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Ross Stripling rocked in SF debut, Giants blanked again to drop series vs. Yankees

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

NEW YORK — Ross Stripling once likened his over-the-top pitching motion to the “Iron Mike” machines that serve batting practice in cages across the country. Making his Giants debut in their series finale against the Yankees, that comparison landed a little too literally, as Stripling more or less served the same purpose for Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Kyle Higashioka.The trio of Yankees tagged Stripling for three home runs, including a mammoth blast from Stanton that cleared the batter’s eye in center field, while the Giants’ new right-hander otherwise struggled to locate in a 6-0 loss, the second time the Giants were shut out in three games as they dropped their season-opening series.It was an uncharacteristic introduction to the San Francisco fanbase for Stripling, who allowed four runs on six hits, walked two batters and hit another, and struck out three over five rocky innings. He was one of two free-agent starters the Giants signed this winter, in...

Barricaded suspect delays traffic on I-80 near Richmond

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

RICHMOND, Calif. (KRON) -- A suspect police were pursuing barricaded themselves in their vehicle on Interstate 80 on Sunday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. The incident caused a full closure of all lanes on I-80 as law enforcement responded, CHP confirmed to KRON4. Oakland shooting leaves one person injured CHP says the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department was in pursuit of the suspect, and a felony stop occurred on the freeway. Units with CHP assisted with road closures as the suspect was detained. Traffic is backed up in the area. The eastbound lanes are now reopened but westbound lanes remain closed as of 1:40 p.m. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.

Finland’s center-right party claims win amid tight election

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

HELSINKI (AP) — Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin appears to have lost her bid for a second term on Sunday, with her party headed for defeat by two conservative opponents in an extremely tight three-way race for control of parliament.The center-right National Coalition Party claimed victory Sunday evening with around 97.7% of the votes counted, coming out on top at 20.7%. They were followed closely by right-wing populist party The Finns with 20.1%, while the Social Democrats garnered 19.9%. With the top three parties each getting around 20% of the vote, no party is in position to form a government alone. Over 2,400 candidates from 22 parties were vying for the 200 seats in the Nordic country’s parliament.“Based on this result, talks over forming a new government to Finland will be initiated under the leadership of the National Coalition Party,” said the party’s leader Petteri Orpo, as he claimed victory surrounded by supporters.Marin, who at age 37 is one of Europe’s younge...

Raptors inch closer to securing spot in play-in tournament

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, Fred VanVleet added 20 points and a career-high 20 assists and the Toronto Raptors beat the undermanned Charlotte Hornets 128-108 on Sunday to inch closer to securing a spot in the NBA play-in tournament.O.G. Anunoby added 23 points for the Raptors, who’ll clinch a spot if the Brooklyn Nets beat the Utah Jazz later Sunday.The Raptors (39-39) entered the day tied with the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference and looking to move up in the standings to secure a better chance of advancing out of the play-in tournament. The team finishing eighth needs just one victory; the team finishing ninth would need two to reach the postseason as the No. 8 seed.“It’s really important for us” to get to the 8 seed, VanVleet said. “For the last couple of weeks it has been really simple for us — we’re in a win-every-game mode. There’s not much to think about. You have to go out and perform and play your be...

Newgarden holds off O’Ward for back-to-back wins at Texas

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Josef Newgarden and Pato O’Ward swapped the lead over and over, each driver refusing to give an inch at Texas Motor Speedway.With two laps to go to reach victory lane, they even touched wheels.“We’re going wheel to wheel like 226 miles an hour or something,” O’Ward said. “It’s pretty insane, I have to say.”Their thrilling race came to an abrupt end when Romain Grosjean crashed with one lap remaining, moments after Newgarden had surged ahead of O’Ward. Newgarden crossed the finish line under caution for a second consecutive victory at Texas, the third of his career.“We had a great car. I don’t know what else to say other than our car was fast,” Newgarden said while wearing Texas’ traditional celebratory cowboy hat presented to the winner. “I don’t know if it fits right. I apologize to any cowboys that would make fun of my fit.”Newgarden and O’Ward were so dominant Sunday — they combined to lead 214 of the 250 laps — that at...

Vosler, Friedl homer to support Ashcraft in Reds’ victory

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Graham Ashcraft pitched seven solid innings, Jason Vosler and TJ Friedl hit solo home runs and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Saturday.Ashcraft (1-0) overcame Brian Reynolds’ home run to last seven innings, allowing four hits and one run with a walk and six strikeouts.The right-hander had the longest outing by a Reds starter in the young season as Cincinnati picked up a second straight victory after losing on Opening Day. Hunter Greene lasted 3-1/3 innings in the opener, and Nick Lodolo went five on Saturday.Tyler Stephenson also drove in a run and Vosler, Friedl and Jonathan India each had two hits for the Reds.Alex Young and Derek Law got past two leadoff hits to keep it 3-1 in the eighth. Alexis Diaz pitched the ninth for his first save.Vince Velasquez (0-1), making his Pirates debut after signing in December as a free agent, lasted 4-2/3 innings, giving up five hits and three runs with one walk and three strikeouts.Vosler, who made the R...

Lafrenière and Kakko score, Rangers beat Capitals 5-2

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The kids are proving to be more than all right at just the right time for the New York Rangers. Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko scored goals just over two minutes apart, jumpstarting a 5-2 victory at the Washington Capitals on Sunday to snap a two-game skid. With the playoffs starting in a couple of weeks, the so-called “Kid Line” is heating up and again could be a difference maker on a long run this spring.“They really led the way again,” coach Gerard Gallant said. “They’re playing great and they’re playing with a lot of confidence, so that’s a good sign for us.”The trio of 21-year-old Lafrenière, 22-year-old Kakko and 23-year-old Filip Chytil produced offense for the third time in four games. Chytil, who recently signed a $17.5 million, four-year extension, assisted on Lafrenière’s goal to pick up his fifth point in five games.“You can tell they’re on the same page,” said Mika Zibanejad, who scored on the power play in the third period. “They’...

ANÁLISIS | Por qué Trump sigue siendo el favorito para la nominación republicana, a pesar de su acusación

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

(CNN) — Donald Trump es el primer expresidente en ser acusado. Dado el movimiento de un jurado investigador de Nueva York y los otros casos criminales de alto perfil que involucran a Trump, podrías pensar que su trayectoria política está en peligro.Pero muchos funcionarios republicanos parecen dudar en atacar al expresidente (en su lugar, atacaron al fiscal de distrito de Manhattan, Alvin Bragg, quien presentó los cargos), y las cuotas de apuestas electorales aún favorecen a Trump para la nominación republicana en 2024.Entonces, ¿qué ocurre? Hay una situación obviamente sin precedentes, y la realidad política puede cambiar después de la acusación.Aun así, es probable que los republicanos y los apostadores reaccionen a tres hechos:La ventaja en las encuestas de Trump en las primarias republicanas de 2024 aumentó durante el último mes a medida que se avecinaba una acusación.La mayoría de los republicanos piensan que todas las diferentes investigaciones sobre Trump tienen motivac...

Bulgarian election too close to call after fifth vote in two years

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

No clear winner emerged in Bulgaria’s election on Sunday night, much to the dismay of voters who have been to the polls five times in the last two years.In the first release of results, it seemed that the pro-Western coalition, Continuing the Change and Democratic Bulgaria, had won a narrow majority with 26.4 percent, beating the center-right establishment party, GERB, which scored 25.5 percent. But in a recount, the former scored 24.8 percent while the latter secured the lead with 25.9 percent.Observers expect a clear winner to emerge by Monday after all international voters’ ballots are counted.The vote is seen by many as a make-or-break test for GERB, whose leader Boyko Borissov served as prime minister from 2009 to 2021, until nationwide protests erupted over his government’s role in the country’s rampant corruption.Continuing the Change, led by Harvard graduates Kiril Petkov and Asen Vasilev, and Democratic Bulgaria, led by Hristo Ivanov, have campaigned on a promis...

Kodai Senga dazzles in MLB debut after rocky first inning

Published Tue, 18 Feb 2025 09:00:41 GMT

MIAMI — Kodai Senga was lights-out through 4 1/3 innings in his MLB debut if you don’t count the first one.A game that saw a rough first inning for the Mets ended with a win in the Japanese right-hander’s MLB debut Sunday at LoanDeport Park. Senga (1-0) settled in to look like the dominant pitcher he was in Japan, limiting the Marlins to only a single run over 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three in the Mets’ 5-1 win. He joined Matt Harvey and Collin McHugh as the only Mets pitchers to strike out eight or more hitters and only allow one or fewer runs in their MLB debut.Tommy Pham went 3-for-4 with his first home run of the season off Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers (0-1) and also had a double, two RBI, a walk, a run scored and a stolen base.The Mets spotted Senga a 2-0 lead in the first, thanks to an RBI single by Jeff McNeil and an error by Rogers. Senga needed 36 pitches to get through the first inning and threw 28 before even recording an ...