Sports Briefs

BASEBALL

Lee Dae-ho performs well, but Mariners still take a hit

Lee Dae-ho of the Seattle Mariners went 1-for-4 during the team’s 10-3 loss against the Los Angeles Angels at the Safeco Field in Seattle on Saturday.

During the game, Lee started playing on first base while batting sixth. Lee’s hit came at the bottom of the sixth, singling off an 85.5-mile-per-hour change-up by Angels’ starter Tyler Skaggs. This is Lee’s fourth straight game in which he’s collected at least one hit for the Mariners since he came back up to the majors after a brief stint in the minors for a tune-up. Although he went 0-for-4 in the first two games after his return on Aug. 27 and 28, he’s gone 9-for-18 in four games since Aug. 30 while tallying two runs for the Mariners.

Still, the Mariners yielded six runs in the first inning alone on Saturday’s game, which the Seattle-based team could not make up for later in the game. The Mariners is in a slide at the moment, taking only one win during the past six games.

Elsewhere in the majors, Kim Hyun-soo of the Baltimore Orioles did not play in the game against the New York Yankees at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday. The Orioles defeated the Yankees 2-0.

By Choi Hyung-jo

TENNIS

Serena isn’t looking over her shoulder at injury anymore

NEW YORK - So about that inflamed right shoulder that was supposed to hinder Serena Williams at the U.S. Open as she seeks a record 23rd major title: It sure seems to be just fine.

“Definitely feels solid,” Williams said.

Not sure? There’s plenty of evidence. No need to take her word - or her coach’s - for it.

Look at the way Williams beat 47th-ranked Johanna Larsson 6-1, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the fourth round at Flushing Meadows and collect the 307th Grand Slam match victory of her career, surpassing Martina Navratilova for most by a woman in the Open era and equaling Roger Federer for most by anyone since 1968.

Williams reached 121 mph on a serve. She had a half-dozen aces, bringing her total this week to 31. She faced only one break point - her first of the tournament - and saved it. She smacked seven return winners. She compiled a 24-5 total edge in winners.

“Tennis-wise, I think it was very satisfying in all aspects. It’s not perfect, of course,” said her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “But for someone who didn’t play much matches in the last two months, I think she’s competitive.”

Now there’s an understatement.

“There is no pain. Maybe she feels a little. I don’t know; I’m not in her shoulder. But I see she plays normal. She serves no“rmal. At practice, she serves the quantity that we usually do, full power,” Mouratoglou said. So I don’t see any problem. And she doesn’t even talk about it. I know it’s under control now.”

AP