Video: Nato Study Shows Friction In Afghan Soldier Relationship

Twins nearly no-hit in 6-0 loss to Tigers Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:00 pm, Friday, May 24, 2013 For the third time in his career, Mauer broke up a no-hitter in the ninth inning, lining a clean single off Detroit's Anibal Sanchez on Friday night. According to STATS, Mauer also broke up a ninth-inning no-hit bid by Gavin Floyd of the Chicago White Sox in 2008 — and he ended a combined no-hit effort by the Texas Rangers in the final inning of a 2010 game. Sanchez fell two outs shy of his second career no-hitter, but thanks to Mauer it was just another near miss this season. Mauer followed with a hit up the middle — to almost the same spot where Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison's hit landed last year when he broke up a no-hit bid by Detroit's Justin Verlander, also with two outs to go. After he struck out the next two hitters to end the game, Sanchez shared a hug with catcher Alex Avila. The following inning, Brian Dozier nearly broke up the no-hit bid when he hit a slow roller to shortstop Jhonny Peralta and almost beat the throw the first. Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run single in the second, upping his RBI total to 57. Don Kelly added a two-run homer the following inning.

Braves-Mets Runs Simmons lined out to right fielder Byrd. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Braves 2, Mets 0. Buck grounded into fielder's choice, shortstop Simmons to second baseman Uggla, Duda out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Braves 2, Mets 1. Hefner grounded out, shortstop Simmons to first baseman F.Freeman. Braves 2, Mets 2. D.Wright flied out to right fielder Heyward. Buck flied out to right fielder Heyward. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Mets 3, Braves 2. Braves 3, Mets 3.

Surging Pirates trying to enjoy the ride Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Published 11:05 pm, Friday, May 24, 2013 The Pirates closer totally understands why Pittsburgh's tormented, long-suffering fan base treats every victory with a mix of glee and trepidation. The major league leader in saves is well aware the Pirates haven't made the playoffs or even posted a winning record since 1992, a 21-year drought that is simply known in western Pennsylvania as "The Streak." Powered their charismatic, karaoke-belting stopper, a starting rotation putting up eye-popping numbers and an optimistic manager who considers himself equal parts tactician and philosopher, the Pirates head into Memorial Day weekend as one of the baseball's biggest surprises. After two tantalizing summers under Hurdle turned into September swoons, including a painful tumble from 16 games over .500 on Aug. 8 to a 79-83 finish last fall, Hurdle and his players insist the success they're enjoying can extend beyond Labor Day. The same faces are sticking around, creating the kind of stability that can lead to perhaps the most vital ingredient necessary to become winners: chemistry. Pittsburgh's 14 comeback victories are tied for the most in the majors and the Pirates have reeled off six straight wins in one-run games. Hurdle, who emails daily inspirational missives to a lengthy list of acquaintances and has an eclectic stack of self-empowerment and baseball history books on his desk, called the dismal 9-22 finish to 2012 a "pebble" in his team's shoe. Pittsburgh went 8-2 on its recently completed homestand, including a 5-4 victory against hapless Houston when two Astros players collided trying to catch a routine fly ball in the bottom of the ninth allowing Travis Snider to plate the winning run. Pittsburgh is remarkable 23-1 when leading after seven innings thanks to a bullpen that set-up man Mark Melancon dubbed "The Shark Tank" because as Grilli puts it "when we smell blood, we attack." Grilli can't help but laugh as he talks about it, maybe because the idea of a bullpen led by a journeyman reliever is kind of preposterous. The well-traveled pitcher was handed the closing job for the first time in his career over the winter when the Pirates decided to trade two-time All-Star Joel Hanrahan to Boston rather than give him the hefty raise he was due in salary arbitration. [] Grilli and Burnett — he of the National League-leading 79 strikeouts, arms full of tattoos and mischievous grin — are a perfect antidote to the persistent cloud "The Streak" casts over the franchise, if not the players in uniform. If Grilli isn't leading clubhouse lingerers like Melancon and catcher Russell Martin in some postgame karaoke — "Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi is Grilli's go-to song — then Burnett is taking rehabbing starting pitcher Jeff Karstens outside in the lazy hours before batting practice starts and racing remote control cars across the PNC Park outfield. Maybe that's why utility infielder Brandon Inge decided to dress up in full hockey gear — helmet, shoulder pads and roller blades included — and skate around the clubhouse before a 4-2 win over Chicago on Thursday.

Indy 500 could be better than 2012's epic race Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:02 pm, Friday, May 24, 2013 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — They raced 1-2-3 in line, trading the lead a whopping 15 times over the final, frantic 75 laps. The bar was certainly raised at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last year with 34 lead changes, passing throughout the field, Franchitti rallying from the back to win and three of the late Dan Wheldon's closest friends sweeping the podium. The series is off to a terrific start this year with three winners in the first four races, and for the first time since 1991 none of the winners drive for the mighty Penske Racing or Chip Ganassi Racing teams. Franchitti and Helio Castroneves are each vying to join Foyt, Al Unser Sr. and Rick Mears as the only four-time winners of the Indy 500, a feat that's not been done since Mears' 1991 victory. "What an incredible opportunity for the fans to have not only one, but two guys trying to make history," Castroneves said. Carlos Munoz, a 21-year-old Colombian making his IndyCar debut, will start second alongside Marco Andretti, who is once again considered a favorite but must overcome a curse that has limited his famous family to one win — Mario Andretti in 1969 — in 80 starts. [] Rahal thinks everybody is overlooking AJ Allmendinger, who will make his Indianapolis 500 debut seven years after he left open-wheel racing for NASCAR. A failed drug test cost him his NASCAR ride last summer with Roger Penske, but the team owner has given him a second chance with this IndyCar opportunity. Carpenter, the stepson of IndyCar Series founder Tony George, is a graduate of Butler and a die-hard Indiana Pacers fan and the surprise pole-winner for the Indy 500. Carpenter is powered by Chevrolet, which for the second year in a row dominated all the preparations for the Indy 500 and swept the first 10 spots in qualifying. If that sounds familiar, it should — last year, Chevrolet dominated leading into the Indy 500 but Franchitti won in a Honda.

Fever top Silver Stars to open WNBA title defense Associated Press Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 11:00 pm, Friday, May 24, 2013 Fever top Silver Stars to open WNBA title defense SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Lin Dunn was expecting the San Antonio Silver Stars to have a thunderous start in their home opener and the Indiana Fever got exactly that in the first quarter. Tamika Catchings and Shavonte Zellous each scored 19 points and the Fever opened defense of their WNBA title with a resounding 79-64 victory over the depleted San Antonio Silver Stars on Friday night. Indiana outscored San Antonio 45-29 in the second half, turning a one-point deficit into the Fever's third straight win on opening night. Young is expected to miss the season after suffering a torn ACL while playing overseas. San Antonio point guard Danielle Robinson took an early leading role, scoring three points and picking up two assists in the 10-0 run. Catchings' open layup gave the Fever a 51-43 lead, resulting in a series of puzzled looks by the Silver Stars defenders over the missed assignment and leading to a timeout by San Antonio coach Dan Hughes. Indiana took a 13-12 advantage in the overall series with Silver Stars franchise, including a 13-7 record since the team moved to San Antonio from Utah. .