Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Sports World |
| MLB: Verlander brilliance blows Oakland away Posted: 17 Oct 2012 08:02 AM PDT The Oakland Athletics simply had no answer for Justin Verlander's sensational pitching as the Detroit Tigers ensured their postseason continued following a 6-0 victory in the deciding game of the series. The Tigers never looked in any danger as Verlander turned in some impressive MLB scores, thanks to one of the most dynamic pitching displays in recent American League history; throwing nine solid innings and only conceding four hits, striking out 11 and continuing his stunning 0.56 ERA from another impressively consistent season for the five-time All Star. The 29-year-old admitted he had been determined to pitch the entire game, knowing just how important it was for him to be in the zone for the deciding game of the series. "I think it's one of those things, I expected to go nine innings, In this situation, in a Game 5, I wanted to go all the way," Verlander said. If the 2011 MVP and MLB world series picks can continue this form in the rest of the postseason then the Tigers will be confident coming up against any batting line-up they face. Detroit manager Jim Leyland admitted he had full confidence in his starting pitcher to be a tough prospect for any batter in the league. "He had a look in his eye today, A complete-game look in his eye. Justin Verlander's a pretty tough chore for anybody and a great asset to our team," Leyland said after Verlander's pitching master-class. The Tigers may still not be many people's favourite to be in with a chance of World Series glory, but with Verlander in this sort of form then there really is no reason as to why Detroit couldn't win their first major league title since 1984.  |
| Posted: 17 Oct 2012 05:44 AM PDT Laura Robson's efforts to break into the WTA top-50 by the end of the season suffered a big blow after the Briton lost out to Chang Kai-Chen in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open. Robson, in superb form this latter half of the season, was heavily fancied in tennis previews of this game to beat world number 134 Chang. but a spirited fightback from the Taipei 21-year-old ended her hopes of winning a first WTA tour event. The Brit lost 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-4) and endured a gruelling third set with neither player conceding their serve. Indeed, so ferocious was the set at times that Robson looked beat on her feet and were it not for some bad luck in the tie break she would be in the semis by now. The loss also means British tennis fans won't get the rare spectacle of seeing two female players in the semi-finals of the same tournament. Placed in separate halves of the draw, there was vain hope among British fans watching live tennis online back home that Robson would meet Heather Watson in the final in Osaka. Yet despite her best efforts the 18-year-old could not replicate Watson's feat of reaching the semis. Nevertheless, Robson should be pleased that quarter-final defeats are now a disappointment rather than a learning curve. The world number 56 has an Olympic silver medal to her name and made the fourth round of the US Open this year, overcoming former champion Kim Clijsters and Li Na. She made the final of Guangzhou last month and is now a bona fide member of the WTA tour: a sure challenger for titles in the near future. Granted, a place in the Japan semis would have been a dream for Robson but with a long career ahead of her she take heed in knowing she can mix it with the best.  |
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