SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is getting most of the attention as his Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres start the MLB this week in the first-ever regular season games in South Korea. But the two-game “Seoul Series” starting Wednesday is also a triumphant homecoming for the Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who is coming off a dominant season and returning to a stadium he previously called home. Kim, who played for the Korea Baseball Organization’s Kiwoom Heroes for seven season
Even with the top continental ranking and players of vast international experience, Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan squad faces a journey into the unknown in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against North Korea. Asian qualifying resumes Thursday with Japan hosting North Korea in Tokyo. Five days later, Japan will be playing in Pyongyang in front of a potential crowd of 50,000 — almost exclusively North Korean — at the Kim Il Sung Stadium. The Japan Football Association’s request that the match be moved
SEATTLE (AP) — Jeff Skinner had a hat trick, with his first goal coming during a three-goal outburst in the first six minutes to chase Seattle Kraken goaltender Joey Daccord, and the Buffalo Sabres cruised to a 6-2 victory Monday night. Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch also scored in the first period for the Sabres, who earned their first win in six tries against the third-year Kraken. With 71 points, Buffalo is four behind Washington for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot with 13 games left.