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SF Giants’ latest bid to fix offensive woes: Sage, Palo Santo, incense

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Mark Mathias had a headache.Set to start his first game at Oracle Park, where he grew up attending games, the Fremont native took a seat in the dugout Saturday a few hours before first pitch. He needed some fresh air — a break from the overpowering scent wafting from the batting cages behind the dugout.That aroma, Mathias learned, was that of incense, sage and Palo Santo wood, courtesy of hitting coach Justin Viele.More than a month in to the majors’ worst team-wide slump, the Giants have gone from the analytical to the spiritual. From tee work to chi work.“JV, he’s into that sort of thing,” said manager Gabe Kapler, who let out a hearty chuckle at the idea. “Sage is funny. It smells good.”Hey, maybe he’s onto something.“Yaz was out there taking a live batting practice session today. JV had the sage out, and Yaz was taking some good swings,” Kapler said of outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. “So, who knows?”Now, it...

Maui fires: Bay Area residents hold moment of silence at Aloha Fest, as others recall harrowing escapes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

For two agonizing days, Sean Pasin’s desperate attempts to reach his two young children and their grandfather, separated from the rest of the family during the mayhem of the deadly Maui wildfires, went nowhere.The Mountain View family’s Hawaiian vacation turned into a nightmare last week after Pasin, his wife Xenia and two other family members left the others back at the hotel to stop by a grocery store in Lahaina, the historic tourist town now decimated by the blaze.As Pasin and the rest arrived at the store, the fire appeared contained. But without warning, thick plumes of smoke suddenly blacked out the sky as roaring flames blocked the route back to the Marriott. Cell service went dead — and just like that they were stranded overnight inside their rental car at a Walmart parking lot, Passin recalled Saturday.“We were totally worried,” said Pasin, 49, of his two sons, 15-month-old Luke and 7-year-old Matthew, and their grandfather. “What are they goin...

Jessica Pegula beats top-ranked Iga Swiatek to reach Montreal final

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

MONTREAL (AP) — Jessica Pegula beat top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday to reach the National Bank Open final, breaking serve 11 times in a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory.Pegula, the 29-year-old American seeded fourth, finally broke through in the semifinals after falling in the round the previous two years.“It was a great match,” Pegula said. “It was tough. Kind of a roller-coaster. Really up and down, but I’m glad I was able to hold my nerve there at the end.”Both players struggled to hold serve, with Swiatek breaking Pegula eight times. They only won 11 of 30 service games combined.“I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t holding,” Pegula said. “But then at the same time I knew she was having trouble holding as well. I was just like, `I know I’ll get more chances if I can just … hold.’ Basically, it was whoever could kind of consolidate the break.”Rain forced the postponement of the night semifinal between third-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and 15th-seeded Liudmila Sa...

Alex de Minaur routs Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Toronto semifinals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

TORONTO (AP) — Alex de Minaur of Australia beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-1, 6-3 on Saturday in the National Bank Open semifinals.“I just told myself that no matter what, I was going to compete every point,” de Minaur said. “Stay positive and not get frustrated by how the match may go, and I’m just going to give myself the best chance of staying tough mentally. And I think that’s probably what got me the win today.”De Minaur will face the winner of the night match between seventh-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy and 12th-seeded Tommy Paul pf the United States.On Friday, de Minaur upset second-seeded Daniil Medvedev. De Minaur won his lone ATP Tour title this year in Acapulco with a three-set victory over Paul.On Friday, Paul ended top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz’s winning streak at 14 matches, beating the 20-year-old Spanish star 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. The 26-year-old Paul won in Stockholm in 2021 for his lone tour title.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisSource

Bright orange X’s on buildings signal search for bodies after deadly Maui fire. HR for human remains

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — The grim work of tallying the dead after a ferocious wildfire on the Hawaiian island of Maui came into sharp focus Saturday as crews picked through the devastation, marking homes with a bright orange X to signal they had searched for bodies and HR when they found human remains. At least 80 people perished in the inferno that swept through the centuries-old town of Lahaina on Maui’s west coast. As the homes that remained standing got their marks, residents who barely made it out alive returned to take an inventory of their loss.“Most of our focus will be on humans today,” Gov. Josh Green said Saturday as he and representatives of the Federal Emergency Management Agency stood under the scorched branches of an old, treasured banyan tree on historic Front Street. Green said operations were now centered on “the loss of life.” The fire reduced hundreds of homes to ash, sending emergency workers scrambling Saturday to find temporary housing for those lucky enough to ...

Ridley has 2 catches in 1st game in almost 2 years as Jags get 28-23 preseason win over Cowboys

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Calvin Ridley had two catches in his first game in nearly two years, and Trevor Lawrence responded to an interception with a touchdown pass in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ 28-23 win over the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason opener Saturday.Playing against mostly Dallas backup defenders, Ridley had a short catch on Jacksonville’s second series, then a first down grab on the third possession before Lawrence’s scoring toss to Christian Kirk. The TD was set up by a fumble on a punt return from KaVontae Turpin, who a year ago essentially made the roster with the Cowboys by returning a kickoff and a punt for scores in the same preseason game.It was the first game for Ridley since Oct. 24, 2021. The receiver, playing through a broken left foot that season, stepped away to address his mental health following a home robbery. He was suspended for the entire 2022 season because he bet on the NFL while away from the Atlanta Falcons.The Jaguars traded two draf...

Arozarena completes three-run ninth as Rays rally to beat the Guardians 6-5

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Randy Arozarena lined an RBI single to right center to complete a three-run ninth inning off Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied to beat the Guardians 6-5 on Saturday.Clase (1-7) allowed Yandy Díaz’s one-out double. Díaz advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored to tie it at 5 on Brandon Lowe’s infield single before the All-Star Arozarena won it on an 0-2 pitch.“I was trying not to strikeout,” Arozarena said through a translator. “I was looking up at the radar and I noticed he was throwing 102 mph. I was also trying not to swing too hard. I choked up a little bit (on the bat).”It was Clase’s ninth blown save in 40 chances.Tampa Bay won Friday night’s series opener 9-8 when Wander Franco hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth after the Rays blew a three-run lead in the top of the inning.“They’re pumped,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of his players. “They were pumped last night … Maybe a little mo...

MATCHDAY: Tottenham begins life after Kane and Barcelona starts title defense

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Sunday:ENGLANDTottenham begins life after Harry Kane with an away match at Brentford in the teams’ Premier League opener. Kane joined Bayern Munich on Saturday after 19 years at Tottenham, leaving a big hole in the team. Son Heung-min will be Tottenham’s new captain for this season and James Maddison should give the team more creativity in midfield. The other game sees Liverpool visit Chelsea for a meeting between teams who have been battling each other in the transfer market this offseason, with midfielders Moises Caicedo and Romain Lavia reportedly interesting both clubs. Chelsea and Liverpool will start with much-changed teams after key departures to the Saudi Arabian league. It will be Mauricio Pochettino’s first competitive game in charge of Chelsea.SPAINBarcelona kicks off its defense of the Spanish league title with a trip to Getafe in Madrid. Xavi Hernández could give a debut to top signing Ilkay Gundogan aft...

Denver dog recovering after rattlesnake bite

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) --- A dog is recovering after being bit in the face by a rattlesnake.On Tuesday, Austin Scheu said he was at work when his girlfriend, Olivia, called and said their dog, Ahsoka, had been bitten by a rattlesnake while on a hike at Castlewood Canyon State Park.  These are the only venomous snakes in Colorado, according to CPW "She’s curious and loves to smell everything and is bouncing left and right," Scheu said. “She probably heard something in a bush, put her nose in, and by the time it struck, she flew backwards.”The snake struck the corner of Ahsoka’s left eye and the pupil, but Scheu said nothing was noticeable until they returned to the car."Her forehead looked like a balloon,” Scheu said. “At that point, it was crisis mode. Olivia did everything she needed to do, called the vet, found one with one had anti-venom and she got to the hospital 15 minutes after that.”  Scheu said Ahsoka spent the night there after receiving anti-venom and antibiotics.  "She rec...

1 airlifted after rollover wreck in Miami Gardens

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:19:57 GMT

Rescue crews airlifted one person to the hospital following a rollover wreck in Miami Gardens.Miami Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the crash along the 4400 block of Northwest 183rd Street, just after 4 p.m., Saturday.An SUV sustained extensive damage. Cameras also showed debris on the roadway.The victim was airlifted as a trauma alert to Ryder Trauma Center.As of late Saturday night, there is no word on the cause of the crash.