Sports Briefs

Baseball

Published: 19 Jun. 2016, 20:29

Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

Dodgers’ Ryu shows rehab progress in minors game

Ryu Hyun-jin of Los Angeles Dodgers is progressing in his rehabilitation.

On Saturday, the 29-year-old left-hander pitched for Dodgers affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the Single-A minors league for four innings against the San Jose Giants at the San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Ryu tossed for four shutout innings, conceding three hits and one base-on-ball while collecting five strikeouts. Ryu concluded the first inning with one strikeout, one base-on-ball and one double play. Although Ryu gave out a double in the second inning, he retired the next two batters with strikeouts. Ryu finished off the inning by grounding out the next batter. In the third inning at one out, Ryu allowed a double but flied out the next batter, striking out the last one to wrap up the inning without conceding a run. Finally, in the fourth inning, Ryu grabbed another strikeout to end his assignment.

Ryu tossed 60 pitches on Saturday with 38 strikes and 22 balls. Dodgers management plans to assign Ryu on the mound every five days to prepare for his big league start. If he manages his remaining rehab assignments without any problems, he is likely to return to the Majors by mid-July.

By Choi Hyung-jo

TENNIS

Federer falls to newcomer Zverev at Gerry Weber Open

HALLE, Germany - Roger Federer’s bid for a ninth title at the Gerry Weber Open came to an end Sunday when he was beaten in the semifinals by Alexander Zverev, a 19-year-old rising German prospect who notched the biggest win of his young career.

Zverev’s 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-3 victory over the top-seeded, eight-time defending champion gave him a place in his first final of the year. He will meet Florian Mayer, who beat third-seeded Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4.

It also means that Federer, with 17 Grand Slam titles, still remains without a title in a year marred by knee surgery and a back injury that forced him to miss the French Open.

Federer failed to reach the final in Halle for the first time in 11 straight appearances at the grass-court event. Federer’s eight titles in Halle are already a record.

“I haven’t really grasped it yet,” Zverev said. “That I would be standing here as a winner, I couldn’t have imagined it yesterday.”

At No. 38 Zverev is the highest-ranked teen on the tour. He lost to Federer when they met for the first time at the Italian Open on clay in May.

Neither player faced a break point in the first set and Zverev fired an ace to set up a set point, using it immediately. Federer, ranked No. 3 in the world, had won 15 straight sets previously in Halle.

Federer got the first break of the match at 5-5 in the second set with a masterful drop shot as Zverev slipped at the baseline.

Zverev got the break he needed in the third set when Federer sent a backhand very wide to fall behind 4-2. The German finished with 39 winners, including eight aces, and saved six of seven break points. He clinched the match with a service winner.

Zverev and Mayer will play the first all-German final in Halle since 2011.

AP