I Dig Sports
Trout (calf strain) out of lineup vs. Astros again
Mike Trout remained out of the Los Angeles Angels lineup Tuesday night against the Houston Astros as he continues to deal with a small strain in his right calf.
An MRI performed on Monday revealed the strain, and the Angels have listed the superstar as day-to-day.
"It feels good. Obviously, just being cautious," Trout said of the calf before Tuesday's game. "But I feel good. Way better than yesterday. I don't even feel it today. Just being cautious and we'll see how I feel tomorrow."
This is the second straight full game Trout has missed after he was removed to begin the third inning of Sunday's 6-3 win over the Seattle Mariners. He missed Monday's 9-6 win over the Astros.
The 27-year-old is batting .305/.455/.666, and a post-All-Star break surge has put him on a pace to compete for his third MVP trophy. He's 12-for-32 with eight home runs in nine games this month.
Brian Goodwin got the start in center field for the Angels on Tuesday.
NEW YORK -- Benches cleared but no punches were thrown following a shouting match between Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and Tampa Bay Rays hitter Avisail Garcia during a game Tuesday night.
Sabathia struck out Garcia looking to strand two runners in the sixth inning. Sabathia appeared to say something to Garcia as he walked off the mound, and a surprised Garcia looked up and raised his arms. Sabathia kept jawing from a distance and pointed at Garcia, who began yelling back.
Shortstop Didi Gregorius ran in to hold Sabathia back, and both benches and bullpens cleared. Gregorius led a fired-up Sabathia back to the dugout, and both teams dispersed shortly after.
Sabathia was ejected for plunking the Rays' Jesus Sucre during his last regular-season start in 2018 and has had a few salty run-ins with Tampa Bay this season, including when he threw at Austin Meadows three times and shouted insults during a game in May.
The 38-year-old left-hander has also been excellent against Tampa Bay, entering Tuesday with a 2.36 ERA in seven starts against the Rays over the past two seasons. He left after six innings Tuesday with New York trailing 3-2 before they came back and won 8-3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A graduate of the America University of Egypt, currently listed at no.51 on the Women’s World Rankings, Dina Meshref is her continent’s leading female player. Moreover, she faces a busy few weeks of action.
The Seamaster 2019 ITTF Challenge Plus Nigeria Open commences on Wednesday 7th August, followed later in the month by the Africa Games in Rabat, the table tennis events commencing on Tuesday 20th August and concluding on Monday 2nd September.
“I will just try to give my best, I am trying to prepare thoroughly for the competition. Of course it won’t be easy in Lagos. I expect all players to be very well prepared for the event, especially that it’s a few days prior to another important event. I consider all players competing in the event as my potential rivals and strong competitors.
It’s actually very exciting to compete in Lagos, as there are always lots of spectators and fans who really admire the sport, it brings the best out of players.
I really hope I can win the title because it is very important to me, as it serves as qualification for the Women’s World Cup, which is of course one of the most prestigious events of the year.” Dina Meshref
A globally recognised sport, World Table Tennis Day (WTTD) 2019 illustrated the fact that the table tennis community, the participating organisations, alongside the ITTF Foundation and our equipment sponsors; iPong and Butterfly, value partnerships that represent diverse goals in the area of development.
World Table Tennis Day underlines the ideal of sport for all. Everyone can take part in organising activities to mark the day, play and spread the message of solidarity with friends and the community.
“My biggest acknowledgments are reserved for each single organiser and participant. It is thanks to your love for our sport that we keep going further, making table tennis accessible to everyone everywhere!“ Leandro Olvech, ITTF Foundation Director
As a motivational incentive, the 2019 awards focused on showcasing exemplary and different initiatives, regardless of event size. It is not about the wealth of materials but rather about the love for table tennis and sharing with others.
Europe took the lead in the most registered events at 407 from a previous 288 in 2018; Asia was next with 275 registered events, the number having been 140 in 2018.
A most impressive 115.7 per cent increase in participation when compared with the previous year, World Table Tennis Day is becoming increasingly useful and popular as a platform for positive social change.
Among the 922 events, 527 engaged children, 318 young people and 192 persons with disabilities. Also 228 elderly, 16 refugees and 23 immigrants plus other minority groups participated.
The mantra of the ITTF Foundation – solidarity through table tennis – fund its way into schools, parks, shopping malls, stadiums, beaches and local pathways as well as into streets through dedicated organisers, creative initiatives and amazing participants! Together we are improving the social fabric for the better, with fun, love, laughter and friendship.
We look forward to seeing you on 6th April 2020 – World Table Tennis Day!
World Table Tennis Day Awards 2019
…………Absar Welfare Foundation, Pakistan
…………Arima Table Tennis Club, Trinidad and Tobago
…………JTG School Table Tennis, South Africa
…………PongFit, United States
…………NTK Vesna, Slovenia
…………Latvian Table Tennis Federation, Children and Youth Centre, Latvia
…………Club de Tenis de Mesa UVG, Guatemala
…………Chouigi Sports Club, Tunisia
…………Tonga Table Tennis Federation, Tonga
…………A.D Badajoz Tennis de Mesa, Spain
…………Centro Cívico por la Paz, Costa Rica
…………Fundación Federico, Colombia
…………A.S.D Vigor Velletri, Italy
SONOMA, Calif. – Matt Smith wrapped up his third NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series world championship with a record-breaking performance on the final day of the 2018 season in Pomona.
But the Pro Stock Motorcycle standout fully believes that championship run was set in motion thanks to his impressive performance at Sonoma Raceway.
Smith won the Mickey Thompson Tire Pro Bike Battle as part of the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, which takes places at Sonoma Raceway, July 26-28. The victory over Eddie Krawiec in the final of the bike battle on Smith’s Denson/Stockseth/MSR EBR netted him $25,000 and provided a huge boost of momentum as he prepared for his title chase. Returning to the facility in the heart of Northern California’s wine country fourth in points, Smith is after a similar spark in 2019.
“It assured us we could really go after that championship last year,” Smith said. “To me, when we beat (Krawiec), it really showed us we could race for a championship and have a chance to win it. Last year was the first time anyone on my team won the bike battle, and it was just great to finally win it. We really appreciate Mickey Thompson doing this for the class. It’s been a good journey and a good fit for the class. So to get that win, it was pretty awesome. If you do well at Sonoma, you know you’re in a good spot come Indy.”
Blake Alexander (Top Fuel), Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and L.E. Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were last year’s winners at Sonoma Raceway. It is the ninth of 16 races during the Pro Stock Motorcycle season, and marks one of the most important weekends of the year for the riders in the talented category.
The class takes center stage in Sonoma with the Mickey Thompson Tire Pro Bike Battle, a special race-within-a-race on Saturday featuring eight top riders. The field will be set after this weekend’s race in Denver, but Smith has already secured his spot. He’ll try to win the all-star race for a second time, relying on engine that went a record 201.76 mph in Gainesville this year, keyed his bike battle victory a season ago and also led to his record-breaking performance to clinch the title.
“All of our new motors are pretty good, but we have one that just stands out,” said Smith, who has 23 career wins. “That’s the one we ran at the end of last year, and we ran it again at Gainesville and broke the (speed) record again. I put it back in at Chicago and won that race. It’s going back in the bike in Sonoma, and I think it’s going to be fast, so we feel good about it.”
Smith will have to face off against the likes of Krawiec, points leader Andrew Hines, who has an impressive five wins in 2019, Hector Arana Jr. and Angelle Sampey, but the veteran feels confident about the way the three-bike team of his wife, Angie, and Scotty Pollacheck has come on. Angie still has a shot to advance into the bike battle with a strong showing in Denver, while Matt, who won earlier this season in Chicago, believes things are coming together at the right time.
“Sonoma has always been a big bike race and I think we’re in a great spot,” Smith said. “Angie ran really well at Norwalk, and we finally got Scotty’s bike to perform like it should. We qualified all the bikes in the top seven and everyone won in the first round, and I think we’re right where we need to be. With the way the Countdown is, you’ve got to be good at the end of the year.”
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Carlin has announced that self storage company SmartStop Self Storage will join the team once again as a primary partner at the Iowa 300 with NTT IndyCar Series driver Sage Karam piloting the No. 31 SmartStop Self Storage Carlin Chevrolet.
“We were very impressed with Sage’s steady progression throughout the Toronto race weekend and his willingness to learn and adapt. The fact that he hadn’t been on a street course since 2015 and was still able to come right out of the gate confident and constantly improving every session was extremely impressive,” said Team Principal Trevor Carlin. “The SmartStop Self Storage Chevrolet looked great out on track and their group has been a pleasure to work with, so we couldn’t be more pleased to have them back this weekend in Iowa. Sage has done really well in Iowa in the past, so hopefully we can use his experience and our past success at Iowa Speedway to come away with a good result for the team and our partners at SmartStop Self Storage.”
Karam will make his third start of the NTT IndyCar Series season, and second with Carlin, this weekend at the Iowa 300. In his five starts at Iowa Speedway dating back to 2010, Karam has never finished outside of the top three, recording four wins (USF2000 – 2010, Indy Pro 2000 – 2011 and 2012, Indy Lights – 2013) and scoring his first NTT IndyCar Series podium in 2015 with a third-place finish.
“I’m really excited to be back again this weekend with Carlin and SmartStop Self Storage for the Iowa 300. Iowa Speedway has always been a good track for me in the past, so I’m really looking forward to getting back to work there,” said Karam. “Coming off of a very productive weekend in Toronto, I’m looking forward to applying everything I’ve learned and continuing to work with the team to get the best results possible. A huge thank you to everyone at Carlin and SmartStop Self Storage for a great opportunity to race at one of my favorite tracks.”
AVON, Ind. – The biggest winged sprint car race of the season will feature one of the most famed father-son pairings in the sport.
Announced Wednesday afternoon, Sammy Swindell will pilot the No. 39 Swindell SpeedLab sprint car for Kevin and Jordan Swindell during the NOS Energy Drink Knoxville Nationals at Iowa’s Knoxville Raceway, Aug. 7-10.
The news comes after the recent announcement that the pairing will compete together during this weekend’s Kings Royal, July 17-20 at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.
“It’s kind of an honor that Kevin called me about doing this,” the elder Swindell said. “We talked about it maybe a month or so ago. It will be special. If we wound up winning this it’d be really special. Not too many father and sons get to do that.”
Sammy Swindell has impressive statistics throughout his career at the Knoxville Nationals.
The three-time World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series champion has made 34 A-main starts – only one behind Steve Kinser for the most all time – during the prestigious event, including winning it in 1983.
He has also recorded eight podiums, 14 top fives and 20 top 10s since his first Knoxville Nationals A-main in 1976.
Sammy Swindell also ranks sixth in career Nationals laps led, with 89, and he’s one of only six drivers to earn the pole position at least three times.
“I was able to be there a few weeks ago,” he said of racing at Knoxville Raceway. “We had a good car and the results didn’t show what the car was capable of. Some things went wrong during the night that messed us up. I thought that the car drove really well there.
“That car is the same car as Kevin, has so it’s something we can compare notes on and go from there.”
The Swindell SpeedLab team is fresh off its first win of the season, which came with Christopher Bell behind the wheel at Pennsylvania’s Grandview Speedway on July 3.
“We’re looking forward to racing with (my) dad,” Kevin Swindell said. “We ran the Kings Royal finale together and made the A-main last year, and we ran a race together the previous year. I think we have all the pieces to be strong from the start.”
The Ottawa Senators acquired center Artem Anisimov from the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday for left wing Zack Smith.
Anisimov, 31, appeared in 78 games, finishing with 15 goals and 22 assists, last season, his fourth with the Blackhawks. He has scored at least 20 goals four times in his career, including his first three seasons in Chicago.
Smith, also 31, has played his entire 11-season NHL career with the Senators and has been an alternate captain since the 2017-18 season. He appeared in 70 games last season, finishing with nine goals and 19 assists.
Anisimov and Smith and both signed through the 2020-21 season with their contracts carrying an average annual value of $4.55 million and $3.25 million, respectively.
"Artem is a big, competitive center with excellent hands and playmaking ability," Senators general manager Pierre Dorion said in a statement. "He plays a 200-foot game and will contribute to our depth on both special teams. We're acquiring an experienced player who can score and at the same time is responsible in his own zone. We really like how he will fit with the makeup of our team."
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Capitals have re-signed winger Jakub Vrana to a $6.7 million, two-year contract, completing the biggest item left on Washington's offseason checklist.
The 23-year-old restricted free agent set career highs with 24 goals, 23 assists and 47 points last season. He has 80 points in 176 NHL regular-season games.
The Czech had three goals and five assists during the Capitals' 2018 Stanley Cup run and scored first during the title-clinching Game 5 in the final at Vegas.
Cap-strapped Washington still has to re-sign restricted free-agent defenseman Christian Djoos and forward Chandler Stephenson. Each is scheduled for a salary arbitration hearing.
Matthijs de Ligt arrived to Juventus on Tuesday night ahead of the star defender's expected signing with the Italian champions.
While his move from Dutch club Ajax has yet to be officially announced, Juventus posted on their social media a video of de Ligt getting off a plane in Turin and saying "I am really happy to be here."
DELIGTED? ? pic.twitter.com/tcO2YPBAHN
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 16, 2019
De Ligt, 19, had attracted interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Bayern Munich among others after helping Ajax reach the Champions League semifinal and Netherlands the UEFA Nations League final.
- When does the transfer window close?
Although Ajax lost to Spurs in the Champions League, de Ligt did win the Eredivisie title and Dutch Cup as part of a side that also featured Frenkie De Jong, who has since joined Barcelona.
De Ligt will link up with former Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri at Juve and fellow new signings Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey as the Bianconeri aim to win a ninth straight Scudetto.
Reports suggested the teenager has agreed a deal that will see him earn over £10 million a season in Italy.
He revealed in June that Cristiano Ronaldo had asked him about a move to Juventus following Portugal's Nations League win over Netherlands.
"I didn't understand him at first. I was a little shocked, so I laughed. But I didn't say anything," de Ligt said.
"So soon after the game you are not at all concerned with it. You are disappointed that you have lost and that is the only thing you are thinking about."