CLEVELAND — C.C. Sabathia settled down after giving up a debated homer on his fifth pitch and the Indians returned to Major League Baseball’s postseason after a six-year absence by beating the New York Yankees 12-3 in their American League playoff opener on Thursday.
Playoff newcomer Víctor Martínez hit a two-run...  Read More

HYDERABAD – Australia overcame Yuvraj Singh’s superb 121 to clinch a 47-run win over India in the third one-dayer yesterday, taking a 2-0 lead in the seven-match series.
Andrew Symonds lashed 89 from 67 balls to power the one-day champions to 290 for seven. India, after a poor start, were 243...  Read More

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Australian Peter O’Malley matched the course record at Carnoustie with an 8-under 64 yesterday in the second round of the Dunhill Links Championship to share the lead with Nick Dougherty and Hennie Otto.
Briton Dougherty (66) also played at Carnoustie, while South Africa’s Otto (67) played...  Read More

MILAN – AC Milan forward Kaká was named FIFPro World Player of the Year yesterday for inspiring his side to a seventh European Cup win in May.
More than 45,000 professional footballers throughout the world, members of the players’ union FIFPro, were invited to vote in the annual awards which...  Read More

SHANGHAI – Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso gave notice they have not given up hope of catching championship leader Lewis Hamilton by setting the fastest times in yesterday’s practice sessions for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Ferrari’s Raikkonen, who trails the British rookie by 17 points with 20 at stake in the...  Read More

Jerónimo Barrales netted all the hosts’ goals as Banfield defeated Colón de Santa Fe 3-1 in their National A Division Apertura Tournament’s 13th-round match last night.
The victory lifted Banfield to 21 points, four behind leaders Independiente. Colón remain with 17 points but they still have to complete a...  Read More

WHITE PLAINS, New York – United States track champion Marion Jones announced her retirement from athletics yesterday moments after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators about her use of steroids.
“Because of my actions, I am retiring from the sport of track and field, a sport which I deeply...  Read More

PARIS — Argentina have kept faith with the team that beat Ireland last weekend for their World Cup quarterfinal against Scotland tomorrow.
Coach Marcelo Loffreda made one change to the replacements when he announced his team yesterday for the match at the Stade de France with flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamón coming...  Read More

METZ, France – Top seed Tommy Robredo of Spain reached the Metz Open semi-finals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean yesterday. Robredo will next play local favourite Nicolas Mahut who thrilled his fans with a hard-fought 3-6 7-5 7-6 win over Russian Igo Andreev, seeded eighth.
Briton Andy...  Read More