SPORTS SECTION E
BASEBALL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2016
World Series, Page 13
Tennis ace Roberts having best season ever with Bulldogs By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net JUSTIN Roberts, fully recovered from a fractured hand that sidelined him at the beginning of his collegiate season, is having his best season ever as a member of the University of South Florida Bulldogs men’s tennis team. Over the weekend, Roberts, now in his junior year, advanced to the quarterfinals in singles and he made it to the final in singles at the ITA Southeast Regionals in Tallahassee, Florida. “We’re very happy with his progress. He’s had a very impressive fall so far,” said USF’s head coach Ashley Fisher. “He won a lot of matches at the All-Ameri-
can where he won four 8-7 (5) over the host matches in pre-qualies. team from Florida “In the Regionals State. Additionally, this past weekend, he Roberts made it to the had probably his best quarters of the main performance at that draw singles where he particular event. He lost 7-5, 6-4 to the Unimade the quarterfinal versity of Georgia’s in singles and he made Emil Reinberg. He it to the final in doubles, also topped Georgia so we are very excited Southern’s JC Alacia about the direction he 6-3, 6-2 in the round is headed in.” of 16 after taking out Roberts teamed up Georgia State’s Felipe with Peter Bertram to Jaworski 6-3, 6-4 in ROBERTS play in the main draw the round of 32. doubles where they adMuch more discivanced to the final, only to lose. plined and dedicated as a player, Roberts and Bertram pulled off Fisher said Roberts has certainly an 8-3 decision over Florida’s Or- made the adjustment and he’s kin and Kessler to reach the quar- coming into his own. terfinal. In the quarters, they won “We’re going to play some Fu-
tures ITF events in November starting in Birmingham, Alabama and then Pensacola, Florida and Nashville, Tennessee,” Fisher said. “He’s going to get to play some professional events to help him improve his ATP ranking.” With the fall season over, which is geared mainly for individual play, Fisher said they would gear up for the spring season in January with the team matches. “From where he was earlier this year, he had a tough start at the beginning of the year and he fractured his hand and had to miss two months,” Fisher said. “He struggled to get his game back. “But full credit to him, he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever come across. He does so many little extra things on his own. He’s
always out there hitting serves on his own or practicing with the other players. He worked really hard this summer and is by far playing the best tennis since I’ve known him.” Fisher, however, has refused to take the credit for Roberts’ success. Instead, he has placed it squarely on the working relationship that he has developed with assistant coach Jimmy Arias. “Having Arias, his other coach, has really helped,” Fisher said. “Jimmy and Justin have been working closely together. So Jimmy has really been responsible for the way Justin has been playing right now.” And that has resulted in Roberts producing one of his most outstanding seasons ever.
Caribs off to Florida By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
COB men to play in collegiate games series
T
he College of the Bahamas Caribs men’s basketball team, in preparation for their homecoming next weekend, will be heading to Florida to play in a series of collegiate games this weekend. The Caribs, coached by Bacchus Rolle and his assistant Lavar Johnson, are scheduled to leave town today and will play against Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida on Thursday and against Florida Memorial University in Miami on Saturday. The team returns home on Sunday. “We’re going to be just as organised and systematic as last year,” Rolle said. “We will have a little more up tempo because we are a little more smaller. We lost our power forward Alvano Laing to graduation and we haven’t filled that spot as yet. “He was really the rock of the team and so we have to run a whole lot more. Our guys will have to be ready to go 40 minutes running, pressing D (defence). The team is similar to what it was last year, with the exception of Laing, who was our best rebounder and provided some big points in the paint.” To their credit, Rolle said they have been working on their fundamentals because he wants to ensure that his team matches the same type of intensity that their opponents bring. “Our biggest issue is we are not very patient and that has been one of our biggest systematic problems,” he said. “The other teams have been able to bring us down on defence because we are not patient. “They wait for you to mess up and then they make their move. One miscue by you is two or three points by them. So we’re trying to get to the level where we keep our guys patient, especially against the zone. Man-to-man, our guys are athletic, so we can compete. But against the zone defence, you really have to pick your spot and make the right decisions at the right time.” This year’s team is made up of players from New Providence, Grand Bahama, Exuma and Eleuthera. Making up the team are the following: Centre – Justin Munroe, a 6-7 junior from Jack Hayward High in Grand Bahama, who is majoring in physical Education. Forwards – Rashad Wilmore, a freshman from NGM Major High in Exuma, studying tourism management; Rashad Sturrup, a 6-4 sophomore from St Augustine’s College, studying business management; Ujamaa Johnson, a 6-0 freshman from Kingsway Academy, studying business; Franklin McKenzie, a 6-2 sophomore from LN Coakley High in Exuma, studying civil engineering; Brian Jennings, a 6-2 sophomore from CV Bethel, studying architectural engineering; Kemsy Sylvestre, a 6-4 sophomore from South Broward High in Hollywood, Florida, studying physical education and Reuben Goodman, a 6-1 senior from Preston Albury High in
CITY BOWLING LEAGUE ACTION HEATS UP THE most valuable player in City Bowling League competition last night was a red hot Lee Davis of Ten Back Strikers, who crushed the pins for a huge 269 high game and a blistering 714 high three game set. So far, Davis is the first player to enter the exclusive 700 Club for the 2016 - 2017 bowling season. Runnerup was Greg Taylor of the Avengers who just missed joining the 700 club with an outstanding 685 second high set. Derrick Burrows, of Fresh Blend Rolling Stones, downed the pins for the second high game of 246. The leader in the ladies’ category was Janice Hoyte of Ten Back Strikers with a respectable 543 high three game set. Tara Culmer of Island Game Strokers followed with a 505 second high set. Betsy Taylor of Bahamasair Flyers toppled the pins for the high game of 209. The team scores for the evening were: Checkers Café 3, Carib Construction 0; Island Game Strokers 3, Telco Enterprises 0; Giga Tech 3, Fresh Blend Rolling Stones 0; CDM Knights 2, Ten Back Strikers 1; Bahamasair Flyers 2, Reach Crusaders 1; The Avengers 2, BEC Shockers 1; Duce City E&U Watercoolers 2, TK Falcons 1.
‘FIREMAN’ BROWN TACKLING GRENADA INVITATIONAL
JUSTIN SMITH, of the College of the Bahamas Caribs, goes up for a layup. Eleuthera, studying computer information technology. Guards – Justin Smith, a 5-11 junior from Eight Mile Rock in Grand Bahama, studying physical education; Ramon Dames, a 5-10 sophomore from Eight Mile Rock, studying physical education; Jason Stubbs, a 5-11 sophomore from Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama, studying electrical engineering and Davon Adderley, a 6-1 sophomore from St Augustine’s College, studying bio/chemistry. “We have a size concern, but we are going into our game against Ave Marie and I think we will match up pretty good against
them. They have about two guards who are about 6-8, but they are not their best skilled players, so we will see if we can take advantage of that,” Rolle said. “They are a guard-oriented team, just like we are. So we should match up good against them. “Florida Memorial, we know what they have. They have size and they are running. They added a few pieces, a few bigs, but we are going to hang onto them and see if we can keep it close and respectable and try to come out with the win.” On their return home, the Caribs will host Trinity College at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium in a
two-game series November 4-5. “We beat Trinity last year in Florida,” Rolle said. “We know that they are coming to show that it was just luck. They actually won their conference that they play in, so they really want to show that our win was a fluke. “So we have to show our guys that they can’t get their heads too big, thinking this is going to be the same team. “We know that they are going to be coming with some intensity and fire wanting to win. This weekend should really help us to get ready because we really don’t want to lose in front of our home crowd next weekend.”
OLYMPIAN Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown has began the process of getting the inaugural Grenada Invitational off the ground. Brown, the five-time Bahamian Olympian, was in Grenada last week to put the framework in place for the invitational, scheduled for April 8, 2017 at the National Athletic Stadium in St George’s, Grenada. During the visit, Brown met with a number of dignitaries, including Rudy Grant, the Grenada Tourism Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Brown, 38, was invited to assist in the organising of the meet by Michael Bascombe, the meet organiser. Bascombe, a veteran journalist who works out of New York, is also the president of the Caribbean Sports Journalist Association (CASJA).
PAGE 12, Wednesday, October 26, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
Quarterback Jay Cutler makes return for Bears LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jay Cutler’s return has come at the right time for the Chicago Bears. Cutler is back as the starter after five weeks away with a thumb sprain as a replacement Brian Hoyer, who went on injured reserve with a broken left arm. And Bears coach John Fox is thankful to have Cutler healthy enough to play, even if earlier he hinted there was a chance Hoyer could keep the job. “He doesn’t have a choice, I guess, at this point,” Cutler said about Fox. “Brian is out, so I’ve got to go. “I’ve had good conversations with Foxy this week, last week, the week before. There’s never been any strain in our relationship. We’re both very open and honest, and we’re on the same page. We just want to win football games.” While Cutler was away, Hoyer played five-plus games without an interception and a 98.0 passer rating. It led to talk Cutler might have played his last down for the Bears, who are 1-6 on the season. And Fox didn’t exactly throw cold water on the situation by saying the starting position is “performance-based.” “It is what it is,” Cutler said. “Anytime you have a backup quarterback — and to Brian’s credit, he played well. “I think as a team, we wish we would have won some more of those ball games. But Brian went in there and did a great job. “My discussions with everybody that I have relationships
CHICAGO Bears quarterback Jay Cutler walks around the field before a game against the Green Bay Packers last week. (AP) with in here were positive, and whenever I was ready to go, I’d be ready to go. There was never any discussion regarding that with me.” Cutler said he didn’t expect to have a discussion. “It didn’t concern me,” he said. “I wasn’t ready to play. My thumb wasn’t healed.” The future, Cutler said, will be an issue when it comes. “Whatever happens at the end of the year, it’s supposed to happen, and will go accordingly,” Cutler said. “But right now it’s not something that I worry about. “It’s my 11th year, my eighth year here. I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs, and it’s how it goes. At the end of the year, we can have those conversations. Whatever happens, happens.” Cutler said the thumb sprain is no longer giving him pain. “I haven’t gotten hit,” Cutler said. “Throwing good — you can’t feel it throwing.” Fox on Monday said the plan
all along was to bring Cutler back when he was healed, regardless of what he told reporters about performance-based starters. “I think Jay kind of knew all along what our plan was,” Fox said. “And that’s the important thing.” Cutler said he wanted to return before Monday night’s home game against the Minnesota Vikings. “I mean, as a player you always want to come back probably sooner than you should, than the doctors allow,” Cutler said. “This being my right thumb and being kind of vitally important to my job. “We thought that erring on the side of caution was best.” It wasn’t a situation Cutler enjoyed. “I’ve never liked being hurt, never liked being out,” Cutler said. “It could get to be a lonely feeling at times watching everyone else go out there and try to win ballgames. You’re kind of
just a helpless bystander. “So being able to get in the mix and trying to help these guys is going to be fun.” Cutler threw in practice on the side the past few weeks, but wasn’t involved with team drills except for one brief appearance three weeks ago. It’s the first time in his career he’s returned to play in a season after a layoff this long. “Anytime you take a layoff like that and come back, there’s going to be some (rust) you’ve got to knock off,” he said. “Luckily I was still around, saw the game, visualised the game, was able to stay behind the quarterback and stay involved, and we’ve got a long week.” When Cutler started out the season with a 75.7 passer rating for two games, he was playing behind a completely revamped offensive line with Josh Sitton and Cody Whitehair making their first Bears starts. Now he returns with Sitton suffering from an ankle injury and right guard Kyle Long suffering from a pectoral muscle strain. Their status for the game is unknown. Eric Kush replaced Sitton and Ted Larsen took over for Long against Green Bay in a 2610 loss Thursday. “It’s how it goes,” Cutler said. “We’ve got a bye week after this, so hopefully we’ll get those two guys back. Kush played well. Ted has played a lot of football. The good thing about it is we have had a lot of different guys in there through camp and during the games and stuff. “We shouldn’t miss a beat with those guys.”
4-TIME PRO BOWL RB FOSTER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT By STEVEN WINE AP Sports Writer MIAMI (AP) — Four-time Pro Bowler Arian Foster says he can no longer take the punishment an NFL running back endures, so he is retiring midway through an injury-plagued season with the Miami Dolphins. Foster, 30, tried to come back from a torn Achilles tendon, but was slowed this season by groin and hamstring injuries. He announced his retirement Monday on the website Uninterrupted as the Dolphins began their bye week. The team confirmed the decision, effective immediately. “There comes a time in every athlete’s career when their ambition and their body are no longer on the same page,” Foster wrote. “I’ve reached that point. It’s hard to write those words because this game has been everything to me ... my therapy, my joy, my solace and my enemy.” Foster signed a $1.5 million, oneyear contract with the Dolphins in July after spending his first seven NFL seasons with the Houston Texans. He holds the Texans’ franchise record with 6,472 yards rushing. This season he rushed for 55 yards on 22 carries, and he had 5 yards on three carries Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
MIAMI Dolphins running back Arian Foster (34) walks along the sideline during an NFL preseason game in Arlington, Texas. (AP) “My father always said, ‘You’ll know when it’s time to walk away,’” he wrote. “It has never been more clear than right now. I’m walking away with peace. I know it’s not commonplace to do it midseason, but my body just can’t take the punishment this game asks for any longer.” Foster was one of several Miami players this season to kneel during the pregame national anthem to protest social inequality. His playing time was curtailed with the emergence of Jay
Ajayi, who tied an NFL record by surpassing 200 yards rushing in consecutive games. Since 2010, Foster ranked second in the NFL with 115.2 yards from scrimmage per game, trailing only Le’Veon Bell’s 121.9. “No words to describe the appreciation and love I got for Arian Foster,” former Texans offensive lineman Chris Myers tweeted. “Playing centre for a player like him makes a career seem like a dream!”
BRONCOS WHOLE AGAIN AFTER ENDING 2-GAME SKID VS. TEXANS By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Pro Football Writer DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos are whole again. Trevor Siemian’s healthy. Gary Kubiak’s back on the sideline. C.J. Anderson is running wild once more, thanks to a nudge from rookie Devontae Booker, and the defence is forcing fumbles like it used to. Von Miller & Co. turned Brock Osweiler’s homecoming into a house of horrors with a 27-9 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night that snapped a two-game skid. The Broncos (5-2) kept pace with the resurgent Raiders atop the AFC West, a division they’ve owned for five years. A loss would have plummeted them into third place. The Texans (4-3) limped home still leading the middling AFC South, where every team has surrendered more points than it’s scored. “We kept Brock out of the end zone and that’s perfect,” cornerback Aqib Talib said. “That’s the goal every week. So, we got our job done this week.” Osweiler managed just 131 yards on 22 of 41 passing. “I looked up in the fourth quarter, before I think that last drive, and he had like 70 yards passing,” Talib said. “I just smiled on the inside. That’s what we wanted to do. We wanted Brock to come out here and struggle. He came out here and struggled.” Denver shut down Osweiler without the usual sum of sacks they typically pile up on QBs. Osweiler was hit eight times but his only sack came when he mishandled a
shotgun snap and fell on the football. The Broncos avoided their first three-game skid since 2011. “It was huge,” safety T.J. Ward said. “Just to get that momentum, get that feeling back in here, that confidence that we’ve been running with and playing with. After the two losses you could kind of feel the aura of the team just kind of going down. We had great preparation this week, came in and played how we prepared. “We back up.” Other takeaways from the Broncos’ bounce-back and the Texans’ stumble: STREAK SNAPPED: Miller saw his sack streak snapped at eight games, counting the playoffs. “There was a sack streak? I wasn’t even paying attention to it. My bad, guys,” Miller said. “You know, I’m all about wins. I’ll take a win any day. Sacks are great. That’s what I do. That’s my job. I wasn’t able to get it done today, but we got it the win.” SPRY SIEMIAN: Although Siemian’s numbers were pedestrian — 14 for 25 for 157 yards — he threw a touchdown and had no interceptions or sacks. He moved around much better than he had 11 days earlier against San Diego in his return from a sprained left A.C. joint that clearly affected him in a 21-13 loss to the Chargers. DAVIS RETORT: After taking heat for getting exposed in single coverage by Atlanta’s speedy running backs and San Diego’s tight ends, inside linebacker Todd Davis had four big tackles and a key fumble recovery that led to Denver’s final TD.
Darian Stewart punched the ball from running back Alfred Blue’s grasp and it popped up. “I just saw the ball in the air. I feel like it took 12 seconds to get in my hands,” Davis said. “It gave us more momentum.” FOSTER RETIREMENT: Former Texans star running back Arian Foster’s retirement from the Dolphins — announced during the TexansBroncos game — caught his former teammates off guard. “It was pretty surprising,” Houston linebacker Brian Cushing said. “I think the world of him as a football player. It’s not easy to see guys step away from the sport. I admired the way he played and I admired the physical talents. He was one of the most talented running backs possibly ever. It’s sad but at the same time he’s moving on in life.” ROAD WOES: Osweiler is still looking for his first road win with the Texans, who have lost by 27 at New England and 18 at Minnesota and now Denver. “We’ve got to figure out how to win on the road, that’s it,” Wilfork said. BLANKET COVERAGE: Bigplay receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller V were held to a combined nine catches for 58 yards by Broncos cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Talib. The longest catch was for 13 yards by Fuller. “They’re a great defence. We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish — plain and simple,” Hopkins said.
JAGUARS DT MILLER OUT FOR SEASON WITH TORN ACHILLES TENDON JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Jacksonville Jaguars will be without defensive tackle Roy Miller for the rest of the season because of a torn right Achilles tendon. The Jaguars (2-4) made the announcement yesterday, two days after Miller left the game against Oakland and did not return. A disruptive run-stopper whose 10 tackles this season don’t show how important he is to Jacksonville’s defence, Miller was placed on injured reserve and will undergo surgery later in the week. Miller’s injury hurts “in a lot of ways,” coach Gus Bradley said. “Not only as a player, but what he brings to the locker room, what he brings to that defensive line group. He was a big part of us and always will be. You feel for him because football is so important to him. He’s hurt by the news. We’ll just support him and be there for him.” The Jags replaced Miller on the roster by promoting defensive tackle Richard Ash from the practice squad. They also signed defensive tackle Louis Nix to the practice squad. Abry Jones is expected to replace Miller in the starting lineup when Jacksonville plays at Tennessee (3-4) on Thursday night. Miller has 244 tackles, eight sacks and a forced fumble in eight seasons. He has missed just six games in his previous seven years.
THE STANDINGS
THE TRIBUNE
Wednesday, October 26, 2016, PAGE 13
Kluber, Perez, Indians beat Cubs 6-0 in opener By RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Corey Kluber pitched neatly into the seventh inning, Roberto Perez hit two home runs and the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs
6-0 last night in the World Series opener. In a matchup between the teams with baseball’s longest championship droughts, the Indians scored twice in the first inning off October ace Jon Lester and were on their way. With the score 3-0, AL
Championship Series MVP Andrew Miller escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh and got out of trouble in the eighth. Perez drove in four runs from the No. 9 spot and Francisco Lindor got three hits. The Game 1 winner has taken
the title in the last six Series and 17 of 19. Trevor Bauer, trying to come back from a sliced pinkie, starts Game 2 for the Indians tonight against Jake Arrieta. With rain in the forecast, the start time has been moved up an hour to 7:08pm.
CHICAGO Cubs’ David Ross strikes out with bases loaded to end the top of the seventh inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians last night in Cleveland. (AP)
JAMES HAS TRIPLE-DOUBLE AS CAVS ROUT KNICKS 117-88 IN OPENER CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James had his 43rd career triple-double, Kyrie Irving scored 29 points and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who raised their championship banner before the game, beat the New York Knicks 117-88 last night in the NBA season opener. James scored 19 points and added 11 rebounds and 14 assists in front of a raucous home crowd that was on its feet from the pregame ceremony until late in the game, celebrating the city’s first championship in 52 years. James, who spoke to the crowd before the game, continued his perfect record on ring nights. He was 2-0 when the Miami Heat players were presented with their championship rings. Irving scored 19 points in the third quarter, when Cleveland used a 20-4 run to take a 74-53 lead. Kevin Love scored 23 for the Cavaliers. Carmelo Anthony led New York with 19 points and Derrick Rose had 17.
WORLD SERIES: BAUER SAYS PINKIE GOOD ENOUGH TO GO FOR INDIANS IN GAME 2 By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — The last time the baseball world caught a glimpse of Trevor Bauer’s mangled pinkie finger on his right hand, it was grotesquely dripping blood onto the pitching rubber in Toronto during the AL Championship Series. Unlike most horror movies, however, Bauer has no plans for a sequel. The Cleveland Indians pitcher is confident the mound will be blood free when he starts Game 2 of the World Series tonight against the Chicago Cubs. Bauer tested the finger — notori-
ously hurt while he was tinkering with a drone — during a simulated game on Monday. He wore gauze over the finger — a no-no during an actual game — just to see if it could withstand the pressure placed on it when Bauer grips the ball and lets it rip. When Bauer unwrapped the finger after throwing about 20 pitches, he exhaled. “We took it off and it was completely white, so it was a non-issue,” Bauer said. That was hardly the case in Game 3 of the ALCS, when Bauer lasted all of two outs and 21 pitches, the still fresh wound ripping open and caking Bauer’s jersey, pants and portions of the
mound in blood. The Indians won anyway, relying on six relievers to get the final 25 outs in a 4-2 victory. Bauer is confident he’ll be able to carry more of a workload this time around against Chicago’s Jake Arrieta. “I’m prepared,” said Bauer, who went 12-8 with a 4.26 ERA in the regular season. “I’m going to go out there and execute to the best level of my ability, and it’s going to be what it’s going to be.” Arrieta showed his remarkable run to the 2015 Cy Young was no fluke, though the dominance that came to him so easily last season was much more difficult to come by this summer. Arrieta went 18-8
LIVERPOOL’s Daniel Sturridge misses from close range during the English League Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield in Liverpool, England, yesterday. (AP)
STURRIDGE, OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN SEIZE LEAGUE CUP OPPORTUNITIES By ROB HARRIS AP Global Soccer Writer LONDON (AP) — While the English League Cup lacks prestige, it still provides a platform in the early rounds for out-of-favour players or those lacking in confidence to make an impact. Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and Arsenal winger Alex OxladeChamberlain did just that yesterday. Both scored twice to secure passage for their youthful teams into the quarterfinals, with Liverpool beating Tottenham 2-1 and Arsenal eliminating second-tier club Reading 2-0. LIVERPOOL 2 TOTTENHAM 1 Sturridge, who has failed to score in seven Premier League matches this season, has only found joy in front of goal in England’s second-tier knockout competition when top-flight typically deploy weaker teams. He also scored twice in August in the League Cup — his last Liverpool goals. The 27-year-old Sturridge has been on the bench for three of his seven league games this season, but he was one of the most experienced Liverpool players to start against Tottenham at Anfield.
After firing into the roof of the net from Marko Grujic’s cross in the ninth minute, the England striker tucked the ball under Tottenham goalkeeper Michel Vorm in the second half. “That is Daniel’s talent, his strength,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said. “He is a finisher, a really good striker. I have never been in doubt about him, even when he didn’t score. He was really good.” Vincent Janssen pulled one back from the penalty spot but Tottenham couldn’t force extra time against its Premier League title rival. ARSENAL 2, READING 0 Oxlade-Chamberlain exhibited the confidence manager Arsene Wenger sometimes feels his 23-year-old player lacks. “He has acted in front of goal like he didn’t deserve to score,” Wenger said. “Now he has some belief with his finishing and we hope every time he has the ball something can happen.” Oxlade-Chamberlain poked the ball through defender Tyler Blackett’s legs into the corner of the net in the 33rd minute, and netted again with a deflected strike in the second half. Oxlade-Chamberlain, who also scored in last
week’s 6-0 Champions League victory over Ludogorets, now has five goals this season. “He has worked a lot mentally to be focused,” Wenger said. “It comes out every day in training and it’s starting to come out in games.” ELSEWHERE Premier League side Hull survived a late scare against Bristol City of the League Championship to win 2-1. Harry Maguire and Michael Dawson scored either side of halftime but City forward Lee Tomlin grabbed a goal in the third of seven minutes of stoppage time. The biggest win of the night saw second-tier leader Newcastle, relegated from the Premier League last season, rout 10-man Preston 6-0. Leeds beat Norwich 3-2 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 following extra time. TODAY The fourth round will be completed today with three all-Premier League matches, headlined by United hosting City in the season’s second Manchester derby clash between Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. There’s also a London derby between West Ham and Chelsea, while Southampton takes on Sunderland.
with a 3.10 ERA in 2016, though he struggled at times down the stretch, posting a 5.01 ERA in his final four regular season starts. He’s been OK if hardly spectacular in the playoffs, getting a nodecision in Game 3 of the Division Series against San Francisco and surrendering four runs in five innings of a Game 3 loss to the Dodgers in the NLCS. Arrieta’s focus will be trying to keep Cleveland’s running game in check. The Indians led the American League with 143 stolen bases. Opponents were safe on 23 of 26 stolen base attempts against Arrieta during the season and manager Joe Maddon is considering us-
ing Willson Contreras at catcher instead of Miguel Montero, who typically catches for Arrieta. “They do run, and Willson is one of the best young throwers in the game right now,” Maddon said. “You have to balance out how comfortable you think Jake’s going to be throwing to him versus Miggy.” Contreras threw out 13 of 35 attempted base stealers during the regular season, compared to just 7 of 66 by Montero. “At the end of the day, they are good as baserunners and we are good at preventing that when everything is in place,” Maddon said. “So we are considering that right now.”
PAGE 14, Wednesday, October 26, 2016
THE TRIBUNE
ANGELIQUE Kerber makes a backhand return against Simona Halep yesterday. (AP)
Kerber beats Halep, goes to 2-0 in Red Group at WTA Finals By SANDRA HARWITT Associated Press SINGAPORE (AP) — Top-seeded Angelique Kerber is the only player in the WTA Finals Red Group to stand at 2-0 in the round-robin stage after a 6-4, 6-2 win over Simona Halep yesterday. Madison Keys, who needed to win her match to stay in semi-final contention, prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in which she never offered Dominika Cibulkova a break point opportunity. Keys has won all four matches she’s played against Cibulkova without dropping a set. “It’s a huge thing, especially for me as it makes
you a little bit more comfortable when you’re not facing break points,” Keys said. All four players in the Red Group remain in the hunt for a semi-final berth. In the standings, Kerber is at 2-0, Halep and Keys are 1-1, and Cibulkova 0-2. This year marks Keys and Cibulkova’s WTA Finals debut. On Thursday, Kerber plays Keys, and Halep plays Cibulkova in the final round-robin matches. “It’s good because you still have a third chance,” Cibulkova said. “Knowing this, that I can still go into semi-finals, I will be as positive as I can to win my match against Halep.”
Kerber, playing steady and precise tennis, allowed Halep to take all the risks. She posted 11 winners and 16 unforced errors to 24 winners and 35 unforced errors for Halep, who is 1-1. “I’m feeling very, very good here,” Kerber said. “I’m very happy to win my second match here and to be playing some of my best tennis.” Kerber is 4-4 against Halep, but has won four of their five meetings this season — the most matches played between any two players this year. Kerber is making her fourth appearance at the WTA Finals, but the German has never gotten beyond the round-robin stage.
SWITZERLAND’s Stan Wawrinka returns a ball to Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli during their first round match of the Swiss Indoors yesterday. (AP)
Wawrinka advances; Raonic, Dimitrov exit at the Swiss Indoors BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — On a tough day for seeded players in the Swiss Indoors first round, Stan Wawrinka rallied to beat 119th-ranked fellow Swiss Marco Chiudinelli 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4 yesterday. Top-seeded Wawrinka advanced after secondseeded Milos Raonic and sixth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov both let one-set leads slip and exited early. Wawrinka ended his own streak of four straight first-round losses in the hometown tournament of Roger Federer, whose
season-ending injury ruled him out for the first time since 2005. World No. 3 Wawrinka clinched victory with his 16th ace on his fifth match point chance against his Davis Cup teammate Chiudinelli. He next plays qualifier Donald Young of the United States. The bottom half of the draw opened up Tuesday after Canada’s Raonic lost to Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania, a player ranked 87 places below him.
The fourth-ranked Raonic took the first set against his 91st-ranked opponent before falling to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 loss. The 26-year-old Berankis now has two career wins against top 10 players, after also beating Raonic indoors in Moscow two years ago. Dimitrov of Bulgaria let 37th-ranked Gilles Muller of Luxembourg fight back for a 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4 win after taking only one of his 10 break point chances against the 33-year-old lefthander.
JURGEN MELZER UPSETS BAUTISTA AGUT TO ADVANCE IN ERSTE BANK OPEN VIENNA (AP) — Two-time former champion Jurgen Melzer upset fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 6-3, 7-5 in the first round of the Erste Bank Open yesterday. The Austrian, who has dropped to 417th after a five-month layoff following shoulder surgery, played only his sixth match of the season at ATP level. In front of a home crowd of 7,500, Melzer broke the 14th-
ranked Bautista Agut when the Spaniard served for the second set at 5-4, and added another break to close out the win. Melzer, who won the event in 2009 and 2010, joined fellow Austrian Dominic Thiem in the second round. The third-seeded Thiem defeated Jurgen’s younger brother, Gerald Melzer, 6-0, 6-3. Thiem, who had not won a match in his home event since reaching the quarterfinals in 2013,
conceded just eight points in a 20-minute opening set, and broke his opponent for a fourth time at 4-3 in the second set. Thiem next plays Viktor Troicki of Serbia, who converted the only break point in the final set to complete a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 comeback win over Kevin Anderson of South Africa. Defending champion David Ferrer had to play only five games to advance to the second round
after Kyle Edmund pulled out with a hip injury. The fifth-seeded Spaniard was a service break up at 3-2 when his British opponent, who is ranked a career-high 40th, quit the match. Edmund had beaten Ferrer on the way to his first-career semi-final appearance in Antwerp last week. Ferrer next plays Joao Sousa of Portugal, who led Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 3-0 when the Uruguayan pulled out with an apparent knee
injury. Also, 2011 champion JoWilfried Tsonga had 11 aces and avoided break points while beating German qualifier Benjamin Becker 6-3, 6-4. Also, Feliciano Lopez, who won his maiden title in Vienna in 2004, saved a match point before taking the last three games in a 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 win over seventh-seeded Lucas Pouille. Lopez will play John Isner of the United States in the second round.
FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a penalty during the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Valencia at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia, Spain, on Saturday. (AP)
LIONEL MESSI OFF TO GREAT START, ALREADY OUTSHINING MADRID TRIO By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer MADRID (AP) — By himself, Lionel Messi has already scored more than Real Madrid’s top three forwards combined. The Barcelona star is off to one of the best starts of his career with 14 goals in 11 matches, two more than what Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema have netted so far with Madrid. And Messi has done it despite being sidelined for three weeks because of an injury. “Messi has been superb,” Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said simply. The Argentina forward hadn’t started a season with so many goals since 201112, when he scored 14 times in 10 matches. So far, Messi has already scored eight more goals than he did last season at the same point. He has two hat tricks and is the leading scorer in both the Spanish league and the Champions League. In his last six games, he has scored 11 goals, with six coming in
the three games he played since recovering from a right groin strain. Messi’s rivals at Madrid have not come close to him this season. Ronaldo has nine goals, but that includes five with Portugal in World Cup qualifying. He is currently in a slump in the Spanish league with only two in six matches. “I prefer that he always scores two or three goals a game but I’m not worried,” Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said yesterday. “He’s not scoring with the chances that he’s getting at the moment but the important thing is that he’s getting chances. He’ll score soon and everyone will relax.” Benzema scored his fourth goal of the season in a Spanish league game last weekend, while Bale has netted seven times in 14 appearances. Three of his goals came in three World Cup qualifiers with Wales. Seven of Messi’s goals this season were scored in the Spanish league, with one in the Spanish Super Cup and six from a couple of hat tricks in the Champi-
ons League. The current form could leave the 29-year-old forward in position to again win the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player. He has already won the award five times, including last season. Messi’s great scoring start is somewhat of a surprise because in the last few years he has taken more of a playmaker role after the additions of Luis Suarez and Neymar. The trio broke scoring records in each of the last two seasons, with Suarez leading the way last season. The Uruguay striker has opened with 10 goals in 13 appearances, while Neymar has found the net six times in 10 matches this season. Barcelona played Espanyol in the Catalonia Super Cup yesterday, but neither Messi nor any of the other regular starters were on the pitch. Messi’s next chance to increase his goal tally will likely be Saturday against last-place Granada, a team that has already conceded 23 goals in nine Spanish league matches.