Darvish joins Dodgers in trade-deadline deal

LOS ANGELES -- Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish is leaving the slumping Texas Rangers for Major League Baseball's most successful team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the biggest of several trade deadline moves on Monday.

The 30-year-old right-hander is a four-time major league all-star since joining the Texas Rangers in 2012 after seven seasons pitching for Japan's Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters from 2005-2011.

The Rangers swapped Darvish to the Dodgers in the last 10 minutes before the deadline, shortly after the Japanese star tweeted a photo of himself standing next to his locker.

Texas, 50-54 and 18 games behind leader Houston in the American League West division, will receive outfielder Willie Calhoun, right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis in the deal.

Darvish joins a club that stands 74-31 and leads the National League West division by 14 games over Arizona.

In other deadline-day deals, the Dodgers acquired two left-handed relief pitchers, Tony Watson from Pittsburgh and Tony Cingrani from Cincinnati.

Arizona, with a firm grip on a wildcard playoff spot at 60-45, added right-handed pitcher David Hernandez in a deal with the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Luis Madero.

NL East leader Washington, a possible playoff foe for the Dodgers at 62-41, acquired right-handed All-Star closing relief pitcher Brandon Kintzler from the Minnesota Twins, helping ease a woeful bullpen.

The reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs, atop the NL Central by 2 1/2 games over Milwaukee at 5-48, acquired Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila in exchange for minor leaguers.

Left-hander Wilson, who turns 30 next month, is expected to enter before Cubs right-handed closer Wade Davis.

The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, locked in the tighest fight in baseball with only a half-game separating them atop the American League East division, also made moves.

Former All-Star right-handed pitcher Sonny Gray was traded to the Yankees by Oakland for three minor league players.

The Red Sox obtained right-handed closer Addison Reed from the New York Mets for three minor leaguers. Reed would be a set-up man for Red Sox right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Giants fans cheer San Francisco's first Series win

SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of orange and black-clad Giants fans hugged and high-fived one other Monday night as the club clinched its first World Series title since moving west more than a half century ago.

As the final out of the 3-1 win was recorded, the thousands watching on a big-screen TV at San Francisco's Civic Center plaza leapt for joy as City Hall glowed bright orange in the background.

"I have a permanent smile on my face," said Valerie Nicklas of Berkeley, who celebrated at another large street gathering near the Giants' AT&T Park. "This makes all the years of suffering worth it."

Fans waving Giants flags and rally towels danced in the downtown streets near the Civic Center as car horns blared. A lone accordion player played a tune as fans swirled around him. Others surrounded a drum corps as it pounded out a rhythm.

Amy Anderson Giugliano shot a bottle of champagne into the air, dousing those nearby.

"I never thought this would happen!" the 42-year-old from San Carlos said. "I'm going to celebrate all night!"

The club last won the Series in 1954 when they were the New York Giants. They moved west four years later, but suffered World Series losses in 1962, 1989 and 2002.

That last defeat to the Los Angeles Angels has been fresh in Jun Lee's mind, but he still chose to drive in from Benicia with his wife so that their 16-month-old son could witness the celebration from his stroller.

"We came out here in 2002 for the same thing, and with six outs left they blew it," he said. "This is unreal."

Almost an hour after the win, fans were jumping up and down in unison and screaming "ooooh-REE-BAY" — a popular chant at games to honor third baseman Juan Uribe.

Traffic was slowed in the city's Castro district as people flooded out of bars, restaurants and homes. The neighboring Mission district was also jammed.

Fans also blocked traffic near the Giants' ballpark as they made their way toward Willie Mays Plaza, where a statue of the legendary outfielder stands prominently outside the stadium's gates.

"This is a long time coming," said Jason Scully of San Francisco. "They're a great team — all the castoffs and misfits truly represent this city."

Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the public viewing at the Civic Center after the Giants' 4-0 shutout victory over the Texas Rangers Sunday put them on the verge of clinching the championship.

With an autumn sun beaming, hundreds of fans laid out blankets and folding chairs on the lawn a full two hours before Monday's first pitch. Fans roared as the screen showed black-suited, bow-tied starting pitcher Tim Lincecum entering the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

Officials quickly scheduled a ticker-tape parade for Wednesday at 11 a.m. through the city's financial district. In a statement, Newsom congratulated the club and thanked them for bringing the city together.

"San Francisco eagerly awaits your return," he said. — AP

source : gmanews.tv