• Associated Press

    Judge and Stanton homer to back effective Cortes as streaking Yankees top White Sox 4-2

    Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered, Nestor Cortes won for the first time in 5 1/2 weeks and the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 4-2 on Friday night for their fifth straight victory. Alex Verdugo and Stanton hit consecutive RBI doubles off starter Mike Clevinger (0-2) in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 3-1 lead.

  • Reuters

    Incoming Taiwan president Lai to pledge steady approach to relationship with China

    Taiwan's next president, Lai Ching-te, will pledge to secure stability by maintaining the status quo in the island's relationship with China in his inauguration speech on Monday, an incoming senior security official said. Lai, who succeeds President Tsai Ing-wen after having been her vice president for the past four years, will have to deal with a China that has ramped up pressure - including almost daily military incursions near its airspace - on democratic Taiwan to accept its sovereignty, a claim strongly rejected by Taipei. Lai, 64, has repeatedly offered to hold talks with China but has been rebuffed by Beijing, which has not renounced using force to bring Taiwan under its control.

  • The Canadian Press

    Tampa Bay pitcher Tyler Alexander stellar in 4-3 win over Toronto Blue jays

    TORONTO — Starting pitcher Tyler Alexander flirted with a perfect game as the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Friday Alexander (2-2) didn't allow a baserunner through 7 1/3 innings, but ultimately surrendered three runs on three hits and struck out four. Relievers Manuel Rodriguez and Pete Fairbanks pitched scoreless ball the rest of the way. If Alexander had kept any runners off the basepaths it would have been the 25th perfect game in Major League Baseball's history. Richi