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Mark Vientos homers twice, Kodai Senga goes 6 innings, Mets beat Marlins 8-3

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

MIAMI (AP) — Mark Vientos had his first career multi-homer game, Brandon Nimmo hit a home run, double and single, and the New York Mets beat the Miami Marlins 8-3 on Wednesday night.Kodai Senga threw six innings of two-run ball while Brett Baty also went deep for the Mets, who clinched the three-game series against the playoff-contending Marlins. Miami remains one-half game behind the Cubs — who also lost Wednesday — for the third NL wild-card spot.Senga (12-7) gave up seven hits, struck out three and walked two. The rookie from Japan has allowed two runs or less in his last eight starts.“When it comes to today, it’s all about the defense,” Senga said through a translator. “The defense helped me. If it weren’t for them, I probably would have been out of the game a lot sooner.”Marlins infielder Luis Arraez missed his second straight game because of a left ankle sprain. Arraez, who leads the major leagues with a .354 batting average, stepped on a baseball during pre-game infield drill...

Herrera helps Dynamo start fast in 4-1 victory over Whitecaps

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Héctor Herrera and Griffin Dorsey scored first-half goals and the Houston Dynamo breezed to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday night. Houston (12-10-7) ran its regular-season unbeaten streak to seven (4-0-3), its longest run since an eight-match streak in 2012.The Dynamo scored first on an unassisted goal by Herrera in the 13th minute. It was his fourth goal of the season. Houston took a 2-0 lead into halftime when Griffin Dorsey took a pass from Corey Baird in the 44th minute and scored for the first time this season.Houston pushed its lead to 4-0 on goals by Iván Franco — his third of the season — in the 73rd minute and Ibrahim Aliyu — also his third — unassisted in the 84th minute. Brad Smith assisted on Franco’s goal. Steve Clark was in line for his league-leading 12th clean sheet of the season for Houston until an own-goal by defender Erik Sviatchenko put Vancouver (11-9-8) on the scoreboard in the 90th minute. He had four saves. Yohei ...

Fields says he’s being given too much info by Bears coaches, needs to trust instincts

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields indicated he is being given too much information by the coaching staff and thinking too much as a result rather than trusting his instincts.Fields said he played “kind of robotic” in last week’s loss at Tampa Bay. “Could be coaching, I think,” he said Wednesday. “They are doing their job when they are giving me what to look at, but at the end of the day, I can’t be thinking about that when the game comes. I prepare myself throughout the week, and then when the game comes, it’s time to play free at that point. Thinking less and playing more.”Fields’ comments at the podium come after two discouraging losses to start a season in which the Bears hope to show signs of improvement. He said later in the locker room that his quotes were taken out of context and that he is not blaming the coaches.He struggled against Green Bay at Soldier Field and didn’t fare any better against the Buccaneers.Fields was ...

Prince George’s Co. animal shelter resumes adoptions after canine flu outbreak

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

Adoptions are once again available at the Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center, but visits to adopt dogs will be virtual and by appointment only.Wednesday’s “soft opening” to find a furry canine friend comes after the facility had to close at the end of August due to an outbreak of canine influenza.As part of the effort to get animals into permanent homes, adoption fees for all available animals are being waived until the end of the month.During the quarantine period, animals affected by the virus were treated and cared for by staff. Random testing has also been taking place, and after negative results were recorded, the decision to resume adoptions was made.Andrea Crooms, the director of the county’s Department of the Environment, explains that dog adoption appointments are being held virtually to reduce the risk of spreading the virus.According to information provided by Crooms’ department, canine influenza does not affect humans, b...

Drury has 2 homers and 5 RBIs as Angels beat playoff-bound Rays 8-3

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Drury homered twice with five RBIs and the Los Angeles Angels stopped a six-game skid by beating the AL wild card-leading Tampa Bay Rays 8-3 on Wednesday night.Tampa Bay remained 2 1/2 games behind first-place Baltimore in the AL East. “We were watching the game earlier,” Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt said of the Orioles’ 2-1 loss at Houston. “The situation that we are in, knowing that they lost, we just didn’t take advantage of the situation.”Drury hit a three-run drive off Aaron Civale (7-5) during a four-run second that put the Angels ahead 6-0. He made it 8-1 on his 23rd homer, a two-run drive in the sixth against Erasmo Ramírez.“Pretty impressive,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “He can really hit.”Los Angeles had been outscored 38-13 during its skid.The teams combined to strike out 30 times, including 19 by Los Angeles batters. The Angels’ Jo Adell fanned four times, and four teammates struck out three at-bats each.“I...

Cubs lose for 6th time in 7 games, 13-7 defeat to Pirates as Palacios hits 3-run homer

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Joshua Palacios hit a three-run homer in a seven-run fourth inning and the Chicago Cubs’ postseason drive remained stalled with their sixth loss in seven games, 13-7 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.Connor Joe hit a two-run homer in the sixth as All-Star Justin Steele (16-5) lost his second straight start, allowing six runs and eight hits in three-plus innings.Chicago (79-73), which has lost nine of 12, remained a half-game ahead of Miami (79-74) for the third NL wild card spot, with Cincinnati (79-75) another half-game back.Ian Happ’s third career grand slam, a drive off Mitch Keller (13-9) in a five-run fifth, cut the deficit to 8-6. Christopher Morel started the inning with his 24th homer, a 440-drive to left that sailed to Waveland Avenue.Joe, who finished with three hits, homered off Mark Leiter Jr. Jared Triolo added a solo shot for Pittsburgh.Keller, like Steele a first-time All Star in 2023, yielded seven runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 inn...

Iraqi refugee killed in carjacking sought 'freedom from violence' in the US

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — One of the people who helped Ahmed Zainuldeen, the Iraqi immigrant killed in a carjacking on Tuesday, and his family start their new lives in the U.S. talked to FOX31.The 23-year-old's local caseworker said this loss will impact his family more than it appears on the surface. Anna Hanel has known the Zainuldeen family for some time."These are refugees who came here to seek freedom from violence and persecution," Hanel said.Hanel is a case worker for the African Community Center, a local refugee resettlement agency. On Wednesday, along with his family, Hanel mourns the loss of Ahmed."He was a bright guy," Hanel said. "This family is fairly new to the United States."Ahmed Zainuldeen was shot and killed by carjackers in Arapahoe County on Sept. 19, 2023. His family said they just moved to Denver from Iraq less than a year ago in search of a better life. (Credit: Ahmed Zainuldeen)Ahmed and his brother, Hanel said, assimilated quickly to their new life in ...

Denver business owners urge city to address encampments

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Some Denver business owners are growing impatient amid what they call an increasing presence of encampments in the downtown area.“I don’t think they’re very violent in the daytime, but at nighttime, you hear gunshots," Chakra Tattoo owner Maze Garcia told FOX31. Denver to clear homeless camp along 8th Avenue, move people to a hotel Entrepreneur Natasha Butler opened the Little Bodega store near 22nd and Welton streets six months ago. She told FOX31 she has noticed an increase in crime since an encampment appeared across the street.“I’ve had people running in and out and just take whatever they want," Butler said.Mayor Mike Johnston’s plan is to transition 1,000 people living in encampments to stable housing by the end of the year.“It’s doable. I don’t know -- how much money are you going to throw at it? And how many of these people are going to be willing to conform?" Garcia said.Denver mayor's office respondsThe plan’s $48.6 million in funding will purchase and le...

Creepy, yummy: 3 Mexican restaurants in Miami-Dade invite diners to try out menu items with insects

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

Spooky season is upon us, but at three Mexican restaurants in Miami, creepy crawlies are on the menu all year round. By creepy crawls, we mean bugs — lots of them!Like worms, ants and insect caviar — a delicacy, if you can wrap your head around it that way. Open up, because delicious little critters are what’s for dinner.“B” is for bugs, and Bakan.Altarenzo Symonette: “This is where you can get real Mexican food.”The popular Wynwood restaurant is all about authenticity.Alex Miranda: “It’s a bug’s life at Bakan.”Even to the Aztec-era extreme.Altarenzo Symonette: “We’re talking about worms.”Alex Miranda: “Worms?!”Altarenzo Symonette: “Yes.”Worm tacos, to be specific.Altarenzo Symonette: “In a tostada. We sauté the worms with onions and cilantro.”Yummy!Alex Miranda: “I feel the crunch, which is definitely the worm.”Especially after a worm-infused tequila s...

Keir Starmer says no to UK drugs reform

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:49:21 GMT

LONDON — U.K. Labour Party boss Keir Starmer said he has “no intention” of changing drug laws in the country if his party wins at the next election.Speaking to Anne McElvoy, the host of POLITICO’s new Power Play podcast, opposition leader Starmer said: “Other countries will take different approaches they traditionally have, but our approach is settled and not really a subject of great debate even within the Labour Party.”Yet some in the party have been calling for just that. Earlier this year, Labour peer and former U.K. Home Secretary David Blunkett told POLITICO’s Westminster Insider podcast that there should be an “open debate” about how victims of drug abuse are treated, and urged Starmer to launch an inquiry into the decriminalization of drugs. Meanwhile, Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has introduced pilot projects to end the prosecution of young people caught with cannabis in some London boroughs.They’re not alone in their changing attitude toward drug use p...