Late homer sinks Red Sox in 1-0 loss to unbeaten Rays

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Late homer sinks Red Sox in 1-0 loss to unbeaten Rays When Rafael Devers stepped to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded, it felt like now or never. The game was still scoreless in the top of the eighth and the Red Sox hadn’t come close to threatening the Tampa Bay Rays all game.This was their chance, and when Devers struck out to end the threat it felt like only a matter of time before the Rays made them pay.It didn’t take long.Brandon Lowe’s solo home run off Chris Martin in the bottom of the eighth was the difference as the Tampa Bay Rays dropped the Red Sox 1-0 to stay unbeaten on the season. Boston managed only three hits on the night in a game that took just 2:06 to complete.“Overall it was a good baseball game,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “They pitched well, we pitched well, it was good defense, obviously we didn’t win the game, but as far as the game, it was great.”Coming in the Rays (10-0) had walloped their opponents, averaging 8.3 runs through their first nine game...

Yankees, Domingo German waste early runs off Guardians ace Shane Bieber in 3-2 loss

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Yankees, Domingo German waste early runs off Guardians ace Shane Bieber in 3-2 loss CLEVELAND — The Yankees jumped on Guardians ace Shane Bieber quickly on Monday night, but a two-run first inning wasn’t enough to net a win for the away team.Domingo German had a lot to do with that in the 3-2 loss. The right-hander, one of three rotation fill-ins due to various injuries, made his second start of the year and the shortest of the Yankees’ season while compiling a rather odd line. German needed a whopping 87 pitches for three measly innings while totaling two hits allowed, one earned run, five walks, zero strikeouts and one error.German’s error, on an easy bunt popped directly at him, led to a run.The short performance would’ve gone worse for German if not for the Houdini act that Colten Brewer pulled off in relief.After German surrendered an RBI double to Mike Zunino — one of three doubles for the Guardians catcher Monday — the Yankees called on Brewer for the first time since April 2. And while the righty walked the bases lo...

Easthampton School Committee blasted by ‘disgusted’ residents for canceling superintendent candidate over ‘ladies’ email

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Easthampton School Committee blasted by ‘disgusted’ residents for canceling superintendent candidate over ‘ladies’ email The Easthampton School Committee was eviscerated by “disgusted” residents Monday evening for canceling the superintendent candidate who lost his job offer after he used the term “ladies” in an email to the committee chair.The School Committee, which had voted behind closed doors to rescind the offer for superintendent candidate Vito Perrone, voted 5-2 on Monday to not re-enter negotiations with Perrone. The committee voted instead to offer the job to Erica Faginski-Stark.The School Committee in western Massachusetts was meeting for the first time after viral news broke that Perrone had lost his job offer after he called the committee chair and her assistant “ladies” in an email.Many residents during the meeting urged the School Committee to give him another chance, but that won’t be the case.“I in no way thought it (‘ladies’ in the email) was a microaggression,” said School Committee member Laurie Garcia, before she w...

Man pleads not guilty to deadly Clairemont shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Man pleads not guilty to deadly Clairemont shooting SAN DIEGO -- Julian Vargas, 19, faced a judge for the first time Monday, accused of murdering 22-year-old Cesar Lopez-Sandoval outside of the North Clairemont Recreation Center in February.Vargas pleaded not guilty to murder and a charge of vicarious gun use allegation.“The investigation so far has revealed that this defendant recruited, and groomed and induced a minor to the gang that ultimately led to the shooting,” Deputy District Attorney Melissa Mack said.According to the prosecutor, Vargas “recruited” the 14-year-old, who is also charged and in custody in connection with the case, and allegedly told him he had to earn his stripes to be part of the gang, which included bringing a gun to the park that Sunday.“Mr. Vargas not only induced the minor to commit the crime, he recruited into his gang, he told the minor he had to earn his position in the gang in order to further his status, he told the minor to bring the gun to the park that day and he basically in so many words told th...

Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Biden ends COVID national emergency after Congress acts WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. national emergency to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic ended Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan congressional resolution to bring it to a close after three years — weeks before it was set to expire alongside a separate public health emergency. The national emergency allowed the government to take sweeping steps to respond to the virus and support the country’s economic, health and welfare systems. Some of the emergency measures have already been successfully wound-down, while others are still being phased out. The public health emergency — it underpins tough immigration restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border — is set to expire on May 11.The White House issued a one-line statement Monday saying Biden had signed the measure behind closed doors, after having publicly opposed the resolution though not to the point of issuing a veto. More than 197 Democrats in the House voted against it when the GOP-controlled chamber passed it in February....

US House speaker attends rally in New Mexico swing district

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

US House speaker attends rally in New Mexico swing district LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy attended a rally in southern New Mexico on Monday for former U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell as the GOP tries to flip a congressional swing seat back to GOP control in 2024.Herrell lost her 2022 reelection bid to Democratic Congressman Gabe Vasquez in the majority-Hispanic district along the U.S. border with Mexico.The state’s Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces was the backdrop for Herrell’s announcement that she will seek the Republican nomination again, amid supportive appearances by state legislators.Republicans have nominated Herrell on three previous occasions to seek the 2nd District seat. She lost an open race in 2016 and returned in 2018 to unseat former Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small.Republicans are separately challenging the new outline of the 2nd District in proceedings before the New Mexico Supreme Court. Political boundaries were changed under a redistricting plan from Democratic lawmakers that...

Some US states stock abortion medications after court ruling

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Some US states stock abortion medications after court ruling BOSTON (AP) — A growing number of states led by Democratic governors are stockpiling doses of drugs used in medication abortions, amid fears that a court ruling could restrict access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the U.S.Massachusetts has purchased enough doses of the drug mifepristone — one of two drugs used in combination to end pregnancies — to last for more than a year, Democratic Gov. Maura Healey said Monday. California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, the other drug used in abortion medication, Gov. Newsom, also a Democrat, announced.And in Washington state, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee announced last week that the state purchased 30,000 doses of the generic version of mifepristone — which he said is enough to last the state’s residents three years. The shipment arrived in late March.“Abortion is still legal and accessible here in California and we won’t stand by as fundamental freedoms are stripped away,” Newso...

Boston heads to Fever as No. 1 pick in WNBA draft; Canadian Amihere selected eighth

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

Boston heads to Fever as No. 1 pick in WNBA draft; Canadian Amihere selected eighth NEW YORK (AP) — The Indiana Fever made the most of the first No. 1 draft pick in franchise history, selecting Aliyah Boston.The South Carolina star had a stellar college career, leading the Gamecocks to a national championship her junior year and losing only nine games total. She was a three-time Associated Press all-American and also the Player of the Year as a junior.“It’s really special, I’m thankful to God for putting me in this position,” said the 21-year-old Boston, from the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Everyone in Indiana, they saw something in me, I’m ready to get there and get to work.”The Fever had the worst record in the league last season, going 5-31.“Aliyah Boston will have an immediate impact on our franchise on and off the court,” Fever GM Lin Dunn said. ‘We are excited to pair her with Kelsey (Mitchell) and NaLyssa (Smith) as we reload the Indiana Fever. We are very impressed with Aliyah’s post skills as well as her natural leadership skills. This a great day fo...

US, Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

US, Philippines hold largest war drills near disputed waters MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The United States and the Philippines on Tuesday launch their largest combat exercises in decades that will involve live-fire drills, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait that will likely inflame China.The annual drills by the longtime treaty allies called Balikatan — Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder — will run up to April 28 and involve more than 17,600 military personnel. It will be the latest display of American firepower in Asia, where Washington has repeatedly warned China over its increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed sea channel and against Taiwan.The Biden administration has been strengthening an arc of alliances in the Indo-Pacific to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan. That dovetails with efforts by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend its territorial interests in the South China Sea by boosting joint military exe...

CPD: Male in critical condition after Southwest Side shooting

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 12:31:55 GMT

CPD: Male in critical condition after Southwest Side shooting BURBANK, Ill. — A male victim is in critical condition after being shot in the head Monday evening on the far Southwest Side, according to Chicago police.Police said a male of unknown age was standing in a parking lot in the 7600 block of South Cicero Avenue around 5:30 p.m. when he was hit in the head by gunfire.The victim was then taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in critical condition. Fire crews battle extra-alarm fire in Bridgeport Police have no one in custody as area detectives continue to investigating.If you or someone you know has information that can help police make a breakthrough in the investigation of this incident, anonymous tips can be filed online at cpdtip.com.No other information is available at this time.