Medals for women in wheelchair rugby at Paralympics, pregnant archer wins gold and triathlon begins

PARIS (AP) — Ella Sabljak thrust her arms in the air after helping Australia win the bronze medal in wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics on Monday, then turned her thoughts to growing the sport.

As one of three women on Australia's team she is optimistic their medal success will get others to take up wheelchair rugby.

“I really hope so. We have a huge amount of women and girls interested," she said after the 50-48 win. “Moving forward, the strategy in our teams definitely should include embedding women in our team development, all through the pipeline.”

Emilie Miller and Shae Graham were the other women on the 12-strong team, the highest representation of women of any nation competing in Paris in the mixed-gender but male-dominated wheelchair rugby.

“The team uses our strengths. They never shut that down," Sabljak said about their roles. "They know what my strengths are, same with Shae, same with Emilie."

Sabljak hopes for eventual parity with a 6-6 split on teams.

“That’s really ambitious. I would love to see that," she said. "The next Paralympics are in LA, four years away, who knows what can happen?"

Two other women won wheelchair rugby medals: Kae Kurahashi earned gold for Japan following a 48-41 win against a United States team featuring Sarah Adam.

Pregnant archer Jodie Grinham clinched gold in the mixed team compound event alongside British teammate Nathan Macqueen, after they beat Iran 155-151.

Grinham, who is seven months pregnant, celebrated once again after her bronze medal on Saturday in the women's individual compound event.

Italian transgender runner Valentina Petrillo failed to reach the final of the women's 400 meters in her classification for visually impaired athletes.

The 50-year-old Petrillo, a transgender woman who was raised as a boy, finished third in her semifinal heat despite a personal best of 57.58 seconds.

World Athletics last year banned transgender women from competing in the female category at international events if they transitioned after puberty. But its para counterpart, World Para Athletics, has not followed suit.

Brazil's 3-0 win against host France in blind soccer group play means it still has not lost a match in Paralympic competition since its introduction to the Games in 2004.

The Brazilians are chasing a sixth straight gold medal and are spearheaded by Jefferson Goncalves Mizael Oliveira, known as Jefinho.

The speedy 34-year-old is gunning for his fifth consecutive gold medal.

Hunter Woodhall hoped to match his wife by winning an Olympic medal but he finished sixth in the 100 meters.

Woodhall is married to long jumper Tara Davis-Woodhall, who gold at the Olympics last month.

Hunter is a double amputee running in the T62 category. He clocked 10.96 seconds. Costa Rican Sherman Isidro set a Paralympic record winning in 10.65.

Hunter was born with a birth defect that left him without fibulas in either leg and led to amputation below the knees.

Triathlon events in the Seine River finally got the green light and home favorite Alexis Hanquinquant soon had the enthusiastic crowd going.

Hanquinquant raised his arms in triumph and pointed to his name as the home fans chanted his name.

“The crowd was incredible,” said Hanquinquant, who competed in the PTS4 class. “Doing it at home is exceptional.”

Hanquinquant had his right leg amputated just below the knee in 2013, about three years after it was crushed by agricultural equipment in a work accident.

Sport classes PTS2 to 5 are for athletes with limitations in lower or upper limbs who don’t need a handcycle for the cycling segment or a racing chair for the running segment. Prosthetic legs and bike modifications are allowed.

Triathlon events were postponed from Sunday because of concerns about the river's water safety after rainstorms. Heavy rains cause wastewater and runoff to flow into the river, leading to a rise in bacteria levels.

Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon won America's first medals in badminton — a silver — in the mixed doubles SH6 classification for athletes with short stature.

The two 19-year-olds lost the final to China's Lin Naili and Li Fengmei at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in northern Paris.

But silver was still great after they qualified by grabbing the final available spot back in April.

Associated Press Writer Tom Nouvian contributed to this report, as did Jack Rachinsky and Jack Leo, students at Penn State and the University of Georgia.

AP Paralympics https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

Italy's Valentina Petrillo reacts as she prepares to compete in the women's 400m T12 round 1, at the Stade de France Stadium, during the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Jackson Ranger)

Australia players celebrate after winning the wheelchair rugby bronze medal match between Australia and Great Britain at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Italy's Valentina Petrillo competes in the women's 400m T12 round 1, at the Stade de France stadium, during the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Jackson Ranger)

Italy's Valentina Petrillo prepares to compete in the women's 400m T12 round 1, at the Stade de France Stadium, during the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Jackson Ranger)

Australia's Ella Sabljak and Australia's Shae Graham, left, celebrate after winning the match during the wheelchair rugby bronze medal match between Australia and Great Britain at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Great Britain's Nathan Macqueen and Jodie Grinham win gold in the Mixed Team Compound Open, during the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Leighton Smithwick)

Australia's Ella Sabljak celebrates after winning the wheelchair rugby bronze medal match between Australia and Great Britain at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Hailey Danz from the U.S. celebrates after winning the women's PTS2 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Japan's Takuya Miki competes in the Men's Singles, 3rd round of wheelchair tennis at Roland- Garros Stadium, during the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Leighton Smithwick)

Chris Hammer from the U.S. celebrates after winning the men's PTS5 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Chris Hammer from the U.S. celebrates after winning the men's PTS5 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

France's Alexis Hanquinquant wins the men's PTS4 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

France's Alexis Hanquinquant wins the men's PTS4 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

France's Alexis Hanquinquant prepares to compete in the men's PTS4 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

France's Alexis Hanquinquant wins the men's PTS4 Triathlon at the 2024 Paralympics, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — TJ Friedl went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer and Nick Martinez pitched six strong innings for his third straight win as the Cincinnati Reds routed the scuffling Minnesota Twins 11-1 on Saturday night.

Jake Fraley had three hits for the Reds, including a solo homer. Cincinnati scored nine times in the fourth to put away the game early.

"That’s a playoff team, right? They’re right there. To be able to do that against a staff like that and a team that’s been playing well all year, it’s good for us,” Fraley said.

Minnesota remained 2 1/2 games ahead of Detroit for the final American League playoff berth but dropped 3 1/2 games behind Kansas City for the league's second wild card.

“I think you’ve got to put it like, ‘Don’t play to give it up. Play to take it,’" Twins infielder Kyle Farmer said of the team's mentality. "When we went to Cleveland last year around this time, we took it from them. It was just a different mindset. We have to get back towards that mindset of taking it rather than giving it up.”

Martinez (9-6) allowed one run and three hits with no walks and six strikeouts. In three September starts, he's 3-0 with a 0.48 ERA.

“He knows how to pitch. He’s been on a great roll. He has a great changeup, but he has really six different pitches that he can use and throw for strikes," Reds manager David Bell said.

Brent Suter pitched three scoreless innings to earn his second save of the season.

Byron Buxton had an RBI single for the Twins, who have lost eight of 11.

“There’s only one way to play this game,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “You can play with urgency and play relaxed and play loose. And that’s where we have to be. It doesn’t feel like we’re doing that. We’ve been pressing on the offensive side of the ball. We know that. You just have to keep going.”

Minnesota starter Simeon Woods Richardson (5-5), who has failed to complete five innings in any of his last four starts, worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam without allowing a run in the third. But that 28-pitch effort took its toll an inning later, when he was pulled after allowing a walk and two singles to tie it at 1.

Fraley singled off reliever Louie Varland to load the bases, and Noelvi Marte doubled to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.

Jonathan India followed with a two-run single, and before the inning was over Spencer Steer had a two-run double and Friedl a two-run homer, his second longball in as many nights.

Meanwhile, the Twins had just three hits after the first inning and were held to fewer than three runs for the sixth time in their last 11 games.

“It looks like guys are just getting frustrated with themselves and not looking at the bigger picture, just looking at the results right now,” said Farmer, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning in mop-up duty.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (elbow soreness) is slated to throw live batting practice on Tuesday. If all goes well, Bell said Greene could still be in line to make two more starts this season.

Twins: SS Carlos Correa (plantar fasciitis) returned to the lineup for the first time since the All-Star break. He started at shortstop and played four innings, doubling in his second plate appearance. He was pulled along with Buxton in the fifth with the Twins trailing 9-1.

UP NEXT

Twins RHP David Festa (2-6, 5.08 ERA) starts Sunday’s series finale against RHP Rhett Lowder (1-1, 0.59).

A previous version of this story corrected Martinez's record.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (78) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson winds up to deliver during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez winds up to deliver during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Louie Varland walks back to the dugout after the bottom of the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (78) reacts after issuing a walk to Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien fields a ball hit by Cincinnati Reds' Ty France to force a double play during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, back center, talks with teammates and pitching coach Pete Maki, right, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte (16) hits a single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez (28) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl points while running the bases after hitting a 2-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)