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SF Giants’ Camilo Doval takes ‘huge’ step forward to become ‘complete closer’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

NEW YORK — With his go-ahead homer in the eighth inning Friday night and picture-perfect throw to second base in the ninth, rookie catcher Patrick Bailey deservedly received the bulk of the attention from the Giants’ come-from-behind win over the Mets. But not to be overlooked: Camilo Doval’s transformation into a “complete” closer, to use the words of manager Gabe Kapler.Tied for the major-league lead in saves, the 25-year-old fireballer has been arguably the best closer in baseball for the first half of this season. He already has one reliever of the month award under his belt, and he is widely seen as the Giants’ top All-Star candidate (rosters announced Sunday at 2:30 p.m. PT).But, as coach Mark Hallberg pointed out Saturday, Doval’s three-pitch mix — a triple-digit heater, a sharp-breaking sinker and a wipeout slider — is so nasty, it left him a blindspot. In addition to his duties at third-base coach, Hallberg oversees Giants’ pitchers...

Antioch landlord pleads no contest in tenant’s killing

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

MARTINEZ — An Antioch landlord has pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his tenant/roommate, and is expected to receive a 13-year prison term in August, authorities said.Marc Siegel, 46, pleaded no contest in June to killing 43-year-old Michael Moreno. The shooting occurred in May 2020, inside the Antioch home where Siegel lived and had been renting a room to Moreno.According to police, Moreno was planning to move out of the residence on the day of the shooting.Moreno was shot and killed around 8:30 a.m. on May 18, 2020, at their residence on the 1900 block of Iron Peak Court. Police said at the time that the two argued and that Siegel produced a gun and shot Moreno at least once. He died before emergency responders got there.Moreno was a military veteran who ran a martial arts studio in Pittsburg, known as the California Combat Academy. He taught self-defense techniques to adults and children.Siegel was initially charged with murder and use of a fir...

Mexican anti-cartel vigilante leader buried and with him, an armed citizens’ movement

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

LA RUANA, Mexico (AP) — One of the last leaders of Mexico’s anti-gang citizens’ movement was buried Saturday alongside two of his faithful followers, and any hope of reviving armed civilian resistance to drug cartels probably died with them.“Self defense” vigilante leader Hipolito Mora had long since ceased to pose an armed threat to the cartel that dominates western Mexico’s Michoacan state, as was clear from the overwhelming, deadly, multipoint ambush in which he and three followers were slain Thursday.While some angry relatives talked of reviving the 2013-2014 armed farmers’ movement that kicked out one cartel — only to see it replaced by others — many doubted that heroic, tragic chapter could ever be repeated.“I think it’s not a question of reviving the past,” said the Rev. Gilberto Vergara, one of the priests who officiated the funeral Mass for Mora and his followers Calixto Alvarez and Roberto Naranjo. The third follower was buried elsewhere.“The circumstance...

Plum, Wilson help the Aces rout the Sun 102-84 in a matchup of the WNBA’s top teams

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 25 points and A’ja Wilson added 23 points and 12 rebounds to help the Las Vegas Aces rout the Connecticut Sun 102-84 on Saturday in a matchup of the top teams in the WNBA.It was the eighth straight victory for the Aces (15-1), who avenged their only loss of the season. Connecticut (12-5) was able to win that game because of a career-high and franchise-record 41 points by DeWanna Bonner. Las Vegas hasn’t lost since thanks in big part to the play of Wilson, the league’s reigning MVP. She had another strong game one day after signing a two-year contract extension.Just as they did against New York two days earlier, the Aces blew open the game at the start of the third quarter. Las Vegas scored the first 17 points of the period to turn a 11-point advantage to 76-48. The Sun finally ended the run with DiJonai Carrington’s 3-pointer with 4:31 left in the third quarter. Things got worse for Connecticut a minute later when Tiffany H...

Legal recreational weed hits Md. dispensary shelves

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

Rise Dispensary celebrates the start of legal recreational weed in the state of Maryland. (WTOP/Luke Lukert) Rise Dispensary celebrates the start of legal recreational weed in the state of Maryland. (WTOP/Luke Lukert) Recreational marijuana dispensaries throughout Maryland opened their doors to curious and excited customers for the first time Saturday, many of whom said it was about time they could buy legal cannabis.Milton Sorrel lined up about an hour before the RISE Dispensary in Silver Spring opened and told WTOP his wait was much longer than just that morning.“Had to wait a long time,” Sorrel said. “When the laws got passed in D.C.I thought ‘oh it is going to get here anytime now.’ But it to...

Soto, Machado and Tatis combine for 10 RBIs, Padres beat Reds 12-5 and stop 6-game skid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the sixth inning, Manny Machado followed three pitches later with the first of his two home runs and the San Diego Padres stopped a six-game losing streak with a 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday,Soto had four RBIs and Machado and Fernando Tatis three each for the Padres, who have not lost seven in a row since Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, 2021. “It’s nice after getting stymied a little bit early on to break out for as couple of innings,” San Diego manager Bob Melvin.Soto hit his 140th home run in his 700th game, joining Ted Williams and Frank Thomas as the only players with 140 homers and 500 walks in their first 700 games.Tatis had an RBI double in the third, a run-scoring single in the seventh and a sacrifice fly in the eighth, giving him 40 RBIs in 63 games since returning from an 80-game drug suspension.Michael Wacha (8-2), pitching on his 32d birthday, won his third straight decision. Wacha allowed one r...

June’s greatest Sho: A look back at Ohtani’s best month in the majors

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s walkup music most of last season was the theme to “The Greatest Showman.”After the Los Angeles Angels star’s June, he should consider returning to it.The Japanese two-way phenom has amazed fans, teammates and opponents since coming to the majors in 2018. June, though was “The Greatest Sho” at the plate.“I’m in a good spot right now,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara when asked if he was pitching and hitting at his best. “Hitting-wise, I feel like it is up there for sure.”Ohtani hit 15 home runs, the most in a month in Angels history. He became the first player in 10 years to reach 30 homers before July 1.Ohtani reached that milestone and tied the AL record for most homers in June with a majestic 493-foot drive in Friday night’s loss to Arizona. Mike Trout, who was on the on-deck circle, did a double take when he heard it coming off the bat.The power numbers, though, are only part of the story of a dominant month. Ohtani’s .3...

Dodgers activate left-hander Julio Urías to make start against Royals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers activated left-hander Julio Urías, who had missed 36 games after straining his hamstring, from the injured list to start Saturday night’s game against the Kansas City Royals.The 26-year-old Urías allowed one run on two hits with eight strikeouts over four innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in his last rehab start Sunday. He is 5-4 with a 4.39 ERA in 10 starts this season.The Dodgers initially hoped that Urías would return after he was placed on the injured list May 20. But instead of returning the first week of June, his slow recovery from the hamstring strain pushed back his return to the first week of July.Left-hander Justin Bruihl was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City to make space for him on the roster.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsSource

Los pasaportes cubanos ahora tendrán vigencia por 10 años

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

(CNN Español) — A partir de este sábado 1 de julio, los pasaportes cubanos que se emitan tendrán una vigencia de 10 años para los mayores de 16 años, y de 5 años para los menores de esa edad.Hasta ahora, los mayores de 16 recibían un pasaporte por 6 años, que se prorrogaba cada dos años, algo que también fue eliminado desde este mes.¿Tiene China una base espía en territorio cubano?Los cambios surgen del decreto publicado este viernes en La Gaceta Oficial de Cuba, que modifica el Reglamento de la Ley de Migración del país.El decreto también estipula que el arancel consular para la solicitud de pasaportes será de US$ 180 o euros para mayores 16 años, y de US$ 140 o euros para menores.El director de Asuntos Consulares de Cuba, Ernesto Soberón, dijo que estas acciones obedecen a la intención del gobierno “de continuar fortaleciendo vínculos con nuestros nacionales en el exterior”.The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery C...

Injured Lyon inspires Australia by batting in 2nd Ashes test at Lord’s

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:15:18 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Nathan Lyon has been on crutches since Thursday. He was expected to be a mere spectator for the rest of the second Ashes cricket test at Lord’s.Then he stunned onlookers on day four Saturday when TV caught him clambering slowly down the stairs from the Australia dressing room all padded up and ready to go in as the last batter.He waited close to the field in the Lord’s Pavilion so he wouldn’t be timed out hobbling to the middle. With him was resting 40-year-old England bowler Jimmy Anderson.“He asked, am I stupid? And I said, ‘Yes, but I may have to do a you and go to 40.’ He said, ‘If you keep loving the game and keep trying to get better there is no reason why you can’t,’ so that was a nice little moment with Jimmy.”When the time came to bat, the 35-year-old Lyon received a standing ovation from the packed Lord’s crowd.Australia wasn’t exactly desperate for the tailender at 264-9 in its second innings with a lead against England of...