Digest

BASEBALL

Stanton stays with Yankees for $218m

Giancarlo Stanton is keeping the remaining $218 million and seven guaranteed years in his New York Yankees contract rather than opt out after a pair of injury-decimated seasons.

The slugging designated hitter, who turns 31 on Nov 8, hit.266 with 38 homers and 100 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees in 2018. He batted.288 with three homers and 13 RBIs in 2019, when he was limited to 18 games by a left-biceps strain that sidelined him from April 1 to June 18 and a right-knee strain that kept him out from June 26 to Sept 18.

He hit.250 with four homers and 11 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, limited to 23 games by a strained left hamstring that sidelined him from Aug 9 to Sept 15. He rebounded to become the Yankees' best offensive player in the playoffs, hitting.308(8 for 26) with six homers and 13 RBIs in seven games.

A four-time All-Star with Miami, Stanton agreed to a $325-million, 13-year contract with the Marlins in November 2014. He hit.281 in 2017 and led the major leagues with 59 homers and 132 RBIs, then was traded to the Yankees in December 2017.

SOCCER

Ronaldo nets double in coronavirus comeback

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his recovery from the coronavirus by scoring twice on his return to help Juventus beat newly promoted Spezia 4-1 in Serie A on Sunday.

Juventus was struggling to break Spezia down until Ronaldo was brought on as a substitute in the 56th minute. He put Juventus 2-1 up three minutes later and also converted a penalty to seal the result for the Bianconeri.

"We had a good game, we should have been more clinical in the first half and finished off the match sooner," Juve coach Andrea Pirlo said. "Then we did well when we came back out in the second half, with the desire to win the match, and Cristiano gave us a hand."

Juventus moved third, four points below early leader AC Milan, which won 2-1 at Udinese thanks to a late winner from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Pogba sorry as Arsenal ends Old Trafford wait

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot as Arsenal beat host Manchester United 1-0 on Sunday to secure its first English Premier League win at Old Trafford in 14 years.

With both teams playing a cautious game, a foul by United midfielder Paul Pogba turned out to be decisive when he kicked Hector Bellerin's foot in the United penalty area. Aubameyang sent goalkeeper David de Gea the wrong way with his 69th-minute spot-kick to give Arsenal the lead.

Pogba took the blame for the loss, saying: "I should not have given away a penalty like that but maybe I was a bit out of breath and it made me do this stupid mistake.

"We know it's a poor performance and we weren't good enough. We have to do better, it starts with me...I will learn from that. I'm not the best defensively in the box. I can work on that."

BASKETBALL

Seventh heaven for Zhejiang, Liaoning

The Zhejiang Golden Bulls and the Liaoning Flying Leopards extended their perfect starts to the new CBA season with their seventh victories in a row in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, on Sunday.

Wu Qian led Zhejiang with 37 points and eight assists while Zhang Dayu contributed 22 points in a 94-92 win over the Beijing Ducks, for whom Fang Shuo and Li Muhao came off the bench to combine for 35 points.

Guo Ailun finished with 26 points and 10 assists for Liaoning as it romped to a 126-103 triumph over the Qingdao Eagles. The Flying Leopards also benefited from OJ Mayo's 24 points and Han Dejun's tally of 22.

Qingdao's Darius Adams finished with a game-high 36 points. Zhao Tailong and Zhang Chengyu added 15 and 14 respectively for the Eagles.

Xinhua - Agencies