Mao, Takahashi show stuff at Grand Prix Final in Sochi

SOCHI, Russia — Former world champions Mao Asada and Daisuke Takahashi put Japan on course for a gold medal double as both took the lead after the women's and men's short programs at the Grand Prix Final in Russia on Friday.

Mao, who has won two Grand Prix events this season — the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy — but has had her preparations hampered by back problems, scored 66.96 points to lead American Ashley Wagner, who scored 66.44.

"For the time being I am relieved," said Mao, whose routine to "I Got Rhythm" by George Gershwin was highlighted by a triple flip-double loop combination, a triple loop and three level-four spins.

"The short program has gone well in the two Grand Prix events (this season) so I was careful to make sure I was not just going around in circles."

"I'm very glad that I performed all my jumps well. While preparing for the competition I tried to get rid of negative thoughts and skate the way I always do. The main goal for me is to focus on the upcoming free program and to tackle pre-skate jitters," said the 22-year-old.

The program was designed to "invigorate everybody who sees it, including me," Mao said. "I'm always skating it with a smile on my face."

Wagner opened with a big triple flip, followed in combination with a double toe loop. Like Mao, she didn't try a triple-triple combination, saying her execution of it has been sporadic.

"I prefer to go out on the ice and perform a program I'm 100 percent confident with," Wagner said. "It's almost better to skate a clean, lower-risk short program."

Mao was only 0.07 points ahead of Wagner on technical elements and 0.45 on program components.

Akiko Suzuki, the world bronze medalist, was third with 65.00.

"I landed all my jumps so I am pleased about that," said Suzuki. "I have made a lot of mistakes in the short program this season so I really tried to skate without fear."

Kiira Korpi of Finland under-rotated the second half of her combination and ended in fourth. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva of Russia doubled her second triple, placing fifth, and Christina Gao of the United States fell on the opening jump of hers.

In the men's competition, Takahashi, performing to "Rock n' Roll Medley," reeled off a quadruple toe loop, a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple axel and three level-four spins.

He achieved a season's best with 92.29 points and leads world champion Patrick Chan of Canada and compatriot Yuzuru Hanyu in a six-man field that features four Japanese skaters.

"It was the first time this season that I was able to do my quad in the short program, but after another jump I kind of stumbled. Nevertheless I finally landed the quad and am very happy about that," said Takahashi.

"For the past few days I haven't had the best conditions but I think the outcome is the product of my overall practice and I feel I've grown to do this," the 26-year-old said. "I don't want to lose to the younger guys, but I'm going to focus on my own performance. I don't want to make any mistakes tomorrow. I want to attract the audience's attention to my program and just do my best."

Chan notched 89.27 and NHK Trophy winner Hanyu scored 87.17. Takahiko Kozuka was fourth with 86.39, Spain's Javier Fernandez had 80.19 for fifth and Tatsuki Machida was sixth with 70.58.

Russia's Tatiana Voloszhar and Maxim Trankov lead after the short program in pairs, followed by compatriots Vera Bazarova and Yuri Larionov and Pang Qing and Jian Tong of China.

Russia's Yuko Kawaguchi and Alexander Smironov are in sixth.

In ice dancing, Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the United States led after the short dance, nearly two points ahead of world champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir of Canada.

The prestigious Grand Prix Final is doubling as a test event for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

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Kusano blasts grand slam to power Eagles past Hawks

FUKUOKA — Tohoku Rakuten's Daisuke Kusano belted a seventh-inning grand slam, and right-hander Brandon Duckworth (1-1) worked 7 2/3 innings to earn his first victory in Japan, leading the Golden Eagles to a 6-2 win over the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks on Thursday.The 36-year-old Duckworth, who has 23 major league wins under his belt, kept the Hawks off balance through good movement and change of pace, allowing four hits, while striking out eight and walking none at Yahoo Dome.Lions 8, Buffaloes 1

Key moment: The Golden Eagles' Daisuke Kusano his a seventh-inning grand slam against the Hawks on Thursday at Yahoo Dome. Tohoku Rakuen beat Fukuoka Softbank 6-2. KYODO

At Seibu Dome, Hideto Asamura's three-run double highlighted a seven-run sixth inning as Seibu came from behind to beat Orix.

Shogo Akiyama led off the inning with a single, scored the tying run on Esteban German's bases-loaded walk and capped the rally with an RBI single.

Kazuhisa Makita (11-7) allowed a run on four hits. The submarine right-hander struck out four without issuing a walk.

Fighters 6, Marines 6 (9)

At Chiba's QVC Marine Field, Lotte's Josh Whitesell drove in three runs as the Marines overcame a four-run deficit in a tie against Nippon Ham. The hosts loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth against Nippon Ham closer Hisashi Takeda, but the right-hander struck out Tomoya Satozaki to end it after 3 hours, 56 minutes.

Micah Hoffpauir homered twice and drove in three runs for the Fighters, tying the game 6-6 in the eighth with his 13th homer of the season. Hoffapauir was walked intentionally with the go-ahead runner on second base in the top of the ninth, and the Marines retired pinch-hitter Tomohiro Nioka to get out of the jam.

CENTRAL LEAGUE

Giants 4, Carp 1

At Tokyo Dome, Yomiuri lefty Tetsuya Utsumi (13-6) held Hiroshima to a run in seven innings as the Giants beat the Carp and lowered their magic number to clinch the Central League pennant to eight.

Utsumi allowed five hits and two walks, while hitting a batter and striking out five as he moved into a tie for the league lead in wins with Kazuki Yoshimi of the Dragons and Kenta Maeda of the Carp.

Utsumi reached on a one-out infield single in the third and scored the game's first run on Hayato Sakamoto's single off Hiroshima starter Keisuke Imai (2-7).

Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe gave his pitcher some breathing room in the fifth, when he plated Sakamoto with a two-run homer. Back-to-back doubles by Shuichi Murata and pinch hitter Yoshinobu Takahashi in the eighth completed the scoring.

"As for my form, it wasn't very good tonight, but Abe pulled me along," Utsumi said. "We've been getting one good game after another from the team's young pitchers. I didn't want to be the weak link."

The Carp's run came in the sixth on Brad Eldred's seventh homer of the season.

Tigers 4, Swallows 1

At Koshien Stadium, Hanshin's Jason Standridge (7-11) scattered nine hits and a walk over seven innings.

The Tigers turned three double plays and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth, when Tokyo Yakult second baseman Hiroyasu Tanaka fumbled a chance to get an inning-ending double play, allowing a run to score from third.

Hanshin completed the scoring in the eighth on straight hits, Tomoaki Kanemoto's pinch-hit, bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. Kyuji Fujimoto worked the ninth for his 23rd save.

Dragons 6, BayStars 6 (10)

At Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama's Sho Aranami tied the game at 6-6 as the BayStars overcame a five-run deficit, and Chunichi blew a chance to break the tie in the seventh as the clubs played to a tie.

Right-handed reliever Kazumasa Kikuchi allowed three runs in the seventh, but Masahiro Araki was caught stealing, and Masahiko Morino made the third out with Chunichi runners on the corners.

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Li gunning for third straight Grand Slam final

Let's do it again: Li Na has reached back-to-back Grand Slam finals heading into Wimbledon. AP

WIMBLEDON, England — After teaching the world a Chinese tennis lesson in Paris by winning the French Open, Li Na may have to educate her own mother on just what a big deal that was.

Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam title two weeks ago at Roland Garros. About 116 million people reportedly watched the match in China, but Li said her mother only sent her a text message following the victory over Francesca Schiavone to ask when she would be back home.

"I said, 'After Wimbledon.' And then she never sent me back again, so . . .," Li said. "I think she knows I won the tournament. I don't know if even she knows how big (the) tournament is. I didn't ask her."

Ask anyone on the women's tour, though, and they'll be able to answer just fine.

"What she's done for her country, China, all the pride that they have to have, a Grand Slam champion from that country, is incredible," said Maria Sharapova, who won her first major title at Wimbledon in 2004.

Top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who is still searching for her first major title, said Li's victory was good for tennis.

"I'm sure that a lot of young girls and boys in China now also want to play tennis because they want to play like Li Na," Wozniacki said. "It's great for tennis that we can have it even bigger as a sport than it is now."

Li also reached the final at the Australian Open, losing to Kim Clijsters. But while two straight Grand Slam finals has Li among the favorites at Wimbledon along with Sharapova, Wozniacki and the Williams sisters, she doesn't quite agree.

"You win the French Open (on clay), doesn't mean . . . you can do well in Wimbledon," said Li, who chatted briefly with Schiavone on Saturday as rain interrupted her practice schedule. "Change of surface. Totally different.

"So what I say before: French is over."

Li has twice made the quarterfinals at the All England Club, including in 2010. In the first round, she will face Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia.

"I always like to do better than last year," said Li, who could face 2008 Wimbledon semifinalist Zheng Jie of China in the third round.

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