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Framber Valdez helps Astros to 7-4 win over Red Sox and first sweep at Fenway Park

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Framber Valdez, who pitched seven no-hit innings in his previous start, retired the first 10 Boston batters on Wednesday and took a shutout into the sixth inning to help the Houston Astros beat the Red Sox 7-4 and complete their first sweep at Fenway Park.Houston, which played in the NL for 50 years before switching in 2012, has won five straight as it fights for a third consecutive AL West title. The Astros entered the day essentially tied with — .001 behind — the Texas Rangers and Seattle Mariners; all three teams remain in contention for the AL wild-card spots if they falter.The Red Sox lost for the fifth time in six games and are fifth in the race for the three AL wild-card berths, four games behind Toronto and seven back from the AL West pack heading into Wednesday night’s game.Valdez (10-9) no-hit the Guardians on Aug. 1 and left Friday’s start against Detroit with a no-hitter intact before the bullpen took the loss. He extended his no-hit string to 10 1/3 straig...

Encarnacion-Strand homers in first career 4-hit game, Reds beat Giants 4-1

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered and drove in three runs in his first four-hit game in the majors, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the San Francisco Giants 4-1 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.Encarnacion-Strand, a Bay Area native who played at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, finished a triple shy of the cycle.“It was awesome,” he said. “A ton of people here. It might’ve been my dad’s first time (seeing) me play today. And he was here, so that was awesome.”Elly De La Cruz and Luke Maile each had two hits, and Hunter Greene outdueled Logan Webb in his first career start against San Francisco.Greene (3-6) struck out six in 5 1/3 innings in his first win since June 17. The right-hander, who missed much of this season with a right hip injury, allowed an unearned run and three hits.“Great start by Hunter,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Nice slider, got ahead, located his fastball well. Big step for Hunter.”Greene felt ill after the game and left ...

Idalia blasts Florida and Georgia, moves toward South Carolina as tropical storm

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

PERRY, Fla. (AP) — Hurricane Idalia tore into Florida at the speed of a fast-moving train Wednesday, splitting trees in half, ripping roofs off hotels and turning small cars into boats before sweeping into Georgia as a still-powerful storm that flooded roadways and sent residents running for higher ground.“All hell broke loose,” said Belond Thomas of Perry, a mill town located just inland from the Big Bend region where Idalia came ashore. Idalia barely clinging to hurricane strength over Georgia Thomas fled with her family and some friends to a motel, thinking it would be safer than riding out the storm at home. But as Idalia's eye passed over about 8:30 a.m., a loud whistling noise pierced the air and the high winds ripped the building's roof off, sending debris down on her pregnant daughter, who was lying in bed. Fortunately, she was not injured.“It was frightening,” Thomas said. "Things were just going so fast. ... Everything was spinning.” ...

SoFlo foodies rejoice: Dine Out Lauderdale extended through end of September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

The fabulous foods of Broward County have been on display all month, thanks to Dine Out Lauderdale. You can’t go wrong when you’re offering great deals on great meals. As a matter of fact, things can go so well, it makes perfect sense to loosen up those belts and keep it going.Fort Lauderdale foodies, listen up. We’ve got something you have to hear.Stacy Ritter: “I have a Deco Drive exclusive. You’re hearing it first right here: we are going to be extending Dine Out Lauderdale through the month of September, because it’s just been a huge hit.”You know what this means, right? You have the chance to check out cool places you might have missed in August.Like Pizzeria Magaddino, inside Gulf Stream Brewing.Tom Magaddino: “We’re a scratch pizza shop. We do everything kinda like the old-fashioned way. We keep it very simple; we use seasonal vegetables. Everything is homemade, from sauce to sausages. It’s clean ingredients.”T...

‘MasterChef’ winner Kelsey Murphy appears as guest judge in ‘United Tastes of America’ episode

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

If you saw Alex’s Thanksgiving cooking segment a few years back, you know he and the kitchen have a lot of beef … but don’t worry, because when it comes to cooking, we’re going to turn it to the pros over at “MasterChef. If you’re tuning in to this week’s new episode, you might recognize a familiar face.Kelsey Murphy is returning to her roots. The “MasterChef” Season 11 winner is heading back to the kitchen on Fox.But don’t expect her to be doing any cooking. Kelsey is a guest judge in a brand-new episode of “United Tastes of America.”Kelsey Murphy: “It was one of the best days still, like, of my life, even more than winning, just to get back there, be on the other side of it.”Kelsey Murphy: “You’re going for it today.”Kelsey joins host Gordon Ramsay and resident chefs Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich as they oversee this week’s challenge, and that involves the home cooks creating a...

Live updates | Idalia causing widespread flooding in coastal South Carolina

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

By The Associated PressFollow live updates about Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall in Florida as a dangerous Category 3 storm and is now crossing Georgia as a tropical storm.— Hurricane Idalia rapidly strengthened as it fed on some of the hottest water on the planet during its approach— A rare blue supermoon was bad timing for Florida’s west coast as Idalia’s surge came ashore— Florida’s Big Bend is one of the last truly natural places in the state and was in the bull’s-eye of the major hurricaneTropical Storm Idalia is pushing ocean waters inland across the South Carolina coast.North Myrtle Beach, Garden City, Charleston and Edisto Island all reported ocean water topping sand dunes or walls and into beachfront streets.The tide continued to rise in Charleston harbor. The National Weather Service in Charleston called it a dangerous situation and urged people to stay away from the beach and out of flood waters.Idalia also spawned a tornado...

Column: The Chicago Cubs are right where they need to be to make a September run for the playoffs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

One thing we’ve learned about the Chicago Cubs through five months of the season is they’re not easily pegged.Sometimes they get good pitching and great defense, and other times they let the offense carry them. They’re strong enough to win consistently but have weaknesses that can be exploited if they don’t show up daily.We’ve seen the bad Cubs enough to know what can happen. And we’ve seen them look like a team of destiny.On a cool and crisp Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cubs overcame a lack of hitting and two unforced errors to eke out a 3-2 win against the Milwaukee Brewers, their 17th victory in their last 23 one-run games.That bodes well for the postseason — if the Cubs make it — because every game potentially can be won or lost on one play.“That is how baseball is going to be played,” Cubs slugger Cody Bellinger said of October. “You’re going to have a variety of games. But to be in the positio...

Cape Cod bridge work and lane closures return, travel delays expected through November

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

Cape Cod bridge maintenance work and 24/7 lane closures will be returning a couple of weeks after Labor Day, as officials warn motorists of travel delays through November.After crews worked on the Sagamore Bridge in the spring, workers will be shifting to the Bourne Bridge for critical maintenance work starting on Sept. 18, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District.Vehicle travel over the bridge will be cut from the current two lanes in each direction to a single 12-foot-wide lane in each direction. Lane restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day until the project is completed.“Motorists planning to use the Bourne Bridge should expect travel delays likely to occur during the morning and afternoon peak travel periods each day,” the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement.“Repair work and lane restrictions are scheduled to run through late November, weather permitting,” USACE added.USACE delayed the original project start da...

MassDOT, MBTA reduce Green Line Extension closure to 25 days, starting in September

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

A six-week long closure that transportation officials had planned for the Green Line Extension this summer has been reduced to 25 days, with work beginning in mid-September.Initially, the state Department of Transportation and MBTA aimed to close the Union Square branch for 42 days between July and August, to accommodate repair work on the Squires Bridge, which carries McGrath Highway over Green Line tracks in Somerville.But officials announced Wednesday the length of the closure has been cut to 25 days, commencing Sept. 18 and ending by mid October. The project will be focused on “completing critical beam end repairs, along with additional preventive actions, to ensure the bridge can remain open and safe for use,” they said.“Because the Squires Bridge work must be performed within the Green Line right of way, transit service on the Union Branch will terminate at Lechmere Station during construction,” officials said in a release. “Bridge work will not impact motor vehicle travel acr...

2 plead guilty to trafficking sea cucumbers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:28:31 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Two people accused of illegally trafficking sea cucumbers at the Calexico Port of Entry pleaded guilty in federal court this week, federal prosecutors said. Zunyu Zhao (also known as Kathy Zhao), 51, and Xionwei Xiao (also known as Luis Xiao), 52, pleaded guilty to a two-count indictment charging them with conspiracy and illegal importation of sea cucumbers, Kelly Thornton with the Office of the United States Attorney Southern District of California said in a news release Wednesday.From May 9, 2017 to February 10, 2019, Zhao and Xiao conspired to illegally import Isostichopus Fuscus, commonly known as the brown sea cucumber, per the indictment and plea agreement. Isostichopus Fuscus are a species protected under Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species without the appropriate permits and documentation, according to officials."In May 2017, Zhao was stopped at the Calexico Port of Entry, attempting to smuggle 11.50 kg of Isostichopu...