BRATISLAVA, Slovakia -- Germany reached the semifinals of the Fed Cup on Sunday after Angelique Kerber won the first reverse singles to clinch the first-round series against Slovakia. Ninth-ranked Kerber defeated Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova 6-3, 7-6 (5) on the indoor hard court at Bratislavas National Tennis Center for the first German victory in the Fed Cup World Group since 2002. Germany will face Australia in April in its first semifinal since 1995. In the doubles, Slovakias Jana Cepelova teamed up with Magdalena Rybarikova to beat Julia Goerges and Anna-Lena Groenefeld 4-6, 6-3, 10-7 and reduce the German overall victory to 3-1. Kerber converted her first match point in a tiebreaker when Cibulkovas forehand went wide. Kerber broke Cibulkova three times in the opening set which she clinched with a forehand winner. Germany took a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series on Saturday after Kerber overcame Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (9), 6-1 and Andrea Petkovic upset Cibulkova 2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. Alex English Nuggets Jersey . FLIP SAUNDERS (Timberwolves): Im not the least bit surprised that he appointed himself as head coach after his search concluded. Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . “The fact that he was willing to do the deal the way we wanted it to be done showed that he wanted me to be a part of something great," Lowry said, noting that Ujiri willingness to sign off on the proposal that both Lowry and his agent presented to the GM was the final straw that convinced him to return. http://www.authenticnuggetsproshop.com/Jamal-Murray-Jersey/. Diego Costa headed in Gabis corner seven minutes from time to secure victory ahead of the return match in Madrid on March 11. "We know that at Madrid it will be another game, which will also be important and very difficult," Milan coach Clarence Seedorf said. Will Barton Nuggets Jersey . - Robert Griffin III has a sprained throwing shoulder that limited him in practice Wednesday as the Washington Redskins prepared for their season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. Jarred Vanderbilt Jersey . - A mixed martial arts fighter who changed his name to War Machine was ordered Friday to stand trial in Nevada state court on 34 felony charges including attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping that could get him life in prison for allegedly attacking his porn star ex-girlfriend and her friend.NEW YORK -- The stands were filled and the fences were much closer. Chris Young and the New York Mets certainly enjoyed the cozy confines across town. Young hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning, Jenrry Mejia provided a jolt after his reluctant move to the bullpen and the previously punchless Mets went deep four times to rally past the banged-up Yankees 9-7 Monday night in the Subway Series opener. The crowd of 46,517, chanting back and forth, included Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra -- who received a warm hand on his 89th birthday -- and a large throng of Mets fans in left field wearing orange shirts that read "Bronx Invasion." "It was like a big party out there in the outfield, and it keeps you in the game," said Young, who played centre and left. "I was saying that I was having the most fun that Ive had even before the home run." After going 4-0 last year for their first season sweep of the Yankees, the Mets picked up right where they left off last May. Curtis Granderson connected in his return to Yankee Stadium, and the Mets also got long balls from Eric Young Jr. and Travis dArnaud while overcoming a pair of three-run deficits. Lumbering first baseman Lucas Duda turned in two spectacular defensive plays, starting a game-ending double play with runners at the corners by making a diving stop of Brian McCanns sharp grounder. Taking full advantage of a hitter-friendly ballpark, rather than the vast dimensions back home at Citi Field, the Mets hit four home runs in a game for the first time since May 3, 2013, in Atlanta, according to STATS. They began the day ranked 29th in the majors with 22 homers. "Part of it is being here," Mets manager Terry Collins explained, referring to both the fences and the environment. "This atmosphere creates intensity and creates focus, and guys are excited about being here." Brett Gardner hit an early grand slam off ex-Yankee Bartolo Colon, and Derek Jeter had three hits for the first time since Sept. 30, 2012, in Toronto. Carlos Beltran left in the seventh with a hyperextended right elbow and was scheduled to have an MRI. Beltran, the designated hitter, got hurt working in the indoor cage between at-bats. "Im concerned because it was enough to take himself out of the game," manager Joe Girardi said. Bumped into a struggling bullpen before the game, Mejia (4-0) entered in the seventh for his first relief appearance since September 2012. He struck out Alfonso Soriano on three pitches and worked a scoreless eighth. Mejia sure seemed to relish the role -- even though he made it clear he wanted to stay in the rotation because he was concerned about injuring his surgically repaired arm again.dddddddddddd The right-hander excitedly pumped his fist after a double play and then backed his way off the mound following a called third strike that ended the eighth. "It feels pretty good. Ive got to enjoy it," a smiling Mejia said. "If they need me in the bullpen Ive got to be there because I never play for myself." Kyle Farnsworth pitched a shaky ninth for his third save -- aided by Mark Teixeiras nagging groin injury. Teixeira laced a pinch-hit single to right that went to the wall and sent Jeter to third base. A gimpy Teixeira had to stop at first, though, and was pulled for a pinch-runner. That kept the double play in order and Duda turned a rare 3-5-3 gem with third baseman David Wright, who was shifted near shortstop against McCann. Pinch-hitter Eric Campbell, enjoying his third day in the majors, got the Mets started in the eighth by hustling for a double after his sharp grounder caromed off third baseman Yangervis Solarte and into left field. Duda blooped a single to centre off Matt Thornton (0-1), and Campbell barely beat Jacoby Ellsburys accurate throw with a nifty slide at the plate. Chris Young greeted Preston Claiborne with a two-run shot to left, giving the Mets a 9-7 lead. "We really struggled today," Girardi said. "We didnt make pitches." The Yankees snapped a 4-all tie with three runs in the sixth off Colon, who gave up 11 hits for the second time this season. Young Jr. trimmed it to 7-6 with a two-run homer off Alfredo Aceves, who relieved starter Hiroki Kuroda in the seventh. In the first inning, Granderson turned and greeted fans in right field. The slugger signed a $60 million, four-year contract with the Mets in December after spending four seasons with the Yankees. He caused a bit of a stir in the off-season by saying, "A lot of the people Ive met in New York have always said that true New Yorkers are Mets fans." "The Mets fans came out in droves," Granderson said. NOTES: Mets President Saul Katz denied a report by The New York Times that he has expressed an interest in selling his share of the team. "I have no intention of selling my share of the Mets nor have I ever had any intention of selling my share," Katz said in a statement released by the club. ... The Mets plan to promote touted pitching prospect Rafael Montero from Triple-A Las Vegas to start Wednesday night at home against the Yankees in place of Mejia. It will be Monteros major league debut. ... Sorianos second-inning single made him the seventh player to get 1,000 hits in the American League and National League. ' ' '