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SPORTS Friday 6 September 2024

Magic Johnson buys

a stake in the NWSL’s

Washington Spirit

Minnesota Twins' Edouard Julien (47) celebrates his three-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays start-
ing pitcher Taj Bradley with third base coach Tommy Watkins during the second inning of a base-
ball game Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Associated Press
Edouard Julien hits 3-run homer, Twins

beat Rays 4-3 after 13-minute delay Magic Johnson waves to people before an NBA basketball
game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles
Lakers Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, in New York.
Associated Press
By DICK SCANLON a way to score," said Díaz, innings after the homers. His
Associated Press who had two of the Rays' seven innings matched a ca- WASHINGTON (AP) — Magic Johnson has bought
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — eight hits. reer high. an ownership stake in the National Women’s Soc-
Edouard Julien hit a three-run López gave up three runs "You kind of get angry after cer League’s Washington Spirit, the basketball great-
homer, and the Minnesota and seven hits, struck out something like that," he said. turned entrepreneur’s latest addition to his profession-
Twins beat the Tampa Bay nine and walked one. His "I just concentrated on not al sports team portfolio.
Rays 4-3 Thursday in a game scoreless streak reached letting those runs beat me. The team announced Thursday that Johnson has
with a 13-minute interruption 23 1/3 innings before Junior I feel like that's what's been joined the investor group led by owner Michele Kang.
largely caused by a video Caminero's two-run single in happening; I'd come out “I’m excited to join the Washington Spirit’s investor
review. the third. early because of the big in- group at such a pivotal time in the club’s history,”
With Tampa Bay trailing 4-2 in "I didn't know what was going ning. I was just trying to elimi- Johnson said in a statement. “Partnering with a vision-
the seventh inning and Jonny on," López said of the long nate that." ary like Michele Kang and her team to advance the
DeLuca on third, Yandy Díaz video review. "The Jumbotron Before the game, the Rays growth of the Washington Spirit and the NWSL is an
sliced a drive toward the said the play is under review, recalled infielder Austin Shen- incredible opportunity. I’m excited to join the team
right-field corner, Matt Wall- and the umpire said it was ton from Durham, selected and play my part to help elevate this organization.”
ner gloved the ball on two about the rules of the ball- the contract of left-hander Johnson, whose given name is Earvin, most recently
hops as DeLuca scored, and park and they were trying to Mason Montgomery from the became part of the ownership group that bought the
Wallner's momentum carried get everything right. I wasn't Triple-A affiliate, optioned NFL’s Washington Commanders last year and also has
him over the low wall and happy that it took that long left-hander Tyler Alexander shares in Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodg-
into a camera well. and may have cost me (the to the Bulls and designated ers, WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and Major League
Umpires held a crew chief completion of the inning)." catcher Alex Jackson for as- Soccer’s Los Angeles FC.
review that took about nine Jhoan Durán struck out two signment. “From the basketball court to the boardroom, Earvin
minutes and determined Díaz in a perfect ninth for his 22nd Montgomery made his major knows how to win, and we are delighted to count on
should be placed on second save in 24 chances as the league debut with a hitless his expertise as part of our fantastic investor group,”
base. Twins gained a four-game eighth inning that included said Kang, who has owned the team since 2022. “His
"If the guy has possession of split. a walk. commitment not only reflects the strength of our club,
the ball going into the stands, Minnesota (76-64) moved TRAINER'S ROOM players, fans and brand, but also sends a powerful
it's one base. If he doesn't a half-game ahead of idle Twins: OF Max Kepler (left pa- message about the growth and impact of women’s
have possession of it, it can Kansas City (76-65) for the tellar tendinitis) was placed sports globally. Together, we look forward to taking
be two bases," Rays manager AL's second wild card. on the 10-day injured list and the Washington Spirit to new heights and inspiring
Kevin Cash said. "So he had Eight of the last nine games OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr.'s the next generation of young women and girls world-
possession of it. ... I'm confi- between the teams have contract was selected from wide.”
dent that they got the call been decided by one run. Triple-A St. Paul, Keirsey made Johnson will be introduced at a school event Friday
right." Julien homered in the second his major league debut in the and is expected to be at the Spirit’s next home game
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli inning on a first-pitch splitter eighth inning in center field. Saturday at Audi Field against Portland Thorns FC.
then brought in reliever Griffin from Taj Bradley (6-10) and ... OF Byron Buxton's recov- In on-field news, the team said U.S. Olympic gold
Jax to replace Pablo López Wallner in the third on a 2-0 ery has been hampered by medal-winning midfielder Croix Bethune is out for the
(14-8). Jax retired Brandon fastball. continued discomfort in his season with a knee injury. The Spirit said Bethune, who
Lowe on a groundout. Bradley allowed six hits in right hip, according to man- threw out the first pitch at the Nationals game on Aug.
"It was the difference be- seven innings, struck out 10 ager Rocco Baldelli reported. 28, tore the meniscus in one of her knees away from
tween a man being on sec- and walked one. He is 0-6 in Buxton played briefly before training.
ond and third. When you're seven starts since winning at being ejected from his first The Washington Post reported Bethune was injured
on third you can score on Toronto on July 25. rehab game Wednesday from throwing out the first pitch.q
a wild pitch, you can find He gave up one hit in 4 2/3 night.q