Guardians clinch playoff berth with walk-off against Twins
CLEVELAND — Andrés Giménez singled home José Ramírez from second base in the 10th inning as the Cleveland Guardians clinched a playoff berth in dramatic, fitting fashion, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Thursday.
With Ramírez on second as the automatic runner, Minnesota reliever Caleb Thielbar (2-4) struck out Josh Naylor and the Twins walked Lane Thomas intentionally to face Giménez.
Cleveland’s second baseman then hit a 3-2 pitch into right to easily score Ramírez.
As the All-Star third baseman rounded third, Cleveland’s dugout emptied onto the field in celebration as the Guardians posted their MLB-leading 42nd comeback win and second straight in extra innings.
Cleveland’s surprising run came under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, who before spring training had never even filled out a lineup card. Vogt, a two-time All-Star with the A’s in 2015 and 2016, is a Visalia native.
ELSEWHERE Manning to get first start for No. 1 Texas
Top-ranked Texas will start Arch Manning at quarterback Saturday against LouisianaMonroe while regular starter Quinn Ewers continues to recover from a strained muscle in his abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
It will be the first career start for Manning, a second year freshman. He relieved Ewers in the second quarter last week against UTSA, and passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in a 56-7 Texas victory.
Manning is the son of Cooper Manning, the grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, and the nephew of Super Bowl-winning QBs Peyton and Eli Manning.
College basketball: For the second consecutive season, the USF men’s home game against Gonzaga will move from the Hilltop to Chase Center. The Zags and Dons will meet at the Warriors’ home March 1. Last season, Gonzaga rolled to an 8668 win over USF at Chase.
Golf: Rory McIlroy lost the club head on his 9-iron and then lost a chance to take the firstround lead by going out of bounds on the last hole in an eventful 5-under 67 at the BMW PGA Championship at Virginia Water, England, on Thursday.
The No. 3-ranked McIlroy was two strokes off the lead held by No. 363-ranked Matthew Baldwin in the flagship event on the European tour.
NHL: The Detroit Red Wings signed 23-year-old defenseman Moritz Seider to a seven-year contract worth nearly $60 million.
Also Thursday, Kyle Okposo, who won a Stanley Cup in his final game with Panthers, announce his retirement
Soccer: A soccer player who once appeared for Arsenal in the Champions League has been charged in connection with allegedly trying to smuggle cannabis worth $800,000 through a British airport.
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who currently plays for Scottish second-tier team Greenock Morton, was arrested at his home near Glasgow Wednesday, the Press Association reported.