Don’t doubt this U.S. men’s basketball team — and sure don’t challenge them, either. Especially if it’s going to make Kobe Bryant flash his NBA MVP form. Bryant scored 25 points in his best game in Beijing, and the men’s U.S. Olympic team advanced to the semifinals by beating Australia 116-85 on Wednesday night.
Bernard Lagat advanced to the 5,000-meter final, hoping to salvage his Olympics and maybe start a rally Wednesday for the struggling U.S. track team. Lagat won his heat in 13 minutes, 39.70 seconds to move on to Saturday night’s medal race. He didn’t qualify for the 1,500-meter final, adding his name to a list of high-profile American flame-outs at the Bird’s Nest.
One more for gold. One more before goodbye. Pushed to extra innings, the U.S. Olympic softball team scored four runs in the ninth inning and beat Japan 4-1 on Wednesday to move within one win of its fourth straight gold medal — in the sport’s farewell for now. Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer — almost out of Fengtai Field — in the ninth inning as the Americans extended their Olympic winning…
One more for gold. One more before goodbye. Pushed to extra innings, the U.S. Olympic softball team scored four runs in the ninth inning and beat Japan 4-1 on Wednesday to move within one win of its fourth straight gold medal — in the sport’s farewell for now. Crystl Bustos hit a three-run homer — almost out of Fengtai Field — in the ninth inning as the Americans extended their Olympic winning…
Rich Harden’s been as good — maybe even better — than the Chicago Cubs expected when they acquired him in a trade from Oakland six weeks ago. Harden allowed two hits in seven innings Tuesday night, striking out 10 and bunting in the go-ahead run for his first major league RBI as the surging Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0.
Rich Harden’s been as good — maybe even better — than the Chicago Cubs expected when they acquired him in a trade from Oakland six weeks ago. Harden allowed two hits in seven innings Tuesday night, striking out 10 and bunting in the go-ahead run for his first major league RBI as the surging Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-0.
On a night in which he struggled to get through five innings, Daisuke Matsuzaka got offensive support from an unlikely source: batterymate Jason Varitek. Matsuzaka won his fourth straight start, the Boston Red Sox got homers from Varitek and Kevin Youkilis in a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
On a night in which he struggled to get through five innings, Daisuke Matsuzaka got offensive support from an unlikely source: batterymate Jason Varitek. Matsuzaka won his fourth straight start, the Boston Red Sox got homers from Varitek and Kevin Youkilis in a 7-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night.
The Mets got big hits with the bases loaded and their bullpen was outstanding, for a change. If they keep that up, they’ll have a much better chance of hanging on in the NL East. Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead double off the left-center fence to end New York’s long stretch of bases-loaded futility, and the Mets broke loose in the eighth inning to rally past Atlanta 7-3 Tuesday night.
The Mets got big hits with the bases loaded and their bullpen was outstanding, for a change. If they keep that up, they’ll have a much better chance of hanging on in the NL East. Carlos Delgado hit a go-ahead double off the left-center fence to end New York’s long stretch of bases-loaded futility, and the Mets broke loose in the eighth inning to rally past Atlanta 7-3 Tuesday night.