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Chicago Cubs are swept out of Atlanta with a 5-3 loss to the Braves, leaving them with slim wild-card hopes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

The only outcome the Chicago Cubs could not allow to transpire against the Atlanta Braves this week at Truist Park was being a handed a three-game sweep.Two one-run losses, featuring a two-run error on a dropped fly ball by Seiya Suzuki in the opener and three blown saves in a 10-inning defeat in Game 2, and an underwhelming all-around performance in the series finale created a worst-case scenario for the Cubs and their postseason hopes.The Braves completed the sweep Thursday, handing the Cubs a 5-3 loss and complicating the North Siders’ path to securing the third National League wild-card position.The Cubs fell a half-game behind the Miami Marlins for the No. 3 spot, pending the Marlins’ result late Thursday against the Mets in New York. That game at Citi Field went into a rain delay at 8:41 p.m. CDT with two outs in the top of the ninth after Miami erased the Mets’ one-run lead to go ahead 2-1 in the inning. The Marlins own the tiebreaker against the Cubs, wh...

Orioles clinch 1st AL East title since 2014, reach 100 wins with 2-0 victory over Red Sox: ‘It’s a special group’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

Dean Kremer’s arrival six seasons ago signaled the beginning of the Orioles’ rebuild. His performance Thursday night helped deliver the club’s biggest win since.Behind the calm Kremer, the Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox, 2-0, to win their 100th game of the season and clinch the franchise’s first American League East title since 2014. In the most important start of his life, Kremer pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, needing only Anthony Santander’s solo home run in the first and a steady bullpen behind him for the victory.As the tight game neared an end, the 27,543 fans at Camden Yards, who earlier in the night learned of the club’s new lease to remain at the park for 30 years, grew progressively more animated. When Tyler Wells recorded the final out, they made the park shake in a way it rarely has the past six seasons.The last time the Orioles won 100 games was in 1980. The division title is just their third in the past 40 seasons. Baltim...

Thursday’s high school roundup/scores: Lynn Classical posts football win over Medford

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

Brian Vaughan Jr. threw four touchdown passes, three of them going to John Nasky, as Lynn Classical (3-1) defeated Medford 38-14 in the Greater Boston League.Aiden Astorino ran for two scores and Tommy McLeish threw a pair of touchdown passes as King Philip (4-0) defeated Taunton 28-7 in the Hockomock League. … Jack Buckley completed 11-of-17 passes for 184 yards and four touchdown passes, all going to Andrew Rivera (seven catches, 144 yards) and also ran for two scores as Milford (4-0) coasted to a 48-14 win over Attleboro.Will St. Pierre ran for 218 yards and two scores as Hingham (1-3) defeated Plymouth North 28-8 in the Patriot League.GolfJeff Nelson accrued his 200th career win as Reading topped Middlesex League foe Stoneham, 44.5-27.5.Field hockeyEmily Carr notched a hat trick, Ryan Crook had two goals and an assist and Reagan Killoran added two more goals as Somerset berkeley (7-0) shutout West Bridgewater 9-0.In the Middlesex League, Molly Driscoll scored three times as Wate...

David Montgomery runs wild as Lions beat Packers 34-20 to take early command of NFC North

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — David Montgomery rushed for 121 yards and three touchdowns, and the Detroit Lions asserted themselves as the team to beat in the NFC North, dominating the first half and beating the Green Bay Packers 34-20 on Thursday night.Montgomery carried the ball 32 times after he sat out the Lions’ victory over Atlanta last Sunday with a thigh bruise. He became the first Lion to rush for three touchdowns at Green Bay and the first Detroit player to top 100 yards rushing with three TDs since James Stewart in 2000.The Lions (3-1) beat the Packers (2-2) for a fourth straight time, a streak that also includes the final game of last season, when Detroit denied Green Bay a playoff spot in Aaron Rodgers’ last game with the Packers.Rodgers’ replacement, Jordan Love, threw for a touchdown and ran for another as he tried to rally the Packers in the second half. He finished 23 of 36 for 246 yards and was picked off twice by Jerry Jacobs.Detroit led 27-3 at halftim...

REVIEW: Saw X is a terrifying and terrific addition to the 21st century’s best horror series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

When it comes to horror in the 21st century, few series are as iconic as Saw. The voice of the Jigsaw Killer explaining the rules of deadly games, Billy the puppet rolling in on his tricycle, the grungy settings stained with rusted blood. This series invented the horror sub-genre known as torture porn, but despite a couple of additions in the past few years Saw mostly felt like a series past its prime.Shawnee Smith as Amanda Young in Saw X, courtesy of Lionsgate.But Saw X is one of the more unique additions to this series, and one that could resuscitate the series’ popularity. Two of the more famous players in the franchise, Tobin Bell (from 24) and Shawnee Smith (from Anger Management) return to their most famous roles. Bell plays the Jigsaw Killer, who has becomes one of the more iconic horror villains of recent years, and Smith plays his once victim and now apprentice Amanda Young.Saw X is an interquel, set between the first and second entries of the series. Jigsaw, also kn...

186.000 migrants and refugees arrived in southern Europe so far this year, most in Italy, UN says

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. refugee agency said Thursday that some 186,000 migrants and refugees arrived in southern Europe so far this year, the vast majority in Italy.Between January and Sept. 24, over 2,500 people seeking to cross the Mediterranean were found dead or are still missing, a significant increase from the 1,680 people who died or were missing during the same period in 2022, Ruven Menikdiwela, director of the New York office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, told the U.N. Security Council. The UNHCR estimates that over 102,000 refugees and migrants from Tunisia — a 260% increase from last year— and over 45,000 from Libya tried to cross the central Mediterranean to Europe between January and August, she said.Some 31,000 people were rescued at sea or intercepted, and disembarked in Tunisia while 10,600 disembarked in Libya, Menikdiwela said.The majority of migrants and refugees who made it to southern Europe arrived in Italy— over 130,000, an increase of 83%...

Youth arrested in fatal stabbing of Joyous Magdirila

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

A young person has been arrested in connection to a fatal stabbing in the north end of the city last weekend. Police say 23-year-old Joyous Magdirila of Toronto was found suffering from stab wounds in the southbound curb lane on Yonge Street and Hendon Avenue, north of Finch subway station, just before 10 p.m. on Sunday night. Magdirila was taken to a trauma centre, where he was later pronounced dead. Police said Thursday they have charged a youth with second degree murder. Due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act the name of the suspect cannot be revealed.

Chicagoans speak out at Public Safety and Accountability meeting at Truman College

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

CHICAGO, Ill. — City residents sounded off at a Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA) meeting held at Truman College Thursday night."What we cannot end up [with is] fewer officers patrolling the beats and longer wait times, response times for 911 calls," said Patrick McNeil, a Chicago resident.Chicagoans used the public comment portion of the meeting to talk about police funding and City spending, which is a hot button topic with a vote on the City's budget by City Council upcoming in the near future."We’ve all seen in the news, folks, robberies have skyrocketed and took a turn for the worse," said Anthony Driver Jr., President of the CCPSA. "I was the victim [Jan. 23] of this year. We all are at an increased risk."Also taking place Thursday night was a hearing on public safety when it comes to workers, including ride share and food delivery drivers, as well as postal workers."Having to come to work scared wondering if they will be the next victim," said ...

Man who spent 30 years in prison for Chicago murder sues city, CPD for wrongful conviction

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

CHICAGO — A Chicago man is suing those he blames for sending him to prison for a crime he didn't commit, including the city of Chicago, the Cook County and 12 police officers.Lee Harris was convicted of murder and spent 33 years behind bars. In March, a judge vacated his conviction. Prosecutors said there was not enough evidence to re-try the case. Previous Coverage: Man who spent 30 years in prison for Chicago murder he said didn’t commit released Harris has proclaimed his innocence for years and was the subject of a WGN Investigates report that exposed serious questions about his conviction and the investigation that sent him to prison.Harris filed a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit Thursday. He said the police officers on his case pressured him, fabricated evidence and knew he was innocent.The suit filed doesn't ask for a specific dollar amount. It will be up to the jury to determine that.

McNeil hands Vista Ridge 1st loss of season behind stout defense, hook and lateral TD

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 18:00:55 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Why not dial up a trick play on third down and long? Well, there are plenty of reasons, but for the McNeil Mavericks, the gamble eventually changed the outcome of the game.The Mavericks scored on a 26-yard hook and lateral in the first half for the game's only touchdown, and their defense came up big with three interceptions to hang on for a 7-6 win over Vista Ridge on Thursday at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex.REPORT YOUR SCORE: We'd love to post your team's score on our website, but we need your help to do it. Email the score of your game to [email protected] and we'll get it on our websiteOn third-and-11 with 3:24 left in the second quarter, McNeil quarterback Jadon Sultz fired a pass to Jarell Gary about five yards downfield, and then Gary immediately got rid of the ball with a lateral of Joshua Gayden. Gayden had a head of steam toward the end zone when he received the pitch and raced the rest of the way for the score. It was perfect execution on a play that fa...