Alonso pushes Mets past Pirates 4-3 after solid outing by Skenes

Alonso pushes Mets past Pirates 4-3 after solid outing by Skenes

NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth inning and the New York Mets took advantage of a costly error by shortstopIsiah Kiner-Falefato beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Monday night. Pirates ace Paul Skenes pitched out of trouble all night and exited after six innings with a chance to win. But the Mets scratched across two runs against Pittsburgh's bullpen in the seventh to take a 3-2 lead. Juan Soto tied it with an RBI groundout, and speedy rookie Luisangel Acuña raced home from second when Alonso's groundball single trickled into shallow left field after glancing off the mitt of Gold Glove third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo robbed Joey Bart of a leadoff homer in the eighth, but Pittsburgh evened it 3-all in the ninth after an error by star shortstop Francisco Lindor. With the infield playing in, Hayes drove in the tying run when Acuña couldn't handle a grounder to third that was scored an infield single. With one out in the bottom half, Kiner-Falefa let Lindor's grounder scoot under his glove just behind second base. Lindor dashed to third on Soto's single to right-center off David Bednar (0-4), then scored easily on Alonso's long flyout to right field. Huascar Brazobán (2-0) allowed just an unearned run in the ninth. Kiner-Falefa homered off Mets starter David Peterson in his first plate appearance sincecoming off the injured list. New York tied it at 1 when Nimmo and Jeff McNeil doubled off Skenes in the fourth. Bryan Reynolds gave Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead with an RBI groundout in the seventh. Skenes yielded one run and six hits in six innings, with six strikeouts and three walks. Key moment After the Pirates tied it, Brazobán got Reynolds to ground into an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners in the ninth. Key stats Pittsburgh failed to score more than four runs for the 18th straight game, setting a franchise record since at least 1901. ... Skenes hasn't permitted more than six hits in any of his 32 major league starts. That's the longest such streak to begin a career (excluding openers), according to OptaStats. Shohei Ohtani went 31 starts from 2018-21. Up next Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (1-4, 4.40 ERA) faces RHP Kodai Senga (4-2, 1.16) in the middle game of the series Tuesday night. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

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Alonso pushes Mets past Pirates 4-3 after solid outing by Skenes

Alonso pushes Mets past Pirates 4-3 after solid outing by Skenes NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Alonso hit a game-winning sacrifice fly in the ninth i...

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Jayson Tatum carried off floor with right leg injury and Celtics star will have MRI

Jayson Tatum carried off floor with right leg injury and Celtics star will have MRI

NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Celtics are used to seeing Jayson Tatum get up when he goes down, like he did after ahard fall that caused a wrist injuryin the first round of the playoffs. When he couldn't get to his feet late in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals and had to be carried off the court, it was clear just how serious his lower right leg injury was, even before testing that won't come until Tuesday. "He's the type of guy, he gets right up," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. "So he didn't and we'll know tomorrow exactly what it is. But yeah, I mean it's tough to watch a guy like him get carried like that." The Celtics had just turned the ball over with about three minutes left and as Tatum lunged forward toward the loose ball,his leg gave out and he went down. He buried his face in a towel in obvious pain while grabbing at his leg above the ankle after the non-contact injury. The New York Knickswon 121-113 to take a 3-1 lead. The series resumes Wednesday in Boston with the Celtics needing to win to extend their NBA title reign. Mazzulla said the All-Star forward would undergo an MRI exam Tuesday. "I think tonight is tough," the Celtics' Jaylen Brown said. "I think everybody's kind of at a loss for words, just because, one losing the game, but obviously the concern with JT. But we pick our heads back up tomorrow and go from there." Tatum scored 42 points, his high in these playoffs, before he was hurt.He buried his face in his handsas he was pushed down a tunnel in a wheelchair after leaving the floor. An eight-year veteran, Tatum won his first NBA title last year when he led Boston to its 18th championship. Players and coaches on both sides expressed their concern for Tatum, who was hurt in Game 1 of the opening around against Orlando when he was fouled on a dunk attempt and landed awkwardly, remaining on the court briefly before getting up holding his right wrist. He remained in the game before missing Game 2, the first time he'd missed a playoff game in his career. The Celtics won without him that time. Now they are faced with having to do it again. "Obviously it's tough to see, but who hasn't had injuries, you know?" Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis said. "And it's a part of this sport, part of this game and we feel for him, of course. But we have to move forward. He don't want us to be over here sad and not play our best basketball. So, we're going to go out there and leave it all out there and live with the result." ___ AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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Jayson Tatum carried off floor with right leg injury and Celtics star will have MRI

Jayson Tatum carried off floor with right leg injury and Celtics star will have MRI NEW YORK (AP) — The Boston Celtics are used to seeing Ja...

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Knicks have defending NBA champion Celtics on brink of elimination after Game 4 win

Knicks have defending NBA champion Celtics on brink of elimination after Game 4 win

NEW YORK — After Game 3's pitiful performance in which theNew York Knicksfailed to capitalize on stealing the first two games in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the road, the task on Monday night was to get back to basics. Jalen Brunson earned his Clutch Player of the Year award, scoring 23 of his 39 points in the second half, and the Knicks again came back from a double-digit deficit to beat theBoston Celtics,121-113, in Game 4, putting the defending champions one game away from a stunning elimination. After a sublime performance, the Knicks are now one win away from their first conference finals appearance in 25 years. Game 5isWednesday nightat TD Garden in Boston in the best-of-seven series. Mikal Bridges scored 12 points in the fourth quarter as part of a 23-point effort for New York. "They hit us early, but I love the way we fought back," Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau said. "Showed a lot of toughness and more discipline in the second half." But it was Brunson, who also had 12 assists and five rebounds, who stole the show in the third, scoring 18 points as he single-handedly brought New York back from a halftime deficit. The Knicks took only their fourth lead in the last two games at 86-85 on a 3-pointer by OG Anunoby with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter to cap a 12-4 run. Anunoby hit another 3-pointer with 5:52 left to break a 102-102 tie to give the Knicks the lead for good, as New York ran off 11 straight points to send the crowd into a frenzy. Jayson Tatum, who left late in the fourth quarterwith a non-contact lower leg injury, hit seven 3-pointers, scoring a playoff-high 42 points with eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals, and White had 23 as theCelticswent 17-44 from behind the arc. Jaylen Brown had 20 points and seven rebounds. "He's the type of guy that gets right up. So, he didn't, and we'll know tomorrow exactly what it is. It's tough watching a guy like him get carried off like that," Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said about Tatum. If Tatum is unable to play the rest of the series, it will be a tall task for Boston, which will try to become the first team to come back from a 3-1 series deficit since the Denver Nuggets accomplished the feat twice in 2020 in the bubble. "They'll be ready," Mazzulla said about Game 5. "I mean, that's just who they are. It's been that way. It's the locker room that they have, and they'll be ready. So, you trust the character of the guys in moments like this, and you take it one game at a time." New York, which ranked fifth in offensive efficiency during the regular season, again had trouble containing Boston around the perimeter and creating opportunities for itself to get out in transition, but used the Madison Square Garden energy in the second half to take control of the series. The Knicks used a blistering second half to shoot 54.3% for the game. Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Anunoby also had 23 for the Knicks, after scoring only seven points in the previous two games. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Knicks put Celtics on brink of elimination with NBA playoff Game 4 win

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Knicks have defending NBA champion Celtics on brink of elimination after Game 4 win

Knicks have defending NBA champion Celtics on brink of elimination after Game 4 win NEW YORK — After Game 3's pitiful performance in whi...

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As fire truck prices hit $2 million, US firefighters demand an antitrust probe

As fire truck prices hit $2 million, US firefighters demand an antitrust probe

By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -The largest firefighters' labor union in the U.S. is demanding antitrust authorities investigate the companies that make fire trucks, saying industry consolidation has led to skyrocketing costs and years-long wait times, endangering fire fighters and the public. The U.S. Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission should probe the fire and emergency vehicle industry, where three companies — REV Group, Oshkosh, and Rosenbauer — together make up around two-thirds of the market, the International Association of Fire Fighters said in a letter. Truck prices have doubled in the past decade, with ladder trucks now costing as much as $2 million each, while fire departments are facing backlogs as long as four years, said IAFF, which represents fire and emergency workers in the U.S. and Canada, and American Economic Liberties Project, an antimonopoly group. "It's really a critical hazard in public safety," IAFF President Edward Kelly told Reuters. Oshkosh spokesperson Lisa Barwick said the company is investing in manufacturing capacity, technology, and process improvements to meet demand. "Global supply challenges, unprecedented demand, and significant inflation since the pandemic started in 2020 have resulted in extended delivery times and increased prices," she said. A REV Group spokesperson also cited demand, labor shortages and cost increases as driving price increases and delays. "In response, we have increased production of our fire and emergency vehicles by nearly 30% in the last two years, introduced new lines of semi-custom trucks with faster ship times, and continued to invest in training programs for skilled talent," the spokesperson said. Rosenbauer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. IAFF and AELP said high prices and long waits are endangering public safety in communities facing natural disasters, citing reports that dozens of fire trucks were out of commission during the wildfires that devastated two Los Angeles communities and killed at least 29 people earlier this year. From Atlanta, to Houston, to San Francisco, cities and towns are facing a crisis where demand for new fire trucks outstrips availability and funding, Kelly said. On top of long wait times, fire departments are being pushed into contracts with "floating" pricing structures, where the final price of a truck may go up after an order is placed. "We are paying the price for all these corporate decisions. It serves the investor well, but it doesn't serve the public when you call 911 and the ladder truck is out of service," Kelly said. The DOJ or FTC should use their authority to investigate the industry, and the FTC should launch a study of how consolidation is affecting fire departments' access to a broader range of parts and services, they said. Fire departments are seeing the effects of consolidation on everything from dispatch software to personal protective equipment and vehicle parts, Kelly said. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Stephen Coates)

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As fire truck prices hit $2 million, US firefighters demand an antitrust probe

As fire truck prices hit $2 million, US firefighters demand an antitrust probe By Jody Godoy (Reuters) -The largest firefighters' labor ...

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US court to weigh small business bid to block Trump tariffs

US court to weigh small business bid to block Trump tariffs

By Dietrich Knauth NEW YORK (Reuters) -Five American small businesses will ask a U.S. court on Tuesday to halt President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs, arguing the president overstepped his authority by declaring a national emergency to impose across-the-board taxes on imports from nations that sell more to the U.S. than they buy. Tuesday's hearing before a panel of three judges at the New York-based U.S. Court of International Trade will be the first major legal test of Trump's tariffs. The lawsuit was filed by the nonpartisan Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small U.S. businesses that import goods from countries targeted by the tariffs. The companies, which range from a New York wine and spirits importer to a Virginia-based maker of educational kits and musical instruments, say the steep "Liberation Day" tariffs that Trump imposed on April 2 are illegal and will hurt their ability to do business. Small businesses are being harmed by the threat of increased costs, as well as "minute by minute changes" that prevent them from planning ahead, said Jeffrey Schwab, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. "Our clients have no certainty on what the tariffs are going to be at any point, and that's exactly the problem," Schwab said. "One person shouldn't have unilateral authority to impose tariffs on every country at any rate, at any time that he wants." The Liberty Justice Center's lawsuit is one of seven court challenges to Trump's tariff policies, and it is the first to seek a ruling that would stop the tariffs from moving forward. The Court of International Trade previously rejected the small businesses' request to temporarily pause the tariffs while their lawsuit went forward, but then quickly scheduled Tuesday's court hearing to decide whether to rule against the tariffs or impose a longer-term pause. Trump imposed the new tariffs on April 2, saying the U.S. trade deficit was a "national emergency" that justified a 10% across-the-board tariff on all imports, with higher tariff rates for countries with which the U.S. has the largest trade deficits, particularly China. Many of those country-specific tariffs were paused a week later, and on Monday the Trump administration said it was also temporarily slashing the steepest China tariffs while working on a longer-term trade deal with Beijing. Both countries agreed over the weekend to cut tariffs on each other for at least 90 days. Trump's on-and-off-again tariffs have shocked U.S. markets, but he has justified them as a way to restore America's manufacturing capability. The president's executive order announcing the tariffs invoked laws including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which gives presidents special powers to combat unusual or extraordinary threats to the U.S. The Liberty Justice Center said the law does not give the president the authority to unilaterally impose tariffs "on any country he chooses at any rate he chooses." The law is meant to address "unusual and extraordinary" threats, and the U.S.' decades-long practice of buying more goods than it exports does not qualify as an emergency that would trigger IEEPA, according to the lawsuit. The U.S. Department of Justice has argued that IEEPA gives presidents broad authority to regulate imports in response to a national emergency. It has said that the plaintiffs' lawsuit should be thrown out, because they have not been harmed by tariffs they have not yet paid, and because only Congress, and not private businesses, can challenge a national emergency declared by the President under IEEPA. The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. (Reporting by Dietrich Knauth, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi and David Gregorio)

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US court to weigh small business bid to block Trump tariffs

US court to weigh small business bid to block Trump tariffs By Dietrich Knauth NEW YORK (Reuters) -Five American small businesses will ask a...

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