JERUSALEM (AP) — An incoming attack by more than 300 Iranian drones and ballistic missiles was the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system, which already has been working overtime to cope with incoming rocket, drone and missile attacks throughout the six-month war against Hamas.
Israel's defense system with assistance from the U.S. and Britain is credited with preventing serious damage or casualties.
Here’s a closer look at Israel’s multilayered air-defense system:
The Arrow: This system developed with the U.S. is designed to intercept long-range missiles, including the types of ballistic missiles Iran said it launched on Saturday. The Arrow, which operates outside the atmosphere, has been used in the current war to intercept long-range missiles launched by Houthi militants in Yemen.
David’s Sling: Also developed with the U.S., the David’s Sling is meant to intercept medium-range missiles, such as those possessed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Patriot: This American-made system is the oldest member of Israel’s missile-defense system – used during the First Gulf War in 1991 to intercept Scud missiles fired by Iraq’s leader at the time, Saddam Hussein. The Patriot is now used to shoot down aircraft, including drones.
Iron Dome: This system, developed by Israel with U.S. backing, specializes in shooting down short-range rockets. It has intercepted thousands of rockets since it was activated early last decade – including thousands of interceptions during the current war against Hamas and Hezbollah. Israel says it has a success rate of over 90%.
Iron Beam: Israel is developing a new system to intercept incoming threats with laser technology. Israel has said this system will be a game changer because it is much cheaper to operate than existing systems. However, it is not yet operational.
FILE - A battery of Israel's Iron Dome defense missile system, deployed to intercept rockets, sits in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Aug. 7, 2022. An incoming attack by Iranian drones and ballistic missiles Sunday, April 14, 2024, poses the latest challenge to Israel’s air defense system, which already has been working overtime to cope with incoming rocket, drone and missile attacks throughout the six-month war against Hamas. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Ross Stripling threw six strong scoreless innings to earn his first win in nearly two years, and the Oakland Athletics hit two home runs to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 on Wednesday to complete their first series sweep of the season.
Abraham Toro and Tyler Nevin both went deep to help the A’s to their fourth straight victory in front of another sparse crowd of 4,679 at the Coliseum. Kyle McCann added two hits and an RBI.
Stripling (1-5), acquired from San Francisco in the offseason, had lost 10 consecutive decisions for the A’s and Giants before putting the clamps on the Pirates offense. The veteran right-hander allowed three hits, had two strikeouts and retired the final seven batters he faced to gain his first win since Oct. 1, 2022.
“Last year ... I felt like I had no room for error,” Stripling said. “I felt like if I missed with anything, especially fastballs over the plate, it was damage every time. I feel like I’ve thrown the ball well this year. Some outings I haven't been able to finish as strong as I would have liked, but today was a good one.”
Five Oakland relievers combined for three innings to complete the A’s fourth shutout of the season.
Toro put the A’s ahead early when he belted a 3-1 sinker from Quinn Priester (0-2) to center field that bounced off the top of the fence and went over.
Nevin extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games with his fourth homer of the season in the third to make it 2-0.
“It all starts with our pitching,” Toro said. “I feel like if we can score two or three runs, our pitchers just keep us in the game. They’ve been the main reason why we’ve been winning lately.”
Oakland tacked on an unearned run in the fifth after Nevin reached on an infield single then scored on shortstop Onell Cruz’s throwing error that pulled Rowdy Tellez off the first base bag.
The Pirates missed a chance to score in the fourth inning when the A’s made a pair of errors after Cruz’s leadoff single. With a runner on third base, Oakland shortstop Darrell Hernaiz fielded Tellez’s grounder and threw home to get Cruz sliding across the plate.
Pittsburgh missed another chance when A’s reliever Austin Adams got Bryan Reynolds to strike out swinging with the bases loaded in the seventh.
“When we had to make plays we made plays,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’re getting the pitching from both the starters and the bullpen. The offense is scoring enough runs but the pitching and defense is really the story now.”
Priester walked four and allowed five hits and three runs in six innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: C Yasmani Grandal (plantar fasciitis) made another start at DH for Triple-A Indianapolis and is expected to rejoin the big league club soon. … LHP Marco Gonzales (left forearm strain) has yet to resume throwing but the team remains optimistic for a possible quick return.
Athletics: Injured 2B Zack Gelof (left oblique strain) took infield practice before the game.
UP NEXT
Pirates: LHP Martín Pérez (1-1, 2.86 ERA) pitches the series opener against the Rockies on Friday. Pérez has allowed seven runs and 12 hits over his last two starts, covering 9 2/3 innings.
Athletics: LHP JP Sears (1-2, 4.64) faces the Marlins on Friday. Sears was tagged for seven runs in 6 1/3 innings against the Orioles in his previous start.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Oakland Athletics' Nick Allen, from left, celebrates with JJ Bleday and Max Schuemann after the Athletics defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller (19) celebrates with catcher Kyle McCann after the Athletics defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay walks to the dugout after making a pitching change during the seventh inning of the team's baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz runs to third base during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics' Tyler Nevin (26) watches his home run in front of Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis during the third inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Ross Stripling, bottom, works against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics catcher Kyle McCann, left, tags out Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz at home during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics' Abraham Toro (31) reaches first base safely as Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Rowdy Tellez, left, reaches for a throwing error by shortstop Oneil Cruz during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. Oakland Athletics outfielder Tyler Nevin (26) scored on the play. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Oakland Athletics pitcher Ross Stripling works against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
