THE day after the weekend … for me, life is the opposite of most people’s working lives.
Monday morning after a hectic Saturday and Sunday at the World Cup is a chance to draw breath. For gee, it was hectic this last weekend.
Saturday I was at Eden Park, Auckland, early enough to watch the England v Romania game on TV. After that, I covered the New Zealand v France match.
The authorities say that the reason all these World Cup matches over here kick off at night is to maximise commercial value from breakfast time starts in the northern hemisphere. But from what I hear, I’m not even sure people over there like those morning kick-offs.
After Ireland’s great win over Australia the previous weekend, I heard from a friend in Dublin. “Grea
Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Don Kelly and Jhonny Peralta all homered as the Tigers beat the Orioles, 10-6, today at Comerica Park.
GAME LOG
The win brings Detroit to within a half-game of Texas for the second seed in the AL playoffs and home-field advantage in the ALDS. The Rangers host Seattle today.
The game was tied at three in the bottom of the fifth when Austin Jackson led off with his second single of the day. With two outs, Miguel Cabrera singled, pushing Jackson to third and setting the table for Martinez, who blasted his 12th homer of the year to left.
Cabrera went 2-for-3 today to raise his average to .341 and take the lead in the AL batting race.
MINNEAPOLIS — Justin Verlander has picked up his teammates many times this season. Saturday, they returned the favor.
In a big way.
Verlander notched his 20th win when the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins, 6-4, at Target Field.
He is the first Tiger to win 20 since Bill Gullickson in 1991 and is the first in the majors to win 20 before the end of August since Curt Schilling of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002.
• BOX SCORE
“Feels great,” Verlander said. “A team win.”
Verlander struggled from the beginning, needing 28 pitches to escape the first inning.
“Didn’t look good,” said manager Jim Leyland.
Verlander settled in briefly before allowing back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. A
Usain Bolt was today disqualified from the final of the 100 metres in the World Championships in Daegu for a false start.
Bolt had looked in brilliant form in the heats and semi-final, feeling all the hard work he had done on his start had finally paid off.
But the Jamaican star got it all wrong in spectacular fashion this evening, springing from his blocks before the gun and pulling his running vest off in frustration, instantly realising he would be disqualified.
While Bolt was still slapping a wall near the start in frustration, compatriot Yohan Blake powered to the title in 9.92 seconds, with American Walter Dix taking silver and veteran Kim Collins the bronze.
Blake said the win felt like a dream, and thanked training partner Bolt.
“I can’t find words to explain it,” he told Channel 4.
Mike Flanagan did his most famous pitching for the Orioles. But the left-hander, who committed suicide last week at 59, was with the Blue Jays when he pitched his most epic game against the Tigers.
On Oct. 3, 1987, Flanagan faced Jack Morris at Tiger Stadium. Their teams were tied for first place, and whoever won this game would take a one-game lead in the American League East with one game left.
Morris, true to his durable nature, pitched nine innings.
Flanagan went 11.
Looking back, we can see how Flanagan’s performance that day marked the end of an era that stretched back to Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander.
Paul Carr remains the youngest player to represent Donegal, having made his debut for the county at 16 in 1978, though he would have to wait a decade before winning an All-Ireland title.
It is hardly surprising that in his long inter-county career, Carr considers Donegal’s triumph over Dublin in the 1992 All-Ireland final as his finest moment with the county. “It was a great feeling, a great lift, a great achievement for the team and the county,” he says.
However, the following season proved to be a huge disappointment for Donegal. They were, quite literally, caught cold by Derry in the Ulster final in shocking weather conditions.