I Dig Sports
CINCINNATI -- The crowd was energized for Nick Senzel's debut. A pair of three-run homers by Derek Dietrich helped the Reds surge ahead by eight runs. It looked as though the San Francisco Giants were headed for yet another horrid outcome at Great American Ball Park.
Instead, the Giants pulled off an against-the-odds comeback, led by a player who has been through one of his own.
Stephen Vogt hit a tying, two-out homer in the ninth inning, and Evan Longoria connected in the 11th for a 12-11 victory on Friday that ended San Francisco's streak of seven straight losses at Great American Ballpark since 2016.
It was the fifth time in franchise history that the Giants overcame an eight-run deficit for a win. The last time was 1989, also in Cincinnati.
"We've had a tough time here. You come in here, and it's the first game ,and you get down by eight runs, and you say, 'Oh, man, there's something about this ballpark,'" manager Bruce Bochy said.
The Giants put together by far their best offensive game of the season, led by their backup catcher.
Vogt was called up earlier in the week, completing a long comeback from shoulder surgery that wiped out his 2018 season. He got into the game as part of a double switch after the Giants fell far behind. Vogt singled and scored in a three-run rally in the eighth inning, then tied it 11-11 in the ninth with his two-out homer off Raisel Iglesias.
"It kind of felt like my first career homer. I kind of blacked out," Vogt said. "There were a lot of emotions going around the bases, mostly pure joy."
Longoria led off the 11th with a homer off Jared Hughes (2-1) just inside the left-field foul pole, allowing San Francisco to get the better of a matchup between the NL's two worst offenses.
Reyes Moronta (1-2) escaped a threat in the 10th inning. Will Smith retired the side in the 11th for his eighth save in eight chances.
Cincinnati surged ahead 8-0 as Dietrich hit a pair of three-run home runs off Tyler Beede, a former first-round pick who lasted only 2 1/3 innings. A big night for the majors' worst offense -- Cincinnati came in batting .207 -- wasn't enough.
"Incredible, honestly," Beede said. "I put us in quite a hole there."
Senzel played a small role in a wild game. The second overall pick in the 2016 draft was called up and started in center field. He got the loudest cheers in pregame introductions and went 1-for-5 with a pair of walks. He also got an ovation for running down a fly ball on the warning track.
"I've been dreaming about it, and it was nothing like that," Senzel said. "Walking to the plate, hearing my name being called, hearing the crowd -- the city of Cincinnati having my back was something special."
The Giants have struggled to hit, batting .214 as a team, and made a move pregame to help the offense. Outfielder Mike Gerber was called up from Triple-A. He doubled and walked in four plate appearances.
BIG 8 COMEBACKS
The Giants' other wins after erasing eight-run deficits were in 1947 at Pittsburgh, 1970 at Atlanta and 1970 at the Dodgers.
FAMOUS COMPANY
Dietrich became the first major league second baseman to hit a pair of three-run homers in the first three innings of a game since Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan on Aug. 19, 1974, according to STATS.
HITLESS VOTTO
Reds leadoff hitter Joey Votto made a pair of outs as the Reds sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning, only the second time in his career that he made two outs in an inning. He also did it against the Mets on July 18, 2008. Votto went 0-for-7 overall, dropping his average to .217.
STREAKING
Buster Posey singled in the fourth inning, extending his hitting streak to a season-high nine games.
PARRA FAREWELL
The Giants designed outfielder Gerardo Parra for assignment to open a spot for Gerber. Parra signed a minor league deal in February and made the Opening Day roster but batted only .198 with one homer.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Catcher Erik Kratz went on the 10-day injury list with a mild strain in his left hamstring.
Reds: Third baseman Eugenio Suarez got a planned day out of the lineup. He pinch hit in the ninth and flied out.
UP NEXT
Giants: Dereck Rodriguez (3-3) is coming off one of his worst starts, allowing a career-high six runs in an 11-5 loss to the Yankees.
Reds: Tanner Roark (1-1) is 6-1 in eight career starts against the Giants with a 2.59 ERA.
Tagged under
CHICAGO -- Desperate to get in the win column, Red Sox ace Chris Sale finally found a victory in the place where he has won the most.
Sale threw six scoreless innings in his sharpest outing of the season and picked up the decision in Boston's 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday. Sale (1-5) won his first game of the season and earned his first regular-season victory since Aug. 12 of last year.
"It's nice to feel like I'm back on track and actually help this team win a ballgame," Sale said. "Just kind of got back to some old things I used to do."
For Sale, the setting was familiar. He was the first-round draft pick of the White Sox back in 2010 and played his first seven big league seasons in Chicago. He owns the White Sox's season strikeout record (274 in 2015). Friday's win was Sale's 44th career victory at Guaranteed Rate Field; that's 32 more than he has at any other venue. Sale has 12 career wins at Fenway Park in Boston.
"It's never not going to be weird [pitching in Chicago]," Sale said. "It's never not going to be something, I guess. Obviously, I've pitched here seems like a million times. I like this place. I've always liked pitching on this mound. Being here is special to me."
Even more than the win, Sale's dominance was a welcome sight for the defending champs. He allowed just three hits and matched his season high with 10 strikeouts. Sale walked one batter and hit two, but even that was perhaps a sign that his former nastiness is returning.
Among a string of puzzling performances for the defending champion Red Sox in the season's opening weeks, Sale's struggles were the most head-scratching. His diminished velocity was a hot topic after his first two outings, and even after the buzz on his fastball began to bounce back, the positive results didn't. He entered Friday's game with an unsightly 6.30 ERA, a number that will drop quickly if Sale keeps pitching like he did in Chicago.
"Wasn't it last year he took off May 6 in Texas?" Red Sox manager Alex Cora asked rhetorically after the game. He was referring to a seven-inning, 12-strikeout performance against the Rangers that kicked off a stretch in which Sale went 9-3 with a 2.00 ERA over 15 starts.
Maybe the star lefty is ready to go on another such flurry. Sale's average velocity on Friday (86.6 mph) was a season high, as his fastball topped out at 96.5, according to Statcast. He threw 37 four-seam fastballs and 10 two-seamers, both season highs in an attacking performance. All in all, it was vintage Sale and another happy omen for a Boston rotation that, after a shaky start, has the American League's best starting pitcher ERA since April 12.
"Just pitching stuff," Sale said of his adjustments over the season. "More just kind of being in the zone with quality pitches, just executing in certain counts and being where I need to be."
Now that Sale has piggybacked his seven-inning outing in a no-decision against Tampa Bay on April 28 with Friday's start, perhaps the Red Sox can turn their attention to their climb to break even. Despite the victory over the White Sox, Boston (15-18) remains three games under .500. If the Red Sox are going to get back in position to defend their crown, they will need a dominant Chris Sale.
Perhaps Friday's gem was evidence that version of Sale has returned.
"Command was really good," Cora said. "He was able to use the inside part of the plate against righties. Kept them off balance, slider was good, was consistent with his delivery. It was good to see him that way."
Tagged under
Ryu (70) takes one-shot lead going into weekend at Mediheal
Published in
Golf
Friday, 03 May 2019 15:41
DALY CITY, Calif. — So Yeon Ryu shot a 2-under 70 on Friday afternoon at difficult Lake Merced to take a one-stroke lead over follow South Korean player Sei Young Kim and American Ryann O'Toole in the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship.
Tied for the first-round lead with Eun-Hee Ji and Anne van Dam after a 67, Ryu chipped in for birdie from the fringe on the par-3 12th, but gave back the stroke with a bogey on the par-4 16th after advancing a chip from deep rough only to the fringe.
''It was just a grinding day,'' Ryu said. ''And I just grinded and grinded and grinded. ... I was pretty mentally tough.''
Ryu was at 7-under 137 on the tree-lined course with tricky greens made tougher with shifting winds.
''It would feel like the wind was strong into it, then all of a sudden it stopped,'' Ryu said. ''So, I guess pin position and wind direction made it really tough to play today. But I shot 2-under par, never complain about that.''
She has six LPGA Tour victories, winning major titles in the 2011 U.S. Women's Open and 2017 ANA Inspiration.
''I always just keep telling myself, 'You've done it enough, you've done it enough to know how to do it, so you can do it.''' Ryu said.
O'Toole birdied three of her last four holes in the afternoon in a bogey-free 65, matching the best score of the first two days.
''I probably struck it the best I had all year yesterday and I just couldn't buy a putt,'' O'Toole said. ''And then today I just struck it even better and a little closer even, and stayed patient and just collected birdies along the way.''
Kim had a bogey-free 66, playing through back pain. The South Korean player closed her afternoon round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth.
''I'm putting well and second shot, drive, tee shot, this course is really important tee shot,'' Kim said. ''I'm very aggressive at play, but some hole I have to avoid the pin. That's not my style, but I have to.''
Fellow South Koreans Ji (72), Inbee Park (69), Na Yeon Choi (67) and He Yong Choi(65) were two strokes back at 5 under with Englishwoman Charley Hull (70).
''I know the greens get a little bit bumpy with the poa annua,'' Park said. ''But if you stay patient on these greens, I think you can score.''
O'Toole and Megan Khang - tied for 15th at 3 under after a 66 - were the only other U.S. players. Lexi Thompson was tied for 21st at 1 under after a 70.
Van Dam had a 77 to drop into a tie for 31st at even par. The long-hitting Dutchwoman had three bogeys and a double bogey on her first seven holes on her second nine.
Minjee Lee, coming off a victory Sunday in Los Angeles that moved her to No. 2 in the world, rebounded from an opening 76 with a 69 to reach 1 over. Defending champion Lydia Ko was 2 over, following an opening 75 with a 71. She also won at Lake Merced in 2014 and 2015 when it hosted the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
Canadian Brooke Henderson, the winner two weeks ago in Hawaii, missed the cut with rounds of 72 and 76. Jessica Korda and Stacy Lewis also failed to advance. Korda shot 79-73, and Lewis 76-79 - with Lewis playing alongside Ryu.
Tagged under
Belgrade highlights, day one: Adam Szudi star man
Published in
Table Tennis
Friday, 03 May 2019 16:01
There was plenty to attract the attention
Men’s Singles
…………Austria’s Stefan Fegerl and Croatia’s Tomislav Pucar, the respective top two seeds, alongside Paraguay’s Marcelo Aguirre, the no.3 seed, booked third round places.
…………Hungary’s Adam Szudi caused the biggest upset, the no.26 seed, in the second round he beat Belgium’s Florent Lambiet, the no.4 seed (12-10, 11-6, 13-11, 11-4).
…………England’s Sam Walker, the no.5 seed and Japan’s Masaki Yoshida, the no.6 seed, both departed in round one, beaten by qualifiers. Sam Walker lost to Japan’s Shiogo Tahara (11-4, 11-7, 11-9, 12-10), Masaki Yoshida suffered at the hands of Frenchman Abdel-Kader Salifou (11-9, 11-5, 13-11, 6-11, 11-6).
…………Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Hang, the no.7 seed and Belgium’s Robin Devos, the no.8 seed, departed in round two, both experienced defeats at the hands of Japanese opposition. Lam Siu Hang was beaten by Yuta Tanaka, a qualifier (11-4, 11-6, 11-5, 11-13, 11-8), Robin Devos by Yuki Matsuyama, the no.28 seed (11-8, 11-9, 11-5, 11-6).
Women’s Singles
…………Japan’s Hina Hayata alongside Hong Kong’s Minnie Soo Wai Yam and Ng Wing Nam, the respective top three seeds all progressed to round three in style, as did Slovakia’s Barbora Balazova, the next name in the order of merit.
…………Russia’s Anna Bikbaeva, the former Anna Blazhko, caused the biggest upset. Required to qualify, she beat colleague Yana Noskova, the no.6 seed (11-5, 11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 11-4, 11-8) to reserve her third round place.
…………The host nation’s Sabina Surjan caused an opening round shock; she beat Spain’s Galia Dvorak, the no.8 seed (12-10, 3-11, 11-4, 5-11, 4-11, 11-5, 11-7). However, the euphoria was short lived, in the second round she was beaten by Italy’s Li Xiang, the no.17 seed (11-5, 11-5, 11-13, 13-11, 9-11, 11-3).
…………Imposing, Russia’s Polina Mikhailova, the no.5 seed and Hungary’s Szandra Pergel, the no.7 seed both reserved third round places without surrendering a single game
Under 21 Men’s Singles
…………Frenchman Bastien Rembert and Leo de Nodrest caused the biggest upsets. In the second round Bastien Rembert, the no.10 seed, beat Japan’s Yuta Tanaka, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-8, 13-11); Leo de Nodrest, the no.12 seed, accounted for Belgium’s Florian Cnudde, the no.3 seed (8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-8).
…………Germany’s Tobias Hippler, the top seed and Nils Hohmeier the no.4 seed, both reserved quarter-final places.
Under 21 Women’s Singles
…………Russia’s Kristina Kazantseva caused the biggest upset; a qualifier, in the opening round she beat Spain’s Zhang Sofia-Xuan, the no.2 seed (9-11, 11-6, 11-6, 11-5).
…………Audrey Zarif of France, the top seed, alongside colleague Oceane Guisnel, the no.3 seed and Russia’s Maria Malanina, the no.4 seed, duly negotiated the opening round and thus made quarter-final reservations.
Tagged under
The top seeds, they secured first place in their group without conceding a single individual match; it was a situation that applied to all four outfits that gained first places, a most unusual occurrence.
In the same manner, Germany’s Anastasia Bondareva, Laura Tiefenbrunner and Franziska Schreiner, the no.2 seeds, reserved first place in their group as did the no.3 seeds, the combination formed by Chinese Taipei’s Tsai Yu-Chin and Huang Yu-Jie, alongside Hong Kong’s Poon Yat.
However, pride place went to Russia’s Natalia Malanina who paired with the Czech Republic’s Liubov Tentser and Tereza Pytlikova; the no.5 seeds, they secured first place in their group ahead of the outfit comprising Berenice Marteau of France, Nandeshwaree Jalim from Mauritius and Tunisia’s Fadwa Garci, the no.4 seeds.
Success for Russia in a competition in which only first place in the group assured progress; it was the same the cadet girls’ team event where likewise only top spot gained a main draw place.
Anastasia Berezneva and Vlada Voronina, the no.11 seeds, reserved first place in their group ahead of the top seeded combination formed by Brazil’s Giulia Takahashi and Puerto Rico’s Brianna Burgos.
Similarly, colleagues, Svetlana Dmitrienko and Arina Zavarykina, the no.2 seeds, claimed first place as did the next outfits in the order of merit. It was top spot for Portugal’s Ines Matos and Patricia Santos, as it was for Chinese Taipei’s Chen Tsai-Nin and Liu Ru-Yan.
However, in addition to Anastasia Berezneva and Vlada Voronina, there was one further somewhat surprise pole position. The host nation selection of Yanira Sanchez, Eugenia Sastr and Elvira Fiona Rad, the no.8 seeds, ended the day at the top of the list ahead of the no.5 seeds, the German pairing of Naomi Pranjkovic and Jele Stortz.
Play in both the junior girls’ team and cadet girls’ team events concludes on Saturday 4th May.
Tagged under
Host nation success, Portugal and Hungary experience testing times
Published in
Table Tennis
Friday, 03 May 2019 18:53
The top seeded combination formed by Modova’s Vladislav Ursu and Felix Cozmolici alongside Brazil’s Guilhrerme Teodoro, duly secured first place in their group without due alarm, a situation that applied also to the second seeded Spanish trio of Francisco Miguel Ruiz, Marc Gutierrez and Alberto Lillo.
However, for the next two outfits in the pecking order there were nervous moments. The no.3 seeds, Portugal’s Tiago Li, Samuel da Silva and Goncalo Gomez needed the full five matches to overcome the French trio formed by Ethan Claude, Jules Cavaille and Antoine Doyen; a situation that also applied to the no.4 seeds, the Hungarian combination formed by Csaba Andras, Oliver Both and Akos Kishegyi. They were extended the full distance by Russia’s Damir Akhmetsafin, Artem Tikhonov and Rusia Cherkes.
Star of the show for Portugal was Samuel da Silva, he accounted for both Jules Cavaille (6-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-7) and in the vital fifth match of the fixture Ethan Claude (11-3, 11-7, 11-8). Meanwhile, in a very similar manner, playing in the second and fifth matches, the hero of the hour for Hungary was Oliver Both. He overcame Artem Tikhonov (11-6, 11-6, 11-5) and Damir Akhmetsafin (13-11, 10-12, 8-11, 11-9, 11-4).
First places as anticipated but in the remaining groups, the names that ended the day at the top of the order were not to be predicted. The no.9 seeds, the trio formed by Italy’s John Oyebode and Carlo Rossi in harness with Frenchman Guillaume Alcayde secured first place in their group as did the no.11 seeds, the Latin American combination of Puerto Rico’s Angel Naranjo and Jabdiel Torres in partnership with Peru’s Carlos Fernandez.
Surprises but the biggest surprise was the first place achieved by the host nation’s Iker Gonzalez, Arnau Pons and Norbert Tauler; they commenced play, the no.18 seeds.
Success for the leading outfits in the junior boys’ team event, it was very much the same in the cadet boys’ team competition. Top seeds, Russia’s Denis Izumdrunov and Vladislav Makarov duly secured first place in their initial phase group, as did the no.2 seeds, the German combination formed by Mike Hollo and Felix Kohler.
Likewise, the French combination of Hugo Deschamps and Felix Lebrun, the no.3 seeds, topped their group, a situation that applied also to the next in the order of merit, the Portuguese pairing of David Bessa and Silas Monteiro. However, there was one mild surprise, the no.9 seeds, the French pairing of Milhane Jellouli and Alex Kouraichi finished ahead of the no.6 seeds, the Hungarian combination of Erik Huzsvar, David Szantosi and Bence Balogh.
The junior boys’ team and cadet boys’ team events will be played to a conclusion on Saturday 4th May.
Tagged under
Spain oust defending champions France to reach first-ever European Teams final
Published in
Squash
Friday, 03 May 2019 17:08
The jubilant Spanish Squad celebrate the men’s semi-final victory over France
Spanish eyes are smiling in Birmingham
By JULIE O’HARE
The Spanish men’s team created history on semi-finals day of the European Team Championships at Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, as they sensationally beat defending champions France in a long and dramatic match to reach the final for the first time.
In tomorrow’s final they’ll play many-time champions England, who beat Spain 4-0 in their pool match and tonight ousted local rivals Scotland in a late-night encounter.
The women’s final will be between top seeds England and France, for the sixth year in a row, as they beat Belgium and Scotland in contrasting style.
England’s no. 1 Sarah-Jane Perry came from a game down v Nele Gilis to help her team ease past Belgium 3-0
England’s women have only lost once in the 41-year history of the event and extended their winning run against third seeded Belgium as Victoria Lust and Sarah-Jane Perry won the opening two matches. Lust was tested in the first two games by Yara Delagrance before easing through the third, while Perry was taken to four by Nele Gilis – who led 9-7 in two of the games she lost. Laura Massaro won the dead rubber, coming from a game and 8-3 down to beat Tinne Gilis.
France had to come from behind after Scotland’s Georgia Adderley battled her way to a 3-2 win over Melissa Alves, recovering from losing the fourth 11-2 to take the decider 13-11 on her fourth match ball.
Coline Aumard receives congratulations from the French coaching staff after securing France’s passage to the final
Camille Serme and Coline Aumard repaired the damage for France with three-nil wins to take them through to a sixth successive final against England.
Spain’s astonishing win came after Gregoire Marche had put the French ahead with a tough four-game win against Borja Golan, the 16-time Spanish champion playing his 21st European Team Championships. The rest of the Spanish team are more youthful, and they needed all their energy and determination to complete a stunning comeback.
Bernat Jaume of Spain celebrates his win over France’s Benjamin Aubert to the delight of his teammates
Current national champion Edmon Lopez fought back from one-two down to beat Victor Crouin, blitzing the decider 11-1, and Bernat Jaume put Spain 2-1 up with a three-nil win over Benjamin Aubert.
This left France’s Lucas Serme needing a 3-0 win, while Spain’s Iker Pajares needed to take two games. Serme took the lead, Pajares levelled and then had an effective match ball before Serme regained the lead 12-10.
The agony and the ecstasy … Spain’s Iker Pajares (left) secures the games and points Spain required v France’s Lucas Serme
The Spaniard now needed just 6 points in the fourth game to give Spain the win but he did better than that, taking the game 12-10 to put Spain through on games countback after 104 minutes.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Golan. “In an individual sport, to play for a team in events like this is the best squash has given me. This is a great event every year, but to make the final after so many years, with a group of players like this, I’m so proud.”
Spanish manager Jonas Gonerup, who won the European Team Championships title with Sweden in 1982, said:
“Not bad, but they need to go one better to equal me! Seriously, they’re such a good team. After losing the first match and Edmon being 1-2 down in the second they fought back so well. After Edmon won, Bernat knew he needed a 3-0 to put us in the driving seat and he did just that. We knew Iker could win, but Lucas played so well but so did Iker.
“It’s a great team effort, they were all very strong physically and mentally when it came to the crunch and I’m very proud of what they’ve achieved tonight.”
England’s Daryl Selby (left) taking it in short for Scotland’s Rory Stuart to chase in their semi-final encounter
England won through to their 27th consecutive final with an assured win over Scotland, who were back in the semi-finals after missing out last year. Greg Lobban took the first game against Declan James, but thereafter it was all England as James took the next three, Tom Richards beat Angus Gillams in three – coming from 0-6 in the third – and Daryl Selby took the two games that England needed against Rory Stewart to end a long day at Edgbaston Priory Club.
Finals are at 11.00 and 13.30 tomorrow with the women’s 3rd/4th play-offs at 9am on the glass court.
European Team Championships Women’s Semi-Finals Results:
[1] England 2-0 [3] Belgium
Victoria Lust 3-0 Yara Delagrance 11-7, 11-9, 11-1 (19m)
Sarah-Jane Perry 3-1 Nele Gilis 11-13, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 (43m)
Laura Massaro 2-1 Tinne Gilis 8-11, 11-9, 12-10 (46m)
[2] France 2-1 [8] Scotland
Melissa Alves 2-3 Georgina Adderley 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-2, 11-13 (50m)
Camille Serme 3-0 Lisa Aitken 11-5, 11-6, 11-5 (25m)
Coline Aumard 3-0 Alison Tomson 11-7, 11-5, 11-1 (29m)
European Team Championships Men’s Semi-Finals Results:
[1] France 2-2 [3] Spain (7-9)
Gregoire Marche 3-1 Borja Golan 11-7, 9-11, 11-3, 11-6 (67m)
Victor Crouin 2-3 Edmon Lopez 11-9, 7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 1-11 (65m)
Benjamin Aubert 0-3 Bernat Jaume 7-11, 8-11, 7-11 (36m)
Lucas Serme 2-2 Iker Pajares 11-7, 8-11, 12-10, 10-12 n/p (104m)
[2] England 3-0 [5] Scotland
Declan James 3-1 Greg Lobban 9-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-8 (57)
Tom Richards 3-0 Angus Gillams 11-7, 11-6, 11-6 (30m)
Daryl Selby 2-0 Rory Stewart 11-8, 13-11 (40m)
James Willstrop v Alan Clyne
Pictures courtesy of : Edgbaston Priory Club
Posted on May 4, 2019
Tagged under
LAS VEGAS – During Friday’s pre-race press conference for the AMA Supercross season finale at Las Vegas’s Sam Boyd Stadium, American Honda announced that Ken Roczen has renewed his contract with Team Honda HRC.
The deal will have the German campaigning a CRF450R in AMA Supercross and AMA Pro Motocross for the next three years.
A World and National Motocross Champion and a native of Germany, Roczen originally signed with Honda ahead of the 2017 season. After that, he enjoyed early dominance followed by serious injury, grueling rehabilitation and improbable comeback.
Roczen earned third place in last year’s AMA Pro Motocross final points standings, and with one round remaining this AMA Supercross season, he has earned six podium finishes and sits fourth in the points standings. Through it all, he has been a model of professionalism while inspiring legions of fans.
“Re-signing with Honda was a no-brainer for me,” Roczen said. “I owe the team a lot and I feel like we have a lot of good days ahead of us. Three years is a long time, so when I signed, I was beyond stoked and it was a big pressure relief for me. The guys that I work with on this team are like a big family. Over the last two and a half years, the team and I have been through a lot. We’ve had some incredible highs but we’ve also hit rock bottom, and one thing that Honda always did—no matter what—was believe in me. They never gave up. The team also does whatever it takes to make a rider happy, which is huge because it brings comfort, and I want to win just as bad as they do. I know we haven’t done that in a while, but our work and what we do together isn’t done. Them standing behind me through thick and thin, the good times and the bad times, is what makes a great team, so I’m excited to continue our relationship.”
“During his time with Honda so far, Ken’s dedication has been exemplary,” said Lee Edmunds, American Honda’s Manager of Powersports Marketing Communications. “The tenacity with which he pursues success is exceeded only by the resolve with which he approaches challenges. We firmly believe that attitude will help him — and us — get back on top. Ken is our guy, and we’re thrilled to continue together.”
Tagged under
DOVER, Del. – Johnny Sauter continued his mastery of Dover Int’l Speedway Friday afternoon.
Driving the No. 13 Ford for ThorSport Racing, Sauter held off reigning NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series champion – and the man who replaced him at GMS Racing – Brett Moffitt to earn his third-straight victory at the Monster Mile.
Sauter had to rebound from a late-race pit road speeding penalty to earn the victory, his first of the season and the 24th of his Truck Series career.
During a caution period with less than 40 laps left following a crash by Austin Wayne Self, Sauter was busted for speeding on pit road. The resulting penalty dropped him outside the top-10, but the veteran racer would not be denied.
Shortly after the restart, which saw Ben Rhodes leading the field, Sheldon Creed crashed his No. 2 Chevrolet in an incident that also damaged the trucks of Todd Gilliland and Tyler Ankrum. Sauter was now sixth for the ensuing restart and he quickly went to work passing the trucks in front of him.
On lap 169 Sauter moved by Harrison Burton to take over second and one lap later Sauter dispatched Rhodes to take over the lead.
Sauter continued to lead the way until the final caution flag of the race waved with 10 laps left when Brennan Poole found the outside wall in turn one. That set up one final restart with five laps left with Sauter leading Moffitt and Burton.
Moffitt tried to hang with Sauter on the restart, but Sauter’s Ford F-150 was just too much for the reigning series champion. Sauter pulled clear and pulled away to what the Wisconsin native called one of his favorite victories of his career.
“When you get kicked to the curb you feel like you have a lot to prove,” said Sauter, who was released by GMS Racing prior to the 2019 season in favor of Moffitt. “A couple months ago I didn’t know if I’d be racing. To get three in a row here is extra special.
“This is so special. This ranks right up there as one of the best wins of my career.”
Moffitt, in his first season driving for GMS Racing after winning the Truck Series title last year for Hattori Racing Enterprises, is still searching for his first victory of the year.
“It’s all about track position here at Dover now,” said Moffitt, who started from the pole after setting a track record in qualifying. “Restarting on the outside is key and he obviously got the outside. I was lucky enough to get into second without the 98 (Grant Enfinger) filling the gap.
“We had a good ISM Connect Chevy. When we were out front we could lead. We won the first stage. Lapped traffic kind of cost us track position we never got back.”
Burton came home third in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 18 Toyota, followed by ThorSport’s Grant Enfinger and Matt Crafton. Rhodes, Austin Hill, Derek Kraus, Ankrum and Ross Chastain completed the top-10.
For complete results, advance to the next page.
Tagged under
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. – An afternoon rain shower, in addition to weeklong precipitation, creating saturated grounds at Riverside Int’l Speedway have forced World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and track officials to cancel Friday’s event.
Officials are working on a potential rain date.
Those who purchased a ticket in advance to Friday’s event at Riverside International Speedway will receive a face value credit to their MyDirtTickets.com account to be used towards any World of Outlaws event available at WorldofOutlaws.com/tix. If a credit to your account does not work for you, then you have until June 3 to request a refund. For more details call 844-DIRT-TIX to speak with a customer service representative about your options.
The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series will return to action Saturday at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, Ind., where a Sunday rain date is in place if needed.
Tagged under
Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: 
Email: 
