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Ireland ready for Springboks after taking apart Tonga at Rugby World Cup

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

NANTES, France (AP) — Ireland accounted for Tonga 59-16 and also accounted for all fingers, toes, arms and legs in mostly good order after a successful Rugby World Cup gamble on Saturday.The Irish first team was risked for a second straight match to build up a head of steam for their showdown with defending champion South Africa next weekend and the risk paid off. Backup tighthead prop Finlay Bealham came off and appeared to be the only injury.But Ireland’s key players came through unscathed, they got the bruising hit-out needed, and a Tonga team self-described as its best ever was taken apart clinically.As a bonus, captain Jonathan Sexton tallied 16 more points and passed Ronan O’Gara and Neil Jenkins to fourth on the all-time international points list. Sexton, playing his second match after six months out, was rested at halftime and watched his teammates almost double a 31-13 interval lead.They looked ready to meet the Springboks, extending their winning streak to 15 t...

Jets add kicker Seibert to replace the injured Zuerlein; QB Boyle promoted to back up Wilson

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets signed kicker Austin Seibert to the practice squad and then elevated him to the active roster on Saturday to replace the injured Greg Zuerlein.The Jets also signed quarterback Tim Boyle from the practice squad to back up Zach Wilson, who’s starting after Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles tendon in New York’s 22-16 season-opening win against Buffalo last Monday night. Linebacker Sam Eguavoen was elevated from the practice squad and wide receiver Irvin Charles was waived from the active roster.The Jets needed a kicker after Zuerlein injured his right groin in practice on Thursday. Coach Robert Saleh said Zuerlein had a “50-50” chance of being able to play against Dallas on Sunday. New York worked out a few kickers Friday, including Seibert.Zuerlein was officially ruled out Saturday, so the Jets moved forward with Seibert. The 26-year-old kicker spent parts of the last two seasons with Detroit, and also had stints with Cincinna...

Félix and Cancelo score in Barcelona’s 5-0 rout of Betis after making first starts for new club

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — João Félix and João Cancelo scored after making their first starts for Barcelona in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis in the Spanish league on Saturday.The pair of Portugal internationals made their debuts last round for Barcelona as substitutes two days after they joined the defending champions on loan just hours before the summer transfer market closed.Félix scored in the 25th minute and then cleverly let a pass run between his legs in the area that Robert Lewandowski fired home to double the lead in the 32nd.Ferran Torres, who also made his first start of the season, added a third goal in the 62nd when he sent a free kick curling around the edge of the defensive wall and beyond the reach of goalkeeper Rui Silva.Raphinha, after going on to replace Torres, scored from just outside the area in the 66th. Cancelo topped the victory in the 81st with a great solo effort after he cut back twice to ditch his marker and beat Silva from an angle.Barcelona moved top of the lea...

Coleman edges world champion Lyles in the 100m at the Prefontaine Classic

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — American Christian Coleman edged world champion and fellow countryman Noah Lyles in the 100 meters at the season-ending Prefontaine Classic on Saturday. Coleman won in 9.83 seconds, matching Lyles’ world best this season, with Lyles finishing in 9.85. Coleman roared after his time became official and slapped the hand of a cheering fan at Eugene’s Hayward Field. The annual Prefontaine Classic, normally run earlier in the year, served as the Diamond League finale this season. Thirty-two champions were to be crowned over the two-day event, each winning $30,000. Lyles won gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4×100 relay at the world championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month. He was treating the Prefontaine as something of a victory lap in his own country. After Saturday’s race, he celebrated with a salted caramel milkshake. “I gotta come bring it back home,” Lyles said about running one final race this year on American soil. Joining Coleman and...

Atlanta United turns up the offense, capitalizes on Messi’s absence, to beat Inter Miami 5-2

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta United took the lead with a three-goal spree late in the first half and beat Inter Miami, playing without star Lionel Messi, 5-2 on Saturday night.Leo Campana scored two goals for Inter Miami, which also was without defender Jordi Alba. The story of the night, however, was the absence of Messi. Messi’s absence for the Major League Soccer match was a disappointment for a crowd of 71,635 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.The five goals matched Atlanta’s second-highest total of the season. Atlanta beat Columbus 6-1 on March 25 and also scored five goals in a 5-1 win over Portland on March 18.Brooks Lennon, who also had an assist, scored on the 41st minute to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Atlanta took a 4-2 advantage when Giorgos Giakoumakis scored on assists from Thiago Almada and Saba Lobzhanidze in the 76th minute. It was the Atlanta United-record 15th assist of the season for Almada.Tyler Wolff’s late goal pushed the lead to three goals.Atlanta United began the ...

Auto workers’ union calls talks with Ford productive as strike continues

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The United Auto Workers said Saturday it had “reasonably productive conversations” with Ford, as its limited strike against the Big 3 automakers carried into a second day.The union is trying to reach a deal with not only Ford but also General Motors and Stellantis for better pay in an era of big profits for the industry, which is trying to transition from gasoline-powered engines to electric vehicles.Stellantis on Saturday also gave details about its most recent offer to the union, which brought its wage proposal roughly in line with its competitors. The owner of Chrysler said its offer would provide cumulative raises of nearly 21% for hourly wages, with an immediate 10% increase if a contract is ratified.That, though, is still below the 36% increase over four years the UAW is seeking, along with other demands that would increase costs for auto companies.Mark Stewart, chief operating officer for North America at Stellantis, on Saturday called it part of a “really com...

Homers from Burger and Chisholm in 8th lift Marlins to 11-5 win over Braves

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Jake Burger hit a go-ahead two-run homer and Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a grand slam in the eighth inning as the Miami Marlins pulled away to beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Saturday.Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel also went deep for the Marlins, who became the first NL East team to win a series against the division champions. The Braves were 11-0-1 in their previous series against division opponents.Matt Olson hit his major league-leading 52nd homer and overtook Andruw Jones as Atlanta’s single-season home run leader. Jones hit 51 in 2005.Josh Bell drew a two-out walk against Braves reliever Kirby Yates (7-2) before Burger made it 7-5 with a drive over the wall in center for his 32nd homer and seventh since he joined Miami on Aug. 1.Gurriel singled, and Jesús Sánchez and Garrett Hampson walked before Chisholm connected off Michael Tonkin for Miami’s first grand slam of the season.Ozzie Albies hit his 30th homer and became the fifth Braves’ player to reach the total this seas...

‘Dodged a tragedy’: Officer escapes injury when tree falls on Cohasset police cruiser

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

The police chief in Cohasset says the department “dodged a tragedy” when a large tree fell onto a police cruiser on Saturday.An officer who responded to a report of low-hanging wires at the intersection of South Main Street and River Road was uninjured when a large tree snapped and fell onto his 2018 Ford Police Interceptor, according to a post on the department’s Facebook page.In a statement, Cohasset Police Chief William Quigley said, “We dodged a tragedy today, and I’m so thankful that the officer is OK. This incident is an excellent example of why we always encourage people to stay indoors during these storm events.” No additional information was immediately available.

Red Sox put rookie 1B Triston Casas on 10-day IL because of sore right shoulder

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — The Boston Red Sox put first baseman Triston Casas on the 10-day injured list Saturday because of right shoulder inflammation.The move, retroactive to Friday, came after the rookie slugger was scratched from the starting lineup for a second straight game.Casas is batting .263 with 24 home runs and 65 RBIs in 132 games.Casas ranks first among AL rookies in walks (70) and OPS (.857) and is second in home runs. He has hit .317 with 15 home runs in 54 games since the All-Star break.The Red Sox recalled infielder Bobby Dalbec from Triple-A Worcester. Dalbec hit 25 home runs as a rookie in 2021, the sixth-highest rookie total in Red Sox history.

Red Sox blow late lead, fall to Blue Jays 4-3 in 13 innings

Published Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:31:28 GMT

Even with an extra two days of rest Chris Sale didn’t have anywhere near his usual stuff. His fastball averaged 91.4 mph, far slower than his season average of 94.1, and his off-speed pitches were well below their averages as well.Sale found a way to make it work, and but his teammates let him down.The veteran left-hander mowed down the Blue Jays, holding the opposition hitless into the fifth inning and finishing with one run allowed on two hits over six-plus innings. That, combined with Rafael Devers’ two-run home run in the sixth, was nearly enough to get the job done, but a catastrophic miscue in center field on what would have been the final out allowed Toronto to tie the game and force extra innings.The Blue Jays eventually went on to win 4-3 in 13 innings on a walk-off infield single by Whit Merrifield, who rolled a soft chopper down the third base line that Devers didn’t have a play on, allowing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to score from third.“Tough one,R...