WEST HAM ICON LUDEK MIKLOSKO DIES AGED 64 AS TRIBUTES POUR IN

 

Ludek Miklosko has passed away (Image: Getty)

West Ham United have confirmed that former goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64, after a brave battle with cancer. He made 373 appearances during eight years at the club.

In a statement, the club wrote: "Everyone at West Ham United is deeply saddened by the passing of Ludek Miklosko at the age of 64, following a courageous battle with cancer.

"The hugely popular former goalkeeper, known fondly as ‘Ludo’ to the Claret and Blue Army, made 373 appearances for the club during eight years as No1 between 1990 and 1997.

"The incredible impact he had on the club and the fondness with which he is remembered is heard every matchday, when supporters sing his iconic ‘My name is Ludek Miklosko, I come from near Moscow, I play in goal for West Ham’ chant."

In an emotional statement on the club's website, Miklosko's son Martin said: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of my Dad Luděk, following a brave and courageous battle with cancer.

“On behalf of my Mum and my family, I would like to sincerely thank the fans and everyone at West Ham United Football Club for the kind wishes, thoughts and prayers that were sent to my Dad during his illness.

“We know that the many messages and wishes from his former teammates and fans alike were a huge sense of comfort to him in his battle with cancer, and gave him the strength to not give up and keep fighting for as long as he could.

“We are heartbroken at his loss, but take huge comfort from the immense support he received from all of you, along with the knowledge that he is now at peace and no longer suffering.

“Dad simply loved West Ham United, and especially hearing his name sung loud and proud at every game. The Club, and its fans, were and always will be a part of our family, so thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.”

West Ham added: "The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at West Ham United are with Luděk’s family as they come to terms with their loss, and we kindly ask that their privacy is respected at this sad and difficult time.

"A period of appreciation to honour Luděk will be held before kick-off at Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie against Fulham, and our following home EFL Championship fixture, against Queens Park Rangers on Friday 9 October, will be dedicated to Ludek’s memory. Further tributes will also appear across club channels in the coming days.

"Rest in peace Ludek, our beloved, inspirational goalkeeper and gentle giant of a man."

Miklosko was the guest of honour at the London Stadium for the Premier League fixture against Liverpool in December 2024, just after he announced his decision to withdraw from further cancer treatment. Hammers fans showed their support for the goalkeeper back in February by displaying a tifo in honour of him.

- Amie Wilson

CABO VERDE CONTINUES DREAM RUN, BECOMES SMALLEST COUNTRY TO REACH WORLD CUP KNOCKOUT PHASE

 

Cabo Verde's players celebrate after earning a draw against Saudi Arabia to advance to the round of 32 following their Group H match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Houston, Texas, June 26, 2026. /VCG

Cabo Verde completed an improbable run through Group H with a third consecutive draw at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the smallest-ever country to earn a spot in the tournament's knockout phase, following a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia in Houston on Friday.

The tiny island nation off Africa's western coast has enjoyed a stellar debut on football's grandest stage, having held 2010 champion Spain to a 0-0 stalemate before battling from behind to snatch a 2-2 result against Uruguay.

Cabo Verde's three points left the team in second place behind the Spaniards, who beat the Uruguayans later in the evening to top the group with seven points. The Blue Sharks will face reigning World Cup champion Argentina in the round of 32 on July 3 in Miami.

Drawing all three group matches does not guarantee advancement at major tournaments. But several teams have turned the trick in the past including Wales in 1958, Ireland and the Netherlands in 1990, and Chile in 1998. New Zealand, on the other hand, was eliminated despite picking up a trio of draws in 2010.

Spain's 1-0 victory against Uruguay largely came down to another goalkeeping mistake by Fernando Muslera, as La Roja advance to the knockout phase while also eliminating the South American powerhouse and two-time title winner.

Uruguay will go home without any victories from its three Group H games. European champion Spain will face the second-place team from Group J, either Austria or Algeria, in the Los Angeles suburb of Inglewood on Thursday.

Álex Baena scored in the 42nd minute after Muslera couldn't fully swat away his shot from inside the box. The miscue marked the third blunder of the tournament by the 40-year-old goalkeeper, who reportedly asked coach Marcelo Bielsa to substitute him out at halftime.

Earlier in the day, Ousmane Dembele produced his best-ever World Cup performance with a stunning first-half hat-trick in France's 4-1 win over Norway.

The 29-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward showcased the lethal finishing which helped him win last year's Ballon d'Or, finding the net three times in the space of 26 first-half minutes in the Boston suburb of Foxborough.

Dembele's trio of goals, along with Desire Doue's late header, allowed France to complete the first round with three wins from three matches following earlier victories against Senegal and Iraq.

Les Bleus progress to the round of 32 as Group I winners, bolstered by clear evidence that the French squad can once again be serious title contenders, even if captain Kylian Mbappe isn't the player scoring the goals.

Elsewhere, Senegal lit up the scoreboard against 10-man Iraq in a 5-0 victory that boosted its chances of reaching the knockout phase.

Substitute Pape Gueye scored twice in a second-half flurry as the Lions of Teranga, looking to advance from third place in Group I, took advantage of a first-half red card on Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka, who prevented Sadio Mane from charging in on goal alone by yanking his shirt.

Habib Diarra opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but even though Sulaka was sent off in the 13th, the Senegalese side didn't find the net again until Ismaila Sarr struck in the 56th minute.

Gueye then added his two goals, both hard blasts from around the edge of the penalty area, with Iliman Ndiaye rounding out the rout after firing in the fifth. Senegal now has three points and a goal difference of plus-two.

Late evening games saw Belgium thrash bottom side New Zealand 5-1 to top Group G, while Egypt held on to second place after a 1-1 draw with Iran, which had a would-be winner in stoppage time ruled offside by the slightest of margins following a VAR review.

That cruel twist of fate left Iran hoping to be one of the eight best third-place teams poised to join the 12 group winners and 12 runners-up in progressing to the round of 32.

Source(s): AP

- CGTN 

ALAIN PROST | FERRARI 641 | 1990 F1 SEASON

 

Alain Prost and the Ferrari 641 became one of the defining combinations of the 1990 Formula 1 season 🏎️🔥

Known for his smooth driving style, intelligence, and consistency, Prost pushed Ferrari back into championship contention during one of the sport’s most competitive eras. The Ferrari 641 itself is still remembered today as one of the most beautiful and technically respected Formula 1 cars ever created. 🇫🇷🔴

Moments like this perfectly capture the atmosphere of early 1990s Formula 1 — raw speed, screaming V12 engines, and sparks flying under the lights as drivers pushed their machines to the absolute limit. A true golden era of motorsport history. 📸✨

#AlainProst #Ferrari641 #Ferrari #Formula1 #F1History #ClassicF1 #Motorsport #VintageF1 #FormulaOne #RacingLegend #HistoricRacing #MotorsportPhotography #GoldenEraF1 #ScuderiaFerrari #F1Classic

- Get Spéed

WHY TENNIS GREAT GABRIELA SABATINI RETIRED EARLY | MENTAL HEALTH

Gabriela Sabatini’s decision to retire at just 26 shocked the tennis world, but in hindsight, it reflected a deep, long-standing struggle with motivation rather than physical ability. By 1996, the Argentine star had already amassed 27 singles titles and nearly $9 million in prize money, including a memorable U.S. Open triumph in 1990. Yet despite her success, Sabatini admitted that she simply “couldn’t take it anymore.”

The source of her burnout wasn’t her body. She explained that the mental and emotional strain of the tour had gradually built up over years. “At 26, I was physically in great shape. I had already been processing it,” she revealed to ESPN, reflecting on the period that began around 1994. Working with a sports psychologist, Sabatini confronted a persistent sense of emptiness. “You feel like you’re hitting a rough patch and you say, ‘I don’t want to play, I don’t want to be in here,’ and it’s like everything is the same to you, and I wasn’t motivated to be there.”

This struggle traced back to her earliest years in tennis. A prodigy who turned professional at 14, Sabatini first experienced the same lack of motivation at 17, showing that even immense talent and early success couldn’t shield her from the mental toll of elite sport. Her candid reflections highlight the often unseen pressures faced by top athletes, reminding fans that the path to glory can come with profound personal cost.

#GabrielaSabatini #TennisLegend #MentalHealthInSports #USOpenChampion #TennisHistory #AthleteBurnout #WomenInSports #TennisRetirement #SportsPsychology

- Viral Y4

AFRICAN FOOTBALL LEGEND | OMAM BIYIK

 

1990 World Cup: Argentina v Cameroon 0-1. Francois Omam Biyik, scoring the only goal in the opening match

BOXING LEGEND MAKES BRUTAL CONOR BENN PREDICTS - H

Conor Benn is set to fight Chris Eubank Jr this Saturday(Image: GETTY)

With Benn and Eubank Jr set to fight this weekend, many have weighed in on the upcoming clash and one boxing legend has offered his own brutal verdict

Former boxing world champion Carl Froch has weighed in on the clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn and insists the latter has 'done nothing.'

Both Eubank Jr and Benn will finally settle their rivalry this weekend as the two British boxing stars are scheduled to go head-to-head at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night. There is a real animosity between the two fighters - who have been thrust into a family feud after their fathers' famous fights in 1990 and 1993.

Fans have had to wait nearly two-and-a-half years to see both clash in the ring. They were due to fight back in October 2022, but the dust-up was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed a drugs test. Since their fight was rebooked, many within the combat sports community have offered their verdict on how it'll play out.

Froch and fellow legend Ricky Hatton have been left torn when predicting the winner as the pair can't seem to agree. In a video uploaded to his official YouTube channel, Froch said: “I think that all the variables you look at who has done what, whose the bigger, stronger man, who has the experience at world level. Eubank fought Groves, Saunders, beat Arthur Abraham, James DeGale, a former world champion, he’s fought at a better level and proved at a higher weight he belongs at world level.

“Conor Benn has done nothing. Nothing, Yes he knocked out Chris Algieri who is a former champ and looked good doing it but it was a way past his best Algieri. If I’m going to pick my immediate favourite in this fight, I’m going with Chris Eubank Jr.”

Benn is set to move up from his natural weight class of welterweight to middleweight. That said, Eubank Jr will have a 10lbs rehydration clause on fight night. While Froch is backing Eubank Jr, Hatton is tipping Benn to get the job done in North London this weekend.

“A lot of people are favouring Eubank. I get why they’re doing it," he said on Froch's official YouTube channel. "Let’s have it right, Conor’s not boxed anyone near Chris’ potential, and when you think who Chris has been in with, Billy Joe Saunders, at that level, at his own weight. To jump up two weights and fight Chris, it is a massive ask.

“Chris has to boil down that little bit extra, that will help Conor. Cause I know him personally, I just know the desire, the self-belief, the drive that he has. He will not be denied, like his dad. Chris has been stopped. When the fight with Conor fell through he fought Liam. He’d been boiling himself down and I think that’s why he got knocked out. Which is what he’s doing again, so I’m gonna go with my mate Conor.”

- James Evans

ENGLAND CRICKET LEGEND'S WIFE DIES AFTER LONG GETTING WITH CANCER

The tragic news was confirmed on Monday

Stewart's wife Lynn has died at the age of 62 (Image: FIONA HANSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Lynn's death was confirmed by the club on Monday morning with chairman Oli Slipper saying: “The sincere condolences of everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club are with Alec and the whole Stewart family.

"Our very best wishes are with the family and we will continue to offer any support to them that we are able to. In the meantime, we ask that people respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

The club also confirmed that flags would be flown at half-mast for the final day of their County Championship game against Hampshire as a mark of respect.

Stewart is the fifth most-capped English cricketer ever in Test matches, having played in 133 between 1990 and 2003, and was made captain in 1998.

As a player, he won six trophies in 23 years with Surrey, including three Championship titles, while he oversaw three County Championship title wins in his role as director of cricket with the club.

However, at the end of last year he stepped down from that position and took on a part-time role as high-performance cricket advisor, in order for him to spend more time with Lynn.

Describing it as the "toughest decision of my working career," Stewart announced in a statement: "Since 2013, I have given this job my total commitment and it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the greatest cricket club in the world. However, the job is not one that you can just leave at the ground, as it demands 24-7 attention.

"As people may know, my wife has been battling cancer since 2013 and I want to give her, and my family, more of my time over the coming years than this job allows."

Shortly after stepping down from his role, he opened up on his wife's illness in an interview with the Telegraph, explaining: "There are bits and pieces that have crept up recently. It's never going away. It's managing it.

"That is, there are some goodish times, and then the last four weeks have been tough for her. And then it's just putting faith in the oncologist we've had from day one, who's been brilliant.

"But yes, now I've got housework duties, cooking duties and other duties on the agenda, which I do to the best of my ability, which isn't great, but you've got to try, haven't you?

'It is two weeks on and two weeks off with chemo and the oncologist has said we will attack it with vigour," he added. "And hopefully make life more pleasant. So it's just managing it really, dealing with it, which is what we've always done. She's the brave one."

The couple were married for over 30 years and had two children, Andrew and Emily, together.

- John Jones

GAEL MONFILS BREAKS ROGER FEDERER'S RECORD AFTER VICTORY IN AUCKLAND

France's Gael Monfils celebrates with the trophy after defeating Belgium's Zizou Bergs in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland. AP

Gael Monfils became the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in the final in Auckland on Saturday

Gael Monfils broke Roger Federer’s record to become the oldest player to win an ATP Tour title after winning the ASB Classic in Auckland on Saturday. The French veteran achieved the feat after defeating Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-4 in Auckland, claiming his 13th tour title – 20 years after winning his first – at the age of 38 years and 132 days.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, was 38 years and 74 days old when he won the Swiss Indoor title in Basel in 2019, the final tour title of his iconic career.

Monfils currently is ranked 52 and is the oldest player in the history of the ATP Tour to be ranked in the top 100.

Pancho Gonzalez was 44 years, 7 months and 4 days old when he won a Kingston, Jamaica singles title in 1972, prior to the formation of the ATP Tour in 1990.

The Auckland final was delayed on Saturday by a medical emergency in the crowd but Monfils showed the same mixture of aggression and tenacious defense to claim his first title since the Stockholm Open in 2023.

Prior to the start of the Auckland tournament, Monfils spoke about how his love of tennis kept him going.

“I love tennis. I love what I’m doing so of course all the sacrifices you do, they are a little bit easier. When you love something, it’s easier to keep pushing," he said.

“I’ve been enjoying myself since the first day I played tennis and (at) 60 years old I will still have this joy. Practice, it’s easy. It’s in the DNA. Stay in shape, it’s easy. It’s more the travel.”

After collecting the Auckland trophy, Monfils headed straight to the airport for a flight to Melbourne where he will face Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of the Australian Open.

With AP inputs

- FP Sports

SERIE A | 1989-90 | TOP GOAL SCORERS

 

REVEALED: THE TWO HEALTH TESTS MIKE TYSON STILL HAS TO PASS BEFORE HE CAN ACTUALLY FIGHT JAKE PAUL - AS LEGENDARY BOXER'S RETURN STILL NOT OFFICIALLY SIGNED

• 'Iron Mike' won 44 fights and was undisputed champion from 1987 to 1990 

• He is making a long-awaited comeback against Paul in Texas on Friday night

• But the 58-year-old must now pass more tests after a long battle with his fitness 

Mike Tyson faces a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of a huge comeback fight against Jake Paul, with the legendary boxer required to pass two more health tests ahead of the bout.

'Iron Mike' was the undisputed world heavyweight champion between 1987 and 1990 and terrified opponents with his incredible punching power.

The Brooklyn-born fighter ended his career with a record of 50 wins, including 44 by way of knockout, and six losses, including his disqualification against Evander Holyfield in 1997 for biting his compatriot in the third round.

He is due to make a long-awaited return to the professional boxing fray in his fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, having last taken part in a sanctioned bout in June 2005 against Kevin McBride.

But the event could now be in jeopardy after it emerged that Tyson still has to pass a brain test (EEG) and a heart test (EKG) this week in a safety precaution agreed to months ago, Boxing Kingdom reports.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation mandated the tests ahead of the bout, which pits boxers with a 31-year age gap. 

Indeed, when Paul was born, Tyson had already won 45 fights and won and regained two heavyweight belts.

The fight was originally supposed to take place in July but a stomach alcer flare-up while on a plane meant that the 58-year-old was advised to delay the contest.

At the time, Tyson said: 'I asked the doctor, "Am I going to die?"

'I lost 25 pounds in 11 days. Couldn't eat. Only liquids. Every time I went to the bathroom, it smelled like tar.

'All my coordination, stamina, everything was hectic getting back. I was peaked already. I could have fought him that day. Now, I got to start from scratch. I had, like, eight blood transfusions. The doctor said I lost half my blood. I almost died.'

Earlier this month, it was revealed that these claims were being investigated by officials from Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation - who are overseeing the event.

However, it's expected the Texas Licensing Regulators will not assess Tyson again until the day before the fight takes place. 

Therefore, there is a high risk that the bout could be cancelled just 24 hours before Iron Mike is set to step back into the ring. 

The result of the assessment could see the fight be downgraded from a professional one to an exhibition or even cancelled. 

However, Tyson is confident the bout will go ahead as planned and insists he is ready to dismantle Paul despite suffering a medical emergency earlier this year. 

Tyson has given marijuana up while training to fight Paul because it is on the list of banned substances used by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

The fighter, who became the youngest heavyweight title-holder at 20 years and four months in 1986, has struggled with a series of health issues in recent years.

Despite showing his enduring class in an exhbition bout against Roy Jones Jr in 2020, Tyson has persistently battled with chronic knee and back problems.

Two years ago, he had a severe sciatica episode which left him in a wheelchair and then using a cane.

- SAM LAWLEY

FERRARI'S SAINZ CLAIMS VICTORY IN MÉXICO, VERSTAPPEN PAYS PRICE FOR RUTHLESS TACTICS

MEXICO CITY, Oct 28 — Carlos Sainz cruised to an emotional victory for Ferrari ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris in Sunday’s incident-filled Mexico City Grand Prix as Red Bull’s series leader Max Verstappen was handed two 10-second penalties on his way to sixth.

The stewards took a dim view of Verstappen’s aggressive driving, the Red Bull driver twice forcing his title rival Norris off the track.

Norris grabbed second from Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari near the finish as the Briton enjoyed a major boost in his quest to deny Verstappen a fourth consecutive world championship.

The McLaren driver cut 10 points off the gap to Verstappen which now stands at 47 with four race weekends remaining.

Verstappen paid a heavy price for his show of ruthlessness with Norris commenting: “I knew what to expect from Max. I respect him a lot as a driver and I expected it but it was not very clean driving in my opinion.

“It was a very tough race and I spent a lot of it just trying to avoid crashes.”

It was the second week in succession that the two title-chasers had clashed following a penalty for Norris at the United States Grand Prix.

McLaren boss Zak Brown described this latest example of Verstappen’s aggressive streak as “ridiculous”.

“Enough is enough. Let’s just have some good clean racing moving forwards. I think the stewards are on it, I think that’s clear by the penalties that were given. The stewards did a good job this weekend.”

Asked about his drivers’ crown prospects Norris said: “I’m just keeping my head down, we’re doing good job as a team, focus on ourselves, that’s all I can do for now.”

Sainz meanwhile is ensuring he leaves Ferrari with his head held high as he switches next season to Williams to make way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

“Gracias Mexico!” said a beaming Sainz.

“It is incredible to see this crowd. I have felt their support all week and it gave me a lot of strength — I said I wanted one more win with Ferrari and to do it here with this mega-crowd is incredible.”

It was Ferrari’s first victory in Mexico since Alain Prost triumphed in 1990 — enabling them to move ahead of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship — and Sainz’s second win of the season and fourth of his career.

Hamilton finished fourth ahead of his Mercedes team-mate George Russell.

Kevin Magnussen finished behind Verstappen in seventh to deliver Haas’s best result in Mexico ahead of Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren, who started from the back end of the grid, Nico Hulkenberg in the second Haas and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Tsunoda out

The race began in a festive atmosphere with Verstappen winning the start from pole-sitter Sainz to lead the run to the first corner where RB’s Yuki Tsunoda crashed out after making contact in the midfield squeeze.

The race was yellow-flagged to retrieve the debris. Replays showed he collided with Alex Albon’s Williams going into the braking zone. Albon retired.

Verstappen accelerated as racing resumed on lap six with Sainz soon showing Ferrari’s potential and then sweeping inside him to lead on lap nine at Turn One.

The Dutchman fought but Sainz hung on and next time round on lap 10 Norris made a move at Turn Eight where Verstappen responded by forcing him wide and off-track.

Norris handed the place back.

“I was ahead the whole way through the corner,” said the Briton. “This guy is dangerous. I have to avoid a crash. I’ll end up in the wall.”

As they squabbled, Leclerc moved up to second while Norris tried again at Turn Four on the next lap only to be pushed off again.

“He overtook me off-track and pushed me off,” said Norris.

The stewards noted both incidents and then issued Verstappen with a 10-second penalty for fouling Norris. “That’s quite impressive,” said a sarcastic Verstappen.

Behind the leaders two-time former champion Fernando Alonso, in his record 400th Grand Prix weekend, pitted his Aston Martin and retired after 17 laps before a second stewards’ penalty for Verstappen — a further 10 seconds for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.

After a flurry of pit stops Verstappen climbed to sixth as Norris chased Leclerc, passing him for second on lap 63 when the Monegasque slid wide at the final corner.

With five laps to go, Norris was seven seconds behind Sainz as Hamilton finally passed Russell for fourth, setting up a frantic finale. 

— AFP

CHICAGO WHITE SOX LOSE 21ST STRAIGHT GAME, TIE AL RECORD

Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol reacts [+]
COPYRIGHT 2024 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game, tying American League record with a 5-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics on Monday night as Max Schuemann hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fourth inning.

Chicago is on the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight.

The major league low belongs to the 1889 Louisville Colonels, an American Association team that lost 26 consecutive games slide during a 27-111 season.

Chicago, which last won on July 10 in a doubleheader opener against Minnesota, dropped to 27-88 and is on pace to finish 38-124, which would be the most losses since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders of the National League went 20-134. The White Sox have been held to one run or none 32 times.

"We talk about it everyday, everybody knows what it is," Chicago manager Pedro Grifol said after the loss. "It's 21 in a row, it sucks, it's painful, it hurts, you name it. ... Like I said, it's not for lack of effort. Nobody wants to come out here and lose."

Measuring up against the rest of baseball, after the All-Star break, is even more dreary for the White Sox. Sixteen of the losses in the streak have come post-break, and according to ESPN Stats & Information research, every other team in the majors has at least four victories in that span.

"You just try to turn the page," outfielder Corey Julks said. "Look forward to the next day, bounce back, don't dwell on the loss, just try to learn from them and get better each day. ... We're just trying to rally as a team and find a way to get a win."

Former White Sox great Frank Thomas, a Hall of Fame first baseman, was on the team's postgame show on NBC Sports Chicago Monday, and said he would throw a postgame tantrum with reporters if he were managing this team.

"It's time to snap," Thomas said. "That's the only way through the players right now. Snap. I'm serious. I don't want to hear no more: `We're trying.′ No more: `They're working hard every day.′ No, it's time to snap. It's time to kick over the spread."

Thomas played for the White Sox from 1990 to 2005 as part of a 19-season career. Now 56, the two-time AL MVP hit 521 home runs, including 448 for Chicago. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 2014.

"I'm not being nice. Kick the door. Slam the door! 'Get out of here! I'm tired of answering questions," Thomas suggested would be his reaction as manager. "'We've lost 21 in -- we're the laughing stock of baseball. You think I don't know that?'"

Tyler Nevin's first-inning sacrifice fly put the A's ahead, but Andrew Benintendi tied the score with an RBI single against JP Sears (9-8) in the fourth.

JJ Bleday doubled in the bottom half off Ky Bush (0-1), a 24-year-old left-hander making his big league debut, Zack Gelof walked and Darell Hernaiz was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Schuemann grounded a single between shortstop and third that bounced into left for a 3-1 lead.

Lawrence Butler added a sixth-inning homer against Chad Kuhl, his 16th home run this season. Gelof added a run in the eighth when he sprinted home from first when Jared Shuster's pitch bounced away from catcher Korey Lee as Schuemann struck out. Lee looked toward Gelof at third and threw to first baseman Andrew Vaughn for the out, and Gelof ran home as Vaughn's throw skipped past Lee.

Sears allowed three hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and a walk, improving to 5-1 in his last six decisions.

"Our whole plan coming into this series was to continue our focus," A's manager Mark Kotsay said, whose club just dropped a weekend series to the Los Angeles Dodgers. "Focus on the details of the game, play the game the way we know we're capable of, and we did that tonight."

Austin Adams and Tyler Ferguson finished a four-hitter that took just 2 hours, 15 minutes.

"We bounced back today aggainst a team that has been struggling lately," Schuemann said in his postgame, on-field interview on NBC Sports California. "So, it was important to come out here and not take them lightly. That was a big key for us."

Bush allowed three runs, two hits and five walks over four innings with three strikeouts. He played college baseball at Saint Mary's College in Moraga.

On Tuesday, the White Sox will give it another shot with rookie right-hander Jonathan Cannon (1-5, 4.11 ERA) on the mound, opposed by Oakland righty Ross Stripling (2-10, 5.64).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

LOTHAR MATTHEUS & DIEDO ARMANDO MARADONA | WORLD CUP 1990

Lothar Matthaeus and Diego Armando Maradona, two legendary captains for West Germany vs Argentina, World Cup Italia 1990 final match at Stadio Olimpico in Rome!! 🇩🇪🇦🇷

RICK JAMES WITH MIKE TYSON | 1990