MUNICH (AP) ― Bayern Munich woke up against Manchester United only after falling behind.Mario Mandzukic, Thomas Mueller and Arjen Robben scored second-half goals for a 3-1 victory Wednesday night that advanced the defending champions to the Champions League semifinals for the third straight year.“I think it was very important we scored straight after they did,” Robben said after the 4-2 aggregate win. “It was crucial today. It looked like a wake-up call because the first 10 minutes of the second

SoccerApril 10, 2014

In the ruthless what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world of professional baseball, players are frequently demoted to the minor leagues over the course of a season. In moves perhaps unique to the Korea Baseball Organization, coaches often join slumping players on the way down to the second-tier competition. It’s not unusual to see teams swapping their big club coaches with those from their Futures League.Rarer, even by South Korean standards, is a demotion of a coach just nine games into a season.

BaseballApril 10, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ― All Ryan Braun needed to shake his slump was a trip to Philadelphia.Braun hit three home runs and tied a franchise record with seven RBIs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 10-4 victory Tuesday, spoiling the Phillies’ home opener.Braun connected twice off Kyle Kendrick (0-1), snapping the longest homerless drought of his career. The 2011 NL MVP came in with only three singles in 20 at-bats this season.But Braun, who is bothered by a right thumb injury, felt just fine ― as usu

BaseballApril 9, 2014

LONDON (AP) ― A boyhood fan of Paris Saint-Germain, Demba Ba showed any lingering affection he has for the club is in the past.With Chelsea facing Champions League elimination, Ba scored just his sixth goal of the season in the 87th minute Tuesday night, evening the total-goals series at 3-3. The Blues’ 2-0 win enabled them to advance to the semifinals on away goals following a 3-1 loss in the French capital last week.“It happened so quickly,” Ba said. “I was on the floor, just looked at the goa

SoccerApril 9, 2014

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) ― One after another, some of the world’s best players and favorites to win the Masters trudged up the hill on the opening hole to start their practice rounds.Phil Mickelson. Rory McIlroy. Adam Scott.It was typical of any Tuesday at Augusta National, except for the scoreboard to the right of where they were walking. The board has the names of all 97 players in the field, with blank boxes to put their scores when the tournament begins. On the far right side of the board is a

GolfApril 9, 2014

AUGUSTA, Georgia (AFP) ― Korea’s Lee Chang-woo, the Asia-Pacific amateur champion bolstered by an Augusta practice round with countryman Choi Kyung-ju, is confident of making the cut at this week’s Masters.The 20-year-old, appearing in his first Masters, has already won a title on the Korean tour and finished second to Rory McIlroy in the Korean Open.After touring Augusta National with Choi, who is playing this year on his last invitation from winning the 2011 Players Championship, and studying

GolfApril 8, 2014

The SK Wyverns once enjoyed one of the most remarkable stretches in Korea Baseball Organization’s history, making the championship Korean Series a record six consecutive years starting in 2007 and winning three titles in that span.The streak was snapped last year, when they failed to even reach the postseason. In 2014, they’re trying to begin a new streak, led mostly by players who might leave them after the season.The Wyverns are sitting pretty in first place in the young season at 6-2 prior to

BaseballApril 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― Feted by fans and celebrated by teammates throughout his final opening day in the Bronx, Derek Jeter hardly felt as if he was starting his 20th big league season at home.Jeter gave Yangervis Solarte some assistance with Yankee Stadium tradition, then the rookie helped make the captain a winner Monday as New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2.“I don’t want to jinx anything but it felt really good,” Jeter said. “It felt like maybe my first home opener. It was a fun time for me.”Mi

BaseballApril 8, 2014

South Korean rhythmic gymnast Son Yeon-jae earned four titles, including the individual all-around gold medal, at a World Cup stop in Portugal over the weekend.Son finished first in ball, clubs and ribbon events on Sunday at the FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup in Lisbon, a day after claiming the all-around title. Son became the first South Korean rhythmic gymnast to win an individual all-around gold at a senior international event.In the ball competition, Son earned 17.500 points to beat out M

Olympic GamesApril 7, 2014

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) ― Matt Jones told his caddy he was about to make a 42-yard chip-in on the first playoff hole at the Houston Open.The Australian did just that on Sunday, earning his first PGA Tour win in spectacular fashion ― and changing his immediate travel plans in the process.Jones, who began the day six shots off the lead, shot a final-round 66 and ended the tournament 15 under to earn his first trip to the Masters with the dramatic win over Matt Kuchar.He earned nearly $1.2 million for t

More SportsApril 7, 2014

RANCHO MIRAGE, California (AP) ― Lexi Thompson left Michelle Wie behind ― off the tee and on the leaderboard in the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Sunday.The 19-year-old Thompson beat Wie into Poppie’s Pond, too, capping her breakthrough major victory with the traditional victory leap into the water near the 18th green. “It’s just a dream come true,” Thompson said.Thompson closed with a bogey-free 4-under 68 for a three-stroke victory. She birdied four of the first nine holes to open a five-strok

More SportsApril 7, 2014

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (AP) ― Yu Darvish showed no rust after missing three weeks.Darvish allowed seven hits over seven innings in his season debut, Elvis Andrus hit a two-run homer, and the Texas Rangers avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Sunday.“He was in control of the game,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said. “He was using his pitches. He was throwing strikes. And that’s what he does.”Darvish (1-0) struck out six and walked one. Sidelined by neck stiffness, it

More SportsApril 7, 2014