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Wales into Rugby World Cup quarters, puts Australia closer to inglorious exit. Scots overrun Tonga

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

LYON, France (AP) — Wales became the first to qualify for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals on Sunday while virtually shutting the door on Australia’s hopes and putting the Wallabies in danger of their worst-ever showing.The Welsh won by a record 40-6, executing a low-risk, disciplined gameplan and crucifying the many Australian mistakes in Lyon.The Wallabies, winners in 1991 and 1999, have never missed the quarterfinals but losing consecutive pool games for the first time in 36 years left their fate in the hands of their Pacific neighbor Fiji, which upended them last week.Australia should win its last Pool C game against Portugal next weekend but it won’t matter if Fiji accounts for its remaining pool fixtures against Georgia and Portugal. If so, the Fijians will follow Wales into the quarters and confirm Australia’s worst fears.Penalties by the error-prone Wallabies gave replacement flyhalf Gareth Anscombe goal-shooting practice for Wales. He slotted six of seven penalty attempts ...

Yankees miss playoffs for first time since 2016 with windy 7-1 loss to Diamondbacks

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, getting mathematically eliminated with a rainy 7-1 loss Sunday to the Arizona Diamondbacks as Zac Gallen got his 17th win.Arizona (82-73) won for the sixth time in seven games and remained in position for the NL’s second wild card, a half-game ahead of the Chicago Cubs. The Diamondbacks also clinched their first winning season since 2019.New York (78-77) was eliminated from contention with a week to play. The Yankees, who finish with a six-game trip after Monday’s series finale, are in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time since 1992.New York would have 85 wins if the Yankees finish 7-0. Baltimore (97 wins) and Tampa Bay (95) will split the AL East and the top wild card, and Toronto (87) is in position for the second wild card. Texas (86) could win the West or get a wild card card in a race that includes Seattle (84) or Houston (85). Because the Astros and Marine...

Team World beats Team Europe to claim back-to-back Laver Cup titles

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

Vancouver, British Columbia (AP) — Team World claimed its second straight Laver Cup title on Sunday at Rogers Arena.Americans Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe beat Hubert Hurkacz and Andrey Rublev 7-6 (7), 7-6 (7).Team World won last year’s tournament, which also marked the end of Swiss star Roger Federer’s last professional appearance before retiring.Team World took a 10-2 lead in the tournament on Saturday to put itself in the driver’s seat.The opening doubles match on Sunday featured several sustained rallies, with Shelton hitting a behind the back shot during the second game.Both sets went to tiebreakers, with Team Europe pushing to stay in the hunt for their second win of the three-day tournament.But it wasn’t to be as Hurkacz missed a drop shot, allowing Team World to clinch the win.The Polish player threw his racket down onto the court and appeared visibly angry at the missed opportunity.Speaking after the match on the court, Team World captain John McEnroe praised his team’s p...

PSG routs bitter rival Marseille 4-0 but sees Mbappé limp off. Lens finally wins

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Forwards Randal Kolo Muani and Gonçalo Ramos scored their first goals for Paris Saint-Germain in a 4-0 home rout of Marseille in the French league on Sunday but the victory was marred by star striker Kylian Mbappé getting injured.Mbappé limped off in the 32nd minute after taking a blow to the left ankle earlier in the game and trying to play on. He was able to walk off the field at Parc des Princes.PSG coach Luis Enrique said Mbappe’s injury is not serious. “He was in a bit of pain and it was difficult for him to play,” he told broadcaster Amazon. “It was wiser to take him off, but it’s just a blow.”Kolo Muani became the third-most expensive signing in PSG’s history when he joined in the final hours of the transfer window from German club Eintracht Frankfurt for 95 million euros ($103 million). Ramos is on a season-long loan from Benfica with an option to buy next June.The win moved defending champion PSG up to third place with 11 points from six games, ahea...

Wales qualifies for Rugby World Cup quarterfinals by crushing Australia 40-6

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

LYON, France (AP) — Wales became the first Rugby World Cup team to qualify for the quarterfinals on Sunday while virtually shutting the door on Australia’s hopes.The far more experienced Welsh won by a record 40-6 by expertly executing a low-risk, disciplined gameplan and punishing Australian mistakes.Wales rope-a-doped the Wallabies.The Wallabies have never missed the quarterfinals but losing consecutive pool games for the first time in 36 years left their fate in the hands of their tiny Pacific neighbor Fiji, which upended them last week.Australia should win its last Pool C game against Portugal next weekend but it won’t matter if Fiji accounts for its remaining games against Georgia and Portugal. If so, the Fijians will follow Wales into the quarters and the shutout will confirm Australia’s worst fears.Penalties by the error-prone Wallabies gave replacement flyhalf Gareth Anscombe goal-shooting practice. He slotted six of seven penalty attempts — the one miss hi...

Reds bounce back from meltdown, rally past Pirates 4-2 in Votto’s possible home finale

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — TJ Friedl hit a two-run homer and drove in the tiebreaking run in the seventh inning as the Cincinnati Reds bounced back from an historic collapse the night before to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Sunday.Joey Votto received ovations from the crowd all day and singled in what could be his final home at-bat for the Reds.Christian Encarnacion-Strand added a solo homer for Cincinnati, which stayed 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the final National League wild card. The Reds have five games remaining, all on the road. Cincinnati blew a 9-0 lead in a crushing 13-12 loss to the Pirates on Saturday, but on Sunday rallied from a 2-0 deficit.“After games like last night, and you go down 2-0 in a Sunday day game, it’s so easy to kind of roll over,” Friedl said. “That’s just not this team. It’s just not our DNA. It’s not who we are.”Despite starting 20-8, the Pirates (74-82) were assured their fifth straight losing season. Jose Hernan...

Man stabbed during brawl near Ferris wheel behind Bayside Marketplace

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

A brawl near the Ferris wheel behind Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami sent a man to the hospital with a stab wound, police saidCity of Miami Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene following multiple calls about a stabbing, just before 3:40 a.m., Sunday.Officials said first responders arrived at the popular downtown outdoor mall to find the 26-year-old victim sitting in a car with a stab wound near the shoulder.Paramedics transported the bandaged patient to Ryder Trauma Center in serious but stable condition. He is expected to be OK.Cameras captured a trail of trickling blood stretching down the block as officers spoke to several people in the group that witnessed the incident unfold.Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident. As of Sunday evening, they have not specified whether or not they have located the subject involved.

Brickell demolition on hold after slab of building falls on street; no injuries reported

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

A demolition that was taking place in Miami’s Brickell section was put on hold after a heavy piece debris fell onto the street below.The slab of the building being demolished collapsed and tumbled to the ground on Saturday in the area of Brickell Avenue and Seventh Street.Cellphone video posted to social media by Only in Dade captured the moment that the slab came down.Building inspectors rushed to the site to cease operations.Area resident Isabella Caetano was shocked by the sudden collapse.“Wow, that was dangerous,” she said as she watched the video of the collapse. “They have to pay attention, because there’s people walking here. It’s like a really huge area; a lot of people are coming. It’s crazy.”Fortunately, no one was was hurt at the time of the incident.The demolition has been paused until a safer plan is put into motion.An emergency meeting is scheduled to be held Monday morning,

Assault suspect who escaped custody at Marlboro hospital tracked down in Milford

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

An assault suspect who escaped police custody while undergoing a medical procedure at UMass Memorial Health Marlboro hospital on Sunday was located and arrested in Milford, officials said.Twenty-four-year-old Isaac Rivera was under arrest on multiple assault and weapon charges, including domestic assault, strangulation, and assault and battery on a police officer when he escaped while in his hospital gown, police said.He was later located during a search of a girlfriend’s house in Milford. They say he came out and turned himself in without incident when he heard a K9 unit.He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday.

Police: 2 arrested for illegal dental operation in back of Milford convenience store

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 11:24:20 GMT

A Milford man is facing criminal charges after police say he was caught running an elaborate illegal dental operation of a convenience store on Main Street in Milford, according to police.As a result of an extensive investigation, police arrested Juan Hermida Munoz, 65, for allegedly performing examinations, extractions, anesthetics, and cleanings without a valid license to perform dentistry. The owner of the store, Maria Magdalena Guaman-Castro was also arrested.No additional information was immediately available.