China is greeting the lunar new year with celebrations and a travel rush that will see an estimated 3 billion trips by people around the country.
This year is the year of the pig in the 12-year Chinese astrological cycle and waves farewell to the year of the dog.
The holiday that officially starts Tuesday is the most important in the Chinese calendar, a time for people to return to their hometowns to reunite with friends and family.
In this Jan. 28, 2019, photo, a Chinese girl poses for a souvenir photo with the cluster of pig sculptures on displayed outside a shopping mall in Nanning in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Chinese will celebrate Lunar New Year on Feb. 5 this year which marks the Year of the Pig on the Chinese zodiac. (Chinatopix via AP)
On the festival's eve, people gather for reunion dinners, give red packets of pocket money to youngsters, and light firecrackers at midnight.
The capital Beijing and other cities have been festooned with lanterns and other decorations to mark the holiday, which is also celebrated in Vietnam and among other Asian communities.
Chinese New Year decorations are displayed at an office building in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. Chinese will celebrate the lunar new year on Feb. 5 this year which marks the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac. (AP PhotoVincent Yu)
A huge peach blossom is displayed as Chinese New Year decorations at an office building in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. Chinese will celebrate the lunar new year on Feb. 5 this year which marks the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac. (AP PhotoVincent Yu)
NEW YORK (AP) — Brent Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Athletics on Friday because of an oblique strain, ending a streak of 213 consecutive games played for the outfielder and designated hitter.
Zack Gelof was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill the roster spot prior to the Athletics’ series opener at the New York Mets.
Manager Mark Kotsay didn’t provide a timeline for the All-Star slugger, who will miss his first game Friday since Aug. 15, 2024, the last time the Athletics were at Citi Field.
“We’re hopeful that Rook can get back as soon as possible,” Kotsay said.
Rooker was injured while fouling off a changeup in the first inning of Thursday’s 1-0 victory at the New York Yankees.
“I’m a little tight and a little sore, but we’ll get imaging done and see what that says,” Rooker said after the game.
Rooker is hitting .146 with two home runs and seven of his eight RBIs in his three games before Thursday.
His playing streak is the club’s fourth longest since 2000. It's also the longest streak for an A's player since Marcus Semien appeared in 276 straight games from June 28, 2018-Aug. 29, 2020.
“It was the first thing I thought about — I know Rook prides himself on playing every day,” Kotsay said.
Last season, Rooker hit .262 with 30 homers and 89 RBIs when he appeared in every game and earned All-Star selection. He also took part in the Home Run Derby, hitting 17 but failing to move on to the semifinals after losing the tiebreaker by less than an inch in total distance.
Rooker signed a $60 million, five-year contract in January 2025, a deal that could be worth up to $92 million over six seasons. That would take him through the 2029 season, the year after the A’s are scheduled to move to Las Vegas.
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Athletics' Brent Rooker swings at a strike, and then left the game following the at bat, during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
