NEW YORK: The St. Louis Cardinals welcomed back ace Chris Carpenter to the mound but missed a chance to tighten their grip on a National League wild card spot falling 5-4 to the Chicago Cubs in an extra-inning thriller at Wrigley Field on Friday.
Carpenter, back on the hill for the first time since Game 7 of last year’s World Series, was solid in his season debut giving up two runs on five hits in five innings of work.
But the World Series champions still watched their hold on the second wild card trimmed to 1.5 games by the Milwaukee Brewers, who were winners over the Washington Nationals.
Leading 4-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Carpenter looked set for a winning return until Cubs Darwin Barney slammed a two-run homer that sent the contest into extra innings, setting the stage for David DeJesus, who delivered the game winning single in the 11th.
Despite the loss, Carpenter’s performance was a big boost for the Cardinals, who add an experience right arm to their rotation as they continue their push for post-season berth.
“My stuff wasn’t as sharp as I’d like, it wasn’t even as sharp as it’s been in those simulated games,” Carpenter, who underwent surgery in July for thoracic outlet syndrome that was causing numbness on his right side, told reporters. “I did the best I could to get as many outs as I could and give us a chance.
“It was fun to go out there.
“It’s definitely something I can build on, and hopefully my stuff is sharper as I get out there more often.”
The Cardinals could use the help as pressure continues to mount in a tight NL wild card race.
The surging Brewers kept the heat on St. Louis as they recorded their sixth straight win pushing across three runs in the ninth to beat the Nationals 4-2.
Matt Kemp’s two-run single with two outs in the top of the 10th inning lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds, to keep them in the post-season chase just two back of Cardinals.
Kemp’s heroics denied Reds fans a party, with Cincinnati looking to clinch the NL Central crown after having already secured at least a wild card spot on Thursday. Lurking three games back are the Philadelphia Phillies, who slammed four solo home runs on way to a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, owners of the first NL wild card.
Over in the American League, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles continued their tug-of-war at the top of the East division with 12 games left in the regular season.
Russell Martin crushed a walk off homer to open the 10th inning as Yankees ran their winning streak to six edging the Oakland Athletics 2-1 while the Orioles kept pace with 4-2 decision over the Boston Red Sox.
With the victory, the Yankees were able to maintain a one game lead over the Orioles, who hold down the first AL wild card spot ahead of the slumping Athletics, losers of four of their last five.
The Tampa Bay Rays kept their dimming playoff hopes alive crushing the Toronto Blue Jays 12-1 to sit 4.5 back of a playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Angels stayed in the hunt for post-season action with a 6-2 win over the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox.
Mike Trout and Kendrys Morales both had home runs for the Angels who moved within 3.5 games of Oakland while the White Sox were left looking over their shoulders at the Detroit Tigers, who now sit just 1.5 back.
Carpenter solid in return but Cardinals feel heat
Carpenter solid in return but Cardinals feel heat
Hosts Morocco cruise, South Africa advance into Cup of Nations last 16
- Olympiakos striker El Kaabi nodded in an early opener and scored an overhead kick shortly after halftime, with both of his goals set up by the outstanding Azzedine Ounahi
- Mali go through in second place after a 0-0 draw with Comoros in Casablanca
- Egypt, who rested stars like captain Salah with first place already assured, topped Group B with seven points after their draw against Angola in Agadir
RABAT: Ayoub El Kaabi’s brace helped Morocco to a 3-0 win over Zambia on Monday as the Africa Cup of Nations hosts cruised into the last 16 while South Africa beat Zimbabwe 3-2 to also secure a berth in the knockout phase.
African player of the year Achraf Hakimi made his comeback from almost two months out injured for Morocco as Mali also qualified for the next round and Mohamed Salah was rested for Egypt’s 0-0 draw against Angola.
Morocco are the tournament favorites as the host nation and Africa’s top-ranked team but they were booed off by supporters following a 1-1 draw against Mali in their last outing.
Nevertheless, Walid Regragui’s team knew a win against Zambia at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in capital Rabat would guarantee their progress to the next round in first place in Group A and they outclassed their opponents.
Olympiakos striker El Kaabi nodded in an early opener and scored an overhead kick shortly after halftime, with both of his goals set up by the outstanding Azzedine Ounahi.
In between, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz swept home Morocco’s second goal on 27 minutes at the end of a fine team move, again involving Ounahi.
Diaz has found the net in all three of Morocco’s games so far and he and El Kaabi join Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez on three goals at the top of the Cup of Nations scoring charts.
Captain Hakimi came off the bench in the 64th minute for his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury in action for Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of November.
Morocco will stay in Rabat for a last-16 tie in the same stadium on Sunday against one of the best third-place finishers.
“Scoring early on changes everything,” said Regragui. “We need to continue like this but not get carried away and keep our feet on the ground.”
Zambia go out and have now failed to win any of their 12 AFCON matches across four tournament appearances since lifting the trophy in 2012.
Mali go through in second place after a 0-0 draw with Comoros in Casablanca, a game they ended with 10 men after Amadou Haidara was sent off.
It was a third stalemate in as many matches for the Eagles, who will remain in Morocco’s largest city for a last-16 tie on Saturday.
Salah rested by Egypt
Earlier, Oswin Appollis converted a late penalty to give South Africa victory against Zimbabwe in Marrakech as Bafana Bafana qualified for the knockout stage.
Rising star Tshepang Moremi gave South Africa an early lead with a deflected effort.
However, falling behind motivated Zimbabwe and they deservedly levelled on 19 minutes thanks to the individual brilliance of Tawanda Maswanhise from Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.
Maswanhise gained possession inside the South African half, dribbled past two opponents and fired the ball wide of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams into the far corner.
South Africa began the second period aggressively and regained the lead on 50 minutes through Burnley striker Lyle Foster, for whom it was a second goal of the tournament.
Zimbabwe brought it back to 2-2 on 73 minutes when Aubrey Modiba conceded an own goal, but Appollis then netted from an 82nd-minute penalty to give Bafana the lead for the third time, which they retained.
“Once again we fell asleep after a good start. We continuously lost possession,” said 73-year-old South Africa coach Hugo Broos.
“Our passing was bad at times and we should have concentrated on retaining possession in the closing minutes instead of seeking a fourth goal. We have to work on controlling games.”
Egypt, who rested stars like captain Salah with first place already assured, topped Group B with seven points after their draw against Angola in Agadir. South Africa finished with six points, Angola two and Zimbabwe one.
The last round of group games continues on Tuesday, with Tanzania playing Tunisia and Nigeria facing Uganda in Group C. Senegal take on Benin and the Democratic Republic of Congo play Botswana in Group D.
