Lim advances
AJ Lim sustained his winning form, outlasting Bulgaria’s Dinko Dinev, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in the third qualifying round Tuesday, Oct. 31, to advance to the main draw of the M25 Sharm El Sheikh Egypt Men’s Futures in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
Unsure whether he can play in the three qualifying rounds after being logged No. 24 in the acceptance list, the former PH topranked junior player proved he’s up to the task with his gutsy win over his Bulgarian opponent.
Playing his first ITF Futures tournament after a two-year hiatus, Lim, 25, made his presence felt with a 6-0, 6-0 drubbing of Joaquin Humberto Diaz Richard of Chile in the first round.
He gained more attention by stunning qualifying top seed Boris Pokotilov of Russia, 2-6, 6-3, 12-10, in the second round.
The tournament proper starts Wednesday, Nov. 1, with Lim, who made history as the youngest ever winner of the PCA Open at 16, hoping to do well in the $25,000 tournament to make up for the lost time.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The Texas Rangers unleashed an early barrage in an 11-7 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Oct. 31, to move within one victory of a first ever World Series.
Star shortstop Corey Seager and Marcus Semien blasted home runs as Texas seized a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship series.
Texas had been rocked earlier Tuesday by confirmation that star outfielder Adolis Garcia and veteran pitcher Max Scherzer would play no further part in the series after picking up injuries in Monday's game three win in Phoenix.
But the Rangers responded to that double setback like a team determined to bring the series to a swift conclusion after a devastating burst of scoring that left them 10-0 up after the first three innings.
Josh Jung got the first run on the board for Texas, scrambling home from third base after a wild pitch from Miguel Castro to make it 1-0 in the top of the second.
Semien then extended the lead with a two-out line-drive to left field that allowed Leody Taveras and Travis Jankowski to score for a 3-0 lead.
Arizona, going with a bullpen game from the mound, pulled Castro for Kyle Nelson but the onslaught continued as Seager crushed a home run to center field for two more runs that made it 5-0.
Nelson fared little better in the top of the third inning, giving up two singles that allowed Jung and Nathaniel Lowe to get on base.
Nelson was pulled to make way for Luis Frias, but still Texas dominated, with Jonah Heim reaching on a fielder's choice to load the bases.
Frias struck out Taveras to leave the Rangers two down, but again the visitors piled on, Travis Jankowski's double driving in runs for Lowe and Heim to make it 7-0.