Tag Archives: stifle

Bournemouth stifle Newcastle; Wolves upset Tottenham | Premier League Update | NBC Sports – NBC Sports

  1. Bournemouth stifle Newcastle; Wolves upset Tottenham | Premier League Update | NBC Sports NBC Sports
  2. What would be your selection of Newcastle team v Bournemouth? Vote now The Mag
  3. Newcastle suffer ANOTHER injury blow as Miguel Almiron limps off in the first half of their trip to Bournemout Daily Mail
  4. Alan Shearer delivers his instant reaction as Newcastle lose 2-0 against Bournemouth Geordie Boot Boys – Newcastle United F.C. News
  5. Bournemouth v. Newcastle United | PREMIER LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS | 11/11/2023 | NBC Sports NBC Sports
  6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Read original article here

Texas vs. TCU score, takeaways: No. 4 Horned Frogs stifle No. 18 Longhorns, clinch spot in Big 12 title game

No. 4 TCU used a strong defensive performance to push past No. 18 Texas 17-10 to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2017 and clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3. The matchup between the two offensive powerhouses surprisingly turned into a defensive battle, but in the end, TCU remains in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation. 

Texas posted 11 tackles for loss in the first half to keep TCU behind the chains, but running back Kendre Miller took over the game in the second half while overshadowing his more ballyhooed contemporary, Bijan Robinson. Miller broke off a 75-yard touchdown run for the game’s first touchdown and cleared 130 yards rushing. Robinson was held to just 29 yards, snapping a streak of seven straight 100-yard performances. 

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers completed just 17 of 39 passes for 171 yards and an interception in another poor effort following his breakout performance against Oklahoma in October. The Longhorns, astonishingly, have not scored an offensive touchdown in the second half since their win over Iowa State on Oct. 15. Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders caught seven passes for 61 yards and Jordan Whittington posted 78 yards, but neither got into the end zone. 

TCU moves to 10-0 and has earned the chance to play for a conference title in coach Sonny Dykes’ first season. The Horned Frogs have regular-season games remaining against Baylor and Iowa State before making their first Big 12 Championship Game appearance since 2017. 

Frogs step up on defense

TCU has been criticized for winning shootouts, but the defense took center stage in a big way against the Longhorns. The Horned Frogs picked off Ewers and held Robinson to 29 yards after the All-American running back post 614 yards rushing in his previous four games.  

Horned Frogs linebacker Johnny Hodges flew around the field with 11 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Four other defenders posted a tackle for loss, and defensive end Dylan Horton came away with a sack. It was a total team effort as the Frogs once again went on a strong second-half run to choke out their opponent. 

Passing game woes for Horns

While TCU did a good job of making Ewers uncomfortable, Texas’ passing game also collapsed on its own. Ewers missed his first seven passes and whiffed on six of his final seven attempts. When Ewers was on target, Texas had several drops or uncontested passes. Xavier Worthy specifically was targeted 12 times and came up with just four catches. 

The Longhorns receiving game was heavily hyped coming into the season with Ewers behind center, but the receivers have underperformed. With only two regular-season games remaining, no receiver has cleared 600 yards. Sanders has proven to be a major weapon, but no other receivers has been able to consistently create mismatches. 

TCU’s playoff case

TCU has consistently overpowered teams with its offense, but the Horned Frogs flipped the script with an attack focused on rushing and defense. With any luck, TCU hopes that the College Football Playoff selection committee will notice its ability to win in different ways. For example: Though star receiver Quentin Johnston did have a touchdown catch and 66 yards receiving, he was not the focal point of the evening. 

Winning so dominantly against one of college football’s most explosive offenses should earn TCU some much-needed street cred as the committee goes into its final deliberations. With the victory, TCU now has strong wins against No. 18 Texas, No. 19 Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and a number of other potential bowl teams. Each involved overcoming a different kind of adversity — yet, the Frogs are still undefeated. 

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0355/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

Texas vs. TCU score, takeaways: No. 4 Horned Frogs stifle No. 18 Longhorns, clinch spot in Big 12 title game

No. 4 TCU used a strong defensive performance to push past No. 18 Texas 17-10 to reach 10 wins for the first time since 2017 and clinch a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday, Dec. 3. The matchup between the two offensive powerhouses surprisingly turned into a defensive battle, but in the end, TCU remains in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation. 

Texas posted 11 tackles for loss in the first half to keep TCU behind the chains, but running back Kendre Miller took over the game in the second half while overshadowing his more ballyhooed contemporary Bijan Robinson. Miller broke off a 75-yard touchdown run for the game’s first touchdown and cleared 130 yards rushing. Robinson was held to just 29 yards, snapping a streak of seven straight 100-yard performances. 

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers completed just 17 of 39 passes for 171 yards and an interception in another poor effort since his breakout performance against Oklahoma. The Longhorns have not scored an offensive touchdown since their win over Iowa State on Oct. 15. Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders caught seven passes for 61 yards and Xavier Worthy posted 78 yards, but neither got into the end zone. 

TCU moves to 10-0 and has earned the chance to play for a conference title in the first season under coach Sonny Dykes. The Horned Frogs have regular-season games remaining against Baylor and Iowa State before making their first Big 12 Championship Game appearance since 2017. 

CBS Sports will update this story shortly with takeaways. 

require.config({"baseUrl":"https://sportsfly.cbsistatic.com/fly-0355/bundles/sportsmediajs/js-build","config":{"version":{"fly/components/accordion":"1.0","fly/components/alert":"1.0","fly/components/base":"1.0","fly/components/carousel":"1.0","fly/components/dropdown":"1.0","fly/components/fixate":"1.0","fly/components/form-validate":"1.0","fly/components/image-gallery":"1.0","fly/components/iframe-messenger":"1.0","fly/components/load-more":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-article":"1.0","fly/components/load-more-scroll":"1.0","fly/components/loading":"1.0","fly/components/modal":"1.0","fly/components/modal-iframe":"1.0","fly/components/network-bar":"1.0","fly/components/poll":"1.0","fly/components/search-player":"1.0","fly/components/social-button":"1.0","fly/components/social-counts":"1.0","fly/components/social-links":"1.0","fly/components/tabs":"1.0","fly/components/video":"1.0","fly/libs/easy-xdm":"2.4.17.1","fly/libs/jquery.cookie":"1.2","fly/libs/jquery.throttle-debounce":"1.1","fly/libs/jquery.widget":"1.9.2","fly/libs/omniture.s-code":"1.0","fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init":"1.0","fly/libs/jquery.mobile":"1.3.2","fly/libs/backbone":"1.0.0","fly/libs/underscore":"1.5.1","fly/libs/jquery.easing":"1.3","fly/managers/ad":"2.0","fly/managers/components":"1.0","fly/managers/cookie":"1.0","fly/managers/debug":"1.0","fly/managers/geo":"1.0","fly/managers/gpt":"4.3","fly/managers/history":"2.0","fly/managers/madison":"1.0","fly/managers/social-authentication":"1.0","fly/utils/data-prefix":"1.0","fly/utils/data-selector":"1.0","fly/utils/function-natives":"1.0","fly/utils/guid":"1.0","fly/utils/log":"1.0","fly/utils/object-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-helper":"1.0","fly/utils/string-vars":"1.0","fly/utils/url-helper":"1.0","libs/jshashtable":"2.1","libs/select2":"3.5.1","libs/jsonp":"2.4.0","libs/jquery/mobile":"1.4.5","libs/modernizr.custom":"2.6.2","libs/velocity":"1.2.2","libs/dataTables":"1.10.6","libs/dataTables.fixedColumns":"3.0.4","libs/dataTables.fixedHeader":"2.1.2","libs/dateformat":"1.0.3","libs/waypoints/infinite":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/inview":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/jquery.waypoints":"3.1.1","libs/waypoints/sticky":"3.1.1","libs/jquery/dotdotdot":"1.6.1","libs/jquery/flexslider":"2.1","libs/jquery/lazyload":"1.9.3","libs/jquery/maskedinput":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/marquee":"1.3.1","libs/jquery/numberformatter":"1.2.3","libs/jquery/placeholder":"0.2.4","libs/jquery/scrollbar":"0.1.6","libs/jquery/tablesorter":"2.0.5","libs/jquery/touchswipe":"1.6.18","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.draggable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.mouse":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.position":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.slider":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.sortable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.touch-punch":"0.2.3","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.autocomplete":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.accordion":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.menu":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.dialog":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.resizable":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.button":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tooltip":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.effects":"1.11.4","libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.datepicker":"1.11.4"}},"shim":{"liveconnection/managers/connection":{"deps":["liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4"]},"liveconnection/libs/sockjs-0.3.4":{"exports":"SockJS"},"libs/setValueFromArray":{"exports":"set"},"libs/getValueFromArray":{"exports":"get"},"fly/libs/jquery.mobile-1.3.2":["version!fly/utils/jquery-mobile-init"],"libs/backbone.marionette":{"deps":["jquery","version!fly/libs/underscore","version!fly/libs/backbone"],"exports":"Marionette"},"fly/libs/underscore-1.5.1":{"exports":"_"},"fly/libs/backbone-1.0.0":{"deps":["version!fly/libs/underscore","jquery"],"exports":"Backbone"},"libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.tabs-1.11.4":["jquery","version!libs/jquery/ui/jquery.ui.core","version!fly/libs/jquery.widget"],"libs/jquery/flexslider-2.1":["jquery"],"libs/dataTables.fixedColumns-3.0.4":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"libs/dataTables.fixedHeader-2.1.2":["jquery","version!libs/dataTables"],"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js":["https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js"]},"map":{"*":{"adobe-pass":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/app/VideoPlayer/AdobePass-min.js","facebook":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js","facebook-debug":"https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all/debug.js","google":"https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js","google-platform":"https://apis.google.com/js/client:platform.js","google-csa":"https://www.google.com/adsense/search/async-ads.js","google-javascript-api":"https://www.google.com/jsapi","google-client-api":"https://apis.google.com/js/api:client.js","gpt":"https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js","hlsjs":"https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/hls.js/1.0.7/hls.js","recaptcha":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api.js?onload=loadRecaptcha&render=explicit","recaptcha_ajax":"https://www.google.com/recaptcha/api/js/recaptcha_ajax.js","supreme-golf":"https://sgapps-staging.supremegolf.com/search/assets/js/bundle.js","taboola":"https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/cbsinteractive-cbssports/loader.js","twitter":"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js","video-avia":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/player/avia.min.js","video-avia-ui":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/ui/avia.ui.min.js","video-avia-gam":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/gam/avia.gam.min.js","video-avia-hls":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/hls/avia.hls.min.js","video-avia-playlist":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/avia-js/2.4.0/plugins/playlist/avia.playlist.min.js","video-ima3":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3.js","video-ima3-dai":"https://imasdk.googleapis.com/js/sdkloader/ima3_dai.js","video-utils":"https://sports.cbsimg.net/js/CBSi/util/Utils-min.js","video-vast-tracking":"https://vidtech.cbsinteractive.com/sb55/vast-js/vtg-vast-client.js"}},"waitSeconds":300});



Read original article here

New York Mayor Eric Adams Tries a Sneaky New Tactic to Stifle Texas Guv Greg Abbott’s Migrant Bus Stunts

New York City deployed a new tactic Friday morning in an effort to counter Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s increasing flow of migrant buses: drowning the bus companies and their drivers in traffic violations.

Two more buses arrived at the city’s Port Authority Bus Terminal just after 6 a.m. Friday, adding to the more than 17,000 migrants Abbott has bused to New York in a sick political stunt.

This time, however, a half-dozen uniformed members of the NYPD Highway Patrol’s Motor Carrier Safety Unit were waiting.

The first bus to arrive was a blue Volvo bearing Mexican “Autotransporte Federal Turismo” license plates, owned and operated by a company out of Cedar Hill, Texas, called Autobuses La Sultana LC. A white document taped to the windshield read “TEXAS 144- HOUR PERMIT” and “VALID IN TEXAS ONLY” and was dated Oct. 6. The second bus had Texas plates and was marked “EJECTIVO TRAVEL.”

The driver of the first bus, 38-year-old Robert Reas, told The Daily Beast he lives in Monterrey, Mexico, where the bus is based. He said he began his journey by crossing the border at Laredo, Texas, then driving to El Paso, where he and his co-driver picked up three dozen migrants at “an institution,” including a half-dozen children. The migrants were from Venezuela and Ecuador, he said.

Reas said the bus stopped in Dallas and Nashville, letting out three or four people at each city, then continuing the 40-hour drive to New York. He said it was his second trip to New York with migrants.

Cops set out inspecting both buses with a fine-tooth comb, examining the tires and checking the air brakes, lights, and windshield wipers. They paid particular attention to a device that regulates tire air pressure.

They also inspected Reas’ license and his log book, in which he has to record information like when he rests and how long he drives at a time.

After the inspection, officers left both drivers with a handful of summonses; Reas counted a half-dozen. The Daily Beast has asked the NYPD for a run-down of the violations cited.

The new strategy is a variation on a crackdown on private sanitation trucks in 2018, which involved intensive inspections and summonsing.

Police sources told The Daily Beast the Motor Carrier Safety Unit usually inspects just 20 buses a year. A source said that the new tactic has originated from City Hall and is overseen by Timothy Pearson, a retired NYPD inspector who is now one of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ top advisers.

The source said the city plans to continue the crackdown Monday through Friday next week, and possibly beyond.

As he waited to get the summonses, Reas was asked if he had heard of Adams. “I don’t know who is Eric Adams,” he said.

At about 7 a.m. the cops let him and the other bus continue on their way.

Adams declared a state of emergency over the migrant arrivals on Friday and directed relevant agencies to construct humanitarian relief centers. He called the influx a “crisis situation” that will cost the city $1 billion by the end of the year.

Friday’s episode was just the latest attempt by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to spend big bucks to shuttle newly arrived migrants to liberal-leaning cities far from the southern border. Another two busloads arrived in New York on Thursday, and one busload was dumped on the doorstep of Vice President Kamala Harris’ official residence in Washington, D.C., where more than 10,000 migrants have been shipped in recent months. DeSantis, meanwhile, is under investigation for chartering a plane to carry unsuspecting migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.

Conservative media outlets have often been tipped off about the arrivals while city officials have been kept in the dark, leading migrant advocates to slam the stunts as craven and cruel.

Read original article here

Mike Clevinger, MacKenzie Gore stifle Phillies

PHILADELPHIA — Is this really the back end of the Padres’ starting rotation? Because if so, it’s time to put the rest of the league on notice: The bottom of the San Diego rotation looks an awful lot like the top of a few others. Perhaps better.

In their 3-0 victory over Philadelphia on Tuesday night, the Padres employed a piggyback in which right-hander Mike Clevinger took the ball first, followed by lefty MacKenzie Gore. There aren’t enough starts to go around anymore. So the Padres found a creative way to keep their electric rookie on the mound on regular rest.

That game plan worked to perfection. Clevinger was brilliant in his third start since his return from Tommy John surgery. He pitched five scoreless, one-hit innings, needing just 75 pitches to do so. It was, by some distance, the best Clevinger has looked since the 2020 surgery, Spring Training included.

Then came Gore, making his first professional relief appearance, Minor Leagues included. He worked three scoreless frames, striking out four on 40 pitches. On the strength of a two-hit night from newcomer Robinson Canó, the Padres got plenty of offense to improve to 3-1 on their road trip and 23-13 overall.

Much has been made lately about the depth of this starting rotation. What, exactly, are the Padres supposed to do with all these pitchers?

Maybe the answer is: Use them. If you have lots of good pitching, you don’t let it go to waste. And if a disproportionate number of those pitchers are starters, you find a place for them – particularly when the bullpen has proven somewhat leaky of late. 

Right now, it just so happens that the Padres have seven healthy and capable starting pitchers. Gore’s move to the bullpen was prompted by Blake Snell’s forthcoming return from the injured list. When Snell finishes his debut outing on Wednesday, it’s entirely possible the Padres could piggyback Nick Martinez, another one of their starting pitching options, on top of him.

There will come a time when that level pitching depth comes in very handy. It was just last season, after all, that the Padres dealt with a slew of injuries and found themselves wholly devoid of rotation options come September. 

For now, they’re more than content to flaunt their abundance of riches.

Read original article here

U.S. women stifle ROC to win 3×3 basketball in sport’s Olympic debut

Despite being relatively inexperienced in the discipline, the U.S. women came out on fire in the tournament with a 17-10 win over France. Two more easy wins followed until the ROC stayed close on the way to a 20-16 U.S. win. Italy and China also gave the U.S. good games, and Japan beat the U.S. in the last group game, albeit after the Americans had already clinched their bye to the semifinals.

In the final, the U.S. missed plenty of early shots and led 4-1 after three minutes. With Dolson gathering every rebound and the defense stopping challenging every shot, it hardly mattered. The U.S. pushed the lead to five points and then to seven points at 12-5. Russia scored four straight to narrow the lead, but Gray stopped that streak, and Dolson hit two free throws to push the lead to 17-12. 

Yulia Kozik hit a 2-pointer from behind the arc to once again get the ROC within three, but Dolson scored inside with 31 seconds left, and the U.S. denied the ROC until giving up a meaningless 1-point shot just before the buzzer.

Plum, a member of the World Cup-winning 3×3 team in 2018, recovered from an Achilles injury suffered last year with her WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces. The team also dealt with more recent adversity, with Plum’s Las Vegas teammate Jackie Young replacing Katie Lou Samuelson just before the Games due to Samuelson’s positive COVID-19 test.

China beat France 16-14 to take the bronze medal.

In the men’s competition, the ROC surprised Serbia 21-10 in the semifinals and advanced to face Latvia. The final was a barnburner, with Latvia hindered by an injury to Edgar Krumins after his shoe tore apart, reminiscent of what happened to Zion Williamson in his one year at Duke. Forced to play with no healthy bench player, Latvia outhustled the ROC and won on a 2-pointer by Karlis Lasmanis to take Latvia to the magic 21 points to end the game immediately for a 21-18 win.

Serbia took the men’s bronze with a 21-10 win over Belgium.

Read original article here