his pitches to Houston hitters in the first inning when Alex Bregman homered off him, but Martinez solved the problem. "I said, 'You're tipping you're pitching. We need to fix it,'" Martinez said. "After that, he was lights out." Strasburg began to wiggle his glove to throw the Astros off. "Started shaking my glove so they didn't know what I was throwing. Obviously, they look for certain things," Strasburg said. "It's something that has burned me in the past and they burned me there in the first. "It's just a part of the game. You've got to do your best to stay consistent in your delivery on each pitch." Martinez became the first World Series manager ejected since Atlanta's Bobby Cox in 1996, needing to be restrained from angrily confronting umpires after a controversial call in the seventh inning. "I'm not going to criticize the umpires about anything," Martinez said. "I don't really want to make this about me and take away from what the boys did. It was a judgement call. I don't want to make it about one play." The Nationals, who improved to 4-0 in playoff elimination games this month, will start three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer in game seven after neck spasms kept him out of game five. Fellow right-hander Zack Greinke will start for Houston. "We have a great opportunity to play a game seven in the World Series in our ballpark," Hinch said. But a World Series in which Houston was one of the heaviest favorites in years has turned into a historical epic, the first World Series with road teams winning the first six games. "It's weird," Martinez said. "You can't explain it." The Astros will try for their second title in three seasons while the Nationals seek the first crown in their franchise's 50-year history. It would also be the first World Series title for Washington since 1924. Houston's Justin Verlander, who won a season-best 21 games, surrendered three runs on five hits to suffer the loss and remain winless in seven career World Series starts, the most of any pitcher without a win. His 0-6 record is the all-time worst World Series mark. Washington clung to a 3-2 lead in the seventh when controversy struck. Nationals shortstop Trea Turner was called out for interference on first baseman Yuli Gurriel and the decision was upheld after a 4 1/2-minute video review. It would cost Washington a run when Rendon smashed a homer to left field. After the inning, Martinez angrily moved toward the umpires, bench coach Chip Hale restraining him. But Martinez yelled until home plate umpire Sam Holbrook ejected him, leaving Hale to take the team to the finish. Rendon's two-run homer put Washington ahead 5-2 and his two-run double in the ninth added more insurance runs.

US baseball: Nationals beat Astros to force World Series showdown

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs has died before a scheduled Monday game against the Texas Rangers that has been postponed, the Major League Baseball clubs announced.

The 27-year-old left-hander from Los Angeles was found dead in a Texas hotel room. No cause of death was immediately known.

Police are investigating after discovering Skaggs' body with no sign of foul play.

"It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas," the Angels said in a statement.

"Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of&nbsp;Angel's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Carli and his entire family during this devastating time."

Skaggs, who would have turned 28 on July 13, last pitched on Saturday in Anaheim. He started and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings against Oakland and in 15 starts this season was 7-7 with a 4.29 earned-run average and 78 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings.

"I am deeply saddened by today's tragedy in Texas," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. "All of us at Major League Baseball extended our deepest condolences to Tyler's wife Carli, their family, their friends and all of his Angels teammates and colleagues.

"We will support the Angels organization through this most difficult period and we will make a variety of resources available to Tyler's teammates and other members of the baseball family."

The Rangers expressed "deepest sympathies" for the "shocking loss" in announcing the postponement of the schedule series opener between the clubs at Arlington, Texas.

Skaggs, who was scheduled to pitch in Thursday's final game of the series with Texas, had a 28-38 career record with a 4.41 earned-run average and 476 strikeouts over parts of major league seven seasons with the Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks.

His death comes 10 years after Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car crash.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs has died before a scheduled Monday game against the Texas Rangers that has been postponed, the Major League Baseball clubs announced.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs has died before a scheduled Monday game against the Texas Rangers that has been postponed, the Major League Baseball clubs announced. The 27-year-old left-hander from Los Angeles was found dead in a Texas hotel room. No cause of death was immediately known. Police are investigating after discovering Skaggs' body with no sign of foul play. "It is with great sorrow that we report Tyler Skaggs passed away earlier today in Texas," the Angels said in a statement. "Tyler has, and always will be, an important part of Angel's family. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Carli and his entire family during this devastating time." Skaggs, who would have turned 28 on July 13, last pitched on Saturday in Anaheim. He started and allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings against Oakland and in 15 starts this season was 7-7 with a 4.29 earned-run average and 78 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings. "I am deeply saddened by today's tragedy in Texas," Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said. "All of us at Major League Baseball extended our deepest condolences to Tyler's wife Carli, their family, their friends and all of his Angels teammates and colleagues. "We will support the Angels organization through this most difficult period and we will make a variety of resources available to Tyler's teammates and other members of the baseball family." The Rangers expressed "deepest sympathies" for the "shocking loss" in announcing the postponement of the schedule series opener between the clubs at Arlington, Texas. Skaggs, who was scheduled to pitch in Thursday's final game of the series with Texas, had a 28-38 career record with a 4.41 earned-run average and 476 strikeouts over parts of major league seven seasons with the Angels and Arizona Diamondbacks. His death comes 10 years after Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed in a car crash.

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs dies; no sign of foul play, say police

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.&nbsp;

The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development.&nbsp;

But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study.&nbsp;

As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not.&nbsp;

The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years.&nbsp;

After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players.&nbsp;

The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease.

But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers.

NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players.

Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players.

The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States.

"Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.&nbsp;

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday.

American football players have a higher risk of mortality than baseball players of the same age, particularly from neurodegenerative and heart diseases, says a new study published Friday. The study's authors at Harvard University cautioned that the research was not designed to find the reasons for the elevated risk experienced by players in the National Football League (NFL) nor the mechanisms that fueled disease development. But, they said, the findings raised questions about sport-specific differences in disease development and warranted further study. As such, it was useful to compare football players with baseball players, since both groups are professional athletes in comparable physical condition but one sport involves frequent, violent contact and the other does not. The findings, which were published in JAMA Network Open, are based on a retrospective analysis of death rates and causes of death in 3,419 NFL and 2,708 Major League Baseball (MLB) players over a period spanning more than 30 years. After adjusting for a decade of birth and race, they found a 26 per cent higher mortality among football players compared with baseball players. The risk of dying from neuro-degenerative diseases was three times greater among NFL players, who also faced a 2.5 times higher risk of dying from heart disease. But these risks, even when multiplied by a factor of two or three, remain low when extrapolated into absolute numbers. NFL players would see one additional death from a neurodegenerative disease per 1,000 NFL players by age 55, rising to 11 additional neurodegenerative deaths by age 75, compared with MLB players. Heart disease would account for 16 additional deaths per 1,000 NFL players by age 55 and 77 additional deaths by age 75, when comparing NFL to MLB players. The authors did caution, however, that this may be linked to the higher body-mass index of NFL players compared to MLB, while cardiovascular disease is in any case the leading cause of death in the United States. "Even a single preventable or premature death is one too many, so it is critical for scientists and clinicians to pursue further research into teasing out the reasons behind this increased mortality," said lead author Marc Weisskopf, a professor of environmental epidemiology and physiology at Harvard.

Football players at greater risk of premature death than baseball players: Study

The epic final game of the 2016 World Series between the victorious Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians was the most-watched baseball game in a quarter-century.

An average of just over 40 million viewers tuned in to&nbsp;game seven of the series on Wednesday, when the Cubs defeated Cleveland 8-7 in 10 innings in, the Los Angeles-based Fox Broadcasting Co. announced.

That represents the most viewers since 50.3 million tuned into watch the Minnesota Twins post a 1-0, 10-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the 1991 World Series.

Fox received a 25.2 overnight rating Wednesday -- the network&#39;s best since a 27.0 for its broadcast of game seven of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees in 2001.

The game was a must-see in Chicago, where Fox said 71 per cent of televisions were tuned to the contest compared to just 48 per cent in Cleveland.

The World Series was an overall hit with viewers. It drew a 14.9 rating over the seven games to make it the most-watched World Series since the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals squared off in 2004.

(AFP)

An average of just over 40 million viewers tuned in to?game seven of the series on Wednesday

The epic final game of the 2016 World Series between the victorious Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians was the most-watched baseball game in a quarter-century. An average of just over 40 million viewers tuned in to game seven of the series on Wednesday, when the Cubs defeated Cleveland 8-7 in 10 innings in, the Los Angeles-based Fox Broadcasting Co. announced. That represents the most viewers since 50.3 million tuned into watch the Minnesota Twins post a 1-0, 10-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves in game seven of the 1991 World Series. Fox received a 25.2 overnight rating Wednesday -- the network's best since a 27.0 for its broadcast of game seven of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees in 2001. The game was a must-see in Chicago, where Fox said 71 per cent of televisions were tuned to the contest compared to just 48 per cent in Cleveland. The World Series was an overall hit with viewers. It drew a 14.9 rating over the seven games to make it the most-watched World Series since the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals squared off in 2004. (AFP)

Baseball: Cubs' clincher was most-watched game in 25 years

The Chicago Cubs have booked their ticket to the 2016 World Series&nbsp;with a decisive 5-0 win in game 6 of the National League Championship Series&nbsp;against the Los Angeles Dodgers.&nbsp;

The storied, famously cursed franchise will&nbsp;play&nbsp;in their first World Series since 1945. They haven&#39;t&nbsp;won the&nbsp;championship in&nbsp;over a century, going back to&nbsp;1908.&nbsp;

The Cubs&nbsp;will play the Cleveland Indians, another franchise that has experienced an epic World Series&nbsp;drought. Cleveland&nbsp;last won in 1948. Chicago has gone longer than any team in Major League Baseball&nbsp;without winning a championship, followed by Cleveland. One of these teams will finally end their legendary&nbsp;futility.

Kyle Hendricks pitched for seven and a third incredible innings, giving up only two hits and&nbsp;zero walks while striking out six. The Cubs scored two runs in the first inning, which&nbsp;turned out to be more than enough.

Javier Baez and Jon Lester shared the series&#39; Most Valuable Player award. Baez&nbsp;averaged&nbsp;0.318 in the series,&nbsp;drove in five runs and played solid defence at second base. Meanwhile, Lester was 1-0 with a 1.38 in two starts.

The Cubs managed to overcome back-to-back shutouts in the first two games&nbsp;against LA by scoring a combined 23 runs in the last three games.

The Cubs, picked to be World Series favourites at the beginning of the year, went on to win 103 games in the regular season, the most in the league.

(WION)

&nbsp;

Chicago hasn't won it all since 1908. They play the Cleveland Indians, who last won the World Series in 1948

The Chicago Cubs have booked their ticket to the 2016 World Series with a decisive 5-0 win in game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The storied, famously cursed franchise will play in their first World Series since 1945. They haven't won the championship in over a century, going back to 1908. The Cubs will play the Cleveland Indians, another franchise that has experienced an epic World Series drought. Cleveland last won in 1948. Chicago has gone longer than any team in Major League Baseball without winning a championship, followed by Cleveland. One of these teams will finally end their legendary futility. Kyle Hendricks pitched for seven and a third incredible innings, giving up only two hits and zero walks while striking out six. The Cubs scored two runs in the first inning, which turned out to be more than enough. Javier Baez and Jon Lester shared the series' Most Valuable Player award. Baez averaged 0.318 in the series, drove in five runs and played solid defence at second base. Meanwhile, Lester was 1-0 with a 1.38 in two starts. The Cubs managed to overcome back-to-back shutouts in the first two games against LA by scoring a combined 23 runs in the last three games. The Cubs, picked to be World Series favourites at the beginning of the year, went on to win 103 games in the regular season, the most in the league. (WION)

Chicago Cubs to play in World Series for first time since 1945

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