Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run home run, his 50th of the season, becoming the first player with a 50/50 season in MLB history, during the seventh inning against Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on Sept. 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 20 September 2024
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Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season

Ohtani makes Major League Baseball history with first 50-homer, 50-steal season
  • Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami
  • To cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season

MIAMI: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani made Major League Baseball history on Thursday, becoming the first player ever to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani officially established MLB’s 50-50 club with a seventh-inning homer in the Dodgers’ 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami.

The win clinched the Dodgers’ post-season berth — a first for Ohtani, who never made the playoffs even as he earned two American League Most Valuable Player awards while with the Los Angles Angels.

The Dodgers had runners on the corners when Ohtani came to the plate with two outs in the seventh. He launched a curveball from Mike Baumann over the left centerfield wall.

His second home run of the contest gave him 50 for the season, after two stolen bases earlier in the game pushed his tally of steals to 51.

The Japanese standout had smashed his 49th home run of 2024 in the sixth, a 438-foot blast that tied Shawn Green’s record for most by a Dodger in a single season, set in 2001.

And to cap a monster offensive performance, Ohtani added a third home run in the ninth inning, finishing the game with 51 homers and 51 steals so far this season.

He had six hits in six at-bats, including two doubles for a total of five extra-base hits.

He drove in 10 runs and scored four and could only laugh as he returned to the dugout after his final blast, the cheers of fans at LoanDepot Park ringing in his ears.

“To be honest, I’m the one probably most surprised,” Ohtani said through a translator of the spectacular show. “I have no idea where this came from, but I’m glad I performed well today.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, addressing his players in the clubhouse as they celebrated the victory, noted the achievement.

“This is a game that has been played for over 200 years,” Roberts said. “And this is something that has never been done.”

But Ohtani himself tried to keep the focus on the team.

“I’m glad that the team won,” he said, admitting that with so much attention focused on his 50-50 pursuit, it “was something I wanted to get over as quickly as possible.

“It’s something that I’m going to cherish for a very long time.”

Already the fastest player to reach 40 homers and 40 stolen bases in a season, Ohtani had nabbed his 50th steal in the first inning when he belted a leadoff double and stole third, his well-timed slide allowing him to evade a tag by Marlins third baseman Connor Norby.

Ohtani scored on a sacrifice fly and one inning later he notched his 51st steal, swiping second after a single.

With his 50th stolen base, Ohtani surpassed Roberts for the second most by a Japanese-born player in MLB history, a list led by Ichiro Suzuki, who stole 56 in 2001.

Ohtani had earlier this season become MLB’s all-time leader in home runs among Japanese-born players when he surpassed the 175 of Hideki Matsui.

The 30-year-old, who signed a record $700 million free agent deal with the Dodgers in the off-season, now has 222 career home runs.

Meanwhile, Ohtani is ramping up his rehabilitation from surgery on his throwing elbow. Unable to showcase his pitching prowess this year, he has been throwing bullpen sessions and could face hitters soon.


Newcastle struggle past fourth-tier Wimbledon in League Cup

Newcastle struggle past fourth-tier Wimbledon in League Cup
Updated 21 sec ago
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Newcastle struggle past fourth-tier Wimbledon in League Cup

Newcastle struggle past fourth-tier Wimbledon in League Cup

LONDON: Newcastle needed a penalty from Fabian Schar to beat fourth-tier Wimbledon 1-0 on Tuesday and set up a League Cup fourth round clash with Chelsea.

The tie had been switched to St. James’ Park after the League Two side’s pitch was severely damaged by flooding last week.

Newcastle made eight changes to the side which started Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester City and the Magpies struggled to hit top gear.

But Schar’s spot-kick in first-half stoppage time after Miguel Almiron had been felled inside the area was enough to book their place in the last 16.

Newcastle have not won a major trophy since 1969 and the pressure is on Eddie Howe to deliver silverware for a club backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund.

Chelsea’s trip to the north east and Tottenham’s clash with Manchester City are the standout clashes in the fourth round.

Liverpool visit Brighton, Arsenal will travel to Preston and Manchester United entertain Leicester.


Lewandowski hits brace as Barca crush Young Boys

Lewandowski hits brace as Barca crush Young Boys
Updated 9 min 27 sec ago
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Lewandowski hits brace as Barca crush Young Boys

Lewandowski hits brace as Barca crush Young Boys

BARCELONA: Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona as they demolished Young Boys 5-0 in a one-sided Champions League clash on Tuesday.
The Catalan giants, five-time winners, made amends for their defeat by Monaco in their first match by thumping their Swiss visitors.
Raphinha and Inigo Martinez strikes as well as an own goal helped Hansi Flick’s side secure a sizeable victory and boost their goal difference significantly.
Barca coach Flick rolled out arguably his strongest available team after the loss at Monaco, despite the Swiss side’s struggles.
Young Boys are in the relegation zone of their domestic league with just one win in eight games and were thrashed at home by Aston Villa on their European debut this season.
It took Barcelona just eight minutes to move ahead, with Lewandowski applying a poacher’s finish to Raphinha’s cross-shot.
Jules Kounde hammered over and Ferran Torres had a shot saved as Barcelona dominated, but Young Boys carved out a first opening after 30 minutes when Ebrima Colley pulled an effort wide.
Raphinha, enjoying a strong start to the campaign, doubled Barcelona’s lead from close range after Pedri’s shot was blocked but the ball ricocheted to his feet.
Center-back Martinez headed home Barca’s third from Pedri’s free-kick shortly afterwards as the Catalans overran their ragged visitors.
Torres wasted a fine chance for the fourth when he fired straight at Young Boys goalkeeper Marvin Keller when well placed to score.
Lewandowski netted his second with a close-range header after Martinez had nodded Lamine Yamal’s corner back across the face of goal as Barcelona began the second half just how they finished the first.
It was the 36-year-old’s ninth goal in 10 games this season as he enjoys a revival under his former Bayern Munich coach Flick.
Young Boys winger Joel Monteiro struck the crossbar but that was as close as the visitors came to joy in Catalonia.
Barcelona fans were pleased to see Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong come on as a substitute for his first appearance since an ankle injury in April as the game petered toward a close.
Mohamed Camara deflected Alejandro Balde’s cross into his own goal for Barcelona’s fifth in the 81st minute.
Home supporters chanted the name of former Barca midfield icon Andres Iniesta, after reports the Spanish 2010 World Cup winner will announce his retirement next week.
Monteiro had a late goal ruled out for offside and Inaki Pena made a smart save at his near post late on, with Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny watching on from the presidential box.
Barcelona are poised to sign the former Juventus and Arsenal stopper to replace the injured Marc-Andre ter Stegen.


Havertz and Saka star as Arsenal sink PSG

Havertz and Saka star as Arsenal sink PSG
Updated 15 min 56 sec ago
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Havertz and Saka star as Arsenal sink PSG

Havertz and Saka star as Arsenal sink PSG
  • There was further good news for Arsenal as Spain midfielder Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut for the last 30 minutes

LONDON: Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka inspired Arsenal’s 2-0 success against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as the Gunners secured their first win in the Champions League this season.
Havertz headed Arsenal into the lead and Saka netted before the interval to underline their superiority at the Emirates Stadium.
After drawing their opening league phase tie at Atalanta, Mikel Arteta’s side moved onto four points in their bid to reach the knockout stage of the revamped tournament.
Eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals last season and pipped to the English title by Manchester City, the Gunners are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions this term as they chase silverware on both fronts.
There was further good news for Arsenal as Spain midfielder Mikel Merino made his long-awaited debut for the last 30 minutes.
Merino’s recovery from a shoulder injury suffered in his first training session following his close-season move from Real Sociedad was a welcome boost for Arteta with Martin Odegaard currently sidelined.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was back in goal for PSG after missing the last three games with a thigh injury and the Italian had an early test of his fitness as he sprinted off his line to save at Gabriel Martinelli’s feet.
Saka, captaining Arsenal for the night, quickly switched the momentum in the hosts’ favor when he cut in from the right flank to curl just over from the edge of the area.
Havertz rewarded Arsenal’s relentless pressure with the opener in the 20th minute.
Leandro Trossard curled a pin-point cross into the six-yard box and Havertz made a perfectly-timed run behind the visitors’ flat-footed defense to bravely head past the advancing Donnarumma.
The Germany forward, who scored Chelsea’s Champions League final winner in 2021, endured a difficult start with Arsenal after moving across London for £65 million ($86 million) last year.
But since the start of February, only three Premier League players have more combined goals and assists in all competitions than Havertz’s tally of 21 as he banishes the ‘waste of money’ jibes.

PSG’s cause wasn’t helped by the absence of France winger Ousmane Dembele, who was left out after the 2018 World Cup winner’s reported clash with boss Luis Enrique when he was substituted in their win over Rennes on Friday.
Dembele is PSG’s most potent attacking force following Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.
Nuno Mendes tried to provide an attacking spark for the spluttering visitors as the defender’s blast from 18 yards smashed off the post and bounced to safety.
But Arsenal were always in control and Saka doubled their advantage in the 35th minute.
Under the guidance of their set-piece guru Nicolas Jover, Arsenal have become lethal from free-kicks and corners, while PSG are notoriously deficient in that area.
So it was little surprise that Arteta’s team were able to capitalize on their dead-ball expertise yet again.
Whipping an in swinging free-kick toward Donnarumma’s goal, the England forward expected a team-mate to get a touch on his delivery.
Instead, there was enough swerve on the ball that it eluded a gaggle of players and caught the slow-to-react Donnarumma unsighted as it flashed into the net.
Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka since the start of last season.
Trossard shot just wide before half-time as PSG’s creaky defense looked more League One than Ligue 1.
Donnarumma made a fine save to keep out Martinelli’s volley soon after the interval, but PSG were inches away from grabbing a lifeline when Joao Neves’ effort smacked off the bar.
On a rainy evening in north London, Arsenal battened down the hatches in the closing stages as they eased to a significant victory.


I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says

I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says
Updated 32 min 47 sec ago
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I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says

I don’t care about individual records anymore, Ronaldo says
  • The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or award five times, scored in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 win over Al-Rayyan

RIYADH: Cristiano Ronaldo insists he is focused on being the perfect team member at Saudi side Al-Nassr rather than collecting more individual accolades in the twilight of his career.

The 39-year-old, who has won the Ballon d’Or award five times, scored in Al-Nassr’s 2-1 win over Al-Rayyan of Qatar in their AFC Champions League Group B match on Monday.

It was the club’s fourth successive victory in all competitions under new coach Stefano Pioli, who replaced Luis Castro last month.

“It was a strong and difficult match like all the matches in the AFC Champions League, but the most important thing is that we created many chances and defended well to prevent the opponent from creating easy chances,” Ronaldo told a press conference.

“It is not important anymore whether I am the best or not, I no longer care about that. It is good for a player to score goals, but for me it is better for the team to win.

“I am used to breaking records and I no longer look for them. The most important thing for me now is to enjoy and help Al-Nassr and my teammates to win.”

Ronaldo became the top scorer in a single season in the Saudi Pro League last May with 35 goals.

The Portugal captain also scored his 901st career goal in a 2-1 win over Scotland in the Nations League last month.

“My goal against Al-Rayyan was different and important because my father would have been happy with it if he was alive, as today (yesterday) is his birthday,” the former Real Madrid, Juventus and Manchester United forward added.


Kane trains with Bayern after ankle injury and should be ready to play Villa in Champions League

Kane trains with Bayern after ankle injury and should be ready to play Villa in Champions League
Updated 01 October 2024
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Kane trains with Bayern after ankle injury and should be ready to play Villa in Champions League

Kane trains with Bayern after ankle injury and should be ready to play Villa in Champions League
  • “We always have to wait what it’s going to be like tomorrow,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said

BIRMINGHAM, England: Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is set to be available for the Champions League match against Aston Villa on Wednesday after making a quick recovery from a left ankle injury.
Kane trained with Bayern on Tuesday, three days after limping off the field late in the 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga after getting a knock to the ankle in a tussle for the ball.
“We always have to wait what it’s going to be like tomorrow,” Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said. “Tomorrow, we will decide. But he trained today and hopefully everything stays that way and he’s in good shape.”
Kane scored four goals in the 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb in Bayern’s opening Champions League game.