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Encarnacion-Strand homers in 9th as Cincinnati Reds beat Toronto Blue Jays 1-0

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered in the ninth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Toronto Blue Jays 1-0 on Friday night in the opener of an interleague series between playoff contenders.Encarnacion-Strand drove a 2-2 pitch from Jordan Hicks (2-8) deep to left for his fourth homer. It was Cincinnati’s fourth hit of the game.Fighting for positioning in the NL playoff standings, the Reds (64-59) won for the third time in four games.Toronto wasted a terrific performance by José Berríos, who struck out eight in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander allowed one hit — Matt McLain’s one-out single in the sixth — and walked four.The Blue Jays (67-56), who are in the mix for an AL wild card, dropped their second straight game.Source

Anaheim Ducks acquire defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin from Buffalo for a 4th-round draft pick

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin in a trade with the Buffalo Sabres.The Ducks sent a fourth-round draft choice in 2025 to Buffalo on Friday night. Anaheim originally acquired the pick from Minnesota in the deal that sent John Klingberg to the Wild last March.The 29-year-old Lyubushkin is a five-year NHL veteran who began his North American career with Arizona in 2018. He was traded to Toronto in February 2022, and he signed a two-year, $5.5 million deal with Buffalo in July 2022.“We are excited to add Ilya to our blueline as we targeted another defenseman for the right side this offseason,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said in a statement. “He is a big, physical, hard-nosed player that can kill penalties and will make us harder to play against.”Lyubushkin had 14 points in 68 games with Buffalo last season. He led the Sabres’ defensemen in hits and blocked shots per 60 minutes of play, and he played extensively a...

Kate Markgraf steps down as US Soccer’s women’s general manager

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Former defender Kate Markgraf has stepped down after four years as general manager of the U.S. women’s national soccer team. Markgraf will continue in a transition role through the end of the month, U.S. Soccer announced Friday. “I am proud of the foundation we have built, and even more proud of the character and commitment demonstrated by our players as they represent the United States on and off the field,” Markgraf said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting all of our programs and have every confidence that we will maintain our standards of excellence moving forward.” Markgraf was appointed to the post following the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France. She oversaw the search for a new coach following Jill Ellis’ departure. Vlatko Andonovski, who replaced Ellis, resigned earlier in the week after the United States was eliminated from this year’s World Cup in the Round of 16, the team’s earliest departure from the tournament. Markgraf appear...

Sykes scores 30 points to help the Mystics beat the Fever to end a 9-game road losing streak

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Brittney Sykes scored 30 points with five 3-pointers and the Washington Mystics beat the Indiana Fever 83-79 on Friday night to snap a nine-game road losing streak.Washington (15-16) won away from home for the first time since topping Chicago on June 22.Washington star Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins both returned to the starting lineup after missing a month with ankle injuries. Delle Donne, who played for the first time since logging 13 minutes on July 9, finished with six points in 11 minutes. Atkins was on the court for the first time since July 11 and scored six points in 14 minutes.Natasha Cloud added 15 points for Washington (15-16), which made 12 of 25 3-pointers. Washington led 78-71 with 37 seconds left. But Emma Cannon made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to pull Indiana to 81-79 with 8.3 seconds left. The Mystics nearly turned it over on an inbounds pass, but Cloud chased it down in the backcourt before being fouled. Cloud made two free throw...

Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals Qualifying

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

FridayAt Brainerd International SpeedwayBrainerd, Minn.Qualifying Results Top Fuel1. Doug Kalitta, 3.757 seconds, 330.31 mph; 2. Steve Torrence, 3.758, 328.54; 3. Brittany Force, 3.762, 331.45; 4. Leah Pruett, 3.777, 327.35; 5. AntronBrown, 3.780, 327.27; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.780, 324.05; 7. Mike Salinas, 3.784, 330.07; 8. Austin Prock, 3.795, 321.12; 9. Tony Schumacher, 3.828, 322.34;10. Clay Millican, 3.832, 276.75; 11. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.853, 310.84; 12. Terry Totten, 4.128, 302.35; 13. Shawn Langdon, 4.291, 190.43; 14. Josh Hart, 4.431,180.24.Funny Car1. Ron Capps, Toyota Supra, 3.894, 330.23; 2. J.R. Todd, Supra, 3.907, 327.98; 3. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.910, 328.06; 4. Bob Tasca III, FordMustang, 3.915, 327.59; 5. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.934, 319.67; 6. Robert Hight, Chevy Camaro, 3.942, 321.73; 7. John Force, Camaro, 3.943, 322.73;8. Alexis DeJoria, Supra, 3.960, 324.90; 9. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.977, 323.58; 10. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.035, 285.23; 11. Alex Laughlin, Charg...

Two days after throwing a no-hitter, Japan knocks out eight hits in a 6-1 win over Mexico

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — The best international team of this century, Japan hasn’t made the Little League World Series championship since 2017.Early in this year’s tournament, it’s looking as if the Japanese could be back. Japan has won its first two games, capturing the victories in very different ways.Behind six innings of no-hit ball on Wednesday, Japan beat Cuba 1-0 – despite getting just one hit of its own.On Friday, Japan knocked out eight hits in a 6-1 victory over Mexico. Japan loaded the bases and scored at least a run in every inning from the first through the fourth.“I’m usually telling the kids that they have to make contact with the bat,” manager Toyo Hirooka said through a translator. “I don’t try to change the mentality of the kids, I just keep things as usual.”Japan has claimed seven LLWS championships since 2000. Only three other international teams have won over that span – Venezuela, Curacao and South Korea – none more than once.This year’s Japanese represen...

Video released of woman's killing by Westminster police officer

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Warning: This video contains gun violence. Viewer discretion is advised. DENVER (KDVR) — Body camera video was released Friday in a Westminster officer's deadly shooting of a woman during a traffic stop.Police say the woman, who was in her SUV, was going for a gun when the officer opened fire and killed her. A bullet ended up in an innocent bystander's windshield, as well. Regulars at Santiago’s shocked by shootout at Commerce City restaurant The shooting happened on the afternoon of July 25 at West 88th Avenue and Lamar Drive. Police say the officer approached the vehicle because it was stopped in the wrong direction, according to a Friday release from police. Police identified the officer only as N. Adams.The video shows the officer asking why she's in the wrong lane and if she's OK, but she does not respond. Then he notices a weapon inside."After several attempts to speak with the driver, she produced a handgun," Westminster Police said in a state...

20 injured after car slams into Plantation restaurant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Nearly two dozen people were injured after a car careened into a restaurant in Plantation, sending more than half of the victims to the hospital, officials said.Plantation Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash at the Jacaranda Plaza, located along the 8200 block of West Sunrise Boulevard, at around 6:45 p.m., Friday.One of the injured victims, Angel Soler, described the harrowing moment when the vehicle plowed into Thai Meal restaurant.“When she first came in, my back was to the glass. I heard a big explosion,” he said. “Everybody went flying, tables went sliding.”Cellphone video from witnesses captured the red Nissan Altima inside the restaurant, as well as tables and chairs tossed everywhere.A customer is seen opening the driver’s side door to help the woman who was behind the wheel and who, officials said, hit the gas.“It was pretty scary,” said Soler.Soler said he was inside the restaurant with his wife at the ...

Making reusables rock’n’roll: Festivals struggle with switch to sustainable

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Reusable cups and utensils don’t scream rock’n’roll — at least, not yet. If Brussels gets its way, they’re set to become a staple at every music festival across the bloc.Festivals are capable of creating mountains of waste, as thousands of ravers consume huge amounts of paper-wrapped takeaway food and down countless beers out of plastic cups over multiple days. A 2020 report estimated that camping music festivals in the U.K. were responsible for more than 23,500 tons of waste each year, 68 percent of which goes straight to landfill.But festivals are going to have to rethink their food and drink offerings, as the EU zones in on new legislation to slash packaging waste generated by the hospitality sector. Its proposal, set out last year, pushes takeaway food and drink sellers — including those dotted around every festival — to ditch single-use packaging in favor of reusable, washable cups and food containers.The push is part of a larger effort to slash packagin...

Tornado uproots trees, downs wires as it roars through Johnston, RI

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 19:51:10 GMT

Crews are cleaning up after a tornado raced through Johnston, Rhode Island on Friday morning and its an effort that they expect will take some time to clear.Randy Williams was driving on Interstate 295 near the Johnston-Smithfield line when a funnel appeared on the road. “It hit the backside of my car, which changed the path I was going and moved me over a lane,” he recalled. Another car in Johnston was actually picked up and moved as the twister spun through the area.David Danella, an off-duty firefighter who witnessed it, said, “Her car was in the middle of its cyclone winds. I guess that’s what you call them. It picked her car up and spun her around like that and then just dropped it back down.” SKY7-HD flew over Highland Memorial Park Cemetery in Johnston, where a tornado touched down just before 9 a.m. Some 20 acres of the area was destroyed.Merill Brouchau took shelter in her basement, and when she came out she found her patio swing in her swimmin...