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Jordan Wicks wins his big-league debut for the Chicago Cubs, who hold on to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-6

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

The Chicago Cubs envisioned a potentially fast track to the majors when they selected left-hander Jordan Wicks in the first round of the 2021 draft.Armed with a wicked changeup, Wicks’ journey reached the big leagues Saturday night at PNC Park where he made his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Right-hander Javier Assad was pushed back one day and will start the series finale Sunday. Right-handed reliever Michael Fulmer was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain, retroactive to Friday, as the corresponding move for Wicks.Wicks dazzled in his debut, overcoming a shaky first inning. Ke’Bryan Hayes homered on his second pitch of the game, and Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen followed with a single and walk. The game could have quickly gotten out of hand. Wicks, though, started relying on his best pitch — the changeup — and displayed the mental toughness and poise the Cubs have seen from him over the last three years.Wicks struck...

Carlos Carrasco roughed up by Shohei Ohtani, Angels as Mets drop series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

The phrase “a hush fell over the crowd” might be cliche and overdramatic, but when Shohei Ohtani comes up to bat, a hush literally does come over the crowd. That has certainly been the case this weekend at Citi Field.But when the Los Angeles Angels two-way star stepped in for his first two at-bats Saturday night against Mets right-hander Carlos Carrasco, the silence might have signaled uncertainty or unease. It almost didn’t even seem fair that a veteran pitcher in the midst of the worst year of his career had to face a hitter like that.The results were predictable as Carrasco was knocked out of the game in the second inning and the Mets fell to the Angels 5-3 to drop the series.Ohtani doubled off Carrasco (3-8) in the first inning and took a triple off him in the second. Carrasco allowed five earned runs on seven hits. All five runs came in the second inning.It likely won’t be Carrasco’s final start in a Mets uniform but it will be one of them, as his ...

Orioles bullpen holds on without Félix Bautista, securing 5-4 win over Rockies in front of sellout crowd

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

With a one-run lead in the ninth inning, the lights didn’t go down at Camden Yards and Omar’s whistle from “The Wire” didn’t announce that Félix is coming.Instead, it was Yennier Cano who jogged out of Baltimore’s bullpen for the save opportunity in place of injured teammate and friend Félix Bautista.It wasn’t the first trip Cano had Saturday that felt off. The Orioles’ setup man usually drives with Bautista to the stadium, and the latter is in charge of the music. But Bautista, who was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with an elbow injury he suffered Friday, had tests to undergo and couldn’t ride with Cano.The extent to Bautista’s injury is unknown, but Saturday was the first day — for the Orioles and Cano — of life without their All-Star closer. The vibe at the ballpark might have been different in the ninth, but the result was the same. Cano, like Bautista almost definitely would have, ret...

Late goal dooms Revolution

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

CF Montreal defender George Campbell scored in the 86th minute to secure a 1-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Stade Saputo in Montreal.The setback dropped the Revolution (12-5-7) into a second-place tie with Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference. The free-for-all in Montreal was the first of three games in eight days for the Revolution.“We are disappointed and we could have walked away with a point,” said interim head coach Richie Williams. “We just weren’t great in the final third all night long.“We had a breakdown at the end and it was unfortunate, but I thought they put a good effort in.”The Revolution begin a two game homestand against Red Bulls New York on Wednesday and Austin FC on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.“We are hoping to get (injured) players back for the next couple of games back home,” said Williams. “We need to get better from this and get home with our fans in our stadium and get two wins in the next two games.”Williams was the Revolut...

A white man fatally shoots 3 Black people at a Florida store in a hate crime, then kills himself

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A masked white man fatally shot three Black people inside a Jacksonville, Florida, Dollar General store in a predominately African-American neighborhood on Saturday, in an attack where he used a gun painted with a swastika, officials said. The shooter, who had also posted racist writings, then killed himself. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters told a news conference that the attack that left two men and one woman dead was definitely “racially motivated.” “He hated Black people,” Waters said after reviewing the man’s writings, which were sent to federal law enforcement officials and at least one media outlet shortly before the attack. He added that the gunman acted alone and “there is absolutely no evidence the shooter is part of any larger group.”Waters said the shooter, who was in his 20s, used a Glock handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with at least one of them painted with a swastika. He was wearing a bullet-resistant vest. He said the s...

At Fukushima Daiichi, decommissioning the nuclear plant is far more challenging than water release

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

FUTABA, Japan (AP) — For the wrecked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, managing the ever-growing volume of radioactive wastewater held in more than 1,000 tanks has been a safety risk and a burden since the meltdown in March 2011. Its release marks a milestone for the decommissioning, which is expected to take decades.But it’s just the beginning of the challenges ahead, such as the removal of the fatally radioactive melted fuel debris that remains in the three damaged reactors, a daunting task if ever accomplished. Here’s a look at what’s going on with the plant’s decommissioning:WHAT HAPPENED AT FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI?A magnitude 9.0 quake on March 11, 2011, triggered a massive tsunami that destroyed the plant’s power supply and cooling systems, causing three reactors to melt and spew large amounts of radiation. Highly contaminated cooling water applied to the damaged reactors has leaked continuously into building basements and mixed with groundwater. The water is ...

Doctor recounts moments after 2 women shot during White Sox game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

CHICAGO — Two women are recovering on Saturday after suffering gunshot wounds during a White Sox game on Friday night. According to police, a 42-year-old woman was taken to the hospital after she was shot in the leg and a 26-year-old woman refused medical treatment after she suffered a graze wound during the game against the Oakland A’s.Several fans, who began lining up outside of Guaranteed Rate Field ahead of Saturday's game, said they weren't worried about their safety inside the ballpark. 2 women shot at Chicago White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field "You think about it and that’s one incident and hopefully it won't happen again. So we are okay with it just be safe," said Johnny Thierry. Video shared by the team shows the moment the woman in the stands grabs her leg before standing up and calling for help.Dr. Jeanne Farnan says she was in the same area as the victim when she heard someone call for help for the 42-year-old woman who was...

City of Austin considers new water rules for special events

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

Austin (KXAN) — The Austin Center for Events is considering new rules that would require special events to provide water to their attendees.According to the City of Austin's Development Services Department, the rules recommended by Austin Public Health, mandate that all Tier 2, 3 and 4 special events must provide at least one pint of water per hour per attendee.The city's code ordinance on special events says Tier 2-4 events are events that anticipate having less than 2,500 people at any one time.The new rules also require organizers to provide one toilet per 50 persons at the event and handwashing stations near those areas.According to the notice of the proposed rule, the city must decide on this rule by September 14 or it will be withdrawn.Event organizers, attendees think hydration during intense heatThe 17th annual Batfest graced the Congress Bridge Saturday night. Early in the day attendees donned hats and umbrellas to protect themselves from getting scorched."This is my second...

Twins’ bullpen blowup leads to 6-2 loss against Rangers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

With future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer on the mound, it’s no surprise that runs were hard to come by for the Twins on Saturday night. For eight innings, Joe Ryan, the bullpen and the team’s defense made sure that was the case for Texas, too.It was a tight game throughout, until reliever Griffin Jax ran into trouble in the ninth inning and walked a pair of batters with the bases loaded. The Rangers would score another two runs after his departure, pulling away for a 6-2 win over the Twins at Target Field.“The situation kind of went up in smoke a little bit in some ways and we just didn’t throw strikes and command the ball the way we needed to,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “… Griff’s been excellent for us. Very good lately. He’s pitched in some big situations lately as he normally would. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from him. Today wasn’t his day.”Jax, pitching in the ninth after Jhoan Duran took care of the top of the Rangers’ order an inning earlier, allowed base hits to ...

New York Liberty run around and shoot over Minnesota Lynx in 111-76 win

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:50:22 GMT

Those whooshing sounds inside Target Center Saturday night were generally one of two things: a New York Liberty player again blowing past a Lynx defender or another Liberty shot hitting nothing but net.There was plenty of both.Breanna Stewart scored 27 of her game-high 38 points in the first half — 17 in the first quarter alone — and the Liberty cruised past Minnesota 111-76.New York’s total just missed a Lynx record for points allowed in a regulation game. Las Vegas scored 113 on July 9. The 35-point loss was five shy of the franchise record, set July 12 against Dallas.Yes, Stewart is one of the top players in the world and, yes, she plays on one of the best WNBA teams, but many of her makes were somewhat contested. Sitting out the fourth quarter, she finished 12 for 17 from the field, including 6 of 8 from deep, as New York — whose 27-7 record trails only defending champion Las Vegas’ 30-5 mark — rolled to a 65-35 halftime lead.It is the most points the Lynx have allowed in ...