Boston’s Betts, Brewers’ Yelich named MVPs
Boston’s Mookie Betts and Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich were runaway winners of the Most Valuable Player awards after the 26-year-old outfielders each led their teams to first-place finishes with dominant seasons that included batting titles.
Betts received 28 firstplace votes and 410 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America in balloting announced Thursday.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, a twotime MVP, followed with one first- place vote and 265 points. Trout tied the record of four second-place finishes shared by Stan Musial, Ted Williams and Albert Pujols. Trout won in 2014 and 2016; was second in ‘12, ‘13 and ‘15; and fourth in 2017.
Cleveland third baseman Jose Ramirez was third with 208 points, and Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez was next with one first and 198 points.
Betts hit a major leagueleading .346 with 32 homers, 80 RBIs and 30 stolen bases as the leadoff hitter for the Red Sox, who won a team-record 108 games and their fourth World Series title in 15 seasons.
Both batting champions won MVP awards for the first time since San Francisco’s Buster Posey and Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Yelich got 29 first-place votes and 415 points, and the other first-place vote went to New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom, the NL Cy Young Award winner, who finished fifth. Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez was second with 250 points, followed by Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado with 203. MANFRED GETS NEW DEAL » Owners have extended the contract of MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and signed off a new television deal with Fox after two days of meetings in Atlanta. Manfred took over as commissioner from Bud Selig in 2015. His new deal runs through the end of the 2024 regular season. ‘BATKID’ IS HEALTHY, THRIVING » San Francisco’s beloved Batkid is cancer-free and thriving.
On the five-year anniversary of the day that then5-year- old Miles Scott captured the hearts of millions by saving the day in San Francisco as “Batkid,” the Greater Bay Area chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation proclaimed the fifthgrader is healthy and active.
“He’s doing great!” the local chapter posted of the boy, who’s from the tiny Northern California town of Tulelake. Miles had battled leukemia when he took over as his favorite superhero, receiving a police escort as he traveled around San Francisco to save Gotham. He even rescued Giants mascot Lou Seal from the Penguin at AT&T Park.
Soccer
ENGLAND DOMINATES U.S. IN ROONEY FINALE » Christian Pulisic played just his second match with the U.S. national team in 13 months, and the Americans failed to muster much of an attack in a 3- 0 loss to England in London that marked Wayne Rooney’s farewell with the Three Lions.
The United States is 0-3 and has been outscored 7- 0 in three matches at old and new Wembley. Rooney, who joined Major League Soccer’s D.C. United in July, entered in the 58th minute in his 120th international appearance, the most among England outfield players. The best chance for the 33-year- old striker was in stoppage time, when his low shot was saved by Guzan to the frustration of a crowd of 68,155. His finished with an England record 53 goals.
Tennis
FEDERER REACHES ATP SEMIFINALS » Roger Federer advanced to the last four of the ATP Finals for a recordextending 15th time with a 6- 4, 6-3 victory over Kevin Anderson. Six-time champion Federer needed only a set to advance and produced his best performance at the season- ending tournament to end the roundrobin stages with a 2-1 winloss record.
College football
INJURED HOUSTON STAR STORMS OFF FIELD » Houston star defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who was not in uniform against Tulane on Thursday night, was angry and shouting at Cougars coach Major Applewhite as the team left the sideline at halftime and did not return to the field for the second half.
Applewhite told ESPN that Oliver reacted to being told by the coach that he was not permitted to wear a long, heavy coat on the sideline because they were reserved for active players.
Golf
HOWELL OPENS WITH 64 FOR LEAD AT SEA ISLAND » Charles Howell bundled up and made birdies for an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead in the first round of the RSM Classic. Howell played the Plantation course at Sea Island Resort in St. Simons Island, Georgia, without a bogey.
Defending champion Austin Cook and J. J. Spaun also were on the Plantation course and each had a 6-under 66. MOLINARI LEADS FLEETWOOD IN RACE FOR EUROPEAN NO. 1 » Francesco Molinari missed two par putts from less than two feet in his opening round of the World Tour Championship to give Tommy Fleetwood a sliver of a chance of keeping the European Tour season title. Molinari finished at 4-under 68 at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Fleetwood, his only remaining rival in the Race to Dubai, finished just one shot behind Molinari at 69.
English golfer Jordan Smith was 6 under over his last six holes, and Spain’s Adrian Otaegui was bogey-free with six birdies to share the tournament lead at 6-under 66. OLSON’S 63 GIVES HER LEAD AT LPGA’S FINALE » Amy Olson shot a 9-under 63 to take a one- shot lead over Brittany Lincicome and Nasa Hataoka after the first round of the LPGA’s season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida. EAGLE PUTS AN ON TOP AT AUSTRALIAN OPEN » Byeong Hun An, a former Cal golfer, grabbed a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Australian Open in Sydney. The South Korean’s eagle on the par- 5 eighth hole, his second-last of the day, gave him a 5-under 67 at The Lakes.