WASHINGTON -- Trailing in a tiebreaker against top-seeded John Isner, Steve Johnson managed to put a 146 mph serve into play and then decided to try something even more audacious: lob his 6-foot-10 opponent.Much to Johnsons surprise, the looping backhand worked, winning the point. Hanging in there against the big-serving Isner, Johnson weathered a total of 12 set points and withstood 29 aces to win their all-American quarterfinal at the Citi Open 7-6 (7), 7-6 (15) on Friday.Youre never too tall to lob. I thought he was going to close in really hard. And I just hit a good lob. I mean, thats about it, the fifth-seeded Johnson said about the point that came with Isner ahead 5-3 in the opening tiebreaker. I dont know if Ill ever try to lob him again and itll work, but luckily it worked today.Isners take?I love Stevie to death, he said, but I dont think that backhand lob he it -- I dont think he could do that all the time.Isner is a three-time runner-up at the hard-court tournament, including a year ago, when he beat Johnson in the semifinals. This time, Isner was unable to convert five set points in the opening frame and another seven in the second. When he lost the first tiebreaker on Johnsons forehand winner, Isner mangled his racket by slamming it to the court.The second tiebreaker was even longer and more excruciating for Isner. On his second set point, at 6-4, he got a good look at a short return by Johnson but shanked a forehand long.I dont think hell ever do that again, Johnson said. I dont know what happened.Heres how Isner explained it: I pulled up and got tentative.Not quite the longest tiebreaker of the season -- Isner lost one 18-16 last month -- it ended when he double-faulted for the only time in the nearly 2-hour contest to set up a sixth match point -- so lucky, Johnson said later -- then pushed a forehand wide.Johnson, ranked a career-best 25th, won despite never earning a break point against Isner. But Johnson saved all six break chances Isner accumulated and wound up with 22 aces himself.I certainly, in my opinion, put more pressure on him that he put on me, Isner said.Earlier Friday, sixth-seeded Jack Sock lost another two-tiebreaker match, beaten by 13th-seeded Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6).Karlovic hit 26 aces, saved all four break points he faced and reached the semifinals in Washington for the first time since 2007. Hell play Johnson on Saturday.Sock had a chance to force a third set against Karlovic, holding a set point at 6-5 in the second tiebreaker. But Karlovic erased that with -- what else? -- a 133 mph ace, then delivered a 130 mph service winner to get to match point. He won when Socks forehand clipped the net tape and flew wide.I feel like I scrap pretty well and get a lot of returns back and I still cant break the guy, Sock said. No matter who he plays -- any round, any tournament -- it comes down to a point here and there.The 37-year-old Karlovic, a 6-foot-11 Croatian, is coming off a title on grass at Newport, Rhode Island, last week.He is the oldest man to win an ATP singles tournament since 1979.Asked what its like to enter events where he could potentially face a teenager -- Zverev, for example, is 19 -- Karlovic replied: Yeah, I mean, I could be their daddy.After a brief pause, he added: And, I mean, who knows? Maybe I am.Then he cracked a big smile, rocked back in his chair and said, No, no, Im joking.The other semifinal will be second-seeded Gael Monfils against seventh-seeded Alexander Zverev. Monfils advanced by beating American Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, while Zverev defeated No. 4 Benoit Paire 6-1, 6-3. Lakers Jerseys 2020 . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Custom Los Angeles Lakers Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. https://www.lakersjerseycheap.com/ . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Los Angeles Lakers Store . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. Wholesale Lakers Jerseys . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. NEW YORK -- Cole Hamels and the rollin Texas Rangers are making winning look easy.Hamels breezed through seven shutout innings to win his fourth consecutive start, Adrian Beltre homered and drove in three runs, and Texas trounced the New York Yankees 7-1 on Tuesday night.Just a masterful job by Cole, Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. We know that if we can get him a lead, he pitches very well from in front. He controls the game.One night after Texas rallied to win at 2:44 a.m. following a 3 1/2-hour rain delay in the ninth inning, the Rangers again played with plenty of spunk and energy. Theyve won four in a row, 12 of 14 and 20 of 25, improving the American Leagues top record to 51-27 with their eighth straight victory away from home.We dont need the superstardom, Hamels said. Were very goal-oriented, were very focused and were very balanced.Yankees slugger Carlos Beltran left in the first with a tight right hamstring. He had an MRI that was clean and is day to day, manager Joe Girardi said.This homestand has not went the way we wanted it so far and we need to turn it around, Girardi said following his teams third straight defeat.Hamels (9-1) yielded six harmless singles and struck out seven, winning his ninth consecutive decision on the road dating to last August. He is 16-2 since getting traded from Philadelphia to Texas last summer and has already compiled excellent credentials for this years All-Star Game, to be played two weeks from Tuesday in his San Diego hometown.Its always been a goal from the first moment that I heard that San Diego was going to have it, he said.Hamels threw only 86 pitches and beat the Yankees for the first time in five career tries -- including the 2009 World Series. He has a 0.65 ERA in his last four outings, and his recent dominance has been particularly important for the Rangers with rotation mates Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Yu Darvish on the disabled list.In a matchup of accomplished left-handers, CC Sabathia (5-5) pitched into the eighth inning for the first time in a year -- but thats where it all fell apart for him. Trailing 2-0, he nicked leadoff man Shin-Soo Choo on the hand with a pitch and was unable to corral Ian Desmonds comebacker, which went for an infield single.Beltres bad-hop RBI single got past third baseman Chase Headley, and Prince Fielder chased Sabathia with a run-scoring double that made it 4-0.Just a frustrating night, Sabathia said. If I can either maake the play or get out of the way, I have a double play right there.ddddddddddddinch hitter Nomar Mazara, Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar each added an RBI single against Anthony Swarzak to cap a five-run outburst that broke the game open. Texas has scored 39 runs in its last five games.We should have been out of that inning with no runs, Girardi said.Sabathia, who twice rolled his right ankle during his previous start, was charged with six runs and eight hits in seven-plus innings.Beltre, who got the go-ahead hit around 2:30 a.m. in the series opener, lofted a two-run homer in the first to the short porch in right field. Desmond and Beltre both finished with three hits.Amazing amount of energy, Hamels said. He really shows you why he loves this game and why you should love the game of baseball. Hes a tremendous talent and one of the best leaders Ive ever been around.GET BACK THEREOdor got a rare order in the eighth -- he twice was told to get back in the on-deck circle by plate umpire Paul Nauert. Odor was near the backstop, drifting far from the dugout, as Mazara batted. Odor had a playful smile as he moved back to his proper place.ROAD WARRIORSHamels is 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA in eight starts away from home this season. ... Texas has won five straight games at Yankee Stadium for the first time. ... The Rangers have won 15 of their last 18 road games.TRAINERS ROOMRangers: Darvish (shoulder discomfort) is scheduled to throw about 45 pitches in a three-inning simulated game Wednesday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. ... RHP Keone Kela (elbow impingement) is headed to Triple-A Round Rock to throw a simulated inning Thursday. If that goes well, his next step could be a minor league rehab assignment.Yankees: Beltran pulled a line drive into the left-field corner his first time up and broke well out of the batters box. But he pulled up with a single after rounding first and went back to the bag even when the ball initially eluded left fielder Ryan Rua. Rob Refsnyder ran for Beltran and replaced him in right field as well.UP NEXTRangers RHP Nick Martinez (1-1, 5.54 ERA) faces RHP Masahiro Tanaka (5-2, 3.01) in the third game of the four-game series Wednesday night. The 25-year-old Martinez went to college in the Bronx at nearby Fordham and is 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in two starts at Yankee Stadium. ' ' '